You're probably American, which means you're going to root for the U.S. in the World Cup. That's the easy part. But which other teams should you cheer on over the next month, and which should you despise? Spencer Hall has the answers.
Jun 10, 2010 - Picking a World Cup team out of 32 assorted squads really isn't that difficult, random bored sports fan stranded in the summer doldrums. You do the same thing every year with the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, after all, and often without the helpful framework of a national point of reference. So making the argument that pulling for Gonzaga -- a school whose location half of you probably can't name -- is somehow so much more logical or thrilling than rooting for Nigeria because you like their name (the Super Eagles) holds no merit here. You're picking your teams in the World Cup just the way you pick your teams in real life: arbitrarily, and with no real logic besides random preference.
Therefore, we are here to help by giving you a handy guide to General World Cup Likability for each team in the tournament from an American perspective. The key factors in determining each are as follows:
Underdog Status: Since there is no joy in rooting for obvious favorites, teams receive a hefty bonus for being massive underdogs. For teams like New Zealand -- who stand as much chance of advancing out of group stage as a paraplegic pig thrown into a tiger pit has of walking out of there unscathed -- this bonus is quite large indeed. The best teams are at the bottom by definition, because they need no help.
Quirk: Do they have cool shirts? Are their star players borderline mad? Do their fans bring flamethrowers and live chickens to matches? Most importantly, how is their hair? All of these make teams more or less likable.
National biases: These will become clear enough as the rankings go on, but if you harbor an irrational hatred for France because you got food poisoning there once or were talked into wasting money on an MC Solaar album by a gullible rock critic once, then feel free to exercise those. We did, and have the copy of "Nouveau Western" to prove it.
SPIN Magazine could really put you in some embarrassing social situations in the 1990s. Use these materials well, and proceed.
1. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Your country needs you, and there is no debate. If you're not American and looking for a team, may we remind you we have 100% more Herculez now?
2. SOUTH AFRICA: The homeboys not only have sentiment on their side as the beloved hosts, but also boast a spiffy nickname (Bafana Bafana, literally meaning "The boys"), have a player named "Kermit Erasmus," and have a 32-year-old striker named Siyabona Nomvete whose legs might fall off at any second. They also have zero chance of advancing from their group, making them an underdog of unparalleled degree here.
Hair? Pretty standard, and the only weak point in their resume of World Cup Likeability.
3. NEW ZEALAND: Another hopeless underdog with likable quirk, but let's get this out of the way first: don't hold the 1982 World Cup anthem against them.
That wasn't their fault, really, and have acquired a much better anthem for this year's effort. They've only made the tourney once before, take your lame Lord of the Rings jokes well, and will likely flame out in the first round cheerfully. One downside: their team name (the All-Whites) isn't exactly user-friendly for a South African tournament.
4. NIGERIA: Dysfunctional, gifted, and spectacularly coiffed, the Nigerians stand a chance, sure. They also might flame out, fire their manager while stiffing him for six months' back pay, and have their luggage stolen by their own government halfway though the group stage. Nickname "The Super Eagles" can't really be beat; neither can their unpredictable selection of hairstyles. Prone to spurts of hyper-aggressive play and shot-taking from anywhere on the field. Due to chronic mismanagement, may be kicked out of their hotel in the middle of the cup when corrupt officials steal their per diem.
Hair? Braided, popped out in full afro, and spectacularly varied.
5. COTE D'IVOIRE: ESPN might be calling them Ivory Coast, but we here at SB Nation go by the CIA Factbook only in choosing our terminology. Les Elephants may not have Didier Drogba, but they have everything else to love: attacking football, a fantastic jersey, an awesome name, status as an African underdog playing on home soil, and this seal, the greatest in all of international soccer:
Hair? Braided elaborately.
6. AUSTRALIA: The team your girlfriend or wife will most likely choose due to adorable team nickname, "The Socceroos." Filled with rangy, mean-looking white guys who would not look out of place putting on brass knuckles prepping for a Kentucky barfight. Not very good, but certainly enthusiastic. Don't stand a chance, but can certainly put a pipe in someone else's spokes in the tourney, even if they do so in horrific, ugly fashion. Only team with three marsupials in the starting lineup. Goalie has venomous barbs to protect himself against overly aggressive strikers.
Hair? A team loaded with a few quality half and quarter mullets.
