Worst world cup ever?

[Fatman]

I hate to be negative after the fantastic England wins over the last week, but next years world cup will be the worst ever.

1. Holland and possibly Brazil won't be their. By far the two best footballing teams ever. I know it gives us a better chance but it won't be the same without them.

2. We'll all be at work when the games are on. first thing in the mornig is better than in the middle of the night but its going to be hard to be enthusiastic watching any game over a bowl of cornflakes.

3. Apparently hardly any tickets have been sold. The only packed out games are the ones involving Japan and South Korea.

I just got this bad feeling its going to be a big dissapointment and that we are going to have to wait till the european chmpionships for a decent tournament...and thats in 2004!!

[PeterH]

But as long as we don't screw it against Greece we will be there, the Scots will not.

I feel sorry for the Dutch supporters, their unique colour adds joy to the event. But they have a team of prima donnas and drug cheats who didn't want it enough. The same may be said of Brazil but I reckon they will make it through.

[Levski]

Everyone said that USA 94 was going to be sh!t but it ended up being amazing. I'm gonna do my best to get over there, I reckon it'll be all good.

[Fatman]

World Cup 94 was pretty awful, not only was it full of american 'entertainment' but we weren't there!!! The games were awful and again the timing was all over the place.

As much as i would have loved to get the world cup here for 2006 i'll be glad when its in europe, even if it is in germany.

[PeterH]

You're not wrong about the TV issues.

[Brett]

WC 94 was blessed with attacking football right up until the Final, which went and ruined it somewhat.

Even the normally conservative East European nations were playing expansive soccer, and some of the football on show was high class.

WC 90 however, was dour. I cant produce a figure for goals per match but I'm guessing that Italy produced AT LEAST one goal less per game than the US tournament.

[Neil the Eagle]

I'm with Brett here, USA '94 was a far better tourny than Italia 90.

[Norwood_Eagle]

i agree a world cup with out Holland is bad enough, but brazil not there

Still this is our chance to win it, i see argentina as a big big threat though!


ill start saving up then!

[THB]

Originally posted by Brett
WC 94 was blessed with attacking football right up until the Final, which went and ruined it somewhat.

Even the normally conservative East European nations were playing expansive soccer, and some of the football on show was high class.

WC 90 however, was dour. I cant produce a figure for goals per match but I'm guessing that Italy produced AT LEAST one goal less per game than the US tournament.

As a nation rejoices at Mr robert Robsons valient attempt to win the world cup, amidst a tournament full of passion atmosphere and great matches, Brett sobs quietly into his cocoa.

[Brett]

Sorry THB, did I even mention England.

Far from being an insular who cannot help but attack fellow Palace BBS'ers like yourself, I was talking of the tournament as a whole.

Of course, England is the most capitavating aspect of any WC, however I still dont recall where I said how horrendous it was watching England.

Please, pray tell, where did I mention England in the original, epic post?

[THB]

Originally posted by Brett
Sorry THB, did I even mention England.

Far from being an insular who cannot help but attack fellow Palace BBS'ers like yourself, I was talking of the tournament as a whole.

Of course, England is the most capitavating aspect of any WC, however I still dont recall where I said how horrendous it was watching England.

Please, pray tell, where did I mention England in the original, epic post?

You didn´t Brett. Oh no, i´ve stopped an already thrilling Brett argument from developing. Damn.

[DennisUphill]

Originally posted by Fatman
I hate to be negative after the fantastic England wins over the last week, but next years world cup will be the worst ever.


2. We'll all be at work when the games are on. first thing in the mornig is better than in the middle of the night but its going to be hard to be enthusiastic watching any game over a bowl of cornflakes.

Not all me old china, there's a few million in this region that will be grateful for matches televised live at a civilised time. And Amen to that.

I just got this bad feeling its going to be a big dissapointment and that we are going to have to wait till the european chmpionships for a decent tournament...and thats in 2004!!

