WORLD CUP 2010

[BANANA MAN]

Well it won't be long guys. Looking forward to it although I am not sure if Mrs Banana is!!!

Who do you guys reckon will win it? I will go for Deutschland. Post your predictions here. I fancy the Dutchies to have a good Tournament too. What is the feeling? You need to keep Van Persie fit though.

[AMF]

I hope Holland won't qualify for the next round. For some "strange" reason I hate it when people walk around with orange hats and carrots on their heads in a stadium (on a street as well though). Germany always has a good shot at the title but I have to go for Spain. I think they're just the best team at this stage. For the underachievers I'll have to say Brazil. They don't look as good upfront as they used to.

[BANANA MAN]

Yeah you definitely can't rule out Spain of course. On paper the strongest - but it isn't always the case.

Argentina certainly have the players too, but can they play as a team?

[Ironis]

I'm thinking of a South-American team this time: Brazil. I think they have a very good shot to win this one. I don't think Argentina will be that great. OK, they've got Messi, but Barça built a team around him, I don't see that happen with Argentina. I think we Dutchies will drop out in the Semi finals (duh)!

[BANANA MAN]

NETHERLANDS PROVISIONAL SQUAD
GK: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), Sander Boschker (Twente Enschede), Michel Vorm (Utrecht)

Defence: Vurnon Anita (Ajax Amsterdam), Khalid Boulahrouz (VFB Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax Amsterdam)

Midfield: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Otman Bakkal (PSV Eindhoven), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Wout Brama (Twente Enschede), Orlando Engelaar (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), David Mendes da Silva (AZ Alkmaar), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax Amsterdam)

Attack: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburg SV), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Jeremain Lens (AZ Alkmaar), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)

Is this squad pretty much what was expected or are there some surprises? What is Lens like? Brama in Midfield?

BRAZIL PROVISIONAL SQUAD
Julio Cesar (Inter), Doni (Roma), Gomes (Tottenham)

Defence: Maicon (Inter , Dani Alves (Barcelona), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Michel Bastos (Lyon) Lucio (Inter ), Luisão (Benfica), Juan (Roma), Thiago Silva (Milan)

Midfield: Felipe Melo (Juventus), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josué (Wolfsburg), Kaká (Real Madrid), Kleberson (Flamengo), Elano (Galatassaray), Ramires (Benfica), Julio Baptista (Roma)

Attack: Robinho (Santos), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villareal), Grafitte (Wolfsburg)

Well done Gomes!!!

[Ironis]

Van Nistelrooij isn't in.. That's kinda expected though, as he didn't want to play qualifications..

Lens in action:

[geert.]

France without Viera, Benzema and Nasri and Argentina without Cambiasso and Zanetti

I don't think Brama and Lens will go to South Africa

[BANANA MAN]

I thought Vieira may not make the squad but Benzema was a shock.

Albert Riera omitted from Spain's squad too - was a first choice not so long ago then got clever by criticising Rafa Benitez and was sent packing from Liverpool.

[Skopperij]

Good. France and Argentina eliminate themselves. France needs a defensive midfielder like Vieira, the EC 2008 was a disaster because of an unbalanced, selfish, arrogant team. Argentina... Maradona is an imbecile. You won't win the WC with just Messi, Agüero and Tevez. Cambiasso is one of the best defensive midfielders of the world! He was cracking against Barcelona. They need those guys, just as we need Van Bommel to perform well.

[Eric]

Terry injured at the training? Oh oh!

[BANANA MAN]

Good. France and Argentina eliminate themselves. France needs a defensive midfielder like Vieira, the EC 2008 was a disaster because of an unbalanced, selfish, arrogant team. Argentina... Maradona is an imbecile. You won't win the WC with just Messi, Agüero and Tevez. Cambiasso is one of the best defensive midfielders of the world! He was cracking against Barcelona. They need those guys, just as we need Van Bommel to perform well.

Yeah Maradona is off his head!!! He is no Manager. Cambiasso was also great against Chelsea. And no Zanetti as Geert pointed out!!!

Terry injured at the training? Oh oh!

Karma?

[BANANA MAN]

Well it finally kicks off today!

