Who would you support in these hypothetical World Cup matchups?

[they don't love you like i love you]

1-Sweden vs. Italy
2-Sweden vs. Ireland
3-Sweden vs. France
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands
5-Italy vs. Ireland
6-Italy vs. France
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands
8-Ireland vs. France
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands
10-France vs. The Netherlands

My answers:

1-Sweden
2-Sweden
3-Sweden
4-Sweden
5-Italy
6-France
7-The Netherlands
8-France
9-The Netherlands
10-The Netherlands

[bullmoose88]

Why must you go through this charade of preferred sports team

we all know your hierarchy is like

Northern European Protestant Country
then Roman Catholic Country

then the Republic of Ireland.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Actually I'd probably support Spain over Germany or the UK. France over UK too. I just like Sweden for the same reason Phil likes Italy.

[Gustaf]

1-Sweden vs. Italy
2-Sweden vs. Ireland
3-Sweden vs. France
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands
5-Italy vs. Ireland
6-Italy vs. France
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands
8-Ireland vs. France*
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands*
10-France vs. The Netherlands

*Depends on the situation. I prefer Ireland over both, but Ireland typically cannot win. If it was a quarterfinal, for instance, with the winner going up against a team I don't want to win I would cheer on France/Netherlands since they would be more likely to win there.

[Јas]

Order of Preference:
1. Ireland
2. The Netherlands
3. Sweden
4. France
5. Italy

[Keystone Phil]

1-Sweden vs. Italy
2-Sweden vs. Ireland
3-Sweden vs. France
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands
5-Italy vs. Ireland - This would be an epic matchup in America (like the 1994 group stage match)
6-Italy vs. France - This is obviously always one of my ideal Final matchups.
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands - Again, always an ideal Final matchup. I'd like this in 2010.
Ireland vs. France
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands
10-France vs. The Netherlands - Ha, I was thinking about this possible matchup the other day. Bullet through my skull is my first answer. I'd hate it. I'd still watch but I'd be dying. I really don't know how to answer. I dislike France the most but I love the fact that the Dutch have never won a World Cup tournament.

Actually I'd probably support Spain over Germany or the UK. France over UK too.

There is no "UK" in the World Cup and rightfully so. They play as independent countries.

For the record, I've been consistent in saying that if Italy doesn't win it (and unless the U.S. somehow makes it far into the knockout stages), I want England to take it all. Unless, of course, if they knock out Italy which will leave me bitter for awhile. 

[The Man From G.O.P.]

1-Sweden vs. Italy       SWEDEN
2-Sweden vs. Ireland   IRELAND
3-Sweden vs. France   SWEDEN
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands NETHERLANDS
5-Italy vs. Ireland       IRELAND
6-Italy vs. France       FRANCE
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands NETHERLANDS
8-Ireland vs. France       IRELAND
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands  IRELAND
10-France vs. The Netherlands NETHERLANDS

[Јas]

Actually I'd probably support Spain over Germany or the UK. France over UK too.

There is no "UK" in the World Cup and rightfully so. They play as independent countries.

Underlining bullmoose's point above, of course.

[they don't love you like i love you]

I'm surprised that Phil holds Sweden in relatively high regard. And TN for Ireland.

[paul718]

1-Sweden vs. Italy
2-Sweden vs. Ireland
3-Sweden vs. France
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands -- wouldn't really care.  probably Sweden b/c they'd be underdogs.
5-Italy vs. Ireland
6-Italy vs. France
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands
Ireland vs. France
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands
10-France vs. The Netherlands

[Lief 🗽]

1-Sweden vs. Italy
2-Sweden vs. Ireland
3-Sweden vs. France
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands
5-Italy vs. Ireland
6-Italy vs. France ... whoever didn't beat Germany, I guess
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands
8-Ireland vs. France ... don't care
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands
10-France vs. The Netherlands

[they don't love you like i love you]

Paul must be a militant Catholic or something.

[paul718]

Paul must be a militant Catholic or something.

Haha, I didn't even realize that.

Ireland because I generally like Irish people.
France because there one of America's traditional allies.

[Keystone Phil]

I'm surprised that Phil holds Sweden in relatively high regard.