Don't kid yerself, Holland + Brasil doesn't always equal football perfection.
I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

[Steve in Phoenix]

Brett you're correct - I remember reading an article recently that showed the '94 goals scored averages to be over a goal a game more than at Italy and I think it was higher again at '98.

I dont agree this will be the worst ever World Cup - every WC I have seen has had its capitivating stories even if England arent in them. I'm shocked Holland is not there but the tournament is bigger than them and Im confident Brazil will be there. Remember France did not make '94 - there are always absences.

Can someone tell me if England's winning the group *touch wood* will have any effect on a possible seeding for the World Cup? Or is there no seeding at all?

Another question - whats the most number of Palace players involved in a World Cup? This time around we have potentially 5 going (Morrison, Fan Zhiyi, Popovic, Kirovski, Berhalter).

[Random*]

Well, if Brazil and Holland aren't there then that's their own faults - if they were good enough, then they would be there.

If nothing else, it'll open it up for some other interesting teams to make it later into the tournament if nothing else. Its always interesting to see some of the lesser known teams make it to the last stages, and maybe this world cup will give some unknown nation their shot at the big time.

However, there is no doubt that if England do win the world cup, then the critics will just say that they aren't really the best, simply because Brazil and Holland aren't there.

[Sunny Fan]

I'm pretty sure that Brazil will make it, but they're not the force they used to be and are no longer entertaining, especially since the arch pragmatist "Big" Phil Scolari took over.
However, rule changes and higher levels of skill and fitnessin recent years mean that we are seeing better tournaments, certainly more so than Italia 90. The last world cup and Euro 2000 are testament to this.
The only disappointment will be the kick-off times, but I'm looking forward to the football; if Holland aren't good enough to qualify then tough, they don't deserve to be there, shame as it is as they've got some class players.

[g23]

Originally posted by PeterH
I feel sorry for the Dutch supporters, their unique colour adds joy to the event.

It's not totally unique Peter - Oranges are orange too. And carrots.

[Beanie]

First, it now seems very unlikely that Brazil will not qualify - they need I believe a win and a draw against the two bottom teams in the group to go through.

Having said that - I think that many may then wish they weren't there, as I suspect we will see cynical side to Brazil we have never seen before. Scolari has a theory that the team that commits most fouls will usually win a game, and he has critised - even dropped - players with a foul count that is too low. The roles are reversed and it is apparently now Argentina playing the "beautiful game" and Brazil mugging their way to victory.

[Sunny Fan]

Originally posted by Beanie
First, it now seems very unlikely that Brazil will not qualify - they need I believe a win and a draw against the two bottom teams in the group to go through.

Having said that - I think that many may then wish they weren't there, as I suspect we will see cynical side to Brazil we have never seen before. Scolari has a theory that the team that commits most fouls will usually win a game, and he has critised - even dropped - players with a foul count that is too low. The roles are reversed and it is apparently now Argentina playing the "beautiful game" and Brazil mugging their way to victory.

Spot on. I called him "pragmatic" but cynical would be closer to the truth. Very sad as it's the most wonderful footballing country.

[Tapps]

Originally posted by Fatman
I hate to be negative after the fantastic England wins over the last week, but next years world cup will be the worst ever.

1. Holland and possibly Brazil won't be their. By far the two best footballing teams ever. I know it gives us a better chance but it won't be the same without them.

2. We'll all be at work when the games are on. first thing in the mornig is better than in the middle of the night but its going to be hard to be enthusiastic watching any game over a bowl of cornflakes.

3. Apparently hardly any tickets have been sold. The only packed out games are the ones involving Japan and South Korea.

I just got this bad feeling its going to be a big dissapointment and that we are going to have to wait till the european chmpionships for a decent tournament...and thats in 2004!!

surely if they didn't make it they are not as good as the teams that have made it! surely that means brazil aren't as good as they once were and argintina are much better.