WC 2010 Draw SoundOff: Which Teams Do You Think Will…

1. …be the two teams to make it out of the group stage in each group, A-H? (Groups listed at the bottom)
A: FRANCE, SOUTH AFRICA
B: ARGENTINA, NIGERIA
C: ENGLAND, USA
D: GERMANY, GHANA
E: NETHERLANDS, CAMEROON
F: ITALY, PARAGUAY
G: BRAZIL, PORTUGAL
H: SPAIN, CHILE

2. …be the two teams to make the final?
BRAZIL, SPAIN

3. …win the Cup?
SPAIN

4. …be the biggest disappointment? (a high-ranked team which will do less well than expected)
ENGLAND

5. …be the biggest positive surprise? (a lower-ranked team that will do better than expected. Think: Turkey in Euro 2008.)
SOUTH AFRICA

6. …be the team(s) which will go out in the Group stage, but which would have advanced in another group?
IVORY COAST, AUSTRALIA, SERBIA, DENMARK

7. …be the team which will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football?
ITALY AND FRANCE

8. …be the Golden Boot? (top scoring player)
DAVID VILLA

9. …receive the Ballon d’Or? (most valuable player)
XAVI

1.
A:Uruguay
France
B:Argentina
Greece
C:USA
England
D:Australia
Serbia
E:Cameroon
Netherlands
F:Italia
Paraguay
G:Brazil
Portugal
H:Spain
Switzerland

2. Teams to make the final: Brazil v Cameroon

3. Win the cup: Cameroon – There looking very very strong.

4. The biggest disappiontment would be Argentina

5. Positive suprise would be Serbia. I think there highly underrated.

6. Teams that would of advanced in another group: Japan
Germany
Ghana

7. Team that would advanced but play boring football: Greece – I think there going to try do exactly the same boring tactics they did in the Euro 2004.

8. Golden Boot: Depends on what team you get put against

9. Ballon d’Or: Cant quite make up my mind. There are alot of talented players that if they were to play a few good games would defiently deserve it.

1.
A. Uruguay and France.
B. Argentina and Nigeria.
C. England and USA
D. Germany and Ghana.
E. Netherlands and Cameroon
F. Italy and Paraguay.
G. Brazil and Cote d’Ivoire
H. Spain and Chile

2. Argentina and England

3. Argentina

4. Germany

5. USA

6. Germany and Portugal

7. England.

8. Luis Faibiano.

9. Lionel Messi.

1. …be the two teams to make it out of the group stage in each group, A-H? (Groups listed at the bottom)
A: France, South Africa
B: Nigeria, Argentina
C: England, Algeria
D: Germany, Ghana
E: Netherlands, Cameroon
F: Italy, Paraguay
G: Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire
H: Spain, Chile

2. …be the two teams to make the final? France and Brazil

3. …win the Cup? France

4. …be the biggest disappointment? (a high-ranked team which will do less well than expected) England

5. …be the biggest positive surprise? (a lower-ranked team that will do better than expected. Think: Turkey in Euro 2008.) Cote d’Ivoire

6. …be the team(s) which will go out in the Group stage, but which would have advanced in another group? Portugal, Serbia

7. …be the team which will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football? Italy

8. …be the Golden Boot? (top scoring player) Nicolas Anelka

9. …receive the Ballon d’Or? (most valuable player) Yoann Gourcuff

1:
A: France, South Africa
B: Nigeria, Argentina
C: England, Slovenia
D: Germany, Ghana
E: Denmark, Cameroon
F: Italy, Paraguay
G: Brasil, Côte d’Ivoire
H: Spain, Switzerland

2. Brasil v. Ghana
3. Brasil
4. Spain (I think Spain will mimic Brasil in 2006, plus no European side has ever won a World Cup off the European continent)
5. Ghana & Slovenia
6. The Netherlands
7. Switzerland
8. Luis Fabiano
9. Michael Essien

@ Shane

Was your father Danish and your mother from Cameroon? HAHAHAHAHA

The Ballon d’Or Award is given to the best player at the end of each year. Its awarded every December. Its a completely different award than the Golden Ball Award which is given to the best player at the World Cup. With that said I will answer your questions.

