Well - it's in, and there are happy people, and bemused souls who will not book past the round robin.
Winners: Brazil, Argentina, Iran, Côte d'Ivoire, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Losers: biggest by far is the US. Germany and Portugal are each capable of winning the World Cup next year. The Us also had the most difficult travel schedule.
Discuss!
Here's the whole draw:
Group A
Brazil
Croatia
Mexico
Cameroon
Group B
Spain
Netherlands
Chile
Australia
Group C
Colombia
Greece
Ivory Coast
Japan
Group D
Uruguay
Costa Rica
England
Italy
Group E
Switzerland
Ecuador
France
Honduras
Group F
Argentina
Bosnia
Iran
Nigeria
Group G
Germany
Portugal
Ghana
USA
Group H
Belgium
Algeria
Russia
South Korea
Originally posted by phil3000If England go forward against Costa Rica, they can beat a suspect defense. Italy will be a 0-0 draw...and my biggest prediction for the group is, Cardiff's Andrew Taylor takes one for all of England in City's fixture with Liverpool on December 21 when he performs a brutal and highly effective Kung fu kick on Luis Suarez, breaking his right femur in three places, earning a season-long ban and his O.B.E. on the same day.
Anyone fancy England against Uruguay, Italy or Costa Rica ?
I think we (England )will have to take a leaf out of Scotlands book and arrive home before the postcards do .
Originally posted by RBHILLIt isn't all bad.. if they get through then they have a good shot at taking the whole shebang. If not then it's like taking off a bandage quickly, it stings but the agony is not prolonged.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer--usa-draws-into-group-of-death-for-2014-world-cup-173015593.html
USA 0-0-3 π
My Predictions:
Group A:
Brazil
Mexico
Croatia
Cameroon
Group B:
Netherlands
Spain
Chile
Australia
Group C:
Japan
Colombia
Greece
Ivory Coast
Group D:
England
Uruguay
Costa Rica
Italy
Group E:
France
Switzerland
Ecuador
Honduras
Group F:
Argentina
Nigeria
Iran
Bosnia
Group G:
Portugal
Germany
Ghana
USA
Group H:
South Korea
Algeria
Russia
Belgium
Playoffs:
Round 1:
Brazil over
Spain
Japan Over
Uruguay
France Over
Nigeria
Portugal Over
Algeria
Netherlands Losses to
Mexico
England Over
Colombia
Argentina Over
Switzerland
South Korea Losses to
Germany
Round 2:
Brazil Over
Japan
France Losses to
Portugal
Mexico Losses to
England
Argentina Over
Germany
Round 3:
Brazil Losses to
Portugal
England Losses to
Argentina
Bronze is Brazil
Silver is Portugal
Gold is Argentina
Originally posted by MISTER CHESSIf they get trough, they probably could beat a Group H team in the first round.
It isn't all bad.. if they get through then they have a good shot at taking the whole shebang. If not then it's like taking off a bandage quickly, it stings but the agony is not prolonged.
Originally posted by RBHILLI don't think so. Geography won't matter as much in this World Cup, as the European teams are historically strong, and the hosts Brazil, and Argentina, while they're good, they are not good enough To overcome German or Spanish might. Uruguay can make a deep run, but they won't surprise anybody this time around. Giuseppe Rossi finally looks healthy and should stay that way for Italy, so they could also make a deep run.
My Predictions:
Group A:
Brazil
Mexico
Croatia
Cameroon
Group B:
Netherlands
Spain
Chile
Australia
Group C:
Japan
Colombia
Greece
Ivory Coast
Group D:
England
Uruguay
Costa Rica
Italy
Group E:
France
Switzerland
Ecuador
Honduras
Group F:
Argentina
Nigeria
Iran
Bosnia
Group G:
Portugal
Germany
Ghana
USA
Grou ...[text shortened]... tugal
England Losses to
Argentina
Bronze is Brazil
Silver is Portugal
Gold is Argentina
The way the groups are set up, a good Darkhorse like Japan has a chance of making a run to the quarterfinals or perhaps the semifinals, but you should expect to see the best and the brightest playing late into the tournament in what promises to be a scintillating World Cup.
Originally posted by sasquatch672How many European countries have won a world cup in S. America?
I don't think so. Geography won't matter as much in this World Cup.
I'll have to look at the draw again to see who they'll play in the last 16 and 8 but i said Colombia before the draw and since they have one of, if not the easiest group i'll stick with Colombia.
Draw and fifa rankings are fixed anyway.
Edit: Two team who were really screwed were Chile and Ghana. Still fancy Chile to qualify.
Originally posted by RBHILLYes ,you Americans sure know your football π
My Predictions:
Group A:
Brazil
Mexico
Croatia
Cameroon
Group B:
Netherlands
Spain
Chile
Australia
Group C:
Japan
Colombia
Greece
Ivory Coast
Group D:
England
Uruguay
Costa Rica
Italy
Group E:
France
Switzerland
Ecuador
Honduras
Group F:
Argentina
Nigeria
Iran
Bosnia
Group G:
Portugal
Germany
Ghana
USA
Grou ...[text shortened]... tugal
England Losses to
Argentina
Bronze is Brazil
Silver is Portugal
Gold is Argentina
Group H , Belgium bottom ?
It's a bit bonkers to predict group standings now as you never know with injuries and form. If Ronaldo keeps playing the way he is Portugal will get out of their group and have a real chance of making the semis. If he gets injured or is burnt out, they won't make it past the group. Ghana are to good to lose against a Portugal side minus Ronaldo. Germany will win the group provided they don't get a bucket load of injuries.
Brazil are in a group with 3 very poor sides and will win with 9 points, maybe 7 if they mess around with players in the last game. Either way whoever gets second is going out next round... Brazil against either Holland, Chile or Spain will be a cracker and i really hope Chile win their group to avoid Brazil. Only European team that can win it is Germany, Spain are getting old and Chile are a young side with enough experience from 2010 to cause some serious shocks.
Brazil and Chile to reach the last 8.
Colombia like i said are one of the best and most underrated teams in the world, they have the best striker in the world who is not playing in Europe this season so will be super fresh for Brazil. Other 3 sides in group are just ok, hope Ivory Coast can get second but it's anybodies... team who does get second has a serious chance in the last 16.
Because, Uruguay, England and Italy are not good teams and all beatable.
Colombia into the last 8 with anyone of 4 teams, i'll take a punt on England.
Group E = Yawn. Again no stand out team with 2 of France, Switzerland and Ecuador going through. France have the quality to make it but often not the mentality. While Ecuador struggle to score and are probably the worse S. American team at the world cup. Saying that i can't see Switzerland scoring many either, France and Ecuador - just.
Argentina tops this easy group with i would love to see Bosnia go through with them. Bosnia vs Nigeria to decide second spot.
Argentina and a shock win for Bosnia over France sees them in the last 8.
As i said, Germany to win the group and a fit Ronaldo Portugal second.
Another pretty boring group, another 3 possible teams. On the fact that Russia are coking suckers Belgium and S. Korea go through. S. Korea as good winners.
Germany and Portugal into the last 8.
Edit: last 8 head picks - Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Portugal and Argentina.
Heart picks - Chile and Bosnia.
Flip of the coin picks - England. Could as easily be Uruguay, Italy, Ivory Coast, Greece (please no) or Japan.