I was wondering if anyone here was into soccer and the world's biggest sporting event The World Cup...

and who do you guys are rooting for? who do you think is gonna win?

i'm rooting for spain :big-smile: " ala madre patria! "

but i think that Brazil wins, they are all just so talented and they know how to share the ball and they are all like geniuses when they have it... they play beautiful, either them or England in my opinion...

Gah, Brazil wins too often! I was crushed in '94 when they beat Italy! Grrr...

I have no idea who's going to win, though. I have to say, it would be a lot more fun if the US went wild like everyone else. Travelling in Europe during the 2002 cup was awesome. Paris went wild after games, I never got to sleep it was so loud and riotous! And when Brazil won, I was staying in Italy, watching it in a bar a few blocks from my hotel. It was INSANITY.

Beening English, i have to say my vote goes to England to win.

they're pretty good! i think better than a lot of people give them credit to be...
i love michael owen

Italia!!!!!!!!!!!

Brazil as usual will probably take it home.

No more Brazil! I'm tired of them winning!!!

I saw Mexico v. Iran today. Since I'm in the states I saw it on network television here, and it was interesting how the cameras zoned in on the Mexicans and showed no Iranians in the stands, though you could hear their cheers in Farsi over the game. Not even an Iranian flag anywhere! They avoided broadcasting it - and kept mentioning political things instead of focusing on how the World Cup brings people together.

I really hope they don't continue to pull that crap for Iran v. Portugal and then v. Angola. Seriously - it's a game. Let people get together with their love for the sport and not ruin it with politics!

yeah politics play a big part on events like this.. and it sucks

what do you say about rasicim in europe and how it affects soccer? most players get trashed on their own turf when they play for their clubs.. i hope that dosn't happen on the cup

I'm almost certain there will be a lot of racism at the World Cup. And it's not because it's in Germany, but rather it's because all over Europe there is terrible racism - the audiences are cruel and inhumane at times. I mean, throwing bananas and chanting like a monkey? These people need to get lives and open their minds.

Not that the US is any better. People here save their racism for other things.

yeah... the thing is at least in the US there are laws to protect people against racism.. in Europe there are no such things... there are movements, groups that move on rasicm, it's incredible that still exist on the 21st century and that soccer has to be influenced by it.. not just on this world cup, but in every league all year long...

I know! It's really bizarre. These people call themselves civilized, and then they turn around and become animals. Granted, the U.S. doesn't protect a lot of people (would they protect the rights of the people racially profiled in airports? Never.) but I can't think of anything in my memory [in my lifetime] involving severe racism at a "friendly" sports game.

yeah i've expirienced racism when i travel to the states
even though i am an american citizen... i have been in some bad situations...

Agreed. It doesn't matter if you're born here or a naturalized citizen. If you look like you might be *GASP* A TERRORIST then they'll be nasty to you. And even if you don't look like you're in the "axis of evil" they'll still treat you differently depending on skin tone or even accent.

Religious descrimination is worse than racism in America, I think. I've gotten more taunts, teases, and hate for not aligning with the typical "christians" in America than I have for my ethnicity. No one can win.

This is really off topic from the World Cup, isn't it?

I'm thinking that Brazil will win, but I'm an England fan!!

yay rooney!!

i hope he'll be playing again soon.

hehe yeah a lil bit but we can justify it by saying it affects soccer.. and there for it affects the cup

I was pretty pissed today because I went out to lunch with my cousins, and the World Cup was playing at the bar and I couldn't see it from our seats. Usually I hate television in a restaurant, but... it was the World Cup! I'm glued (for me, at least, since I never watch sports).

In fact, I've been asked to be my mother's ride to the airport Saturday, and my conditions were, "not during the game."

I would have taken her anyway. =P
BUT I would have been really annoyed.

yeah i've seen most of all the games too! hehe...
that australian win was pretty impresive

The only World Cup I saw every game for was in 1994. I'd never seen it before, and my great-uncle put it on. My brother and I watched it with him every game, and we even taped it! I still have the entire world cup on video!

The only games I saw were Iran v. Mexico; Angola v. Portugal, and what little I could see over the tables today of USA v. Czech Republic. I'm tuning into Italy v. Ghana right now =)

yeah... i'm watching it right now too...
i thought the italians would be a lil more dominate but Ghana is playing real well
i think the US dosn't get out of it's group...
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i love how these teams celebrate... have you seen brazil celebrate? i love watching them .. it's so fun

It's awesome. I watched the 94 cup on the Spanish station, and they scream GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!! On the announcements, and the players go insane. It's so awesome!

And there are a lot of teams doing better than I'd expected. Ghana made it work for Italy; Iran held up and made Mexico work; and the Czech Republic (I love the Czech Republic!!) slaughtered the U.S.

I'm glad I'll be able to see all the games tomorrow. I won't have anything to interrupt them. Brazil, no matter how much I loathe them, will rock =)