Quote:
Originally Posted by AndreasT
who do you think will actually win the world cup?
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You're a bit early for conjecture and hypotheticals aren't you?
With this far out, a lot, and i mean a lot can change.
Injuries to star players which are playing in their respective club sides, Friendlies still to play after the new year, which could also pose injury concerns etc for star players. All of this could potentially damage or shuffle a world cup squad for a national side, either making it nigh impossible to have any chance to even progress through the group stages, let alone the qualifiers.
Now, if you're a betting man, have a look at:
http://world-cup.betting-directory.com/
If you are not, don your tin foil hat, listen to rumours and conjecture, read crappy columnists and bad reporting and jump on the band wagon of any 15 countries that normally have a chance of winning a world cup.
There is never a clear favourite, one of the great things about football is that there is a such a close gap between the top 10 to 15 countries, and also can produce shock upsets.
Current FIFA Rankings:
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/
If you look at it, any of the top 15 ranked Teams have a chance. A realistic chance i mean.
On paper, Spain would be a favourite (not clear, since they also have lost games recently), Germany of course, Argentina, Brazil (you would be mad to count them out, with their fans behind them and in their home), Portugal, The Oranje, Italy, Greece....and on it goes.
I follow Germany, always have, and they have drawn a interesting group, with Juergen Klinnsman's USA, Ronaldo's Portugal and Chile. Deutschland will have their work cut out big-time, first game of the group is Germany and USA, Klinnsman and Joachim good friends and know each other's coaching styles inside out, as you know, Jogy being the apprentice of Klinnsy.
Portugal isn't easy, Imho Portugal is, and always has been a dark horse of football, Ronaldo is a 1-man wrecking machine, he can individually annhialate a team. If he fires, anything can happen.
Ghana aren't as easy as one might imagine, they play fast and exciting football. I don't expect them to win against Germany, but the Germans need to be aware of counter-attacks, fast and furious. I have watched African Football and it may not be classy or technically correct a lot of the times, but, with their speed and long plays, they could cause some, i stress the word, some head aches.
Germany's record is great, with advancing in the group stages and making the quarters.
Their hit rate is very good, so i will expect them to either win the group or come second.
No problems. As you know, second best is not good enough for a German
So, short answer: Germany to win the World Cup. (I hope)>