And in the meantime, while we weren’t here….

Hmmmm Finn I only rate Banks, Maier and Buffon. Brazil never had to have great keepers. Only 7 countries have won, the 3 biggest Brazil/Germany/Italy . The rest no longer on the “permanent” list. Take out Italy (once every 12 years) Leaving the “always there” 2 Brazil and Germany. Perhaps one statistic may interest you. In 1974 we were 12:1 to make the final. Another real statistic is that the Champions usually have a shaky start and a few “lucky breaks” Italy was almost out of the 2006 and 1982 pool qualifiers. The winning team usually grows during the tournament and this time I dont think the home team will be a major threat.

Posted from  Singapore

I don’t think Holland has a real chance at winning the world cup. I think the best Holland since I have seen in my lifetime was the 98 WC side. That has been the best defense we have send out there, and with the best collective group alongside a excellent manager. Since then, my expectations have been minimal.

This team looks good, but there are better teams out there. Let’s not get carried away with out group victory. I think its rather pointless to expect victory from this bunch, I mean I will get drunk and party in Amsterdam/Utrecht in the Summer like most dutch people, but I think its a bit much to expect wonders from this team. I think if we get pressured in the back, that we will simply fall apart as a collective team. I would like us to start giving different players chances to start or play during our friendlies. I hear Maduro is doing well at Valencia, so why not call him up. I mean what do we really have to lose at this point? Loovens? Ron Vlaar has been great for Feyenoord, let’s give him a shout as well. Experimentation is not always a bad thing in my opinion.

Ricky was great today against Poland, but so far both Jong Oranje’s opponents has been very weak. I was impressed with Ricky but thats nothing new, he’s been great so far in league as well. Great work by Leroy Fer and Kuiper who scored a great volley today.

Posted from  United States

Hey Carlos, You don’t rate Zoff? I also actually rate Taffarel and Barthez at the time as two of the best in the world. Maybe even more of them.

I think Stekel needs to find a way to become great over 10 months for us to have a chance to win mate. I get this uncanny feeling of 1974 all over again…unfortunately

Anybody know if Jari Litmanen will play against Germany tomorrow?

Posted from  United States

@Johnny Rep: I believe both Jari and Sami Hyypia will play their last match for Finland. At least according to papers. Haven’t seen anything to the contrary.

That will be jari’s 129 full international match for Finland and Hyypia’s 103rd game.

players orange back four should worry about

brazil:4-2-3-1(dunga favour lineup)
fabiano
robinho-kaka-elano(kaka the play maker)

germany:4-4-2(typical german formation)
klose-podolski(playing together since euro04, they know each other movement pretty well)
ozil-ballack-rolfes-Schweinsteiger(2 natural wingers with an eye on goal)

spain:4-1-3-2
torres-villa(with a deadly fox in a box and a supporting striker)
iniesta-xavi-silva(the engine of the spanish team)

Posted from  United States

Finn – Zoff had a great WC82 – but before that even in 78 he got beaten by some easy long shots. He played out of his shoes in 82 starting from the semifinal. He never made a world keepers list like Yashin/Schmeichel/Banks/VDS/Buffon etc. But heck mate – you study your figures and be happy . I really thought you had one of those mathematical statistical (butterfly) reverse J type analysis – hahaha.

Posted from  Singapore

I think if we consider only the names in each squad , spain will be in the 1st spot (no doubt about that )
but i always belive that having best names doesn’t mean having the best team , i mean having mathijsen and heitinga understanding each other may become better than puyol and albiol if they don’t understand each other , and i think this is the way of thinking of BVM too . He wants to make a homogenous team , I dont know why u guys are soo pessimestic ! , i have a strong feeling we will go far in the WC , may be to the semi-final , then anything can happen .. who knows !!

posted from Egypt

Johnny Rep- Sammi Hyppia is being touted as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga ! Have always liked him.

Posted from  Singapore

I dunno what is the problem with the blog and egypt , ha ha

What Carlos said is true. A fantastic goalkeeper will undo most sides except Brazil, Germany, Italy. Anyone remember ‘02 when one man basically carried a really below par German team to the final? Had Kahn not been injured during the final Germany would have won it.

Posted from  United States

Here’s a stat for you: no European team’s won a World Cup outside of Europe. Ok, this time the time difference isn’t a problem, but I think it’s Brazil odds on, Argies if Maradona gets it together or a real surprise from Africa or America.

