So the draw for the greatest sporting event has been made and England have been handed a fantastic chance to go far in this competition. Without further ado, my predictions (and explanations) for the 2010 World Cup!
Group A
1. France - 7pts
2. Uruguay - 4pts
3. Mexico - 3pts
4. South Africa - 1pts
Unfortunately for the hosts they're going to make history as the first host side to go out at the group stage. They've got some good players, but are going to be completely outclassed by the three other teams in their group. That being said, I think they'll start well and get a 1-1 draw against Mexico.
France are utterly mediocre compared to what they used to be. Their saving grace here is that they'll get through on sheer talent alone. Like Argentina they're let down managerially. The experienced players are over the hill and the players in their prime aren't experienced enough at this level.
Uruguay are better than Mexico in my opinion. Mexico are very toothless going forward with their main centre forward, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, 37 by the time summer rolls round. Uruguay on the other hand have Diego Forlan, one of the best strikers in Europe at the moment, leading their front line.
Group B
1. Argentina - 9pts
2. Nigeria - 4pts
3. S. Korea - 4pts
4. Greece - 0pts
That's right, Argentina to win all their group games. Yes they cocked up their qualifying campaign rather well and yes they're managed by someone so incomptent it makes Raymond Domenech look like Alex Feruson. But this is a team with Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez and Walter Samuel available to them, they should breeze through this group. That being said, like England they have real problems between the sticks. They have a good up and coming goalie with Oscar Ustari but he's only played for them once, while Leo Franco and Roberto Abbondanzierri, their two most experienced goalies, have both been ignored by Maradonna.
The rest of this group is a bunch of mediocre national squads. Korea won't match the achievements of 2002, nor Greece 2004. Nigeria are the only other team in this group with the depth and quality to make a go of it.
Group C
1. England - 7pts
2. USA - 6pts
3. Slovenia - 2pts
4. Algeria - 1pts
England couldn't really have asked for a better group. The USA and Slovenia are beatable without being push overs, so we shouldn't get too complacent. Algeria are a team there for the taking as far as I'm concerned. Whoever we have in goal shouldn't be too heavily tested against any of these sides, although I expect Slovenia to surprise us with a draw. Dunno why, I just do.
The USA should do well in this group. They're a good team with some good players and are difficult to break down. Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard are known quantities to us here in England and are both cracking players. Players such as Landon Donovan also provide a real threat on goal as well.
Group D
1. Germany - 7pts
2. Ghana - 5pts
3. Serbia - 2pts
4. Australia - 1pts
Germany to win the group with their typical efficiency. With players like Ballack, Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Gomes and Klose they'll inevitably do well and will overpower the rest of their group. Only sticking point for them will be Ghana. I can see that game getting mired in the middle of the park as both sides strong midfields slug it out.
Talking of Ghana, they'll do well in this group. With Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah in midfield they'll be able to choke other teams while also getting the ball to their forward quickly and accurately.
Serbia are a good side and are unfortunate to land this group. In another group they'd have stood a solid chance of getting through. A good side with some good players, let down by no definite article. Their main striker in Nikola Zigic who can barely get a game for Valencia.
Australia aren't the team of four years ago. No depth, no quality, will get a get a point out of sheer determination and stubbornness.
Group E
1. Holland - 7pts
2. Cameroon - 5pts
3. Denmark - 2pts
4. Japan - 1pts
Ah Holland, you little tease. You promise so much and deliver so little. Attractive, flowing football is all well and good, but not when you haven't the grit to knuckle down when needed. I can see a good game between them and Cameroon (2-2). Eto'o will have a field day against their back line, but the rest of the squad will let him down. The Dutch really do have a problem defence. Not one player in their backline is world class and with Van der Sar now retired from the international stage they don't have him to fall back on.
Denmark and Japan are much like Korea and Greece, quite mediocre. Not their fault of course, but they'll have a poor tournament.
Group F
1. Italy - 9pts
2. Paraguay - 4pts
3. Slovakia - 4pts
4. New Zealand - 0pts
The World Champions will qualify with ease from this group. They'll be slow to start and may have to grind out a result against Paraguay, but a demolition of New Zealand will set them well on their way.
Paraguay and Slovakia will be seperated solely on goal difference. It really comes down to who can give New Zealand the biggest hiding really.
