Spain will win this world cup

[Wade Dwayne]

Spains defense so far has looked just as shaky as Englands and Argentinas. If they push to hard for the first goal things will most likely get ugly for them.

[rfr3sh]

Germany is going to pick Spain apart and I cannot wait to see it

[D3 Mighty Ducks]

Germany is going to pick Spain apart and I cannot wait to see it

I don't know about that...

[PeePee]

from this thread, I am more and more convinced that my theory is correct. Germany has gone from underrated to overrated and Spain has gone from overrated to underrated, at least based on this forum

Let's ask yourself, if at the start of this world cup, you're being asked to pick a winner between Germany and Spain in semifinal, what will be your answer?

Why I ask this question? It is to show who is actual favorite. I only can track back to 1994, as before that I don't really know the players and which team is the favorite. From 1994 onward, if I only see the name of the players, it's clear that favorites always qualify at the semifinal stage

That's why we watch the WC and decide who's better base on performance... instead of on paper or rankings or history. I think lots of people lost a shit load of $ using this same logic of yours as to see who's favorite. Needless to say, we all see what had happened to many powerhouses in this WC that "supposed" to be favorites.

[rfr3sh]

I don't know about that...

Puyol was getting exposed by paraguay, and they were barely attacking..if ramos wasnt in the back 4 spain wouldnt even be this far.. germany will not lose this game

[PeePee]

I see most people in this forum seems to start underestimate this Spain team. I don't know is it because you're losing bets on them by taking them more than -1/over on their matches or you indeed already predict it from the start of the world cup.

Why? They may seems not having enough offensive power. BUT, 1-0 is still a win. Like it or not. Defense always have better chance of winning knockout-type tournament on modern football. Example:
- WC2002, Brazil only concede 1 goal in knock out stage
- Euro2004, Greece win all 3 knockout matches with exact scoreline, 1-0
- WC2006, Italy only concede 1 goal (in final) in knock out stage
- Euro2008, Spain win all 3 knockout matches without conceding any goal
See the resemblance of this '10 team with '08? same coach, similar players, solid defends.

Let's see other team chance:
- Uruguay, the loss of Suarez will be explored by Netherland. Not included the expected haunting from Africans.
- Netherland, their main target men, Robben and Sneijder, will have problems with Spain midfields and defenders just like when they're in Real Madrid. Next question, when is the last time Netherland advance to final of major tournament?
- Germany, I've always like to back Germany when they're the dogs and public seems underrated them (see the people comments here when they're against England and especially Argentina) because for me, they're "gold" at world cup. BUT, now after routing England and Argentina, everyone seems think Germany will triumph in this World Cup. This is another stupid thing to do. Yes, the Germans always do well in world cup, but up until semifinals. Because, most teams at this level are not playing the selfish football anymore, each team has its own style and usually the matchup will be decided by single brilliance moment by a player. This is where Germans will stumble the big rock. They're hardworking, disciplined. But the same can be said now for Uruguay, Netherland and Spain. Just see how this German team fail at the hand of the same team in Euro'08. Both hardworking teams, but single goal scored from a brilliance moment from Torres. I will expect the same thing here.

I agree with you here... but same can be said for Germany. In 2 knockout matches they had conceded 1 goal as oppose to Spain's nil. But let's not forget who were their opponents. England and Argentina (especially) were considered great offensive teams. Same can not be said for Paraguay and Portugal who most of us would describe as offensively struggle.

Who knows.... may be Germany will shut down Spain and fit into your analysis and win this WC.

[d1m@]

spain or germany, hard to predict, but the winner from this two will be champion

[COOGI]

spain win shit in this worldcup.... they play like shit ...stubborn coach...torres still recovery from injured.... he is not 100%......that why he suck.......but he still let him play......so they will not get anybetter if he starting ....( i knew he good but not at this time ..

[nulldah]

That's why we watch the WC and decide who's better base on performance... instead of on paper or rankings or history. I think lots of people lost a shit load of $ using this same logic of yours as to see who's favorite. Needless to say, we all see what had happened to many powerhouses in this WC that "supposed" to be favorites.

This one, I don't have any points to argue with you, since I also play based on performance. Just that our performance criteria is difference, I guess. My only suprise in this world cup is failure of Brazil, nothing suprise me with other power house team going out of world cup. Their performance from the start of qualifying of world cup in each continent is already nothing special. The one that decide who is the powerhouse, unfortunately, is not bookies either. Public keep pounding shit team like Portugal, Italy, France, England (sad this is my fav team), Argentina like there is no tomorrow.

I agree with you here... but same can be said for Germany. In 2 knockout matches they had conceded 1 goal as oppose to Spain's nil. But let's not forget who were their opponents. England and Argentina (especially) were considered great offensive teams. Same can not be said for Paraguay and Portugal who most of us would describe as offensively struggle.

Who knows.... may be Germany will shut down Spain and fit into your analysis and win this WC.

This, I has to argue. Who claims Argentina and England has great offensive teams? Argentina: Tevez, Higuain and Messi never can gel together because each of them are target man in each club and all Maradona can do is hugging them and kissing them. They can score bunch of goals to shit teams or giving up teams, but a disciplined defensive minded team won't allow that. England, it's been public secret that too many disharmony between star players in this team that can connect to strong rivarly between respective clubs, i.e. too many "I" not "we". I agree each club these players (England and Argentina) play have great offensive, but it does not mean when you join them together, you multiply the power.

