Big Question: Who are your 9-Point Teams?

May 29th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

Three wins, nine points. Walking away with maximum points in the first round won’t be easy in many of this year’s groups. Some teams might also be in a position after two games to rest their players and not play for a perfect first round. But with eight groups in play, you have to figure that at least one team will win all three of its group play matches.

When you look at the World Cup groups, which team(s) do you think will come away with three first round wins? Or perhaps you think that no team will acheive this feat. Get your predictions down now or the world will never know how smart you really are.

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Mara

I’ve got Portugal and the Czech Republic getting maximum points. (I’ve put Brazil in a draw with Croatia, though perhaps that was more wishful thinking than smart predicting. Probably could be said of all of these predictions, however.)
nv

Obviously Brazil, quiet easily Germany as well (as much as id hate to admit it)
Martin

France, Germany, Spain & Sweden.
And yet, it’s finally going to be a South American team taking the trophy in a WC played in Europe. (And it’s not gonna be Dinho smiling this time…)
Karl

Germany easily. None of their goup A opponents are strong, add that to the home team advantage and they’ll be unstoppable in the group stage.
Spain should get 3 wins too, but we all know their world cup record.
Ahmad

Definetly Germany and France ( very easy groups ) and I assume Brazil will get 9 points too. I mean group A is the easiest one for the Germans.
sAM

my bets for full points
1)germany
2)portugal
3)brazil
4)france

and prediction for finals
BRAZIL vs GERMANY/ITALY
http://www.worldcup2006news.net/ Knut Karnapp

Brazil, France, Germany
Massimo

Czech Republic have no chance of getting 9 points, sorry to those dumb asses that really believe they are ranked 2nd in the world. The only one that might have a chance in getting 9 points are those in easy groups. That is Spain, France, Brazil. Germany have an easy group but they seriously suck this year, but the home corruption advantage is on their side. So we will see. The easiest group is Mexico’s, but we all know how badlly Mexico sucks too. Maybe Portugal. Probably not.
Harsha

Brazil, Germany, England.
Two most successful teams in the history of footbal…
by the way Massimo, what is it with u Italians and your calling everyone else suckers ? Italian is the most overhyped team this World cup. I think they will come after group stages.
Harsha

Brazil, Germany, Two most successful teams in the history of footbal…
Maybe England.

By the way Massimo, what is it with u Italians and your calling everyone else suckers ? Italian is the most overhyped team this World cup. I think they will go home after group stages.
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/big-question-which-current-coach-was-the-best-player.html#comments Pedro P

Hey Massimo:
#1 Group D is not the easiest. Iran IS NOT Saudi Arabia; Angola ARE NOT a bunch of strong and clumsy guys who just block goal and run for a counter; and Mexico doesn’t suck as much as you say.
#2 Cze might be kinda oldie, but on a good day, not even an italian defense could stop them.
#3 Depending on Tunisia, look for Spain’s group, or Germany’s, to find an easy one.
Bidemi

There’s no way France is coming out with 9 points. Switzerland will give them trouble as they did already in the qualifiers.

I have; Brazil, Germany and England
rescorpione17

england 9 points and france not ?..who thinks that beating Sweden is so easy ? ..I say that only germany has a clear shot to perfect 3 wins..everyone else will have some counting to do ..Brasil will not beat Croatia..and one of the other 2 can provide surprises i don’t see Italy getting 9 nor Cechs
http://portugal.worldcupblog.org Luis

Brazil, Germany, France and maybe Spain
http://www.originalrudeboy.com/ Tomislav Chagall

9-pointers:

poland (group a)
sweden (group b)
croatia (group f)
ukraine (group h)
Akbar

Germany shouldn’t have a hard time, and nor should Brazil if they play up to their level (although note how the coach keeps talking about how they aren’t at 100% and also the fact that Brazil never start off too well).

Spain are another team within a good chance of a 9-pointer, as well as Portugal.

However, keep your eyes open for those surprise packages. Tomislav Chagall seems to have pointed his finger on some (poland, sweden ukraine), although I don’t think Sweden will beat England, and I don’t think England will beat Sweden either (only leaves one possibility).