1.
A: FRANCE, MEXICO
B: ARGENTINA, NIGERIA
C: ENGLAND, USA
D: GERMANY, GHANA
E: NETHERLANDS, CAMEROON
F: ITALY, PARAGUAY
G: BRAZIL, PORTUGAL
H: SPAIN, CHILE

2. Brazil, Spain

3. Brazil

4. Ivory Coast

5. USA

6. Ivory Coast, Australia, Uruguay

7. Italy

8. Fernando Torres

9. Kaka

Pseudinho, you are so right. That will teach me to write posts at close to midnight on a Friday — after reading too many articles in 2006 in French, post-cup, (where it actually was the Ballon d’Or) about Zidane’s receipt of the award. :-)

A.France South Africa (Of course by match fixing and cheating after all that’s all the French do ! LOL)
B.Argentina, South Korea
C.England, Algeria
D.Germany, Ghana
E.Netherlands, Denmark
F.Italy, Paraguay
G.Brazil, Ivory Coast
H.Spain, Chile
2.The Finals will be Ghana – Brazil
3.Brazil will win it’s sixth
4.Disappointments, Argentina
5.Biggest positive surprise South Korea
6.Australia
7.The most boring award without a doubt should be given to the Germans @ every cup!
8.Luis Fabiano will win the Golden Boot!
9.Kaka will be most valuable!

1) Who will make it out of the group stages?
A: France, Mexico
B: Argentina, South Korea
C: England, USA
D: Germany, Ghana
E: Netherlands, Cameroon
F: Italy, Paraguay
G: Brazil, Portugal
H: Spain, Chile

2) Teams that make the final
Germany and Netherlands (I believe that the way the brackets are set up, teams from Groups A-D will play each other in the knockout rounds, the same goes for E-H, until the eventual winners from each set will meet up in the finals)

3) Team that wins
Netherlands

4) Biggest Disappointment
England

5) Biggest Surprise
Netherlands (I know they’re not a low ranked team, but since I’m predicting that they make it to the final, they would be a surprise)

6) Team that would have made it out of another group
Cote D’Ivoire

7) Team that plays butt-numbingly boringly
France, England, Argentina (France and Argentina played so badly during qualification, and England usually don’t thrill on the big occasions)

8) Golden Boot (Top Scorer)
Someone from Italy, just because I believe that they will hammer New Zealand. Otherwise it could be someone from Spain, because they have a group with Chile and Honduras, who I believe are attacking teams who concede a lot. It could be Brazil, but I’ve heard that N. Korea play defensively, so they might not score too many past them.

9) Ballon d’Or (Most valuable player)
Someone from the Netherlands, seeing as I’m predicting them to surprise people by going to the final.

8. Nilmar, Brazil.

1. Group A:Mexico,Uruguay
Group B:Argentina,Nigeria
Group C:England,USA
Group D:Serbia,Ghana
Group E:Netherlands,Cameroon
Group F:Italy,Slovakia
Group G:Brazil,Cote d’Ivoire
Group H:Spain,Chile
2. Spain, England
3. england
4. germany
5. serbia
6. germany, south africa,
7. argentina (they won’t click but they’ll still win some games)
8. david villa
9. wayne rooney

1) Teams that qualify for the round of 16:
A. Mexico, South Africa
B. Argentina, Nigeria
C. England, USA
D. Germany, Ghana
E. The Netherlands, Cameroon
F. Italy, Paraguay
G. Brazil, Ivory Coast
H. Spain, Chile

2) Finalists:
The Netherlands and Spain

3) Champions:
The Netherlands

4)Biggest Disappointment(s):
England (out in the round of 16), Brazil (quarter-finalists) and Ivory Coast (out in the round of 16), in that order. Spain disappoints only in that they lose the final.

5)Biggest surprise
Mexico (semi-finalists, (and I know I’m being very optimistic, but what the hell, one can dream)), The Netherlands (they finally win the damn thing!)

6)Team(s) that would have made it out of another group:
Portugal, Uruguay, Australia, South Korea

7)Team(s) that qualify despite playing butt-numbingly boring football:
Italy (surprise, surprise), Germany, to a lesser extent England

8)Golden Boot
“El Niño” Torres or David Villa (maybe they’ll share it)

9)Golden Ball
Rafael Van der Vaart or Robin van Persie

1. …be the two teams to make it out of the group stage in each group, A-H?
A:
Mexico
France (with a little bit of luck and great sportship, as always)
B:
Argentina
Greece
C:
England
USA
D:
Serbia
Ghana
E:
Netherlands
Denmark
F:
Paraguay
Italy
G:
Brazil
Côte d’Ivoire
H:
Spain
Chile

2. …be the two teams to make the final?

