Comments on: No clear favourites for the 2010 World Cup http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/ Football News Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: DEXTER http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-125211 DEXTER Wed, 26 May 2010 07:37:05 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-125211 Guys how can we talk about fifa world cup taking place on african soil without mentioning Samuel Eto'o?Do you mean he is no more the best from the african continent? Guys how can we talk about fifa world cup taking place on african soil without mentioning Samuel Eto’o?Do you mean he is no more the best from the african continent?

]]> By: Ahmed Bilal http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-120047 Ahmed Bilal Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:32:27 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-120047 But there's an English bias, no? :) But there’s an English bias, no? :)

]]> By: Adrian Clarke http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-120046 Adrian Clarke Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:44:16 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-120046 Thanks for all the comments guys! Good and bad :) You can make cases about a number of teams and individual players, no question, but I stick with my view entirely. This will be a wide open World Cup with no immediate stand out team. Thanks for all the comments guys! Good and bad :)

You can make cases about a number of teams and individual players, no question, but I stick with my view entirely.

This will be a wide open World Cup with no immediate stand out team.

]]> By: EddieMunro http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-120031 EddieMunro Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:26:01 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-120031 To continue with Daniel's point. Capello could improve England's tactics like Eriksson did, and this will work against the weaker nations and off form teams (Germany + Argentina in the Eriksson era, Croatia for Capello). But what may be interesting is whether England revert to type under pressure/a goal down or have the mental strength and maturity to stick with Capello's ethos. The national teams that have had success at recent tournaments are the ones who have escaped/transcended their own burdensome history, Brazil, France, Spain. To continue with Daniel’s point. Capello could improve England’s tactics like Eriksson did, and this will work against the weaker nations and off form teams (Germany + Argentina in the Eriksson era, Croatia for Capello). But what may be interesting is whether England revert to type under pressure/a goal down or have the mental strength and maturity to stick with Capello’s ethos. The national teams that have had success at recent tournaments are the ones who have escaped/transcended their own burdensome history, Brazil, France, Spain.

]]> By: Ahmed Bilal http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-120027 Ahmed Bilal Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:57:12 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-120027 In 2006, Owen and Rooney were returning from injury, the third striker was Crouch and the fourth was Walcott! Funny enough, if it's still those four it'll be a better front line since apart from Owen, all 3 players have improved since then. In 2006, Owen and Rooney were returning from injury, the third striker was Crouch and the fourth was Walcott!

Funny enough, if it’s still those four it’ll be a better front line since apart from Owen, all 3 players have improved since then.

]]> By: BD Condell http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-120024 BD Condell Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:49:30 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-120024 Good answer Daniel....Capello may indeed be an X-factor. I think the squad is good but a little short on 2006 mainly because a number of players will be 30+ next June (Rio, Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham), the 2nd striker position is uncertain (it was Owen and Rooney in 2006), the goalkeeping postion is a worry, and players like J Cole and Hargreaves may not make it. All that said though there's not a big difference! Good answer Daniel….Capello may indeed be an X-factor.

I think the squad is good but a little short on 2006 mainly because a number of players will be 30+ next June (Rio, Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham), the 2nd striker position is uncertain (it was Owen and Rooney in 2006), the goalkeeping postion is a worry, and players like J Cole and Hargreaves may not make it.

All that said though there’s not a big difference!

]]> By: Daniel Chung http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-120017 Daniel Chung Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:27:31 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-120017 BD Simply because they have Fabio Capello who will infuse tactical awareness into a squad filled with individually talented players. It's not necessarily the players who are better off, although they're by no means a poor bunch. There is talent and this time around, Fabio Capello's leadership has been the difference. That's my cursory observation but I'm not educated enough about this topic to engage in an out-and-out debate. Correct me by any means if my conclusions are off. BD

Simply because they have Fabio Capello who will infuse tactical awareness into a squad filled with individually talented players. It’s not necessarily the players who are better off, although they’re by no means a poor bunch. There is talent and this time around, Fabio Capello’s leadership has been the difference. That’s my cursory observation but I’m not educated enough about this topic to engage in an out-and-out debate. Correct me by any means if my conclusions are off.

