Group A
Mexico - 5 points
South Africa - 5 points
France - 2 points
Uruguay - 2 points
I've had Mexico and South Africa through since Day 1. Today's matches did not and will not change anything. Except for points. I originally had Bafana Bafana tied at 4 with Les Bleus but the passion they played with today changed my mind. If Marquez is back and El Tri will start to finish, they will take 3 against France. Uruguay are a 1 man team, that will steal one more point likely from Mexico.
Group B
Argentina - 9 points
Nigeria - 6 points
South Korea - 1 points
Greece - 1 points
Argentina are my cup champs and it starts off with a perfect run in the group stage. Messi is that good. They struggled in qualifying but were drawn into a group that favors them. Greece play sit and wait football and if you sit and wait for Messi he will burn you. Nigeria will have the African crowd advantage and while they may not have a Drogba or an Eto'o the Super Eagles have the pieces to advance. If Korea and Greece do not play to a draw things could change significantly confidence wise.
Group C
USA - 7
England - 6
Slovenia - 2
Algeria - 1
Yes you are reading that right and if you are intuitive you can read into a little farther. But I'm going to keep it as subtle as possible. But do me a favor and count the points and do the math. Just don't say anything about tomorrow's result based on those points. I'm being as subtle as i possibly can here. Everyone has these two advancing, I've likely switched the order of it. I've toyed with the possibility of Slovenia grabbing 5 and The Three Lions only managing 4, but it just doesn't seem likely.
Group D
Germany - 9
Australia - 3
Serbia - 3
Ghana - 3
The Black Stars are not the same team without Michael Essien. German are not the same team without Ballack, but have players to replace him. The Socceroos on the other hand have their star healthy, in Tim Cahill, and a very good goalkeeper in Schwarzer. You don't always need a keeper that can win games for you, but you do need one who won't lose them. I'm a huge Branislav Ivanovic fan but I just don't see Serbia scoring goals. With three teams splitting, goal differential will make the difference and Australia have the right balance of offense and defense to move on.
Group E
Netherlands - 7
Cameroon - 5
Denmark - 3
Japan - 0
This could be the year Netherlands finally breaks through. The team they have are top notch, gone is Van Der Sar who some people consider a goalkeeper (there is not a typo there in case you weren't sure). The other three teams make me say "eh." There are not enough free kicks for Honda in the tournament to give Japan a chance. Cameroon have Eto'o, but his form and attitude are in the wrong place. Arguably the best striker in this group is Niklas Bendtner from Denmark. How it plays out will be decided in the first game. If Cameroon come to play against the Dutch give them their ticket to the Sweet 16 and call it a day.
Group F
Italy - 7
New Zealand - 4
Paraguay - 3
Slovakia - 3
Italy's decision to leave behind Rossi is going to be there downfall. But not in this group. None of the other three teams are good enough to beat Italy, but none are good enough to beat each other either. Skrtel might be intimidating but they don't have much else (props to Stanislav Sestak from VfL Bochum but there is a reason they went down to 2. Bundesliga) In another German themes pick Paraguay may still have Roque Santa Cruz but he no longer "Ich Roque"s. I have to go with New Zealand.
Group H
Brazil - 6 points
Ivory Coast - 6 points
Portugal - 4 points
North Korea - 1 point
Mark my word North Korea will keep a team out by stealing a point. I see the Big Three in this "Group of Death" (I've argued it since Day 1, but thats beside the point) splitting. Not sure who beats who though. I have North Korea screwing it up for Portugal. And here is why...
Scenario 1. Portugal and whatever color Vapors Cristiano is wearing will be coming off an important win against the Drogbas. They will be on 3 points each with Brazil. Looking forward to a game against Brazil for seeding they assume 3 against North Korea and get burned doing so.
Scenario 2. They are coming off a loss to the Elephants, and in order to boost goal differential assuming a 3 way tie at 6, they get beat on a counter attack. North Korea goes up 1, and ecstatic to take points from anyone in this group, then sits back with 8 guys.
When you have 3 high seeds and a nobody, you really don't want to play the nobody second.
Group H
Spain - 7
Honduras - 4
Switzerland - 2
Chile - 2
Spain are everyones team to beat, but not mine. I don't think all of their superstars are mentally tough. I can't say they aren't a good team they will win the group and probably advance to the semis but I do see a slip up along the way. Another group with no clear #2, I take Honduras because I love underdogs... see South Africa and New Zealand. But since no European team has ever won the World Cup on non European soil, my Anyone But UEFA theory might just come into play here. And of course to paraphrase the great soccer commentator, Charlize Theron, those teams will be able to talk to each other in the same language.
Check back tomorrow for the Knockout Round. Where nothing special happens to all those teams that you think I'm crazy for picking.
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