Okay, here's how everyone should look at it: Germany is the highest ranked team in Group A. Costa Rica and Poland may harass Germany but all Germany has to do is beat one of them and kick the living shit out some no name country from I think South America. Furthermore, I agree 100% with what ChrisG612 wrote. In 30 Uruguay won at home, in 34 Italy won at home, in 60 England won at home, in 78 Argentina won at home, and for all you numb nuts out there, France just won it at home in 1998 (of course they had Zidane so it was a little lopsided). So, in conclusion, Germany will win games because they are at home. They may only go as far as their adrenaline will take them but I guarantee you that Poland and Costa Rica will not be able to take the abuse and harassment that the German fans will inflict on them during their games.
Griffin, I completely agree they get out of the first round, but not b/c they are good, b/c they are home and playing in an absolutely piss poor group. If they advance, they play the winner or 2nd of England/Sweden/Paraguay group. Assuming England and Sweden advance, they are not nearly as good as either of those teams. Assuming they beat them, they play Arg/Ned/S&M/I Coast/Mex/Port and have to win that game for you to cash.
IMO, NO F*ING way are they getting through the knockout stages against those teams. If they were in ARG or ITALY group, they would be no better than the 3rd best team in the group. They are lucky to have that shit group they have. They would need huge upsets (like they benefitted from in 02) to get to the semis. Frankly, they weren't good in 02 but played Ireland, Cameroon and Saudi Arabia in the first round and Paraguay, US and Korea in the knockouts. They haven't beaten a top team since the 02 Euro.
IMO, NO F*ING way are they getting through the knockout stages against those teams. If they were in ARG or ITALY group, they would be no better than the 3rd best team in the group. They are lucky to have that shit group they have. They would need huge upsets (like they benefitted from in 02) to get to the semis. Frankly, they weren't good in 02 but played Ireland, Cameroon and Saudi Arabia in the first round and Paraguay, US and Korea in the knockouts. They haven't beaten a top team since the 02 Euro.
Semifinals? No. They are in a lousy group so they'll advance to the round of 16 but this isn't a very good team. As another poster so astutely mentioned, their defense stinks. Jens Lehmann is a good keeper and he'll have to be playing behind this sieve of a defense.
That being said, playing at home in the World Cup is a huge advantage so they could be a factor but the semifinals is stretching it a bit.
That being said, playing at home in the World Cup is a huge advantage so they could be a factor but the semifinals is stretching it a bit.
Sorry, I meant Euro 00 and I was actually wrong, they beat ENgland in July of 2000 in WC02 qualifying.
Since then, the only decent teams they have beaten are Mexico in Confed Cup 05 and USA in 02 WC, 02 friendly and the recent friendly. They have been beaten, often handily, by France, Italy, Brazil, Czech, NED and Argentina (some on multiple occassions) and MANY lesser teams.
Since then, the only decent teams they have beaten are Mexico in Confed Cup 05 and USA in 02 WC, 02 friendly and the recent friendly. They have been beaten, often handily, by France, Italy, Brazil, Czech, NED and Argentina (some on multiple occassions) and MANY lesser teams.
fhmesq44 said:
Not to be biased since Griff is my brother and all, but he did post who he thought would win the World Cup in another thread. So with that said I will repeat what my brother said in another thread for the WC Champions (with which I disagree with)
"Brasil!!!!!" - Griffination
Sorry, just looking out for my blood.
BDiz...
Team Comparisions via Rankings...
http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/rank/compare.html?static=5
BDiz..
<table class="tableblueborder" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr class="bluecolour01"><td class="tableblue01" width="25%">2006</td> <td class="tableblue01" width="15%">
BRA</td> <td class="tableblue01" width="15%">
CZE</td> <td class="tableblue01" width="15%">
GER</td> <td class="tableblue01" width="15%">
NED</td> </tr> <tr class="whitecolour01"> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">May </td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">1</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">2</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">19</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">3</td> </tr> <tr class="bluecolour02"> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">April </td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">1</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">2</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">19</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">3</td> </tr> <tr class="whitecolour01"> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">March </td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">1</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">2</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">22</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">3</td> </tr> <tr class="bluecolour02"> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">February </td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">1</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">2</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">19</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">3</td> </tr> <tr class="whitecolour01"> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">January </td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">1</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">2</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">17</td> <td class="tableblue02" valign="middle">3</td></tr></tbody></table>
http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/rank/compare.html?static=5
BDiz..
<table class="tableblueborder" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr class="bluecolour01"><td class="tableblue01" width="25%">2006</td> <td class="tableblue01" width="15%">
Griffination said:
Picking the prohibitive favorite, who also happen to be the Confed Cup, Copa America and WC champ, the widely recognized best and most talented team in the world with the best player in the world at the top of his game and two of the 5 or 10 best strikers in the world isn't going out on a limb. They could lose any one single player (including Ronaldinho) and frankly, probably any two players and still be the favorite. The one possible exception to that would be if they lost both Ronaldinho and Kaka.
