[RMCF]

Was just thinking about the opening games and having a look at some prices, and was wondering if anybody fancies any shocks in the groups? I have a few:

(A) Germany, Poland, Ecuador, Costa Rica.
Fancy Ecudaor to get out with Germany, in place of Poland.

(B) England, Sweden, Paraguay, T&T
Have a sneaking suspicion Sweden may just top the group. Might come down to goal difference.

(C) Argentina, Holland, Serbia & Montenegro, Ivory Coast.
Outside bet but both Serbia and IC are good strong sides and if either Argies or Dutch underperform one of the other two may progress.

(D) Portugal, Mexico, Angola, Iran
Only thing here is a very good chance of Mexico pipping Portugal for top spot.

(E) Italy, Czech, USA, Ghana
Very tight group but think big 2 will sneak out

(F) Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan
Don't think 2nd favs Croatia will make it out. Fancy Aussies to get 2nd.

(G) France, Switzerland, S Korea, Togo
No suprises here - two Europeans to make it out.

(H) Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia
Again no surprises here.

[sdb123]

Originally Posted by SOK

Was just thinking about the opening games and having a look at some prices, and was wondering if anybody fancies any shocks in the groups? I have a few:

(A) Germany, Poland, Ecuador, Costa Rica.
Fancy Ecudaor to get out with Germany, in place of Poland.

(B) England, Sweden, Paraguay, T&T
Have a sneaking suspicion Sweden may just top the group. Might come down to goal difference.

(C) Argentina, Holland, Serbia & Montenegro, Ivory Coast.
Outside bet but both Serbia and IC are good strong sides and if either Argies or Dutch underperform one of the other two may progress.

(D) Portugal, Mexico, Angola, Iran
Only thing here is a very good chance of Mexico pipping Portugal for top spot.

(E) Italy, Czech, USA, Ghana
Very tight group but think big 2 will sneak out

(F) Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan
Don't think 2nd favs Croatia will make it out. Fancy Aussies to get 2nd.

(G) France, Switzerland, S Korea, Togo
No suprises here - two Europeans to make it out.

(H) Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia
Again no surprises here.

I agree with you on groups A, B, D, E, G and H. Destiny will bring England against Germany in the 2nd round

Group C is the hardest group of the lot IMO and There's three physical teams against the Dutch, so I can see the Ivory Coast sneaking through in 2nd place behind Argentina.

Group F, I actually think Japan could sneak 2nd.

Steve

[dixiboy2]

The Ivory Coast will beat Argentina. You heard it here first. Having a tenner on it. If i lose (which I won't) I expect a slagging off.

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by dixiboy2

The Ivory Coast will beat Argentina. You heard it here first. Having a tenner on it. If i lose (which I won't) I expect a slagging off.

They're 5/1 - definitely a very decent price. But I still wouldn't touch it !!

[dixiboy2]

Originally Posted by SOK

They're 5/1 - definitely a very decent price. But I still wouldn't touch it !!

My twisted logic is to put a tenner on five no-hopers in five matches against good opposition. One has got to win. (won't be messing with T&T v. England though.toooooooo risky!)

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by dixiboy2

My twisted logic is to put a tenner on five no-hopers in five matches against good opposition. One has got to win. (won't be messing with T&T v. England though.toooooooo risky!)

The way the big teams were all humiliated at WC2002, it looks like good logic!!

I was thinking that they will all learn their lessons this time round and show the lesser nations who is boss, but perhaps the standard of the big nations is that poor now that they can't any more, and WC2002 was no fluke.

Perhaps draws might be better options?

[overkill]

Originally Posted by SOK

The way the big teams were all humiliated at WC2002, it looks like good logic!!

I was thinking that they will all learn their lessons this time round and show the lesser nations who is boss, but perhaps the standard of the big nations is that poor now that they can't any more, and WC2002 was no fluke.

Perhaps draws might be better options?

Very possibly. However, you are likely to get less shocks in Europe as the 'bigger sides' either come from Europe or have large sections of their squad playing here. Thus there is no climatising problems, nor any travel weariness for any but the smaller teams. Therefore I would tend to go with your picks overall.

We could still hope to see a few shocks though.

As you say, Ecuador might pull it off in group A), but apart from that Australia or S Korea might cause an upset. S Korea because France are very fragile at the moment. One bad result for a team carrying too many passengers (including an ageing Zidane) and who knows?

I feel for those in Hollands group. That was a really nasty draw, as all of them could get through if the selection had been kinder.

[Istanbul_Kop]

My views:

(A) Germany, Poland, Ecuador, Costa Rica.
Germany top by default because the other 3 are pants. Half the German team is Polish as well. Fancy Poland to nip 2nd though.

