2006 WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS
GROUP A: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Poland
Group Outlook: Germany should steamroll through this group. The intrigue, however, will come in who qualifies as the second team out of this group. Costa Rica, Ecuador and Poland all participated in the World Cup four years ago, but none made it out of the first round. Costa Rica came the closest, as it played electrifying soccer against Brazil, but fell just short. The draw favors Ecuador because they will face the Germans last--and likely on a night when the Germans will be resting their stars. Poland was abysmal last time around, but they managed to get a win over the U.S. in their last game.
PREDICTIONS
Germany 4, Costa Rica 2
Ecuador 1, Poland 1
Germany 3, Poland 1
Costa Rica 3, Ecuador 2
Costa Rica 2, Poland 2
Ecuador 1, Germany 1
FINAL TABLE W-L-T (Pts) GD
Germany 2-0-1 (7) +4
Costa Rica 1-1-1 (4) -1
Ecuador 0-1-2 (2) -1
Poland 0-1-2 (2) -2
GERMANY AND COSTA RICA ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND
GROUP B: England, Paraguay, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago
GROUP OUTLOOK: Another obvious winner: England's one of the best sides out there, and none of these teams will give them much trouble. Congrats T&T for making the tournament; it's always nice to see a CONCACAF team in the tournament, but they won't be in it long. The Paraguay vs. Sweden game on June 15 should decide who advances out of those two. Paraguay has advanced is successive World Cups--a run that will likely end in Germany.
PREDICTIONS:
England 2, Paraguay 0
Sweden 1, Trinidad & Tobago 1
England 4, Trinidad & Tobago 0
Sweden 2, Paraguay 1
Paraguay 1, Trinidad & Tobago 0
England 1, Sweden 0
FINAL TABLE W-L-T (Pts) GD
England 3-0-0 (9) +7
Sweden 1-1-1 (4) 0
Paraguay 1-2-0 (3) -2
Trinidad 0-2-1 (1) -5
ENGLAND AND SWEDEN ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND
GROUP C: Argentina, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro
GROUP OUTLOOK: Argentina and Holland vs. the Ivory Coast and Serbia & Montenegro. No drama here. It will be a great first-round matchup between the Dutch and Argentines to decide who wins the group. Unfortunately, that game is also the last match of group play, so it won't be stocked with stars.
PREDICTIONS
Argentina 3, Ivory Coast 0
Holland 2, Serbia & Montenegro 0
Argentina 3, Serbia & Montenegro 1
Holland 4, Ivory Coast 0
Ivory Coast 1, Serbia & Montenegro 1
Holland 2, Argentina 2
FINAL TABLE W-L-T (Pts) GD
Holland 2-0-1 (7) +6
Argentina 2-0-1 (7) +5
Serbia & Montenegro 0-2-1 (1) -4
Ivory Coast 0-2-1 (1) -7
HOLLAND AND ARGENTINA ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND
GROUP D: Angola, Iran, Mexico, Portugal
Group D is up for weakest group in the tournament--although Group H (Spain, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the Ukraine) are in contention (but at least that group has Spain!). The Mexicans and Portuguese will advance from this group.
PREDICTIONS
Mexico 1, Iran 1
Portugal 3, Angola 1
Mexico 2, Angola 0
Portugal 2, Iran 1
Iran 1, Angola 1
Portugal 2, Mexico 0
FINAL TABLE W-L-T (Pts) GD
Portugal 3-0-0 (9) +5
Mexico 1-1-1 (4) 0
Iran 0-1-2 (2) -1
Angola 0-2-1 (1) -4
PORTUGAL AND MEXICO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND
GROUP E: Czech Republic, Ghana, Italy, United States
GROUP OUTLOOK: The Group of Death. The Czech Republic, Italy and the United States are all world-class and should be evenly matched. Any one of those teams can win the group and any one of them could be done after three games. Italy's the favorite, which means the first game in this group between the U.S. and the Czech Republic could be critical in determining who advances. One thing's for sure: Ghana's gonna get smoked.
PREDICTIONS
United States 2, Czech Republic 1
Italy 3, Ghana 0
Czech Republic 1, Ghana 0
United States 1, Italy 1
Czech Republic 1, Italy 1
United States 2, Ghana 0
FINAL TABLE W-L-T (Pts) GD
USA 2-0-1 (7) +3
Italy 1-0-2 (5) +3
Czech Republic 1-1-1 (4) 0
Ghana 0-3-0 (0) -6
THE UNITED STATES AND ITALY ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND
GROUP F: Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Japan
GROUP OUTLOOK: Welcome back to the World Cup, Australia. Brazil will win this group, and it will be an interesting battle between Croatia and Japan for second place. But Japan has never done well off its soil in World Cups.
PREDICTIONS
Australia 1, Japan 1
Brazil 3, Croatia 1
Croatia 2, Japan 0
Brazil 5, Australia 2
Croatia 2, Australia 0
Brazil 2, Japan 1
FINAL TABLE W-L-T (Pts) GD
Brazil 3-0-0 (9) +6
Croatia 2-1-0 (6) +2
Japan 0-2-1 (1) -3
Australia 0-2-1 (1) -5
BRAZIL AND CROATIA ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND
GROUP G: France, South Korea, Switzerland, Togo
GROUP OUTLOOK: France won it all in 1998, and South Korea, playing on its homesoil, made it to the semifinals in 2002. Togo's a newcomer, and the Swiss haven't played in the last two cups.