Predictions for today and this weekends games:

South Africa 1 vs 1 Mexico - 11 Jun
Uruguay 1 vs 1 France - 11 Jun
South Korea 2 vs 0 Greece - 12 Jun
Argentina 2 vs 0 Nigeria - 12 Jun
England 1 vs 0 United States - 12 Jun
Algeria 1 vs 2 Slovenia - 13 Jun
Serbia 3 vs 2 Ghana - 13 Jun
Germany 2 vs 0 Australia - 13 Jun

[chrissie]

Great predictions sofar, Bananaman! Only England was very dissapointing, I expected more, but America surprised me. They seemed to forfill their tasks and they will be happy with the draw. At the end I guess they had a little hope on victory as England give them that hope as they didnt score!

[BANANA MAN]

Yes very poor from England. Early days yet though. Germany did well yesterday. Come on the Dutch later!

Netherlands 2 v 0 Denmark - 14 Jun
Japan 1 v 1 Cameroon - 14 Jun
Italy 2 v 1 Paraguay - 14 Jun

[Flying Frisian]

Do they have betting shops in Bananaville, Banana Man? You would've made a load of money with your predictions.

[Caspar]

Do they have betting shops in Bananaville, Banana Man? You would've made a load of money with your predictions.

If my information is correct, they have Bananabet, which pays 14 bananas for the WC titel for England

[BANANA MAN]

I missed the Dutch game as I was busy picking bananas. How did they play? Did they miss Robben?

Today's games:

New Zealand 0 v 2 Slovakia - 15 Jun
Ivory Coast 2 v 1 Portugal - 15 Jun
Brazil 4 v 0 Korea DPR - 15Jun

[Gekko]

It was a lucky win. Not nearly as good or attractive as the Germans.

[BANANA MAN]

It was a lucky win. Not nearly as good or attractive as the Germans.

Who would have thought you would be saying that!

The football in general hasn't been that good so far, very cagey and tactical.

[geert.]

New Zealand 0 v 0 Slovakia
Ivory Coast 1 v 3 Portugal
Brazil 6 v 0 Korea DPR

[BANANA MAN]

Yeah there have been loads of shots off target. Is it really to do with the ball or has the altitude having an effect? Is the altitude also contributing to a slower paced game?

Looking forward to seeing how the Brazilians cope tonight.

Ivory Coast v Portugal should be a good game although I will miss that as I am working.

Time for a banana sandwich now.

[BANANA MAN]

Today's games:
Honduras 0 v 1 Chile - 16 Jun
Spain 2 v 0 Switzerland - 16 Jun
South Africa 2 v 1 Uruguay - 16 Jun

[Ironis]

You got 1 right so far for today.. that's nice

[BANANA MAN]

Argentina 2 v 0 South Korea - 17 Jun
Greece 1 v 1 Nigeria - 17 Jun
France 2 v 1 Mexico - 17 Jun

[geert.]

I think:

Argentina 2 v 1 South Korea - 17 Jun
Greece 1 v 2 Nigeria - 17 Jun
France 2 v 1 Mexico - 17 Jun

[BANANA MAN]

Today's games:
Germany 2 v 1 Serbia - 18 Jun
Slovenia 0 v 2 USA - 18 Jun
England 3 v 0 Algeria - 18 Jun

[geert.]

Germany 3 v 0 Serbia - 18 Jun
Slovenia 0 v 1 USA - 18 Jun
England 3 v 0 Algeria - 18 Jun

[chrissie]

Well, Germany lost, so the expectations were to high

[BANANA MAN]

This Weekend's Games:

Netherlands 2 v 0 Japan - 19 Jun
Ghana 2 v 1 Australia - 19 Jun
Cameroon 1 v 2 Denmark - 19 Jun
Slovakia 1 v 1 Paraguay - 20 Jun
Italy 3 v 0 New Zealand - 20 Jun
Brazil 2 v 1 Côte d’Ivoire - 20 Jun

[geert.]

Netherlands 2 v 1 Japan - 19 Jun
Ghana 1 v 0Australia - 19 Jun
Cameroon 2 v 1 Denmark - 19 Jun
Slovakia 1 v 2 Paraguay - 20 Jun
Italy 4 v 0 New Zealand - 20 Jun
Brazil 3 v 1 Côte d’Ivoire - 20 Jun