Big Question: Who’s going to win Group C?

Brave prediction, guys! I think, Netherlands takes the first place and Argentina the second, more here: http://fo.reca.st/wm.php?u=kickitlikeme
What about you?

I don´t see Argentina that strong this year but I guess they´ll advance to 2nd round, though.

Netherlands => Argentina => Serbia and Montenegro => Ivory Coast

Tough Group if you´re not Netherlands or Argentina.

Serbia & Montenegro and Cote d’Ivoire advance…I agree with your prediction.

i like to see

Argentina
Ivory coast
Holland
Serbia&Montenegro

I always think, that teams like Argentina, Holland, Italy, England and Spain are highly overrated, simply because their presence in media, commercials, or simply because of their past successes.

I think Serbia-Montengro CAN cause an upset because the team had always problems in recent worldcups, because their stars don`t want to work for the team, a lot of individuals.

I think that the Ivory Coast will do well. They aren’t the stereotypical undisciplined African side, they have a solid defence with Yaya Toure and Zokora an imposing barrier in midfield, and they have talented attacking players in Aruna, Drogba and Kalou.

Holland will top this group. With Robben, Van Nistelrooy and Kuijt upfront, plus Van der Vaart supporting from midfield, they’ll have no problem scoring.

Argentina will finish second. They failed at first hurdle last time. Can lightning strike twice? I doubt it.

We’ll see how good Serbia Montenegro’s defence is. They only conceded 1 goal in their 10 qualifying matches, but this time they’ll have to defend against the likes of Van Nistelrooy, Robben, Riquelme, and Drogba.

Since 1986, there’s always at least one African team that progress further than expected. This year, I think Tunisia is the one. The Ivory Coast have a decent team, but this group is too tough for them.

1. Holland
2. Argentina
3. Serbia Montenegro
4. Ivory coast

Pretty sure that the group will end like this!

This group is extremelly balanced. Basicly anything can happen. I’m quite convinced things won’t happen as expected. Cos they never do in tight groups as this…

I would NOT find strange to see S&M leading the group at the end, with a draw against ARG and HOL and then a victory over IVC on the last match. This puts HOL and ARG fighting to stay in the race and I do believe HOL is likely to defeat ARG in the last match, if push comes to shove…

Lyle is gonna kill me, but I would like to see HOL and IVC going through…

Argentina 2 : 2 Côte d’Ivoire
Serbia 0 : 0 Netherlands
Argentina 0 : 0 Serbia
Côte d’Ivoire 2 : 1 Netherlands
Côte d’Ivoire 0 : 1 Serbia
Netherlands 1 : 1 Argentina

Cote d’Ivoire
Argentina
Holland
Serbia and Montenegro in that order.

Holland are not strong and I just don’t fancy Serbia and Montenegro to spring any suprise. I predict Cote d’Ivoire will reach the quarter-finals at least.

Argentina
Nederland
Cote d’Ivoire
Serbia & Montenegro

1. Cheesers
2. Plavi
3. Gauchos
4. Elephants

“teams like Argentina, Holland, Italy, England and Spain are highly overrated, simply because their presence in media, commercials”

Are you blind or something. if you look at all the adverts leading up to the world cup it is full of brazilian players. they try to make us think that all brazilians players play attractive football, when they actually dont. the least popular and comercialised are Argentina and if you ask most people to name some Argentina players, they will probabaly only come up with only a few. People will always mention overrated brazillians like robinho,but no one will mention talented players like tevez, mascherano or cambiaso.

Argentina
Serbia
Holland
Ivory Coast

Bob, you must be drinking Budweiser.

It will be Servia and Argentina.

oh bob, you are so funny some times…. i thought you were being serious for a moment and almost fell off my seat when i saw your prediction…. I have consulted with the soccer gods and they told me the outcome will be this exactly:

1) Holland: win 3 games.
2) Cote d’Ivoire: win 2 lose 1
3) Argentina: win 1 lose 2
4) Serb and Mont: lose 3

note: the gods said this group won’t have any draws… sweet.

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Ya Bob, Paint Thinner (a.k.a. Bud is not good for the brain and logic.

