Which WC team do you really hate?

[Gwylan]

As it is the World Cup, the major tournament in football I would like to see the best 24 or whatever number national teams in the World competing irrespective of whether they come from Africa Asia or Europe so long as they are the best there is.

I want all the small teams to see the 'big boys' and try to emulate them to take part not be given entry because they are an up and coming 3rd world country.

It will never happen. You couldn't have qualifying groups containing teams from all over the world: imagine if England had to play the Maldives in the middle of the season, Taggart would blow a gasket at Manure players disappearing for the best part of a week.

I think the system is working pretty well: 30 years ago, teams from Asia and Africa would come to the WC and get roundly spanked. But as more teams from these continents have got to the WC, their play's improved, as the players have got better, they've moved to bigger teams, meaning the national teams get better again.

If we had a tournament dominated by Europe and South America, we'd just have the same teams in the last eight every time - there's now a bit of variety.

 

[Gwylan]

Portugal for the simple reason that I live right bang right in the middle of the biggest Portuguese population in London.

There is even an area up the road known as "Little Portugal".

Now I love it round here, love them and love their shops and restuarants, but bugger me when they win a game they get pissed, blow their horns all night and will inevitably start riding a small but fully powered childs motorbike round the streets all night (like last time)

You must live in Stockwell. I remember in Euro 2004, being out in the evening and missing a Portugal game. I thought I'd catch the highlights later and kept myself away from the score but unfortunately had forgotten to take into account that I'd be cycling through the Stockwell area later that night - it was like being in downtown Lisbon.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

As it is the World Cup, the major tournament in football I would like to see the best 24 or whatever number national teams in the World competing irrespective of whether they come from Africa Asia or Europe so long as they are the best there is.

I want all the small teams to see the 'big boys' and try to emulate them to take part not be given entry because they are an up and coming 3rd world country.

By doing this you risk turning the World Cup into the Champions league where the best qualify all the time at the expense of the minnows who in turn fall further behind because they are not experiencing tournament football. The Champions League has done this by virtually excluding all Eastern European teams via qualifying - the result of which are the same teams appearing in the group stages all the time with the odd exception.

I'd much rather have an Angolan or Trinidad team of limited means trying their best than a technically superior but tedious Austrian team who offer very little.

 

[tedebear]

Not an OZ team. On my trips to Oz I've put up with Aussies telling Pomms we are no good at cricket, athletics , swimming, rugby and we (Aussies) even beat you at soccer. I tell you they lord it over us at every opportunity and last years ashes and the rugby world cup were just blips where all the luck went against them and morally they were the winners.

Oh well - usual grumbly Englishman you are!!

 

[Rusco]

Not an OZ team. On my trips to Oz I've put up with Aussies telling Pomms we are no good at cricket, athletics , swimming, rugby and we (Aussies) even beat you at soccer. I tell you they lord it over us at every opportunity and last years ashes and the rugby world cup were just blips where all the luck went against them and morally they were the winners.

Lovely country mind you.

Give it back to em .......... just remind them that they are English criminal cast offs.

 

[Lammy]

Brazil.

Too much feckin hype!

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

By doing this you risk turning the World Cup into the Champions league where the best qualify all the time at the expense of the minnows who in turn fall further behind because they are not experiencing tournament football. The Champions League has done this by virtually excluding all Eastern European teams via qualifying - the result of which are the same teams appearing in the group stages all the time with the odd exception.

I'd much rather have an Angolan or Trinidad team of limited means trying their best than a technically superior but tedious Austrian team who offer very little.

I would like to see them re organise the way teams qualify.

I think there should be 1 less South American team - There is something floored in the idea that half the teams that go into the qualifying group qualify.

Would also take away 2 Euro places.

I would give one more place to Central America, one to Australia.

With the final place I would have a 4 team play off with the best loser from South America, Europe, Africa and Asia - with the winner going through.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

I would give one more place to Central America, one to Australia.

Australia will be joining the Asian qualifying group for the next World Cup. Not sure what the remaining Oceania teams are going to do.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Australia will be joining the Asian qualifying group for the next World Cup. Not sure what the remaining Oceania teams are going to do.

Yeah its because Fifa want to get Africa oon side and give them even more places.

 

[NMH]

Serbia and Montenegro for me.

You must have enjoyed the group round immensely!

 

[NMH]

Australians are just a manifestation of a part of the British psyche, so I don't know why they have anything to say about 'poms' when they derive from Britain and Britishness anyway.

Any country that speaks English is basically, from the origin of the Great British shores, after all. The (not french) Canadians and New Zealanders represent a quieter example, and of course they get the least attention.

 

[smudge]

Argentina, obviously. I was actually just starting to enjoy watching the krauts, then they reverted to type getting an opponent sent off, k u n t s!

 

[Gwylan]

I can't really hate Argentina as they're playing some sublime football this world cup. I'm a bit concerned that Mrs G has started supporting them though.

 

[El Turi]

Portugal. Biggest bunch of cheats in the tournament after Argentina and Germany.

 

[Collar Feeler]

Brazil for me! I simply cannot stand them. The way everyone fawns over them and spouts superlatives whenever they so much as complete a simple pass to a team mate gets on me tits. They are also an ungly bunch of mofos, I mean a trip to the dentist for most of them wouldn't go amiss! overhyped bunch of lucky greasy cheating munters!

 

[Trufflehound]

Not a question of hate so much as taste. I want the Dutch to get elimated early so that all these gaudy orange flags and banners that are filling every street in my neighbourhood and blinding me every time I go outside will get taken down again.

Good football yes, but the colour is just too harsh. Couldn't they have chosen something more tasteful? Red, for example.

My street has returned to its normal colour.

 

[Gwylan]

Portugal. Biggest bunch of cheats in the tournament after Argentina and Germany.

I think Holland might have overtaken them yesterday.

Good riddance to them.