Who will win this years World Cup of soccer/football?

[ibiza69]

i believe the argentina and france have the best chances, with italy and spain close behind. i'm a diehard germany fan but i don't see them getting past the quarter final.
Who do you think will win the world cup?

[ibiza69]

other teams include:
Japan
Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
South Africa
Tunisia
Costa Rica
Mexico
USA
Ecuador
Paraguay
Uruguay
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Republic of Ireland
Poland
Russia
Slovenia
Sweden
Turkey

[Bro]

Italy if Baggio plays.

[ibiza69]

Originally posted by Bro
Italy if Baggio plays.

nope baggio wasn't picked to play

[EXCESS]

BUMP

[palme]

I voted for Argentina.

Bro - On what grounds do you base italy as winners with baggio in the team? You forget he missed his penalty kick in the 94 finals? Dude has no nervs!

[Shredz]

Even though Argentina is the favorite to win...got to stick with the background...I am voted for GERMANY

[JP1570]

Originally posted by palme
I voted for Argentina.

Bro - On what grounds do you base italy as winners with baggio in the team? You forget he missed his penalty kick in the 94 finals? Dude has no nervs!

yea, and MJ missed some open shots too that would have won games, but the greatest soccer player ever has no nerves???? Come on bro, baggio was the man forever. Anybody know exactly what the U.S.'s lineup looks like this year? Please tell me Eddie Pope didn't make it again, I'm tired of watching him get burned.

[palme]

Baggio greatest player ever? LOL, based on what?
And Jordan most often won Important games for the bulls?

[JP1570]

Originally posted by palme
Baggio greatest player ever? LOL, based on what?
And Jordan most often won Important games for the bulls?

The opinion of many many people in the media. Ever see that commercial with MJ saying he'd taken x amount of shots to win the game and missed..... To focus on one pk baggio missed is ridiculous. True soccer fans know roberto baggio is the man

[palme]

Ehhhhh...ok, you have still not said WHY baggio is suposed to be the man.

Zidane is 10 times better then baggio.
Any doubts on why Zidane is better? Well...2 goals in the final against Brazil 98 with his head, his not even a good headplayer, and most latley his volley goal in the Champions Leauge final.

[JP1570]

Originally posted by palme
Ehhhhh...ok, you have still not said WHY baggio is suposed to be the man.

Zidane is 10 times better then baggio.
Any doubts on why Zidane is better? Well...2 goals in the final against Brazil 98 with his head, his not even a good headplayer, and most latley his volley goal in the Champions Leauge final.

Is that who that was?????? Yea, I happened to catch that game too. I'm not gonna quote stats for you like some loser who has nothing better to do than follow soccer, I watch it, but not religously. We're both entitled to our opinions, and in my opinion, Baggio is the man, not based on any one achievment, but an entire career of success and leadership. If Brazil had won that game and Renaldo had scored 2 goals, you'd probably be saying he's the best soccer player right now. Those guys are both awesome soccer players; Baggio is a Legend.

[ibiza69]

my top 10 players of all time list.(IMO)

1.Pele (Brazil) 92 caps,77 goals
He was only 16 when he first played for Brazil, winning 2 world cups. Scored 1090 goals in 1114 matches, simply amazing, this stat though amazing is somewhat decieving having played in a weak brazilian league.

2.Diego Maradona aka GOD (Argentina) 90 caps, 34 goals
Also joined the national team at age 16,winning the world cup in 1986. He also won world footballer of the year 3 times.

3. Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) 48 caps, 33 goals
A wonderfully creative player dispite being a heavy smoker which later caused him health problems. his honors included 3 successive Europen Cups, European footballer of the year 71, 73, 74. Ended his international career early after death threats, but gained further European honors as coach of Ajax Amsterdam and Barcelona.

4. Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) 103 caps, 13 goals
Could play every position at a world class level, even goal if he wanted to. He was a world cup winner in 74 and as a coach on 90; a runner up as a player in 66 and as a coach in 86. Other honors include three successive European cups, a Cup winners cup, a European championship and a world club cup.