Posted from  United Kingdom

I know rob , but this is the 1st world cup in africa in the history , so it could be a new chance for european teams .
my picks for 2010 final ,
Ned 3 – 2 brazil
or to be honest , this is my wish

Well, I think I can help my fellow Finnster with the WC-champions goalies before 1958:

1954-Germany-Turek
1950-Uruguay-Maspoli
1938-Italy-Olivieri
1934-Italy-Combi
1930-Uruguay-Ballesteros

OK, I agree the keepers who were in WC-winners can be considered among the best of his ages. But… don’t think it’s always true. Let’s take, for an example, Taffarel. In ‘94, many people lashed him out before World Cup, claiming for Zetti, who was his sub. And Taffarel was great, was one of the best Brazilian goalkeepers ever, but… worse than Schmeichel, worse than Ravelli, than… than who?

And, as M-O said, Stekel got the gifts of saving (at least I hope so – haha). Of course I’d love to watch VDS one more time as Oranje nº1 – and watching him lifting the trophy would be something unforgettable. But, if he don’t pick up the return option, then let’s count on Steks.

BTW, I believe Oranje can win the WC. But that’s definitely not a huge favorite. It’s kinda underdog – just like France, or Argentina, or even Russia. I think, in truth, there’s one chance Oranje can win: working hard and hard to solve all the problems until June 2010 – and then, hoping that Lady Luck is wearing Orange this time. The only time it happened was 1988. Can it be now?

My wish too Mohamed – 2 attacking teams – Always great Games Brasil Holland. 3-2 sounds great as well !!

Posted from  Singapore

@Carlos bro like Finn said….All the the world cup winners had a more than decent goalkeepers,when they won the title…But i still doubt the mental toughness of EDVS…still he is not a good penalty stopper…But he is famous for his unpredictable saves,and he has some acrobatic saves in his pocket..i think we can use him through out 90minutes and if we are going to penalty shootout we should substitute him with stekelenburg,but this will affect the total team tactics.
i would say that we should encourage Stekel/Vorm/Velthuizen more and i beleive he should have left Ajax last summer.Stekel has potential and charisma he just need support from diffenders and Coach..

Posted from  India

@ferenec..i saw Hungary Vs Ghana yesterday under20 WC.Hungary played brilliantly but Ghana never stopped running…Ghana had some luck also..i think Brazil is going to lift the title…Hungary can be proud of their performance

Posted from  India

@Tiju: unfortunately i didn’t see it. i only saw hungary-italy… what everybody say here that in the first hal hungary was inexistent but they played really well in the second…

my prediction (and my wish) for the world cup final is oranje versus spain.

tonight i hope i can watch uruguay-argentina. actually i want to see both on the world cup and no ecuador. i cannot imagine the world cup without the best player of the world (messi) and would miss suarez as well

Posted from  Hungary

@Tiju: the other great problem that the hungarian u-20 team had yesterday that they had a great handicap – our best player was suspended for the ghana game

Posted from  Hungary

@ferenc ,
i was in the stadium in italy – hungary match
the best match in the tournment in my opinion , i liked the hungarian team so much , its really promising
but there were many red cards , reminded me with Ned vs portugal !!

Holland – Brazil (3-2)? Sounds good, it will be the reverse of the 1994 game. Exciting match to watch that was.

Posted from  Netherlands

I have the same feelings as you Ferenc about the Uruguay, Argentina, Ecuador situation. We can only hope Chile wins or draws against Ecaudor or else we’re going to miss either Argentina or Uruguay regardless of what happens in their game. That’s a hard situation for both teams since Chile is already qualified and will probably take it easy like Brazil did last game against Bolivia (and lost).

I’m very afraid that we’re going to miss out on Uruguay, even a draw won’t be enough for them most likely.

Of course if Chile does their job we have nothing to worry about, just a play-off that either of these 2 teams should easily win against Honduras (or Costa Rica for that matter).

Posted from  Netherlands

Deleted – Daryl

Deleted – Daryl

A lot of the youth teams have promise, but in a lot of the cases it doesnt amount to much. If Nemeth and Simons of Hungary stay with Liverpool, they’re never going to really break through. Osei is good though, he’ll probably get a call-up for Ghana’s world cup team, I can see him being big. Wales has a lot of potential with their young guys, but can’t translate it into senior success.

As for WC 2010, you really can’t pick favourites before the tournament in football, its obviously going to be the same group of teams, but it really comes down to how the team is playing on the day they’re playing, as we saw in our Match against Russia. Everyone around was already calling us winners, even people who don’t watch football, but then we get that one bad game, and we’re gone.

Posted from  Canada