World Cups Teams / US sports teams

[live]

taken from the boston globe - boston.com

 

 

Group A

 

Germany -- The Detroit Pistons 2006. A defensive team, built on some powerful players, but playing with a huge psychological weight (Germany is expected to do well being the home team, much as Detroit was the defending Beast of the East). Outlook grim for those watching and for the Germans themselves, who should show us a new level of defensive, terrified play.

 

Poland -- The current Baltimore Ravens squad. Ostensibly a defensive team, but without any real defensive ability. Should be offensive to watch.

 

Group B

 

England -- The 2000-06 New York Mets. Massively, ridiculously overrated by their local media, always involved in some sort of comical downfall, insane injuries, woeful management. A huge car crash waiting to happen, at which stage the local media go absolutely berserk in berating the team that they themselves told literally everyone was going to win the tournament

 

Sweden -- The 2005 Baltimore Orioles or the 2006 Detroit Tigers. Potential dark horses until they have to play decent teams.

 

Group C

 

Argentina -- The 2005 Chicago White Sox. Nowhere near as colorful as their illustrious neighbors (The Cubbies/Brazil), but built to perform as a team. They just keep on winning.

 

Ivory Coast -- Syracuse hoops team, 2006. Colorful, talented, might make a decent run, might get knocked out in the first round, Didier Drogba is Gerry McNamara.

 

Serbia -- The Pistons from the ?90s. REALLY dour, defensive and brought up in the school of hard knocks. Maybe you'll beat them, but you'll know about it physically after.

 

Netherlands -- Ladies and gentlemen your New York Knicks. A collection of individuals rather than a team, simmering below the surface is the local media waiting to pounce on first year coach and former god Van Basten, his decisions are Isiah-like in leaving out several stars, including the potentially influential Van Bommel. Could get buried early in the hardest group by far.

 

Group D

 

Mexico -- The 2005 Astros or the 2006 Seahawks. Not quite sure how they got here, just kinda happy to be here, and not entirely sure they will actually do anything while here.

 

Portugal -- The Yankees post-2004. An impressive collection of names under possibly one of the best coaches in the game (Big Phil Scolari/Joe Torre). Destined to look pretty and crash horribly, ala NY in 2004 and Portugal in the European Championships.

 

Group E

 

Italy -- Peyton Manning. High hopes lead to low yields.

 

USA -- Phoenix Suns 2006. Pacey, unbelievably fit, and play an alien style that should confuse many teams. If everyone stays fit the Yanks could go deeper than expected.

 

Czech Republic -- The Yankees of 2006. Huge injury problems should lead to an early exit ... but ... you just don't know ...

 

Group F

 

Brazil - The Yankees of the late ?90s. If they avoid injuries, forget about it.

 

Croatia -- The 2006 Steelers. Tough team from a hard knock school of learning; no one will want to draw them in later rounds.

 

 

Group G

 

France -- Ladies and gentlemen, your 2004 Boston Red Sox. An experienced, talented bunch of individuals who know how to win and could very well do it again. Thierry Henry is Pedro Martinez whilst Zinidine Zidane is Schilling.

 

Switzerland -- I don't know anything about the NHL but name any boring, bad NHL team and this is who the Swiss are. I hope France puts 9 past them.

 

Group H

 

Spain -- Alex Rodriguez. They will look excellent in initial league play, will probably tear Tunisia and the Saudis apart, might even make Ukraine look silly, but will choke harder than the 2004 Yankees when push comes to shove.

 

Ukraine -- The 2005 Dallas Mavericks. They go as their superstar striker, and genuine world beater, Andrei Schevchenko, goes. He is Dirk to them, if he twists his ankle the Ukrainian nation holds its breath.

 

Korea, Togo, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Australia, Japan, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Iran -- Any first round exiting team in March Madness.

 

Trinidad and Tobago, Angola -- The Kansas City Royals

[Crazy Horse]

Babelfish?

Edited June 9, 2006 by andrew86

[live]

Babelfish?

 

remind me to call immigration about you

[_00_deathscar]

Babelfish?

 

Funniest thing in this thread

[Nebraska Red]

I know who all those players are and which teams he is on about.

 

However, I am puzzled as to why anybody would bother.

 

Maybe the heat is getting to him, it is ridiculously hot in many places over here.

 

Just past 9am and it is 80 here already, and I have to go out and cut the grass.

[Guest Scot]

Sports centre this morning was doing equivalencies. Nowitzki = Ballack as he can play all over the pitch and score at will.

 

Steve Nash = Landon Donovan as he has excellent distribution.

Dwyane Wade = Ronaldo as they're both young, talented and flash

 

[paddyb]

Each of the 32 World Cup finalists have been paired with one of the 32 Irish counties, as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

GROUP A

 

GERMANY - CORK

 

Not everyone's favourite team. Behemoths of their sporting worlds and can go

 

a long way without anyone really noticing

 

Compatibility rating: ***

 

 

 

POLAND - OFFALY

 

1982 was a big year for both. Defeated many more illustrious opponents.

 

Struggling to relive those glory days.

 

Compatibility rating: **

 

 

 

ECUADOR - FERMANAGH

 

Overshadowed by their neighbours but have made their mark on the big stage

 

in recent years.

