Eng-ger-lund!
Okay, “always” was a bit premature. Spain is stinking it up today.
Germany. Watching them in the 2006 World Cup was what first got me interested in soccer and made me into a Bayern fan (since half the squad plays in Munich). And my family is from Germany originally, on both sides. But really, it’s because I like the team.
Failing that, though, anybody but Brazil. I’ve been convinced for awhile that the whole thing will be a home cooking bag job, and the travesty against Croatia yesterday just confirmed my fears. I’ll happily root for Spain, Italy, Argentina, hell, even Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal over them.
Comes with the nationality.
And after last night in even think they might make a chance:)
I’m English born and bred.
However, I have a fabulous record of picking losing teams, horses etc so…
COME ON ARGENTINA!
- Anyone but Brazil.
- USA
- Germany
- England
Australia is my team, but yesterday was probably their only chance to salvage even a draw from the tournament, so I’m not especially confident about their next two games. Unfortunately, they’re in a really tough group, at a time when Aussie soccer is not very strong at all.
I’d really be quite happy to see Mexico or England win it. Apart from that, I’ll just keep rooting for the underdog in each game. Like a few others in this thread, I am also taking an “anyone but Brazil” position.
USA, natch. For just any random game that I happen to watch on TV, the underdog. After USA is inevitably knocked out, England; I’m also fond of the Netherlands, for whatever reason. (Watching them school Spain yesterday was delightful. :D)
The US, because I’m a USian. They have a real shot at advancing, even if they’re outmanned beyond that (it was poor coaching by Klinsmann to say so, though). No real preference among the other nations, but I do love the spirit they all have.
One word - Belgitude. Hoping the Belgians can pull their superb individual talents together to contest the WC. Would like to see Fellaini show his class in the middle of the park - it wasn’t him wearing a Utd shirt this season - an imposter.
Also be pulling for England for a change - first credible squad they’ve sent to a tournament in beards. Roy Hodgeson is pretty limited, tbh, but he’s a dignified bloke and has straightened out the Capello circus to a large extent.
Costa Rica just handed Uruguay their ass. 
Off to a good start.
In addition to the two players who used to play for my local team in Norway, as I mentioned, there are also a few more players in the squad who are currently playing in the Norwegian top division, or have done so previously. I think we should just adopt them as the stand-in Norwegian national team for this championship. Heck, they even have the same national colors as us.
Uruguay is South American, and my Caribbean loyalty went to Costa Rica in this game. I do want both teams to advance though.
My dream final would be composed of only Latin American teams.
Mexico always has my heart. My parents are Mexican and almost all of my family is still in Mexico, so that is not really a surprise. Since the Olympics it’s been a bit tough but hopes are always high.
Supporting the USMNT has been a little complicated for me, as it is for many Latinos in the US. It doesn’t help that some among the US fanbase have difficulty comporting themselves well when talking to/about Mexico in particular. The team itself, though, is fun to cheer for when they are the underdogs and that makes supporting them at a World Cup a good time. They have some good guys, I like Altidore and Jones a lot. I am cautiously optimistic about their chances too.
From Europe: I used to lived in Germany so I always have a soft spot in my heart for them. I also like the Russian team.
From South America: I don’t really have a team I like this year. I guess Argentina, since I have some cousins there. It’s not set in stone though. I watched the 2002 game between Argentina and England in a pub in London. I quickly decided to change my affiliation.
From Africa: Algeria. Best team nickname, and I follow the Amazigh cause with interest.
From Asia: I have no hard feelings against any of them. I hope they all do well.
First team I remember rooting for was Holland in '74 (dad is from Rotterdam). And the USA. Which team comes first can switch. 4 years ago it was the USA after getting disillusioned by Holland’s dirty play.
Me too! Half-Dutch, so I gotta cheer for the kind-of homeland!
The US, but, let’s face it, that won’t last long. I was planning to support the Netherlands but if that first match is any indication they play dirty. So I guess I’ll stick with England. Sit on this and spin, Ballotelli.
So, uh, nobody else for Cameroon? Well, someone had to root for them. Allez les Lions! Sam-u-el Etoooooooooo!
The USA. The most likely way for them to get through the group is beat Ghana, tie Portugal, and get through on goal differential. Probably won’t happen, but it’s not a crazy set of games to make that happen.
After that I’m looking for Germany to do well.
As always, at World Cup time, I root for whichever team is playing against the USA. Because the sooner the American team is eliminated, the sooner the American media will stop pretending they give a rat’s ass about soccer, and the sooner they’ll go back to covering sports Americans actually care about.
Whenever the U.S. team is eliminated, tune in to sports radio the next morning and pay attention to what you WON’T hear! Namely:
- Anybody calling into to scream for Coach Klinsman’s head!
- Anybody calling in to complain about the team’s poor performance.
- Anybody calling in who’s heartbroken or angry about the result.
That will remind everyone once again just how important this event is to most Americans.
Let it all out, man. Let it all out.