World Cup First Round Predictions
Group A
Germany Costa Rica Poland Ecuador
Germany looks assured of making it through to the second round. Costa Rica, Poland, and Ecuador should prove little trouble for host Germany backed by their fervent and expectant home support.
Led by Michael Ballack, Germany's fate will be largely determined by the result of the opening match against Costa Rica. Costa Rica are well-ranked and no pushover. Paulo Wanchope and the Ticos are quick and strong, and will give the Germans a good match.
Poland and Ecuador would seem to hold little hope of going through. Poland is currently ranked outside the top twenty teams by FIFA and will look to Miroslaw Szymkowiak in midfield and Celtic's Maciej Zurawski in offense.
Ecuador are long-shots away from their high-altitude fortress and will have to rely on a solid defense and inspiration from Ulises De La Cruz farther upfield.
GROUP B
England Paraguay Trinidad & Tobago Sweden
Paraguay are no pushover, but odds would favor England, ranked in the world's top ten, and Sweden getting into the round of 16.
England's Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson will take David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, et al into the tournament with, as always, high hopes from the massed travelling supporters. Facing off against current world number 14 Sweden should be a thrilling match. Henrik Larsson and the towering and temperamental Zlatan Ibrahimovic are sure to cause trouble for opposing defenders.
Paraguay is farther down in the world rankings at 30, but cannot be dismissed. The team that played in the Athens Olympiad, including Julio Daniel Dos Santos, is coming into its own.
Trinidad & Tobago, ranked just outside the top 50, is made up of mostly English League players and is making its first trip to the Final--and it will probably be a short but emotional stay for the likes of Dwight Yorke, Stern John and Port Vale's Chris Birchall.
GROUP C
Argentina Ivory Coast Serbia & Montenegro The Netherlands
A brutal draw. The Group of Death. Money would favor Argentina and Holland making it through...but one never knows. Will the hyper-talented Argentines sail through, or self-destruct? A squad of mainly lesser-known Dutch-league players from Holland to take it all--or limp home early?
Argentina is currently ranked fourth and always a contender for the title. With a lineup that features Juan Riquelme, Hernan Crespo, Carlos Teves, Barcelona's Lionel Messi, and more talent in reserve, they should fare well this time around.
Holland under Marco van Basten is a mix of Dutch League players not well known outside of Holland and the likes of Premier League stars Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie, and Arjen Robben. The Dutch did not qualify in 2002 and have self-destructed on more than one occasion; the third ranked team in the world won't disappoint this time around.
Ivory Coast is making its first appearance at the Finals and can boast one genuine superstar--Chelsea's Didier Drogba supported by Aruna Dindane in attack and Arsenal's Kolo Toure at the back.
The former Yugoslavia previously qualified eight times for the World Cup finals, the new nation of Serbia and Montenegro has made it for the second time*. The team has a very tight defense, which yielded but one goal in the qualifiers. The Plavi ('the Blues') have yet to lose a competetive fixture under coach Ilija Petkovic.
*[the first appearance in 1998 was made under the name of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]
GROUP D
Mexico Iran Angola Portugal
A tough draw for Iran. Mexico and Portugal should be able to progress to the next round. Portugal powered through the qualifiers, the team should have too much experience for Iran and debutants Angola. Mexico, too, is simply too deep for Iran. First-timer Angola will exit early.
With a world ranking in the top ten and Jason Borghetti up front, Mexico has a lot going for it and traditionally performs well on the biggest stage of all. The Mexicans defeated Brazil in the 2005 Confederations Cup.
Iran has a very physical side that has mainly cut its teeth in the German Bundesliga. Ranked in the top 20, Iran cannot be dismissed lightly.
Angola, however, can and may suffer from beginners' stage fright. The Black Antelopes will be looking to goalscoring midfielder and skipper Akwa for inspiration.
GROUP E
Italy Ghana USA Czech Republic
Will the highly athletic but semi-skilled US be able to handle the likes of Italy and the Czech Republic? We doubt it. Will the Italians sulk home after another "fixed" match? If they lose, watch Italian-language blogs for the usual recriminations. This time the Azzurri should make it to the round of 16 and beyond.
The Czechs are the highest ranked (currently 2nd in the world after Brazil) team in the group, but Italy might be better at the moment. Pavel Nedved is still not 100%. The same can be said for the giant Jan Karel. Milan Baros can be dangerous up front but blows hot and cold.
The US has in Landon Donovan a very skilled player, and the team plays together very, very well. In spite of an inflated FIFA ranking in the world's top 10, they could surprise again as at World Cup 2002.
This is Ghana's first trip to the World Cup and they look on paper the strongest of the African contenders with Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien powerful and talented in midfield. They rank in the top 50 teams in the world.
GROUP F
Brazil Croatia Australia Japan
For Japan and Australia, a very hard road indeed. Zico Japan may struggle against the more physical Croatian and Australian challenge, though on their day Japan's greater skill and neat, possession football is capable of overcoming both these lower ranked teams.
Brazil go in to the tournament as holders and strong favorites. Ranked number one in the world, the defending champion will feature Adriano, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho up front--with Robinho in reserve. An unbelievably rich pool of attacking talent.
Croatia, ranked in the top 20, is a talented, hard-to-beat team. Twenty-one-year-old Niko Kranjcar will attempt to pull the strings in midfield.
Australia is back after 32 years. Experienced Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has transformed the Socceroos in a short space of time. Mark Viduka is perhaps the best player for the 49th ranked team.
GROUP G
France Switzerland South Korea Togo
An interesting group. The French struggled to find their form in the qualifiers and are clearly in a period of transition with little fresh talent on the horizon. 1998 World Cup-winning veterans Zidane, Makelele and Thuram have returned to the fold.
Switzerland are inexperienced and just squeaked through at the expense of Ireland and Israel in their group and Turkey in the play-offs.
South Korea are a solid, pacy side and should do well if they can adapt to the new conditions. More of the team now play overseas and expectations are high back in Seoul.
Togo, a tiny nation, is still an unknown quantity in their first World Cup. We expect France and South Korea to progress.
GROUP H
Spain Ukraine Tunisia Saudi Arabia
A soft draw for perennial underachievers Spain, who, as always, have the talent and strength in depth to perform well. Liverpool's Luis Garcia and Xavi Alonso should be influential in midfield with strikers Raul and Fernando Torres looking to gel upfront with Morientes, another Liverpool player, in support.
Watch for Ukraine, with Shevchenko's goals, to join them in the next round, though African champions Tunisia are rapidly improving under the wise management of Roger Lemerre.
We expect Tunisia and Saudi Arabia to narrowly miss out, unless the Ukrainians catch stage fright or Shevchenko is injured or tired after a long season in Europe.
posted by Alexei @ 10:36 PM
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