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"World Cup Predictions"

We've seen Argentina and France, two of the world cup favourites bail out. That possibly isn't the end of the shocks in my opinion...

I can see Mexico beating Italy in their last group game and sending Italy packing too leaving only Brazil, England, Germany and Spain (and maybe Mexico or Croatia with a chance of going all the way... and Portugal are having a disastorous time while the Koreans on home turf are playing suprisingly well.

In terms of groups, Denmark and Senegal, Germany and Republic of Ireland, Sweden and England have already qualified - what about the other groups?

In todays match I can see Spain beating South Africa, and Paraguay beating Slovenia who have shown themselves to be a weak team and are out of the world cup already. That means Spain and Paraguay qualify respectively.

In group C Brazil and Costa Rica will be close, but I think Brazil are too classy this World Cup and will beat them. Turkey are sure to beat China, who along with Saudia Arabia are probably one of the worst teams in this World Cup. So Brazil will win their group, Turkey and Costa Rica will be picked on goal difference - so how that's going to end up I have no idea. I think Turkey are in with more of a chance. They are a strong side, and I can see them smashing around 3 goals past the Chinese, whilst Brazil may even possibly get the same over the Costa Ricans.

USA are locking very tasty this year - I can see them qualifying. Poland will get beaten I'm near positively sure. South Korea and Portugal will be close, but again I think one of the world bests Portugal will bail out alongside the likes of France, Argentina and possibly Italy... I think the end result will be the home side South Korea followed by the USA in that group.

In group G as I said, I can see Mexico beating the Italians by luck, and surely Croatia can beat the Ecuadoroians (I guess their Ecuadorians. Although I have a feeling this match will be a draw. Ecuador started to play quite well against Mexico at the end of their last match. Still if Italy lose... Croatia go through in second. It's a very tough group though that could go either way with Italy, Croatia even possibly going through in that order. If Italy keep to form and luck goes their way they can surely qualify? It's a close one but I just have this feeling Italy are going to be a shock loser..

Russia could beat Belgium and Japan will surely beat the weaker Tunisia in group H. However Belgium, Russia could go either way, but my bets on the Russians (or a draw)

So Germany face Paraguay - a game they should win.
England face Denmark (a fixture that I don't want to predict as I'm sure to be biased), they are tough opponents the Danes, and I'm not sure what we can do against them. Tomasson has been very promising in attack and could cause the English defence a lot of problems.
Sweden I think will beat Senegal.
The Mexico (or the Italians) should beat neighbours USA (Which would be an interesting match if the yanks actually watched football, the Mexico will surely enjoy a victory over their neighbours..)
Brazil would face Russia, and Brazil I'm sure everyone would tip to win that.
South Korea (or Portugal) would play Croatia (of the Mexicanese), a very close game, but I think in either possible fixture Croatia would be the weaker team and either Mexico or South Korea could go through... too close to call.
Republic of Ireland will have that tough fixture with the Spanish, and as much as I love seeing the Irish doing well I think they will be disappointed in this match.
The Japanese and maybe the Turkish - so close to call, so very close. I'd like the Japanese to go through and their more than capable. Luck isn't really going the Turks way this year.

The Italians/ the Mexicans then play Germany. Will be very close. Germany are a very weak side compared to normal, but with Klose scoring all those goals they or the Italians could well go through. I don't think the Mexicans will.
Spain will beat the South Koreans in that tough fixture if it appears, and Sweden Japan/Turkey will be close, but I'm sure Sweden can beat the Japanese or the Turks.
Then England if they can beat the Danes face Brazil eekkk!! This will surely decide the world cup final winner. If we can beat Brazil in my opinion we can beat anyone and deserve to win the world cup. If Brazil win, I think they will win the world cup. It may be a quarter final match but I think it's going to decide it.

Italy/Germany will play Spain. Spain are on top form right now and I think they can beat the Germans. Past world cups show they mess up at times, but I think they can get into the finals if they play those Germans. If the Italians don't mess up I think they will beat the Spanish.

Brazil or England play the Swedes (oh no not again...). I'd love it to be the Japanese because if England get to play them, that will be a glorious game with all the respect our footballers get from those Japanese... you never know the Japanese players might even support us. Despite Englands record of no wins against the Swedes since whenever it was I think if we meet them again, and play like we did against Argentina we can do this getting us a place in the final (that's if we beat the Brazilians).

So a Brazil or England vs Italy or Spain final. I'd love it to be England but my heart tells be Brazil, my head tells me England. Either way Brazil or England are going to win this tournament but sadly I think it's going to be Brazil, England always manage to get our hopes up - make us feel like we are walking in air. Then they shoot us down and we fall with a thud. A repeat final of 1994 could be possible, although Spain could go all the way.

