World Cup Predictions - Groups A-D

Oops. I realised a couple of days ago that I hadn’t finished off my great World Cup predictions. I know that most of the groups are sorted now, so you’ll have to take my word for it when I say that this is really what I think/thought would happen…

Group A

GermanyPoland
Ecuador
Costa Rica

There’s no way the Germans won’t go through here so it’s any one from the other three. My money is on Poland.

Group B

England
Sweden
Paraguay
Trinidad & Tobago

England and Sweden, no doubt about it.

Group C

Argentina
Holland
Ivory Coast
Serbia & Montenegro

Aaah yes the much maligned “group of death”. I think this is the only group were any team could realistically go through. I’ve been very impressed with the Ivory Coast, but I’ve got to go with the big guns so it’s Holland and Argentina for me.

Group D

Portugal
Mexico
Iran
Angola

I picked Iran in the sweepstake at work, which I obviously delighted with (that’s a fiver I’ll never see again). This should be pretty much cut and dried with Portugal and Mexico going through.

World Cup Predictions - Group E

Group E

Italy
Ghana
United States
Czech Republic

This is another group where I think three teams will be fighting it out for second place after waving Italy off into the sunset.

Ghana have had some good results in the build-up to the finals, beating South Korea 3-1, Jamaica 4-1 and holding Turkey to a 1-1 draw. "Soccer" (god help us) has come on in leaps and bounds in the States over the last few years, but a 1-0 defeat to Morocco isn't going to get anyone too excited. The Czechs always do well in big tournaments (Euro 96 anyone?), so I'm going to go with them.

World Cup Predictions - Group F

Group F

Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Does anybody think Brazil won't win this group? Thought not. The other place is up for the grabs though, as all three teams are in with a good shout of progressing.

Croatia have a good tournament pedigree, but in their last two friendlies they lost 1-0 to Poland and drew 2-2 with Iran. Australia had a fantastic draw with Holland recently which will help with their confidence, and Japan have been ok if not setting the world alight during their preparations. I think I'm going to have to go for Croatia.

World Cup Predictions - Group G

Group G

France
Switzerland
South Korea
Togo

France are a dead cert from Group G, so it's realistically Switzerland or South Korea for second place. Korea had a fantastic World Cup in 2002 but their recent performances haven't been too inspiring, but having said that, Switzerland? Switzerland? Behave. France and South Korea for me.

World Cup Predictions - Group H

Here goes. I'm going to start at the bottom and work my way up the groups as it'll read better...

Group H

Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

I don’t think there are too many groups you could say were cut and dried, but Group H is the closest we’re going to get. I’d be amazed if Spain and Ukraine didn’t progress.

Spain are one of the perennial under-achievers at major events and have been for years, but this year I think they could go a long way. I don’t know an awful lot about Ukraine, but with Shevchenko up front they’ll certainly be too much for Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Pointless Post #2

Ok so I’ve decided not to bother writing anything about Greeno, it’s been done to death everywhere else…

Instead I am going to do something revolutionary, something not seen before anytime anyplace (ahem). I’m going to predict who I think will progress from each group in the World Cup. Hurrah!

But not today. I’m too tired. It’ll keep until tomorrow.