I'd like to see one of the African nations do well but I think you're right. I think this one will be dominated by the usual suspects. I wouldn't even write off Argentina's chances if the can get their act together (and a different manager).

Brazil will win, as usual/often.

still disgusted about the blatant manipulatuion of the rules by f.i.f.a.a regarding the france ireland game...

now there are calls for a rematch... tooo right, france were nowhere in the game until that free kick which was offside and henrys 2 handballs.... disgrace..
fifa got their wish......

Apart from Lloris, the whole French team was poor. The Irish waves were a treat to watch.
I'd love a rematch. Most people in France are unsatisfied with the way things went. Everybody wishes for a stainless winner sent to South Africa.
French sides are always proud of their panache. They should ask for a rematch. But they won't.

pretty blatant that it should be a replay. if the ref and the three other officials didnt see it then what the hell is going on! at least two french players where off side to start with then the handball, surely something should be done. if the ref's decision is final then why do we even need fifa?

It always gets ugly when soccer teams from catholic countries play against each other.

Here's a memorable soccer game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur5fGSBsfq8

Not proud to be French today.

it's a TRAP.
hahahah

rematch rematch rematch!

won't happen. French team played like an Italian team yesterday... for shame.

Call off the conspiracy theories and finger pointing, I suggested Ireland had a chance to qualify so they were doomed from the start, le shame

I'm completely disgusted by France and Henry. Ireland dominated that game. Shit like that is exactly why I hate watching soccer. If I had my way, Henry's left hand would be chopped off. Or they could replay the game. One or the other.

ok...the ireland/france thing is done and dusted..we were robbed..by the f.a. and all the hate henry is getting isnt fair, i mean any player would have done the same.... anyhooo..

9 - 1 to the tottenham!!!! rethink your top 4 teams of the premiership....spurs are now up there for keeps!

Liverpool - Man City
2:2

Great match, Skrtel scored his first goal in 2 years playing for the Reds.

skrtel scored for the pool.... kinda sums up their season so far. shame, id love to see them back up there..... behind tottenham you understand!

england in the same group as the usa. interesting.

I wonder if the phrase "bootlicker" got lost in translation, but i really really really really hope it didnt.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...le-boot-licker
Carlos Tevez launches explosive attack on 'boot-licking moron' Gary Neville

• Manchester City striker lashes out on Argentinian radio
• 'I wondered, what's the moron talking about me for?'

• Buzz up!
• Digg it

• Sid Lowe in Madrid
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 21 January 2010 17.32 GMT
• Article history

The Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez celebrates his first goal in the Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester United by gesturing towards Gary Neville. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Carlos Tevez has launched an incredible new attack on Gary Neville, accusing his former Manchester United team-mate of being a "boot-licking moron" after their confrontation during the Carling Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday night.
The Manchester City striker described his side's 2-1 victory in the match at Eastlands as "revenge" and said his provocative goal celebration had been directed only at Neville and not Sir Alex Ferguson or the United fans. He said: "Ferguson loves me."
Before the game Neville, the United right-back, had said Tevez was "not worth" the £25m it would have cost the club to keep him last summer. Tevez made a gesture towards Neville after scoring his first goal, from the penalty spot. The *England veteran responded by raising his middle finger.
Speaking in a radio interview on ESPN Argentina, Tevez said: "My celebration was directed at Gary Neville. He acted like a complete sock-sucker [boot-licker] when he said I wasn't worth £25m, just to suck up to the manager. I don't know what the hell that idiot is talking about me for. I never said anything about him.
"I will never show a lack of respect towards anyone. Just as I was running off to celebrate the penalty I had scored, I came across Gary and I said to myself: 'Shut your trap, keep quiet.' I didn't go overboard in my celebration and it was directed at Gary, not at Ferguson and not at the fans. I think he did the wrong thing because I was his team-mate and I never said anything bad about him. He was *saying that Ferguson was right when he said that I wasn't worth £25m, when he was saying this and that ... I always respected Neville."
Tevez's outburst will do little to dampen tension ahead of next week's second leg after the Football Association and Greater Manchester Police appealed for calm.Despite living in England for four years, Tevez speaks little English. His comments on Wednesday to the British media, accusing Neville of being "disrespectful", were released through representatives. In his native tongue, he made his feelings clear. He said: "I was at lunch with the players in the team hotel and all the papers were laid out. I read them – well, 'read them', obviously I don't read [English].
"My team-mates were asking what I thought. And I wondered to myself: what's the tarado [moron] talking about me for when I never said anything about him, when there was never any [issue] with us. It was a lack of respect for a compañero [fellow *footballer], aside of the fact that we had won a lot of things together.
"You have to do your talking on the pitch. I don't talk much in England – mainly because of the language. I don't like to get involved in conflict. I'm happy because I know what I am. Thank God I had the chance to get revenge with City, although there is still the second leg to come. I know Ferguson loves me, that's why he always talks about me, ha-ha.There are differences between the two teams. Manchester United is a huge team in the city, everyone knows that. But City are making giant strides."
The Argentinian said he did not expect to end his career at City. "Things are going well for me; the goals are coming. I'm in good shape, I have avoided *injuries. As a kid I would never have imagined I would live in *England for four years. I am very happy and contented that my daughter is growing up in a country as developed as this one. But the truth is that it's very, very hard for me to live here, so far away from my loved ones. I'm not exactly an example of how to learn English; I just can't get it into my head. I'm learning hardly *anything, truth be told. I don't go out much, I spend most of my time at home. My daughter just brought me a Boca Juniors shirt and she wants me to join Boca. I am a Boca fan and I know I'll go back one day but I don't know when."

spurs 2 leeds 2 hahaha

As much as i hate to say it I think Spurs have a decent chance of top 4 this season. I still wouldn't count out liverpool but I reckon the end will be:

Chelsea
Man U
Arsenal
Spurs