I for one am a huge England and Holland fan. When I was in high school we watched a lot of older tapes of Cruyff, Van Basten, and Ruud Gullit. I was playing Defensive Center-mid so Edgar Davids became my idol.

The English lean comes from the fact that the only highlights you could find on TV were of English leagues so I got to know the players and soon began to cheer for their country.

England for the same reasons you mentioned and I have a lot of family that live there. My cousins and their friends really exposed me to club soccer for the first time in '97. I'll also root for Iran (don't throw crap at me) since I'm half but not as much as I'll root for England and not nearly as much as I'll root for the US.

Other than that, there aren't many teams that I'll openly root for. I despise Italy and would root against them even if they weren't in our group. Not a fan of Argentina either but I think that comes from liking England.

Argentina would definitely be the team highest on my most hated list considering they are in the same group as Holland and despised by the English.

I'll definately root for Holland and England to lesser extent.

I'll also be rooting for our CONCACAF brethren. Mostly Costa Rica.

Holland. I'll probably also have to pretend to cheer for the English because I'll be watching some England matches from the pub with British friends.

I'll still cheer for Ireland even though they're not in the tournament this time. And I'll cheer for Mexico's opponents to embarrass El Tri.

Czech Republic. I was born there and still have family living there.

I almost threw up the day of the draw because of that. Talk about having a stake through the heart, I just hope Italy collapses.

I truly think Italy will collapse. It probably won't come until the US game or the CR game but the scandal that has torn the country apart is bound to have an effect on the team. They are already famous for fingerpointing and scapegoats and now they have an even bigger excuse.

Can you guys help me come up with some good chants to hurl at the Italians at the game in Kaiserslautern? I'd love to incorporate the scandal, of course.

you're going to be there too?!

You and Dre are tied at the top of my most hated posters list.

I've been planning this trip for five years. Of course, work demands have whittled it down from two weeks to three days, but at least I'm still going to see one match!

My plan (and my wife has agreed!) is to go to every World Cup from now on.

the other national sides i support (in order) after the US. Ireland (for obvious reasons) Russia (my wife is russian) and England (we met while we both lived there)
2002 was a dream World Cup for me as a fan Living in England at the time, all four of 'my' teams were there and 3 of them got past the group stage.
you got to love a country were they have a holiday because their team is playing a game.
argentina vs England was incredible! not as good as being there, but the next best thing i am guessing. Brits were hammered by 730am and didnt stop drinking to the pubs closed at 11 that night. now that was a party

England-Love watching Lampard, Gerrard, Cole, and Rooney

France-Normally wouldnt root for France, but Trezeguet and Henry are ballers. I also really like Zidane.

Whoever is playing Mexico and Iran

England, hopfully Rooney is ready
France, love watching Henry
Netherlands, also love watching Ruud
Brazil, just 'cause they're the favorites

I love watching brazil because they play soccer the right way...there is nothing more amazing in sports than watching 11 superstars play unselfishly, moving the ball, making runs, and playing with flair and creativity...

They maybe the favorites but screw it its just beautiful

Definitely Sweden for me mainly because my grandfather was from Sweden and because my last name is Swedish.

Is your last name Vander? I thought Vander was Dutch for "son".

England.

I believe it was 8 years ago I saw this young punk dazzle the world against Argentina. I became an instant Michael Owen/England fan.

Germany as I was born there.

Colombia if they had made it, mom is from there.

Haha, the reason I use Vander as my username is a long story but can basically be summed up as the fact that one of my friends and I in high school made fun of this chemist who had the last name of Vanderwall and then my friend began calling me this name (it also helped I was a place kicker in football and that Mike Vanderjagt was really good at the time). So therefore the name stuck and I began using it online.

My last name is actually Anderson.

Vander,
Isn't Anderson in Sweden like being named Smith in the US?

i'll root for england b/c i'm english, but every brit i've spoken with lately has really pissed me off with their anti-american spiel.

wish norway made the cup.

holden, agreed on owen. kid was unreal.

My good friends left yesterday and will be working in Berlin for different events!
Color me jealous..

US or bust!! and of course underdogs

its a shame rooney wont play...he would have made everyone forget about owen...

Eu vou torcer primeiro para o EUA e para o Brasil, até Brasil jogar conta EUA!!!! Que..vai tomar no cú, Brasil! heheheheeh



"Can I ask you a question?
What is it?
It's an interrogative form of sentence, used to test knowledge. But that's not important right now."

Deutschland!

I'm suprised there are so many Holland fans out there. I too will be rooting for Holland, Ruud is my favorite player.

Sweden
England
France

Those are the main ones, but I want all Arsenal players to do well, especially Henry and Gilberto.

On the bandwagon since birth. Raised in the bleachers of Kyle, Olsen, and G. Rollie White

I think it's hard not to root for Holland. They haven't won one despite essentially revolutionizing the game in the 70's. I'd like to see them win.

quote:

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its a shame rooney wont play...he would have made everyone forget about owen...

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Not so fast my friend[/corso]. He's coming along quite nicely.

http://www.worldcup365.com/story/0,16726,8501_1259915,00.html

I'll also be rooting for lots of Peter Crouch doing the Robot. It's pure greatness!

On the bandwagon since birth. Raised in the bleachers of Kyle, Olsen, and G. Rollie White

He scored 3 times for England today and has earned the nickname Crouchatron in homage to his robot dancing ability. I spit my cereal out when I read the headline.

quote:

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Vander,
Isn't Anderson in Sweden like being named Smith in the US?

---

Yes.
It's also an extremely popular last name in the US as well. Smith is one of the few last names that's actually more popular (Anderson is currently sitting at #11 on the most popular last name list).

England -- Lampard and Terry, plus Beckham are favorites. And I grew up across the street from a family from England in the '70s that got me interested in soccer.

Germany -- Lived there for a year when I was a kid.

Brazil -- Love their style.

And really I just want to see as many matches as I can.

Brasil. Their style of play is what attracted me to soccer in the early 90s.

____________________________________
I have seen the enemy, and it is us.

Costa Rica!

and F Mexico