Not really. I just obviously like them better than France and The Netherlands and I'd prefer them over Ireland because they're more of a soccer power. Plus, tons of Irish Americans (who don't care about soccer) will have to celebrate something they don't care about if Ireland was to win. That's kind of irritating.

Paul must be a militant Catholic or something.

You know, some of us aren't basing this off of religion...

1-Sweden vs. Italy
2-Sweden vs. Ireland
3-Sweden vs. France
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands
5-Italy vs. Ireland
6-Italy vs. France ... whoever didn't beat Germany, I guess
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands
8-Ireland vs. France ... don't care
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands
10-France vs. The Netherlands

Predictably awful.  

If you weren't German/a fan of Germany, I'd lump you into the joke Dutch bandwagoners (like Tweed). French fans are probably the worst because they're French but the Dutch fans (real fans and fake) might have them beat.

[Keystone Phil]

France because there one of America's traditional allies.

Fake Italian

[they don't love you like i love you]

I'm surprised that Phil holds Sweden in relatively high regard.

Not really. I just obviously like them better than France and The Netherlands and I'd prefer them over Ireland because they're more of a soccer power. Plus, tons of Irish Americans (who don't care about soccer) will have to celebrate something they don't care about if Ireland was to win. That's kind of irritating.

Oh yes. I forgot how annoyed you are by St. Patrick's Day.

[paul718]

France because there one of America's traditional allies.

Fake Italian

I'm AMERICAN.  MY great-grandparents were Italian.

[Јas]

I'm surprised that Phil holds Sweden in relatively high regard. And TN for Ireland.

Paul must be a militant Catholic or something.

You seem to be confusing football

with holy wars


again BRTD. Time for your pills I think.

[minionofmidas]

1-Sweden vs. Italy
2-Sweden vs. Ireland
3-Sweden vs. France
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands
5-Italy vs. Ireland
6-Italy vs. France
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands
8-Ireland vs. France
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands
10-France vs. The Netherlands

My answers:

1-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
2-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
3-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
4-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
5-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
6-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
7-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
8-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
9-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
10-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose

Not saying some sides aren't more *likely* than others, o/c

[they don't love you like i love you]

1-Sweden vs. Italy
2-Sweden vs. Ireland
3-Sweden vs. France
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands
5-Italy vs. Ireland
6-Italy vs. France
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands
8-Ireland vs. France
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands
10-France vs. The Netherlands

My answers:

1-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
2-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
3-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
4-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
5-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
6-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
7-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
8-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
9-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose
10-it depends what round and how they've been playing so far and whom everybody else wants to see lose

Not saying some sides aren't more *likely* than others, o/c

Would that also apply to Germany if they were included?

My top 5 by the way:

1-Sweden
2-Norway
3-Denmark
4-Finland
5-Eh, don't know. Does Iceland have a team?

[Keystone Phil]

France because there one of America's traditional allies.

Fake Italian

I'm AMERICAN.  MY great-grandparents were Italian.

Haha, correct answer but on this subject, being American really doesn't matter. 

5-Eh, don't know. Does Iceland have a team?

Of course.

[Hash]

1: Sweden o/c
2: Uhm. I think I'll go with Ireland.
3: France, though not in a patriotic hack fashion.
4: Sweden
5: Ireland
6: France
7: Netherlands, probably.
8: Ireland
9: Ireland
10: France, see 3.

[Platypus]

I'd be cheering on any non-European team except Brazil against any European team so it's kind of a moot point, but Ireland-Sweden-Netherlands-France-Italy

[War on Want]

1-Sweden vs. Italy
2-Sweden vs. Ireland
3-Sweden vs. France
4-Sweden vs. The Netherlands
5-Italy vs. Ireland
6-Italy vs. France
7-Italy vs. The Netherlands
Ireland vs. France
9-Ireland vs. The Netherlands
10-France vs. The Netherlands

[minionofmidas]

Would that also apply to Germany if they were included?

Currently yes.

Back around 2000 when they'd reactivated Lothar Matthäus, any result with Germany losing by less than ten goals was a major insult to my personal honor.

You need to understand that football fans are people who support their local club first and foremost, and people who're more into national teams (in the major football countries) are, by definition, not football fans but more like casual observers.