World Cup Darkhorse

[Wax Jacket]

On the opposite end of the scale, with regards to which big team will struggle then it is Portugal for me. Can't see them getting out of their group.

Struggled to qualify (with some comically bad results)
Beat China last month with a penlty being the only goal
Full strength team drew 0-0 with Cape Verde a few days ago

Brazil & Ivory Coast to qualify from that group

Portugal aren't a big team any more - one top player and that's about it

[leww_rfc]

Still ranked third in the world some how

[Wax Jacket]

ROFLankings

[Ark Royal]

Deffo think Ghana. Great ACoN tournament with a bunch of kids from the U-20 FIFA world championship-winning squad filling in for the missing stars. They will be a real threat. I fancy them and Serbia (if they keep their notorious temperaments in check) to qualify from their group ahead of Germany.

After seeing Ivory Coast totally implode at the ACoN, I think they lack the necessary mental toughness to go any further than the last 16. Definitely fancy them to qualify ahead of Portugal though, who seem to be on the slide.

[Wax Jacket]

Ghana's ACoN was little short of heroic bearing in mind their injurines. think they'll get found out a little against better teams though.

[Stuka]

North Korea. Why aren't they on the list? They last time they qualified (in 1966) they got to the quater finals beating Italy along the way.

[leww_rfc]

North Korea. Why aren't they on the list?

Can only put 12 down, and i am not intelligent enough to put 'other' down

[Compo's Hat]

Was listening to 5Live last night and Tim Vickery was talking about the Argies and saying how it's very lazy journalism to dismiss them just because of Maradona. From what he was saying, it sounds like he's starting to sort things out and has created a real team spirit within the squad. They will be a massive threat I reckon.

Serbia could be the dark horses.

Yep, I heard it too. Team spirit is one thing, tactical nous is another. He may have the team spirit, but he's also got Championship defenders in the squad. Not good enough.

5Live was very interesting last night. Apart from Messers Dunn, Winter & Geordie dissing the entire England squad, the 'look at the World Cup' was a great listen. They spoke to correspondents from USA, Algeria and Slovenia who all pretty much agreed that they were all playing for second place in the group. The Slovenia guy had stated that he already worked out the results of the group, and that England would be putting out a reserve team for their match, as we would have already qualified - LOL

I think leaving Cambiasso out shows how clever a manager Maradona is. Lucky they've got a group that looks easy.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Serbia have some of the best young players in Europe at the moment.

They have a top-notch defence in Vidic, Subotic, Ivanovic and Kolarov.

Could meet England in the 2nd Round and give us a good game.

[leww_rfc]

Essien out for Ghana.