1/8:

Mexico – Greece (Mexico) 1
Argentina – France (Argentina) 2
England – Ghana (Ghana) 3
Serbia – USA (Serbia) 4
Netherlands – Italy (Italy) 5
Paraguay – Denmark (Paraguay) 6
Brazil – Chile (Chile) 7
Spain – Côte d’Ivoire (Spain) 8

1/4:

Mexico – Ghana (Ghana) A
Argentina – Serbia (Serbia) B
Italy – Chile (Chile) C
Paraguay – Spain (Spain) D

1/2:

Ghana – Chile (Chile)
Serbia – Spain (Serbia)

Final:

Chile – Serbia

3. …win the Cup?

Serbia

4. …be the biggest disappointment? (a high-ranked team which will do less well than expected)

Germany

5. …be the biggest positive surprise? (a lower-ranked team that will do better than expected. Think: Turkey in Euro 2008.)

Chile

6. …be the team(s) which will go out in the Group stage, but which would have advanced in another group?

Portugal

7. …be the team which will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football?

Greece

8. …be the Golden Boot? (top scoring player)

Humberto Suazo

9. …receive the Ballon d’Or? Golden Ball? (most valuable player)

Hmmm… can’t tell.

a)SOuth Africa, Mexico
b)Argentina, Greece
c)USA(1st)England
d)Germany Ghana
e)Holland Denmark
f)Italy Paraquay
g)Brazil Ivory Coast
h)Spain, Swiss

Finals: Holland, Spain
Winner: Holland
Biggest Dissapointment: France and Portugal
Biggest Surpise: Denmark to the quarters after beatiing Italy in 2nd round
Who would of advanced: Australia
Butt numbing: Argentina and possibly Italy
Top Scorer: El Nino
Top player: Sneijder or Xavi but I will say Wes since I have them finally winning.

I wonder if Stefan is a Serb?

I love Italia be I remain open minded.

Group A:
Uruguay
France

Group B:
Argentina
Nigeria

Group C:
England
Slovenia

Group D:
Germany
Serbia

Group E:
Netherlands
Denmark

Group F:
Italy
Paraguay

Group G:
Brazil
Cote d’Ivoire

Group H:
Spain
Honduras

Q5. Read it wrong, sorry. My answer there is Ghana

“I wonder if Stefan is a Serb?”
No I am not a Serb, but I do like the way they play.

1:
–
A) Uruguay and South Africa
B) Nigeria and Greece
C) England and USA
D) Australia and Germany
E) Netherlands and Cameroon
F) Italy and Slovakia
G) Brazil and Portugal
H) Spain and Chile

2:
–
Portugal and Netherlands

3:
–
Portugal

4:
–
Argentina, France, and Ghana (fail to make the group stage), Spain and Brazil (knocked out in round-of-16)

5:
–
Cameroon, South Africa, and Chile

6:
–
Ivory Coast and Denmark

7:
–
Greece and Italy

8:
–
Cristiano Ronaldo

9:
–
Cristiano Ronaldo

Bonus:
——
Playoffs we look like this:

Round-of-16:
============
Uruguay 0-0 Greece (3-1 PK)
Germany 1-1 England (6-5 PK)
Netherlands 6-1 Slovakia
Chile 3-0 Brazil
South Africa 1-1 Nigeria (3-1 PK)
Australia 3-2 USA
Italy 1-1 Cameroon (4-2 PK)
Portugal 4-4 Spain (8-7 PK)

Quarter-Finals:
================
Germany 0-0 Uruguay (5-4 PK)
Netherlands 3-2 Chile
South Africa 1-1 Australia (5-4 PK)
Portugal 1-1 Italy (9-8 PK)

Semi-Finals:
============
Netherlands 3-1 Germany
Portugal 8-0 South Africa

Final:
======
Portugal 4-3 Netherlands

Oh, how they like to play, those boys (and girls, too).

It would be interesting to dig up a similar questionnaire set up prior to WC 06 and compare the predictions with the actual turn of events. Just one example: All those prophets seeing Brazil just strolling through to left-handedly pick up the trophy. Probably wouldn’t remember.

And yet oh, how nice it is to play (sometimes the fore-play is the nicest part of the hole – sorry: whole – thing, isn’t it?

