# If you're following the World Cup... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 17, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096 "2006-06-17T20:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/41 "2006-06-18T21:34:27Z")
Alas, Oz didn’t. But I wasn’t surprised at Korea equalising. France did an England and didn’t try too hard for a second goal - never mind that they should have been given one ---
**Author:** ![zahara2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/53a042/32.png) [@zahara2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zahara2)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/42 "2006-06-18T22:42:37Z")
Ghana will be the new world Cup champs!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/43 "2006-06-18T23:56:22Z")
\*\*GO ECUADOR!!! \*\* ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/44 "2006-06-19T00:46:28Z")
I’m Canadian and all of my ancestors are from Ireland so naturally I’m cheering for the Netherlands. I’ve always had a soft spot for Argentina as well. Messi sure can play, can’t he? It’ll be an interesting match between the two for me… I wouldnt’ be terribly upset if England won though. I’ve always been a fan of Rooney. The crowd was absolutely electric at the thought of him coming in against T & T when he was simply warming up. It was pretty neat to see. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/45 "2006-06-19T00:54:13Z")
Australia. Despite today’s loss to Brazil, if the Aussies manage a draw or better against Croatia they should move on to the next round, which would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/46 "2006-06-19T01:12:16Z")
USA & Holland. I used to kind of root for Brazil, but all the pre-tournament hype has me rooting against them this time around. It’s all moot if Argentina continues to play the way they have been. I’ve never liked them, but that was some attractive soccer. Hup Holland! ---
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/47 "2006-06-19T01:17:28Z")
Japan!!! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/48 "2006-06-19T01:37:43Z")
[QUOTE=Noone Special] … and I’m still waiting for the day Israel makes it to the Mondial again (I was too young to follow in 1970 ☹ ) [/QUOTE] Well, I did watch the Ghana/CzechRep game and one of the Ghana players (he plays for Tel Aviv in the pros, the commentator informed) kept whipping out a small Israeli flag every time they scored and at the end – I guess it will have to do for now… Me, I was impressed with Ghana in that game. Don’t really have a favorite, as such. PR, like most of the Caribbean, is not big _fútbol_ territory. Here in SJ there is a certain, how shall we say, inertial element of bandwagonning for Brazil and Argentina but that’s mostly because our various Argentine and Brazilian Bars & Grills feature some serious specials during the Cup (and Brazil gets a bit of a greater bandwagon because, let’s face it, the party at the Brasileiros’ place is something else again…) ---
**Author:** ![Othersider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@Othersider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Othersider)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/49 "2006-06-19T03:35:48Z")
Right now, I’m going for the U.S. Not sure whom I’ll go for if they don’t make it out of this round. Maybe Italy, if they do. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/50 "2006-06-19T03:43:51Z")
US, then England. As someone else said, Italy next game, then whoever’s playing Italy. And I’m a bit tired of Brazil, so, whoever’s playing Brazil too. (The Ozzies gave them a game today, didn’t they!) ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/51 "2006-06-19T14:58:49Z")
After yesterday’s games, I have made a change. I am no longer rooting for Brazil. GO SOCCEROOS! ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/52 "2006-06-20T08:45:51Z")
England - when within striking range of my co-workers. Spain - because that’s who I drew in the office pool. Ghana - because I’d love an African team to do well. Holland - because I’ve had a soft spot for them for a long, long time… Basically, I chose sides each game. Grim ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/53 "2006-06-20T10:51:49Z")
[QUOTE=JRDelirious] Well, I did watch the Ghana/CzechRep game and one of the Ghana players (he plays for Tel Aviv in the pros, the commentator informed) kept whipping out a small Israeli flag every time they scored and at the end – I guess it will have to do for now… [/QUOTE] Yes, John Fenstil. It was big news here (of course… we’re so provincial :rolleyes: ). Seems he caught quite a bit of flak for his action, too. Which is unfortunate but, when I think about it rationally, it _does_ make sense; he’s playing for Team Ghana, not Team Israel. Guess he really likes it here. Even if he plays for the **wrong** Tel-Aviv team, dammit!! ---
**Author:** ![Marienee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Marienee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marienee)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/54 "2006-06-20T11:15:22Z")
I have to cheer for Holland lest I be set out of the house and flogged through the public square. I am allowed to cheer for Australia (as long as they are not playing Holland), as long as I note what a great coach they have. I am called to the TV every time the Czechs play because I noted aloud once that there is something odd about the way Nedved is, um, put together. I don’t know how else to put it, he moves strangely. It isn’t in a bad way, but I keep watching him trying to put my finger on what it is. When I am not conforming to social expectations I quite like Argentina for the rather stupid reason that they look like they are having a good time. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/55 "2006-06-20T11:47:25Z")
Why my namesakes’ of course. Eerie that after so many years of disappointments – my memories go back to England '66 – I’m getting a special tingle about this bunch. Doubt there’s a better o deeper midfield in the whole WC: Xavi, Xabi A, Iniesta, Senna and Cesc. Combine that with great speed and mobility up front – Torres, Villa, Garcia, Reyes and Joaquin --and some tough CBs in Puyol and Pablo protecting öur “angel” Casillas and this might be our WC after all. **Aupa España!** ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/56 "2006-06-21T04:00:52Z")
