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

Kaminari Sho

‘JApan will advance on a goal differential.’

Japan will be lucky to score against Aust Brazil or Croatia.

Im going on record to say Japan will not score at all!

Posted from  Australia

it will definitely a suprise group

1.japan
2.Australia
3.Brazil
4.croatia

Posted from  Hong Kong

1. Croatia – 5 pts
2. Australia – 5 pts
3. Brazil – 5 pts
4. Japan – 0 pts

Everyone who thinks they know something about the game is predicting Brazil, however they can be upset, and if they points end up as above miss out on goal difference.

Posted from  United Kingdom

This is a tricky group. Most the groups in this cup seem a lil tricky. Look out for the croatian defense, and japans experience. Dont count them out, Brazil might have to work hard early in the cup.

Posted from  United States

1. Brazil
2. Croatia
3. Japan
4. Australia

Very intriguing group. Even Australia will take points away from some favorites. But it is hard to bet against Brazil. As for 2nd, Japan played well in 2002 and is a very skilled team. But this cup is being played in Europe, so acclimatization factor goes against Japan. Plus, I saw Japan (granted without some of its best players) surrender 3 goals to the sometimes offensively challenged U.S. team (also without some of its best players).

Posted from  United States

My 2 cents’ worth:

1. Brazil (who else)
2. Australia
3. Croatia
4. Japan

Everyone’s disregarding Australia. Don’t forget they have Genius Guus. Though he probably wouldn’t bag a semi-final appearance again, I wouldn’t bet against the Socceroos finishing second behind Brazil. The first game against Japan is the key. They’re having problems scoring in the Kirin Cup against Bulgaria and Scotland, so i think the Socceroos will take all 3 points.
Brazil? They’ll definitely finish first unless the 4 R’s all break their legs or something..sorry.

Posted from  Singapore

1.Brazil 9pts
2.Croatia 6
3.Australia 3
4.Japan 0

Posted from  Croatia

Brazil not strong in Europe?

France 1998…dominant throughout, just went wrong when Ronaldo was forced to play in the final

Italy 1990…only lost out to eventual runners-up Argentina

1) Brazil
2) Croatia or Japan
3) Japan or Croatia
4) Australia

Posted from  United States

Brazil was beaten by Norway in 1998 at the group stage. So I don’t think that counts as ‘dominant throughout’.

In 1990, Brazil only won with 1 goal margins against Scotland, Costa Rica and Sweden before getting kicked out in the 2nd round.

Brazil is a strong team, and they have a good track against European teams, but they seem to have difficulties beating non-European teams.

It was Australia 1-0 Brazil in 2001 Confederation Cup. And it was Japan 2-2 Brazil in 2005 Confederation Cup. Japan also defeated Brazil in 1996 Olympic.

Posted from  Australia

Brazil 3 wins
Croatia 1-1-1
Australia 1-1-1
Japan 3 losses

Australia may do better than expected.

Posted from  United States

Brazil Obviously.
There’s no Doubt.
The other teams dosen’t seem to possesss any threats to Brazil’s flawless “Group F” victory.

Posted from  India

As much as I want AUS to qualify, I think the lack of experience in top flight WC football will drag them down. My selection…

1. Brazil
2. Croatia
3. Australia
4. Japan

Posted from  Australia

behind brazil, australia has the most players in elite european compeition, half our team plays regular football in the epl, while we also have players in the spanish, dutch and italian top flights. and hopefully guus will make up for the teams lack of experience at the greatest stage in the game. japan might have a relatively strong midfield, but away from home and with no strikers are unlikely to be serious contenders, croatia have no real stand outs but work well as a cohesive unit, as such may well sneak through with a few goals. tough group to call, but being an aussie il go for australia behind brazil and ahead of croatia.
(6 of the 7 nations that have previously won a world cup are going to germany, guess who knocked out the 7th)

Posted from  Australia

Reality: Brazil will get out of this group. Australia will not get out of this group. Brazil will not win the World Cup.

