Anonymous Germany World Cup 2006 Predictions

 

Ok so the draw's been made for next summer's World Cup. It's now time to go through the ritual of predicting the outcome of the tournament, and guessing who will play who in the knockout stages. Here's my take.

I reckon that each of the groups will finish in this order:

Group A
Germany top, then Poland, Costa Rica, and Ecuador

Group B
England top, then Sweden, Paraguay, and Trinidad & Tobago

Group C
Argentina top, then Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro, and Ivory Coast

Group D
Portugal top, then Mexico, Iran, and Angola

Group E
Czech Republic top, then Italy, USA, and Ghana

Group F
Brazil top, then Croatia, Australia, and Japan

Group G
France top, then South Korea, Switzerland, and Togo

Group H
Spain top, then Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia

Then the last 16 knockout stages:

Germany will beat Sweden
England will beat Poland
Argentina will beat Mexico
Netherlands will beat Portugal

Czech Republic will beat Croatia
Brazil will beat Italy
France will beat Ukraine
Spain will beat South Korea

Then onto the quarter finals:

Argentina will beat Germany
England will beat the Netherlands
Czech Republic will beat France
Brazil will beat Spain

And the semis...

Argentina will beat Czech Republic
Brazil will beat England

Finally...

Brazil will beat Argentina

I know a Europe vs South America final would be nicer than an all South American affair, but the bottom line is this; if Argentina get past the Netherlands in their group, I really can't see anyone stopping them all the way to the final. France would have a chance, but I somehow see them slipping up against the Czechs. In the other half of the draw, I think England would find it hard going in a potential semi against a Brazilian side playing at their best

Argentina vs Netherlands is the key game; if the Netherlands win, it mixes up the draw and will probably lead to an England-Argentina quarter (with the winner playing Brazil) and Holland facing the Czechs or the French in the other semi. I'd still bank Brazil to win either way.

Of course, if the last World Cup is anything to go by, none of this will actually happen, and the Ivory Coast will probably win the trophy…