2006 World Cup prediction thread

[rudel.dietrich]

Post your World Cup predictions here if you please.
Maybe we can make a contest out of it...


Here are the official groups

Group A

Costa Rica
Ecuador
Germany
Poland

Group B

England
Paraguay
Sweden
Trinidad and Tobago

Group C

Argentina
Cote d'Ivoire
Netherlands
Serbia and Montenegro

Group D

Angola
Iran
Mexcio
Portugal

Group E

Czech Republic
Ghana
Italy
USA

Group F

Australia
Brazil
Croatia
Japan

Group G

France
Republic of Korea
Switzerland
Togo

Group H

Saudi Arabia
Spain
Tunisia
Ukraine


Group A predictions:
Germany drew a lucky group here. Of course it is possible they could slip up, but they will not do so.
The other three will claw it out for a spot in the second round but I have Poland emerging out of the group along with Germany.

Group B predictions:
England also drew a favourable group and have to be the favourites. Like Germany (or anyone else for that matter) they could slip up to good Paraguay and Sweden teams. However odds are they will not and will handily win the group.
In something of an upset I have Paraguay beating out Sweden by a tiny margain and moving out of the group stage.
Trinidad and Tobago are just happy to be here and have no real chance.

Group C predictions:
Finaly a group where we could have a reall battle on our hands. Argentina on paper are the best out of this group, but their dissapointing recent finals have me doubting them.
I have the Netherlands coming out the winner and Argentina coming out by a margain less than they would like.
As good a story as the Ivory Coast is, I do not see them being trouble for anyone.
Serbia and Montenegro had an extremly solid defense in the qualifications and defense counts in the WC where play is usualy slower.
They could threaten but chances are slim.
Also of note I will be attending many of their matches since that is who my gf is pulling for.

Group D predictions:
No real powerhouse in this group but some exciting football to be had.
Mexico is a tad bit overrated (qualifying in NA is much different than qualifying in Europe) but will still advance. However, I expect Portugal to win the group.
Iran has some talent and could give the top two teams some fits but should not threaten to move out of the group.
Angola is not even really an African power team and should not give the other three too many fits.

Group E predictions:
The group most of the people on this board will care about.
I will go ahead and draw the wrath of this board and make my prediction right now.
The USA will not advance. They will put up a brave fight but fall short partly due to the bad luck of drawing a tough group.
I hope I am wrong however.
Italy will take the group with the Czechs right behind them.
Ghana has a tough defense but that defense will find that playing against European competition is a big tougher to stop that that in Africa.

Group F predictions:
Brazil are the favourites heading into the competition and for good reason. An amazingly talented team. The only thing that could hamper them is the pressure. Even losing in the finals will be seen as disaster back home.
A team that has nothing to win besides the whole event itself and nothing at all to lose.
They will however take this group easily.
Croatia has a good WC pedigree and are my pick to also come out of the group in a fight with a tough Japanese team.
Australia will make for an early exit and the nation will go back to caring about rugby.

Group G Predictions:
France drew a laughable group and will easily advance at the head of this group.
ROK and Switzerland will battle it out for the other spot out of this group.
I predict Switzerland will advance than for no other reason than this will almost be a home country affair for them (and lots of German speaking fans).
Togo will not be a factor.

Group H Predictions:

Like group D, this is a lackluster group. Spain is the only powerhouse here but like Argentina are dissapointing in WC play.
They will head the group. The Ukraine will also advance while the Saudis and Tunisia will claw it out for third.



Stage Two



Now we are down to 16 and some heated matchups will be played as the knockout phase begins.

Match 49
Germany
vs
Paraguay


Again Germany draws a lucky draw here. They will face a tough test but should advance against the South Americans.
If England somehow fall to runners up in group B this will be a barnburner.

Match 50
The Netherlands
vs
Mexico

A decent match with high scoring possibilities. But The Netherlands should prevail and move on.

Match 53
Italy
vs
Croatia
If Italy is to suffer an upset, this would be it. But my prediction is that Italy will win a narrow match and move on.

Match 54
France
vs
Ukraine
France should easily move beyond this match. By no means will it be domination. But they should win comfortably enough.