I would like to see Croatia win this group but it is more likely that Brazil will win. Croatia vs. Brazil will result in a tie.

brazil….7 games,7wins,6world cups

Posted from  United States

to all of you that never won a world cup…brazil in 7 games,7 wins,mvp,top scorer and 6 world cups….brazilians are born to play football,at least that what nike says…………complete domination…

Posted from  United States

C’mon Hrvatska!! Croatia my favourite team, but most likely to place second. The Australia Croatia match will be interesting because 7 of Australias players are of Croation origin. We will win against Japan no problem and Austrailia will be put down as well and Brazil better look out because Croatia did beat Argentina 3-2.
1. Brazil or Croatia
2. Croatia or Brazil
3. Australia
4. Japan

Posted from  United States

The Aussies are the favourites to be the shock team of the cup. The more I look at this team the more I see the troubles facing Brazil. They look far to casual in the build up. Croatia and Australia through – Croatia and Brazil tie – Australia beats Brazil and Brazil takes it all out on poor old Japan. Hey – anythings possible!

Posted from  Canada

It doesn’t matter that any of the Aussie players are of Croatian heritage (no disrespect). What matters is the input of the Dutch master Hiddink. He has improved the team 10 fold with his implementation of a Duch style of posession football. Honestly, i would be surprised if Aust. make the 16 but with Hiddink at the wheel, anything is possible. Brazil will top this group… (though i believe that Italy will top group E with the Czecks runners-up despite the Czecks being a better team, and (if I were Brazil) i would rather face the overrated Italy therefore purposely come 2nd) and Australia or Croatia will be second. If Australia do make the 16 it will be short lived unless they can fully adapt to the technical and posession based style of fluid Dutch soccer. So…

1)Brazil (if they are stupid) otherwise Australia (if they play the DUTCH style which Hiddink has taught them

2)Brazil (if they are smart)with Australia 1st (it could happen?!?!?!)

3) I don’t care

4) I don’t care

The final will be Brazil v the Oranje and the Dutch will win!!!! GO THE DUTCH AND THE SOCCEROOS!!

Posted from  Australia

I meant…

1)Brazil (if they are stupid) with Australia 2nd (if they play the DUTCH style which Hiddink has taught them

Posted from  Australia

Wow, I can’t believe some of you predicted Brazil getting knocked out in the group stages! They have made it to the finals the past three world cups, and I don’t see this team doing any less.

Posted from  United States

1. Croatia
2. Brazil
3. Japan
4. Australia

Croatia will go undefeated in three games beating brzil 2-1, japan 2-0 and australia 3-0. They ahve a good enough team this year that they can challenge the great teams of the world and when croatia does go undefeated you will all feel stupid for underestimating their abilities!

HRVATSKA!!!!!!!

