Which Team Will Win The World Cup?

[saint0917]

I'm part French, So I'm going with France.

[dbackjon]

Going with Italy.

[TexasTerror]

I'm going with Italy...

They just better not have to rely on PKs to win it all...

[*****]

Italia

[UNHWildCats]

i had a good final 4 im part of 3 of the four my moms mom is from Italy, Moms dad is French, Dads mom is german. if it wasnt for Portugal my dads dad's England woulda been there

[ISUMatt]

Italia!!

[Ivytalk]

Italy's impregnable defense should carry the day.

[th0m]

France. Will never be able to root for Italy in soccer. Have no problem with France. I'd even root for Germany before I'd root for Italy, but alas.

[89Hen]

Italy, so we have to hear the worst national anthem in all the world again. :bawling: Sounds more like a drinking song than an anthem.

[blur2005]

Heart says France, brain says Italy. I usually go with my brain, so Italia should capture their fourth World Cup title. But I hope I'm wrong. Viva la France!

[GannonFan]

Wow, if a World Cup Final ever had 0-0 and going to PK's written over it this one does. Two teams that are scared to death of actually creating offense. It's tough to counter attack when the other team is also playing for a counter attack. But, these are two of the most accomplished diving teams out there so getting a penalty kick in regulation is a decent possibility. I'm going with France though as Italy stinks in penalty kicks and I can see France doing pretty well in them - I'm going with France to win a 0-0 game with a 4-2 edge in the penalties at the end.

[Pard4Life]

I am the only one on here who said the first week of June that France would win the whole thing :D . Well.. I am sticking with it.. although Italy is my national team..

I will be rooting for Italy though.

[89Hen]

Wow, if a World Cup Final ever had 0-0 and going to PK's written over it this one does... I'm going with France to win a 0-0 game with a 4-2 edge in the penalties at the end.
I thought the men play until somebody scores a 'Golden Goal'?

[GannonFan]

I thought the men play until somebody scores a 'Golden Goal'?

No "Golden Goal" this year - after 90 minutes regulation, it's two 15 minute OT periods (regardless of score) and if still tied after that it's onto penalty kicks - best of 5 and if still tied they keep going until it's not tied. I'm even debating setting my TiVo to only tape the last half hour since PK's look like a defnite with this matchup (of course, unless a previously mentioned dive results in a regulation time penalty kick).

[TheValleyRaider]

Wow, if a World Cup Final ever had 0-0 and going to PK's written over it this one does. Two teams that are scared to death of actually creating offense. It's tough to counter attack when the other team is also playing for a counter attack. But, these are two of the most accomplished diving teams out there so getting a penalty kick in regulation is a decent possibility. I'm going with France though as Italy stinks in penalty kicks and I can see France doing pretty well in them - I'm going with France to win a 0-0 game with a 4-2 edge in the penalties at the end.

I looked at the matchup and thought the same thing, but inevitably, those are the matches that get ended in regulation. I'm really betting no OT in this one. I'm thinking the score will be 2-1 or 2-0. Two teams that are pretty much on form, with Buffon and Zidane playing some of the best soccer in the tournament. Set pieces, corners and free kicks, will determine this game.

[Pard4Life]

Excellent article in the WSJ yesterday... basically saying Dave O'Brien is an idiot when calling soccer games since he has no experience whatsoever... and how ESPN is basically treating the audience like soccer morons who have never watched a game. But back to O'Brien.. they cited some statistic where he called something like 8 soccer matches over quite a long period, and then they gave him 20 to do, including the final (mm awesome) within a month's time frame. Awful ESPN.. awful... they ruled out having more knowledgable ESPN International broadcasters from Wales, Scotland, and England take the helm to give American audiences a more 'home' feel.

Also, the WSJ noted how the boring running commentary has interrupted the game's flow, missed some of the match's underlying storylines, and how those cut-away shots and graphics disrupt the game view. I agree completely with everything the WSJ stated.

And on a side note, I think the best game that was called all tournament was the game Tommy called when they were playing four games per day.

The article also said that many people just simply switched to Univision, but I don't understand or like listening to the Spanish broadcasts... confusing obviously.

[89Hen]

No "Golden Goal" this year - after 90 minutes regulation, it's two 15 minute OT periods (regardless of score) and if still tied after that it's onto penalty kicks
Ugh, I figured they'd still have the final game end with a goal instead of PKs. : smh : Another reason I'm really starting to hate soccer (and I coach kids). :nonono2:

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Italy, so we have to hear the worst national anthem in all the world again. :bawling: Sounds more like a drinking song than an anthem.

Ironically, Key's poem "The Star Spangled Banner" was put to the tune of an old British drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven". Our National Anthem IS actually a drinking song. :D

[dbackjon]

If Italy wins, does it make the sting of the U.S.'s first round exit any less, since the only goal allowed by Italy came against the U.S., and we played most of the second half a man down?

[SunCoastBlueHen]

If Italy wins, does it make the sting of the U.S.'s first round exit any less, since the only goal allowed by Italy came against the U.S., and we played most of the second half a man down?

