After the last two days I think it’s time for a little diversion on my part. So, as promised in my previous football post and at the suggestion of Haiku, here is the official Larvatus Prodeo World Cup Tipping Post (TM).
Entries must be received before the first match kicks off, and in set format, eg:
Winner: Brazil
Other semi-finalists: Netherlands, Italy, Argentina
Golden boot: Ronaldinho
Number of goals: 163Four points for each correct semi-finalist, four points for getting the winner right (in addition to points for being in the semis), a point for every goal scored by the nominated player. Closest to total number of goals used as a decider if anyone is tied on points. If still a tie then earliest entry wins.
So, you got all that? A tip: before submitting your predictions I would suggest looking at a draw. The nature of the tournament may mean it is impossible for some teams to make the semis at the same time.
And a prize? Well, it’s over to Haiku again:
I’ll supply the prize*
* Prize will probably be a cheesy FIFA DVD, just hypothetically.
I will lead off I guess:
Winner: Argentina
Other semi-finalists: Netherlands, France, Brazil
Golden Boot: Van Nistelrooy (going out on a limb here)
Number of goals: 157
Over to you.
Winner: Spain
Other Semifinalists: Germany, Sth Korea, Portugal
Golden Boot: Michael Ballack
Number of goals: 90
I always Back Spain, Liamista, and always lose. (?Pero, la ultima vez estabamos robado, no?)
Seguir España es como ser miembro del Partido Laborista, camarada.
Tenemos siempre las victorias pequeñas, y grandes derrotas.
Tiene la razon, Compañero… y ambos tienen sus problemas de facciones, no?
Catala, Vasco, Castellano….
…Católica, Kabbalah…
Well, if last Copa Mundial is anything to go by, I’ll be watching España bow out out of the semi-finl at the Hogar Español in Fitzroy, totally borracho on sangria, singing:
“OLE OLE!
OLE OLAAAAAAA!
PORQUE ESPAñA VA A GANARRRRR!”
Winner: Italy
Other Semifinalists: England, Brazil, Spain
Golden Boot: Cristiano Ronaldo
Number of goals: 102
What is this World Cup of which you all speak?
Wait a minute. Look over yonder. What do I see? It is a bandwagon, which nice comfy seats coming my way. I’m getting aboard and going along for the ride.
Go the Ee….errr…Socceroos. Guus for Prime Minister….How many days to go now?
Can we just not watch it, hoping everybody loses. Trust me, no country wants to win this thing.
I’m surprised at you, JC! The US is in this competition, don’tcha know? Shouldn’t you be plastering your walls with Bruce Arena posters and bagging out Aus and Trinidad and Tobago?
I knew it. You dudes are really wanting the US to win. It’s the only way you’re gonna get that place to go down the gurgler.
Sell the shit out of US stocks, bonds, currency if they win, Lienad as you won’t have to work again.
I reckon one of the SthAms will take it out. That place is heading south anyway. Winning will the be final hit. Let’s create a new term with meaning. “if you win you lose”.
Joe, you have my lying socialist word of honour that should the US win the World Cup (those last six words should always go with the words ‘There’s no way in hell’) I, Leinad Emantsal, Prince of the Internet, Knight-Protector of Assorted Small Rodents of Tanzania (and the Women who Love them) will agree to agree vigorously with everything you write on this blog and berate and castigate you opponents until such time as the Universe collapses inwards and sucks our planet into the unknowable depths on the Singularity.
Good enough?
Thanks Lienad, that helps a lot as I was worried you guys were about to do something real underhaded like support the US to win. Scared the shit out of me as much as seeing OZ win (which I pray to the good Lord and watch over us to make sure we’re trounced)
Lienad, you saw the game the other night. I didn’t but I did see the news clippings and was thoroughly disgusted we won.
More pertinently did you see 2 nd generation Greek kids, young kids supporting Greece over Oz. I did!
That’s what I mean about this shockingly frightening ” game”. It brings out the worst in people. Fancy that, two generations later and people are supporting the other side. How fucking sickening is that, hey?
Ban that game!!!
best outcome
Australia last
US second last
next best
US last
Oz second last.
Leinad, id say there’s maybe a .01 percent chance that the U.S will win. Taking that into account, yours is still the promise of a madman.
