Big Question: Which Team will Allow the Fewest Goals in Group Play?

June 1st, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

A couple of days ago we gave you the opportunity to predict the team that will score the most goals in group play. Today we ask for your thoughts on which team will yield the least amount of goals over the first three games.

Take a look at the groups and try to determine which team with a good defense is playing against other teams that aren’t going to score a lot.

Which team will it be and how many goals will they concede in their first three games?

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DeKaY

Some defensive team … like Italy. Although I predict there will be a number of teams (8-9)with the fewest goals scored against them, with 2 goals minimum each in the back of their nets. No one will walk away “dry”.
http://www.aresthetics.ch/trav elAdi

I predict that Switzerland will only receive a max of 1 goal. Maybe even none.
http://www.worldcup2006news.net/ Knut Karnapp

My guess would be Brazil with zero goal to allow although the defense might be the worst part of an excellent team.
louie

Mexico….
Great Defense
theo

obviously Italy …
Cnu

I would say “Argentina”
http://www.worldcupzone.blogspot.com Ade Lamidi

I would have to choose Serbia and Montenegro. Those guys conceded just one goal during qualification for the World Cup.
dan

A team from Group E. And no, it’s not the US, Mr Hairy.
Azeglio Vicini

Italy or Germany… Serbia&M would have been my pick if not for their competition in Grp C.
narewa

italy will let in the least
Cajun Nick

I’m throwing my bet behind Spain.

1st of all, they’ve got Casillas in goal; if he’s not fit, they’ve got Salgado.

I know that Del Horno is out, but he didn’t have a great season with Chelsea, anyway. I think that Puyol will be able to organize the back line pretty well.

Plus, the midfield does commit to playing defense.

I know that S&M is a crowd favorite because of super defense in qualifying; however, their group (though it did have Spain it it) was tremendously weak – significantly weaker than NED, ARG, and CIV. At least one of those teams, if not all, will score against S&M.
Andriy

Germany or France
Cajun Nick

Andriy,

I would agree with you that Germany has a great chance to keep an empty net during the Group stages. I just don’t see any offense in their group.

As for France, I say watch out for South Korea … and a lousy French attitude.
Dave Hamilton

Sweden
Ozzie

The Netherlands. Italy is no longer defensive team that they used to be, however I would go for Italy winning the final.
adnan

Ithink Germany because Lehmann
Aldo

Germany will end the group stage with no Goals! Lehmann it’s on a great moment.

Former Serbia and Montenegro catch only one goal in eliminatory round, but a World Cup it’s a World Cup.
Todd Utah

I would say Argentina as they fielded a very defensive line-up against Angola with both Cambiasso and Masherno playing. Plus they are set -up for a lot of ball possesion. I hope they play more of their offensive players like Aimar but Pekermen might go very defensive in a tough group.
brian sodol

obviously, croatia will give up alot of goals and england will give up the least. i know beacuse i played in both leagues.
http://shinymedia.blogs.com/whoateallthebratwurst/ OJ

Who needs a tight defence when you’ve got Peter Crouch gangsta rapping!

http://tinyurl.com/mw3ab
http://none Hutch

United States of America
has Goalie Tim Howard,,,, We’ll be heading into the Final’s.. U.S.A.
mightie

UKRAINE!
its gonna be like this;

ukraine 0-1 spain
ukraine 0-0 tunisia
ukraine 0-0 saudi arabia

… ;)
English

Tim WHOard??? hhh

Wake up!
swthrhs

Judging by past form, it should be England, the most consistently niggardly team during the group stage. Of the others, Germany’s defence looks suspect right now, and though I believe they should sort it out by the quarter finals, they might concede a couple more than they usually do in the qualifying round. Ukraine and Spain could also do well defensively initially. Maybe even a team from the two death groups could do well, since the groups of death usually produce very few goals (remember Italy’s in 94 and England’s in 2002), what with everybody being so cagey and taking as few risks as can be helped.
Owen

Tim Howard!?

Wow! Good to know everyone’s on top of this world cup over in the US.

This is a touch one since it’ll take some luck, too.

One of:

England, Germany, Sweden

not Italy – they don’t play at the same cattenacio level that they used to. I only think those four have a chance to get through the group stages with no goals – Brazil will be scored on by at least one of Japan and Croatia. Netherlands by one of Argentina or Serbia. Serbia by one of… Argentina by one of… etc.

England and Sweden could both go through without conceding a goal.
Ingo

Italy is not as strong defensively anymore as they used to be. And Germany’s defense is their absolute weakness this year. So…

Sweden
Portugal or Mexico
Switzerland
Ukraine or Spain
Just a jester

Spain or Portugal….both teams are in easy groups…shouldnt concede more than 3
swe

Sweden
best player of all time

ITALY THEY HAVE
THE GREATEST DEFENCE IN THE WORLD CUP IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BETTER IF MALDINI DIDNT RETIRE THE GREATEST BACK THE WORLD HAVE SEEN AND THE USA WILL ALLOW THW MOST GOALS I PREDICT 10 CAUSE THEY SUCK AND STICK TO BASKETBALL
?

L’Italia concederà i pochi obiettivi, Brasile concederà il la maggior parte! L’Italia per la tazza del mondo!
joanna sodol

it’s very important!! someone who know Brian Sodol please contact with me. asia_sodol@poczta.onet.pl