Just on the subject of France getting into the world cup, I noticed that in 442's latest magazine (the world cup special) there is a flag of the Republic of Ireland on the back of the sticker album.

Is there a reason for this?


What do you think about the FourFourTwo blog Home Team Versus The Most Hated?
Less than a month until kick off for the international kickaround known as the World Cup and all eyes will be on first-cabs-off-the-rank Group A.
Comprising the home team (South Africa), the most hat...

Have your say.

Not the Ivory Coast flag you saw there?

how far North does South America start? Is Texas in North or South America?

D'oh!

I really see France struggling in this group.

And forget about karma being the reason... the truth is they struggled through their qualifying group and struggled to beat Ireland over 2 legs. Dommenech does not have them playing good football *or* winning football.

On the other hand, Mexico must be the single most underachieving football nation in the world. They have everything to be able to compete with the Brazils and Argentinas of the world, but instead they've never done *anything* of note outside of their own soil. I have a feeling though with young guns Dos Santos and Vela in the side this year could be a good one for them.

Then you also have South Africa hoping not to be the first home nation *ever* out in the first round. And Uruguay looking to rediscover their "divine right" to win everything and anything football related.

This group really is one filled with teams with some major historical achievements but also failures to live up to expectations for long periods. And the current teams in almost every case epitomise this position.

I see this being the tightest of all the groups, with Mexico emerging as a surprise group-winner and South Africa sneaking through ahead of France on goal-difference.

Have you actually seen Uruguay play in recent times. I would hardly rate them as playing with flair, passion yes, flair no. Also feel you are playing a little to stereotypes when claiming that the Mexicans would be fouling fast and often. They are a very skillful team who somehow managed to survive the coaching of Erikson.

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL australiantibullus.
Wait sorry I see you were more raising a point then being geographically ignorant.
You made a good discovery. mexico is North American well on the north American continent and South America starts probably in Panama. However Mexico is often just thought of as south american due to it's language and peoples. but it is on the North American continent.

I think you'll find Mexico is considered part of Central America and not North America.](*,)

Edited by zizou: 14/5/2010 08:49:04 AM

I think this is the most even group and the hardest to tip.

The team that should be the weakest, could cause more than a few problems with the home support. The team that should be the strongest have been in pretty average form. The other two could easily go far in the tournament when they play their best.

Anyway I'll tip France & Mexico to somehow get the results they need in a tight group.

Mexico and Uruguay to progress, because Domenech is retarded and South Africa will be going out without a point.

I think you've confused yourself. The term you're no doubt searching for is Latin America, which is generally thought of as being from Mexico all the way down, due to all that shared culture stuff :)

Would love to see Mexico and Urugruay progress also, but its hard for me to discount the French.

i dont think so, it will be france and mexico to qualify

Central America is never considered a continent, it is just a small part of the North American continent, which goes down to Panama. Mexico is in North America.
North and South America - Border (wiki)