So I am blushingly in it, too, and quite audaciously, as well:
My prediction (which logically answers some of the other questions) is about the final:

Germany vs. Italy

But I am not saying who’s ging to win. Though I know of course. ;-)

Her Majesty Berlusconi will not be amused. Oops. What I mean, of course, is that Italian jails do not provide television.

P.S. Out prematurely:
Switzerland (have to wait till their 17ers have grown up),
Greece (sorry Rehacles, you’ve had your share of good luck),
Portugal (you always get the FADO right in time),
England (notoriously overrating themselves – naturally if isolated
from Europe),
France (athletically and – more recently – morally morbid)
Argentina (on a trail of nostalgic tears and wedded to an idiotic coach).

Wow Phil, you’ve definitely made the most interesting predictions…a lot of PK shootouts, and Portugal 8-0 SA….
if you think SA will beat Italy and make it to the semi finals, then why the 8-0 thrashing? does that mean you think Portugal would have beaten Italy by more than that?

1. …be the two teams to make it out of the group stage in each group, A-H? A: France, Mexico
B: Argentina, South Korea
C: England, USA
D: Germany, Ghana
E: Netherlands, Cameroon
F: Paraguay, Italy
G: Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire
H: Spain, Chile

2. …be the two teams to make the final?
Netherlands, Spain

3. …win the Cup?
Spain

4. …be the biggest disappointment?
England, Italy

5. …be the biggest positive surprise?
South Korea, Honduras

6. …be the team(s) which will go out in the Group stage, but which would have advanced in another group?
Portugal, Serbia, Denmark, Nigeria

7. …be the team which will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football?
Italy

8. …be the Golden Boot? (top scoring player)
Fernando Torres

9. …receive the Ballon d’Or? Golden Ball? (most valuable player)
Xavi

1. …be the two teams to make it out of the group stage in each group, A-H?
A. France, Uruguay
B. Argentina, Nigeria
C. England, USA
D. Germany, Serbia
E. Netherlands, Cameroon
F. Italy, Slovakia
G. Brazil, Cote D’Ivoire
H. Spain, Chile

2. …be the two teams to make the final?
England-Brazil

3. …win the Cup?
England or Brazil

4. …be the biggest disappointment? (a high-ranked team which will do less well than expected)
Italy

5. …be the biggest positive surprise? (a lower-ranked team that will do better than expected. Think: Turkey in Euro 2008.)
Slovakia

6. …be the team(s) which will go out in the Group stage, but which would have advanced in another group?
Denmark

7. …be the team which will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football?
France and Italy

8. …be the Golden Boot? (top scoring player)
Luis Fabiano

9. …receive the Ballon d’Or? Golden Ball? (most valuable player)
John Terry

1. …be the two teams to make it out of the group stage in each group, A-H?
A. France, Uruguay
B. Argentina, Greece
C. England, Algeria
D. Ghana, Germany
E. Netherlands, Cameroon
F. Italy, Slovakia
G. Portugal, Brazil
H. Spain, Chile
2. …be the two teams to make the final?
Netherlands-Brazil
3. …win the Cup?
Netherlands
4. …be the biggest disappointment? (a high-ranked team which will do less well than expected)
Spain (as they will lose to Brazil)
5. …be the biggest positive surprise? (a lower-ranked team that will do better than expected. Think: Turkey in Euro 2008.)
Greece, Ghana
6. …be the team(s) which will go out in the Group stage, but which would have advanced in another group?
Denmark, Cote D’ivoire
7. …be the team which will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football?
Italy
8. …be the Golden Boot? (top scoring player)
Luis Fabiano
9. …receive the Ballon d’Or? Golden Ball? (most valuable player)
Robin Van Persie

Mexico, France
Argentina, South Korea
England Usa
Germany Serbia
Holland, Japan
Italy, Slovakia
Brazil, Ivory Coast
Spain, Chile

2) Spain and Brazil

3) Spain

4) Portugal

5)Ivory Coast, Serbia, South Korea.

6) Portugal, Ghana

7)Germany.

8) David Villa.

