My old man drives a second hand Sierra, Oh Pat Viera.....(Or how France will win the World Cup) (Who will win the World Cup 2002?)

Member Name: Scott Fowler

Product:	Who will win the World Cup 2002?
Date:	14/05/02 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Football, so much football!!

Disadvantages: No tartan army :-(

************ Update******************

Hmmmmmm, looks like I won't be getting any prizes!! France and Argentina out what's going on??

At least Spain are doing something this year, and Brazil are looking pretty hot... you wouldn't catch Sol Campbell careering up the pitch to complete a lovely passing move with a sublime overhead kick!!

Italy have done their best to blow it, but Equador of all people got them out of a sticky situation.

Good to see Ireland aren't struggling without Roy "toys out the pram" Keane and as for England, well they've done what's been needed. They got a point in a pants game against Sweden, deserved to beat a woeful Argentina, and got what they needed out of a dull game with Nigeria. Hardly enough to make me think they can win it.... it'll be interesting to see how Sven deals with going a goal down, if that happens.

I'll have to go for Brazil now, which will no doubt jinx them and Senegal will win it!!

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With the World Cup just around the corner and the prospect of drinking at 7am a very real one (Japan, why I ask you, why??) it's time to join in the hype.

Who'll win it? Now there's a toughie. I can't see England winning it to be perfectley honest, however if they do then by all accounts they'll have deserved it - with there being a fair chance that they'll end up playing France in the Second round (Assuming they make that). Oh I should probably point out I'm Scottish - so of course I'll be cheering on, well let's just say not England ;-). Losing Dyer and Gerrard to injury and with Beckham's fitness questionable, midfield is where it'll be won or lost for them. Why didn't Sven call up McManaman?

Surely the time has come for the perennial underachievers Spain to finally do something - they were appalling in the last World C
up, but with some of the players the have, particularly upfront with the likes of Rául and Morientes, you just can't rule them out. I'll take Spain as my outside bet - they should at least make the Quarters.

As for the South Americans... Brazil had a very poor qualifying campaign and were well under par in most of the games. Thankfully though they, qualified - a world cup without Brazil would be unthinkable (particularly the lovely female fans......), even more see as there will be no Dutch masters this time round. No matter how poorly they qulified you simply can't rule out Brazil and the return from injury (and to fine scoring form) of Ronaldo is bound to be a boost.

Argentina on the other hand cruised through the qualifying stages and look very strong - I can't believe however that Caniggia has been recalled to the National team.... he's no competition to Crespo and Batistuta, but there you go.... They are understandably favourites from the "Group of Death" and I think they'll live up to that tag and win the group. They should easily make the Quarters.

Italy are bound to be there, or there abouts. They do however have terrible luck in penalty shootouts (they've gone out in the last 3 World Cups on penalties, Once in the final) so I hope for their sake they've been practicing! They have some great players in every area, from Buffon to Cannavaro to Vieri and on their day they could beat anyone. Again I would expect Italy to join Argentina, Spain and Brazil in the quarters (draw permitting)

The Republic of Ireland have a pretty good world cup record (well better than us anyway - at least they've got past the group stages!!), but without some major luck they won't win it. Roy Keane will obviusly be a vital player for them, if he stays fit and plays well it'll give the whole squad a boost, and with Robbie Keane putting in some good performances for Leeds recently he should have a
decent tournament. I think they'll get out of their group but possibly not much further.

Portugal I think should win their group quite easily and again I would expect to see them in the quarter finals. But I think they'll go no further than that. They have some very talented players, but I think they rely too heavily on them.

Germany of course were stuffed by England, but that was a blip on an otherwise fairly good qualification campaign. I can see them making the quarters but I think they'll go out there.They have good experience and will as always be well disciplined, but they are lacking a creative spark in midfield and a truly world class striker.

And finally my five star recomendation goes to France. They have a fantastic squad (anyone who can afford to leave out Trezuguet is in a fantastic position) and some of the football they play is out of this world. Zidane will be that star of the World Cup again.

So there we go I think the Quarters will line up as follows

France v Brazil
Republic of Irlenad v Italy
Spain v Portugal
Argentina v Turkey

from that lot we'll get a France v Italy final. or possibly an Argentina v Italy final.... but then again... ah who knows as long as it's a good tournament I don't really care who wins it!!

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