Match 51
England
vs
Poland

Could be the match of round 2. England is and should be favoured. But something about this match would make me uncomfortable if I was an English fan.
I predict Poland wins in a nailbiter possibly on penalties.
The suicide rate in England triples for two weeks afterwards.

Match 52
Portugal
vs
Argentina
Another superb match if my predictions hold true.
Argentina will recover some of their form here and defeat a high quality Portugal team.

Match 55
Brazil
vs
Czech Republic


What should be a good match on paper will be dominated by the Brazillians and the Czechs will be sent home early and heartbroken.
If the USA were to somehow advance and then do the impossible and win this match it would be the single biggest thing to boost the game in America that could possibly ever happen.

Match 56
Spain
vs
Switzerland

Maybe this is just something I want to see...
But I have enourmous crowd support carrying the Swiss to a victory here.
But if I was a betting man I would take the Spanish 999/1000
Still, my prediction is what I will go with.
The Swiss will advance and a nation will rejoice

Quarter Finals

Germany
vs
Netherlands

This match while being of the highest quality will be quite friendly. The Dutch will be out in full force but the German fans will be deafening.
This will be one to watch on TV if you want to hear the power of international football.

Italy
vs
France

End of the road for the French here.
In a match that will have more dives than the highboard event at the summer games, Italian defence will prove superior to the French attack.
The French will drown their sorrows in a nice cognac and Europe will groan as Italy moves on.

Argentina
vs
Poland
Another bold prediction, Poland will be the Cinderella off the tournement.
Argentina will again dissapoint and will lose againt a tough Polish side.

Brazil
vs
Switzerland

Switzerland will head home with their heads high and breasts filled with pride after suffering a dissapointing loss to the juggernaughts.


Semi Finals

Germany
vs
Italy
It will be a close run thing but I am counting on massive crowd support to rally the Germans to finding a way to break the Italian defense and dispupt their slow but unstoppable build ups.
Could be the match of the tournement.

Poland
vs
Brazil

The clock strikes midnight.
Brazil wins a match that while good was never in doubt.

Third place match
Italy
vs
Poland
Italy takes home third place in what will be a pretty good match.
Poland will go back home elated at their run and looking forward to the UEFA 2008 tournement in Austria and Switzerland


The Final

Germany
vs
Brazil
It all comes down to this. The best team in the world vs a young team with a nation as the 12th man.
Crowd support can only carry you so far...but in this case it will be far enough.
Germany will win in regulation in a high scoring match that could rank as one of the best ever.

Your FIFA 2006 World Cup Champions
Germany



There you have it.
That is what I think will go down.
What do you think?

[Long_Long_Name]

Isn't there already a thread started about World Cup predictions?

In any case, I like Germany a lot, it's one of my favorite teams, but to expect them to win is more than I'll do.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

Isn't there already a thread started about World Cup predictions?

The other thread is a poll (and a poor one at that) for the overall winner which any fool can do.

Here you have (or at least I would like you to try) to predict each group and then all the knockout games.
I may devise a points system and then decide a winner

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

The other thread is a poll (and a poor one at that) for the overall winner which any fool can do.

Here you have (or at least I would like you to try) to predict each group and then all the knockout games.
I may devise a points system and then decide a winner

[marc]

I've been hearing a lot of crap about how England is "screwed" why is this? I thought they were one of the 3 or 4 favorites, was there a key injury or something?

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by marc

I've been hearing a lot of crap about how England is "screwed" why is this? I thought they were one of the 3 or 4 favorites, was there a key injury or something?

They did lose a key player, but they are not screwed.

Will somebody eventually answer me when I ask why is it that the English team is so popular on this board? Is it just the language?

[marc]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

They did lose a key player, but they are not screwed.

Will somebody eventually answer me when I ask why is it that the English team is so popular on this board? Is it just the language?

I have an "investment" in England for the World cup that's why I ask

Which player is out? Please tell me it's not Rooney or Gerrard

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by marc

I have an "investment" in England for the World cup that's why I ask

Which player is out? Please tell me it's not Rooney or Gerrard

Rooney's been out for weeks now.

[marc]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

Rooney's been out for weeks now.

Damn, thought it might be him. He's out for World Cup indefinitely?

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by marc

Damn, thought it might be him. He's out for World Cup indefinitely?