As for the Kiwi's, what the record for the most goals conceded in the group stage?
Group G
1. Brazil - 9pts
2. Ivory Coast - 6pts
3. Portugal - 3pts
4. North Korea - 0pts
Group of Death, how nice of you to join us! This group contains two of the teams England desperately wanted to avoid in Portugal and the Ivory Coast, while Brazil will always be a monumental threat, especially when going forward.
I reckon the Brazilians can win all these matches, I really do. They've had a transformation under Dunga, similar to the one England's had under Fabio Capello. Gone is the celebrity culture of Brazil-that-was and in is the no-nonsense, well balanced game which is utterly devastating. Whereas pre-Dunga they were like Real Madrid, a bunch of stars playing football, now they're Barcelona, footballers first who just happen to be stars as well.
I've gone for the Ivory Coast to take the other qualification spot. They've a fantastic spine to the team, while Didier Drogba is in the form of his life. Yes the Portugese have Ronaldo, who is without doubt an amazing player. However, that's about it. No-one in that Portugal side leaps out at me bar him. If he has a bad tournament, Portugal have a bad tournament. The two are mutually inclusive.
Poor North Korea though. Their glorious leader Kim-Jong Il has said that North Korean matches in South Africa will only be aired if they win. Looks like North Koreans won't be seeing much of South Africa, then...
Group H
1. Spain - 9pts
2. Chile - 4pts
3. Switzerland - 4pts
4. Honduras - 0pts
Spain to dominate this group easily. Chile will put up a fight, but that's about it. Spain have far too much attacking talent to not swat any of these teams out of the way.
Chile and Switzerland seem quite evenly matched for me. No real match winners, nothing to really shout about. This game will be rather boring.
Honduras will get a thorough dicking by everyone. Like New Zealand, I've no idea how they even qualified.
Now that's the group stages done and dusted, onto the meat and potatoes of the competition: the knockout stages.
Second Round:
France 2 - 1 Nigeria
England 2 - 1 Ghana
Germany 1 - 0 USA (AET)
Argentina 1 - 1 Uruguay (Argentina win on penalties)
Holland 2 - 0 Paraguay
Brazil 3 - 0 Chile
Italy 2 - 1 Cameroon (AET)
Spain 2 - 1 Ivory Coast
Quick Summary:
France, England, Holland, Brazil and Spain all overcome their opponents due to their depth and quality. Germany to have a tough time against the Americans due to their tight-knit nature and organisation. Argentina and Uruguay will be a tough one for both sides, but Argentina's depth of star players will see them through a shootout. Italy to win due to superior fitness levels deep into extra time.
Quarter Finals:
Holland 1 - 1 Brazil (Brazil win on penalties)
England 1 - 0 France
Argentina 0 - 2 Germany
Italy 1 - 2 Spain
Quick Summary:
Holland and Brazil will go right to the wire. Heroics by Julio Cesar keep Brazil in the competition.
England score early and grind out a win against a lacklustre French side. Lack of decent service to Henry/Benzema/Anelka to be their undoing.
Argentina's luck runs out against a highly organised German side. This game should be won from the touchline, with Maradonna running round like a headless chicken and Joachim Low keeping cool and exploiting the lack of Argentinian leadership.
Italy and Spain to be the most entertaining match of the tournment so far. Immovable object versus unstoppable force time. Italy to score from a set-piece, but Spain just edge it due to relentless pressure.
Semi Finals:
England 0 - 2 Brazil
Germany 0 - 1 Spain
Quick Summary:
England's intrepid run comes to a brutal end. Defensive fumbles aplenty is the dish of the day. I can see the pace of Brazil causing havoc for what is quite a slow defence (with the exception of Ashley Cole).
Germany efficiency outdone by Spanish elegance.
Third Place Play-Off:
Germany 1 - 1 England (England win on penalties)
Quick Summary:
Well it has to happen some time...
Final:
Brazil 2 - 1 Spain
Quick Summary:
Brazil's improved defensive qualities see them lifting the trophy for the sixth time. Power and pace combined will shatter a tired Spanish squad.
Top Goalscorer:
Luis Fabiano
Now these could all be totally wrong, and most likely will be, but it'd be a good tournament if it played out like this. Brazil vs Spain is probably the best final I can think of if I'm to be honest.
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