7. SLOVENIA: Another low-probability pick, but one with a spectacular fan cheer: "HE WHO IS NOT JUMPING IS NOT SLOVENIAN HEY! HEY! HEY!" The Dragons score in the nickname department and the celebration one, since the team does a well-coordinated belly slide in times of triumph:
They also play England in group play, so reserve some concern rays for them even if they'd all probably rather be out pursuing Slovenians' true passion: mountain climbing. In related news, Slovenians are ridiculously well-conditioned, and hate being called Slovakian.
8. GHANA: Have one of the finer nicknames in "The Black Stars." The connaisseur's choice for African squads, since Cameroon is the obvious popular choice after the injury to Cote d'Ivoire's Didier Drogba. Insanely aggressive. Feature three dudes named "Prince," "Junior," and "Sully." Have an Olympic team name of "The Black Meteors," which should count for something here. Are already complaining about accommodations like true divas. If you like geographically skinny countries, Ghana and Chile are your choices.
Hair? Potentially spectacular, and highly variable.
9. SOUTH KOREA: The ADD kids' pick, since the South Koreans attack, attack, and then continue attacking like Asian commuters elbowing each other out of the way on crowded subway platforms. All effort and little defense, so if you like Big 12 football or run-and-gun basketball, the South Koreans are a lock for your affections. Additionally, they have the team logo most easily used as a beer label:
Korea Football Association Lager: it tries really hard all the time, and offers up no defenses. That's drinkability at its finest, there.
Hair? Floppy and frantic.
10. CAMEROON: Africans, yes, but the aristocracy of African soccer and the continent's team that has gone deepest in the Cup by reaching the quarterfinal in 1990. Makes up for all this unflattering success by being The Indomitable Lions and by having the frenetic Samuel Eto'o, who plays soccer like a rabid chicken trying to kick a balled-up armadillo to death. A quality choice for those looking to back the home continent here.
11. HONDURAS: Big and mean, and just lucky to be there, which is appealing enough on its own. Their president also knows how to wear a cowboy hat properly, and this also earns them enough points as a team you might want to take an enthusiastic but hopeless flyer on in the group stage (and definitely no further).
12. SLOVAKIA: Godfather fans and Sopranos freaks, your team is Slovakia if only because midfielder Marek Hamsik has a fondness for being photographed with mafiosi and bragging out his ability to speed with impunity thanks to "the cops in Naples all knowing who I am." They're also quite stingy with allowing goals, so cheap people, style up with the Slovaks like now. Their fans also drink like fish even by soccer standards, if you're into that. Ironically, don't mind being called Slovenian, because Slovenes are very nice people.
13. CHILE: Don't sleep on Chile, the most tactically complex side according to the geeky and necessary Zonal Marking. They won't advance, mind you, but it should be a fiery and spectacular pyrrhic victory for whomever gets on the end of their goal cannon. Additional selling point: Chile is very long and skinny on the map, so for those fans of geographically anorexic countries there is no other choice.
14. ALGERIA: Boast a fantastic nickname, "The Desert Foxes." Fans capable of extreme violence, as some unfortunate Egyptian fans found out this year when a spat between Egypt and Algeria in soccer resulted in rioting and the delay of oil shipments between the two countries. Goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui has what is believed to be the only surname in the world with seven vowels in a row. Don't stand a chance of winning the whole thing, and are generally likable (except when playing the US, of course).
Hair? Close-cropped, because it's hot in the desert and even soccer players have their practical limits.
15. URUGUAY: A charmingly retro pick, since Uruguay did host and win the first World Cup in 1930. A good team to pull for if you love violence, since Uruguay eschews any notion of actually scoring in favor of booting the kneecaps off their opponents and picking up red cards with glee. The Baltimore Ravens of the Cup.
16. PARAGUAY: If you like landlocked countries, this is your bet. Smart uniforms, too, which is nice because the pretty colors liven up their otherwise stultifying style of play. Shots all around if they score two goals, and for three, finish the whole bottle.
17. JAPAN: "Samurai Blue" is a hell of a name, and recent strange roster choices have reduced their chances in the World Cup to increase their general hopelessness here (and therefore their inherent likability). If you lean toward Asian imports for your World Cup adoptees, they remain a fine choice, though not as manic as the South Koreans by any stretch.
Hair? Floppy, and often dyed to match favorite anime characters.
18. DENMARK: Butter cookies. Ohhh, sweet butter cookies. These alone should engender some kind of warmth in your heart for "Olsen's Eleven," as should their general skill and effort despite a thin line. Additional charm: their fans are roligans, the anti-hooligans of Europe and generally beloved among soccer fans.
