Argentina

Yeah but thats kinda the thing,has that not been built into the price and regardless of who is manager id be loath to write off such a squad of top notch players many of whom Messi,Higuain,Tevez are in really good form this year.

Fact is he is in love with palermo who is 36 and that will mean aguero,milito or lisandro will prob miss out. imo maradonna was the best ever but he is a complete dummy as a manager. With the pool of players they had they should have won the south american group not scrape through like they did.

the sum of their parts makes them look at big price, but they've drifted in price for a good reason as none of the players seem to show their best form in the national shirt, maradona is probably the underlying reason for this, at least he's finally noticed higuain is argentinian

South Africa in the middle of winter will suit european teams more than europe in high summer.

Lets hope Argenitna win the WC - my favourite other country since the 78 world cup.....

Oh and lets do the honourable thing and hand the Falklands back as well....its cost us tax payers enough already.

But there aren't many stats: only 8 held outside Europe

It would only be meaningful if European teams generally played poorly compared to how they do at home , but they don't really , Brazil or Argentina (or way back Uraguay) have won the tournaments but its not as if they both look a class above .One of the Big 2 ususally gets beat outside Europe by a European Team, and the winner is usually in a close game.

OK so none have won outside Europe but....

2002 England beat Argentina .
1994 Romania knock out Argentina and 7/8 quarter finalists European.
1986 France knock out Brazil .
1978 Brazil drew with Sweden and Spain, even Argentina lost to Italy.

Stats are stats. If you back a European team they will be trying to achieve something that has never been done before. No European team has won a World Cup outside of Europe.

WORLD CUPS OUTSIDE EUROPE
1930 Uraguay 4 Argentina 2
1950 Uraguay 2 Brazil 1
1962 Brazil 3 Czech 1
1970 Brazil 4 Italy 1
1978 Argentina 3 Holland 1
1986 Argentina 3 Germany 2
1994 Brazil beat Italy on Pens
2002 Brazil 2 Germany 0

8 WINS FOR SOUTH AMERICAN TEAMS

5 European teams beaten in the last 5 finals outside Europe.

Look at the stats in Europe also. Only 1 non EUROPEAN team has won a world cup in Europe and that was Brazil in 1958 in Sweden.

WORLD CUPS IN EUROPE
1934 Italy 2 Czech 1
1938 Italy 4 Hungary 2
1954 Germany 3 Hungary 2
1958 Brazil 5 Sweden 2
1966 England 4 Germany 2
1974 Germany 2 Holland 1
1982 Italy 3 Germany 1
1990 Germany 1 Argentina 0
1998 France 3 Brazil 0
2006 Italy beat France on pens

9 WINS FOR EUROPEAN TEAMS 1 FOR SOUTH AMERICAN

Its up to you if you think its a coincedence. I for one will be backing BRAZIL.

Weather argentina are good enough is one question. However i don't think they will get the rub of the green with the refs.

They have the players to win this WC, but they haven't got the manager. Loved Maradona as a player but at the helm of the int'l team.... beyond farcical.

I just made this point on another thread - the squad El Diego doesn't choose to go to SA would probably have a better chance of winning the WC than the one he does choose - that's how messed up Argentinian football is with Maradona in charge of selection and tactics.
Javier Zanetti, Gabriel Milito, Cambiasso, Riquelme, Aimar, Saviola, Crespo... just some of the quality players probably missing from the squad.

What the hell is Veron doing still getting in the starting XI? His legs had gone about 5 years ago... one of the most over-rated players in the history of football. He wasn't even any good back in his pomp in 1998. He is now mid-30s, ambles aimlessly around central midfield, and yet he will start for Argentina because he must be one of El Diego's best mates.
I know J.Zanetti and Crespo are similar ages but they are still quality unlike Veron.

5 European teams beaten in the last 5 finals outside Europe

So how do they get to the final then , if they are rubbish outside Europe?

Surely if these stats meant anything there would have been a few Brazil v Argentina Finals

Being beat in the Final isnt winning. You either go with the stats or you dont. Im going with the Stats.

How are matches that happened when none of the current players were even born of the slightest relevance to this world cup?

Going with the stats, LMAO. So if the final is between Spain and Brazil how would you price it up? Presumably 1.01 Brazil, based on your 'stats'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0O7KkZn4rk&feature=related

the lay preacher 08 Mar 01:23
aimar finished saviola finished crespo does he still even play football


Crepso is at Parma now mate

Fancy them to make quarter finals at least, possibly semi's then it's anyones game. Brazil to win it though, but fancy Messi to have one or two crazy games where he scores 3 or 4 so backing him as top scorer rather than backing the Argies.