Also, there’s no way Czech Rep will get three in a row in a group with Italy Ghana and the US.
http://fo.reca.st/wm.php Crag

I think it would be Portugal, Spain and Brazil. More of my forecast here: http://fo.reca.st/wm.php?u=kickitlikeme
DT

Germany. As the host,they have the pressure to keep on winning even if they secure qualification after the second game.

England and Sweden are two ’safety first’ teams. They’re both so predictable. I would be utterly shocked if this match doesn’t end up with a low scoring draw.

Spain had 5 draws in their qualifying matches. I’d be really surprised if they manage to win all their group matches.
OPKO

Germany
Portugal
Brazil
France
dan

Nobody will finish with a perfect record.
Neo

Germany
France
USA

Ukraine
Germany
France
http://www.aresthetics.ch/trav Adrian Wagner

I’m with dan on this one. A lot of the favorites ‘throw’ the last game, if they won the first two – also depending a bit on whom they want to meet in the next stage.

France? Why does everybody think they are strong? France will not make the semis this year. And they will not beat Switzerland.

I also think that England is not as strong as many think. They didn’t win the EC with this team – they certainly won’t win the WC. Plus, you know, I would definitely appoint a different captain. Somebody who doesn’t either miss important penalties or get sent off for stupid reasons during important games.

Brazil has thrown the last game a couple of times in big tournaments. I mean, I kind of understand. Why waste energy, when you’re qualified already?

Hehe. Massimo is only jealous, because so many teams are better than the Azzuri. ;) I actually think, that this will be the ‘upset’ of the WC, when they go out in the group stage. Nedved will probably be fired afterwards. ;) And as a neighbouring country citizen I’LL BE DANCING IN THE STREETS when it happens. Ciao, ciao, Italia.
zé

If brazil get qualified after its first two games, I can easily see Parreira going easy and putting the second squad on the game earlier. Not actually ‘throwing’ the game, they’d never do that (afterall they don’t want an “easy” ride on 2nd round since they expect to win), but taking it easy and experimenting with the replacements.
prastuh

germany
portugal
france
dan

I stand by my previous post. Unbeaten records yes, but not perfect ones.
Crno Gorac

Germany
Ukraine.

Thats the only two teams that i think will finish with 9 points.

AS for the person that said it was impossible for the czechs to finish with 9 points in that group, remember that at Euro 2004 they managed it in the group of death (Czech,Germany,Holland, Latvia)
http://incadenza.typepad.com/soccer_thoughts/ Evan

No one.
AP

Brazil, France and Spain for sure.
England is a possibility (depends on whether they tie or win to Sweden).
Czech Rep possible but doubtful.
Cajun Nick

I’ve only got two 9-point teams:
Brazil
Spain.

But, what do I know? As my friend Kyro down in Australia told me, “cajun nick u got no idea m8. Ur a nutjob.”

And, he probably right!

(see A Fancy Formula for Predicting World Cup Victories -http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/a-fancy-formula-for-predicting-world-cup-victories.html)
Isaac

France and Brazil.
Ingo

I’m surprised France is mentioned so frequently. They had a very tough time qualifying and haven’t played up to their potential in some time.

Best chances to go through with 9 pts:
Germany
Portugal
Brazil

But I wouldn’t be surprised if no one does.
Todd Utah

Argentina. Yes they are that good!
Matty

Of course the top teams in the world all are expected to due very well, and that pressure can sometimes cause the breakdowns,

Out of the favourites,
Italy
Portugal
Possibly germany (but im a polish so…)

And some suprise teams:

of course poland, if Zurawski, Smolarek,krzynowek and Boruc
play well

Ukraine
michel

I believe the spanish deserve more recognition.

If Spain plays with Xavi and Fabregas in the middle providing for Torres and Raul with Reyes on the wing, they could be very dangerous and I like them easily over Ukraine.
Joao

Brazil, Germany, and Italy.. Deffinitly not England.. If anyone from that group comes out with 9 points it will be Sweden
Lola

Man, what’s with all the Italian haters?? Let them be!
WCFan

A – Germany
D – Portugal
F – Brazil
G – France