]]> By: BD Condell http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-120014 BD Condell Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:07:01 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-120014 I agree with the main point of the article. The standards are not as high as previously. Italy, France, Portugal and Argentina are way below the standard of other years. Spain and Brazil have to be the stand-out teams but even this Brazilian team is nowhere near some of its WC predecessors. And I'd ask Daniel: Why do you think that England are better now than in 2006? I've debated this at length and come to the opposite conclusion! As for those who claim that the article is biased towards England.....rubbish...and I'm Irish. I agree with the main point of the article. The standards are not as high as previously. Italy, France, Portugal and Argentina are way below the standard of other years.

Spain and Brazil have to be the stand-out teams but even this Brazilian team is nowhere near some of its WC predecessors.

And I’d ask Daniel: Why do you think that England are better now than in 2006? I’ve debated this at length and come to the opposite conclusion!

As for those who claim that the article is biased towards England…..rubbish…and I’m Irish.

]]> By: EddieMunro http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-120008 EddieMunro Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:36:44 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-120008 This is a lazy article. The fact that you've focused on individual players and the major nations proves it. France and Portugal finished in the runners up position in their qualification group, behind Serbia and Denmark respectively, yet you've made no mention of these teams or their players. Teams such as Germany (who just beat Russia in Moscow something England couldn't do) and Italy will always do well in World Cups because their style of play suits tournament football i.e. 7 games over 4 weeks prioritises possession and the ability to control the pace of a game. England's style of play doesn't suit it at all and so they will get knocked out in the quarter finals as usual. As for the point that it's up for grabs, that could be true. If Spain meet a ruthless counter attacking team they could get rumbled. But they are streets ahead of everyone else at the moment. @ D Chung It will be winter in S Africa, the weather will be mild, that will suit everybody. This is a lazy article.

The fact that you’ve focused on individual players and the major nations proves it. France and Portugal finished in the runners up position in their qualification group, behind Serbia and Denmark respectively, yet you’ve made no mention of these teams or their players.

Teams such as Germany (who just beat Russia in Moscow something England couldn’t do) and Italy will always do well in World Cups because their style of play suits tournament football i.e. 7 games over 4 weeks prioritises possession and the ability to control the pace of a game. England’s style of play doesn’t suit it at all and so they will get knocked out in the quarter finals as usual.

As for the point that it’s up for grabs, that could be true. If Spain meet a ruthless counter attacking team they could get rumbled. But they are streets ahead of everyone else at the moment.

@ D Chung

It will be winter in S Africa, the weather will be mild, that will suit everybody.

]]> By: Gary http://soccerlens.com/no-clear-favourites-for-the-2010-world-cup/35567/#comment-120007 Gary Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:25:11 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=35567#comment-120007 GT, Now i agree with you on every level that this article is poor and very england biased but how on earth can you say Rooney and Drogba are not world class? What evidence do you have to back up that claim? The fact that Rooney has a champions league winners and runners up medal? The fact he plays for one of the biggest teams in the world and is absolutely integral to club and country? Yes, he has a temper, and if im not mistaken you showed yours in your 1st post, everyone has a temper, its not an anger problem, rooney has no more of a temper than ronaldo did at manchester united but ronaldo showed it in petulance. As for drogba, i am not a fan at all, yes he dives far too much, do villa, ibra, torres, messi and kaka not dive? I guess not since they are deemed world class, never mind torres habit of losing concentration and whining to refs when things arent going his way. Drogba, on his day and on his feet is a complete powerhouse, i'd much rather have him in my team rather than against my team as he is probably the most complete striker in the world, pace, power, heading, striking, dead balls, he's can do a bit of everything!! And when you mentioned Ribery in the same breath as the rest i must admit, i laughed!! GT,
Now i agree with you on every level that this article is poor and very england biased but how on earth can you say Rooney and Drogba are not world class? What evidence do you have to back up that claim?
The fact that Rooney has a champions league winners and runners up medal? The fact he plays for one of the biggest teams in the world and is absolutely integral to club and country? Yes, he has a temper, and if im not mistaken you showed yours in your 1st post, everyone has a temper, its not an anger problem, rooney has no more of a temper than ronaldo did at manchester united but ronaldo showed it in petulance.
As for drogba, i am not a fan at all, yes he dives far too much, do villa, ibra, torres, messi and kaka not dive? I guess not since they are deemed world class, never mind torres habit of losing concentration and whining to refs when things arent going his way. Drogba, on his day and on his feet is a complete powerhouse, i’d much rather have him in my team rather than against my team as he is probably the most complete striker in the world, pace, power, heading, striking, dead balls, he’s can do a bit of everything!!
And when you mentioned Ribery in the same breath as the rest i must admit, i laughed!!

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