Final? I'll go with Brazil v Italy though I might hedge with a Spain v Italy final too.

Having just watched another England "performance", I am beginning to understand why some people find football boring.

david,

>>Did anyone else know that Germany was a hot country?<<

Well, weather-wise the Stuttgart region indeed tends to get quite hot during summers.

Football-wise I would have expected the guys to excel the expectations (as they rise to the occasion in most instances - with the last Euro Championships being an exception), but not to play that extremely well (and expectations were quite low before the tournament). I think Germany in its current form is pretty hot - and you might want to hedge your Argentinian wager.

54, 74, 90 ... 2006!

>>>>>
GERMANY, if not, we're going to make a revloution, overthrow the government and proclaim Germany winner for now and all the matches and in eternity
>>>>>

i didn't think you were allowed to say things like this in germany.

The final will be between England (yes really) and Argentina. England can only get better and we’ve been handed a winnable quarter final on a plate by a mental ref. The Argies are the best team there, all the others will knock each other out.

And history has taught us how to beat the Argies – bring on your sub!

Now where do I find a good guinea pig restaurant?

No doubts about England participating in the final - I even believe they are going to win the cup and have an according bet running.

I read a thing at the weekend which may explain why so many Americans are baffled by the appeal of football. (“Soccer” is what you put on your footer before you put on your booter). Football is basically a game that is best experienced live, and TV really doesn’t really capture the feeling of a big match.

However if you have some experience of going to major games (which most Europeans and S Americans do) you will mentally fill in the gaps, to recreate the experience.

I would imagine that most Americans have never been to a full-on football match and as such think that the TV coverage is an accurate approximation of what it’s like. Hence their disengagement.

I think there’s something in that. I can mentally smell the frying onions, the overflowing gents, the police horses, the stench of the gooners* etc. Maybe others can’t.

*It’s not their fault, they don’t know any better. I blame the parents.

Soccer is what you call it to distinguish it from a host of other football games.

I just watched the Portugal - Netherlands replay and it gets more and more like a free-for-all, with the referees quite unable to bring any discipline into the play. So much for 'the beautiful game'. Mammon is having his input to the complete detriment of the whole spectacle.

Harzer

I have no idea who will make it to the finals. But I would like it to be Ghana-Germany. Aside from the David v. Goliath angle, Germany is doing an excellent job as host country (from what I can tell from the various European channel TV commentators) and it would be great for Africa if Ghana could make it to the finals.

hsv, England is playing with Portugal in the quarter finals...

BTilke – It can’t happen I’m afraid, the best you could hope for is a semi final.

And the full name of the host country is “Germany, managed by Tottenham legend Jurgen Klinsmann”

(as opposed to our next opponents “Portugal, home to Manchester United show-pony Ronaldo and Tottenham flop Postigia”).

I heard something on good old Radio 4 which partly answers the question.

A BBC reporter is interviewing a man in Baghdad about what he thinks about British troops.

The man brings out a photo of David Beckham from his wallet.
BBC Man: Oh, you have a photo of David Beckham. Manchester United.
Little Voice, scornfully: Real Madrid.
BBC Man: We have been joined by a little boy.
BBC Man to little boy: I live near the Arsenal football stadium.
The little boy then proceeded to name the whole Asrenal team.

The world is divided into two groups...doers and watchers! Playing any game, doing any sport is mentally and physically satisfying. A casual observer will note that the World Cup is an excuse or a venue for beer drinking and behavior that would not be tolerated at home. In Wisconsin we have a similar venue; it is called 'deer hunting'. I envy the players!

World Cup is an excuse or a venue for beer drinking and behavior that would not be tolerated at home.>>>>>

You've not been in a British town centre at the weekend I take it?

The roads are empty. People are at home or in the restaurants watching Fussball. It's Switzerland vs. Ukraine. A whole nation is watching nervously.

England can't make it past Argentina w/their lack of scoring. In fact, if Portugal wouldn't have been red-carded to death, they would have likely handled the English.

I'd be thrilled if England have to play Argentina, as it will mean they have beaten Portugal and Brazil.

I live in hope that something in the England side will "Click" - like it did when they beat Argentina in a pre World cup friendly.

I am beginning to wonder if the Germans have peaked at the right time, and will win the tournament on a wave of home support.

Well, that's it for Switzerland. Ukraine won because of the three penalties shots after going 0-0 the full time and extra time. It was a loooooong game.

Tears and disappointment. Pass me a Cafe Zwetchgen.

Wait! All those Swiss World Cup T-shirts at Coop, Migros and many sport stores will be 1/2 price. The WM is over for us. Now the "Ausverkauf" begins.

<<<However if you have some experience of going to major games (which most Europeans and S Americans do) you will mentally fill in the gaps, to recreate the experience.

I would imagine that most Americans have never been to a full-on football match and as such think that the TV coverage is an accurate approximation of what it’s like. Hence their disengagement.>>>

Could be. Could also be the reason for Europeans disengagement with the American sports of football, basketball, and baseball.

It's basically very simple. It's what you're used to and comes down to preferences. Nothing whatsoever is gained from the tiresome "your sport is boring but mine isn't" back and forth that's been going on lately. Who cares if one doesn't care for one particular sport over another? Just be thankful the sport exists that each can find amusement in. I know I do.

Americans: Alex from today's Telegraph pretty much sums it up (I like the fact that they've drawn the American with American Hair).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/Alex/pcAlex.jhtml