Is anyone else actually looking forward to the World Cup this year? After the dire season i'm quite up for it. Usually England spoil the enjoyment a bit with their turgid football but if things go to plan this year it will be all over for them after 2 games and us English (and the rest of Britain) will be free to enjoy the football. I'm not even gonna pick a 2nd team, just watch some (hopefully) decent football.
It's going to be fascinating, isn't it? Spain have dominated in recent international competitions but Brazil showed what a South American team can do in South America when they battered Spain last year. I'm no good with predictions but I'd be surprised if more than one European team makes it to the semis. Brazil have to be favourites but it's wide open and I wouldn't be surprised if any of the South American top seeds won it. I'd quite like to see Messi win it though, he's not had his best year or so but for me he'll go down as the greatest of all time and it would be fitting if he had a World Cup win to support that claim.
Llway'sw look forward,and feel let down,don't expect to win it at times,but to win a shoot out would be a start!,i think it will be a South American team, Brazil or Argentina probably that will win it.European teams have never won it in South America.
Hope to see Portugal manage their usual early exit. Seeing the Showpony bawling like a baby never gets old.
I always look forward to the World Cup, since it started me watching football. I'm trying to work up some sort of positive and negative feeling about as many teams as possible to make it more interesting. How many times running have England scraped undeservedly into the second round of a big tournament on the basis of three crumby performances and some luck? They are the metronome of international football. They never eliminate a stronger team or get eliminated by a weaker one. Except a metronome is a world of thrills by comparison. I've really got my hopes up for Chile this year (I have a bunch of Chilean friends). They may be the best team to watch, but have, again, a nightmare draw, courtesy of getting robbed in Columbia. Spain were lucky to scrape a draw against them in the friendly I watched. I'll hope both Brazil and Belgium do well for the sake of the Spur or Spurs on their teams, but I see Belgium as the likely disappointment of the tournament, led by the locker room poison that is Eden Hazard.
I like football. I like extra football in the summer. I like the games in the evening (our time). It gets interesting in the latter stages. So I'm looking forward to it. But not because of England. I won't get drawn in. England will do well to get to the next stage. The football will be turgid. Our chances of winning it are akin to Barnsley's chances of winning the F.A.Cup. The disappointment is only greater if you allow yourself to dream.
I'm going for Honduras. Their women are fit. And they are an excellent footballing team. One touch passing football, flair and strength in all areas.
It should be a good tournament. There are many sides in with a shout although I reckon Argentina will take some stopping as will Brazil. Holland, Spain and Belgium are the European sides most likely to do something although ignoring Italy and Germany in a world cup is always dangerous. Ghana could be a surprise package.
After this season it will be a welcome relief to watch some good football. We will exclude England who will once again go with the same donkeys that have stunk up the last two world cups. Lumpard, Gerrard, Cole Rooney. I look forward to the same sad excuses, its too hot, we are tired, we were bored, the hotel wasn't good enough and the inevitable exit in the quarters hopefully in the group stages. Followed by 'the next time we will have younger players this was a good experience for them' (Especially the not taking part) Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Uruguay Germany, Ivory Coast. They should provide for some good entertainment
England will no doubt fail miserably again, the only glimmer we have is that nobody expects us to do well so there should be less pressure on the players and that may help them. I always enjoy watching Brazil and Argentina, and will have an interest following the teams with Spurs players, Belgium in particular, are many peoples outside bet.
To get everyone in the mood, I'll rtank the five best and five worst national anthems: Best Italy Chile Japan Mexico Russia Worst England Australia USA Holland Brazil
Belgium on paper are pretty formidable. But its in South America and historically Euro teams struggle outside of Europe.
To be fair, England have struggled in World Cups in South America, Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. FIFA need to allow New Zealand to host the tournament and they'll have the full set!
The USA is right up there....and England's although it is mercifully short! But I do like the French Anthem. Always reminds me of Monty Python
If it weren't for the climate, I'd say Belgium could have had a great chance of winning it but I think you'll have to back Brazil as the favourites for this. They looked great at the Confeds and I reckon they'll build upon that.
This is the first World Cup where I'm really not bothered about how England do. I'm just looking forward to some good football and seeing all those breakthrough players that we'll inevitably get linked with!
