Who will win the World Cup?

[andy4]

Ireland will win Trapatoni the man

stig keep off the pocheen (how ever you spell it) m8 it's frazzling ya brain

[maxi1968]

england winning world cup

After seeing the performances of Brazil, Italy and Spain, in the Confederations Cup, I don't think England has anything to fear from these teams.

Portugal look like they're not going to qualify, Germany have not been strong enough for a decade now, France are looking second best in their group to Serbia.

Of course next year all might be different, but the biggest challengers are likely to be England, Serbia (had a really good qualifiers), Argentina and Holland with an outside chance.

Your thoughts?

however the confedaration cup is just a warm up ,i think england will get to the semi final but i also think that they will not have enough in the tank to go the extra mile.

[alunfennell]

The confederations Cup has shown us that the USA have found something they have had not had before....with a population of 180+ million its seems they have at last found 11+ players that can play football...

As for England they have one of the easy groups in the quallifing from the European seeds and can not be judged untill they are placed and are playing with the big boys.

Ireland are likely to come second in there group after Italy who are also in a easy group but Ireland who are pretty poor but keep knocking out wins are likely to face a big name in a knock out game at the end of qualifing, only the best placed second qualifing teams go threw Ireland have to score more goals and win all to have any chance.

Russia are my pick of been the 2010 World cup winners with USA or Brazil been in the final...

Regards:
Alun

[ruudvandan]

The confederations Cup has shown us that the USA have found something they have had not had before....with a population of 180+ million its seems they have at last found 11+ players that can play football...

As for England they have one of the easy groups in the quallifing from the European seeds and can not be judged untill they are placed and are playing with the big boys.

Ireland are likely to come second in there group after Italy who are also in a easy group but Ireland who are pretty poor but keep knocking out wins are likely to face a big name in a knock out game at the end of qualifing, only the best placed second qualifing teams go threw Ireland have to score more goals and win all to have any chance.

Russia are my pick of been the 2010 World cup winners with USA or Brazil been in the final...

Regards:
Alun

There are 9 Qualifying groups in Europe, and the best 8 runners up qualify for the playoff, so Ireland will make it. If anyone needs to worry about not making the top 8 it should be Scotland

[alunfennell]

There are 9 Qualifying groups in Europe, and the best 8 runners up qualify for the playoff, so Ireland will make it. If anyone needs to worry about not making the top 8 it should be Scotland

And as it stands Ireland are placed 7th best second place runners up at the moment and are fighting to keep it ! Remember there are some big teams in the European Seeding that are placed second as it stands with such teams as Switzerland, Russia, Croatia, France, and other teams like Turkey & Portugal also fighting up from a third place, Ireland If they dont win in September when they take on Italy will have a hard time even making a runners up place ........

Regard:
Alun

[ruudvandan]

And as it stands Ireland are placed 7th best second place runners up at the moment and are fighting to keep it ! Remember there are some big teams in the European Seeding that are placed second as it stands with such teams as Switzerland, Russia, Croatia, France, and other teams like Turkey & Portugal also fighting up from a third place, Ireland If they dont win in September when they take on Italy will have a hard time even making a runners up place ........

Regard:
Alun

I know but Scotland are only on 7 points and Ireland haven't lost a game yet. If Ireland do drop points there's only Bulgaria who could realistically catch them and they have only beaten Cyprus and Ireland will have home advantage when they play them.

[ghaliba]

The so called ?top nations are still playing to qualify! It?s still long way to go, a lot can happen, it would be nice if England win!! I personally believe it might happen!! We are playing as a team now!! But again teams like Brazil, Italy and Germany are extremely good at tournaments!! Will have to wait and seen! I would like England to win if not it will be lovely for under Achievers like Holland or an African nation to win!! But I can?t see the later happening

[alunfennell]

Europe

The European qualification games started in August 2008. The 53 national teams will be divided into eight groups of six teams, and one group of five. The nine group winners will qualify directly and the best eight runners-up will play home and away play-off matches for the remaining four places.

the best eight runners-up will play home and away play-off matches for the remaining four places...

Curently All Teams in Second Place

Rep of Ireland
Hungary
Switzerland
Northern Ireland
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Croatia
France
Scotland
Russia

Teams at the moment tiped to reach Best eight runners-up and win a play off place are....

Russia
France
Switzerland
Croatia

Personaly I think Scotland, Ireland and N.Ireland as it stand will have a hard time getting passed the play-offs seeing as there are some realy big teams fighting in second place along with them for a place in next years world Cup !

I know its only half way in the qualifing rounds but most of the groups but even at this stage we can pretty much see who will end up where ..

From all the home Nations England are the only ones with there heads above water...

Regards:
Alun

[davieboy.rfc]

1. brazil 2. holland.3 argentina 4.scotland

[stan2222]

england i hope will win

[stan2222]

if england dont win the world cup ,i think germany will but england wii win it .its been long time since 1966

[alunfennell]

It will be closer to 2066 ......When England will come close again to picking up the World Cup ! When your Domestic League is full of players fighting to enter it from all aross the world it dilutes your national squad selection...

At the moment when your Domestic League the Premiership has 60% of its palyers coming from other countrys this means that to pick a Eleven top players only comes ever Ten years or so ! the last time England came close was of course 2002 & 2006 getting to the Quarter-finals on both occasions with two great teams full of top players but you have to go back to 1986 to see England in the same position making the Quarter-Finals of a world Cup !

England do not by any stretch of the imagination have a good history in the world cup over the years ....England have made 12/18 Work Cup that have been held and over all are Ranked No 8 best country since the World Cup was started...

1930 Did Not Enter
1934 Did Not Enter
1938 Did Not Enter
1950 Round 1
1954 Quarter-finals
1958 Round 1
1962 Quarter-finals
1966 Champions
1970 Quarter-finals
1974 Did not Qualify
1978 Did not Qualify
1982 Group Round 2
1986 Quarter-Finals
1990 Fourth Place
1994 Did not Qualify
1998 Round 2
2002 Quarter-finals
2006 Quarter-finals

England have a realy easy Qualifing to get to next years World Cup and have not been tested very much under Capello but I dont think we will see England getting to the last 16.........But they will go further than any other Home nation ......

Roll on Next Summer !...........

Regards:
Alun

[brianirving]

HI...EVEN AS A SCOTSMAN I HAVE TO SAY ENGLAND WILL WIN

[tursapea]

I think maybe Brazil