The official 2010 World Cup thread

[????]

The Football Focus thread tends to have a crowd of regular posters whereas the World Cup is likely to attract the interest of a far wider audience. I suggested to Admin we had a seperate thread for all things World Cup - so a place for thoughts, predictions, betting ;-) which pubs are showing the games etc. So for South Africa 2010 this is that thread. Fill yer boots.

[????]

Without Rooney we've no chance. Fingers crossed etc.

[Annasfield]

Spain - if all the Spanish lads stay fit and in form they will be unstoppable.

[Brendan]

Quids, in your expert opinion would it be in bad taste to open a book on which country the first fan to get shot by the South African Police Services will be from?

[jimmy two times]

I can't see beyond Brazil and I know that's a very predictable choice. They have pace, power, strength and an abundance of natural skill. They are also very well organised under Dunga. I'd love to see Spain do well as they play great football, but I wonder if they have peaked too soon? Holland would be a good outside bet if they can avoid internal in-fighting. I think the weather conditions in South Africa will suit European teams as it will be winter during the World Cup and it gets pretty cold by all accounts. I can't see England winning the thing. Not enough quality in the team and a weak keeper.

[david_carnell]

Despite a terrible qualifying campaign, bitter internal infighting and a drug-addled, tactically naive manager I'm going to back Argentina.

What odds can I get on that? I can't access gambling sites at work but fancy a flutter.

Dark horses? Got to be the Ivory Coast now they've got Eriksson as manager.....

[Brendan]

Even I know enough about football to know that that is almost a guarantee of getting nowhere in an international tournament.

[????]

Dc

Argentina best price 11

Here's the top 10 (decimal odds)

Spain 5

Brazil 6

England 7

Argentina 11

Italy 15

Germany 15

Holland 15

France 19

Ivory Coast 29

Portugal 32

Brendan First Foreigner shot

English Evens

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Stop doing decimals - I don't understand them.

[mockney piers]

I concur with Quids regards Rooney, I think I may have said as much in the other thread. Although not to win it, just to get past the quarter finals. England won't win it, they're hard to beat under Capello, but they still look outclassed every time they play a big side.

Spain, easily my favourites, no surprise there, and they are a very strong side, but there are teams that can undo them. A horrifically negative Italy very nearly did so in the Euros.

Obviously the old adages of tediously never writing off Brazil and Germany still hold true.

I can't see Argentina doing it, unless Messi does a Maradonna circa 1986. He's perfectly capable of turning games on his own, but I don't think he can win this tournament.

Prediction, traditional dodgy FIFA bias (see Italy and Spain in S. Korea) will see Ivory Coast ushered into the Semis and go on to win it fair and square, cue fisrt African winners, everyone happy (especially if they beat germany on penalties in the final).

[????]

-1 off them.....that difficult PGC

[Huguenot]

11 dead, 14,326 robberies

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

I have backed Switzerland on Betfair @ 330 Long shot but pretty decent coach and if they finish 2nd in group recon they trade down to 270 where I cash in

Have laid England at 7.5 not sure why but I just cannot see us winning

Germany at 15.5 also looked good

[????]

I've laid England Too RC - well underpriced.

[mockney piers]

Germany look a great bet frankly, I may head down t'bookies at lunch!!

[stevebailey]

Without Rooney we've no chance. Fingers crossed etc.

???????????????????

Why? Are we only fielding him in the group stages? :-)

[Narnia]

Anybody but France for me!

[matthew123]

Well Rooney looks in good shape after last night's match..

 

[SimonM]

Spain v Brazil would make a great final, but it's a rare world cup that has no early upsets/form losses/key injuries. Italy always over-perform in their horrid, negative way. I think England will do well to make the quarters, and that Netherlands look the best dark horses.

[Sandperson]

Germany. That's all I've got to say.

[matthew123]

The group Brazil are in (Portugal & Ivory Coast) may mean Spain v Brazil is done in first knockout round if Brazil come 2nd in their group and Spain first in their group (which is one of weakest). The winner of the Spain knockout game is likely to face Italy in QF.

[Keef]

I'm definitely going to have a punt on one of those teams at 15s, any of them look worth a few quid...

[SimonM]

So Spain v Portugal is also a definite possible for the 1st knockout round? Interesting!

[david_carnell]

Rhinestone Cowboy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have backed Switzerland on Betfair @ 330 Long

> shot but pretty decent coach and if they finish

> 2nd in group recon they trade down to 270 where I

> cash in

Can you explain this please? You've put money on the Swiss to win the World Cup(?!) but only need them to get out of their group in order for you to make a profit?

[matthew123]

But likes of Switzerland maybe considered to have even less chance of winning WC (if they get out of group) if likes of Spain or Brazil start racking up cricket scores in group stages.