FIFA World Cup Draw

[jonathan7]

Well, its happened, and here it is -

 

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group B: Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria, Greece

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia

Group E: Holland, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark

Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia

Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Group H: Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland

 

Thoughts?

[D'oh]

hope hargreaves is fit for this. he makes england a much steadier team which will allow lamps and gerrard/barry to push forward. an attacking england is great to watch.

 

hup england, hup

 

As much as I like England I bet they will be stopped by Portugal again.

[Ztalker]

Group A: Group of Death. France is not as good as they used to be (with an idiot coach imo), Uruguay is a dangerous opponent, Mexico is good too and South Afrika has the home advantage. Very cool group.

Nothing sane to say about this. Can go every possible way. However, if France sacks Domenech and put someone in charge that'll make the French machine run smoothly again...

 

Group B: Good as well! Argentina with Maradonna is...unstable, South Korea is just a very good collective, Nigeria is supposed to be a candidate for the title and Greece is an ex-european champion using Anti-football.

I'm...guessing that Argentina and...Nigeria will go to the next round.

 

Group C:Boring. England will win, rest will fight for nr. 2 spot which I think US will take.

 

Group D: Germany will win...not so sure about nr. 2. Ghana is (what I've heard) pretty good. But Australia is growing as well. And Serbia...only heard good stuff about Serbia.

 

Group E: Holland and Cameroon. The Dutch will get knocked out after this round though. The new team has failed (in friendly matches) against 'good' teams. They might even lose to Cameroon and come in second.

 

Group F: Italy and? I don't know much about the rest but I guess Paraguay.

 

Group G: Brazil and Portugal. I hope Brazil and North Korea though. Because if North Korea loses the whole team will probably be executed.

 

Group H: Spain. They have the easiest group.

 

For World Champion...Spain. And I hope an African land will come through or even win the final. Their football is still about joy and attacking. The only thing I dislike about African football is their idiot '2 legs forward KILL HIM' way of tackling.

 

Anyways, my 2 cents

 

Thanks for posting, J7!!!

[Mav]

Who cares, it's just soccer... *runs away*

[jonathan7]

Who cares, it's just soccer... *runs away*

 

Shun the unbeliever, shun!!!

[mimartin]

"I don’t think we will be too worried about the USA." ~ Alan Shearer

 

Them would be fighting words, if this was a real sports.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

Well, its happened, and here it is -

You beat me to it... again.

 

 

 

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

I kinda of pity our hosts, now. They will definetely have some trouble with Mexico and France (I'd suggest they watched Henry's hands closely). But I doubt Uruguay will go through this first stage; they have tradition but they're now lost in time.

Group B: Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria, Greece

Gah, our "Hermanos" got the easy way out. I'm betting 95% that Argentina and Nigeria will pass with ease.

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

England vs. USA... According to Charlize Theron (lawl) it's a match unseen since 1950's Cup in Brazil. I'm betting on them... however, I'd also keep an eye out on Slovenia. Them eliminating Russia may count for something.

Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia

Lol, with all due respect, but I think Australia will be, as always, cannon fodder for the group leaders, and I think Serbian players... how can I say it, won't adapt to the African climate. Germany and Ghana through.

Group E: Holland, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark

Okay, this group is pretty deceiving. Natural choices would be Holland and Cameroon, but I'm really not sure. Japan's, in spite of it's horrible mechanical soccer, has been growing in efficiency, and I can totally see then advancing. But so could our more traditional Denmark. I'm using a wait and see policy for this one.

Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia

Yeah, Italy also had it easy... Just as almost every other european team. Italy for sure, and then, maybe, Paraguay. They did great on the qualifying matches.

Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

We sure could've fallen under a friendlier group. I'm more worried with "Coté de I'voire" than Portugal itself. At the end of the day, Brazil and I. Coast are qualified.

Group H: Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland

Pfft, it makes me doubt it wasn't all set up to favor Spain. They'll definitely go through, and, I think, Honduras will come alongside them.

[Sabretooth]

I'm not a big time fan of this stuff, I only watch the world cups, but its nice to see more SA/African nations come through, like Ghana, Algeria, Chile, Paraguay, Brazil (Well, Brazil not so much). I'll be with my classic all-time favourite Germany, and for the year's underdog, I'll take-

 

Holy SHIAT, is that North Korea?! Go North Korea!

[The Silly Saber]

It's easy to predict the likely result with all these groups really.

 

Lol, with all due respect, but I think Australia will be, as always, cannon fodder for the group leaders, and I think Serbian players... how can I say it, won't adapt to the African climate.

 

Last World Cup, I'd say we had a real chance. Heck, we put Italy to the test and only bombed out due to a very stupid tackle by Lucas Neill right near the box which allowed Totti to put the ball away. This World Cup... we seem to have a weaker squad. I'd love to say that Australia will progress though... but my level of confidence isn't the same as a few years back. I'd hardly say we were cannon fodder last time around though.

[JediAthos]

I will certainly be watching the USA v England matchup. I know that the U.S. will probably not be expected to give England a good match, but I think that U.S. men's soccer is slowly improving and might at least give England a run for their money. The U.S. team has given other teams that were supposed to have beaten them easily a hard time so I"m hoping for more of that against England.

[Darth Avlectus]

"I don’t think we will be too worried about the USA." ~ Alan Shearer

 

Them would be fighting words, if this was a real sports.

 

Take the armor away from american football. Would that work?

[Salzella]

Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia

Pretty nasty, all strong teams. My picks would be Germany and Serbia.

 

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Pretty kind. England and USA, comfortable enough.

 

Group E: Holland, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark

Also strong. Some nice football playing countries here in Japan, Holland and Denmark. I'd pick Holland and maybe Denmark but I'm not sure about that second spot.

