Biggest disappointment at World Cup 2014?

[Nalis]

We've done winners, golden boot, surprise package so time for the biggest disappointment.

I'm gonna stick my neck out here and say Spain. The rest of the world seems to have caught up with tiki taka and the pressure/motivation will be high al la France 2002.

First round casualties or second round defeat v Brazil methinks...

[purpleronnie]

The noise of caxirola's.

[ScouseFox]

germany. no decent strikers, all the games you don't want in terms of climate and a tough group. ronaldo will beat them by himself.

[Haydos]

We've done winners, golden boot, surprise package so time for the biggest disappointment.

I'm gonna stick my neck out here and say Spain. The rest of the world seems to have caught up with tiki taka and the pressure/motivation will be high al la France 2002.

First round casualties or second round defeat v Brazil methinks...

 

Too much quality for that regardless of style, I'd be very surprised if the Netherlands finished above them.

[kristianity77]

Absolutely without question I think its going to be England.  Can see us losing to Uruguay and Italy and the Costa Rica game being a dead rubber that no one even bothers to tune into.  World cup over for us 5 days after it begins.

[kingcarr21]

I also think Germany will have a stinker of a tournament.

[Haydos]

People seem to be hugely overestimating the Dutch still, one of their worst sides in recent history.

[Jon the Hat]

Honduras.  I got them in the office sweepstake.  Bastards.

[Fox92]

Netherlands are always disappointing! They've never won the thing, and only have one European Championship, despite having some of the greatest and technically gifted players the World has ever seen.

[Dan]

Absolutely without question I think its going to be England.  Can see us losing to Uruguay and Italy and the Costa Rica game being a dead rubber that no one even bothers to tune into.  World cup over for us 5 days after it begins.

 

The thought of that is ridiculous. It's a genuine possibility but it never even occurred to me. 5 days ffs.

 

I'll go with Holland.

[Zapp]

Disappointment is tough.

I would suggest Belgium. Not too many teams that have been hyped up but they are definitely one of them.

They SHOULD get through their group with ease, if they don't it's a major failure. But then they will probably face Germany/Portugal in the last 16.

But looking at the squad and the fact they were seeded means anything less than quarters will be a disappointment imo.

[ousefox]

Player wise I expect Rooney to be just as disappointing as he's been for England since Euro 2004. Would love to be proved wrong.

[Leicesterpool]

I've gotta feeling no european will reach the semi's, i can see a few going out in the group stages... including England sadly, also Spain! The final will be between Argentina v Uruguay. I think the USA are in for a good world cup, tip them for the semi final.

[Banks]

England and Holland.

[Grandad.]

 

We'll beat Italy, draw to Uruguay and a bore draw v Costa Rica with players rested. 

 

Germany for me as well. 

[DennisNedry]

The way way England could disappoint me is if we get 0 points in the group, since I fully expect us to get knocked out.

[Amin]

Holland, Italy and Germany.

[Haydos]

How the fvck are Spain not going to get out of the group stages? They've got to do better than Holland and Australia, Chile aren't exactly world beaters either.

[Finnegan]

germany. no decent strikers, all the games you don't want in terms of climate and a tough group. ronaldo will beat them by himself.

Eh, all jokes aside, I think you'd be mad to write off Klose scoring a few and Podolski usually finds far more prolific form for country than club.

You've then got any of Reus, Muller, Gotze, Kroos, Schurrle and Co chiming in from behind.

I'm sorry but if you don't think Germany are a goal threat - they've only failed to score in two games in about two or three years - you don't know anything about football.

There's being contrarian and then there's just being stupid.

Climate and altitude issues I will accept, though, and obviously nobody should take Ronaldo lightly even if the rest of his team are bang average.

[lgfualol]

Belgium. Hyped up but they have fellaini which means they'll lose.

[ScouseFox]

Eh, all jokes aside, I think you'd be mad to write off Klose scoring a few and Podolski usually finds far more prolific form for country than club.

You've then got any of Reus, Muller, Gotze, Kroos, Schurrle and Co chiming in from behind.

I'm sorry but if you don't think Germany are a goal threat - they've only failed to score in two games in about two or three years - you don't know anything about football.

There's being contrarian and then there's just being stupid.

Climate and altitude issues I will accept, though, and obviously nobody should take Ronaldo lightly even if the rest of his team are bang average.

I didn't say they weren't a goal threat I said they had no decent strikers. Chelsea are a goal threat with hazard, schurrle, Oscar, Willian etc but it's widely accepted they have no decent striker so didn't win anything.

They'll get through the group and probably to the quarters but they won't be winning imo

[Manwell Pablo]

Eh, all jokes aside, I think you'd be mad to write off Klose scoring a few and Podolski usually finds far more prolific form for country than club.

You've then got any of Reus, Muller, Gotze, Kroos, Schurrle and Co chiming in from behind.

I'm sorry but if you don't think Germany are a goal threat - they've only failed to score in two games in about two or three years - you don't know anything about football.

There's being contrarian and then there's just being stupid.

Climate and altitude issues I will accept, though, and obviously nobody should take Ronaldo lightly even if the rest of his team are bang average.

 

I think there is a potential for Cristiano to do the Germans on his todd ala Sweden, normally I'd say I think you're right, they've got to much quality to be worried about the likes of Ghana and the US. But with Klinsman in charge of the USA and them playing Germany in the final group game after two fixtures during the day in the north of the country you can see something unexpected happening in that group if they do lose to Portugal. 

 

The Dutch are the easy shout, fck all at the back. Although us going home early doors isn't the worst shout.

[Finnegan]

There's a gulf of class between Germany and Sweden.

Obviously, any side could choke and go out. Anyone's susceptible to failing in a format where every result is massive.

But let's be honest, Germany will go in as one of the favourites on merit, not just because the "football hipsters" like their fan culture and Gotze is good on FIFA.

[Manwell Pablo]

There's a gulf of class between Germany and Sweden.

Obviously, any side could choke and go out. Anyone's susceptible to failing in a format where every result is massive.

But let's be honest, Germany will go in as one of the favourites on merit, not just because the "football hipsters" like their fan culture and Gotze is good on FIFA.

 

I'd put them fourth or fifth favorite yeah. As I say though their not in a great situation the draw has been evil to them and I do think the Klinsman thing could potentially be one of those World Cup stories waiting to happen

[Freeman's Wharfer]

I didn't say they weren't a goal threat I said they had no decent strikers. Chelsea are a goal threat with hazard, schurrle, Oscar, Willian etc but it's widely accepted they have no decent striker so didn't win anything.

They'll get through the group and probably to the quarters but they won't be winning imo

 

Someone's bought into Mourinho's excuses then...

 

With Ba, Torres, Lukaku and Eto'o on the books there was more than enough there for Chelsea to mount a title challenge in such an open league. Mourinho was only saying it to cover his back if they didn't win anything and to put pressure on Abramovich to give him the money for Costa this summer.