9)Xavi Hernandez

1. …be the two teams to make it out of the group stage in each group, A-H? (Groups listed at the bottom)
A: Uruguay, South Africa
B: Argentina, Nigeria,
C: England, USA
D: Germany, Serbia
E: Netherlands, Cameroon
F: Italy, Paraguay
G: Portugal, Brazil
H: Spain, Switzerland

2. …be the two teams to make the final?
Netherlands, Germany

3. …win the Cup?
Netherlands

4. …be the biggest disappointment? (a high-ranked team which will do less well than expected)
France

5. …be the biggest positive surprise? (a lower-ranked team that will do better than expected. Think: Turkey in Euro 2008.)
USA

6. …be the team(s) which will go out in the Group stage, but which would have advanced in another group?
France

7. …be the team which will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football?
Switzerland

8. …be the Golden Boot? (top scoring player)
Fernando Torres (will score eight in the group stages already :D)

9. …receive the Ballon d’Or? Golden Ball? (most valuable player)

Van Persie

See if Portugal don’t surprise you ;)

Everybody is making them outsiders…

http://apoiaportugal.blogspot.com/

Força Portugal!

All you people who think Slovenia will advance over USA are on crack. Slovenia’s players are all peripheral players on bottom third of the table clubs in non-EPL/Liga/SerieA leagues. Aka not that impressive for a European team.

We have much better quality at numerous positions like Donovan, Dempsey, Howard, Bradley, Gooch, Altidore, etc. We have stronger keeper, defense, midfield, and forwards. They are going to be a one dimensional team, just sending airballs to their 6′4 forward, it’s gonna be the Jan Koller tactic. We will handle it just fine cuz Gooch will shut him down.

earthquakes, that’s assuming Gooch is back in time. If not, I’m a bit afraid. Especially without Charlies Davies on the offensive end of things.

1. Advancing to last 16:
A: Mexico, France
B: Argentina, Korea
C: England, Slovenia
D: Serbia, Ghana
E: Cameroon, Netherlands
F: Italy, Paraguay
G: Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire
H: Spain, Switzerland

Thew in a few surprises, and there always are in every World Cup. I think Germany would be the flop this time, and Serbia and Slovenia will show they’re better than expectations.

2. Brazil, Argentina

It hasn’t shown in qualifying, but Argentina has the talent and I have a feeling it will all come together for them during the tournament, and they’ll win an epic semifinal versus Spain.

3. Brazil

That said, Brazil will still have their number during the final.

4. Disappointment: Germany

See them struggling in that tough Group D.

5. Positive Surprise: Cameroon

I think they will be the African team to go farthest.

6. Would have advanced if they were in another group: Portugal, Japan.

7. Will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football: England

Not exactly boring, but they were extremely lucky in the draw. Not only in terms of their own group but the side of the tournament they were drawn into – avoiding Brazil, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon until the semis. And if England and Argentina both win their groups, they can’t meet until the final either. England will get shown up in the semis though.

8. Golden Boot: David Villa

Best striker in the world, bar none. Fernando Torres actually laid an egg in qualifying.

9: Golden Ball: Kaka

Simply goes to the best player in the winning team.

My take, six months before the tournament.

1) Who will make it out of the group stages?
A: Mexico, South Africa (home field and refs will tip South Africa, who aren’t as bad as everyone says)
B: Argentina, Greece (Greek pragmatism will see them past Nigeria and South Korea)
C: England, USA (though I would not be surprised if Slovenia pull an upset)
D: Germany, Australia (I give Australia an advantage on having the most preparation time of almost any team)
E: Netherlands, Cameroon (Cameroon have been absolutely solid after a slow start to qualifying)
F: Paraguay, Italy (in that order)
G: Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire (I think Ivory Coast’s 2006 experience in the GoD gets them through)
H: Spain, Chile (Honduras surprises people with their composed attacking football, but defensive errors at this level will kill them. The Swiss’ll miss [sorry :/ ])

2) Teams that make the final
Brazil and Spain (the safe choice, I know, but it’ll take some real luck on Spain’s part to make it there)

3) Team that wins
Brazil gets its sixth

4) Biggest Disappointment
Italy and France, last year’s finalists, don’t get past the Round of 16

5) Biggest Surprise
England to the semis, Mexico to the quarters

6) Team that would have made it out of another group
Portugal

7) Team that plays butt-numbingly boringly
Greece, Greece, and Greece

8) Golden Boot (Top Scorer)
Luis Fabiano.. Brazil will figure out the North Korean defense early and the dam will be broken. He might get a half-trick in the first game, and even if he has a regular tournament after that, he’ll have scored the most goals. (Hell, 5 goals was enough for the Golden Boot in 2006.)

9) Golden Ball (Most valuable player)
Xavi, the workhorse of the 2nd placed team (remember the Golden Ball is voted on throughout the final. Most votes are in before halftime. Spain will dominate the first half but Brazil will actually be getting the goals in the second.)

