Sad world cup records chile has:

1) First team to miss a penalty.
2) First player to punch another player.
3) First player that got shown a red card.
4) Longest current streak without winning:13 games on a row without winning
5) First team to be eliminated of two world cups in one game.

lol what do you mean by this?

I dont know what to expect for them, are they going to be old and get owned or iwill their experience carry them through... they kinda remind me of the AC Milan team in 2008 that quickly lost to Arsenal

I'm siding with ike here, nobody who saw Brazil dismantle Italy in the Confed Cup would say they're not very close to Spain.

Imo the counterattack strategy matches up so, so, well against big teams. I really see Brazil as a side that will play better against bigger sides at the WC.

worth noting that at least 3 of Brazil's starters are nowhere near the level they were last summer (Melo, Kaka, Robinhlol)

hard to say how much of a factor the new teams are for each players form.

Just imagine Brazil v Spain in the WC. It might be 1 of the most mouth-watering games of all time. Would prob end up being a huge letdown but the build-up would be huge.

kevin, sounds like the game would be totally onesided

This is true, although their club form was at a similar level when they wiped the floor with Argentina in Buenos Aries. They seem to raise their game for the NT.
And maybe i'm alone, but i find the fact that Pato's not a starter scarier than Cesc not starting for Spain. My bias, though, is that any team i've ever supported has had a slow backline and I have a conditioned fear and awe of speed merchants.

Dunga doesn't seem to like Pato and there's a real chance he doesn't even make the squad. Which is ******ed, but then again I don't manage Brazil...

Is it possible this man gets to play in another WC?

lol no

Is "the door open" still, as Dunga phrased it last summer?

Sorry, I don't watch enough Spanish football to answer this question, but is the groin injury the only reason he's looked off form, or has his play otherwise been subpar?

I've only seen a few full RM games, but it just seems they haven't quite figured out where to play him, combined with the form of Ronaldo and Higuain and he hasn't been an automatic first choice.

I got France back when they were 23.00 to win. Of course then they barely even qualified, but I did think once that they did, their odds would drop even lower than what we're seeing now.
It's such a strong team.

In fact if we're talking strongest on "worthless" paper I think they battle England and Argentina for second place behind Spain.

I think with France there are quite a few similarities between Aime Jacquet's team that were also heavily criticized following a dismal European Championship performance and this one.
Of course this time they won't have the luxury of being at home to aid what again will have to be a massive turnaround, but they do have a comparable strong team though, so it's not like there isn't any hope.

It's just this man though:

But lets see what happens. He was also in charge four years ago and that team managed to become very strong but it's just more likely, if not plain obvious, that this was due more to one last mighty veteran stand, where the likes of Zidane, Vieira, Makelele and Thuram all turned back the clock with some great displays, than anything Domenech did.

I'm still hoping that Van der Sar decides to join after all but I think the chance is slim and I guess it would be unfair towards Stekelenburg, more so than it would be unfair towards any other field players should RVN decide to join and get selected.


Players that will certainly be in the starting XI (if fit):
GK: Stekelenburg (Ajax)
D: Van der Wiel (Ajax), Mathijsen (HSV)
M: Van Bommel (Bayern München), De Jong (Manchester City) Sneijder (Internazionale)
A Van Persie (Arsenal)


We will probably line up:
----------------Stekelenburg
Van der Wiel----Heitinga----Mathijsen-----Braafheid
-------------Van Bommel---De Jong
Robben--------------Sneijder-----------Elia
--------------------Van Persie


But maybe we'll play Ooijer (strong, tall and experienced but ridiculously slow sack of ****) instead of Heitinga and Van Bronckhorst (had a great Euro2008 against all odds and is even older now, plus he's never been able to defend) instead of Braafheid. Up front a lot of things could happen because we have a couple of good players left (Van der Vaart, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar, Dirk Kuyt) and of course Robben and Van Persie are ridiculously prone to injuries. For instance: If Robben isn't fit he'll probably put Kuyt as our main striker and move Van Persie to the right, even though they've both shown at their own club teams that they're better on the right wing and as a centre forward, respectively.

robben and RVP are 100% sure starter if fit imo

De Jong is the most important player in this team and if he gets injured im very pessimistic about their chances
The defense is very shaky and de jong therefore has to win the midfield battle to minimize the pressure on the back four.

I could see them struggling badly against a good counterattacking side like Brazil

I could see Kuyt over Robben for the hustle. I know everybody hates on Kuyt, but if they need a combative player then Robben's not going to cut it, and as good as Robben is they have plenty of creativity elsewhere.

Van Bommel and De Jong should provide enough defensive work to start Robben, if he stays only nearly in his current form not playing him would be a crime.

robben >> elia

if they want to add kuyt for balance purpose Elia will be the one to get benched

are you sure you are not basing this solely on his performances at man city? he has played some poor matches in oranje imo post euro '08


i think i would go


stekelenburg

v d wiel/heitinga/mathijsen/braafheid

v bommel/de jong (maybe affelay maybe v d vaart)

kuyt/sneijder/robben

v persie



although i like robben on the right and elia on the left like ambush had it alot too. and what if v nistelrooy joins us again for the striker position? yikes this luxury problem sucks

ldo

vdV in that position will become ridiculously offensive, won't work against a decent team. Don't know that much about Affelay but I think he is more offensive than defensive? And he isn't on the same level as De Jong I think

If 100% fit, yes. I didn't bold them because their position isn't certain, Robben can play on either wing and Van Persie might be forced to play right winger if Van Nistelrooy regains fitness and form or if Van Marwijk once again decides Kuyt should play as a lone striker.

Agreed on De Jong, most underrated player in the team. Most Dutch people actually prefer Van Bommel and wish to play VDV next to him (because that worked really well for like 1 half @ Euro2008)


@Derwipok, on Afellay:

He's currently fulfilling a Pirlo-type role at PSV and he's doing it quite well actually. It's not what this Dutch team needs but he is a good alternative to play alongside either De Jong/Van Bommel if we want a more offensive approach when having trouble breaking a super-defensive team down... I dont think there's any World-Cup sides bad enough for us to field a starting XI with only 1 defensive midfielder though - because our defense isn't all that (attack-minded fullbacks too) and except for Kuyt our attackers aren't well known for defending a lot.