malg
Well-Known Member
Agree totally. I've heard lots of people bigging them up. Dark horses they aren't. In fact, from all the talk in the media, you would say England would qualify as dark horses.de niro said:
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Netherlands : The Darkhorses
- Thread starter Aussie!
- Start date
FeedTheGoat10
Well-Known Member
Their defence just isn't good enough IMO. I think they'll go far, but they don't have that solidity that you need to go far in a tournament like this. I think Nige will be vital for them though, as he needs to keep it together around players that don't really like tackling. His true quality will be shown in this tournament.
I reckon Germany will win: well organised, easy group, a good unit with a solid back four and dangerous players, even if they are missing a Ballack. Plus, they'll be mega up for it to do it for the keeper Enke who threw himself under a train.
I reckon Germany will win: well organised, easy group, a good unit with a solid back four and dangerous players, even if they are missing a Ballack. Plus, they'll be mega up for it to do it for the keeper Enke who threw himself under a train.
Aussie!
Well-Known Member
FeedTheGoat10 said:Their defence just isn't good enough IMO. I think they'll go far, but they don't have that solidity that you need to go far in a tournament like this. I think Nige will be vital for them though, as he needs to keep it together around players that don't really like tackling. His true quality will be shown in this tournament.
I reckon Germany will win: well organised, easy group, a good unit with a solid back four and dangerous players, even if they are missing a Ballack. Plus, they'll be mega up for it to do it for the keeper Enke who threw himself under a train.
It wont be easy as Ballack is out
Italy are barely being mentioned, i think they have a good mix of younger, lesser known players but still have experience in there too.
Difficult to retain it of course, but they have the nouse, experience, and a very good manager in Lippi.
I also have some money on Serbia e/w unlikely of course, but i think they have a very good shout of reaching the Semi's.
Difficult to retain it of course, but they have the nouse, experience, and a very good manager in Lippi.
I also have some money on Serbia e/w unlikely of course, but i think they have a very good shout of reaching the Semi's.
Regular Joe
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 4 Jun 2009
- Messages
- 799
I agree with the consensus that the Dutch aren't dark horses, but you aren't alone in your definition, Aussie! A reporter in The Observer, Amy Lawrence, wrote an article on Sunday where she named Holland as the dark horses in the headline. She followed that up by including Argentina as one of her best longshots! From a betting perspective that is nonsense. Holland are best priced 10-1, Argentina 7-1.
In my opinion I don't think you should call any of the 8 group seeded teams dark horses. They should all reach the quarters, and I include South Africa in that because FIFA always find a way (or a referee) to get the hosts to at least that stage. The winners will almost certainly be one of these seeds.
For me a dark horse is one of the other 24 teams, and the best any of them can realistically hope for is the semi-finals, so I'm looking to back a dark horse team to reach the final four.
The way the draw works means that teams in groups A to D cannot meet teams in groups E to H before the semi-finals. It is like two separate competitions until then, with groups A to D the much weaker half. If we get a longshot semi-finalist I think it will come from this half of the draw. I prefer to go with a side from Africa or the Americas, so my shortlist is:
Mexico (13/1), Uruguay (14/1), Nigeria (14.5/1), USA (10/1), Algeria (79/1), Ghana (13.5/1)
In my opinion I don't think you should call any of the 8 group seeded teams dark horses. They should all reach the quarters, and I include South Africa in that because FIFA always find a way (or a referee) to get the hosts to at least that stage. The winners will almost certainly be one of these seeds.
For me a dark horse is one of the other 24 teams, and the best any of them can realistically hope for is the semi-finals, so I'm looking to back a dark horse team to reach the final four.
The way the draw works means that teams in groups A to D cannot meet teams in groups E to H before the semi-finals. It is like two separate competitions until then, with groups A to D the much weaker half. If we get a longshot semi-finalist I think it will come from this half of the draw. I prefer to go with a side from Africa or the Americas, so my shortlist is:
Mexico (13/1), Uruguay (14/1), Nigeria (14.5/1), USA (10/1), Algeria (79/1), Ghana (13.5/1)
ali benarbia's studs
Well-Known Member
defoe complained about the high altitude in an interview last night. i wonder how low land nations might fair out in these conditions??
chile,switzerland and S.A. may do well too.
chile,switzerland and S.A. may do well too.
Nervous Nedum
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 12 Apr 2010
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- 808
Not a dark horse, just underperformers. Had a 100% record in qualifying, but if they win their group they are on course to face Brazil in the Quarters- and I can't see them winning that.
TFC
Well-Known Member
My pick to win the whole thing.
Blue Blooded Maniac
Member
- Joined
- 28 Apr 2009
- Messages
- 9
england are a one man team and even with shrek, theyl stil go out in the quarters.
spain are definatly the best team going into the tournament. theres just no week links at all.
argentina would be second favourites if they had a decent manager.
il be supporting holland. they are the slight outsiders and i do fancy there chances. i also like that they'v always been the slight under dogs wich is appealing. wanted to get me holland top before the start but il be fucked if im payin £40 to £50. was havin a gandas on ebay n there even dearer for the old, decent tops. might just stick a black lion on a blackpool top.
spain are definatly the best team going into the tournament. theres just no week links at all.
argentina would be second favourites if they had a decent manager.
il be supporting holland. they are the slight outsiders and i do fancy there chances. i also like that they'v always been the slight under dogs wich is appealing. wanted to get me holland top before the start but il be fucked if im payin £40 to £50. was havin a gandas on ebay n there even dearer for the old, decent tops. might just stick a black lion on a blackpool top.