Soccer

» JCofBH - Who's going to be the surprise package?

I'd agree the outlook for the States this summer is pretty bleak.

They were very lucky in 2002. They met a Portuguese and Polish side who were slow out the blocks - then the Poles stuffed them in the final group game. Four years earlier they went home with 'nil point', and they've laboured in friendlies and the Confederations Cup on this side of the pond. I think Ghana will take them in the last group game and they'll go away without a point again.

There'll be a few teams in Germany who get brought down to earth after the madness of 2002 you mention. Japan only scaped through qualifying, and had a pony set of results in the tournament they recently hosted. South Korea surely can't have as many refeering decisions go their way this time, and they've lost Guus.

Given this, I'm not sure who the 'surprise package' this year might be. It looks likely to be a return to the old order, I'd have thought.

-- posted by JCofBH

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» SimonMelville - Who's going to be the surprise package?

In response to Who's going to be the surprise package? posted by JCofBH:

Surprise package will be Iran -- mark my words...

-- posted by SimonMelville

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» schultzy - Who's going to be the surprise package?

In response to Who's going to be the surprise package? posted by SimonMelville:

I, too, believe the USA will struggle to get out of that group. De Marcus seems to have had a very slow season and Donovan just hasn't been the same since he left neighbours. Here's hoping Kasey and Marcus get the boys going prior to kick off with a blast of German favourites Rammstein.

-- posted by schultzy

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» KiwiDave - Who's going to be the surprise package?

The surprise package of this world cup will be Australia. They are 4 years overdue to be at the World Cup again, because of FIFA's convoluted Oceania qualifying system, and they have genuine quality all over the pitch. Also, it’s hard to find a coach with a better world cup pedigree than Guus Hiddink.
The Aussies will sneak past Croatia into the second round.

-- posted by KiwiDave

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» dantilles - MLS

I think to say that the USA have the best goalkeeper roster at the World Cup is somewhat exagerated. Tim Howard has barely played a game this season, Kasey Keller is well-respected but probably past his peak (and even at his peak was never playing for top clubs) while Marcus Hahnemann was in England's second flight last season and has never proven himself at the top level. You can compare this to, for example, Germanym who have Lehman, Champions League finalist and many say the best goalkeeper in England, Khan who has over the last 10 years consistently been seen as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has the medals to back it up, and Hildebrand, who is a quality young keeper. Or then there is Spain with Casillas, Reina (most clean sheets in Premier League this season) and Canizares.

I do agree though that McBride is hugely underated. I think the USA's strenghts lie in him being supplied well from the wings (Beasley, Lewis and Convey) and Donavan behind him. You need Reyna to recover from his current injury as he will be the one provided much-needed security in midfield.

I can't say the defence inspires me. Bacanegra is consistent but not brilliant, I've heard Cherundolo has had a good season, but the other players have never proved themselves in top leagues.

If I was Arena I'd be looking to outscore the opposition rather than concede less.

-- posted by dantilles

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» SimonMelville - MLS

In response to MLS posted by dantilles:

Point taken about the goalies -- but if Keller is past his peak, so is Ollie Kahn -- really showing his age for Bayern this season. Lehmann is sporadically brilliant but must have aged Wenger several years with his more than occasional rushes of blood to the head while Hildebrand has never been as good as that one blinding season for Stuttgart.

I have to say that Reina never fully convices me although Casillas is probably the reason Real Madrid managed to finish second -- he made the second most saves in the whole of La Liga, behind Francesc Arnau of rock-bottom Malaga.

On the subject of goalies, it beggars belief that Raymond Domenech can choose Fabien Barthez as his number one ahead of Gregory Coupet, who in my humble opinion, is the best in Europe.

French keeper row

-- posted by SimonMelville

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