This is a pre-emptive thread, because I anticipate that the World Cup will be a topic of interest come June.

Presumably, I'm in a minority if in hoping that the England team and their naff, flag-waving, patriotism will get kicked out of Germany asap?

as long as rooney stays fit, i can see us getting to the final, where once again we blow it on penalties.

yes i'm Scottish and i would have it no other way

i have nothing against england or the english it's the sports writers and the press that do my head in .

please fellow members what is your take on this

I wonder what's so special about the so-called "home nations" that anyone would feel obliged to support them? It's mostly a question for English football fans, because Andrew appears to be an exception to the apparent rule in Scotland to support any team that's playing against England; but it's a rule that is followed to a lesser degree in Wales and Ireland. Either way, even if there is no active support for the team opposing England, it certainly doesn't translate into automatic support for England. But at least I find that a bit more comprehensible, however, than the rule in England, which appears that 'thou shalt support thy home nations'.

During Euro 2000, I was in the local pub with my dad and Ireland was playing Spain on the Big TV. I knew instantly who was playing because the only other people in the pub were a few blokes, as Irish as I am, drinking guinness and wearing their Ireland t-shirts. There was one moment of silence when the inevitable Spanish goal was scored - silence, that is, except for my cheering, as I was supporting Spain. Well, why not? They were then at least a good side who deserved to win the championship, in my opinion as a non-football fan. But you'd think that I'd committed an act of despicable treason, to judge from the looks I got! My dad and I hastily finished our drinks and left in case Spain scored again; but, nevertheless, it was a delicious act of non-conformity.

And I think that - for me - has now what it's come to: an act of non-conformity. Enjoying a good Scottish defeat is as because of their 'oppose England at all costs' rule is as much of the reason for this non-conformity as the English 'support thy Home Nations' out of a phoney sense of loyalty. The difference is, I think, going to be football World Cup this year, where I feel I may get a degree of satisfaction at seeing England being hammered, as well - after all, wasn't the defeat at the hands of Northern Ireland glorious?

COME ON ENGLAND!

I should have my new telly by then, i've nagged him that it MUST be bought by the time the World Cup starts, how am I meant to watch it on the 32".

I've just heard the official World cup song Embrace - World at your feet. Utter crap. It sounds like some soap stars new release, its bland, boring and he can't even sing

I think the best one EVER was Fat Les - Vindaloo, my neighbours are in for a treat for the whole of the tournament when i play that every day ,

I'm not that much into football but i really get into the big tournaments that England play in. I've already got the flag to stick outside my car and i'll probably get a flag for the flat too.

We have a tv at work to watch it on if its not busy but i think i'm gonna book my days off around the matches. I just hope that for once we get to the final and not blow it like we always do. Its about time we won isnt it

I love the World Cup, and I will be in the pub in an England jersey shouting at the big screen. Unfortunately being as I live in a small town in Ireland, I will most probably be the only person there supporting them.

I've booked all my days off to coincide with the england games

Oh no Rooneys been injured in todays game at Chelsea where Man U got mullered, if its bad we might as well stay home

Owen has been injured again aswell, so he could be missing

I'll cancel my days off then

well fingers crossed hopefully Rooney will be ok, cos we cant do without him. But we should be ok without Owen

Rooney may be out! He's broken his foot.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/30042006/140/rooney-world-cup.html

I can't stand that Shrek look a like, but we're screwed without him

They say 6 weeks healing time although last time it was 10 weeks before he played again.

This is a different bone though so 6 weeks may be OK. I'd still take him to Germany.

I agree without Rooney we are an average side who will go nowhere, but with the lad we are capable of doing anyone. And Argentina are not as good as everyone says they are, they bottle it in the big games, its only brazil from s.america to be frightened of. the big threat is from holland and spain and italy me thinks

Fair comment.

Do you think Germany will turn it on -being as they are the home team. I note you left them out of your list. I think they are going to really push it, national pride y'know.

They have odds of 7-1
Brazil are 11-4

yeah the Germans are always there or there abouts, just look at the last world cup when everyone wrote them off (me included) and they made the final. I think they will figure this time aswell being on home soil, but I dont think they will win it.

Some interesting predictions - I'm starting to look forward the actual event now, just to see who's come closest

dont forget to start making every other word a swear word, get p***** and vomit over the furniture, then you will have the true world cup experience

Just to help the ladies get more enjoyment from having to sit through 2500 games of football in the coming weeks:

In preparation for the World Cup, the "offside rule" explained for women:
You're in a shoe shop, second in the queue for the till. Behind the shop assistant on the till is a pair of shoes which you have seen and which you must have.

The female shopper in front of you has seen them also and is eyeing them with desire. Both of you have forgotten your purses.

It would be rude to push in front of the first woman if you had no money to pay for the shoes.

The shop assistant remains at the till waiting.

Your friend is trying on another pair of shoes at the back of the shop and sees your dilemma.

She prepares to throw her purse to you.

If she does so, you can catch the purse, then walk round the other shopper and buy the shoes!

At a pinch she could throw the purse ahead of the other shopper and "whilst it is in flight" you could nip around the other shopper, catch the purse and buy the shoes!

BUT, you must always remember that until the purse has "actually been thrown", it would be plain wrong for you to be in front of the other shopper and you would be OFFSIDE!