I see the Netherlands on top with 7 points and S&M coming second with 4.

and who said that the Dutch reputation comes from past success? the whole business with the Oranje is that they’ve never won the World Cup

I think this two Dutch guys have some inside information:

on Argentina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTApiUm16SA

on Serbia and Montenegro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SthyACajHOY

on Cote d’Ivoire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmuvh3DYsJo

pretty drastic , eh?

No worry for Orange. They have specialists to crack down tight defences.
Argies has physical problem. Both IV & SM are tough and hard.
Opening match against IV is everything for Argies. Loss mean nearly exit.
Oranges and Elephants has more chances.

Both Argentina and Brazil are overrated. Top favourites for the betmakers.

At least one will crash out sooner than semis.

Serbia&M might draw against both of Argentina and Netherlands. One the one hand, they have a good defense. On the other hand, both teams can rip defenses like those apart.

That’s exactly it Bense. I’m leaning towards the attackers coming out on top. Its very difficult to hold out for 90 minutes against a talented attack like the Netherlands or even Argentina.

1. Holland 2 wins, 1 loss
2. Argentina 1-1-1
3. Serbia & Montenegro 1-1-1
4. Ivory Coast 1 win, 2 losses

I think, Serbias offence is as much underrated, than its defences is overrated.

Kezman knows to score, as he has shown in the WC qualifiers. The national team tactics is more or less written on him scoring, more than it was at chelsea or is at at.madrid.

Zigic is a monster of a player. i never ever have expected a striker of such a height being so gifted like hime.

Vucinic will propably meet Milan or Roma after the world cup (why not babel or huntelaar).

Milosevic is old, but so was roger milla.

Ljuboja is a real winger and a great setter for chances.

Honestly, if I compare the strikers with those of 1998 (the golden generation), this time we have better ones (in 98 it was Mijatovic, young Milosevic and Kovacevic and Ognjenovic who plays now in the malayaian second division.

To sum it up: `Beware of the blue strikers!

This is one of the best Argentina teams in a long time. Their qualification record has been stellar and they have talent up front. Position for position they match Brazil.

1. Argentina
2. Serbia (great defense)
3. Holland
4. Ivory Coast

Here’s my forcast, take a look.

http://fo.reca.st/wm.php?u=ceasarlo

Ceaser… Don’t know if I should feel happy or sad with it…

I mean, you make us (POR) reach the final, beating BRA in the process and even SWE by 3-1 (too optimistic), and then we lose to our most visceral enemies… ITALY. And by no less than 3-0… C’mon… :-(

Anyway, I don’t believe IVC will end up with 3 straight defeats :-) and I also don’t see ARG beating ENG 3-0…

And I just know in group D, against all odds, something “funny” is sure to happen. But I guess Bob will wanna talk about group D tomorrow… ;-)

I really believe that Holland has what it takes to win the group. As for the other teams its just a guess at this point.

1. Holland
2. Argentina
3. Serbia Montenegro
4. Ivory coast

30 days left! Can’t wait to get this show on the road!

1 Argentina
2 Holland
3 Ivory Coast
4 Serbia & Montenegro

S&M is vastly overrated. When Kezman is your number one striker, you’re having serious problems… Milosevic is too old. And the last time I remember them playing in a big tournament (granted that was 6 years ago), they were crushed 6-1 by Holland (Euro 2000).

Holland will barely scrape through as they will draw against IVC. However I see them beating S&M with many goals and drawing Argentina. Argentina wins twice. CIV draws one (against Holland) and beats S&M but loses from Argentina. And it’s “null points” for S&M.

The Dutch have only one weakness. A defense inexperienced at the international level. Remember the Midfield though. There will be plenty of cover for the defense along with van der Sar to organize them.

As far as weaknesses go that’s it and it isn’t a huge one to begin with. I strongly see the Dutch and S&M going through and drawing with each other perhaps in the process.

Mike, I already wrote I’d like to see HOL going through. BUT, an inexperienced defense against IVC, ARG or SM is surelly SOME handicap.