Winner: England
Other semi-finalists: Germany, France, Brazil
Golden Boot: Sylvain Wiltord
Total Goals. 155
This is from the head not the heart. I kind of feely a bit uncomfortable not having one wildcard in there… How do you feel about a british recession for the new millenium JC?
Thanks Georg,
good to see a few entries in already. And that JC is here getting outraged. Talk about win-win …
Winner - Brazil
Semi finalists - Netherlands, France, England
Golden Boot - Ronaldinho
Goals - 142
Although I am very fond of Portugal and don’t like the look of 3 European semi-finalists and think Argentina should be there. Too goddam hard!
JC,
Bolty certainly was sickened by it. So much so he devoted a whole article to it.
Bolt’s a retard. I got on a tram pre-match with 10-15 ‘Greek Australians’ each wearing a Socceroos AND Greek scarf.
Me: *please don’t kill me, drunken men* “Hedging your bets eh, fellas?”
One of them: “Nah man, I love Australia and I love Greece and FOOTBALL IS THE WINNAAAAHHHH!”
Gold-plated gold.
Winner: Chermany
Other semis: England, Brazil, Spain
Golden boot: Wayne Rooney
Total goals: 193 (I predict a goal feast)
Additionally, I’ll suggest a new category - The honorary Cameroon award for a trouble-making dark horse.
My nomination: Ghana
I’ve bought a projector especially. Watch my work productivity plummet.
BRING IT ON!
bolt mmust read lp and saw my comment.
That’s a big called on Rooney FDB, given he’s still recovering from an injury.
Dark Horse: Australia, of course. Perhaps we could give 4 points if your dark horse makes it through to the Quarters.
That’s a good idea, FDB.
Dark Horse: Paraguay.
Dark Horse: Ukraine
Haiku: No worries. Yes, good to see JC has joined us for the fun.
And a good idea re the dark horse FDB. Liam has gone and nominated my choice so I will go with Mexico.
I think there should be a category for best faked injury requiring copious amounts of rolling around on the ground grimacing and holding shin.
Mindy,
I think JC has that one sewn up, despite your late challenge.
And re the dark horses: good idea, but where is the dividing line between teams that are expected to make the quarters and those that are not? Mexico, for example, are a seeded team and ranked in the top 8.
Should we in fact go to the betting markets and suggest that a dark horse is any team rated as more than a specified set of odds to win the tournament/make the semis? Or look to the FIFA polls about teams not expected to make it past the group stage?
OK,
here’s my list of teams which I would rate as having a lesser chance of making it out of the group stage (than the other two teams in their group), from which “dark horses” may be selected.
Costa Rica, Ecuador
Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago
Ivory Coast, Serbia & Montenegro
Iran, Angola
Ghana, USA
Australia, Japan
Korea, Togo
Tunisia, Saudi Arabia
Thanks haiku. I’ll take Ivory Coast.
Angola.
That’d piss the Portuguese off, wouldn’t it?
Winner: Netherlands
Other semi-finalists: Brazil, Australia, Argentina
Golden boot: Pauleta (although the Fifa website calls it the Golden Shoe)
Number of goals: 183
Last world cup I watched in four different countries, three continents. This time I couldn’t even get time off work but I’m fully excited anyway.
cool- I’ll grab Iran for the dark horse (albeit with a slight greenish glow)
“I think there should be a category for best faked injury requiring copious amounts of rolling around on the ground grimacing and holding shin.” I agree. My nomination for this award goes to Michael Owen
Come on all you footbal loving lurkers. Out of the shadows.
Well, I’ve set up the spreadsheet. So all that is now needed is entries - eight so far, I think. amanda, I take it your dark horse tip is Australia? (seeing as you’ve tipped us for the semis)
And I would just like to note: I will be at the Brazil and Croatia games!!!
I know, I suck …
Forgot to mention: the goalscorers tally will be drawn from the official FIFA website.
Haiku, you suck.
Yeah, I’ll have the Fuusballroos.
Last chance for football freakoids. I’m not propping up this thread again!
Yes, I say we set a deadline. Come OOOOONNNN people. Place your bets or, completely ignore us.
