As the 2010 World Cup inches closer and closer, the time has come to look at the match schedule and deliver the outcomes. With one of the strongest fields in recent history, deciding on winners and losers for this World Cup will be anything but easy. Nonetheless, here are my predictions for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
GROUP STAGE
Group A:
South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, and France
South Africa vs. Mexico: 2-1 Mexico
Uruguay vs. France: 1-1 Tie
South Africa vs. Uruguay: 2-0 Uruguay
France vs. Mexico: 3-0 Mexico
Mexico vs. Uruguay: 2-2 Tie
France vs. South Africa: 2-0 France
My Prediction: Mexico will win the group, getting two wins over a French team with a lot of defensive weaknesses and a South African squad that, while filled with passion and heart, will not be able to keep up with higher competition for 90 minutes. Uruguay progresses to the next round as the runner up of the group.
Group B:
Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
South Korea vs. Greece: 1-1 Tie
Argentina vs. Nigeria: 3-2 Argentina
Argentina vs. South Korea: 2-0 Argentina
Greece vs. Nigeria: 2-1 Nigeria
Nigeria vs. South Korea: 1-0 South Korea
Greece vs. Argentina: 2-1 Argentina
My Prediction: Argentina sweeps the field, and while they have had some difficulty in qualifying, Lionel Messi is playing too well recently for Argentina to struggle. Also add in Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez and you have a near unstoppable strike force. South Korea's experience wins out over Nigeria, and they finish as runners up in the group.
Group C:
England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia
England vs. USA: 2-0 England
Algeria vs. Slovenia: 1-1 Tie
Slovenia vs. USA: 1-0 USA
England vs. Algeria: 3-1 England
Slovenia vs. England: 2-1 England
USA vs. Algeria: 2-1 USA
My Predictions: Although I hope that the USA wins every game, it is unlikely they will beat England. The Three Lions are playing too well under new head coach Fabio Capello, and although the loss of Rio Ferdinand will hurt, they still have one of the better squads in the tournament. The USA will still make it to the next round as the runner up, thanks to their physical play and their talented but somewhat inexperienced forward duo. Slovenia and Algeria will put up a good fight, but they are not strong enough team's on this level to compete.
Group D:
Germany, Australia, Serbia, and Ghana
Serbia vs. Ghana: 2-1 Serbia
Germany vs. Australia: 2-0 Germany
Germany vs. Serbia: 1-1 Tie
Ghana vs. Australia: 3-0 Ghana
Ghana vs. Germany: 2-0 Ghana
Australia vs. Serbia: 1-0 Serbia
My Predictions: This is one of the toughest groups to decide who makes it into the next round. Germany, Ghana, and Serbia are all strong teams, and have talented players all over the field. However, I think Serbia and Ghana will be the two to advance to the next round, with Serbia winning the group. Ghana has plenty of talent up front that will give them an advantage there, but Serbia has the better defense, which will keep Germany and Ghana at bay.
Group E:
Holland, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Holland vs. Denmark: 3-0 Holland
Japan vs. Cameroon: 2-1 Cameroon
Holland vs. Japan: 2-0 Holland
Cameroon vs. Denmark: 1-1 Tie
Denmark vs. Japan: 1-0 Denmark
Cameroon vs. Holland: 2-1 Holland
My Predictions: Holland easily runs away with this group, one of the easier ones in the tournament. The amount of attacking options that Holland has makes this an easy choice to win the group. Cameroon moves on as the runner up on goal differential over Denmark. Both of those teams are back in the World Cup after missing the 2006 edition.
Group F:
Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Italy vs. Paraguay: 2-1 Italy
New Zealand vs. Slovakia: 2-0 Slovakia
Slovakia vs. Paraguay: 3-2 Paraguay
Italy vs. New Zealand: 3-0 Italy
Slovakia vs. Italy: 2-2 Tie
Paraguay vs. New Zealand: 3-1 Paraguay
My Predictions: Italy, defending World Champions, will make it out of the group stage without a problem. The head coach that took them to win the World Cup is back at the helm, and with Gianluigi Buffon (that's really his last name) in goal and a strong defense, they are again a lock to go far. Paraguay will move on as well, thanks to star striker Roque Santa Cruz proving his worth on the international stage.
