Soundoff: Your World Cup Group B Predictions…

June 1st, 2010 | by: Daryl |

group b Time for us all to do our World Cup Group B predictions. Who we think will qualify, and how the group will finish #1 to #4. I found making my Group A predictions head hurtintgly hard, and was hoping Group B would be a little easier on what’s left of my grey matter.

World Cup Group B hasn’t been talked up too much, but is actually very strong. The four teams – Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, South Korea – all have perceived flaws, but all four are more than capable of finishing in the top two. My predictions #1 to #4 are below, and please leave your own in the comments.

Argentina have Diego Maradona in charge, which could very well end in tears. Or fires. Or something else not good. But Argentina still have an embarrassing wealth of talent to choose from, are still the seeded team in Group B and are still the favourites. I’d go one step further and predict they’re going to come out swinging. Maradona might be crazy, but I suspect he’ll have his players fired up and ready to make an impression, which they’ll do by dominating Group B.

1. Argentina
2. South Korea
3. Greece
4. Nigeria

It was tempting to pick Nigeria as the second placed team because the pressure will be on for them to make it to the knockouts. But that isn’t necessarily a good thing. I believe the pressure to succeed in the first African World Cup, plus a lack of creativity in central midfield means the Super Eagles will struggle for goals, just as they did at Africa Cup of Nations 2010. I’d also would have liked to predict Greece in the runner up spot, because Otto Rehhagel knows his business and because after such a horrible horrible year filled with economic collapse and rioting, the powers that be owe Greece some good fortune. But South Korea’s form and experience has to make them second favourites here. Asia’s most consistent team will take second place.

So that’s my Group B prediction. I’m not 100% confident of it, and I won’t be backing it up with any money, but it’s my best guess. How do you see Group B finishing?

- Feel the need to flex your prediction muscles further? Enter our World Cup Bracket competition.

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://twitter.com/Cyp_h3r Cyp h3r

Argentina, Nigeria, Greece, South Korea
TheoT

1.
2.Argentina
http://twitter.com/EdgarBoccanegra Edgar Boccanegra

Argentina
Greece
Nigeria
South Korea

Argentina come to the finals without the added pressure of being considered favorite and that and certain demigod that goes by the name of Lionel Mesi will be enough to see them end first. Greece should have no problem if they repeat their act at the 2004 Euros. I doubt what happen in 2008 will happen again especially since neither Nigeria or South Korea are at Sweden, Russia and specially not Spain's caliber.
dominov

Argentina will have enough class to overcome both their opponents and Diego and go through in first place.

Greece will defend their way to a distant second I think.

South Korea drop to third and Nigeria will not be able to overcome their pre-tournament troubles or their lack of flair in mid-field and I think will – unfortunately – bomb out.

Argies – 7 points
Greece – 5 points
South Korea 4 points
Nigeria – 1 point

(…i think that works… my maths is rubbish!)
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ OffsideSarah

My group B Prediction- this is tough because all of the teams are unpredictable-could be either brilliant or embarrassingly bad…

I think that Greece are the type of team to not lose to Argentina, especially if they deploy their Euro04 strategy of parking the bus. Worked pretty well for Inter to contain Messi. I would be interested to know the average height of the players on these teams- as Argentina and possibly SK strike me as pretty short from what I've seen. I'm not saying that will be a big factor for Greece/Nigeria when they play them, but it could certainly play a role if properly used to its advantage.

I also want Nigeria to make it to the knock-out round. I think they definitely have a shot but in addition to the pressure Daryl mentioned, they've also had an incredibly chaotic preparation. Key players are just returning (Mikel John Obi); players were unable to travel because of incorrect (or lost?) travel docs; they lost to a young Saudi team (though, thankfully Spain helped reduce this embarrassment); plus their match against Colombia was both postponed, played in a closed stadium AND ended in a draw. Those aren't exactly good signs- it would be tough to overcome all of those distractions even with one of the best teams in the world. And that is not the team Nigeria has, at least this year.

