Obviously we'll talk about this a million times before the WC starts but I wanted to get an idea of what you guys expect out of your international teams now that we know the field. Probably ask this again after the draw. For Chile, I think quarterfinal is about the best we can do honestly and realistically. I love this team, not because of the players (I think Chile has had more talented players before, especially in 1998) but because of the style of play that was brought in by Bielsa, and more importantly becuase the players have bought into it and have been in the same system for over 2 years now with very few roster changes. Chile was one of those teams that would come out afraid to play par to par with big teams in the past. They would go for the draws and barely attack. If we ever did get a lead, we would just sit on it and eventually give it up. There was a serious loser mentality, where you almost knew something was going to wrong. All of that has changed now, I feel like we can go into any stadium in the world and play any team. This team has demonstrated time and time again that they wont back down and are not afraid of any situation. Bielsa's style is very offensive, he even played with 3 forwards in all the matches away during the qualifiers. Also most of the players in the roster have had huge success internationally playing for the youth system in Chile (won the Toulon tournament recently, finished 2nd the year before, came in 3rd place at the U-20 World Cup, etc) so they are a completely different breed and expect success. So in short, I expect Chile to advance past the group stage and win the first knockout game (unless we are in the group of death with say Spain and Ivory Coast or we face Brazil in the second round, as in France 1998 ). Anything after that would be simply amazing. I think that if Chile can get a place in the final 8 it will just help up build our momentum, the team is very young and should be the same group for the next World Cup. I doubt that Bielsa will stay with CHile after the WC, but by then Pellegrini should be available, and the mentality and style would not leave. There are very few teams I do not want to see Chile play: Brazil (they just have our fucking number), Spain (obvious reasons) and Germany (lol cas but Germany is amazing in international competitions). Other than that I say bring it on. I am not afraid of Italy or England becuase Italy's style of play would give Chile space and more importantly I dont think the team is as talented as other years (Lippi's fault that team could be great) and England has to do something before I believe in them (Chile beat them 2-0 at Wembley last time we played them ). I would do the USA expectations, but there are people here that know way more about the team than I do. Cliffs: Chile should make the quarterfinals
The 2006 german national team wasn't very good, but it rode the homefield momentum all the way to the semifinals and then parlayed that momentum into a sustained model of improvement in talent, scheme, and acclimation into modern football; specifically in what had been lacking from german play when they bottomed out between 02 and 06 WCs: speed and creativity on the ball. Now, in addition to a seemingly genetic disposition to play well in international tournaments, Germany actually has some of the best skill players and attacking options in the world. If Ballack has even a shell of Der Kaiser in him and embraces a more CDM and leadership role instead of bogging down the creative and young players up front (Poldolski, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Marin, Gomez, Kiebling, Lahm in an attacking role), anything less than a Finals appearance will honestly disappoint. The other concern is defense in the middle, but thankfully here Lowe has realized that two clumsy and goofy stilts isn't the way to go. Also, the cool "winter" weather in South Africa should help the Germans, or rather, impede some of the other threats for the title whilst not proving to be a detriment to the Germans. - Spain, Germany, Brazil are in "would be disappointing if they didn't win tier" - Ivory Coast is the popular darkhorse and righfully so also really curious to see what england does this tournament, a germany versus england knockout game with the gerries once again sending the brits home would be sweet :] The USA's chances in this tournament crashed when Davies' car crashed.
Ivory Coast has been mentioned so much I dont think they can be a darkhorse anymore. I would say Paraguay, they dont get enough respect.
i gotta figure that one of the african teams will take home either 3rd or 4th obviously ivory coast probably has the best shot but someone like cameroon could do work too
At this point the my goal would be to get out of the group stage. Everything depends on the draw, but I think that no matter what pool we are in that there is a chance of advancing. After that, I wouldn't expect very much success. Howard will have to find his inner Friedel again and Jozy has to be in at least decent form and of course someone has to step up to play next to him. That's not even mentioning the injuries that killed the US team in the past two months. After the Confed cup I had a lot more faith in this team than I do now. On a more positive note, this team does have some ability. Landon finally found a position he is comfortable in with the national team and he is playing the best soccer of his life. He is finally good enough to carry this team imo. I could see him having one or two goals and two or three assists in the group stages making it possible to advance. Also, as bad as the US looked in these two recent friendlies, the Feilhaber/Bradley partnership in the midfield finally played well together, and if Jones can get healthy and get back into form then he could be a real boost for the team. Like the majority of teams in the world, the US will need a good draw or some luck to get out of the group stages. Lets just for the good draw and no more injuries from now until SA. oh and
Ivory Coast, and you should include Ghana in that list, they are better than Cameroon and Nigeria IMO.
Ivory Coast has the most talent, but then again they have Eboue so I could see him blowing their chances at some point
Germany has been my pick to win for a while now, but really I would rather see Gomez fuck up so Alan Minor can
yeah Problem with that is that Germany's best formation is to have Poldi play as a wing/striker hybrid behind a central target striker, and Gomez is the best option there.
Yup. So did Cameroon, qualifying at the very end whereas Ghana was the first African team to qualify and Ivory Coast the second. Plus Ghana has Essien = Beast so that immediately means they are better.
More predictions than anything... USA will not get out of their group. Brazil will win it all or loose in the semifinals. Ivory Coast will be a huge disappointment.