Deadline is anytime before kickoff of the first game. I can add entries to the spreadsheet quite easily. Maybe another plug with two days to go might draw a few more entries, otherwise you people have good odds on that DVD …
Hooray. My golden boot is on song (even if it was just a penalty) http://www.theworldgame.com.au/worldcup/index.php?pid=st&cid=71651
Hey Haiku
You going this ?
http://www.ofutebol.com/2006/05/free-party-in-munich_24.html
I think I might go to that!
Australia to beat England in the final after beating Italy in the second round, France in the quarterfinals and the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
the poms will be the easiest game after that.
Guus will retire after this great feat.
ole, ole ,ole ,ole, oleo
Care to turn that into an Entry GFPM? I’m guessing you’ve got Dukes as Golden boot?
So, Homer, you need the fourth semi-finalist, golden boot and number of goals …
I don’t care about the rest of the games!
Right, let’s bump this up the comments list!
Josh looks the goods indeed he was more dangerous that Aliosi. He is not only god in the air but has good touches with the ball.
Beachamp looks a better central defender than Poppa
Don’t worry haiku, I’ll post again and refer to it tonight. Too many WC posts are never enough (although some would disagree, I’m sure).
Maybe we need a bigger shinier prize?
Ok fellas, take out your pens and start scribbling:
Winner: (Must… not… say… Brazil…) er- Ukraine!
Other Semi Finalists: Ivory Coast, Germany, Brazil
Golden Boot: (Must.. not.. say… Ronaldinho…) er- Drogba!
Number of goals: 143
This has nothing to do with the NRL does it?
I tell you what though Shaun, I would be interested in seeing a German rugby league team up against Costa Rican opponents.
Yeah but could Souths beat the winner of such a game? That is the question.
Do you guys bagging the US team realise that it’s currently ranked 5th in the world by FIFA? It’s ahead of France, England and Italy.
I would so enjoy seeing Leinad lose his bet and be forced to agree with Joe forever more!
Fifa rankings are not really to be trusted Paulus. I think the U.S play a lot of gems with their neighbours, none of whom, know much about kicking Gringo soccer but - ‘cept the Mexican’s of course. I’m led to believe the real deal is ELO rankings
http://www.eloratings.net/
Here we have the US at 14 (not bad though) and Australia at 20 (woohoo, we gained two places for the win against Greece and another two for the draw against Holland.) England, France and Italy are at 3, 4 and 7. Interesting thing is that Uruguay is at 13. Curious thing is that apparently we’ve dropped one place from this time last year.
Problem is that Croatia are at 17 and Japan at 26, not to mention Brazil.
There’s a link on the site to the technical details behind the calculation.
Winner: Argentina
Other Semi-Finalists: Brazil, Germany, France
Golden Boot: Ronaldinho
ELO rankings are better than FIFA but even then, they don’t really count for much, and I think, much improved though the US is, it will have a very tough time getting out of Group of Death 2 - Revenge of the Black Stars. Italy and Czech have very good teams (assuming they’re all fit) and Ghana are no pushovers, as their recent 3-1 thumping of 2002 semifinalists South Korea shows.
I don’t mind having to agree with everything Joe says should the US win. It’s always good to practice defending the indefensible.
I looked at the draw, and I think I’m okay, but happy to make changes if chosen finalists aren’t possible.
going out on a limb here:
Winner: Australia, cause we’ve been hiding our light under a bushell for 32 years
Other semi-finalists: England, France and Germany
Golden Boot: John Aloisi (whose amazing performance leads to us winning)
Number of goals: 181
Outside chance: Saudi Arabia (cause hubby got it in the office sweep)
dj
you’ll need a “total number of goals” scored in the tournament, and also a tournament “dark horse” - see the above list.
http://larvatusprodeo.net/2006/05/30/world-cup-crystal-balls/#comment-89387
Winner: Australia, cause we damn well deserve it no hiddink
Other semi-finalists: England, The Netherlands, Argentina and the Czech Republic
Golden Boot: The Dukes. It will be his swansong and he is due
Number of goals: 153
Outside chance: Ghana because they are always Ghana win. (Is this black humour?)
Our Arry to be the man of the tournament!
You’ve got one too many finalists of the semi, milord Hiddink.
Good puns though. Well the last one anyway.
