how many match winners do they netherlands have? robben, van persie... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)
they always have a lot of hype around them but i look at their present squad and their pretty overrated. especially most of them have done nothing on the big stage.

and france well i dont see them in any better position than italy except their star players are all in their 30s (except ribery)we all know domenech isnt going to start the likes of benzema,nasr.

dint you predict italy to not qualify? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I can't remember the Dutch squad the was selected, but they have alot of top players, even from midfield. van persie, van Der Vaart, Sneijder, Huntelaar, van Nistelrooy and Robben are ones I can think of at the moment - if they're selected.

More wishful thinking than hope. But in a group of Scotland, Italy and France I can't really lose. One of them had to fail! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

So, Kurt, the onle team, beside England of course, that you don't dislike is Sweden? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But you have not beaten them in like 40 years... you ought to dislike them too! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

^^

I think he likes the Ivory Coast team. Or one of the African ones.

Italy is not near the team they've had in 2006 - no Nesta, no Totti, no Pippo and of course no Lippi. Every playing section is weeker. We can't just assume that Aquilani, Ambro, Chiellini or Borriello will be good replacaments. Also, Matrix cannot preform a normal tournament again (which he barely did in 2006), just like Grosso. Plus Pirlo's and Rino's form are doubtfull, Cannavaro is older and Del Piero too. The only player who's in top form is Toni and maybe De Rossi.

It could have been a death-group, the one with Italy, France, Holland and Romania. But...I'm sceptic...France will make it, all the three other candidates have equal chances IMO. Holland - hmh, I don't expect them to shine. They really have to pay-out for that 2006 debacle. Is that possible? I doubt. Sneijder is a puzzle for me and the other midfielders are lacking match practice or form (Robben, Persie). Also, they don't have any experienced, good DM and, very untraditionally for Holland they lack of good fullback's (Melchiot?!) which can be crucial.

All in all, France should be top, Mutu and Romania could surprise..

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) ...

i know i'm not gonna rule them out!

I don't dislike Denmark, Finland or Norway either! I'm beginning to like Argentina though, because beating them seems to just be like second nature to us nowadays. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I agree about Romania, Fillipo. They've been written off because of the tough group theyre in, but I suspect the other 3 will beat up on each other, so 1 shock win could see them through.

Romania? Nah, their keeper is a loooooooooser. He'll be the difference.

The Dutch? Their last (and only) success was in 1988 but I can't see them winning this year. MvB doesn't have the class of Rhinus Michels as coach and the dutch play bad football since 2006. As always they have a number of world class players. VdV, Robben, RvN, Sneijder....but as almost always they'll go home with nothing....

For me Chiellini must be ahed of Materazzi. He had a terrible year and does not deserve a starting spot. Cannavaro>Barzagli>Chiellini is the ideal pecking order

Nah, Materazzi should be first on the team sheet, then he should pull players names out of a hat. If Buffon ends up playing as a striker, so be it!

Going to watch our friendly in about an hour.
Most probable line up.

Lehmann - Lahm, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Jansen - Frings, Ballack - C. Fritz, Schweinsteiger - Klose, Podolski

Metze desperately needs playing time as he was injured for half a year. But then...he's always injured between two big tournaments and is at his best even though (weird guy). Not so sure whether Ballack will start or not. Hitz could start for him as the capitano could be rested. Löw will also most likely give some newbies like Marko marin a chance.

In the Italy group ... I think Romania will be shaking the group. Not much expectation from them, would ease off the pressure. But all the hype around the Italy-France fixtures .. Who knows

You mean Lobont? Or is Stelea still around?

i'd agree this team isnt as good as the one that in 06. but keep in mind inzaghi only played a few minutes as a sub the whole tournament, nesta was injured, and totti did very little (the only reason we hear little of that is because well, they won the world cup). they won because they played extremely well as a unit.

i remember before the last world cup gattuso and pirlo werent in form either, materazzi well... he was matrerazzi, del piero even tho he is older just had a great season. besides form means nothing right now, everyone has a clean slate.

This post has been edited by Habitant: May 27 2008, 05:00 PM

France 2 - 0 Ecuador!!!

2 stunning goals by Gomis! who is he!!?