I don't think so. Any way you try to spin it, our showing was EXTREMELY disappointing, especially after all the hype this team received. :mad:

[89Hen]

Ironically, Key's poem "The Star Spangled Banner" was put to the tune of an old British drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven". Our National Anthem IS actually a drinking song. :D
Nah. My state song "Maryland, My Maryland" is sung to the tune of O Tannenbaum, but that doesn't make it a Christmas song. :p I just remember during the Winter Olympics laughing every time they played the Italian anthem.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Nah. My state song "Maryland, My Maryland" is sung to the tune of O Tannenbaum, but that doesn't make it a Christmas song. :p I just remember during the Winter Olympics laughing every time they played the Italian anthem.

Ahhh! I always wondered why they were playing Christmas music at the Preakness ... :confused: :eyebrow: :D

[GannonFan]

Excellent article in the WSJ yesterday... basically saying Dave O'Brien is an idiot when calling soccer games since he has no experience whatsoever... and how ESPN is basically treating the audience like soccer morons who have never watched a game. But back to O'Brien.. they cited some statistic where he called something like 8 soccer matches over quite a long period, and then they gave him 20 to do, including the final (mm awesome) within a month's time frame. Awful ESPN.. awful... they ruled out having more knowledgable ESPN International broadcasters from Wales, Scotland, and England take the helm to give American audiences a more 'home' feel.

Also, the WSJ noted how the boring running commentary has interrupted the game's flow, missed some of the match's underlying storylines, and how those cut-away shots and graphics disrupt the game view. I agree completely with everything the WSJ stated.

And on a side note, I think the best game that was called all tournament was the game Tommy called when they were playing four games per day.

The article also said that many people just simply switched to Univision, but I don't understand or like listening to the Spanish broadcasts... confusing obviously.


I read the same article and I have to disagree - ESPN's certainly not been perfect, but I can't say that O'Brien's been a bad announcer - for a guy with such little actual soccer experience I think he's been extremely good. Remember, he's doing the play by play, it's not rocket science. I think sometimes soccer fanatics have a bit of snobbery when it comes to "their" game (and I'm sure other sports fans are the same way about their favorite sports) and they'll latch onto one or two mistakes and cry foul about the whole broadcast rather than just the small mistakes. I've been in England and Scotland and have watched their broadcasts and there isn't a significant amount of difference between the two, save for the accents. It's strange that people want soccer to be more accepted by the American masses and then recoil whenever it's attempted - I think some people (and there was a blogger in that article who is a prime example) like the little niche they have as soccer fans and really don't want other people crowding their private party - like I said, snobbery.

[blur2005]

I read the same article and I have to disagree - ESPN's certainly not been perfect, but I can't say that O'Brien's been a bad announcer - for a guy with such little actual soccer experience I think he's been extremely good. Remember, he's doing the play by play, it's not rocket science. I think sometimes soccer fanatics have a bit of snobbery when it comes to "their" game (and I'm sure other sports fans are the same way about their favorite sports) and they'll latch onto one or two mistakes and cry foul about the whole broadcast rather than just the small mistakes. I've been in England and Scotland and have watched their broadcasts and there isn't a significant amount of difference between the two, save for the accents. It's strange that people want soccer to be more accepted by the American masses and then recoil whenever it's attempted - I think some people (and there was a blogger in that article who is a prime example) like the little niche they have as soccer fans and really don't want other people crowding their private party - like I said, snobbery.
I agree O'Brien hasn't been too bad at all. For a guy who isn't a soccer-announcer, I can't complain about his work. I liked his call of Joe Cole's half-volley goal against Sweden during the Group A phase. However, what brings O'Brien down is his partner, Marcelo Balboa, who in my opinion is the worst color commentator at this tournament. Only Eric Wynalda is worse, but they don't have him calling games; instead he's in the studio, where he's done a good job. Tommy Smyth and Adrian Healy were the best pairing, but since they aren't Americans, they didn't announce beyond the Group Phase. Between the two sets of announcers left, I prefer Delecamera and Harkes, who has surprised me with his good color commentary. As I said, O'Brien is fine, but Balboa is terrible.

[Obzerver]

Italy hasn't given up a goal(except for the US own goal) and their keeper(Buffon) is better than France's(Butterfingers Barthez) so if it goes to PK's...Besides I heard the Italian players are betting on themselves! Italy in regulation 1-0.

[TheValleyRaider]

My mind keeps telling me Italy should squeeze it out. They seem to be the more complete team and have been building as the tournament progresses. And then I look at the French, and I see Zidane willing this team forward. However, they have certainly responded admirably in the later stages, and historically have a good record against Italy.

France scores early on a set piece similar to the goal against Brazil, this time Viera from Zidane, then caps it off with a late counter-strike to seal the victory from Zizou himself. Somehow Barthez conserves the shutout, although everyone will watch and say "How did Barthez do that?" Les Bleus win 2 of 3 and the French will be as insufferable as ever.

Germany crushes Portugal for 3rd. Klose wins the Golden Boot, Zidane the Golden Ball, although I would cast my vote for Buffon.

[AppGuy04]

I hope Zidane isn't done, he's one of the few I enjoy watching

[slycat]

Italy hasn't given up a goal(except for the US own goal) and their keeper(Buffon) is better than France's(Butterfingers Barthez) so if it goes to PK's...Besides I heard the Italian players are betting on themselves! Italy in regulation 1-0.

agreed. i dont see france getting through italys defense.