It's Churchill against Amelia Earhart, Queen Victoria against Suzi Quatro and Ginger Spice against Barbara Bush. Even Little House on the Prairie versus Red Dwarf if you like but it's the World Cup and England's first match is against the Americanos.
On paper a team made up of players from Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham should tonk a team with defenders from Watford and midfielders from Fulham and Bolton but if there is any tonking to be done, it could very well be us on the end of it.
As usual the tabloids are getting carried away and predicting we will be returning with the World Cup in our luggage but anyone who has seen any of the recent friendlies will know that we have been poor against very mediocre opposition and when we come up against a half decent side, we will be packing our bags and flying back home.
I have drawn Germany in the office sweepstake and usually i would be making plans on how to spend my £32 winnings but like us, the Germans best days are behind them.
Rather boringly, it is hard to look past Brazil to win it with the likes of Cesar, Alves, Lucio and Silva in defence you can't see them letting in many and you just know they won't end many games with a zero beside their names.
Europe's best chance is with Spain but i secretly have a hidden wish that Argentina win it. Maradona may not be such great shakes at managerial duties but he was my hero as a player and they have an even better forward line than Brazil so if he accidentally stumbles across the right team, Argentina could do it.
For England, we have to, at the very minimum, not get beaten by the yanks and they are number 14 in the FIFA rankings, only 6 places below us, so it isn't a foregone conclusion and it will be a lot closer than most of us think, even with Jay DeMerit in the back four.
4 comments:
I've also tipped Argentina in a 'World Cup Predictor' comp we're doing... However I did so in the knowledge that if they play like they do in the qualifiers, then they probably won't even make it out of the group. They're 'mercurial', to say the least.
England have similar personnel to 4 years ago, except they're slower/ older/ and more injury prone these days. The only plus is that we don't have an incompetent manager anymore. But I think 2006 was actually a pretty good chance to go a long way. We'll need more luck this time (and luck's been in short supply for England in WCs since 66!).
Even if my English (and New Zealand!) interests get knocked out early, I'll just be hoping that the nasty/effete cheats from France and Portugal also go down in flames!
Looking at the games, there are a few 3pm i am going to have to leave early for but the majority of 12.30 ones i don't mind missing.
Betwen that and Big Brother 11 our next months TV is sorted.
Maradonna will sink Argentina. Brazil is lost at the moment. France is without bullets. A Ballack-less Germany means no fourth reich. Spain and Portugal will once again choke on the biggest stage. Italy doesn't have enough firepower.
The Netherlands finally win the cup they should have won in '78.
Oh, and remember 1950, Limeys.
Tricky Dick knows something about football! You didn't mention this on the campaign trail in '72, Mr President! (I agree that it wouldn't have gone down well).
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