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OK I had a looksee at the groups and the pairings after the group stage. I have seen some predictions and so many have the same teams in there. One of the delights of a tourney like this are the shocks results aka upsets. Thats the charm. We all know there are only, maybe, 5 countries that can actually win it. For the "smaller" ie less powerful footballing nations success can be measured by just getting out of the group. I mean what would happen if New Zealand were to make it out of the group stage??
While I have picked a lot of "chalk", I also ahve some shock results factored in. Its so easy picking Brazil or Argentina to win it. I had been quite pessimistic regarding my own natons chances. We (USA) were quite lucky with the draw as we got one of the weakest African teams and hardly one of the toughest Eurpean teams in Slovenia. I wasn tlaking about Engerland you guys!!! As te toundey gets closer, I have gotten a bit more optimistic but we have many concerns. If you were to offer me a point v Engerlan, I would snatch your hand off right now!!!
Here goes:
Group A: France, South Africa
Looks like a weak group. Would LOVE to see France crash and burn. Not confident about the Bafana Bafana but no host nation has ever gone out on the first round. Mexico blows hot and cold and sometimes they just blow....
Group B: Argentina, South Korea
Arg perhaps a wild card. They just barley qualified due to, many say, the "quirks" of its coke and champange loving manager. Quite a lot of talent though.
Group C: Enerland, USA
Have to pick USA but dont have enough cheek to pick us to win the group.
Group D: Germany, Serbia
I ahve Germany winning the entire tourney. I think they might do well even without Ballack. Second place is up for grabs.
Group E: Holland, Japan
Everyone loves the Dutch as they have a lot of talent. See group D for second place.
Group F: Paraguay, Italy
I got tired of picking chalk and Italy are notoriously slow starters in World Cups past. Roque Santa Crock to score 5 goals in the group and get injured getting out of the bathtub before the knock out stage!!!
Group G: Brazil, Ivory Coast
Group of Death. Would have loved to see North Korea in an easier group. Hope the dancing show pony flops!! It was a crime that FIFA decided to seed the playoff team. I felt a lot better about the Ivorians BEFORE DD's injury. I HAD to pick an African team to do some damge in the first World Cup in Africa. The Elephants are it.....
Group H: Spain, Chile
Spain usually falls flat. Can they stand being the Fav?? Boy, do theyhave some talent. Torres to stub toe in the first 5 minutes of the first match and injured for a month. How many will Honduras concede?? Hope they do well though.
KNOCK OUT STAGE:
Round of 16:
France v South Korea-South Korea
England v Serbia-England
Germany v USA-Germany
Argentina v South Africa-Argentina
Holland v Italy-Italy
Brazil v Chile-Brazil
Paraguay v Japan-Japan (BTW what odds for THIS match up?)
Spain v Ivory Coast- Ivory Coast (so boring picking favs)
QUARTERFINALS:
Italy v Brazil-Brazil
South Korea v England-Engalnd (Whomever wins Group C COULD have a nice path to the semis)
Germany v Argentina-Germany (Maradona takes off Messi in the 20th minute for tactical reasons LOL)
Japna v Ivory Coast-Ivory Coast
SEMIFINALS:
Brazil v England-Brazil
Germany v Ivory Coast-Germany
FINAL:
Brazil v Germany- Germany (Imagine if Germany defeats BOTH Argentina and Brazil in the same week???)
OK I might be crazy but its onna be a whole lot of fun!!!! Take the plunge and gives us your predictions!!!!
While I have picked a lot of "chalk", I also ahve some shock results factored in. Its so easy picking Brazil or Argentina to win it. I had been quite pessimistic regarding my own natons chances. We (USA) were quite lucky with the draw as we got one of the weakest African teams and hardly one of the toughest Eurpean teams in Slovenia. I wasn tlaking about Engerland you guys!!! As te toundey gets closer, I have gotten a bit more optimistic but we have many concerns. If you were to offer me a point v Engerlan, I would snatch your hand off right now!!!
Here goes:
Group A: France, South Africa
Looks like a weak group. Would LOVE to see France crash and burn. Not confident about the Bafana Bafana but no host nation has ever gone out on the first round. Mexico blows hot and cold and sometimes they just blow....
Group B: Argentina, South Korea
Arg perhaps a wild card. They just barley qualified due to, many say, the "quirks" of its coke and champange loving manager. Quite a lot of talent though.
Group C: Enerland, USA
Have to pick USA but dont have enough cheek to pick us to win the group.
Group D: Germany, Serbia
I ahve Germany winning the entire tourney. I think they might do well even without Ballack. Second place is up for grabs.
Group E: Holland, Japan
Everyone loves the Dutch as they have a lot of talent. See group D for second place.
Group F: Paraguay, Italy
I got tired of picking chalk and Italy are notoriously slow starters in World Cups past. Roque Santa Crock to score 5 goals in the group and get injured getting out of the bathtub before the knock out stage!!!
Group G: Brazil, Ivory Coast
Group of Death. Would have loved to see North Korea in an easier group. Hope the dancing show pony flops!! It was a crime that FIFA decided to seed the playoff team. I felt a lot better about the Ivorians BEFORE DD's injury. I HAD to pick an African team to do some damge in the first World Cup in Africa. The Elephants are it.....
Group H: Spain, Chile
Spain usually falls flat. Can they stand being the Fav?? Boy, do theyhave some talent. Torres to stub toe in the first 5 minutes of the first match and injured for a month. How many will Honduras concede?? Hope they do well though.
KNOCK OUT STAGE:
Round of 16:
France v South Korea-South Korea
England v Serbia-England
Germany v USA-Germany
Argentina v South Africa-Argentina
Holland v Italy-Italy
Brazil v Chile-Brazil
Paraguay v Japan-Japan (BTW what odds for THIS match up?)
Spain v Ivory Coast- Ivory Coast (so boring picking favs)
QUARTERFINALS:
Italy v Brazil-Brazil
South Korea v England-Engalnd (Whomever wins Group C COULD have a nice path to the semis)
Germany v Argentina-Germany (Maradona takes off Messi in the 20th minute for tactical reasons LOL)
Japna v Ivory Coast-Ivory Coast
SEMIFINALS:
Brazil v England-Brazil
Germany v Ivory Coast-Germany
FINAL:
Brazil v Germany- Germany (Imagine if Germany defeats BOTH Argentina and Brazil in the same week???)
OK I might be crazy but its onna be a whole lot of fun!!!! Take the plunge and gives us your predictions!!!!
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