I do believe you will/can beat ARG in the final group match, though. No matter how strong ARG is currently. It’s in Europe, ARG gives spaces and HOL is much more tactically disciplined – you beat them in 98, you’ll do it again.

And, in view of the fact it is the first match, I wouldn’t be surprised to see HOL and SM drawing. HOL’s attack is strong but a team like Italy could easily make it powerless.

Also about what you wrote above, although HOL is still quite strong (impressive qualification in the same group as CZE), they aren’t anywhere near the power and level they showed in EC2000 or before then.

Sorry Pedro :-( , it breaks my heart also but I think we (PT) have a mental block when it comes to Italy. We just can’t seem to beat them. They have that Greece type of defensive game times 2. So if we meet them I think they will be our demise.
Brazil on the other hand, I think we can beat. Actually I think we are one of the very few countries capable of beating them, Argentina being the other.
I hope I’m wrong about the outcome though… :-)

1. Argentina
2. Serbia & Montenegro
3. Holland
4. Ivory Coast

How can S & M be vastly overrated when the whole world is casting them to finish third best in this group?

Holland have a great young team with loads of potential, but they don’t usually do well in their opening game. The best Holland would get from the S & M game would be a single-goal victory, not a thrashing. And I’m pretty sure S & M will NOT finish with nil points for this group. In fact, I don’t think any of the 4 will. It’ll be tight. Can’t wait.

While Bob’s picks really speak to the underdog in all of us, how many of us would put our own money on either Cd’I or S&M? Really.

Personally, I’d love to see the Elephants advance. Though I wouldn’t be surprised to see them get out, I can’t put my money on them.

As for S&M, Italy might be able to use their defense to earn championships, but that’s because they’ve got world-class strikers who will take advantage of their opportunities. Who on S&M will be able to score, giving them the 1-nil victory and 3 pts they surely will need to go along with 2 draws?

Realistically, we’ve got to tip the favorites. In addition to great talent, the Netherlands have two things going for them: 1) proximity to home means great fan support; and 2) Ruud will feel the need to vindicate himself against recent developments at Man U.

However, the Orange are young and always seem to find some internal reason to mess up.
Argentina, however, have the stars, the experience, and the coaching. Riquelme and Messi will be one of the pairs of the tournament.

Argentina – 1st
Netherlands – 2nd

Argentina
Holland
S&M
Ivory Coast.

That’s how it will be.

I stopped reading the rest of the post after seeing the link Gaston provided for the ‘Holland for Serbia Montenegro’ clip. Laughing too hard. Anyone who understands, see it. It is hillareous. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SthyACajHOY

Thanx Gaston, made my day.

Oh and by the way.

1.Holland
2.Serbia Montenegro.
3.Who cares.
4.Who cares.

Based on history solely, HOL and ARG are by far favourites + SM should be credited for providing a surprise. That “part of the world”, no matter which country, (Remember Zahovic’s Slovenia, sometime ago… nobody even knew them…) have always generated quality football.

Based on realism… HOL’s form is still tops but much smaller than their name; ARG has to show they have a team and not a collection of stars and have to show they can beat HOL and no matter who. SM will be stronger than everybody thinks and the bunch from IVC are having a laugh reading these 36 comments, cos everybody seems to think they’ll just die without at least showing a fight… :-)

I mean, in short, I believe everything will be very tight and only decided on the last group match for all these gents here. Implicitly, this means the chances for both ARG (who will want revenge from 98 against HOL) and HOL going through together, are very small…

1. Argentina
2. Argentina
3. Argentina
4. Argentina

Vamos, vamos, Argentina….

Some of the comments listed on this site are way to over rated. ivory coast is a strong team, good, but i think they lack experience of playing against european teams. serbia and montenegro. Good team, good defense, but again, highly over rated. just because they conceded one goal, doesnt mean they have the best defense in the world cup. holland conceded three if i remember, but that still doesnt make us have a great defense. We all qualified in different groups, with different levels. From my point of view, the new sides are way over rated, but sure should not be underestimated. They qualified for the world cup, and teams that do that, can cause for an upset, but i still think the honours are to Holland and Argentina to go through, if they play at the top of there game, and believe me, holland has what it takes to go all the way this summer.