Group G:
Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Ivory Coast vs. Portugal: 2-2 Tie
Brazil vs. North Korea: 3-0 Brazil
Brazil vs. Ivory Coast: 2-0 Brazil
Portugal vs. North Korea: 3-1 Portugal
Portugal vs. Brazil: 3-2 Brazil
North Korea vs. Ivory Coast: 2-0 Ivory Coast
My Predictions: Group G has been billed as the "Group of Death" and it is easy to see, with three of the best teams in the world going against each other in the group stage. Although Brazil doesn't have Ronaldinho or Adriano in their squad, they are still loaded as usual with Kaka and Robinho. Portugal and the Ivory Coast both have questions coming into the tournament (Portugal barely qualifying for the World Cup, and Ivory Coast dealing with the injury to star striker Didier Drogba), but I believe that Portugal will make it through to the next round on goal differential. However, this group can go either way.
Group H:
Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
Honduras vs. Chile: 2-1 Chile
Spain vs. Switzerland: 3-0
Chile vs. Switzerland: 1-0 Chile
Spain vs. Honduras: 2-0 Spain
Chile vs. Spain: 1-1 Tie
Switzerland vs. Honduras: 2-1 Honduras
My Predictions: Spain, the winner of the 2008 European Championships, brings to South Africa one of the strongest teams in the world, with the Spanish League and Champions League winning Barcelona contingent numbering 7 players (Carlos Pujol, Victor Valdes, Pedro, Xavi, Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, and Gerard Pique). Chile is another talented team and they will also move on to the next round, and while Honduras showed a lot of fight to make it to South Africa, they will fall to the stronger and more physical Chile and Spain sides.
KNOCKOUT STAGE
Round of 16:
Winner of Group A vs. Runner Up of Group B
Mexico vs. South Korea: 3-2 Mexico
Winner of Group C vs. Runner Up of Group D
England vs. Ghana: 2-0 England
Winner of Group D vs. Runner Up of Group C
Serbia vs. USA: 2-1 (After Extra Time) USA
Winner of Group B vs. Runner Up of Group A
Argentina vs. Uruguay: 2-1 Argentina
Winner of Group E vs. Runner Up of Group F
Holland vs. Paraguay: 3-2 (After Extra Time) Holland
Winner of Group G vs. Runner Up of Group H
Brazil vs. Chile: 3-1 Brazil
Winner of Group F vs. Runner Up of Group E
Italy vs. Cameroon: 3-2 Cameroon
Winner of Group H vs. Runner Up of Group G
Spain vs. Portugal: Spain 2-0
My Predictions: I only picked two upsets, and that would be USA over Serbia, and Cameroon over Italy. The USA has a very talented midfield, and if they make it out of the group stage like they should, they will be brimming with confidence. That confidence should help them win the possession battle with the speedy Serbians and beat them after a tough match. Cameroon will surprise the defending national champs, thanks to their captain Samuel Eto'o, one of the world's best strikers, scoring against one of the best defenses in the world.
QUARTERFINALS
Holland vs. Brazil: 2-2 (Holland wins on Penalties)
Mexico vs. England: 2-1 England
Argentina vs. USA: 3-0 Argentina
Cameroon vs. Spain: 2-1 Spain
My Predictions: Holland will do enough to keep the deadly Brazilian attack at bay to win the match in penalties. They are one of my dark horses to win the tournament. England easily beat Mexico in a pre-World Cup warm up match, and again England will win, although Mexico will keep it close for 80 minutes. Argentina will clobber the USA in the quarters, but the USA will be happy just to make it that far. And Spain ends Cameroon's dream run into the quarterfinals.
SEMI-FINALS
Holland vs. England: 2-1 Holland
Argentina vs. Spain: 3-2 Spain
My Predictions: England's farthest run in a World Cup since they won it in 1966 will end when they run into a hot Dutch squad, filled with plenty of offensive firepower, and a capable midfield that will keep the tired British players running circles for a majority of the game. And Spain will make it to their second final in two years after dispatching their Spanish speaking counter part Argentina, in a high scoring affair.
WORLD CUP FINAL
Holland vs. Spain: 2-1 Spain
My Prediction: Spain will win their first ever World Cup title, on the back of a brilliant performance from the golden generation of Spanish soccer, which has led the current Spanish national team to be regarded as one of the best squads ever.
Like the NCAA Tournament, my bracket has very little chance of being 100 percent correct. Little things like injuries and bad referees can change the tide of the games, and enable some upsets to occur. But in the end, I believe it will be Spain vs. Holland for all the marbles, and the worlds biggest trophy.