I have talked to Sir Guus and he was mistaken about Argentina.
European countires for the World Cup in Europe!!
I don’t have a ghost of a chance but I nominate ronaldo for the pie eaters award
Que diablos?? It’s always us Argies who are the first to go. Senors Arnold and Hiddink will soon regret their predictions.
Perhaps you should mind your own Falkland business!
Sorry, if I can still add my other predictions:
Dark Horse: Czech Republic (almost replaced Germany with them for my Semi prediction)
Total Goals: 227
Nein, the czechs will bounce
Ah, there’s nothing like a sour Kraut!
dj,
the czechs, being ranked 2nd or 3rd in the world, are not eligible for the complicated-LP-rules-made-up-as-we-go-along-dark-horse-category.
Your options are:
Costa Rica, Ecuador
Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago
Ivory Coast, Serbia & Montenegro
Iran, Angola
Ghana, USA
Australia, Japan
Korea, Togo
Tunisia, Saudi Arabia
And 227 goals will be an exciting (or one-sided) world cup!!
Semi-finalists now determined - Germany, Italy, France and Portugal. Looks like Liam, Michael G and dj might be fighting it out. Could it come down to goals scored?
First all-European group of semi-finalists since 1982. 1966 and 1934 are the only other examples.
but I was right on seasonally adjusted figures!
And the winner is … Mindy!
Courtesy of an Aloisi goal and a better guess than Cal on number of goals scored.
Will confirm later, and then Mindy can get in touch with Georg to provide address details.
Curses. Too good Mindy. But Well done Cal on picking the winner though!
I shall evermore hold a grudge against the Portugese, particular that slick haired, dive-happy one.
Overall, a pretty average World Cup I reckon and not a very good advertisement for the game. FIFA has shown once again to be on a par with the Olympic committees with regard to corruption and inconsistency. Then again, I suppose this reflects the dominant paradigm of ‘whatever it takes’ or ‘furbo’ as the Italians like to call it. It is lucky for soccer in Australia that the Austrlians did so well.
Boring football was played by too many teams - it often seemed like teams were scared to try and win games. I don’t see how going to penalties is less of a risk than playing positively. Too much diving - players would rather give up a shot on goal for the chance of conning the ref for a free kick or penalty.
On the other hand, too many cynical fouls that went unpunished (how Figo and the Argentinians did not face any consequences for the violent actions is beyond me). Strikers like Viduka who tried to keep their feet were rewarded by having fouls awarded against them for basically holding their ground. IMHO apart from the Aussies, the other big positive were Germany, who far surpassed expectations. As for Ukraine making quarter finals, what a joke!
you are quite mad.
except for the Ukraine v Switzerland and Portugal V Holland ( and this is because of the fouls not the technique) the games were of a high standard.
Ghana and the Ivory Coast were fantastic to watch.
We had the best ever goal at a world cup scored.
yes there were far too many dives and it cost us but that is because referees do not know the difference between a person being obstructed and diving.
this world Cup was a much higher standard than the previous couple.
I didn’t see all the games, and in particular didn’t see the African teams (who I’m told were quite impressive), so I can accept we are going to see things differently. Of the games I did see though, I stand by my thoughts.
IMHO there were too many teams trying to play with a single target man swamped by four defenders. Impressive technical play in the midfield doesn’t amount to much if have a negative mindset of not losing the game and not going out to win it. If that is the impression that someone who enjoys the game comes away with, then other people who have never played the game, or have not watched it much before may unfortunately think the same.
you are confusing the sudden death games with the group games.
Plenty of Games in the group stage despite only playing one striker as we showed.
Sudden death brought more caution. not surprising.
That is probably true to some extent, as I watched all of the finals bar some of the Ukraine/Italy game and the exhilirating Swiss/Ukraine match up. However, the run of Italy and France in the group games was hardly inspiring, even if the Italian defence was awesome.
I think it would have been good if Dukes had had more help up front, more often. The refs didn’t do him any favours though. It was like ‘you are not on the floor, so you must have committed a foul!’
all the refs had a bias to the ‘great’ countries hence the number of free-kicks against Dukes when he should have gained them. Hence the penalty to Italy when we should have gained one minutes earlier.
It has always been hence it will always be hence