PREDICTIONS
South Korea 3, Togo 2
France 1, Switzerland 1
France 2, South Korea 1
Switzerland 1, Togo 1
France 4, Togo 0
South Korea 1, Switzerland 1
FINAL TABLE W-L-T (Pts) GD
France 2-0-1 (7) +5
South Korea 1-1-1 (4) 0
Switzerland 0-0-3 (3) 0
Togo 0-2-1 (1) -5
FRANCE AND SOUTH KOREA ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND
GROUP H: Saudi Arabia, Spain, Tunisia, Ukraine
GROUP OUTLOOK: Spain will cruise. Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and the Ukraine will compete for the right to be crushed by Brazil in the Round of 16.
PREDICTIONS
Spain 2, Ukraine 0
Tunisia 2, Saudia Arabia 0
Saudia Arabia 1, Ukraine 0
Spain 3, Tunisia 1
Spain 4, Saudia Arabia 0
Tunisia 1, Ukraine 1
FINAL TABLE W-L-T (Pts) GD
Spain 3-0-0 (9) +8
Tunisia 1-1-1 (4) 0
Saudia Arabia 1-2-0 (3) -5
Ukraine 0-2-1 (1) -3
SPAIN AND TUNISIA ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND
KNOCKOUT ROUND
Round-of 16
1A [Germany] v 2B [Sweden]
Outlook: Sweden's decent, but the Swedes aren't good enough to knock out the host team.
PREDICTION: Germany 3, Sweden 1
1C [Holland] v 2D [Mexico]
Outlook: The Mexicans were the weakest of the seedest; the Dutch the strongest of the non-seeded teams. Ironic that they should meet here.
PREDICTION: Holland 2, Mexico 1 (on golden goal)
1B [England] v 2A [Costa Rica]
Outlook: The Costa Ricans have accomplished a lot to make it this far, but the World Cup dreams die here.
PREDICTION: England 2, Costa Rica 0
1D [Portugal] v 2C [Argentina]
Outlook: An intriguing matchup, but Portugal has a reputation of not playing well under pressure.
PREDICTION: Argentina 3, Portugal 1
1E [USA] v 2F [South Korea]
These teams drew 1-1 four years ago in South Korea. The United States has more pop offensively this time around, but the Americans will need to put the Koreans away early--or else the South Koreans' exceptional fitness will beat the Americans in an extended game.
PREDICTION: USA 3, South Korea 2
1G [Brazil] v 2H [Tunisia]
Outlook: The only African team in the Round of 16 unfortunately draws Brazil.
PREDICTION: Brazil 4, Tunisia 0
1F [France] v 2E [Italy]
Outlook: Perhaps the best matchup of the Round of 16, as two powerhouses go head-to-head.
PREDICTION: France 1, Italy 1 (France advances on penalty kicks, 4-3)
1H [Spain] v 2G [Croatia]
Outlook: The Spanish should cruise here.
PREDICTION: Spain 3, Croatia 1
Quarterfinals
That will set up some intriguing matchups in the second round of this tournament ...
Germany vs. Holland
OUTLOOK: The Dutch ruin their neighbors' party
PREDICTION: Holland 1, Germany 1 (Holland advances 5-3 on penalty kicks)
Argentina vs. England
OUTLOOK: These two have a knack for meeting in the World Cup--from the Hand of God (1986) to Beckham's blunder (1998) to the yawn of a showdown in Japan (2002).
PREDICTION: England 2, Argentina 1
USA vs. Brazil
OUTLOOK: They've met once before in a knockout round game: On July 4, 1994, the Brazilians with a late goal by Bebeto ended the Americans run at hosting the World Cup. This time, it won't be so close.
PREDICTION: Brazil 3, United States 1
France vs. Spain
OUTLOOK: After facing Italy in the Round of 16, the French now get another big name showdown vs. Spain. It's simply too many good teams in a row.
PREDICTION: Spain 2, France 1 (on a golden goal)
SEMIFINALS
Holland vs. England
OUTLOOK: It's been a good run for the Dutch, but England makes it through to the final.
PREDICTION: England 2, Holland 0
Brazil vs. Spain
OUTLOOK: The Spanish just can't find a way to stop the Brazilians.
PREDICTION: Brazil 3, Spain 0
THIRD PLACE GAME
Spain vs. Holland
OUTLOOK: A good matchup between two of the best European teams. Too bad it's in a game that neither side will care about.
PREDICTION: Holland 1, Spain 1 (Holland wins 4-2 on penalty kicks)
WORLD CUP FINAL
Brazil vs. England
OUTLOOK: My heart says England; my head says Brazil.
PREDICTION: England 1, Brazil 1 (England wins 4-3 on penalty kicks ... breaking its penalty kick curse forever).
Final Finish
1st Place: England
2nd Place: Brazil
3rd Place: Holland
4th Place: Spain
Quarterfinalists: USA, Germany, Argentina and France
Round of 16 Teams: Sweden, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, South Korea, Tunisia, Italy and Croatia.
The United States’ World Cup: Quarterfinalists; Won 3, Lost 1, Tied 1. Goals Scored: 9; Goals Allowed: 7; Goal Differential: +2. First Round: United States 2, Czech Republic 1; United States 1, Italy 1; United States 2, Ghana 0; Round of 16: USA 3, South Korea 2; Quarterfinals: Brazil 3, United States 1. USA vs. Europe: one win, one tie. USA vs. Asia: one win. USA vs. Africa: one win. USA vs. South America: One loss
England’s World Cup: Champions. Won 7, Lost 0, Tied 0. Goals Scored: 14, Goals Allowed: 2. Goal Differential: +12. First Round: England 2, Paraguay 0, England 4, Trinidad & Tobago 0, England 1, Sweden 0; Round of 16: England 2, Costa Rica 0; Quarterfinals: England 2, Argentina 1; Semifinals: England 2, Holland 0; World Cup Final: England 1, Brazil 1 (England wins 4-3 on penalty kicks). England vs. Europe: two wins. England vs. South America: three wins. England vs. CONCACAF: two wins.
