World cup 2014 - 1 horse race?

[Tomo 21,733]

I know its a while away but i was just thinking the other day that i would not be surprised if Brazil end up being the shortest odds favorites in world cup history.

The fact that they are host's and beating South American teams in their own back yard is one of the hardest things to do in football if not the hardest don't even begin to tell the story, our very own David Luiz and Ramires will be roughly hitting their peaks that year and not only that they will have Neymar who will be a matured 23 year old and possibly Lucas Piazon who will be 21, by the time the world cup comes Anderson should be miles better and Spurs Sandro (who i have to say has looked impresive for them so far) will be 26. Marcelo will be 25 and not to mention the promosing Da Silva twins at Man.Ure.

Add that to other experienced players who will fall into the 29-32 bracket when this world cup comes, Danny Alves, Thiago Silva, Kaka, Macion, our Alex, Adriano for Barca aswell. Julio Cesar will be 35 which for a goallie is no age and Ronaldinho and Lucio will be 34 and 35 respectively, they wont be able to play every game but their expierence will be priceless, am i the only one that thinks Ronaldinho will use this home tournament to bow out?

Also add to the not so healthy position other teams will probably be in.

- England will be re-building, i don't think were be ready for this tournament IMHO 2018 will be our next BIG chance.

- Spain's great team of the last few years will be getting on by then, the spine of Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi, Torres and Villa will all be in their 30's, i think they will be well and truly in the re-building process when this tournament comes along.

- France and Italy are slowly recovering from the horror of WC 2010 that made England's tournament look like world beating but i dont think there have enough to trouble Brazil. same with Portugal.

- Holland well have to wait and see, if they produce from good players and get a team ethic going they might get far, although i doubt there win it.

- Argentina will probally love the thought of winning it in Brazil, they will be facing hostile atmosphere's near enough every game (Brazillians will sneek into the crowd to make it hostile for them i reckon).

- Germany will probably be the only team i can see troubling them, as their team of the last WC (IE Ozil, Muller, Schweinsteiger, Neuer and Kadiera) will have an average age of about 27 and as a unit will be approaching their peak, although even they will find it really tough in South America.

In all honesty i think these lot will be very hard to stop and for some-one to do it they will have to get their tactics near perfect.

Its not impossible but i reckon Brazil will take some serious beating in this World Cup and if i was a bookie i would probably suspend betting on them winning it or make the odds seriously low and if some-one pulls it off and stops Brazil it will be a real achievement.

What do you think?

[Shane 2,275]

Far to early to be even thinking about it mate.

[Rambo 1,729]

A lot can happen during the 3 year time frame.

[spuz 143]

England will be re-building, i don't think were be ready for this tournament IMHO 2018 will be our next BIG chance.

Atleast we're getting the excuses in early.

We'll have Wilshere who will be 22 and the greatest player that ever lived by then.

[Tomo 21,733]

Atleast we're getting the excuses in early.

We'll have Wilshere who will be 22 and the greatest player that ever lived by then.

haha true

In all honesty in sick of the England football team, the so called fans that boo our players especially, i havent really felt passinate towards England matches since euro 2004, the only reason im refering to England as we is because im English.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I think France will have a good chance of winning it, though home advantage will work for the Brazilians.

In the mean time, I think Belgium will win the 2022 one.

[TomCFC 356]

Who knows what'll happen in three years' time?

[LDN Blue 7,903]

A lot can happen in 3 years.

Germany, Spain, Brazil & perhaps Argentina (if they get their act together) will be the big threats. England, I'm not too hopeful one, considering we're at the stage of too old/too young. France could be a wild card, but we'll have to wait & see if Blanc has restored some discipline into that squad.

[Tomo 21,733]

A lot can happen in 3 years.

Germany, Spain, Brazil & perhaps Argentina (if they get their act together) will be the big threats. England, I'm not too hopeful one, considering we're at the stage of too old/too young. France could be a wild card, but we'll have to wait & see if Blanc has restored some discipline into that squad.

Fair point but even if all that does happen it will still be horrifically hard to turn over Brazil in their own back yard.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Fair point but even if all that does happen it will still be horrifically hard to turn over Brazil in their own back yard.

Agreed, but that's not always a guaranteed victory. It's a funny old game this, the last team to win it in their own back yard was France in '98. Only 6 teams have done similar (Argentina, Uruguay, England, West Germany & Italy).

I think Germany will probably have the best shot outside of Brazil. It remains to be seen, how strong Brazil will actually be, come 2014. I'll watch their match today (not that it will form my judgement) but I'm sure it won't be as strong at the '02 team that shook the world.

[Tomo 21,733]

Agreed, but that's not always a guaranteed victory. It's a funny old game this, the last team to win it in their own back yard was France in '98. Only 6 teams have done similar (Argentina, Uruguay, England, West Germany & Italy).

I think Germany will probably have the best shot outside of Brazil. It remains to be seen, how strong Brazil will actually be, come 2014. I'll watch their match today (not that it will form my judgement) but I'm sure it won't be as strong at the '02 team that shook the world.

Agreed but since France won in 98 only Germany was really expected to win at their own country and they got knocked out by a Italy team that got their tactics spot on, something similar will need to be done to turn Brazil over there imho.

BTW what channel is Brazil V Scotland on?

[LDN Blue 7,903]

BTW what channel is Brazil V Scotland on?

ESPN

Or not ITV

[eldo 868]

Big expectations from Neymar..

[Ollie 4,400]

Brazilians can live up to the hype unlike our bottle jobs. Obviously 2014 is fucking ages away but i will be hugely surprised if they don't win it, their youngsters are unbelievable and will be in their prime in 2014.

1 horse race, no, but huge favourites i think they will be and rightfully so.

Very much looking forward to seeing what we'll be like then. The old guard will be gone and it'll be a new era (And i'll be 27 )

[Tomo 21,733]

Brazilians can live up to the hype unlike our bottle jobs. Obviously 2014 is fucking ages away but i will be hugely surprised if they don't win it, their youngsters are unbelievable and will be in their prime in 2014.

1 horse race, no, but huge favourites i think they will be and rightfully so.

Very much looking forward to seeing what we'll be like then. The old guard will be gone and it'll be a new era (And i'll be 27 )

Speaking of that what was it like turning 20? im turning 20 in less than a month and shitting myself lol

[Term-X 7,891]

Speaking of that what was it like turning 20? im turning 20 in less than a month and shitting myself lol

I turned 20 a few weeks ago, the early twenties become an extended adolescence anyway. 18 & 30 are the only real milestones.

We spend a 3rd of our lives sleeping.

[Tomo 21,733]

I turned 20 a few weeks ago, the early twenties become an extended adolescence anyway. 18 & 30 are the only real milestones.

We spend a 3rd of our lives sleeping.

Fair enough, its not really just turning 20 im worried about it's really quietly seeping to 30 then before i know it im 40 , the numbers feel shorter after 20 for some reason (well for me anyway) lol.

[Madmax 9,219]

Brazil have a chance.

Unless they come up against India