 

Compatibility rating: **

 

 

 

COSTA RICA - LEITRIM.

 

Wouldn't have the biggest pick in the world. Unlikely to make an impact in

 

this year's championship. At least the scenery's impressive.

 

Compatibility rating: *

 

 

 

GROUP B

 

ENGLAND - DUBLIN

 

Rarely live up to pre-tournament hype hope and expectation. Few tears shed

 

by opposition's fans at their demise.

 

Compatibility rating: *****

 

 

 

SWEDEN - CAVAN

 

Decent success in the fifties and have players capable of causing shocks but

 

lack consistency and killer instinct.

 

Compatibility rating: ***

 

 

 

PARAGUAY - ROSCOMMON

 

Tend to do well despite the presence of overbearing neighbours. Less

 

exciting since losing a semi-insane free-kick taking goalkeeper.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - LONGFORD

 

Avery John revered by both. Getting more attention because of their

 

opposition. Not going to trouble the trophy engraver.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

GROUP C

 

ARGENTINA - TYRONE

 

God-like status for their retired heroes. Magic to watch when at their best;

 

but expect things to turn nasty if things don't go their way.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

HOLLAND - LIMERICK

 

Flatter to deceive but never quite won the big one. A good internal row to

 

destroy their chances never seems far away.

 

Compatibility rating: ***

 

 

 

SERBIA & MONTENEGRO - TIPPERARY

 

A clear divide exists and footballing success looks unlikely for a few years

 

yet. One or two fine players can only carry them so far for now.

 

Compatibility rating: **

 

 

 

IVORY COAST - LOUTH

 

Appear to be an emerging team but grounds for optimism will be sorely tested

 

on step up the highest level.

 

Compatibility rating: **

 

 

 

GROUP D

 

PORTUGAL - ARMAGH

 

Both have managers justifiably known as 'Big'. Ageing squad probably missed

 

chance for immortality

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

MEXICO - GALWAY

 

Famous for lethal drinks (tequila/buckfast) Progress because of geographical

 

advantage, could benefit from moving province.

 

Compatibility rating: ***

 

 

 

IRAN - CLARE

 

Former Ayatollahs still hold plenty of sway. Goalkeeper always likely to see

 

plenty of action.

 

Compatibility rating: ***

 

 

 

ANGOLA - ANTRIM

 

Had more than their fair share of dark periods away from sport. Provide

 

novelty value but likely to be hammered by the big boys.

 

Compatibility rating: **

 

 

 

GROUP E

 

ITALY - DERRY

 

Complaints of systematic fouling brushed off once they win. Haven't

 

delivered the number of trophies their talents should have.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

CZECH REPUBLIC - DOWN

 

Tasted success in sixties and nineties. Plan B based on lobbing high balls

 

into beanpole forwards.

 

Compatibility rating: ***

 

 

 

GHANA - CARLOW

 

Turn your county colours ninety degrees and you have a ready made flag.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

USA - WEXFORD

 

Managing to flourish on football field despite strong presence of other

 

sports. A better team than they are given credit for.

 

Compatibility rating: ***

 

 

 

GROUP F

 

BRAZIL - KERRY

 

Nothing less than victory - with panache - is enough for demanding public.

 

Fans come out of woodwork for finals.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

CROATIA - SLIGO

 

Jersey's a bit of an eye-sore. Occasional flutters of hope. Markievicz Park

 

could easily be in the middle of Zagreb.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

AUSTRALIA - KILKENNY

 

Not shy about telling people how good they are at many sports. Football

 

isn't one of them.

 

Compatibility rating: *****

 

 

 

JAPAN - KILDARE

 

Technology-reliant economy and a fondness for horse-racing. Haven't

 

progressed after experiment with big-name managers.

 

Compatibility rating: **

 

 

 

GROUP G

 

FRANCE - MEATH

 

Glory in the 1990s but a fading force. Over-reliant on heroes of the past.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

SWITZERLAND - WESTMEATH

 

Landlocked and without a reputation for too much excitement. Hugely reliant

 

on a couple of good players.

 

Compatibility rating: **

 

 

 

SOUTH KOREA - WATERFORD

 

Surprise packages in 2002 but ultimately fell short. Living in the shadow of

 

a People's Republic.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

TOGO - WICKLOW

 

Have as much chance of each other of success on the big stage this year.

 

Boys among men.

 

Compatibility rating: **

 

 

 

GROUP H

 

SPAIN - MAYO

 

Everyone's dark horse but never step out of their permanent silhouette.

 

Pretty on the eye but ultimately infuriating for long-suffering fans.

 

Compatibility rating: ****

 

 

 

UKRAINE - DONEGAL

 

Good forwards will probably only take them so far. Enormous mass of land;

 

weather generally awful.

 

Compatibility rating: ***

 

 

 

TUNISIA - LAOIS

 

Both have drafted in managers from places of greater pedigree. An

 

improvement has been noted but yet to fully deliver.

 

Compatibility rating: **

 

 

 

SAUDI ARABIA - MONAGHAN

 

All tenuous links have been exhausted. They are a match made in heaven.

 

Compatibility rating: *