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its the continent that gives them such high odds indeed
guess because they are more accustomed to the climate?
On July 01 2013 22:50 Vault Boy wrote: Argentina 5/1 HAHAHAHA :D What idiot did that? Only contenders for World Cup are Germany and Spain. /END
And Brazil because its their home turf
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Argentina 5/1 HAHAHAHA :D What idiot did that? Only contenders for World Cup are Germany and Spain. /END
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Pandemona
Charlie Sheens House51478 Posts
Even in South America? Don't forget if your in certain areas of Brazil you can be playing in like 90% humidity and 28degrees at 7pm in the evening, and im guessing there will be games on earlier, so you could be playing 90% humidity and 30+degrees. Completely different to anything Europeans have to deal with?
Then in the southern side you can be playing in -1 at night. Be completely crazy climate changes to mess up the systems.
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Even if it has been a long time since it happened the last time, european teams have always struggled when the world cup was in latin america. Just remember, before 2010, no european team had won a world cup outside of europe. So there surely is something like a "continental home" advantage; for various possible reasons.
I'm surprised belgium is ranked so high, above the netherlands; I knew they have a very good qualifying campaign. But I haven't paid too much attention to them, do they really have a quality team all of a sudden? (they haven't qualified for a big tournament since when? 2002?) Can anyone explain? Also same for Colombia. France will be unpredictable as always, but they might not even qualify.
As of now my dark horse picks are Japan (despite the Confed Cup performance) and the USA (I still believe Klinsmann might not be the best club team coach, but I think he's ideal to coach a national team at a big tournament). Not in the sense that I think they will the tournament, but they are underrated quite a lot and have shown quite some potential recently. Would not surprise me to see them eliminate a big name and show up in the quarterfinals.
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Pandemona
Charlie Sheens House51478 Posts
Belgium, just look at there squad brah. All under 23 and world class already (or soon to be)
Courtois - 21, awesome goalkeeper, probably top 10 keeper in the world already AND IS 21 Kompany - 27, beast of a CB, arguably top 5 CB in the premiership Vertonghen - 26, can play LB or CB, has pace and height good quality defender Witsel - 24 bags of pace, great player improving all the time at Zenit Kevin De Bruyne - 22, Chelsea winger, can cross right foot and left foot, shown bags of potential this season at Chelsea will be his turning point to see if he can cut it at the top Fellaini - 25, BEAST of a CM on his day can boss any midfield Hazard - 22, could quite easily be as good as Neymar and co if he continues his improvement, will be one to watch Dembélé - 25, there playmaker, and eye for a pass and does it all so casually, makes the game look easy Benteke - 22, raw poor pace and a finish to match. Also good in the air, a great all round striker Mirallas - 25, speedy winger with an eye for goal, can be a match winner, but not all the time Dries Mertens - 26Another great pacey forward, scores goals for fun and has been getting better and better in Eredivisie, will see how he does with Napoli in the champions league this season too. Lukaku - 20, Drogba...plain and simple, could be even better than Drogba too, 15 goals in his debut season in the Prem. BEAST
AWESOME SQUAD is why
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if KDB/Lukaku/Hazard/Benteke all have good 13/14 seasons you have to consider them among the stronger contenders for sure
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On July 01 2013 23:38 Mafe wrote: As of now my dark horse picks are Japan (despite the Confed Cup performance) and the USA (I still believe Klinsmann might not be the best club team coach, but I think he's ideal to coach a national team at a big tournament). Not in the sense that I think they will the tournament, but they are underrated quite a lot and have shown quite some potential recently. Would not surprise me to see them eliminate a big name and show up in the quarterfinals. hehe USA has a pattern of having a pretty good WC, then pretty bad one, then pretty good one, then bad one. Since 2010 was a "pretty good one" despite being in the lead for total of 1 minute the entire tournament, I expect them to fall at the group stage. But it all depends on their group I guess.