2002 wc had taught all the big teams that the fashion of the game has changed and no opponents must be underestimated not even the underdogs… this lesson will be highly considered by major teams this time. arg & hol not only having good history but good teams even today… the questions is who will top the group among arg & hol, both the teams are wounded and having a lot to prove after their previous failure. i bliv arg will top for having a balanced side with youth & experience;
1)arg 2)hol 3)civ 4)scg.
well “bob” i hope its the dutch & argies laughing in the end not you with ur dazed predictions.

1)serbia & montenegro

2)dutch or arg

but i’m sure that serbia will pass the group
be easy
r.

All I can say is that this is the Best Argentina team since 1986. Upfront you have speed and talent not even matched by brasil with Messi, tevez and Crespo, Then you have Aimar and Riquleme creating, and finally you have Sorin, Heinze, Zanetti, and Samuel anchoring a stellar defense. Not to mention Cambiasso as defensive mid. What people have to remember is that since qualifying the Argentina coach has used the friendlies and even the confederations cup as a try out for fringe players. This Argentina team is the most talented in the world and will win all three games in the group and play Holland again in the final. Vamos Argentina ! There are also enough Argentine born players playing on Mexico and Italy to form another great Argentine team. Messi makes Robben look slow and with Riquleme feeding tevez, messi, and crespo all those great balls Argentina scores at least two goals each game. Argentina dominates this World Cup!

what would people be saying if it were Spain in this group instead of serbia. I know its not possible however, lets just say for arguments sake. I beleive that many more people would predict that Spain would advance then are saying serbia. Serbia finished top of their group. I beleive that they deserve more credit and have the team that can play well. I think it will be a very tight group. However i think that Serbia will play alot of close games and have some luck thus advance. Ivory will be very nervous and not perform well.
1. Argentina
2. SCG
3. Ned
4. Ivory

1-Netherlands
2-Argentina
3-Ivory Coast
4-Serbia

man some of you guys i think are coming up with yalls prediction straight from your behinds.

“Argentina, italy, spain, and england are overated”????

i dont know if i should lol or stand amaze at the comment. The three most talented teams in the world are, brazil, argentina and spain, as for talent spain and argentina i believe have more players, the only player that brazil has that is above all is Ronnie and after that, well it ends there, adriano is terrible(he scored 8 goals this year, 8 goals)??? robinho wow, i am closer to pele than him. Kaka well he is the man. Spain has alot of good talents if they could put it together. as for argie, man yall must be dumb to think they wont win the group. find me a better starting 11 than this

Franco
Zennetti, Ayala, Samuel, Heinze
Cambiasso, Mascherano,
Messi(Lucho), riquelme(aimar)
Crespo(aguero), Tevez(Cruz)

1)Argentina(they win the first two and rest their starters for either mexco or portugal)
2)Ivory Coast(only because of goal difference
3)Holland (very very very young, van basten will cost them this world cup, he is an idiot for not taking seadorf and davids)
4)S&M(when was the last time yu saw these guys score)?????

1 serbia&montenegro

2 ivory coast

3 netherlands

4 argentina

sorry to see argentina go home soo soon, especially as their fans are so full of hope!

1. Netherlands
2. Argentina
3. Ivory Coast
4. S&M

Netherlands will win with Robben and Van The Man!! ;)

1.Argentina
2.Serbia
3.Netherlands
4.Ivory Coast-terrible defence

What I would like to see:
1) Holland
2) Ivory Coast
3) Argentina
4) Serbia & Montenegro

What is going to happen:
1) Argentina
2) Holland
3) Serbia
4) Ivory Coast

What all retards say is going to happen:
1)Argentina
2)Serbia
3)Holland
4)Ivory Coast

I would love to see Ivory Coast upset Argentina and the Dutch whip S&M so badly that the Dutch looked like the sadists and the Serbs looked like the masochists.

