It is here. The Biggest Sporting Event in the World is about to begin… and you know what that means… that’s right VFLOAB is a little more than PUMPED about it all. So we’ll cut to the chase and just give you our predictions…
Instead of giving IN DEPTH REPORTS on each team, we’ll leave that to those who know and see the game more often that we do. So if you want an informative and humorous take on each team, we suggest That’s On Point. Here’s the link to Angola, the Netherlands, and USA They seem to like us a real lot
For Info on Groups A and B go here
And for Info on Groups C and D go here
Group E you ask?
Oh and if you really care about checking out ALL the jerseys from the World Cup this year… go here.
Group F:
Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Japan
Australia
Their Deal: You know… they’re those happy people from DownUnder who like to drink and be nice. They also are really good at any sport they take up. Like cricket and rugby and their Aussie rules football. They’ve even had a #1 pick in the NBA draft. And their footie team isn’t half bad. Strange but true, but I guess a good number of their team is made up of second generation Croatians. And coach Guus Hiddink has a habit of taking teams to the semis. And most of their players seem to be playing in the top flight in England… good signs there.
World Cup Best: Group stage in 1974
Stud Muffin: Harry Kewell (if he isn’t busy getting injured in a Cup Final)
Random Thoughts: Who doesn’t love Australians?... You know the drill, it was a former penal colony, blah, blah, blah… Great nickname: Socceroos…We were in London when the Aussies beat the English for the first time in football, you would have thought the world was coming to an end… Say it with me: Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi oi oi!... I get the feeling that the English don’t have much love for Aussies, maybe a bit more than they do for Americans, but that’s not saying much. Do the English like anyone?... Seems like it’d be a nice place to visit… If you go to a pub in England, there’s about a 92% chance that an Aussie will serve you.
Best Name: Harry Kewell, there just aren’t enough people named Harry in this world.
American Sports Team They Best Compare To: Toronto Raptors, just as you don’t think soccer when you hear Australia, you don’t think basketball when you hear Toronto. Both teams are nice, but nothing to be afraid of when you go to bed.
For the Women: If they were shoes . . . Jimmy ChoosA long story of great promise without ever quite realising their potential was ended after foreign management took charge of the operation. They soon went global and they're loving it.
Chances: They could find themselves in the Round of 16 with a few breaks. There the Italians will trash them.
Brazil
Their Deal: They’re really good, and by really good, we mean better than everyone else and then some. They’re going to score goals… a lot of goals… no one has the firepower that Brazil has: Ronaldo, Adriano, Ronaldinho and Kaka. Of course they’re a bit weak in the back, but who doesn’t love 5-2 games? The favorites and on paper the winners with ease, unless of course Rooney’s fit and England play out of their minds, the French are able to go back in time, the Italians don’t choke, and the Argentines give them all they can handle. Everyone loves ‘em and it is hard not to like Brazil… unless of course you’re an Argentine.
World Cup Best: Winners in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002
Stud Muffin: Ronaldinho, the World Player of the year two years running, though a few people feel that this could be Kaka’s coming out party. A hush of joy just went over in DuPont.
Random Thoughts: I think if there is one place in the world were life really is ‘good’ it’d be Brazil… that didn’t make sense yet it means everything btw… yummm Brazilian women… yummm… “City of God” may be the greatest movie made in the last five years, and probably one of the best ever… when I think Rio, I think beaches and that big Jesus… seriously, who doesn’t love Ronaldinho even if he’s maybe the ugliest man on Earth? Just look at this guy’s skillz:
Best Name: Since everyone goes by their first name I felt like I had to choose from one of the four guys that use two names, so Julio Cesar wins. Because it’s almost like Julius Cesar, almost. Too bad we won’t see him play.
American Sports Team They Best Compare To: Other than the Yankees? How about the Chicago Bulls when they had Jordan.
For the Women: If they were shoes . . . Nike Air Jordan trainers
The biggest name around, though some of the spadework seems to be done by people from underprivileged backgrounds. Never seen sans swoosh. Top of the range - or has the hype got out of hand?
Chances: If they don’t win it all, a lot of people will be surprised. If they don’t make the final even more people will be shocked. They should be able to sleep walk to the quarters where they’ll play Spain, I say the winner of that game wins the Cup.
Croatia
Their Deal: The Catholic part of the former Yugoslavia! They’ve got talent and are always dangerous. They didn’t lose in qualification and their resume heading into the Cup is better than you’d think.
World Cup Best: Third place 1998
Stud Muffin: They call Darijo Srna “the Beckham of the Balkans”… so why not him?
Random Thoughts: Yay Toni Kukoc… Yay Catholism… Yay nice beaches!... who doesn’t love their checked jerseys? And let’s be honest, that’s the only reason why anyone knows anything about them, those checked board jerseys… They want to join the EU but they’re having problems arresting people who took part in all those wars during the 1990s… pretty good basketball team too… I guess Germans love to vacation here. Probably cheaper than Italy or Greece too!
Best Name: Bosko Balaban, which sounds like the main charter of an early 20th century American novel. Or a video game.
American Sports Team They Best Compare To: Seattle Supersonics… they were pretty good in the 90s, but never lights out. Then they sort of fell off the face of the Earth, but they’re still around and could surprise someone.
For the Women: If they were shoes . . . Vans
Enjoyed the height of their fame a few years back but seldom, if ever, do people talk about them nowadays. Principally remembered for their stand-out checked design - and little else.
Chances: They might be the favorites to finish behind Brazil in second. After that… a probable match up with the Italians in the round of 16 will probably send them home.
Japan
Their Deal: The reigning top country in Baseball (that’s right your 2006 World Baseball Classic Champions which means the US isn’t the champs in baseball or basketball) is regarded at the best team in Asia. And they very well may be. Like their baseball team they do the little things, are well organized and functional, and do everything ‘the right way’. They have a strong midfield. A decent backline… but they don’t have anyone that can score. That usually spells doom.
World Cup Best: Round of 16 in 2002
Stud Muffin: Shunsuke Nakamura?
Random Thoughts: Why is it that Germany still gets crap for WWII and Japan gets just a look and then, good thing you’ve changed!?... That said, I think I like Japan… did you know that their fans clean up after themselves when they’re at a game? True, the come in, go nuts, and then tidy up behind him… Insert “Lost in Translation” theme/comment here… Can their WBC momentum carry over to the international soccer scene?... Isn’t it a bummer that the US doesn’t hold the title for best baseball or basketball team?... Japan, yay… Karate Kid II is supposed to take place in Okanawa, this is also the weakest of the three Karate Kid movies…
Best Name: Takashi Fukunishi, it just looks cool
American Sports Team They Best Compare To: St. Louis Cardinals… okay maybe not as good, but you know how La Russa teams don’t make many mistakes? Work with me… this one stinks too, I know. Sorry.
For the Women: If they were shoes . . . Bowling shoes
Inoffensive safety-first combo which concentrate on getting the basics right before worrying too much about what they look like. May not slip up but rarely seen in more prestigious surrounds
Chances: Having Brazil in their draw is a bit of a buzz kill. That pretty much means they’ve got to win, or at the very worst, draw their first match against Australia… but without strikers, I don’t like their chances.
OUR PREDICTION:Brazil (9), Croatia (6), Australia (3), Japan (0)
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