The Official World Cup 2010 Thread

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by loveissucide

It's Italy you're thinking of re:1966 and Portugal beat them 5-3 after being 3-0 down in one of the best matches ever.

New Zealand got there because of how poor the teams they had to play along the way were in the Oceania group.

It sounds a stunning match and yer your right it definately was Italy!

That`s because Australia are now in the Asian Zone leaving NZ the possibility of getting through a play off with an Asian team.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Without checking my facts and figures, I think that North Korea recorded one of the greatest upsets ever in the World Cup when they beat Portugal in 1966and Portugal at the time had a great side with Eusebio etc. Saying that though, I don`t think they got a chance in hell of scoring, a goal let alone win a match. Same goes for New Zealand...........amazes me how they got there

New Zealand are the underdogs for sure, but I think they are good enough to score!!

I'm supporting Italy this year to win.

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Yeah it was Italy

The match took place at Middlesbrough's old Ayresome Park ground.

Edit: The winner of the Oceania group used to have to go into a play off with the 4th or 5th place South American team I assume that isn't the case now.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

Yeah it was Italy

Edit: The winner of the Oceania group used to have to go into a play off with the 4th or 5th place South American team I assume that isn't the case now.

They now play against an Asian side and the 5th place South American side plays off against a central/north Amercian side (This year Uruguay beat Costa Rica)

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

I think England have enough world class players, the biggest problem is that it doesn't really stretch beyond the first choice 11.

[loveissucide]

Anyone else think they really need to rethink the qualification process to stop the New Zealands and North Koreas of the world getting in ahead of better sides like Ireland and Costa Rice purely based on geographic location?As a football fan I'd rather see the genuine best teams in the world playing it out rather than any poor teams from the Far East who don't deserve to be there(eg Saudi Arabia in 2002).

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Originally Posted by loveissucide

Anyone else think they really need to rethink the qualification process to stop the New Zealands and North Koreas of the world getting in ahead of better sides like Ireland and Costa Rice purely based on geographic location?As a football fan I'd rather see the genuine best teams in the world playing it out rather than any poor teams from the Far East who don't deserve to be there(eg Saudi Arabia in 2002).

I sort of agree with this but I don't ever see FIFA doing anything about it. They want it to be an international event, If they just put the 24 best teams in only people from Europe, South America & Africa will get a look in with maybe Mexico , USA & Australia sneaking in.

My biggest issue is with the qualifying groups. I think there should be pre-qualifying for nations like San Marino, Faroe Island, Andorra and places like that.
I'm bored of seeing the teams of those places just sticking 11 men in the penalty area and not attacking for the whole game whenever they play a big name side.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by loveissucide

Anyone else think they really need to rethink the qualification process to stop the New Zealands and North Koreas of the world getting in ahead of better sides like Ireland and Costa Rice purely based on geographic location?As a football fan I'd rather see the genuine best teams in the world playing it out rather than any poor teams from the Far East who don't deserve to be there(eg Saudi Arabia in 2002).

At least one crap team needs to get there, otherwise we`ll have no more 7-0or 9-0 matches.

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

At least one crap team needs to get there,

That's usually the host nation

[loveissucide]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

At least one crap team needs to get there, otherwise we`ll have no more 7-0or 9-0 matches.

There's too many crap teams in that bunch though.