1. Argentina
2. Serbia
3. Holland
4. Ivory coast

Serbia-Holland 1-0
Serbia-Argentina 1-1
Serbia-Ivory Coast 1-0
Argentina-holland 3-2
Argentina-Ivory Coast 2-1
Holland-Ivory Coast 3-1

1, Argentina
2. Serbia & Montenegro
3. Ivory Coast
4. Nederland

1.Holland
2.Serbia
3.Argentina
4.Ivory Coast

Argentina won’t ever be World Champion. If their new star is Roman Riquelme, let’s remember this guy vs. Arsenal’s Jens Lehman. Besides, Holland and Serbia, both very tough teams.

It seems that there are alot of hopeful Serbs in this blog and they fancy taking down the Oranje in the group stages, but be serious, SCG defence really isn’t that great, the only reason that they conceeded only 1 goal is because ALL THEY DO IS DEFEND!!!!!!!

They practically sit all 10 men in the box and hope that Kezman can score on the counter attack. The fluid playing of the Duch and to a lesser extent Arg. will tear your defence to shreds. I think the Ivory coast will finish ahead of SCG….

So then it is between Arg.and the Oranje. This is very difficult to pick but i think that, tough they are a young side, the Dutch with their new-found social cohesion will break the shackles of internal conflict and show to the world the team that they are. I don’t think that Van Basten has revealed all of his cards yet (in the friendlies) and i expect that the Dutch WC campaign will be nothing like the low-scoring friendly games in which they grind out a result. Expect large scores, free flowing games of total football and dominant posession by the Duth. I am in no way counting out Argentina though… i think they will finish 2nd and the Dutch and Arg. will meet in the finals. I think that some of you in here rate some individuals too highly (Messi being the most notable), you don’t win the world cup with just one man!!

So to sum up:

1)The Netherlands
2)Argentina
3)Ivory Coast
4)Serbia

Holland
Serbia Montenegro
Argentina
Ivory Coast

Anybody else believe Ivory Coast is overated?

N.B. Mr. Pekerman and Mr. van Basten…

Beware the intense defense of the serbs and the athletic prowess of the cote d’ivoire.

Le Cote D’Ivoire will not only win this group, they will advance to the semi-finals, eventually losing to France.

Anchored at the back by Arsenal standouts Eboue and Toure, stars of this year’s Champions League, these Cup virgins will play an entertaining brand of football.

The question is whether Mr Drogba can play a whole 90 minutes.

Group C Predictions by Dave Hamilton

Advancing: ARGENTINA and IVORY COAST

ARGENTINA is loaded with talent as usual, but still smarting from not surviving group play four years ago. Marcelo “El Loco” Bielsa resigned and youth specialist Jose Pekerman moved in to fix the squad. The roster carries more strikers than midfielders, and all of the latter can attack and pass nicely, so defenders will have a nightmare trying to ascertain where the attack is coming from. Juan Roman Riquelme can lay legitimate claim to being the best playmaker in the world and often positions himself as a third striker. If he doesn’t take the shot, assassin Hernan Crespo, perpetual-motion machine Carlos Tevez, or teen sensation Lionel Messi can. Forward Javier Pedro Saviola and midfielder deluxe Pablo Aimar can also bomb the netting. The defense reads like an all-star lineup because it is. Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Mascherano cover the midfield flanks and both are superb passers and dribblers. The back is even better: Robert Ayala, who can man-mark with the best of them; left-footed Juan Pablo Sorin, possibly the best left back in football at the moment and aggressive attacker with unerring crosses; and hit-man Gabriel Heinze, who has recovered from injury and is fired up. One also mustn’t forget mop-haired Fabricio Coloccini, another key defender. In goal is rangy Roberto Abbondanzieri, who is experienced and can hold his own with anyone. Pekerman has seemed to be confused about which combinations to use on several occasions, and one cannot blame him entirely with such a reservoir of skill on his side. It is virtually unimaginable that this “Albiceleste” side will make an early exit from Germany, but if: injuries hit the defense; Coloccini decides to collect cards as he is sometimes wont to do; and an attacker like rival Brasil, Italy or Holland decide to launch their own offensive, Pekerman might have to stop watching the show and earn his salary.

