Despite International football on the whole being a bit ****, the world cup is always a major event in football, although I would argue that the CL is now the number one competition football, but that's another debate. Anyway there are some interesting groups. 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-Hercegovina, Iran, Nigeria. Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA. Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea. Not excited by groups C,E,F or H. But, B and G are the groups to watch and some potentially cracking games in there. For me, Chile vs Spain is going to potentially be a classic. England have their work cut out, but I can see them sneaking out of it, by play defensively against Italy and Uruguay in order to get a few points, and then beat Costa Rica in the final game.
Rather interesting group stages, by an amazing "ahem" coincidence, almost all the groups have every team from a different continent. Will be interesting to see how teams cope with the conditions in Brazil, particularly England and Italy (being in the Amazon area). Think the teams that go through will be Group A: Brazil, Mexico Don't rate Cameroon any more, lets face it, they used to be carried by Eto. Mexico have a decent squad who will be more at home with the surroundings as well. Group B: Spain, Chile I think there's something really rotten in the Netherlands camp (and they're defence is absolutely ****e), Spain will go through because they're spain, and yes, although Chileans are basically mountain people with really nice weather, I still think again, that they will be more at home with the surrounds. Plus, they have some very handy players, Isla, Fernandez and Sanchez in particular, they beat England at Wembley, and I just think that they'll manage to shock a few people. Group C: Colombia, Japan. This is an interesting group for me. Columbia are the dark horses for the competition, having won the copa america and being on continental home soil, and they should win the group relatively comfortably. Greece, no. Japan are a very well drilled passing side, with some great flair players (Kagawa, Honda), as well as established defensive players in the form of Utchida, Nagatomo, and Hasebe. The gk and Striker are pretty handy as well. Although some may worry that the Ivory Coast will just bulldoze through them as big teams usually do with Japan, they did beat Belgium 3-2, which indicates that they do have quality (and that the Belgians also have significant team problems). Group D: Uruguay, Italy. Uruguay and Italy for me, think Japan will be my WC team for longer this year than England, just won't have the quality to get through unfortunately. Group E : France, Ecuador Never rated the Swiss, never will, they had a ridiculously easy group to get in, and thats why I think it's going to be France topping the group with the Ecuadorians in second place. Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina Well, Argentina will obviously top the group, from what I've seen of Iran (playing Japan), they don't impress me, and it was a toss up between Nigeria and Bosnia, purely won by the Bosnians because I know that Dzeko, Pjajnic and Begovic are Bosnian, and I can only think of Obi Mikel and Tiote off the top of my head for the Nigerians. Group G: Germany, Portugal Fairly self explanatory I think, yes Portugal weren't good in the qualifiers but they'll be good enough to get to the next round I think. Group H: Belgium, South Korea. I think Belgium are massively overrated. Their individual players are brilliant, but as a team they're just seem to be too many divides (that whole Waloon/Flemish thing probably doesn't help one jot). Having said that, they'll win the group, and I think South Korea will come second because I don't know much about Algeria (didn't they win a CAN recently?) and I just think the Russians will flop in brazil. Well that was long winded, but at least it means I don't feel obliged posting about the WC until it actually starts
A: Brazil, Croatia B: Spain, Chile C: Columbia, Ivory Coast D: Uruguay, Italy E: France, Ecuador F: Argentina, Nigeria G: Germany, Portugal/Ghana H: Belgium, Russia
The only way i can see England going through is if we manage two defensive draws against Uraguay and Italy and then a decent size win againt Costa Rica to make sure we have the GD to go through. IF and it's a real big IF this time around, we manage to make it through our group then we play against first/second from the Colombia group. And other than Colombia who would be a difficult game i fancy us against the other teams in that group. So IF we make it through i can see us getting a decent way in the tournament.
The World Cup will always be the premier competition for me. Although the quailty of the Champions League is probably higher, there's something about the World Cup that just lights up the magic of football ...... ..... or maybe it's just the beautiful tanned jiggling breasts of the female Brazil fans
Uruguay have two great forwards, but the rest of their team is not nearly as impressive. Got a feeling that we can nick something from that game.
