World soccer cup

One of the biggest sports events is about to start, and it's almost impossible to ignore it. So, let's talk a bit about it?

Edit: Let's give opinions about who has most chances of winning, despite our preferences, ok?


** I listed the favorites in alphabetical order in the poll. Forgive me if I forgot anyone.

Portugal, of course!

OMG! alyssa, you didn't include our Japanese team! How could you!

...LOL!!!!!!

I wish I really could've meant what I wrote in the beginning of this post, but...our Japanese team sucks! No person in his or her right mind would ever include them in a poll as to which team will win! And most of all, no Japanese person would ever include them for sure! We all know very well, more than anyone that we are terrible at soccer! Someone...a Japanese person...wrote in some BBS that our team even being allowed to participate in the World Cup is an abomination to the sport! And almost everybody who read that agreed with him!

I don't know much about soccer myself but I watch it sometimes...only international competitions, though. So, I really have no idea which country seems to have the best shot at it this year. I'll just root for all you guys' countries here in the forum. I'm sure I'll have more fun that way, rather than hoping for miracles for the Japanese team.

alyssa, you did not vote for your own country? Right now it is at 100% Portugal. Way to go MikiAndoFan#1!

I love football but I have not been following it that much this past few seasons. I was very mad when Daisuke Matsui was not chosen to represent Japan in Germany. Since, I've been watching off and on. I used to stay up very late and watch Serie A and English Premiere League. I haven't done that in a while. I've been distracted by Mao.

Nevertheless, I am super excited about the World Cup! I'm definitely going to watch. I do not have high hopes for the Japanese team. But I am looking forward to seeing a bunch of handsomemen showing off their skills!

Spacey wrote:

alyssa, you did not vote for your own country? Right now it is at 100% Portugal. Way to go MikiAndoFan#1!

I don't know whom I should vote for.

Spacey wrote:

I love football but I have not been following it that much this past few seasons. I was very mad when Daisuke Matsui was not chosen to represent Japan in Germany. Since, I've been watching off and on. I used to stay up very late and watch Serie A and English Premiere League. I haven't done that in a while. I've been distracted by Mao.

Me too. Mao's been taking all my attention concerning sports recently.

Pochi, I knew you'd say that!

alyssa wrote:

I don't know whom I should vote for.

Aren't you from Brazil?

Maybe you are trying not to jinx them. Anyway, predicting the outcome of such an event is almost impossible.

Since Russian team is not going, I'm not sure for whom to root for

Spacey wrote:

alyssa wrote:

I don't know whom I should vote for.

Aren't you from Brazil?

Maybe you are trying not to jinx them. Anyway, predicting the outcome of such an event is almost impossible.

Yeah, but I'm not sure how far our team can go.

Well, I envy your team.

Spacey wrote:

Well, I envy your team.

Many ppl do because our guys play well, for sure. But the Brazilian team is notorious for letting political issues influence their performances.

Last WC was a complete shame.

Thanks for creating the topic, alyssa.

Just looked in Wikipedia... Starting from 2007, in the World Cup 2010 qualification matches have participated precisely as many nations (204) as at the Beijing Olympics. Talking about "one of the biggest sports events is about to start" part.

Voted for England. Feel it's their time to win. Also considered Argentina, even though they aren't that tough these days.
The majority of people see Spain as the main favourites - and that is exactly why they aren't.

A player to see - Robinho (Brazil). Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are more complete overall, but if there's a player who was touched by God (so to speak), that's him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwqYQ8aFuSg (Watch from around 1:30.)

polosatik wrote:

Since Russian team is not going, I'm not sure for whom to root for

Root for Japan Polosatik! You may get your heart broken but it will only be temporary. Come winter, we get to see Mao!

MikiAndoFan#1 wrote:

Portugal, of course!

Portugal will win in 2018 (being coached by Mourinho).

Spacey wrote:

polosatik wrote:

Since Russian team is not going, I'm not sure for whom to root for

Root for Japan Polosatik! You may get your heart broken but it will only be temporary. Come winter, we get to see Mao!

Good idea!

Robinho's "dance" is really popular here.

summervie wrote:

Portugal will win in 2018 (being coached by Mourinho).

Oh, José Mourinho. Can't stand him. He's a great coach, but he's so arrogant!

I rooted for Portugal when Brazil was eliminated in 2006. I so wanted them to make the finals.

MikiAndoFan#1 wrote:

Oh, José Mourinho. Can't stand him. He's a great coach, but he's so arrogant!

He does seem arrogant. Is it very wrong of me to say that I think he is handsome. His personality ruins it. But I think he is good looking!

Spacey wrote:

MikiAndoFan#1 wrote:

Oh, José Mourinho. Can't stand him. He's a great coach, but he's so arrogant!

He does seem arrogant. Is it very wrong of me to say that I think he is handsome. His personality ruins it. But I think he is good looking!

MikiAndoFan#1 wrote:

summervie wrote:

Portugal will win in 2018 (being coached by Mourinho).

Oh, José Mourinho. Can't stand him. He's a great coach, but he's so arrogant!

He's arrogant, but for a good reason I'd say. After all, he really is the best coach in the world, and in that role he is indeed special.

summervie wrote:

And, well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUD4IxLIPuo (Leaving Inter Milan for Real Madrid.)

That was very moving. It seems like he cares a lot about his players and has a pretty good relationship with them. Arrogant and all, I still think he looks like a movie star. Yummy!

Spacey wrote:

summervie wrote:

And, well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUD4IxLIPuo (Leaving Inter Milan for Real Madrid.)

That was very moving. It seems like he cares a lot about his players and has a pretty good relationship with them.

Yes, this is one of the main points of his coaching philosophy: all players and staff members of his team should be like one family.

summervie wrote:

Spacey wrote:

summervie wrote:

And, well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUD4IxLIPuo (Leaving Inter Milan for Real Madrid.)

That was very moving. It seems like he cares a lot about his players and has a pretty good relationship with them.

Yes, this is one of the main points of his coaching philosophy: all players and staff members of his team should be like one family.

And it's fundamental that the guy has leadership. Otherwise he loses control over the group. And this has been a problem for Brazil.

This isn't about the poll(sorry), but did you guys see this?

http://www.worldcupbuzz.com/espns-2010-fifa-world-cup-murals/

ESPN made posters for all 32 countries!
I think some of them are a bit silly(the Australian one for instance), but on the whole I enjoyed the humor. But, I don't know what to make of the Portugal version...it kinda reminds me of an octopus. MikiAndofan, do you like it?

PochinkoPotanko wrote:

MikiAndofan, do you like it?

It does look like an octopus! It's hilarious!

MikiAndoFan#1 wrote:

PochinkoPotanko wrote:

MikiAndofan, do you like it?

It does look like an octopus! It's hilarious!

Yeah, doesn't it? It kinda stands out though it's simple compared to the others because of the feet!

I personally like the French, German and Greek version. The Japanese one is...um...too predictable. The Korean one is cool too, but it seems the tiger is 'hand'ing the ball?

Good night to you all for today!