FIFA under 20 WC

Originally posted by damionhonegan
There will be 6 first placed teams, 6 second placed and 4 third placed teams making it to the round of 16. Four first placed teams will play the third place teams. The other 2 first placed teams will play against 2 second placed teams. The other remaining teams (second placed) will play against each other.

Here are the brackets:

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/34/54/83/fu20wc2011_matchschedule_en_03052011.pdf

Thanks, Damion. I was aware of the brackets, but it did not occur to me that third place finishers would be made to play early exits in knockout phase. I have no problem with such seeding!

Ecuador 3-0 Costa Rica
Australia 1-5 Spain

Saudi Arabia 0-2 Nigeria
Croatia 0-1 Guatemala

Round of 16:
Brazil vs Saudi Arabia
Spain vs South Korea
Cameroon vs Mexico
Colombia vs Costa Rica
France vs Ecuador
Nigeria vs England
Portugal vs Guatemala
Argentina vs Egypt

Originally posted by damionhonegan
Ecuador 3-0 Costa Rica
Australia 1-5 Spain

Saudi Arabia 0-2 Nigeria
Croatia 0-1 Guatemala

Round of 16:
Brazil vs Saudi Arabia
Spain vs South Korea
Cameroon vs Mexico
Colombia vs Costa Rica
France vs Ecuador
Nigeria vs England
Portugal vs Guatemala
Argentina vs Egypt

Easy for some,diabolical for others. Thus are the ways of football, yet what seems easy may result in a huge upset. Biggest test is for England and Argentina. I think they have their hands full. The others all seem like no brainers.

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
Easy for some,diabolical for others. Thus are the ways of football, yet what seems easy may result in a huge upset. Biggest test is for England and Argentina. I think they have their hands full. The others all seem like no brainers.

full prediction of 'no brainers' please...

Originally posted by trev33
full prediction of 'no brainers' please...

Brazil vs Saudi Arabia ....Brazil
Spain vs South Korea .....Spain
Cameroon vs Mexico ......Mexico (Cameroon are tenacious and may upset MX)
Colombia vs Costa Rica ..Colombia
France vs Ecuador ......... Ecuador (France may pull this one out)
Nigeria vs England ......... Nigeria
Portugal vs Guatemala ... Portugal
Argentina vs Egypt..........Egypt (although Argentina may turn on the afterburners)

How about posting your predictions, trev33?

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
Brazil vs Saudi Arabia ....Brazil
Spain vs South Korea .....Spain
Cameroon vs Mexico ......Mexico (Cameroon are tenacious and may upset MX)
Colombia vs Costa Rica ..Colombia
France vs Ecuador ......... Ecuador (France may pull this one out)
Nigeria vs England ......... Nigeria
Portugal vs Guatemala ... Portugal
Argentina vs Egypt..........Egypt (although Argentina may turn on the afterburners)

How about posting your predictions, trev33?

I'd say about the same, but for Argentina - Egypt I'd still go with Argentina. They have the players to do it and now it's crunch time so they should up their level a bit.

Originally posted by Palynka
I'd say about the same, but for Argentina - Egypt I'd still go with Argentina. They have the players to do it and now it's crunch time so they should up their level a bit.

What I think might happen is the Egyptian speed may result in huge headache for the Argentinians who had trouble with English speed. Egypt are good finishers. I also would not be surprised if Argentina picks up their game, however. They have a lot of pride to play for.

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
Brazil vs Saudi Arabia ....Brazil
Spain vs South Korea .....Spain
Cameroon vs Mexico ......Mexico (Cameroon are tenacious and may upset MX)
Colombia vs Costa Rica ..Colombia
France vs Ecuador ......... Ecuador (France may pull this one out)
Nigeria vs England ......... Nigeria
Portugal vs Guatemala ... Portugal
Argentina vs Egypt..........Egypt (although Argentina may turn on the afterburners)

How about posting your predictions, trev33?

i haven't watched enough of the tournament to predict anything. will be interesting to see how your 5 'no brainers' do though 😉

Originally posted by trev33
i haven't watched enough of the tournament to predict anything. will be interesting to see how your 5 'no brainers' do though 😉

That's why they're no brainers! However, you did see I put caveats on a couple of these. Some teams have quietly put together very good trournaments like Portugal and Egypt and others have been playing below expected levels. I was shocked Urugay did not have a better showing! However, on any given day anyone can beat anyone. Some teams clearly fail to believe they can win whilst others are overinflated in self perception. My biggest doubt remains Mexico, perennial underachievers except in under17 teams.

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
That's why they're no brainers! However, you did see I put caveats on a couple of these. Some teams have quietly put together very good trournaments like Portugal and Egypt and others have been playing below expected levels. I was shocked Urugay did not have a better showing! However, on any given day anyone can beat anyone. Some teams clearly fail to b ...[text shortened]... perception. My biggest doubt remains Mexico, perennial underachievers except in under17 teams.

that's why i left out your 3 semi doubts... mexico, egypt and ecuador.

5 'no brainers' 😉

Originally posted by trev33
that's why i left out your 3 semi doubts... mexico, egypt and ecuador.

5 'no brainers' 😉

So you do agree some are no brainers? The doubts ones are "doubts" for good reason.

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
So you do agree some are no brainers? The doubts ones are "doubts" for good reason.

like i said, i haven't watched enough to know which teams should beat who. but in a knockout round it's rare to see all the hot favorites (or 'no brainers'😉 winning. will be interesting to see how your 5 do though.

i'm going to guess at 2 of the 5 failing to qualify.

Originally posted by trev33
like i said, i haven't watched enough to know which teams should beat who. but in a knockout round it's rare to see all the hot favorites (or 'no brainers'😉 winning. will be interesting to see how your 5 do though.

i'm going to guess at 2 of the 5 failing to qualify.

A cup of STrabucks coffee is my wager that I am right and you are wrong!

Originally posted by damionhonegan
Ecuador 3-0 Costa Rica
Australia 1-5 Spain

Saudi Arabia 0-2 Nigeria
Croatia 0-1 Guatemala

Round of 16:
Brazil vs Saudi Arabia
Spain vs South Korea
Cameroon vs Mexico
Colombia vs Costa Rica
France vs Ecuador
Nigeria vs England
Portugal vs Guatemala
Argentina vs Egypt

Round of 16:
Brazil vs Saudi Arabia...Brazil
Spain vs South Korea...Spaon
Cameroon vs Mexico...Mexico
Colombia vs Costa Rica...Colombia
France vs Ecuador...France
Nigeria vs England...Nigeria
Portugal vs Guatemala...Portugal
Argentina vs Egypt...Argentina

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
A cup of STrabucks coffee is my wager that I am right and you are wrong!

i'll take a double espresso but not from starbucks, thanks.