1. …be the two teams to make it out of the group stage in each group, A-H? (Groups listed at the bottom)
A: MEXICO, SOUTH AFRICA
B: ARGENTINA, NIGERIA
C: ENGLAND, SLOVENIA
D: GERMANY, AUSTRALIA
E: NETHERLANDS, DENMARK
F: ITALY, SLOVAKIA
G: BRAZIL, IVORY COAST
H: SPAIN, CHILE

2. …be the two teams to make the final?
GERMANY, BRAZIL

3. …win the Cup?
GERMANY

4. …be the biggest disappointment? (a high-ranked team which will do less well than expected)
SPAIN

5. …be the biggest positive surprise? (a lower-ranked team that will do better than expected. Think: Turkey in Euro 2008.)
SOUTH AFRICA

6. …be the team(s) which will go out in the Group stage, but which would have advanced in another group?
PORTUGAL

7. …be the team which will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football?
SOUTH AFRICA

8. …be the Golden Boot? (top scoring player)
ROBINHO

9. …receive the Ballon d’Or? (most valuable player)
KAKA

You guys, your prognostics are so predictable, hidden fantasies. The politically correct ‘Brazil will win, everybody loves Brazioo’. The German are boring, the French are cheats (can you imagine, a handball?!!,and he didn’t tell the ref for the sake of those honest, proud, irreproachable Irish players. I’ve just shed a tear) The English are the best in the world (wonder why they have been performing at the level of Luxembourg for the last 40 years- Wait a minute, THAT’S BECAUSE THEIR THE BEST AT MARKETING, NOT FOOTBALL.) Argentina is also a wonderful nation of football, far better than it actually currently plays (maybe I’ll live long enough to see the real Argentina, doubt it though.) And Spain, they win one 1 Euro in 260 years and they’re living gods. The Netherlands play a wonderful offensive football, this HAS to be their cup (as in 1998, 2002, 2006, euro 2008, etc…. same BS.)If not France, I hope an African nation wins, (I can already hear the ‘ African players are so talented, fresh, but lack the discipline…predictable)

you lot are mad portugal gona kick you ass

you lot are mad portugal gona kick you ass the best player is gone be cristino ronaldo this time portugal going all the way 2 the final

the best player is gone be cristino ronaldo this time portugal going all the way 2 the final

1) Teams reaching the 2nd:
A. FRANCE & RSA
B. Argentina & NIGERIA
C. England & USA
D. Germany & Ghana
E. CAMEROON & Holland
F. Italy & Paraguay
G. Brazil & CIV
H. Spain & Switzerland

2) Brazil & Holland or Spain

3) Brazil

4) Italy

5) Nigeria & Cameroon (1/4 finals)

6) Portugal and Australia

7) Italy

8) Messi (5 goals)

9) Lucio (great defending and scoring 2 important goals)

To win the cup:

Location: too hot for European Nations

Endurance: some can give excitements but they cannot endure 7 matches altogether. That is why people got the misconception of “slow warming up”, like Italy, Germany, Brazil, before. They are not “slow warming up”, they just reserved energy for the whole tournament. This time there are many teams that can win the Cup, so anticipate they will not be doing good for the first game.

Ability: Better to tell those cannot win the Cup, they are Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Honduras, Switzerland, North Korea.

Experience: all those who won before

Luck: meeting strong teams early on knock out stage

Favourite: Brazil (after considering all the above)

South Africa. Southern Hemisphere. Winter is in June-July. Repeat until learned.

Spain will win, beating Germany or Italy in the final. England will struggle. Miroslav Klose will win the Golden Boot and Iker Casillas (the Spain goalkeeper, for all those who might not know who he is) will be most valuable player.

Most people in here underrate Mexico really bad; they don’t even realize that they beat Brazil (2-0), drew Chile (0-0) killed Uruguay (3-1), and completely destroyed Paraguay (6-0); They haven’t failed to qualify beyond the group stage in any competition they’ve entered since 86, including the last 4 world cups where they’ve finished above countries like Belgium, Ecuador, Croatia, Italy twice, Ireland, Norway, South Korea; And then look at their group they have winning reccords against both France and Uruguay this decade. To not even have them in the list of teams in question 6, just proves how much you really know about football or in the least about international competitions.

1. …be the two teams to make it out of the group stage in each group, A-H?

