World Cup - opening round matches to watch?

[MaxTheVool]

The World Cup is almost upon us. Hooray!
(Discussion of spoilers here.)

What do people think will be the most exciting/key/contested/controversial first round matches? (Here’s the complete schedule.)

I’m obviously super-psyched for USA vs. England on Saturday, which is conveniently at a non-obscene time here in California. But I’m far from a sophisticated enough football (I’ll call it football for the next month out of respect) fan to really understand what the key upcoming matches are.

[Ximenean]

There’s no point trying to predict which will be the classic games, you just have to watch all of them ;).
If I were to make a guess, I’d say that the only thing approaching a “group of death” this time is group G, Brazil/Portugal/Ivory Coast/North Korea, so any games between the first three of those ought to be worth a look. Games involving Australia could be lively, if 2006 is anything to go by. But I honestly think that England - USA is the pick of the early games. I am already getting butterflies about that one. I think both sides quite justifiably feel that they can win it. Or they’ll settle for a tepid draw, and hope to beat at least one of the other two teams. Who knows?

[markdash]

I’m looking forward to most of the games at 4:30 am (Pacific time). I will try my level best to wake up early and watch those games before going to work. Shades of KoreaJapan 2002!

Some matches to look forward to:

Uruguay/France
England/US
Argentina/Nigeria
Italy/Paraguay
Ivory Coast/Portugal

I’m a sucker for Europe versus Subsaharan Africa, and Europe versus South America.

[PopeJewish]

@Ximenean

There’s no point trying to predict which will be the classic games, you just have to watch all of them ;).
If I were to make a guess, I’d say that the only thing approaching a “group of death” this time is group G, Brazil/Portugal/Ivory Coast/North Korea, so any games between the first three of those ought to be worth a look. Games involving Australia could be lively, if 2006 is anything to go by. But I honestly think that England - USA is the pick of the early games. I am already getting butterflies about that one. I think both sides quite justifiably feel that they can win it. Or they’ll settle for a tepid draw, and hope to beat at least one of the other two teams. Who knows?

Hey that’s not fair. I think any game involving North Korea should be, at the very least, amusing

Unfortunately for me the England/US game is going to be on at like 3:30am here (stupid Japan) so I’m screwed. And by “screwed” I mean I’ll have to download it that morning

[footballisplayedwithyourfeet]

The game with the best collection of players will probably be Brazil - Portugal and Brazil - Ivory Coast. For soem reason I think Mexico - Uruguay could be battle field - and thus interesting. Serbia - Ghana will be interesting, because Ghana have a Serbian coach (I believe) and off course US - Engurland.

But as said before, classics usually just happen; mostly when you don’t expect it.

[ShibbOleth]

I think that Group A, starting with the first match, could hold a lot of intrigue. Bafana Bafana (South Africa) have been resurgent of late and are going to have insane crowds pulling for them. France are vulnerable. Mexico have also been hot and Uruguay could be a surprise or disappointment.

[MaxTheVool]

@footballisplayedwithyourfeet

The game with the best collection of players will probably be Brazil - Portugal and Brazil - Ivory Coast. For soem reason I think Mexico - Uruguay could be battle field - and thus interesting. Serbia - Ghana will be interesting, because Ghana have a Serbian coach (I believe) and off course US - Engurland.

But as said before, classics usually just happen; mostly when you don’t expect it.

Isn’t Ivory Coast a team with only one good player, and he’s injured? Or am I confused?

[ShibbOleth]

@MaxTheVool

Isn’t Ivory Coast a team with only one good player, and he’s injured? Or am I confused?

Here’s a squad list for CIV from the FIFA site:
1 Boubacar BARRY 30/12/1979 GK Lokeren (BEL) 180
2 Brou ANGOUA 28/11/1986 DF Valenciennes (FRA) 178
3 Arthur BOKA 02/04/1983 DF VfB Stuttgart (GER) 166
4 Kolo TOURE 19/03/1981 DF Manchester City (ENG) 183
5 Didier ZOKORA 14/12/1980 MF Sevilla FC (ESP) 183
6 Steve GOHOURI 08/02/1981 DF Wigan (ENG) 187
7 Seydou DOUMBIA 31/12/1987 FW Young Boys (SUI) 183
8 Salomon KALOU 05/08/1985 FW Chelsea (ENG) 175
9 Ismael TIOTE 21/06/1986 MF Twente Enschede (NED) 175
10 GERVINHO 27/05/1987 FW Lille (FRA) 179
11 Didier DROGBA 11/03/1978 FW Chelsea (ENG) 180
12 Jean Jacques GOSSO 15/03/1983 MF Monaco (FRA) 177
13 ROMARIC 04/06/1983 MF Sevilla FC (ESP) 187
14 Emmanuel KONE 31/12/1986 MF International (ROU) 177
15 Aruna DINDANE 26/11/1980 FW Portsmouth (ENG) 174
16 Aristide ZOGBO 30/12/1981 GK Maccabi Netanya (ISR) 183
17 Siaka TIENE 22/02/1982 DF Valenciennes (FRA) 176
18 Kader KEITA 06/08/1981 FW Galatasaray (TUR) 184
19 Yaya TOURE 13/05/1983 MF Barcelona (ESP) 189
20 Guy DEMEL 13/06/1981 DF Hamburger SV (GER) 191
21 Emmanuel EBOUE 04/06/1983 DF Arsenal (ENG) 178
22 Souleymane BAMBA 13/01/1985 DF Hibernian (SCO) 190
23 Daniel YEBOAH 13/11/1984 GK ASEC Mimosas (CIV) 187

Number on the right is height in centimeters, I think 183 = 6 feet, iirc. I’ve highlighted some notables.

star players
Les Elephants feature top-drawer talent throughout their side, with the Chelsea pair of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou a formidable duo up front. Sevilla’s Didier Zokora and Barcelona’s Yaya Toure provide bite in midfield alongside Marseille’s diminutive Bakary Kone, while the England-based pair of Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure combine with Stuttgart’s Arthur Boka to form one of the best defences in Africa.