19. NETHERLANDS: Play in a hypnotic shade of orange, and certainly are very close as teammates. Very, very close:
As favored as they will be in many of the matches, the Dutch remain really likable here for their attacking style of play, and are even more likable now that dive-y forward Arjen Robben is missing at least their first match with a hamstring injury. Nicknames come strong here, too: "The Flying Dutchmen" or "Clockwork Orange."
20. GREECE: If their stagnant style of play weren't enough to cost them points here, their Euro 2004 championship reduced their underdog status to previously unimaginable level. There is an upside to their country's financial ruin, though, since the implosion of the Greek economy and subsequent fallout just made any potential European vacations a lot cheaper. So they've got that going for them, at least.
21. SPAIN: Fans favor rich hams, promiscuity, red wine, and dancing until 3 a.m.. Style of play is goal-friendly, highly skilled, and festive. Obviously gorged with talent from La Liga and blessed with a killer nickname, "The Fury." We're short on downsides because separating the Spanish team from the thought of tasty tapas and going out in Barcelona until six in the morning is clouding our judgment, so yeah: they're too good to be likable, but too sexy to resist.
22. GERMANY: A hard sell based on their skill and popularity, but nasty, aggressive, and precise soccer never loses favor here. Fearsomely nicknamed with a moniker that could double as a metal band name: Die Mannschaft. Otherwise, far too good and predictable to like.
23. ENGLAND: The Notre Dame of international football, forever moaning on about how fantastic 1966 was. If you are American, you may not root for them until after group stage, because tyranny cannot be tolerated. Have Wayne Rooney, the Super Chav who, if American, would hang out with Jared Allen in the offseason killing deer with spears and drinking beer out of cans. Prefer tea to coffee, which is how you lose a global empire in half a century.
24. SERBIA: A nation with a PR problem to start with, Serbia would just like you to ignore words like "genocide" and "sorry for starting World War I" and focus on their burly defender Nemanja Vidic and their coach Raddy Antic, who as a player really did look like the Balkan Christopher Walken. Otherwise...yeah. Serbia's got an uphill battle for your random affections, especially with fellow Yugoslav alumni Slovenia acting all charming and fun over there.
25. ARGENTINA: More likable than they've been in recent years simply for two factors: the incomparable Lionel Messi and the deranged team management of Diego Maradona. On one hand, you have the possibility of watching the greatest footballer alive rip his way through the tourney as no player in recent history has. On the other, you have the possibility of Diego Maradona inserting himself into the game in short shorts and no shirt in the second half of the World Cup final. Either way, for a dominant favorite they remain remarkably likable and capable of generating chaos in both positive and negative directions, and thus land higher than they might otherwise.
Hair? Shorter than in previous years, and no longer reminiscent of a crew of Nickelback roadies.
26. BRAZIL. The style of play isn't even what it once was: reliant on counter-attacking, and nowhere near the free-dancing sambalero play of the 1970s Selecao. Skill still remains intergalactically unfair at times, but each player has eight girlfriends, each more beautiful than the next, and really there's nothing likable about that kind of level of masculine overkill. (Anything after three is just bad taste, really.) A thing of beauty, yes, but almost alien to our species in terms of the game and how they play it.
27. FRANCE: Likability factor very, very low as they've won the Cup before, made the final in 2006, and are generally successful and very, very French about it. Coming off one of the more controversial qualifiers in European history where Thierry Henry's blatant handball caused an international political furor. Final nail in likability: French. Only real selling point? Their coach is functionally insane, and relies on astrology to determine lineups.
28. MEXICO: Mexico may not be pulled for at any time unless you are actually Mexican. If they play Italy somehow, root for a meteor to strike the stadium. There are no exceptions to this rule.
29. ITALY: Fantastically talented returning World Cup champs, and therefore near the bottom of the likability rankings instantly. They'd be here anyway for being diving, theatrical, and possessed with some of the stupidest goal celebrations of all time. (If I see one more Italian soccer player suck his thumb, I will RPG the nearest television.) They need no help from you or anyone else, because they are very good, very beloved by their home country, and everything bad Americans mock about the sport of soccer.
30. THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA: You just can't. I know, it might be ironic, like the asshole hipster wearing a CCCP jacket to watch a match. Aren't the players trying just because they love the game? Sure they are, but they're not going over the fence to defect because the DPRK's government probably has their relatives under armed guard while they're abroad, and would do horrific things to them if they left. You might joke, "Ha ha, Italy's evil," but no, you can actually say "The DPRK is evil." It's a fact, and as a fan, rooting for them is simply not done no matter how many layers of irony you pile onto it.
