Weekend Predictions: World Cup Qualifying

The big European leagues might have closed their doors for summer. But Weekend Predictions doesn’t quit so easily.

This weekend we’re previewing and predicting three World Cup Qualifiers: USA vs Honduras, Sweden vs Denmark, and Argentina vs Colombia. Read on for those predictions, and then leave your own in the comments.

USA vs Honduras (Chicago, Saturday 6th June, 7:30pm)

USA were apparently coasting through the hexagonal and all the way to South Africa 2010. Until they met Costa Rica on Wednesday night and were handed a 3-1 defeat/foobtalling lesson combo. Now it’s panic stations, with Michael Bradley suspended and chronic lack of decent full-backs

Honduras are a team on the rise and beat Mexico 3-1 back in April, but will be missing David Suazo through injury.

Prediction: Bob Bradley’s men to get back on track(ish) with a nervous 2-1 win. Onyewu to score off a set piece.

USA vs Honduras betting odds via PaddyPower

Sweden vs Denmark (Solna, Saturday 6th June, 8pm)

Several reasons this is exciting. First, it’s the big Scandinavian derby. Second, Denmark are currently top of Group 1, while home team Sweden desperately need the points. Third, when these two met in Euro 2008 qualifying, a drunken Danish fan attacked the ref.

Not saying that’s a good thing. And not saying it will happen again. But it’s an example of the type of wackiness that ensues when these two meet.

Oh, and it’s also Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs the future Zlatan Ibrahimovic. At least in Nicklas Bendtner’s head it is anyway.

Prediction: Home advantage is king. Sweden to win 1-0 with the real Zlatan on the scoresheet.

Sweden vs Denmark betting odds via PaddyPower.

p.s. We still need a new Sweden blogger.

Argentina vs Colombia (Buenos Aires, Saturday 6th June, 6pm)

Argentina will still be stinging from that 6-1 defeat vs Bolivia. But weird things happen at altitude, so it’s not quite the disaster it looks on paper. Still, it’s going to be interesting to see how successfully Diego Maradona’s men bounce back. (Also, is it weird that it now feels perfectly natural for El Diego to be ib charge of the albiceleste?)

This game is even more important for Colombia, who need to make up three points on Uruguay to take 5th place (which gets you a playoff vs the 4th place CONCACAF team).

Will be interesting to see what sort of state the pitch at El Monumental is in. There was a rock concert by Los Piojos (The Lice) there last weekend and a certain someone is not impressed.

“It’s disastrous,” Maradona told reporters. “I hoped we could look for another stadium but I was told that River is the only one approved by FIFA.”
“I’m not bothered about River wanting to earn money but I think they should be able to organise the dates properly,” he said.
“We’ve brought over (Lionel) Messi, (Sergio) Aguero, (Javier) Mascherano, (Fernando) Gago and we’re asking players who cost millions of euros to play on a piece of waste ground.
“I’m not interested in the finances of River but it’s horrible. Regrettably we have to play there.”

What could the world’s most famous Boca fan possibly have against River?

Prediction: The pitch will be fine and Argentina will win 3-1, with Leo Messi (who else?) amongst the goals.

Argentina vs Colombia betting odds via PaddyPower

Bonus Video: Fan footage of Los Pijos at El Monumental:

Time to look back at last week’s predictions. I scored a very disprespectable zero. So let’s move on to some other people’s scores.

Congratulations to:

Gold
Maximilian 9pts (Bordeaux to win Ligue 1, correct scorelines for English and German cup finals, plus Drogba to score)

Bronze
wob: 7 pts (Correct scoreline in English and German cup finals, plus Drogba to score)

We have our first medal recall after wob pointed out that I got it wrong. Correct podium placings look like this:

Gold
wob: 9pts (Bordeaux to win Ligue 1, correct scoreline in English and German cup finals, plus Drogba to score)*

Silver
Maximilian 9pts (Bordeaux to win Ligue 1, correct scorelines for English and German cup finals, plus Drogba to score)

Bronze
Laurie: 8pts (Bordeaux to win Ligue 1, correct scorelines in English and German cup finals)

*wob takes gold because he got his prediction in before Maximilian.

Special mention to Lilrashio for being the only one to predict Betis falling through the La Liga trapdoor (on the basis that Osasuna had two players from Iran).

So, what are your predictions for this weekend?

USA – Honduras
Sweden – Denmark
Argentina – Colombia

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