Now to assess South Korea chances…up until Sunday, everything appeared to be going smoothly for South Korea, having beaten their regional rivals Japan, Ivory Coast and Ecuador- but then they lost to Belarus. I imagine they are somewhat similar to Greece (but I havent seen Belarus play since circa Arsenal Hleb)- so they are clearly vulnerable.

This is what I want the Group to end like: South Korea, Nigeria, Argentina, Greece
This is how I thinks things will end: South Korea, Argentina, Greece, Nigeria

Maradona can't string together 3 strong games in a row- so I dont think they will end up first….but will squeak through (by themselves or by the grace of “God (aka FIFA).”
http://sevilla.theoffside.com/ SevillaOffside_Joshua

Argentina
Nigeria
Greece
South Korea

I think Nigeria pull it off with the excitement of playing on African soil, and get out the group stages. I also think Argentina will put it together in the World Cup, not do to Diego, but do to the players coming together as a team. The excitement of the World Cup can have a drastic effect on team building, and player performance.
icegaze

1. Argentina – 9pts
2. Nigeria – 4
3. South Korea – 3
4. Greece – 1
icegaze

Nigeria didn't lose to Saudi. We drew 0-0.
;)
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ OffsideSarah

Actually I did know that- I was typing two posts simultaneously back and forth and just wasn't thinking when I switched back to this comment. Clearly I dont need to make things worse than they already are for Nigeria! Thanks for the catch.
TomFC

1. Argentina
2. South Korea
3. Greece
4. Nigeria

Argentina will win at least two games out of this group so should qualify comfortably.

Its tight between the other three, but South Korea have been impressive over the last year or so and have the best combination of ability, athleticism and discipline, so I think they're most likely.
http://england.worldcupblog.org/ Rob

Argentina
South Korea
Nigeria
Greece.
shane

I feel this will be a crappy group no one advancing past the first knockout round. It seems Argentina's 4 best players on the squad are all strikers and the absence of Cambiasso and Zanetti is sheer stupidity. Maradona's incompetence will cost Argentina in the R16 but even he can't cost them first spot in this insipid group. Nigeria despite massive flaws will rise to the occasion here I think. South Korea have never really performed outside of their home soil. They will be creditable this term just like in 2006 but will come up just short. I think the Greeks could top the group because of their defense but just as easily flop. I think they flop. Argentina's strikers have enough class to conjure up a goal. The Koreans may be bullied a little but I think there work rate could win the day against the Greeks. Again with no confidence:
1. Argentina
2. Nigeria
3. South Korea
4. Greece
http://www.facebook.com/people/Francisco-Fontano-Patan/1588194677 Francisco Fontano Patán

I think the positions will be
Argentina
South Korea
Nigeria
Greece

In general this is a weak group, and I think any of this teams would struggle a lot to advance against other rivals, Argentina will win despite Maradona thanks to the talent of their players, South Korea, the most consistent of this teams will use this to it's advantage, Nigeria has showed many troubles, the best chance for an african team to advance is wasted on them, any other team from Africa would benefit from this rivals, but it doesn't seem they'll be able to.
Greece will easily make this their best World Cup ever, but I don't see them advancing.
Tbone04

I guess I will have to be the first to disagree with the predictions of this post. Here are my own:

1.) South Korea
2.) Greece
3.) Argentina
4.) Nigeria

Look, I don't know how many of you are Argentina fans, but I have watched way too many games where they just couldn't deliver a win against a clearly inferior team. It's like the Dallas Cowboys being “America's Team” in football. They are well known, but can't win to save their lives.

South Korea is consistent. They perform better each world cup and I think they have a high chance of coming out on top.

I expect Greece to be the surprise in this group. They have a lot to play for and after all these years of ignoring them, the world needs to recognize them as a small force to be reckoned with.

Nigeria, I hope the best for this team, but I just don't see the development that is evident in other World Cup teams this year. I write this hoping that they prove me dead wrong.
Bense235

I believe Nigeria will do jack. The Argies and South Korea. South Korea and Greece with 4 points, S/K with the better goal difference.