Group A: Mexico, South Africa
Group B: Argentina, South Korea
Group C: England, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia
Group E: Netherland, Denmark
Group F: Italy, Paraguay
Group G: Brazil, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Chile

2. …be the two teams to make the final?
Netherland – Italy

3. …win the Cup?
Italy

4. …be the biggest disappointment? Brazil

5. …be the biggest positive surprise? Slovenia(just like croatia in 98)

6. …be the team(s) which will go out in the Group stage, but which would have advanced in another group? Uruguay, France, Nigeria, USA, Switzerland

7. …be the team which will advance despite playing butt-numbingly boring football? Germany and Italy

8. …be the Golden Boot? Klose or some Dutch player

9. …receive the Golden Ball? Super Gigi

New Zealand will probably win the final 3-0

1).
A- France and South Africa
B- Argentina and Nigeria
C- England and USA
D- Germany and Ghana
E- Cameroon and Netherland
F- Italy and Paraguay
G- Brazil and Cote d’Ivoire
H- Spain and Switzerland

2). Brazil and Spain

3). Brazil

4). Italy or England

5). South Africa and Uruguay

6). Denmark and Mexico

7). France and Italy

8). Luis Fabiano

9). Kaka

Okay I hav decided to put this debate to rest once and for all by using and infallible prediction tool. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. I hear people starting to protest …but I will cut them off now…a STUPID computer is just as capable of predicting the WC as a STUPID human so shuttup. I played as USA and the difficulty was on regular. Algeria, N.korea, N.Zealand, and Honduras had to have standin teams of similar skill but if you think any of those teams has a chance of advancing from their groups your smoking crack. So here goes: Grp A 1.Mexico (9) 2.Uruguay (6) -GrpB 1.Argintina (7) 2. S.Korea (7) –GrpC 1.England (9) 2. USA (6)- GrpD 1.Serbia (7) 2. Germany (5)-GrpE 1.Denmark (5) 2. Holland (5)- GrpF 1.Italy (9) 2.Paraguay (4)-GrpG 1.Brazil (9) 2.Portugal (4)-GrpH 1.Spain (6) 2.Switzerland (6) ……items of note. The French earned the wooden spoon by losing all 3 of their games (ahh justice), the much hyped group G ended up a cake walk for brazil and Portugal but group H ended up with 3 teams on 6 pts (chile got eliminated on goals scored even tho they conceded less than the swiss) and england scored an astounding 14 goals in the group stage but only 2 against the USA. Round of 16. S. Korea 2-1Mexico, England 2-1 Germany, Denmark 2-0 Paraguay, Brazil 2-1 Switzerland, Argentina 3-1 Uruguay, USA 2-1 Serbia (EX T.) Italy 3-1 Holland, Spain 3-1 Portugal…items of note…England beating rivals Germany and Holland getting upset by the Italians are the highlights but USA’s Eddie Johnson scoring the winning goal against Serbia in the last minute of overtime is the defining moment of the round. Denmark and S. Korea emerge as dark horses. Quarterfinals: England 4-3 S.Korea, Brazil 3-2 Denmark (EX T.), Argentina 3-0 USA, Italy 2-0 Spain….items of note….the game of the round was the 4-3 thriller between Eng and S. Kor, spain the everpresent choke artists did just that, Brazil’s unimpressive showing against Denmark was decided in extra time. And a USA team wracked with injuries and suspensions and exhausted from the street brawl with Serbia gallantly held the Argintines scoreless in the first half only to be blasted in the second. They bowed out with a dignified QF run. The Semi’s (here’s were it gets good) England still on a high from beating Germany and the late winner against S. Korea stomps a fragile looking Brazil 3-1. Meanwhile Argentina dispatches Italy in a much more cagey 2-1 duel. This sets up the most Hyped final in WC history. Not only does England have a chance to avenge themselves against their Arg Rivals but they get a stab at their most hated enemy Maradona who coaches the team. The 3rd place match is harldy noticed with Italy putting a shellshocked brazil to the torch 2-0. The Brazilians immediately fire Dunga and make Pele head coach for 2014 which they know they will win. The much vaulted final is a 3-0 blowout in favor of England. Not only did England win the WC but they beat the evil maradona to do it. 95% of the country gets piss drunk for a week. Wayne Rooney is the golden boot winner (6) and he, Terry and Capello are knighted. July 11 is made a national holiday on which british children hang paper meche busts of maradona from trees and break them open with cricket bats whereupon beer falls out. Now lets only hope the WC really is that good!