NOT LISTED:
PORTUGAL. No data found for "likability."
SWITZERLAND. We remain neutral regarding the Swiss.
44 comments
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This is win:
Screw England.
On the Forecheck: preaching the Predators' gospel to the unwashed masses.
Twitter/Cycle Like the Sedins
by Chris Burton on Jun 10, 2010 11:07 AM EDT reply actions
Nemanja Vidić
Gotta love the cover of his English language biography:
What PR problem? That being said, they rank at #3 on the teams I’m pulling for (behind the US & Greece)
RollBamaRoll.com - Also check out my music blog: Hear the World, which is exploring the music of MALI in June 2010.
by Nico2.0 on Jun 10, 2010 11:21 AM EDT reply actions
That’s a Manchester United fan chant for him. He will, too.
If I am good I could add years to my life / I would rather add some life to my years.
by Jay Preece on Jun 10, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I figured it was a ManU chant...
….given the Tim Howard chant they came up with, but yeah, still not great PR for Serbia.
RollBamaRoll.com - Also check out my music blog: Hear the World, which is exploring the music of MALI in June 2010.
by Nico2.0 on Jun 10, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Best....
…intro…..article……EVER!
by Steve K on Jun 10, 2010 11:38 AM EDT reply actions
Underdogs
I’m not so sure about that being the foremost concern… you can’t underestimate the bandwagon thing, which operates exactly in opposition to the “root for the underdog” instinct.
Also, there’s some sort of natural sympathy for people who speak your own language, which gives England a bump.
by gosouthgohard on Jun 10, 2010 11:39 AM EDT reply actions
on England and the USA
In England, in 2002 and 2006, there was a mixture of sympathy and empathy for the USA, probably stemming from cultural similarities, the number of players in the Premier League and the perceived lack of a threat from the US team. Whatever the reason, they were definitely cheered on by a lot of English people in both of those World Cups.
Obviously with the gap between the teams closing and the draw pitting them against each other, there’ll be a lot more schadenfreude in SA, but I think if they both escape the group stages there could be a return to the respect and admiration from previous years.
If I am good I could add years to my life / I would rather add some life to my years.
by Jay Preece on Jun 10, 2010 12:25 PM EDT reply actions
Great Article
and I’m glad I’m not the only one suckered into listening MC Solaar, although I guess 1990’s “rock critics” have given way to 2000’s hipster douchebags who think some ponce rapping in french is the greatest thing since blowjobs and probably will root for north korea, the pricks."
also slovenia is my number two, based solely on their fantastic espn mural: http://www.worldcupbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Slovenia.jpg
by NU Wildcat Offense on Jun 10, 2010 12:25 PM EDT reply actions
I am stunned at how similar our personal likability rankings are,
and even more surprised that it is often for the same reasons.
I have Australia (shared history), Germany (watching a game in Germany, German friends), and the Netherlands (game in Amsterdam, love their style or play and Clockwork Orange nickname) a little higher, and South Africa much lower. Other than that, this could almost be my list.
by GwinnettGamecock on Jun 10, 2010 12:38 PM EDT reply actions
Spot on, except...
God help me, I love watching Italy play.
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 10, 2010 12:47 PM EDT reply actions
I hate the dives though. :)
Queensbridge. Littlerock.
"Derek Fisher shouldn't be allowed to shoot unless theres fewer than one second on the shot clock" - Kelly Dwyer
by bluexfalcon on Jun 10, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
No doubt.
Players who get called for diving should be forced to carry a handbag the rest of the game.
Even so, I love that Italy has a little Rowdy Roddy Piper in it, to finish off the skill and tactical discipline.
Excuse me for my bellicosity. And spelling. Bellicosity and spelling.
by Blackheartnopants on Jun 10, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't dispute the beauty.
Not one bit. The style, however, makes me want to chew glass.
by Spencer Hall on Jun 10, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Rooting for
Mexico!!
Queensbridge. Littlerock.
"Derek Fisher shouldn't be allowed to shoot unless theres fewer than one second on the shot clock" - Kelly Dwyer
by bluexfalcon on Jun 10, 2010 12:52 PM EDT reply actions
I nearly wet myself
Great article with 3 exceptions France should be 2nd from the bottom for what they did to Ireland alone… Cheating Bastards!