Posted from  United States

Group F Predictions by Dave Hamilton

Advancing: BRASIL and CROATIA

BRASIL There is only one thing anyone needs to know if genuinely interested in knowing, seeing, or joyfully experiencing the beauty of “jogo bonito” (the beautiful game): Seleção! “The Selected” comprise a group of chosen football excellence which is non pareil, and known to most of the world as the Brasilian national football team. The Brasilians have achieved the “penta,” or five world championships — two more than any other team — and have done so with a tradition molded by an assemblage of some of the greatest players who have ever lived, names like Pele, Ademir, Vava, Santos D., the tragic Garrincha, Rivaldo, Zico, Rivaldo, Romario, Dunga, Rivelino, Jairzinho, Socrates, Bebeto and many more. And the pipeline never runs dry. One last thing: understand that Brasil holds the Copa America, World Cup, and Confederation’s Cup trophies concurrently, and there’s a reason for that. Enough of the history lesson. This year’s Seleção also features, not coincidentally, the best all-around football player ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH: Ronaldinho, who is coming off engineering another success at last month’s Champions League final. The consummate smiling midfielder/striker does it all: dribbles, passes, free kicks, penalties, corners, marks, intercepts, scores, directs, crosses, chips, jinks and above all dazzles at will. The Auriverdes created and patented “jogo bonito” long ago, and this year’s bumper crop of excellence may be the best ever! Clearly, however, one man cannot guarantee another championship at this level, but Ronaldinho’s reinforcements once again appear to comprise a cruel and unfair joke on the rest of the soccer world. The great Ronaldo, winner of the 2002 World Cup Golden Boot as the top scorer in that tournament, is back in the front along with rapacious and physical goal predator Adriano. And arguably the best young talent among strikers –and perhaps the next great Brasilian forward — Robinho, will surely get plenty of scintillating minutes from his coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, who himself guided Brasil to the World Cup title in 1994. Fred, of Olympique Lyon, is the least-known of the strikers, but has exceptional physical skills and is a very intelligent player who hasn’t yet reached his prime. The midfield, especially if one includes Ronaldinho there, is stacked with unbelievable skill – so much so that one of the most creative and exciting players of all time (when younger and healthy), Juninho, has been relegated to the bench. But one readily understands Parreira’s dilemma. Kaka is also a bonafide superstar who can, and will, wow the crowds in Germany as part of an unrelenting attack that has somehow almost rendered the concept of defense meaningless, if such a notion can be seriously considered. The undisputed king of Brasilian soccer, Pele, has expressed some concern about this phenomenon, but not to worry with Emerson solid as a rock in the middle and a wily veteran as well who can also trigger thrusts along with Kaka and Ronaldinho. On the left flank next to Emerson will be another tough cookie who can play defense when necessary, Ze Roberto. Assuming that baffled and beleaguered opponents luck or stumble through the middle of Brasil’s attacking chaos, what waits them will not be pleasant at all. Lucio is as tough as they come and also – you guessed it – makes speedy attacking runs of his own across the field. And every serious student of the sport is aware of left back Roberto Carlos, whose attacks down the flank are legendary. Additionally, Carlos’ free kicks remain as good as any in the game. On the opposite side, the more defensive-minded Juan prowls at will. Aggressive, quick and smart, Juan can cover in case the 36-year-old captain of the Seleção, the great Cafu, fails to live up to his latest boast that he “will be the best right back of the tournament.” There is no shortage of confidence on this team, and the last defender, keeper Dida, will be as stingy in Germany as he regularly is in the San Siro with Italian power AC Milan. The agile shot-stopper is among the best, as befits the world’s best side. In the unlikely event the reserves will be called upon to do much more than mop-up duty, the cast is much more imposing than most of the teams in the tournament. But I was admittedly quite disappointed that one of my all-time favorites, Rocque Junior, and Ailton, who deserved a shot at the Seleção in the twilight of a superb career, did not make the squad. Joining Juninho in a loaded “B-midfield” with impeccable pedigree are Mineiro, a national hero who just finished winning a championship at home and who replaced the injured Edmilson; holding player deluxe Gilberto Silva; and offensive ace Ricardinho, who has 18 caps, including four at the 2002 Cup. Further back are found Cicinho, a hard tackler cast as a defender, but who in reality likes to burst down the wing; central defender Luisao; and surprise choices Cris, a solid player at Lyon, and Gilberto. Backup keepers are Julio Cesar and Rogerio Ceni. So what can opponents do? Lackluster sides like Japan can opt to push their defenses up and crowd the Brasilian attack. Or they may decide on all-out attacks — puny as most may be — provided they aren’t victims of classic Brasilian “keep-away.” Cafu and Carlos may not be able to burst up the wings against certain teams like they could years ago, but that won’t hurt them on the defensive end. I don’t buy the argument that quick forwards alone can confuse the central defense. If any team does stand a chance against the Seleção, it will have to be organized, disciplined, and patient, and able to disrupt attacks (the ones they can see coming anyway) with appreciable regularity. I don’t see Brasil losing to, or drawing with, anyone. Seleção!

CROATIA will provide the most competition for Brasil in the group, but that isn’t expected to be robust. Striker Dado Prso, a player I personally like, and Darijo Srna coming in from the right flank should menace Australian and Japanese netting as a minimum and provide enough of a spark, along with a determined defense led by Juve’s Robert Kovac in the back, to move forward to the knockout stage.

AUSTRALIA returns to Germany, the scene of its last World Cup final appearance – in 1974! Although the Socceroos are a trendy pick to advance to the round of 16 largely because of mastermind Guus Hiddink, pundits should bear in mind that coaches are not allowed to play on the pitch. Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill appear to be the best threats the Aussies can offer, and veteran goalminder mark Schwarzer will have some bright moments, but this side isn’t ready to advance anywhere — except maybe to the nearest beer garden.

JAPAN might be entertaining, with all of Brasilian head coach Zico’s freaky formations. He runs a 4-2-2-2 that forms an odd midfield square with Shinji Ono, who flopped in Europe, and Shunsuke Nakamura at the front. Both are given remarkable freedom to break up the square in quest of advantageous positions elsewhere (not very disciplined actually, and Zico got in trouble during Cup preparations with a 3-6-1 set). Hidetoshi Nakata runs a depleted midfield, and after unfortunate recent injuries, strikers are virtually non-existent. An early exit is foreseen.

Posted from  United States

Go the Aussies…
dont underestimate us

Posted from  Australia

A response to REALISTIC: I’ve got two words for you about those people who think Brazil is not going to make it past this round… WISHFUL THINKING. Oh one more word… HATERS!

Posted from  United States