Group F: Our Infallible Predictions

February 20th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

This week we take a look at the group that many have called be called Brazil and the Other Guys. We would like nothing better than to be contrarians and to predict that Brazil does not advance from Group F, but since credibility is in short supply these days we simply can’t do it. Brazil will win this group, but we think you might be surprised by how competitive the Other Guys – Croatia, Japan, and Australia – turn out to be.

Croatia is one of the teams we are touting to folks when we grab a pint at the local pub. We like Croatia because it is a team built from the back forward. When it won its qualifying group – beating out among others Sweden – Croatia recorded six clean sheets in ten matches. Defense is the name of the game in the World Cup and for that reason alone coach Zlatko Kranjcar’s boys should advance to the knockout stage. One guy you should keep an eye on is Dado Prso, a striker who might just be poised for a big tournament. Is this Croatia team good enough to match its third place finish in 1998? Probably not, but it is good enough to give some headaches to some of the tournament favorites and to win us some free pints at the pub if it advances far into the tournament.

Japan is another team we like even though it played less than stellar football during its qualifying run. Japan’s midfield is its strength with Nakata, Nakamura and Inamoto working together like a well oiled machine. With the talent of his team in the middle, Japan’s coach Zico is toying with the idea of playing a 3-6-1. This might work to clog down the opponents’ attack, but we don’t see it helping to generate much offense. Japan’s inability to put the biscuit in the basket is the main reason why it won’t advance from this group, but don’t be surprised if they pack in the defense and garner a tie against either Croatia or Brazil.

The Socceroos of Australia enter the World Cup for the first time since 1974. We like seeing Australia back on the world stage, but don’t expect to see it for very long. The Socceroos are coached by Guus Hiddink so you can expect that the team will come to Germany well prepared. But even with England-based players like Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer on the roster the overall level of talent is not enough to get out of this group. Australia won’t disgrace itself and might even end up playing spoiler for one of the other three (ok, the other three minus Brazil) if the teams aren’t careful.

Lastly there is Brazil, which enters the tournament with expectations to win it all. Anything is possible in football, but we don’t see how Brazil doesn’t finish as the group winner. Croatia will be its most physical match and Japan might be its most frustrating, but we think holders will emerge unscathed from Group F.

Group Winner: Brazil
Group Runner-up: Croatia

Our Infallible Predictions for those keeping score at home.

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Lyle

Dream a little dream with me World Cup blog. What if Brazil gets ousted by the Others in a Carnivel version of Armageddon?

What a little dream that would be, huh?

It won’t happen of course. Japan and Australia, probably won’t be able to hang with Brazil. Maybe they can do about as well as Scotland did in France, but I see Brazil beating the snot out Nippon and the Kangeroos.

Croatia is a popular darkhorse. The Slavs who live in the Balkans just know how to play sports. If Yugoslavia were still around, maybe they would be a contender for the World Cup every time around.

If I was Croatia or any of the other teams, I would not even worry about or scout Brazil. Would scouting Brazil really help? Not really, but knowing a lot about the other Others would do you some good. I definitely think Japan and Australia can beat Croatia, so if I was a Croat, I’d be focusing on preventing that, because nothing you will do will prevent Brazil from doing whatever they want to do to you.
http://www.asianwildrose.ca Peter (AsianWildRose)

I predict Japan in 2nd behind Brazil. They played Brazil tough in last year confederations cup and can beat out Croatia and Australia.
They play Brazil last which could be an advantage but the key is to beat the Aussies in the first match.
Euler

See how people think about Brazil?

That’s what I fear the most.

I too think we will advance, but I don’t think it will be easy.
http://www.originalrudeboy.com/ tomislav chagall

lyle, the croats do not live in the balkans, dude. do some research, please. all three teams are tough, but how sensible is it to say that brasil should not be bothered with because they will win anyway? we would not have to play the entire tournament if the outcome is as clear as many would like it to be.

euler, do not worry. brazil will advance second. :)
Milan Blazevic

Croatia can and i do believe will suprise the world by beating Brazil. Croatia has always had enough talent to be full of suprises and At the moment some of Brazils key players such as Ronaldo and Aldriano are out of form which to me makes me wonder if they will progress. Yes Rohnodino is one of is not the best player in the world but these key forwards are needed for brazil to not just crack the croatian team but Austrlias and Japans too.
In football anything can happen
Bidemi

1. Brazil

2. Japan
kapcro

If Brazil brings its A game Croatia can pretty much forget about it. Croatia’s only chance if Brazil is a little out of sorts is to play full bore, create some confusion in Brazil’s attack and hope for a few scoring chances and then be able to take advantage of them. Croatia has possible slight advantage over both Japan and Australia. I believe a good team can beat a great team on any given day, but the percentages ususally aren’t with the good team. (Croatia considers itself a central European country)

1.Brazil
2.Croatia
Cajun Nick

The short version:
Brazil – 1st
Croatia – 2nd

No Cahill, no Australia.

Japan’s got skilled players to go through midfield, but not only do they have to get through Croatia’s midfield, they also have to get through the backline. And Japan doesn’t have the firepower necessary to do it.

Croatia are lucky enough to have Brazil the first match out of the gate. After dropping to Brazil, they’ll be able to put full concentration toward advancing, while Japan will be staring down the schedule to Brazil on June 22.

Also, Croatia will do an Italy -keep a clean sheet defensively, and put one in the back of the net against Australia and Japan.
http://olimpia-2hotmail.com dino

Amigo,your memory is fading on purpose. Brasil beat Germany in tje last World Cup.{2-0} Brasil will be first,first and first. In other words-CHAMPIONS.
Juan

uhh why are you guys underestimating Japan? I think that’s a collosal mistake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VK6jhSpoRE&search=Brazil%20Japan

Thats a link to the last time Japan played Brazil, in the confederations cup last year. They drew 2-2, but if you watch you can see that they play EVEN to that Brazil team, and that was no B Brazil team either….it had Robinho, Adriano, Ronaldinho, etc.

Whether Japan can play that well on a world stage is yet to be seen, but from what I’ve seen Japan are a VERY capable team.