Mexico should be quite a bit higher because a)We spank them and they never win, b) alot of their players are in the MLS
No Likability for Portugal? Is this because your girlfriend hates soccer but for some reason has posters of Christino Rinaldo on her bedroom walls?
by Sean Michael Patrick Gallegos on Jun 10, 2010 1:48 PM EDT reply actions
what?
a) Gold Cup 2009 (5-0) and WCQ at Azteca
b) There are no players in MLS who are any where near being considered for the Mexican Squad.
And if you’re gonna make a joke, please spell his name correctly. Christiano Ronaldo.
Queensbridge. Littlerock.
"Derek Fisher shouldn't be allowed to shoot unless theres fewer than one second on the shot clock" - Kelly Dwyer
by bluexfalcon on Jun 10, 2010 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Cristiano.
If I am good I could add years to my life / I would rather add some life to my years.
by Jay Preece on Jun 10, 2010 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Gold Cup '09 was the USA C-squad
Granted, it wasn’t exactly Mexico’s A-squad either. But half the US players weren’t even backups, much less starters.
by SpartanDan on Jun 11, 2010 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Haha
First… You mean Cristiano Ronaldo? You may want to double check your facts before you complain about someone else’s… I misspelled it to see who actually has a girlfriend with those posters.
Second… Who cares if they have no player in the MLS on their National squad Mexico is a country you don’t cheer for specific players you cheer for the country.
Lastly and most importantly… Mexico generally wins @ azteca my point is who wins CONCACAF? Yeah 2-0 final round… Who won it in 2006? Oh yeah USA again…
2002? OH YEAH 2-0 for the old second round Knock OUT sorry about that… You were saying?
by Sean Michael Patrick Gallegos on Jun 11, 2010 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions
In the 2006 World Cup...
… the last semifinal was Portugal vs. France, and the final was France vs. Italy.
It’s hard to watch two games in a row where you hate both of the teams on the field with a passion.
by vineyarddawg on Jun 10, 2010 2:22 PM EDT reply actions
at least a little bit of respect was earned by Zidane for the toughest backbone shown by a Frenchman since 1810
by kizzak on Jun 10, 2010 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Slovenia
Slovenia loses points for this awfulness. This kit is the only thing I’ve seen that makes Australian International Sporting Apparel look better… Its like a bad take on Oregon Football.
South Carolina Football had been detrimental to both my liver and law school grades.
by Le Coq Sportif on Jun 10, 2010 2:49 PM EDT reply actions
Exhibit 2
South Carolina Football had been detrimental to both my liver and law school grades.
by Le Coq Sportif on Jun 10, 2010 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL
I knew this was coming when I saw their jersey. I can’t resist the image of a Slovenian player going for a penalty ick, only to have Lucy jerk the ball away at the last second.
by rickmbari on Jun 13, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
penalty KICK
proofread fail
by rickmbari on Jun 13, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
that kit
looks awesome to me.
Lurking since 2006
by boyonthedock on Jun 11, 2010 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
USA v. England - Trashtalking and WAGs!!!
World Cup Fever has taken over the universe and we here at Casual Hoya are not ashamed to do whatever and whoever is needed to keep our loyal casualites/casualties up to speed on the latest news. For starters, we have put together a panel of soccer EXPERTS to get you up to speed on the epic USA vs. England match on Saturday.
http://www.casualhoya.com/2010/6/10/1510542/sleeping-with-the-enemy-england-a
Casually.
by CasualHoya on Jun 10, 2010 4:20 PM EDT reply actions
Love it!
Agree with everyone of those!!!
by Jedi Mind Kicks on Jun 10, 2010 5:20 PM EDT reply actions
I like Portugal just for the fact that everybody else despises them so much for no reason, considering unlike Italy, they never win anything.
Go Rockies! First and only member of the Manuel Corpas fanclub right here! :/
Everyone's favorite Buffalo Rumblings Anti-Tebow blowhard!
THIS IS BUFFALO NATION GODZILLA HAS AWAKEN - abayarde
by UZ on Jun 10, 2010 6:08 PM EDT reply actions
No reason?
The fact that Christiano Ronaldo is their star player is enough to hate them.