IVORY COAST is the toast of Africa in this Cup after advancing despite two losses in qualifying to Cameroon, who didn’t. Headed by French World Cup veteran coach Henri Michel, the Elephants cannot be overlooked in what is truly this year’s “Group of Death.” Didier Drogba is the man who will draw the most attention. Chelsea’s star striker in yet another glory year, he has the package: speed, physical condition, good in the air, and power in both feet. His running mate on the other side isn’t shabby either: Arouna Kone, who regularly labors for PSV Eindhoven. Didier Zokora organizes matters in the middle of the pitch, but isn’t an especially good provider. That duty falls to, and is readily embraced by creative Yaya Gnegneri Toure just ahead of him. Behind Zokora are two extremely active defenders on the right, Habib Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, who both were instrumental in the Gunners’ just-completed run to the Champions League final. Another excellent youngster of note in the pachyderms’ stampede is midfielder Fae, who can seemingly run up and down the flank all day. Goalkeeping is the responsibility of veteran Jean-Jacques Tizie, 33, who has quick reflexes, but sometimes has trouble with high balls and crosses. The question is whether physicality and athleticism can cover some weak spots defensively and technically. I’m thinking they barely will.

THE NETHERLANDS would ordinarily be considered one of the top teams, but new head man Marco van Basten has shaken the Dutch football world by its foundations with what is either a youth movement or a message to veterans who complained and pointed fingers too much in the past – or both. Gone are Oranje greats like Stam, Maakay, Seedorf and probably van Basten’s least favorite, Edgar Davids. That’s too bad, because the young midfielders and forwards are going to need someone like Davids to settle and direct them. That job may fall to one of the few old vets to survive van Basten’s axe: Phillip Cocu, 35, but he, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst are all injured in one way or another, necessitating the activation of two standby midfielders. The coach also threw a late lifeline to Mark van Bommel, who looked good in Barca’s Champions League win over Arsenal recently. Despite van Basten’s tinkering, Oranje should provide plenty of shots on goal with box predator Ruud van Nistelrooy still among the best; Dirk Kuijt emerging as one of Europe’s best strikers; and thrilling Arjen Robben, if he has finally overcome his injury woes. Main defensive chores will fall to Jan Kromkamp, van Bronckhorst, Khalid Boulahrouz and Joris Mathijsen, but all have some shortcomings. Well-organized and even better-experienced, goalie Edwin van der Sar has been a star internationally for nearly a decade. Look for a 4-3-3 formation or, if defense is more of a concern, the standard 4-4-2 or even a 4-5-1. Regardless, van Basten probably comes out of this Cup either a national hero or fired.

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO should not be overlooked in this group, even though their vaunted defense that only surrendered a single goal in all of qualifying hasn’t looked quite that good in friendlies leading up to the Cup. Too much is expected of forward Mateja Kezman, whose running mate Nikola Zigic won’t be much of a factor even if he provides a big target for standout midfielder Dejan Stankovic. The most reliable defenders are probably Albert Nadj in the middle and Goran Gavrancic in the back. With all the hubbub about nepotism and coach Ilija Petkovic, fans might want to be more concerned with the need for more firepower to advance in this group.

Argentina remains in first position in Group C

Netherland follows a second place

Ivory Coast catch up third place

Serbia Montenegro ends with fourth place

Finally Argentina catch the Germany WorldCup Football 2006

Stalin
Tamilnadu, India

Predictions
———–
ARGENTINA 2 VS IVORY COAST 1
NETHERLANDS 1 VS S&M 0
ARGENTINA 2 VS S&M 0
NETHERLANDS 1 VS IVORY COAST 1
NETHERLANDS 1 VS ARGENTINA 2
IVORY COAST 0 VS S&M 1

ARGENTINA 9PTS
NETHERLANDS 4PTS
S&M 3PTS
IVORY COAST 1PT

THATS HOW IT WILL BE!

- PETE

“sorry to see argentina go home soo soon, especially as their fans are so full of hope!”

oh, still angry because of the “hand of god?”. poor thing.
you know argentina is one of the best soccer teams in the world, you just don’t want to see them win because you are jealous.

SIX GOALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARGENTINA SCORED SIX GOALS!!! WE’RE ALREADY IN THE NEXT ROUND!
GOOOOOOOOO ARGENTINA.

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