So, 3 days left to go until the action kicks off in South Africa and already the drama has started. Rio's out! Drogba's out (probably)! Robben's out! Essien's out! Someone up there reeeeeeeally doesn't like people who've played for Chelsea.
But who's going to win? Euro champions Spain? A Ronaldinho-less Brazil? Maradona's Argies? England? Ok, maybe not that last one. And who's going to be the best player? Who's going to be the surprise package? Which great team is gonna go out in the group stage? The answers are just 72 hours away.
Personally, I'm backing Spain to win. And I expect England to make their traditional quarter-finals exit on penalties. How about your country?
But who's going to win? Euro champions Spain? A Ronaldinho-less Brazil? Maradona's Argies? England? Ok, maybe not that last one. And who's going to be the best player? Who's going to be the surprise package? Which great team is gonna go out in the group stage? The answers are just 72 hours away.
Personally, I'm backing Spain to win. And I expect England to make their traditional quarter-finals exit on penalties. How about your country?
Group A
France
Mexico
South Africa
Uruguay
Looks to me that France will go through unless they choke like only a french team can do. Second place? Mexico, with perhaps uruguay, but that is unlikely. South africa has the home pitch advantage, but they suck so much monkeyballs that...
Group B
Argentina
Greece
Korea Republic
Nigeria
Should be Argentina and Nigeria. Greece... not a chance. Korea might pull an upset, but... Nigeria without Mikel, could be at disadvantage.
Group C
Algeria
England
Slovenia
USA
This group seems about to be decided in the first round. USA/England to go through, the US on that strange thing they have called 'team spirit'. Both could be quarter final material, but I think the draw makes that impossible.
Group D
Australia
Germany
Ghana
Serbia
This one is tricky, the Krauts will of course make it through, but who to follow? Essien is out, could make the deciding to Serbia's advantage. Australia can make it, too...
Group E
Cameroon
Denmark
Japan
Netherlands
Ah, the oranges rarely fuck up before the knock out stage, so they'll get through this group. My money is on denmark for the second place, as I trust more in their organisation. Cameroon might surprise me, though, it is in Africa, after all. Japan? Unlikely to stand a chance.
Group F
Italy
New Zealand
Paraguay
Slovakia
No matter how hard italy tries, I think it is unlikely that even their geriatric team will miss advancement in this group. Paraguay to follow, most likely.
Group G
Brazil
Ivory Coast
Korea DPR
Portugal
The nasty group. The Koreans are unlikely to get any points, but the rest? If Drogba is back in play as they said he would be, the Ivory Coast stand a chance, but I still believe in the countries where they speak Portuguese.
Group H
Chile
Honduras
Spain
Switzerland
Spain, easily. They generally wait until the quarter finals to choke. Switzerland and Chile to fight it out, gladiator-style, about the second spot.
"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world" - Calvin.
This message last edited by jh on 08/06/2010 at 09:48:45 AM
It's almost here.... The World Cup
- 08/06/2010 07:37:57 AM
791 Views
I did! It's an anti-Chelsea conspiracy!
New Zealand's going to win!
- 08/06/2010 08:30:48 AM
547 Views
Killen is so confident that he's booked his honeymoon for the same time as the playoffs. Brilliant. *NM*
- 08/06/2010 08:43:52 AM
327 Views
Additional freakish statistic: Spain have won 96% of matches under Vicente del Bosque.
- 08/06/2010 09:39:37 AM
543 Views
Is any national team good enough defensively to "pull an Inter"?
- 08/06/2010 09:57:43 AM
581 Views
Italy?
- 08/06/2010 10:05:20 AM
580 Views
Makes sense. They've done it before, and it's always the national team strategy...
- 08/06/2010 10:08:13 AM
532 Views
Meh. Look at Italy's defenders.
- 08/06/2010 10:24:27 AM
507 Views
Dear God, I hope you are right
- 08/06/2010 10:28:24 AM
560 Views
That's funny coming from a German. 
- 08/06/2010 10:30:44 AM
516 Views
- 08/06/2010 10:33:12 AM
545 Views
- 08/06/2010 10:30:44 AM
516 Views
- 08/06/2010 10:33:12 AM
545 Views
Well, not quite in the same manner as Inter. That was, as you said, insane.
- 08/06/2010 10:37:45 AM
669 Views
Let's do a group by group analysis
- 08/06/2010 09:44:42 AM
781 Views
My team won't win...
- 08/06/2010 10:06:57 AM
585 Views
- 08/06/2010 01:54:21 PM
539 Views
- 08/06/2010 01:54:21 PM
539 Views
Which raises the question...
- 08/06/2010 01:55:43 PM
525 Views
~horror~
- 08/06/2010 02:09:04 PM
570 Views
I thought there might be a ritual sacrifice of vacuum cleaners to cleanse the game.
- 08/06/2010 02:13:22 PM
547 Views
Oh, but if Drogba does play then Ivory Coast have a great shot at the quarters
- 08/06/2010 10:15:05 AM
540 Views
That's like saying England would have a home advantage in Russia. *NM*
- 08/06/2010 10:25:22 AM
323 Views
*NM*
- 08/06/2010 10:25:22 AM
323 Views
Did anyone read about North Korea's hilarious screw-up with their third keeper?
- 08/06/2010 10:28:56 AM
532 Views
Spain will win, and Australia will beat Germany 1-0 in the first round
- 08/06/2010 11:35:02 AM
554 Views
With all those countries just waiting to choke at the crucial moment....
- 08/06/2010 12:46:36 PM
624 Views
- 08/06/2010 01:50:22 PM
541 Views
- 08/06/2010 01:50:22 PM
541 Views
Truthfully, I'll watch, but I doubt I'll be a huge supporter of any country.
- 08/06/2010 01:07:54 PM
504 Views
I've been a traditional supporter of Germany. But I do support Australia too.
- 08/06/2010 01:49:00 PM
565 Views
