Me too. Maybe post a new thread titled "world cup prediction game" with your formatting rules and see how that goes.

I think this morning's game of Ivory Coast vs Portugal was the best game so far and Portugal looked quite unconvincing. At the moment Brazil, the world's number one struggling to score against number 105.
Surely the truth is that soccer is quite a boring game most of the time, particularly when watching games one's own club or country. Nine minutes of excitement and 81 minutes of dozing.

Maybe that is why football (soccer) fans sing so much. To keep themselves amused.

When I am watching my team I don't care for the spectacle. A dour defensive display with a lucky winner in the last minute is all I need. Much preferable to an free flowing, exciting game that we lose 3-2.

However, when I am neutral I want to be entertained, and the Germany Oz game is the only one that has done it for me so far.

Novocastrian 12
LordVader 10
Alan2005 9
Flogger 8
JamesM 8
Oink 7
Greenhill 7

16 Jun...predictions before 8:30am AST please!

* Honduras 0 Chile 0
* Spain 0 Switzerland 0
* SouthAfrica 0 Uruguay 0

Agreed about the CIV vs Portugal game. Perhaps it's just me, but I rarely find football dull unless it's played at a really low level, such as in the MLS.

Like any sport though, you have to know it well enough to appreciate watching it.

Novocastrian Honduras 0 Chile 2
Novocastrian Spain 2 Switzerland 2
Novocastrian SouthAfrica 1 Uruguay 1


PS. A new competition for the knockout rounds is OK with me, if more people want to join in.

Ok, any thoughts on 90mins / AET and penalties? Easiest thing for me is if the score is a 90mins or AET win (i.e. no draw predictions allowed).. I'm sure I can code it up to handle a penalty win signifier, just not sure if it's really worthwhile... thoughts?

On edit: I suppose draws are ok too, but we will be ignoring the penalty result.

Greenhill Honduras 0 Chile 1
Greenhill Spain 2 Switzerland 0
Greenhill SouthAfrica 0 Uruguay 2

I'm off here for a bit but had one more thought about the knockout stage: how about 1 point for predicting the winner and 3 points for the goal/penalty difference (e.g. +1, +3 etc)?

How about result (irrespective of exactly how) 1 point. Correct score after 90 min + AET 3 points, then if the prediction is for a draw, 1 extra point for the shootout winner? Does that work?

Cross post. That works too. Whatever's easier for you.

Partially Discharged Honduras 0 Chile 2
Partially Discharged Spain 3 Switzerland 0
Partially Discharged SouthAfrica 1 Uruguay 2

I may be overly optimistic that a game is going to have some more goals. My BIL, the ultimate cradle is giving me a hard time about this 'sawker' thing and its low scoring....keep in mind he lives and breathes those opinions expressed by Jim Rome.

Alan2005 Honduras 1 Chile 1
Alan2005 Spain 2 Switzerland 0
Alan2005 SouthAfrica 1 Uruguay 0

Tut tut. No spaces allowed in usernames. Red card.