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Author: MichaelCollins
Date: 12-02-2005, 01:04

Hmm is there any sub-team as such still able to qualify for sentimental "lover of the underdog" reasons that you'd love to see qualify for the World Cup next year? They dont have to be European, and you dont all have to say Scotland!

For me there is two. Uzbekistan and Guatemala. Both strike me as very talented young teams who like to attack, and would probably have a few entertaining games. Plus, I'm all for newbies at the World cup, and these two could cause a stir at the tournament. Mind you, so could Cote D'Ivoire!

Author: Michele
Date: 12-02-2005, 02:06

Very interesting. These three teams are exactly my favourites too. And almost for the same reasons. I like new participants at the WC and I like teams that for some reason catch my attention. Guatemala is probably the most interesting team in the CONCACAF Hexagonal not least because of Carlos Ruiz, who scores a large part of their goals. However, I also have a lot of sympathy for T&T. I just don't think they have the skills to qualify.

In Asia I like Uzbekistan, North Korea and Bahrain. I don't think North Korea have the skills and in a play-off between Uzbekistan and Bahrain, I would definitely prefer Uzbekistan. They have an interesting attack with Maksim Shatskikh and Alexander Geynrikh.

In Africa, Cote d'Ivoire is definitely my team. with players like Drogba, Aruna, Kolo Toure, Cyrille Domoraud and Bonaventure Kalou, they could really make an upset at the WC. Maybe something like Senegal in '02. My other favourite teams in Africa include Zambia, Ghana, Angola and Guinea, all possible newcomers to the WC.

Mikael

Re: World Cup Underdogs?!
Author: BalkanTourist Date: 12-02-2005, 11:28	In Europe: Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Slovakia. In Africa: Ivory Coast, Morocco In Asia: Uzbekistan, Iran In N. America: Panama, T&T In S. America: Venezuela, Peru, Uruguay

Author: Sami.Jukkasjarvi
Date: 13-02-2005, 22:21

"Lover of the underdog"?

China (showed an incredible progress in Asian Cup although my understanding is that they no longer have chances to qualify), Australia, the United States of America (probably you would say hardly an underdog in north america any longer), Slovakia.

I am really looking forward to 2006 tournament. I feel World Cups, Euros, Asian Cups and Latin American Cups are now becoming much more interesting than before (so that World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004 were much more interesting than preceding tournaments) but still by far not as good as Diego Maradona World Cup 1986 and Marco van Basten&Co. Euro 1988. There is a good chance an underdog team will show something great.

Also, I feel any South American team is capable of showing something interesting in the World Cup.

Re: World Cup Underdogs?!
Author: Iron Date: 03-03-2005, 02:16	Africa: Zambia, Ivory Coast, Angola. Asia: Uzbekistan, Bahrain, North Korea. Concacaf: Guatemala, Trynidad & Tobago, Panama. South America: Venezuela, Peru, Equador. Europe: Slovakia, Ukraine, Lithuania. Oceania: Solomon Islands ))))))