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Pandemona
Charlie Sheens House51478 Posts
Yeah i can't wait for December for the World Cup draw! Going be siickkk
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On July 01 2013 23:52 Pandemona wrote:Belgium, just look at there squad brah. All under 23 and world class already (or soon to be) Courtois - 21, awesome goalkeeper, probably top 10 keeper in the world already AND IS 21 Kompany - 27, beast of a CB, arguably top 5 CB in the premiership Vertonghen - 26, can play LB or CB, has pace and height good quality defender Witsel - 24 bags of pace, great player improving all the time at Zenit Kevin De Bruyne - 22, Chelsea winger, can cross right foot and left foot, shown bags of potential this season at Chelsea will be his turning point to see if he can cut it at the top Fellaini - 25, BEAST of a CM on his day can boss any midfield Hazard - 22, could quite easily be as good as Neymar and co if he continues his improvement, will be one to watch Dembélé - 25, there playmaker, and eye for a pass and does it all so casually, makes the game look easy Benteke - 22, raw poor pace and a finish to match. Also good in the air, a great all round striker Mirallas - 25, speedy winger with an eye for goal, can be a match winner, but not all the time Dries Mertens - 26Another great pacey forward, scores goals for fun and has been getting better and better in Eredivisie, will see how he does with Napoli in the champions league this season too. Lukaku - 20, Drogba...plain and simple, could be even better than Drogba too, 15 goals in his debut season in the Prem. BEAST AWESOME SQUAD is why  You're overrating Hazard, he's not on the level of Neymar imo and Mertens has a name for scoring against small clubs and not against the big ones.
But yeah Belgium has a real good team..
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Mascherano, Zabaleta, Garay, Banega ... Argentina has more to offer than "just" a magnificent offense! With a manager who knows what he is doing the team is certainly a contender for the title.
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Pandemona
Charlie Sheens House51478 Posts
On July 02 2013 00:24 RvB wrote:Show nested quote +On July 01 2013 23:52 Pandemona wrote:Belgium, just look at there squad brah. All under 23 and world class already (or soon to be) Courtois - 21, awesome goalkeeper, probably top 10 keeper in the world already AND IS 21 Kompany - 27, beast of a CB, arguably top 5 CB in the premiership Vertonghen - 26, can play LB or CB, has pace and height good quality defender Witsel - 24 bags of pace, great player improving all the time at Zenit Kevin De Bruyne - 22, Chelsea winger, can cross right foot and left foot, shown bags of potential this season at Chelsea will be his turning point to see if he can cut it at the top Fellaini - 25, BEAST of a CM on his day can boss any midfield Hazard - 22, could quite easily be as good as Neymar and co if he continues his improvement, will be one to watch Dembélé - 25, there playmaker, and eye for a pass and does it all so casually, makes the game look easy Benteke - 22, raw poor pace and a finish to match. Also good in the air, a great all round striker Mirallas - 25, speedy winger with an eye for goal, can be a match winner, but not all the time Dries Mertens - 26Another great pacey forward, scores goals for fun and has been getting better and better in Eredivisie, will see how he does with Napoli in the champions league this season too. Lukaku - 20, Drogba...plain and simple, could be even better than Drogba too, 15 goals in his debut season in the Prem. BEAST AWESOME SQUAD is why  You're overrating Hazard, he's not on the level of Neymar imo and Mertens has a name for scoring against small clubs and not against the big ones. But yeah Belgium has a real good team..
Ya but i did say COULD He is not there yet i agree, but has shown some nice glimpses of being able to take on more than just one or two defenders and supplying a cross. He takes on 3-4 and finishes. Take Man Utd cup game away from home, takes on 2 players and bends the ball in top corner xD
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I really like Belgium as they are right now too, this issue is the depth. If they have an injury or two, or they need to make some subs its not going to be gravy for them. Still, I'm hoping they do really well at the WC.
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Today is the "Arbeloa Crucifixion Day". Everyone is attacking him because Neymar outplayed him. And before, nodoby wanted him in the national team anyway... so...
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Pandemona
Charlie Sheens House51478 Posts
Bahaha, Spain found their escape goat? Shame, but he really is sub par ffs. How Azpilicueta doesn't get in over him with being younger and being Chelsea RB for all season. Makes no sense XD
Plus he is closest to Jordi Alba on the left..quick pacey, has a good cross. Not as good at finishing or anything but still his age makes him >>>>>> Arbeloa
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Neymar has more to prove than Hazard imo.
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But yeah the odds seem legit. Nice gamble on France possibly, Deschamps can grind 1-0 wins all the way and Ribery will carry the team. I would not put my money on it though xD
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Problem with Argentina is that they don't really have a creative midfielder to really link up defense to offense and so forth. I think banega is the only player capable of doing it, but really not to a great extent. Argentina are great at creating holding mids, but not so much creative mids
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Arbeloa is not really a scapegoat, most people with half a brain here have been saying he sucks FOR AGES :D Versus Italy Piqué kept having to help him all game, just watch it xD
Long live Arbeloa as a Madrid player.
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On July 02 2013 02:05 Pandemona wrote: Bahaha, Spain found their escape goat?
You didn't just say this, lmao.
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