World Cup

[Big Plastic Head]

Let's start the predictions:

Winner: Netherlands

Most goals-Golden Boot - Van Persie (Netherlands)

Flameout: Portugal - I say they don't advance to 2d round

Dark Horse: Mexico (final 4)

I like and support all those choices. Netherlands looked strong in the Mexico friendly last month. I like Mexico, too. Not great finishers but I like 'em.

[cutout]

I'd be very happy to see either Spain or Holland win it. Lots of very likable players, exciting styles/chemistry. I really like Ivory Coast and Cameroon, but wouldn't predict they'd make it past the second round. Overall, I would just be happy not to see any of the Brazil/Italy/Germany monolith in the final 4

[Big Plastic Head]

I'd be very happy to see either Spain or Holland win it. Lots of very likable players, exciting styles/chemistry. I really like Ivory Coast and Cameroon, but wouldn't predict they'd make it past the second round. Overall, I would just be happy not to see any of the Brazil/Italy/Germany monolith in the final 4

My wife was in the Peace Corps in Cameroon so I hope they do well. We will be rooting for them.

[slownerve]

Winner: England (seriously!)

Golden Boot - Di Natale or Crouch (maybe a tie?)

Flameout: France - No wins, no goals, 2 red cards.

Dark Horse: Ghana

[fonpr]

Netherlands looked strong in the Mexico friendly last month.

I first read that as "Neanderthals looked strong".


I thought, "No kidding."

Then I thought, "Maybe I should pay attention to soccer".  But, I was wrong.

[senorcorazon]

My brother correctly predicted the Buster Douglas-Mike Tyson fight, so maybe my family has the goods with lucky, ignorant calls on sports:

Winner: Spain
Golden Boot: I don't know what this is exactly, but I guess it's most goals. Villa? 
Flameout: Besides the USA? Zing? Argentina. Or, if the next line is to be believed, BRAZIL. BOOM.
Dark Horse: Chile. I'm biased, though. Totally ridiculous.

I'm probably unintentionally insulting a lot of people. Sorry.

[Spoony]

Something tells me Spoony does not care for Uri Gellar.

Let's see him do that with his mind, then I'll feel threatened.

[dave from knoxville]

Something tells me Spoony does not care for Uri Gellar.

Let's see him do that with his mind, then I'll feel threatened.

Spoony's already bent.

[not that clay]

I'm confused. You get to pick 20-odd players, and then you have to pick a starting 11. Do the other guys not count? Why bother picking so many people if only 11 count?

[cutout]

There still needs to be healthy reserves for substitutions, injuries, etc

[not that clay]

There still needs to be healthy reserves for substitutions, injuries, etc

Yeah, half my favorite players have hamstring injuries.  Sheesh.

[samir]

I'm confused. You get to pick 20-odd players, and then you have to pick a starting 11. Do the other guys not count? Why bother picking so many people if only 11 count?

After each round, you can shuffle around your 11 - for instance, you might think that Portugal will struggle against Ivory Coast in their first match, in which case you may think twice about playing Portuguese attackers, on the theory that they're going to find it hard to score. But then, in their next match they're against North Korea, who by all right they should batter, so bring out your Portuguese attackers then. Rotation!

[not that clay]

I'm confused. You get to pick 20-odd players, and then you have to pick a starting 11. Do the other guys not count? Why bother picking so many people if only 11 count?

After each round, you can shuffle around your 11 - for instance, you might think that Portugal will struggle against Ivory Coast in their first match, in which case you may think twice about playing Portuguese attackers, on the theory that they're going to find it hard to score. But then, in their next match they're against North Korea, who by all right they should batter, so bring out your Portuguese attackers then. Rotation!

Thanks. I think I got my line up all straight now. It's a pain only allowing two players per country max.

Does the group stage count as one round, or is it each game during the group stage.  So much to know.

Is Tom in on this? He seemed interested on the radio.

[Big Plastic Head]

I'm confused. You get to pick 20-odd players, and then you have to pick a starting 11. Do the other guys not count? Why bother picking so many people if only 11 count?

After each round, you can shuffle around your 11 - for instance, you might think that Portugal will struggle against Ivory Coast in their first match, in which case you may think twice about playing Portuguese attackers, on the theory that they're going to find it hard to score. But then, in their next match they're against North Korea, who by all right they should batter, so bring out your Portuguese attackers then. Rotation!

Thanks. I think I got my line up all straight now. It's a pain only allowing two players per country max.

Does the group stage count as one round, or is it each game during the group stage.  So much to know.

Is Tom in on this? He seemed interested on the radio.

There is a "Scharpling" in the group now. He is probably at Kinkos going over the Soccer Prospectus picking his team right now.

[not that clay]

I'm confused. You get to pick 20-odd players, and then you have to pick a starting 11. Do the other guys not count? Why bother picking so many people if only 11 count?

After each round, you can shuffle around your 11 - for instance, you might think that Portugal will struggle against Ivory Coast in their first match, in which case you may think twice about playing Portuguese attackers, on the theory that they're going to find it hard to score. But then, in their next match they're against North Korea, who by all right they should batter, so bring out your Portuguese attackers then. Rotation!

Thanks. I think I got my line up all straight now. It's a pain only allowing two players per country max.

Does the group stage count as one round, or is it each game during the group stage.  So much to know.

Is Tom in on this? He seemed interested on the radio.

There is a "Scharpling" in the group now. He is probably at Kinkos going over the Soccer Prospectus picking his team right now.

Cool. There are some great team names: PDX Street Trash   , The Couch Burners, and PINK CUPCAKES fc are my favorites.