 

Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Pretty obviously Brazil vs. Portugal is the highlight, but they're all really interesting games. Poor North Korea. I'd go for Brazil and Ivory Coast - Portugal were really frail during the qualifiers.

 

No real fireworks though, I thought. decent draw overall.

[Ztalker]

Who cares, it's just soccer... *runs away*

 

What sport are you into then? You do realise if it's ballet or something your rep is toast!

 

Anyways, interesting to see everyone has different opinions about which team will go through.

I made predictions last time and they completely sucked. We'll have to see this summer.

Some expert over here did mentioned it is played in South Africa's winter (which is still like a good summer to us) so the advantage for the real warm countries could be minimal.

 

Also, the countries of Serbia, Slovenia and Slovakia are...difficult to get hight of. I know Serbia has some pretty good players, Slovenia knocked out Russia. Same goes for the African teams. Most of them powerplay (with gruesome fouls) but when I see Ivory Coasts strikers...world class no doubt. Difficult to see the future is...

[Ctrl Alt Del]

Anyways, interesting to see everyone has different opinions about which team will go through.

I made predictions last time and they completely sucked. We'll have to see this summer.

Some expert over here did mentioned it is played in South Africa's winter (which is still like a good summer to us) so the advantage for the real warm countries could be minimal.

It doesn't mean much, if anything, for places on the tropical stripe. You'll soon realize that some winters are warmer than summers.

 

Also, the countries of Serbia, Slovenia and Slovakia are...difficult to get hight of. I know Serbia has some pretty good players, Slovenia knocked out Russia. Same goes for the African teams. Most of them powerplay (with gruesome fouls) but when I see Ivory Coasts strikers...world class no doubt. Difficult to see the future is...

Out of this "S" set of countries I'd only keep an eye out for Slovenia, really.

 

As for the African teams, I'm betting on them over most of the europeans' really. Coté de I'voire will kick ass in the competition. Wait and see.

[Salzella]

Out of this "S" set of countries I'd only keep an eye out for Slovenia, really.

 

na, Serbia have a much better class of player than Slovenia or Slovakia. the latter two have on or two, Serbia has more or less a full squad of good, good players. i'd back them ahead of Australia and Ghana.

[Miltiades]

I'm rooting for Australia, but I don't believe they will repeat the stunt from 2006. I also hope the US can beat England.

 

Brazil's group is the heaviest, Spain's got it easy. And indeed, don't underestimate Serbia. Good players and a balanced team.

[jonathan7]

Group A: Group of Death.

 

Interesting you say this, I'd of said Brazil's group was the group of death.

 

Anyways, people had asked me for my predictions so here we go;

 

My overall prediction is for Brazil to win the tournament, at the moment they are the only team to have one it on a continent not their own (Sweden '58 and Japan and Korea '02).

 

In Group A, I think there will be a shock as France crash out, with Mexico a very good and vastly under-rated team winning the group, and South Africa squeezing through in second.

 

In Group B, despite all the problems, I'm half expecting Argentina to come good - Messi is they key, get the best out of him and Argentina will proove very good indeed. I would expect Nigeria to finish second.

 

In Group C, being Welsh I was gutted that England got an "easy" draw - the USA will proove far sterner test than the English think they will - I hope the USA beat England, however odds are more in favour of England winning that game. Whoever wins the England - USA game will win the group. I predict England 1st, and USA 2nd - but hope otherwise

 

In Group D, Germany and Ghana is my shout, but this in truth is a very evenly matched group, as really Germany will win it, and any of the other 3 have the ability to get through.

 

In Group E, Holland and Cameroon to go through relatively straight forward this one, I think.

 

In Group F, again I can't see beyond Italy winning it and Paraguay finishing 2nd.

 

In Group G, I think Brazil will win the group at a canter, despite it being the "Group of Death" - and I think Ivory Coast will finish 2nd. North Korea will proove to be the whipping boys of the group.

 

In Group H, Spain and Chile to progress.

 

Which then based on that takes us to a tournament table...

 

My knock-out stages predictions;

 

Mexico v Nigeria, England v Ghana, Holland v Paraguay, Brazil v Chile,

 

Mexico v England, Holland v Brazil

 

England v Brazil

 

World Cup Final; Brazil v Spain (Brazil to win)

 

3rd Place play off England v Argentina (Argentina to win)

 

Argentina v Spain

 

Argentina v Germany, Cameroon v Spain

 

Argentina v South Africa, Germany v USA, Italy v Cameroon, Spain v Ivory Coast

 

Hope that's clear!

[adamqd]

I'm Just Glad Wales Ireland and Scotland aren't in it, for no other reason than they Prey for our demise and Build factories to mass produce our opponents shirts and scarves... Britain ftw

[Miltiades]

Ireland should invite itself.

[Astor]

I'm normally not all interested in football, but i'm wondering how some of the teams plan to combat exhaustion amongst their players - the distance between many of the games is huge, and while i'm sure the teams will have nice, comfortable jet planes to ferry them about, travel must take some toll on their general wellbeing.

 

But, I could be talking out of my rear end, so feel free to disregard this.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

I'm normally not all interested in football, but i'm wondering how some of the teams plan to combat exhaustion amongst their players - the distance between many of the games is huge, and while i'm sure the teams will have nice, comfortable jet planes to ferry them about, travel must take some toll on their general wellbeing.

 

There'll be greater distances, you can be hell sure of that. Take Brazil '14 as a fine example.

[Rabish Bini]

Yeah go Croatia!

 

Damnit.

 

Looks like I'll be going for Australia again, but I really hope Spain wins.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

Yeah go Croatia!

I actually enjoy watching Croatia matches. It feels like there're picnic towels milling about the field.