5. Michel Platini (France) 72 caps, 41 goals
Platini's nine goals in five games during France's victorious 1984 European Championship campaign made him a legend, and his attacking midfield inspired Juventus Turin to the 1985 European Cup.

6. Alfredo Di Stafano (Argentina/Spain) 8 caps, 6 goals(arg) 31caps, 23 goals (Spain)
First "Total" footballer, winning five European cups for Real Madrid.

7. Ferenc Puskas (Hungary/Spain) 84 caps, 83 goals (hun) 4 caps, 0 goals (spn)
Overweight, slow, onefooted- naturally one of the best ever. Scored an amazing 83 goals in 84 games for Hungary, and won another four caps for spain after the Hungarian uprising of 1956.

8. George Best (Northern Ireland) 37 caps, 9 goals
Probably the best british player ever, although he never played in a World cup. A great player with great speed, superb passing and magical dribbling skills. Europen Cup winner with Man united in 1968 and voted European footballer of the year in the same year.

9. Marco Van Basten (Netherlands) 58 caps, 24 goals
Sadly retired at the age of 30 with ankel problems, many say before he reached his prime. 3 time Europen cup winner, 1988 European champion, 3 time European footballer of the year and 2 time World footballer of the year.

10. Eusebio (Portugal) 64 caps, 41 goals
Born in Mozambique, but playing for Portugal, is perhaps africas greatest player of all time. Eusebio was top scorer at the 1966 World Cup with nine goals. European Cup winner in '62 and European Footballer of the year in '65. A statue of him now stands in his adopted Lisbon.

11. Gerd Muller (Germany) 62 caps, 68 goals
68 goals in 62 games, enough said!!! oh, yeah with a nickname like Der Bomber you have to be on the list, not to mention a record 14 goals at the world cup, a winner in '74.

Honorable Mention.....
Lev Yashin(USSR)
Bobby Charlton(England)
Ronaldo(Brazil)
Bobby Moore(England)
Roberto Baggio(Italy)

[palme]

I dont follow soccer that hard either, however i have a good memory.

Anyway i agree on dropping this.

Take care.

[JP1570]

Originally posted by palme
I dont follow soccer that hard either, however i have a good memory.

Anyway i agree on dropping this.

Take care.

Agreed bro, that's quite a list ya got there ibiza, wish there was more soccer on in the US. MLS isn't really worth a dam, and we used to get some English premier league, but all I find lately is Athletico Madrid games in the Spanish League (not sure what it's called). A little more soccer would be nice.

[Vegas Kid]

When I lived in Europe, soccer grew on me big time. I can't wait for the WC to start. Did you guys watch the UEFA champs? What great games!! I voted for Spain but I really just hate France so go Senegal.

[Zoolander]

Did anyone see Senegal beat France!!!! That Diouf guy is not bad at all.

I think Italy is gonna win it just look at the defence Nesta Cannavaro and Maldini but it is also nice to see an African country win it for a change. Whoaaaa an 8-0 drubbing of the Arabs by Germany was kinda unexpected.

Best Player of all time Maradona obviously.

Well Roberto Baggio and Van Basten would rate in the top ten.

Present great player Shevchenko

[jonesmeister]

i fancy england to go all the way to the final!!

AND ZIDANE IS THE BEST PLAYER EVER. he has skill, touch, pace,vision,pasing finishing . he is just toal class.(well imho )

[TheCobra]

england

[rixyroids]

man this post is so old, wat was the point!!

[selwan]

Hi all

The world cup is in 2006 not 2005...

The team to beat is once again Brazil..however for once the english side seems to have an all superstar line up with some highly sought after players in the squad....Watch out for England.

France: In the words of the best player in World Ever Zinadine Zidane "Its an end of an era." I dont think they are capable of winning it again, however their squad still remains powerful.

Lets wait and see!