*Official* 2007 Football World Cup thread
 

Less than a week til it starts and no mention of it. Events of this magnitude usually have a forum of their own. :p
You all know the score. 22 people run around trying to kick a spherical object into a net. No invasion of personal space allowed, as it knocks the other competitor over. The team of 11 that puts the spherical object in the other team's net the most wins. Overall winner crowned best in the world.

The groups:

Group A
Argentina
England
Germany
Japan

Group B
North Korea
Nigeria
Sweden
USA

Group C
Australia
Canada
Ghana
Norway

Group D
Brazil
China
Denmark
New Zealand



The schedule:

10th September
Germany v Argentina

11th September
England v Japan
USA v North Korea
Sweden v Nigeria

12th September
Norway v Canada
Australia v Ghana
China v Denmark
Brazil v New Zealand

14th September
Germany v England
Argentina v Japan
USA v Sweden
North Korea v Nigeria

15th September
Norway v Australia
Canada v Ghana
China v Brazil
Denmark v New Zealand

17th September
Argentina v England
Japan v Germany

18th September
North Korea v Sweden
Nigeria v USA

19th September
Canada v Australia
Ghana v Norway
Denmark v Brazil
New Zealand v China

22nd September
Quarterfinal 1 - 1st Group A v 2nd Group B
Quarterfinal 2 - 1st Group B v 2nd Group A

23rd September
Quarterfinal 3 - 1st Group C v 2nd Group D
Quarterfinal 4 - 1st Group D v 2nd Group C

26th September
Semifinal 1 - winner Quarterfinal 1 v winner Quarterfinal 3

27th September
Semifinal 2 - winner Quarterfinal 2 v winner Quarterfinal 4

30th September
Third place playoff
Final

Feel free to discuss.

Matlidas ftw

have i missed smething?? :unsure:

Probably.

Is this Under 19 or something?

Womens.

Bah. Should have let him linger in ignorance.

Groups A and B look by far the toughest; NZ a bit of a joke inclusion and Denmark the weakest side of the European qualifiers make Group D quite easy for the hosts. Australia had some decent results and are probably better than four years ago, and while I'm seriously worried about organisation at the back for Norway, they should make it through from the weakest group in the competition. Canada a definite danger though, and Brazil/China in the quarters is not a healthy proposition either.

USA or Brazil to win it all, Germany are not what they once were - lack the physical mettle or, indeed, anyone but Prinz - and England have shown little at the highest level, European Cup win for Arsenal notwithstanding.

FIFA's been really clever, actually; putting us in a group solely consisting of countries who we fight wars against to get the patriotic juices following. :p

Seriously tho, we any good? Ranks low on the give-a-toss-ometer I'm afraid.

We're ok. Not great, but slowly improving. Went to China to play a friendly tournament around January time and drew with USA and Germany, ranked 1 and 2 in the world, but they weren't really giving a toss. Lost to China in that tournament, and again to them last week. No chance of winning it. Could come out of the group second to Germany though. Best players are Faye White (captain, centre back, Arsenal, doubt for the start of the tournament due to fitness), Karen Carney (wide right, Arsenal) and Kelly Smith (up front, Arsenal again).

Who's that in your avatar?

Rachel Brown - goalkeeper, northerner, all round possessor of awesomeness

Where's Rachel Unitt?

What about her?

Well, she'd be better avatar material IMO. Not that I think of female footballers like that or anything.

Couldn't resist, tbh:)