1. USA 2. England 3. Brazil 4. France, I guess 5. Sweden ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/57 "2006-06-21T04:24:50Z")
The US, of course; otherwise I just root for high-level play and close games. I loved England-Sweden today, although I thought there were some breakdowns on either side (but particularly England through most of the second half) and I didn’t like that after the second equalizer they were both playing for the draw. I guess England was being charitable by letting Sweden take the advancement they’d earned just in case T&T suddenly found its form (pffft!). That’s group play, I guess. All in all exciting footy, I thought, and I’ll make it a point to try to watch the two teams’ games the rest of the way through. Actually, I am rooting for Spain a bit as well, because I’m very interested in the country’s culture, hope to live there or at least spend a lot of time there in the future, and would like to see them play up to their potential which (as I understand) they really haven’t done much at the WC stage. > [@Quartz](#): > > Peope here seem rather down on England’s chances after the match against Trinidad and Tobago - they were expecting a walkover - but I watched T&T’s match against Sweden and they’re no slouches. T&T is a Jekyll & Hyde team. They looked _awful_ today against a Paraguay side that’s not that impressive. It was heinous. I watched for ten minutes, switched back to England-Sweden, went back over to T&T-Paraguay to see the replay of the own goal and then left it on Eng-Swe the rest of the way through. And I guess as an ex-stoner and a pro-legalization advocate I can’t help but feel a little joy when Holland wins. > [@ZebraShaSha](#): > > And there are now 9 supporters in the States. I got my best friend to watch some of the matches, and now she loves it, too. She watched the Argentina match and thought “the head thing was cool!” and also watched that recent no scoring one. Not only this, but her little brother watches it with her now, and he is hooked as well In fact, we went outside and we played soccer for over an hour after the U.S. match. I tried to teach him some basics, but so far he mostly just likes trying to chip and kick it really hard. > > This was a kid obsessed with baseball, playing all day every day. We are winning the hearts and mind of the Americans! What a great story! I was actually won over that way by _my_ best friend, back in high school. We would watch games and then go outside and kick around, and I would freak her out by wearing her goalie gloves (bad, I know, messing with her sport superstitions, as she was quite a capable player herself–looking back on it I would’ve been miffed if someone messed with my basketball ritual even though I’m not too superstitious), and pretty soon I was going to all her games and we were buying season tickets together. Her little brother really got into it, too. I really miss that and I wish I had a “soccer buddy” again. > [@Usram](#): > > They’re not THAT good, guys. They had great teams in 1970, and 1982, but otherwise in the World Cups I’ve seen they’ve been no better than any other leading country, overall. I always thought the orgasming over Brazil was less about them being an absolutely dominating team and more about them being lightfooted and having an exciting, high-skilled, “samba” style of play (as they say on this side of the pond). > [@Sublight](#): > > Contender: France Everyone says they’re such a favorite, but they got wiped out in 2002 and haven’t been impressive at all in this Cup. They’re in last place–Togo doesn’t count–and have scored only once. > [@glee](#): > > I think the US are currently playing near a big US base in Germany Ramstein AFB, but yes the city is Kaiserslautern. They’re sleeping at the base itself if I understand correctly. And the one and only thing that’s made me think even for a second “too bad I’m not in the Air Force”… > [@Noone Special](#): > > … and I’m still waiting for the day Israel makes it to the Mondial again (I was too young to follow in 1970 ) Can you clear something up for me? It seems from the interactive world soccer map on [fifa.com](http://fifa.com) that Israel isn’t recognized, only “Palestine” is. Am I incorrect? Does Israel have a national team recognized by FIFA? Have they consistently bombed out in qualifiers, or have they been contenders to qualify since 1970? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/58 "2006-06-21T04:55:45Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] The US, of course; otherwise I just root for high-level play and close games. I loved England-Sweden today, although I thought there were some breakdowns on either side (but particularly England through most of the second half) and **I didn’t like that after the second equalizer they were both playing for the draw.** [/QUOTE] Jesus, you make it sound like they just kicked the ball around for ages while waiting for the match to end. The second equalizer was scored in injury time, ferchrissakes. There wasn’t exactly a lot of time left for either side to mount a sustained attack afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2006, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/59 "2006-06-21T05:05:13Z")
Brazil. I don’t always root for US teams, and they don’t look like they’re going anywhere anyway. Brazil is fun to watch and one of my best friends is Brazilian - so I also don’t want to fight her about it. ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096/60 "2006-06-21T05:11:31Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] Can you clear something up for me? It seems from the interactive world soccer map on [fifa.com](http://fifa.com) that Israel isn’t recognized, only “Palestine” is. Am I incorrect? Does Israel have a national team recognized by FIFA? Have they consistently bombed out in qualifiers, or have they been contenders to qualify since 1970? [/QUOTE] Israel qualifies under the European Zone, not the Asian Zone. Check out [this site](http://www.mapsofworld.com/2006-fifa-world-cup/european-zone/index.html) for full results on how Israel did in qualifications for the 2006 World Cup. In case you are interested, they are ranked 49th in the world by [FIFA rankings](http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index/0,2548,All-May-2006,00.html) . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-following-the-world-cup/361096.md?page=4)