I think the latest is that he won't start, his presence in group play is doubtful, but that he might come back later. Do a google search, you're bound to find something.

[thomasthomas]

One of many stories on Rooney ..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...nd/5019992.stm

The BBC site has loads of info on Team England.

[thomasthomas]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

They did lose a key player, but they are not screwed.

Will somebody eventually answer me when I ask why is it that the English team is so popular on this board? Is it just the language?

I don't know about other people, but I just root for the teams where my ancestors came from.

If Canada actually makes the World Cup someday, they'd be the only team I'd really support.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Group A

Costa Rica
Ecuador
Germany
Poland

Germany to win this group easily. I'll take the dark horse pick with Ecuador to sneak into the second round with them.

Group B

England
Paraguay
Sweden
Trinidad and Tobago

I don't think England's going to do all that well, but they got a pretty favorable draw here. I'll take England to win, and Sweden to take second for this group.

Group C

Argentina
Cote d'Ivoire
Netherlands
Serbia and Montenegro

This one will be something of a battle, but both Argentina and the Netherlands are quite a bit better than the competition (sorry, Serbia). Argentina to win, Netherlands to take second.

Group D

Angola
Iran
Mexico
Portugal

Iran will be better than people expect, while Mexico is something of an enigma. No huge favorites in this group - I'll take Mexico to win in a mild upset, and Portugal to take second. Angola will lose all three games handily.

Group E

Czech Republic
Ghana
Italy
USA

This is a really tough group, and the US, which in most groups would not be threatened, has a very real danger of not advancing. However, I'm going to go with a crazy prediction - the Italians will compound their already deep troubles by falling apart in the World Cup. Czechs to win, Americans to take second. Ghana is a pretty good team, but drew the wrong group.

Group F

Australia
Brazil
Croatia
Japan

This will be a battle for second, as Brazil will win the group with ease. I'll take Japan to slip into the second spot.

Group G

France
Republic of Korea
Switzerland
Togo

A pretty weak group. France to qualify in first easily, South Korea to take second although Switzerland could surprise because of their proximity to the home country.

Group H

Saudi Arabia
Spain
Tunisia
Ukraine

I'll go with the upset here and pick Ukraine to win the group, with Spain qualifying in a disappointing second.

Stage Two


Match 49
Germany
vs
Sweden


Germany will overwhelm the Swedes at home, advancing to the round of 8 easily.

Match 50
Argentina
vs
Portugal


An interesting matchup. I could see the Argentines making a quick exit, but probably not against Portugal. Argentina to win.

Match 53
Czech Republic
vs
Japan

I almost want to go with the upset here, since the Czechs will have just come off a tough group round, but I can't quite do it. Czech Republic.

Match 54
France
vs
Spain

This will be a huge marquee matchup relatively early, and I think France sends Spain home shocked and disappointed.

Match 51
England
vs
Ecuador


Again, I'm tempted to pick England going out early, but... not quite this early. England.

Match 52
Mexico
vs
Netherlands

This will be a very good game. I'll take the Dutch to win in Europe.

Match 55
Brazil
vs
USA


Uh, yeah. Not a good draw for the Americans. Brazil.

Match 56
Ukraine
vs
South Korea


South Korea was the darling of the last World Cup. Ligtning rarely strikes twice. Ukraine to become everyone's new favorite dark horse in the round of 8.

Quarter Finals

Germany
vs
Argentina


Home teams usually don't win World Cups. In a huge coup for South America, I'll take Argentina to beat the Germans.

Czech Republic
vs
France


The Czechs are good, but probably not good enough. France.

England
vs
Netherlands

The English will again be disappointed as the Dutch send them packing.

Brazil
vs
Ukraine


One of these teams will just be happy to be here. Brazil to win a surprisingly tough match against the darlings of the tournament.


Semi Finals

Argentina
vs
France

I'll take the French here again.

Netherlands
vs
Brazil


Brazil is just too good for the Dutch.

Third place match

Netherlands beat out Argentina for the third place spot.

The Final

France
vs
Brazil

This should be an amazing game, as the past two World Cup champions square off. In a mild upset, South America again will fail to win it in Europe, as the French manage to keep from surrendering in this one.