Well, I'm glad that's cleared that up.

thank you teeo now i understand now why couldn't anyone else explaine things simply like that

The following squads have just been announced for the 2006 World Cup:
BRAZILIAN SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP 2006:

Pinnochio
Libero
Vimto
Memento
Borneo
Tango
Cheerio
Subbuteo
Scenario
Fellatio
Portfolio
SUBS: Placebo, Porno, Polio, Banjo, Brasso, Stereo (L), Stereo ®, Hydrochlorofluoro, Aristotle, Computersezno


YUGOSLAVIAN SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP 2006

Itch
Annoyingitch
Hardtoreachitch
Scratchanitch
Hic
Sic
Spic
Pric
Digaditch
Fallinaditch
Horseraditch

SUBS: Mowapitch, Letsgetrich, Shagabitch

Sonovabitch never made it into the Yugoslav side this time around, then? Shame.

, cant wait for the comentary when those to play

bet teeoo is kicking himself for missing that one out.

RUSSIAN SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP 2006

Whodyanicabolicov
Ticlycov
Chesticov
Nasticov
Slalomski
Downhillski
Riski
Swedishshev
Mastershev
Fuckov
Ufuckov


SUBS: Rubitov, Gechakitov, Sodov, Pastryshev, Najinski, Ivorripabollockov, Taykitov


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ROMANIAN SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP 2006

Chatanoogaciouciou
Atishiou
Blessiou
Thankyiou
Busqueue
Snookercu
Pennyciou
Twoapennyciou
Fourapennyciou
I'llgetciou
Youandwhosarmi


SUBS: U, NonU, ManU, Stuffyiou, Ihateyiou


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

well ive just heard tony christies world cup song, (is this the way to) the world cup. better than the official world cup song but what isn't

Well after zoroaster posted in his sig that he was supporting argentina in the world cup i had to ask myself why, was it because

A, To try to wind up the England supporters
B, Because he enjoys watching their free flowing, South American style of football or
C, He had an elegence to the country for no footballing reasons.

Well after a lot of thought and a little searching i found out the reason why he is supporting Argentina










Well can you think of a better reason

Nope.

I can (for once ) see his point - IF that is his reason for it.

I see he's changed sides to Mexico now......



Ugly buggers aren't they. I see the front row are having flatulence problems. Give me the Argies any day - especially thay last lot.

Well the usa wont win it, and greece never made it. So he has to shout for someone else

Unless he is hoping a few of the mexicans esape over the border and sign up for the USA

yeah a few minute men in defence, and a few mexicans up front

I just saw this thread.

You will notice that I change the team in my sig periodically for no particular reason.

I don't know why, but I hate the U.S. team.

I would like to see Argentina win, otherwise Brazil, otherwise England.

I like the Argentinians and follow their league. I like their style of play. That it winds up my Brit friends is an unintended benefit.

I love watching the Brazilians play, but the samba entrance makes me support them (I know, it's superficial). It is difficult to refute that Brazil is by far the best team this time around.

Greece did not qualify. If the Greeks were in it, they would come after Argentina.

I like the English because the EPL is the best league to watch and I know the teams and players the best. England is a sentimental favorite because they are such underachievers in World Cup play. They never - well, hardly ever - do as well as the talent on the team. They also are unlucky (e.g., Rooney injury, Owen shaky). One thing I can't understand is why they hired a foreign manager when there are so many good Brits (e.g., Martin O'Neill, Allardyce, Paul Jewell). I think Eriksson is a saboteur: there's no other explanation for taking Theo Wolcott.

You dismiss the USA, but I note the following most recent FIFA rankings of national teams:

1. Brazil
2. Czech Republic
3. Netherlands
4. Mexico
5. USA
6. Spain
7. Portugal
8. France
9. Argentina
10. England

Link: http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/ind...ay-2006,00.html

I don't believe for a second that the Americans should be ranked above any of the five teams below them, but apparently the good folks at FIFA disagree with me.

Well we all know the fifa rankings mean nothing, there are 4 or 5 teams with an equal chance of winning it, and there will be some suprises along the way, with ghana and the ivory coast doing well, and the aussies will upset a few teams aswell

So you think three or four other teams have an equal chance as Brazil? Interesting.

Would you care to name those teams?

I'm not questioning you - I'm just curious.

I'll take a guess at which teams you will name: Holland, Italy, England, Germany.

I personally think that it's between Argentina, Brazil, Holland... and Sweden as an outside bet.

In my opinoin, England are favourites for getting kicked out to at the Quarter Finals, if they get past the Second Round, and assuming that Second Round isn't against Germany. In which case, tradition dictates a couple of our penalty takers thumping the ball over the cross bar during a penalty shoot out.

England, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Germany. I think Holland will go close but not win it. I think the first 5 teams I mentioned have an equal chance. If the world cup was in south america, only Brazil or Argentina in my opinion.



and dear oolong we know how much you want the st george cross waving England fans to go home early, like a stuck record

If England won, I'd have to leave the country for a fortnight

I've no problem with the England team. I even suspect that if England were to win it, part of me may even be secretly pleased. But it's just everything else around the England football team that I have a problem with, beyond even the fans. Eg In WH Smiths: asked if I want a WH Smith's England world cup bag? No I f888kin' don't

supply and demand mate


I dont think we will win it, but its good to have that bit of hope in the back of my mind And you better hope we dont..............cos you wont hear the end of it if they do

On paper, the Czechs are formidable.

Yet no one seems to think they will go anywhere but home.

Odd, isn't it?

I hope that i never do hear the end of it

i'm putting money on scotland to score against england
http://www.scottishquest.com/howscottish/song.swf

are u serious, i have my money on Brazil

I dont think Holland stand a chance

No not really as the czech's never do it on the big stage, you could say that a bigger example of a good team with excellent players never doing well is spain, and of course England

Excellent, im gonna be singing that all the way through the world cup, or at least untill trinidad and tobago go out, i got them in the works sweepstake

hehehehehehehehee cool it's good to have a laugh now and again