Again, most of the posters here underrated Portugal and Paraguay (although I keep stating defense is the main strategy in modern soccer unlike attack is the main strategy in 70-90s), they may be offensively struggle, but they compliment it with their discipline defensive power. I don't need to check any stats in previous world cup, but you can check it yourself how many times these both teams, especially Paraguay, conceded more than 2 goals in major tournament last 10 years. I just dont think the same 4 goals can be scored by the Germans if they're against Paraguay and Portugal (although I will still bet them to qualify again).


Just keep bashing on Torres and I will keep saying there is a reason he's on starting XI instead of Mata and Llorente. He may be not scoring goals, but his experience and giving a must to defenders to guard him, sometimes can be more important than the goal itself.

[tonyp0387]

spain

[Mikail]

Spain got this. Don't overthink it or be swayed by Germany's performance recently.

[sweethook]

iam thinking spain is a little overated. just a little vs. big G

[nulldah]

is this little bit predictable?

[nulldah]

and to those that still doubt Spain, I don't know how to convince you already. Just a nice Good Luck. It's your money.

You can take any props bet in the finals (corner, scorer, cards), just try not to take Netherland as winner. It's Spain or no play for that matter. Though, I won't take Spain at 1.5, coz already took them as winner before German match.

Little bit of analysis again, Netherland has more hype in media than Spain. But, here are two teams, Netherland, a team that dubbed "champion without crown" because has a lot (I mean A LOT) of talented players but never win any world cup and always have a nice soccer to watch and Spain, a team that has never go to ANY world cup finals before, BUT (a very big BUT) has a golden generation that has been playing together since u17 (can be earlier, I'm not sure) and has won Euro Cup 2008 and other Under-17,19,21 etc championships years before and has been coached by one of good strategist Del Bosque (just look Real Madrid after his era show you how stupid Real Madrid management are)

from players side, I won't argue Sneijder and Robben is in very hot form and Kuyt rediscovered his Liverpool 08/09 form, damn, why can't he found it earlier in our 09/10 campaign... On the other side, you have half of Barcelona players in this Spain team that won't forget how their dream of winning consecutive CL trophies crashed by Sneijder. And, Reina may also have effect of giving advice how to stop Kuyt (just like when he gave advice on Cardozo).

[cornerkick]

There are so many exciting things about this game:

first: spain never met holland at neither world cups nor euro championships
second: they both are having a "golden generation"
third: neither team ever won the world cup, so they'll want to do that badly
fourth: Villa and Sneijder will be competing for the most goals in this tournament

Oh, and I'm dutch, so there's another exciting thing about the game, at least for me Hup Holland Hup!

[szk1983]

personally, I think that it will definitely be netherlands

[CashMoney27]

Now it's Spain or Netherlands. I understand your logic against Germany but what is your thought against Netherlands

[julio_cat]

personally, I think that it will definitely be netherlands

I hope so. Spain has never won the cup and this 2010 team doesn't seem powerful to me

[jacky]

Spain for sure.

[thebertshow]

I hop it is the Nethgerlands

[virus450]

two most unwanted teams in final for me dont care who will win , but I think its nearly impossible to predict the winner, this f u c k i n g world cup looks like is directed by a good director. One day you look amazing football of a team and on a second day the same team shows something awesome, or vise versa , talking not about one team , but for many of WC players , how could germany after beating 4-0 argentina show those dolorous game with spain.

[cornerkick]

two most unwanted teams in final for me dont care who will win , but I think its nearly impossible to predict the winner, this f u c k i n g world cup looks like is directed by a good director. One day you look amazing football of a team and on a second day the same team shows something awesome, or vise versa , talking not about one team , but for many of WC players , how could germany after beating 4-0 argentina show those dolorous game with spain.

Well, against Spain the Germans played the same football: quick counter-attacks, short passes, change of direction and many balls to Klose. I don't think they're really used to being defensive though. The Spanish were clearly better than argentina or england for that matter. Their tactics were very good and they didn't give the Germans a chance in their area.

It's wrong to take Argentina or even Brazil as a reference and say that whoever beats either of them is GOD. Things changed a lot, some teams like France or Italy started to suck, other teams like Spain or Holland started to kick ass and Germany is constantly in the semi finals or final of major tournaments.

[tachi]

Does Spain deserves to win the WC?
They played well only in their last match,before that the matches were near to 50:50.

Holland played solidely all the competition and had problems only against Brazil.

It will be fair Lady Luck to smile to the Netherlands.

Does anybody know if the octopus will make a prediction?

[PeePee]

I had Germany as my best team and Spain as second based on the way they played. Spain looked like they are playing better and better as the tournament goes on. Too bad Germany did not move on as I had them for my WC.

My $ is on Spain ML +110.... I think the Oranje's luck/fortune/opportunistic...etc. ends here.

[MarlinsFan2212]

spains going to win this cupppppppp

[bostonbruins]

First thought, Spain wins on penalties, will probably be on Holland +0.5 GL

[marcoloco]

im leaning on spain

[nulldah]

Now it's Spain or Netherlands. I understand your logic against Germany but what is your thought against Netherlands

ups, forget to reply you before the match, has been busy lately. anyway, i have shown one more comparison about the mentality of both teams 2 posts before you. And again, it's shown clearly spain has mentality advantage, especially in extra time.

For winners only, I will pick Spain 1st, Netherland 2nd, Germany 3rd and Uruguay 4th

nice end for my world cup journey after hit and miss group stage , even my prediction of rank hit...

[D3 Mighty Ducks]

Congrats Spain backers

[DMB40]

congrats Spain

[Edy]

Spain is the champion my friend wuhuj
And we keep on fighting to the end

[EmpireMaker]

Congrats to Spain !!!!
Boring style, excellent team !!!

[PRC]

nice call bro

[bigdog3580]

Congrats to Spain and all their backers

[chuan]

Spain win as the prediction by octopus.