Outwood Vic wrote:I realise it's a sin to discuss 'football' on here]
Bang goes the next proposal - I was thinking about putting a just fun and again O/T, putting up a poll as to see everyone thinks who's going to win it.
More shortliist of ten would have been:
1. Spain - current European champions, but have never reached the final of the World Cup, best performance, semi finals in 1962.
2. Argentina - if Maradona's around, quite simply anything's possible with this lot, but hopefully for the sporting reasons, best performance, champions in 1978 and 1986.
3. Holland - another of the World Cup's bridesmaids, but if not altitude, the squad's players all play domestic football in countries whereby its winter conditions for half of the season, should have no problems in acclimatising to the South African winter, best performance, finalists in 1974 and 1978.
4. Germany - as much as I can't stand the Germans for their cynacism and effecientism, it would be foolish to write them off, as they are still smarting from being knocked out at the semi-finals from their own tournament four years ago, best performance, champions in 1954, 1974 and 1990 all as West Germany.
5. Brazil - always a very safe bet, probably the best team through sheer skill alone, best performance, champions in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
6. Italy - defending champions, yet always very unpredictable when it comes to the big tournaments as you never know how well exactly they are going to perform, best performance, champions in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006.
7. Portugal - third in the FIFA world rankings and have the players to back that up, yet have an atrocious record in past tournaments, in fact they have never won the European Championships or the World Cup, best World Cup performance semi finals in 1966.
8. France - cheats should never prosper, they are clearly in the World Cup under false pretences, yet annoyingly always seem to play well when it matters, best performance champions in 1998. PS, hope France get sent home early.
9. USA - surprise choice this one, and not just saying this because England are playing them this Saturday. Despite their uninspiring looking "pub league" and past low-key attitude to this tournament, the yanks are now a genuine threat and have some great players in their team, best performance, semi finals in 1930.
10. England - only through hope and wishful thinking. Best performance... clue:- the first World Cup tournament held when the year ended in a number 6.