France Will be eliminated in the second round!

[PopA]

France is good, but it won't win again. Im sure of it!

[Roberto Abrego]

Either Sweden or Argentina will beat the crap out of France

[Leboeuf_81]

Sweden??? well I like them but beat us?? he he..so stupid...

Argentina can try but it will be us marching away as world champs AGAIN!!!

[Roberto Abrego]

of course they will

[Garrincha]

I don't think France will be that disappointing.

Let's try to find where they might have problems: Vieira's form has dropped this season with Arsenal, as he apparently is trying to force them to sell him to Real - according to "Soccerage" he got what he wanted and will join the merengues in 02/03. But apart from this one player's bad season, the others are apparently still solid. I mean, Trezeguet is doing reasonably well in Juve (nobody expects genius from Trezeguet, right?), Thuram is doing well too, so are Henry and Zidane. Even Barthez is improving over the past few weeks, just in time too.

My point is: their key players seem to be doing reasonably well in their club teams, so it desn't look like France would fall due to individual underperforming. Their team is solid, as we all know. :cry: ;) So where would be the cause for this alleged early fall? I mean, if you think France will be eliminated soon, why do you think so? If you think Sweden has some edge that will allow them to surprise France, what is it? Do you think Larsson will singlehandedly thrash Les Bleus? :rolleyes: I mean, why do you think so? I can't see that.

IMO on a normal day France might get beaten by Argentina, England, Portugal, Brazil or Italy - and MAYBE Spain and Cameroon. These are the top teams of this WC. I do not see anything leading us to believe that any other team would have what it takes to beat France. France might fall, yes, before a great opponent. But I can't see any reason to think France "won't win it again".

I mean, if you want specific reasons why a team "won't win it"... Brazil may not win it because the team frankly isn't ready, the preparation was messy (with three different coaches), and if we fall early it won't be entirely surprising. I don't like saying that but there it is. :dontcare: Italy may not win it - sorry, Azzurri buddies - because of this recent plague of injuries: Maldini, Inzagui, Nesta, and a couple of others whose names I have forgotten. Of course most of them will be fit again before the WC, but will they be performing well again in time for the WC? I'm not saying they won't, but you gotta admit it raises doubts, and it would be a valid reason for saying "Italy won't win it". What are the reasons for saying France won't win it?

Aside from just hoping they won't win it, I mean? :D

[OAnimal]

Objectively, France has had the best team in the world for the last four years and there is good chance they win the World championship once again. The team hasn't changed much since 1998, they lost Deschamps, who was well replaced by Vieira and Laurent Blanc, for whom they still don't have adequate substitution. All the others are more or less the same. But I still think that France is favourite No. 1 to win the title.

[Garrincha]

Let's not forget that their forwards are much more convincing today than they were 4 years ago. Then, Henry and Dugarry weren't exactly imposing; today, Henry and Trezeguet are respected world-class strikers.
With Anelka and Wiltord as subs, their offensive power is now quite respectable.
So that might compensate the lack of substitutes for Blanc. Who knows?

[Always Laziali]

France would be the favourites to win the world cup,they possess so much quality in Candela,Thuram,Vieira,Pires,Zidane,Henry and Trezeguet.....so i expect them to be fighting with Argentina to win the World Cup.

[ItalianBoy]

In my opinion France is a good team. Still on paper, ITA is the best. Inzaghi wont even be called to the national! ARG too has a good team. I think that the top 3 candidates are
ITA
ARG
FRA.

[Roberto Abrego]

my candidates are:

1.Argentina
2.Portugal
3.Sweden
4.Italy

[ItalianBoy]

WHAT?
I can understand ARG ITA FRA
but SWE? POR?
:confused: :confused: :confused:

[Borba]

You have obviously never seen portugal play to make a comment like that, and remember they are at home.

[Roberto Abrego]

Originally posted by Borba
You have obviously never seen portugal play to make a comment like that, and remember they are at home.


u r talkin about euro2004 we r talkin about WC

[Always Laziali]

With Argentina missing only Cannigia , i doubt they won't be weak on any areas of the pitch whereas France has missed Pires who is so effective on the right .

[Roberto Abrego]

Originally posted by ItalianBoy
WHAT?
I can understand ARG ITA FRA
but SWE? POR?
:confused: :confused: :confused: they r great teams.

[Roberto Abrego]

Originally posted by HernanCrespo
With Argentina missing only Cannigia , i doubt they won't be weak on any areas of the pitch whereas France has missed Pires who is so effective on the right .

he is going to play

[Always Laziali]

I mean he has not played for 2 months , it would be a risk to field him as he has no match practice at all .

[Roberto Abrego]

but he have experience

[Always Laziali]

I mean when Ljungberg was injured for 2 months , he had to play in the reserves for about 4 games before he even made it to the Arsenal bench .

[Roberto Abrego]

this is a WC they cant wait to long.

[Roberto Abrego]

Ljunberg is injured
I cant believe it!I am sad,I hope heplays against England.

[gnlvagosov]

Argentina WC 2002 Champions
but I wish Italy would win!
Forza Azzuri

[PopA]

gnlvagosov i second that about italy!

[Always Laziali]

Italy would be the challengers to Argentina .