Your FIFA 2006 World Cup Champions
France

[boilermaker]

Robert Coover in National Geographic:

There are, it sometimes seems, only two universal games: war and soccer. War is perhaps closer to the realm of fantasy, soccer to that of the real, but both share this ubiquity and centrality, as though arising from some collective libidinous source, primary and intuitive. Perhaps they are both variations of the same game, modern industrial-era ritualizations of some common activity from the dreamtime of the species, back when both used the same players from and the same field-which is to say all the men of the tribe and all of nature. Still today, they often fade into one another.

[Skipaway]

Everyone should have an African darkhorse pick. It's the trendy thing.

[bababui]

Group A...Germany and Poland. I'm also looking forward to this match because of the rivalry involved and the winner will probably qualify for the round of 16. Poland first Germany second

Group B...England and Paraguay..if I remember correctly Paraguay played fairly well in the Copa America and they are underrated. Sweden promises to put viewers to sleep across the globe.

Group C...Group of Death. I think it will be a three team race going into the final set of matches where Ivory Coast and the winner of or the team with the biggest GD advances in the Arg-Hol match advances. IC and Holland

Group D...Can the Iranian players forget the nonsense back home and play up to their potential? Wed'll see in their first match against Mexico which should be very entertaining. Ill go with Por and Mex but give Iran a decent shot.

Group E...Could this be the first group ever to have all tied games? For the USA just about everything rides on the first match. people outside the USA are wont to dismiss our team. But we have a track record of moderate success and the Czechs didnt qualify for the last WC although they have fantastic but aging talent. And if Ghana can either win or gran a draw against Italy this might be the most competitive of all the divisions. Ita and Gha advance.

Group F...Who did the Brazilians pay off? Why bother playing the games? It will be an interesting race for second but Im picking Japan only because they get Brazil after they have already qualified for the next round so im picking Japan 2nd on GD.

Group G...this might be closer than we think. No one plays at a higher rate of intensity than S Korea. Switzerland and France are rivals so i dont expect a walk over here. Who the hell knows anything about Togo? Im picking S Korea as an upset winner France second


Group H...Spaon and Ukraine advance..the winner of their match gets 1st.


Round of 16

Poland and Paraguay play to a scoreless tie that puts the game back 40 years. Paraguay wins on penalties

Germany upsets England. England is overconfident and comments from the English media rally Germany

Ivory Coast squeaks by Mexico in a fast paced fun match

Holand destroys Portugal.

Italy strangles Japan in another of their defensive match. Gay men all over the world swoon over Italian unis and facial hair

South Korea outworks Ukraine

Brazil squeaks by Ghana who put up a good fight

Spain finally get a big WC win and beat France


Quarters

Ivory Coast beat Paraguay..a great moment for African football

Italy demolishes South Korea exacting revenge as only Italians can do

Holand beats Germany in another classic match between long time rivals

Brazil gets by Spain. Some wonder whether Spain even showed up for the match


Semis

Italy beats the Ivory Coat in penalties. Italy plays physically and conservativly and win on experience

Holand gains revenge against Brazil for 94 and 98 losses. A classic match. The atmosphere will be remembered as long as there is football..singing and dancing and hot women and a couple classic goals


3rd place

Ivory Coast finishes off a great WC by beating Brazils second team


Finals

A classic clash of styles. Holland comes out on top 2-1. The Italian press blame the ref bribery scandel. The Dutch finally win this thing. Then fail to qualify for South Africa

[blgoblue2]

USA over France.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by blgoblue2

USA over France.

you ARE dreaming aren't you. Hell I know little about "footie" and even I know that's a funny one.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

Will somebody eventually answer me when I ask why is it that the English team is so popular on this board? Is it just the language?

I think the reason may be that most folks that give a **** about soccer on this board hail from England, hence the reasoning.

And also the fact that Canada, and New Zealand are not in it, and North Americans care little about international soccer.

Also...

Originally Posted by thomasthomas

I don't know about other people, but I just root for the teams where my ancestors came from.

If Canada actually makes the World Cup someday, they'd be the only team I'd really support.

That's a reason too, as it would be mine (as the Scots arent' their own team, and Erie isn't in it.)

[blgoblue2]

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

you ARE dreaming aren't you. Hell I know little about "footie" and even I know that's a funny one.

I was kidding and I didn't care enough to post anything else.