These are only predictions, you never know. I wonder if I get any of them right.

COME ON YOU ENGLAND!

Yeah, I know what you mean, I just feel that, having been counted out a fortnight ago, they must be feeling really good at the moment. They are undefeated still, have faced two decent teams, Cameroon should have beaten us remember, and are into a knockout stage.

I would just never bet against the Germans in a one-off game, and basically that is what we have now: a loadf of one-off games. They will probably beat Paraguay, who in my view were lucky to get through, but as you say then they will probably play the Mexicans. I thought they were excellent against the Italians, just stopped playing at the end and let them back in.

I hope you're right, its just I have this worrying feeling....

The GingerLord wrote:
> Germany - never count them out, Ballack and Klose, combined with the
> whole being German and therefore seeming to be lucky and
> well-organised at the same time. *Hopefully* will be knocked out in
> the semis!

I agreed with you till then. Germany lets face it are not the best team in the world anymore.. Yes they scored 8 goals against Saudi Arabia, but that's not exactly hard is it. The Saudi defence and goalkeeper were a complete and utter mess. Germany had a pretty easy group, no offence Republic of Ireland fans, they will be a bit over confident for other matches. They have got a pretty easy game against Paraguay but then they have to play Mexico.. it then gets hard. I think the fact they've played so many easy games, they will be shocked at how they perform against weaker sides. So I will count them out, England have proved that Germany are leaky... Germany's days as a good side are over in my opinion... now I just hope they don't win the cup as then I will have to eat my words..

Yeah, both are good, well organised teams, but I can't see them having the individual skill to open up a well organised defence like.....well like England actually.

Everyone seems to forget that we have got a VERY good defence at the moment. OK, so we are not playing the best attacking football, but we have only let in 1 goal in three games, against three very good teams.

Brazil - didn't see the Costa Rica game, so can't comment, but I think if they play Spain, Italy, Germany or England they will lose through defensive naivity.

Spain - along with Italy, my favourites, good attacking flair and a pretty solid defence. Won all three games, scored 9 goals.

Italy - Surprised by the last two results, but having got through the first round, I think they are very dangerous. Remember, they really should have been Euro 2000 winners!

England - if Owen starts scoring, and Becks regains some form anything could happen, but without these two reaching the levels our defence is at, I think we might struggle, probably go out on pens!

Germany - never count them out, Ballack and Klose, combined with the whole being German and therefore seeming to be lucky and well-organised at the same time. *Hopefully* will be knocked out in the semis!

Or†ega wrote:
> Still not sure about Brazil.
>
> Whats gonna happen if their attack has an off day?
> They are always going to concede goals. And Costa rica could have
> scored a hatful more goals today if they could finish properly.



That was a quality game! If a team like Spain or England played agaist Brazil, the goal total would have been above 10!

I was suprised Belgium beat Russia, and that USA lost to Poland, but there you go. Got the South Korea group right, and the Japan group half right...

I'm still thinking this World Cup's between England, Spain, Brazil and Italy however South Korea and Japan could be underdogs... although I can't see them winning.

Still not sure about Brazil.

Whats gonna happen if their attack has an off day?
They are always going to concede goals. And Costa rica could have scored a hatful more goals today if they could finish properly.

Rakuga wrote:
> In group G as I said, I can see Mexico beating the Italians by luck,
> and surely Croatia can beat the Ecuadoroians (I guess their
> Ecuadorians. Although I have a feeling this match will be a draw.
> Ecuador started to play quite well against Mexico at the end of their
> last match. Still if Italy lose... Croatia go through in second. It's
> a very tough group though that could go either way with Italy, Croatia
> even possibly going through in that order. If Italy keep to form and
> luck goes their way they can surely qualify? It's a close one but I
> just have this feeling Italy are going to be a shock loser..

I guess I was part right. Italy nearly did lose. However, my shock feeling didn't happen. Croatia didn't win but I have was laughing out loud though when they had two goals disallowed for offside yet again...

So maybe Italy can make it all the way like I said there was a chance. Italy Brazil final?

The world cup has been full of shocks, and in some peoples cases horror.

I am nowhoping that these shocks andhorros will not come Englands way, but we can only hope.

KR wrote:
> Or†ega wrote:
> Thing is though, Spain and Italy (and Brazil) are the only real top
> sides left!
>
>
> you forgot england :D

---

or did he.....?

;-)

nah, only joking.

Or†ega wrote:
> Thing is though, Spain and Italy (and Brazil) are the only real top
> sides left!


you forgot england :D