The fact that the rest of their team isn’t much better in terms of how annoying they are because they complain and take dives just helps the fact.
by Roa on Jun 10, 2010 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, there's a reason
Their diving makes the Azzurri look honest. The ‘06 third-place game was a perfect demonstration – on at least four occasions they had golden opportunities to score if they hadn’t acted as though they had been gunned down by snipers the instant they entered the box. Aside from self-interest scenarios, the only time I would ever root for Portugal is if they were playing Italy (not because they’re less egregious floppers, but because they play an attacking style unlike Italy’s abomination unto the sport).
by SpartanDan on Jun 11, 2010 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Do the NZ All Whites do a haka before matches?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jun 10, 2010 7:39 PM EDT reply actions
If not, they should.
by SpartanDan on Jun 11, 2010 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions
It needs one addition
“Mexico may not be pulled for at any time unless you are actually Mexican. If they play Italy somehow, root for a meteor to strike the stadium. There are no exceptions to this rule.”
This needs to be extended to the France vs. Mexico game.
by dicktrickle on Jun 11, 2010 1:24 AM EDT reply actions
My list:
- Underdogs to root for: New Zealand, Honduras, South Africa, Australia
- Favorites to cheer on (when it doesn’t affect the US): the Dutch, Germany, England, Ivory Coast; naturally, if Germany, the US, and England all make it to the KO, Germany will face one of the other two in the round of 16.
- Teams I want to see flame out in the most spectacular way imaginable: Italy, Portugal, France, Mexico (the first two for diving, the third for the Hand of Gaul, and the fourth on general principle)
by SpartanDan on Jun 11, 2010 1:27 AM EDT reply actions
I'm French! Why do you think I have this outrageous accent-a?...
Throw in the 2006 Zidane headbutt (even if it was against the hated Italians), and France should be next to last in the list. Heck, I might even cheer for North Korea first.
by DissidentAggressor on Jun 11, 2010 1:58 AM EDT reply actions
Hilarious.
On a serious note, anyone heard the rumor that the N Korean government won’t broadcast any matches so they can edit footage to make it look like they win the World Cup to their fans? It sounds so incredibly ridiculous, but since it’s North Korea I’m almost inclined to believe it.
Bungles Tank Stupidly like Clockwork
--------
Every night at the club the girls screamed when he'd come
He stood six foot five and weighed 241
Kinda meaty in the face with a head full of stone
And everybody knew you didn't go to the bathroom alone around Big Ben
(Big Ben Big Ben) Big Fat Ben (Big Ben)
by svenhoek on Jun 11, 2010 4:51 AM EDT reply actions
Anti Vibration Gloves
Their diving makes the Azzurri look honest. I like Portugal just for the fact that everybody else despise them so much for no reason, considering different Italy, they never win anything.
Thanks
Anya
Garden GlovesManufacturer
by Anyajohn on Jun 11, 2010 5:37 AM EDT reply actions
Die Mannschaft
Also a good name for a gay bar.
by Grib on Jun 11, 2010 1:50 PM EDT reply actions
My faves & reasons
US: Favorite team, always an underdog, you never know what they’ll do, and when the WC is not in Europe, they seem to overachieve
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria, South Africa: You gotta want at least one African team to make a run this year since not only is it the first but may be the last World Cup there in a long time.
Algeria: My brother in law is from there
Honduras: Since we helped them get in, we’re like buddies now
Mexico: Concacaf pride! I put the rivalry aside during the World Cup and hope they do well
New Zealand: Best major underdog not ruled by an evil dictator
Faves to Hate:
Italy: reasons well documented
France: I usually like their style of play but this time after what Henry did, I’m hoping the go down in flames. Also, it would be nice to further demonstrate that they are nothing without Zidane.
England: For their fans’ relentless sneering at the US this World Cup season. Yeah, we know you’re more talented. Stick with the paranoia, cuz you don’t do confidence well.
North Korea: evil dictator
Bill James on Duane Kuiper: "It's absolutely incredible that a player this bad could be given 3000 at bats in the major leagues." -- Baseball Abstract, 1982
by blueconversechucks on Jun 11, 2010 8:32 PM EDT reply actions
What's not to like about Portugal?
I like them because they essentially legalized all drugs – and saw rates of drug abuse decline, proving that prohibition is good only for organized criminals (including the for-profit prison industry).
by rickmbari on Jun 13, 2010 5:30 PM EDT reply actions
Cristiano Ronaldo dives so much his uniform ought to include SCUBA gear, that's what.
If you want to pick a team based on lack of prohibition, I’d suggest the Dutch. They did the same, and they’re nowhere near as bad a bunch of floppers.
by SpartanDan on Jun 14, 2010 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
this is brilliant
everything about it.
go USA!!!
by JenLovesHockey on Jun 16, 2010 12:02 AM EDT reply actions
and Nigeria!!!!
by JenLovesHockey on Jun 16, 2010 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions
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