Argentina Still On For The Big One

As those of you who have read the previous posts will know, I'm backing Argentina. I genuinely think they have enough attacking options, and enough of a team to win the competition.

Their performance against Nigeria earlier on was absolutely world class. I haven't seen a game like that in a very long time. So one sided, but only 1-0. Was just a wonderful spectacle to watch.

But is that it already? Will that really be enough to be world beaters and become the best team in the world? We'll just have to wait and see.

Bore Draws - Day 1 Round-Up

Well, that was an interesting day! Having watched both games, I think we can safely say we know which was the better.

We started off with South Africa vs. Mexico - a game that even Isobel enjoyed, even though she won't admit it. Siphiwe Tshabalala put SA ahead, with ex-captain Rafael Marquez striking back 12 minutes from time, to finish the game 1-1. It was a fast-paced, equally-attacking game, and it was a really good one to kick off the whole tournament. For highlights of the game, click here.


Then we had Uruguay vs. France this evening, and wow it couldn't have been more boring if it tried. What a seriously dull game. It was just 50:50 the whole way, until France actually started to try with 10 minutes to go, but it was far too late. If you're that way inclined, and want to waste a few minutes of your life that you'll never get back again, check out the highlights here.

It all bodes well for Day 2 though!

Opening Ceremony

Quite good weren't it?! Isobel and I came in late to watch it, but what we saw was brilliant. Loved the little trumpet man, and the dung beetle.

And all that work with the stadium-flag combo in the middle, and the logo stuff - very smart. They obviously haven't been working on this for a while....

Anyway, that means everything is now underway. Goodbye summer, hello World Cup.

Predictions

So, I'd better post all my predictions before it all kicks off on Friday. For the groups, we'll have winners, and then runners up. Here we go. 

Group A - France, Mexico 
Group B - Argentina, South Korea 
Group C - England, USA 
Group D - Germany, Serbia 
Group E - Netherlands, Cameroon
Group F - Italy, Slovakia 
Group G - Brazil, Portugal
Group H - Spain, Chile

Then we have the second round, where the winners of the first group play the runners up of the second group. I'll bold out my winners in each game. 

France vs. South Korea
Argentina vs. Mexico
England vs. Serbia
Germany vs. USA
Netherlands vs. Slovakia
Italy vs. Cameroon
Brazil vs. Chile
Spain vs. Portugal

As you can see, I think that the teams who come first will all win. But then it gets a little trickier, with the quarters...

France vs. England
Argentina vs.Germany
Netherlands vs. Brazil
Italy vs. Spain

And then we're down to the top four best teams in the world. And I think it'll be...

England vs. Brazil
Argentina vs. Spain

I can just see it happening. Spain will take third place, but it will set up the mother of all finals. I'm going down the penalty root too - I think we may very well see extra time in the final. But who will win it?

Argentina, by the skin of their teeth. I think for the first time in decades, they have the desire to go on and do it. Class act all round.

Group H - Chile

I like that flag too - plain and simple.

Chile are my underdog team. I can see them qualifying in the group they've got. Pace and energy is bubbling over from the team, and they look good in friendlies. But can they match it in South Africa?

Capital City: Santiago
Captain: Claudio Bravo
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Star Man: Alexis Sanchez - 21 years old, and playing for his future in South Africa. Very speedy, but having played for Udinese, he could very well be putting himself in the shop window this time around.
Group Games: Honduras (16th June); Switzerland (21st June); Spain (25th June)
Adam's Prediction: I have pinned my hopes on Chile. Can see them qualifying. 2nd in Group H.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola)

Defenders: Pablo Contreras (PAOK), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Jara (West Brom), Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Carmona (Reggina)

Midfielders: Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas), Jorge Valdivia (Al-Ain), Jean Beausejour (America)

Forwards: Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza)

Group H - Honduras

The small team are probably better known for their war than their football team. They have, however, qualified for teh World Cup for the second time, the first being in 1982.

They are talking of getting into the second round, and yes, their squad could handle it, but with other teams better than them this time around, I very much doubt it will happen.

Capital City: Tegucigalpa
Captain: Amando Guevara
Manager: Reinaldo Rueda
Star Man: Wilson Palacios - the big man from Tottenham has really worked wonders this season, and looks good for a decent World Cup. With several million eyes on him, he'll want to prove why Spurs are in the Champions League next season.
Group Games: Chile (16th June); Spain (21st June); Switzerland (25th June)
Adam's Prediction: I'm sorry Hondurans, but I just don't see it happening. 4th in Group H.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia) 

Defenders: Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Oscar Garcia (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Motagua), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Luchen), Osman Chavez (Platense) 

Midfielders: Edgard Alvarez (Bari), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Ramon Nunez (Olimpia), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur), Hendry Thomas (Wigan), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia) 

Forwards: David Suazo (Genoa), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), Walter Martinez (Marathon)

Group H - Switzerland

Thats a cracking flag int it?!

The Swiss reached the second round in 2006, but I just can't see it. They've got a trickygroup, and they are a team who are made up on fringe players. Yes, they'll have a crack, but it will be tough.

They do, however, have a big hunger to do well, and that was proved in qualification. So let's see how they go.

Capital City: Bern
Captain: Alexander Frei
Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Star Man: Valon Behrami - the West Ham midfielder missed the majority of last season, but is still his country's talisman. He could guarantee big wins if he plays to the best of his ability. 
Group Games: Spain (16th June); Chile (21st June); Honduras (25th June)
Adam's Prediction: It will be tough, but I just don't see it. 3rd in Group H.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (Zurich), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys) 

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Mario Eggimann (Hannover), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria) 

Midfielders: Valon Behrami (West Ham), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Benjamin Huggel (Basle), Gelson Fernandes (St. Etienne), Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria) 

Forwards: Alex Frei (Basle), Blaise Nkufo (Twente), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Hakan Yakin (Lucerne), Marco Streller (Basle)