The Official World Cup 2010 Thread

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Stu

I think it's great that countries that wouldnt normally have a chance in hell get the opportunity to qualify. Generally the qualifying sections are proportional in terms of quality. You do get anomalies like Australia but to be honest, fair play to them. Ireland didnt qualify because they didnt put the host of chances they had away, had they been better in front of goal they would be in SA, simple as that. The Henry debacle is just diverting attention away from this and making Ireland look like unlucky heroes. You were unlucky in a sense, a game should never be settled in such circumstances, but the fact is you werent good enough to kill off a very ordinary France. Teams like North Korea are beating teams of a similiar or greater quality and deserve their success.

As for the draw, to all you Americans, i'm going to enjoy the English getting one over on you for once I think we can reach the semis. On paper we're a team featuring one of the best strikers in the world, 2 of the best midfielders, on of the best centre backs and in my view THE best left back. Thats five world class players and im not even including Joe Cole, who when fit deserves to be considered as such. Same applies to Ferdinand when in form.

When France won the WC in 1998 their manager stated that to win a world cup a team has to have at least 5 or 6 world class players in their squad (something I agree with) England may have these, in the positions that you`ve referenced above, but its the rest of the squad that is the problem, when France won in 1998, the rest of the players were certainly better than the likes of Upson, Defoe, Crouch, Brown, Green etc. Players who might be decent at club level but don`t cut it at international level.

[Sneer]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

When France won the WC in 1998 their manager stated that to win a world cup a team has to have at least 5 or 6 world class players in their squad (something I agree with) England may have these, in the positions that you`ve referenced above, but its the rest of the squad that is the problem, when France won in 1998, the rest of the players were certainly better than the likes of Upson, Defoe, Crouch, Brown, Green etc. Players who might be decent at club level but don`t cut it at international level.

Brown i agree with. But Crouch and Defoe? Their goals to game ratios at international level are really decent. Crouch in particular has like a goal every other game. And Upson is a really good player who would walk into many international starting 11s. We also have Walcott, Wright-Phillips and Lennon who, although not totally consistent, have that ability to turn a game on it's head. Barry and Johnson are also class, not quite world class, but class.

And anyway, i dont think we will win it, as i said, i think semis.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Stu

Brown i agree with. But Crouch and Defoe? Their goals to game ratios at international level are really decent. Crouch in particular has like a goal every other game. And Upson is a really good player who would walk into many international starting 11s. We also have Walcott, Wright-Phillips and Lennon who, although not totally consistent, have that ability to turn a game on it's head. Barry and Johnson are also class, not quite world class, but class.

And anyway, i dont think we will win it, as i said, i think semis.

Spain:Torres and Villa
Brazil: Luis Fabiano and Pato (are one the world class combos they can have)
Argentina: Aguero and Messi (Again another poss combo)

Defoe and Crouch just can`t compare to these above players. Upson walking into a Brazilian or Spanish starting 11! You`ve certainly got a sense of humour He`d probably be first choice for Slovakia though!

[Sneer]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Spain:Torres and Villa
Brazil: Luis Fabiano and Pato (are one the world class combos they can have)
Argentina: Aguero and Messi (Again another poss combo)

Defoe and Crouch just can`t compare to these above players. Upson walking into a Brazilian or Spanish starting 11! You`ve certainly got a sense of humour He`d probably be first choice for Slovakia though!

You're completely overlooking what im saying. All the players you reference are world class, i didnt say Crouch and Defoe are world class, i said they're decent international players.

And i said Upson would walk into MANY international sides, and to be honest i dont think he's any worse than Arbeol, who is one of Spains first choice centre backs. Same applies to Thiago Silva/cris of Brazil and Demichelis/Pareja of Argentina. They're first choices for their countries and DO NOT tell me they're world class. Upson i think is as good as them and he isnt even first choice for England.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Stu

You're completely overlooking what im saying. All the players you reference are world class, i didnt say Crouch and Defoe are world class, i said they're decent international players.

And i said Upson would walk into Many international sides, and to be honest i dont think he's any worse than Arbeol, who is one of Spains first choice centre backs. Same applies to Thiago Silva/cris of Brazil and Demichelis/Pareja of Argentina. They're first choices for their countries and DO NOT tell me they're world class. Upson i thin is as good as them and he isnt even first choice for England.

Arbeloa is more of a full back or are you referring to Albiol? I think all the CB`s that you have listed, are better than Upson and also play in the best sides in their repective leagues, with the exception of Pareja.

[Sneer]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Arbeloa is more of a full back or are you referring to Albiol? I think all the CB`s that you have listed, are better than Upson and also play in the best sides in their repective leagues, with the exception of Pareja.

Albiol, you're right. Still, he's no better than Upson and Madrid spent well over the odds on him. Great, Demichelis and Cris are first choice for the best teams in the French and German leagues. Both of which are piss poor outside of the top 1 or 2 clubs. They are no better than Upson in my opinion, who plays and is seen as one of the best of his position in arguably the best league in the world.

Anyway, this argument over one player is pointless. I cant see past Spain and Brazil winning it to be honest. I hope they do too, they play the best football and it'd be one hell of a final.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Stu

Albiol, you're right. Still, he's no better than Upson and Madrid spent well over the odds on him. Great, Demichelis and Cris are first choice for the best teams in the French and German leagues. Both of which are piss poor outside of the top 1 or 2 clubs. They are no better than Upson in my opinion, who plays and is seen as one of the best of his position in arguably the best league in the world.

Anyway, this argument over one player is pointless. I cant see past Spain and Brazil winning it to be honest. I hope they do too, they play the best football and it'd be one hell of a final.

I certainly agree with you, about not arguing over Upson

The thing with the German and the French leagues is that they are decent leagues, but just don`t have the money to bring the players that the Premiership, La Liga or Serie A can (despite the fact that Serie A is nowhere near as strong as it was) With the exception of both Lyon and Bayern Munich, the differences between the rest of the teams are not so great. Also the French league is one of the great breeding grounds for footballers, as the amount of African players for example that play there is incredible, its the main shopping league for the English, Spanish and Italian clubs. Traditionally, the German league tends to bring in a lot of eastern european talent, which again attracts the big clubs in Europe.