2010 WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS TAKE 2

 

 

 

Well I tried making predictions for this World Cup after the group draw was made. Of course I didn't get everything right but now the knockout stages are here, so what'll happen now?

Uruguay vs South Korea: Let's start with one I messed up. Having said that, even though the French only scraped in through the back door I didn't think their gaffer would turn out to be so moronic. Nigeria I was less certain of, home-continent advantage doesn't count for as much as I thought it would. Anyway, the match we've got looks a bit Twilight Zoneish for the knockout stages at first glance with Uruguay and South Korea having not made the knockout stages since 1990 and 2002 respectively. However both sides do have their uses. With Uruguay only scrapping through the back door, in qualifying I wasn't sure they'd be up to much but clearly they are and though the South Koreans can look after themselves, I think the South American side will make the quarter finals.

USA vs Ghana: Well England's too-slow start to the campaign cost them the top spot in the group and so that went to the Yanks - in the knockout stages for the first time since '02. Ghana themselves are in the knockot stages for the 2nd time out of two. This is a tough one to call, the Yanks are by far the best side in their part of the world but the Black Stars are no mugs and yet...this very much has a Twilight Zone feel about it as well. Both teams must be feeling very lucky to face each other at this stage. Yet it should make for some good Saturday night entertainment. My hunch says that the Yanks may well have the edge on this one.

Germany vs England: Well, this is the price of slipups in the World Cup group stages as England face an all too familiar foe in another partial rematch of the 1966 final(given that we faced the old West Germany on that occasion). For the Three Lions it's their fourth visit to the World Cup knockout stages in a row but bear in mind there's been a German presence of one form or another in every World Cup going back to 1986 and beyond. The concern from an English POV is that it's going to turn into a rerun of the 2nd round match against the Argies in '98. Ultimately it depends which England team turns up - this German side certainly aren't invincible and one way or another this match will go down in World Cup history. Let's be optimistic, England to win

Argentina vs Mexico: Got this one on the money and it's a rematch of a second round tie from '06. The Argies had the last laugh on that occasion. This time round? Well pre-tournament, the biggest concern for the Argies was the sanity(or lack of) and potential narcissism of Diego Maradona. That has yet to become an issue, maybe the media made a mountain out of a molehill there. Mexico are capable of giving any side a match though and we can certainly expect one of the better second round matches from a neutral's perspective - both sides having been involved in every World Cup knockout stage since the 2nd round was started up in 1986! However, I certainly don't believe Mexico have what it takes to mug the Argies - the nutter and his crew will hang around for a while longer.

Netherlands vs Slovakia: How the hell did Slovakia, a team who looked completely useless at Wembley when I saw them play England, make the knockout stages? Italy throwing their trophy on the scrapheap by playing a bunch of dodderers probably helped. Still, Slovakia hadn't even qualified for the World Cup as a separate entity before now and the last time the former Czechslovakia made the knockout stages was in 1990. The men in orange on the other hand have secured back to back trips to the knockout stages and seem to be on solid form. This game shouldn't even be a contest, it'll be a very one sided Dutch march to the quarter finals.

Brazil vs Chile: Well this is a rematch of a second round match from '98 that featured two of that tournament's classier sides, not that Chile had ever been to the World Cup since '98. Brazil on the other hand, have been in every knockout stage since 1986 and beyond. Furthermore though they haven't fully got up to speed yet, they are certainly one of the better teams in this tournament while I suspect this Chile side would get whacked by their '98 counterparts. So, while I certainly expect this match to be worth watching, I do think the result will be pretty straightforward. I mean, even Salas and co got whacked by the sambaistas back in the day.

Paraguay vs Japan: The third Twilight Zoneish knockout match. Neither team has reached the knockout stages since '02. Furthermore neither team has even reached a World Cup quarter final before and yet Paraguay took advantage of a much weaker than expected group and Japan took advantage of the Cameroon gaffer being a moron. Having said that, if their form so far in South Africa is anything to go by then Japan giving the Three Lions a headache is no fluke. They certainly seem to have their share of class. Even though Paraguay are the group winners in this matchup, I actually fancy this Japan to become immortals back home and make the quarters.

Spain vs Portugal: Well Spain have made the knockout stages for the third tournament in a row, Portugal have made the knockout stages for the second time in a row. This is another matchup I called correctly and it still looks like it'll be one of the second round's better matchups. Spain are the reigning European champions but seemingly are vulnerable to brean dead moments in their defence. Portugal are probably a better side than any they have faced so far in South Africa. Yet they haven't been firing on all cylinders so far. I think the safe bet here is still stick with my original prediction. Spain to make the quarter finals and Portugal to go home.

So what would happen then?

QUARTER FINALS

Netherlands vs Brazil: This tasty match is one step closer and I'll stick to my original prediction. Brazil would win.

Uruguay vs USA: There's no avoiding a Twilight Zone quarter final of some form - suspect Uruguay would have the edge here.

England vs Argentina: It certainly wouldn't get any easier for the Three Lions, might as well flip a coin. Wouldn't push our luck though, we'd pay for our group mishaps with an earlier than expected exit here I reckon.

Japan vs Spain: Japan would probably get a reality check here, Spain to win.

 

SEMI FINALS

Uruguay vs Brazil: This would be a rematch of a 1970 semi and what is thought of as the 1950 final, Brazil would win.

Argentina vs Spain: Surely Diego and his nutters would get whacked here.

THIRD PLACE PLAY OFF

Uruguay vs Argentina: This would be a rematch of the 1930 final. Argies would win this time

FINAL

Spain vs Brazil: I'll stick to my original prediction. Spain would win.

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