(B) England, Sweden, Paraguay, T&T
Definately England and Sweden. Will come down to the last game to see who comes top. Fancy England top, Sweden 2nd.

(C) Argentina, Holland, Serbia & Montenegro, Ivory Coast.
Group of Death. The Serbs seem the worst, but not by much. Argentina would be favourites with Holland as 2nd...but Ivory Coast is strong. I would say an Argie winning of the group...and for 2nd, Holland - but very close with Ivory Coast.

(D) Portugal, Mexico, Angola, Iran
Portugal top, Angola bottom. Mexico are overated, and Iran are underated. The opening Mexico/Iran game will decide 2nd - I choose Mexico.

(E) Italy, Czech, USA, Ghana
Another tough group. Italy don't look at their best and the Czechs are an aging team. But I would expect those two to qualify.

(F) Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan
Brazil top. Ozzies 2nd...will be a proper grudge match with all the Croats in the Ozzie team.

(G) France, Switzerland, S Korea, Togo
France and the Swiss without a doubt. France top, probably.

(H) Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia
The Saudis bottom. Spain can be good, Spain can be bad. Tunisia are a good side, Santos and Trebelsi is the key for them. Ukraine can be a good unit with a potent head (ie Sheva). I'd say Spain top and Ukraine 2nd - but only just as all 3 will pick up max points against Saudi Arabia

So there you have it, the pointless views of some no mark on a forum (that's until I'm crowned World Cup Fantasy Champ and then all will bow before me).

I'm deadly serious.

[RMCF]

Is that Rio's head on a duck in your avatar?

I hope you're wrong about Mexico.

[Istanbul_Kop]

Originally Posted by SOK

Is that Rio's head on a duck in your avatar?

I hope you're wrong about Mexico.

Yeah, it's him. Looks like a big Duck, look at that beak lip.

I hope I'm wrong about Mexico too...most flexible team in it, but if they draw or lose to Iran...anything could happen. I mean, Iran only have 4 good players and Mexico should win...but if I was to pick a shock, it would be there.

[DJT75]

I think Groups E, F & G are more open than people think.

(E) Italy, Czech, USA, Ghana
USA can easily get through this one, they're ranked 6th in the world at the mo, Italy are 12th & Czech Rep unrealistically 2nd. I'm going Italy & USA

(F) Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan
Same here, Japan are 18th, Croatia 23rd, Oz 48th. I'm going Brazil & Japan

(G) France, Switzerland, S Korea, Togo
Swiss & Korea is too close to call too, Switxerland always seem to ordinary to me, no wow factor so I'm going France, Korea to get through.


Group C is crazy, I expect Argentina to go through & anyone of the other 3. Ivory Coast to be shown up & finish bottom though

Originally Posted by DJT75

Group C is crazy, I expect Argentina to go through & anyone of the other 3. Ivory Coast to be shown up & finish bottom though

No way will the Ivory Coast get shown up

Drogba, Eboue, Toure and co were not only incredibly convincing in qualification, they also play in Europe against a lot of these players.

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by Istanbul_Kop

Yeah, it's him. Looks like a big Duck, look at that beak lip.

I hope I'm wrong about Mexico too...most flexible team in it, but if they draw or lose to Iran...anything could happen. I mean, Iran only have 4 good players and Mexico should win...but if I was to pick a shock, it would be there.

Where's the Jaffa cakes?

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by doink

No way will the Ivory Coast get shown up

Drogba, Eboue, Toure and co were not only incredibly convincing in qualification, they also play in Europe against a lot of these players.

I just expect them not to be in the running in that Group, although some people really rate them. Serbia & Montenegro are as good as them IMO.

[RMCF]

Just read that Nakata, one of Japan's top men, has blasted the team saying they are not ready mentally for the WC. Do you guys backing them stick with your prediction? Perhaps he's bluffing!!

[lostinspace]

England's Paraguay game bothers me. It could all go so wrong. I don't know anything about Paraguay, but on telly the other day someone said they were no pushovers.
Apparently, assuming Sweden and England win both their opening games, the race will be on to finish second in the group. Maybe in future it should be re-drawn after the group stages to ensure no "dead" games?

[Istanbul_Kop]

Originally Posted by DJT75

I think Groups E, F & G are more open than people think.

(E) Italy, Czech, USA, Ghana
USA can easily get through this one, they're ranked 6th in the world at the mo, Italy are 12th & Czech Rep unrealistically 2nd. I'm going Italy & USA

(F) Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan
Same here, Japan are 18th, Croatia 23rd, Oz 48th. I'm going Brazil & Japan

It's pointless talking about the FIFA Rankings and using them as a guide. They're weighted all wrong and give hardly any indication to a team's true strength.

USA and Mexico are continually ranked high for example, as they play lots of 'competive' games against nations of a quality even below the English Conference.