FIFA World Cup 2010 - Predictions/Discussions/Updates
 

The mega event which happens every four years, and is followed by intense interest by plenty of fans around the globe. Here at HDC too we have followed WC 2006 closely before (Zwoti and Austin made sure we did!), and its about time we had this thread open for discussing the same.

This year, the Football World Cup is being hosted by South Africa. 32 teams are in the fray, split into 8 groups of 4 teams each. The huge tournament kicks off on June 11th, and the Final will be played on July 12th.

Which means one whole month of kickass, nail-biting, intensely fought football.

I hope that like last time, Zwoti and Austin will pop in again and put in their opinions and updates for all the football fans in HDC.

These are the team groupings - (Updated points along with the Goals Differences {Goals Scored MINUS Goals Conceded} in the Group Standings are given alongside them)



Fixtures and teams to follow.

This is the whole schedule of FIFA World Cup 2010 - (I will be updating this post regularly throughout the WC)

• Group A
  
  01 : [11/06] Mexico [1] - South Africa [1]
  02 : [11/06] France [0] - Uruguay [0]
  17 : [16/06] Uruguay [3] - South Africa [0]
  18 : [17/06] France [0] - Mexico [2]
  33 : [22/06] Mexico [0] - Uruguay [1]
  34 : [22/06] France [1] - South Africa [2]
  
  
  Group B
  
  03 : [12/06] Nigeria [0] - Argentina [1]
  04 : [12/06] Greece [0] - South Korea [2]
  19 : [17/06] Greece [2] - Nigeria [1]
  20 : [17/06] Argentina [4] - South Korea [1]
  35 : [22/06] Nigeria [2] - South Korea [2]
  36 : [22/06] Greece [0] - Argentina [2]
  
  
  Group C
  
  05 : [12/06] USA [1] - England [1]
  06 : [13/06] Algeria [0] - Slovenia [1]
  22 : [18/06] USA [2] - Slovenia [2]
  23 : [18/06] England [0] - Algeria [0]
  37 : [23/06] England [1] - Slovenia [0]
  38 : [23/06] USA [1] - Algeria [0]
  
  
  Group D
  
  07 : [13/06] Germany [4] - Australia [0]
  08 : [13/06] Ghana [1] - Serbia [0]
  21 : [18/06] Serbia [1] - Germany [0]
  24 : [19/06] Ghana [1] - Australia [1]
  39 : [23/06] Ghana [0] - Germany [1]
  40 : [23/06] Serbia [1] - Australia [2]
  
  
  Group E
  
  09 : [14/06] Denmark [0] - Netherlands [2]
  10 : [14/06] Japan [1] - Cameroon [0]
  25 : [19/06] Japan [0] - Netherlands [1]
  26 : [19/06] Denmark [2] - Cameroon [1]
  43 : [24/06] Japan [3] - Denmark [1]
  44 : [24/06] Cameroon [1] - Netherlands [2]
  
  
  Group F
  
  11 : [14/06] Italy [1] - Paraguay [1]
  12 : [15/06] Slovakia [1] - New Zealand [1]
  27 : [20/06] Slovakia [0] - Paraguay [2]
  28 : [20/06] Italy [1] - New Zealand [1]
  41 : [24/06] Italy [2] - Slovakia [3]
  42 : [24/06] Paraguay [0] - New Zealand [0]
  
  
  Group G
  
  13 : [15/06] Portugal [0] - Ivory Coast [0]
  14 : [15/06] Brazil [2] - North Korea [1]
  29 : [20/06] Brazil [3] - Ivory Coast [1]
  30 : [21/06] Portugal [7] - North Korea [0]
  45 : [25/06] Brazil [0] - Portugal [0]
  46 : [25/06] Ivory Coast [3] - North Korea [0]
  
  
  Group H
  
  15 : [16/06] Chile [1] - Honduras [0]
  16 : [16/06] Spain [0] - Switzerland [1]
  31 : [21/06] Chile [1] - Switzerland [0]
  32 : [21/06] Spain [2] - Honduras [0]
  47 : [25/06] Spain [2] - Chile [1]
  48 : [25/06] Honduras [0] - Switzerland [0]
  
  
  Round Of 16
  
  49: [26/06] URUGUAY [2] - SOUTH KOREA [1]
  50: [26/06] USA [1] - GHANA [2] (**Extra Time**)
  51: [27/06] GERMANY [4] - ENGLAND [1]
  52: [27/06] ARGENTINA [3] - MEXICO [1]
  53: [28/06] NETHERLANDS [2] - SLOVAKIA [1]
  54: [28/06] BRAZIL [3] - CHILE [0]
  55: [29/06] PARAGUAY [0] (5) - JAPAN [0] (3) (**Penalty Shootout**)
  56: [29/06] SPAIN [1] - PORTUGAL [0]
  
  
  Quarter - Finals
  
  57: [02/07] NETHERLANDS [2] - BRAZIL [1]
  58: [02/07] URUGUAY [1] (4) - GHANA [1] (2) (**Penalty Shootout**)
  59: [03/07] GERMANY [4] - ARGENTINA [0]
  60: [03/07] PARAGUAY [0] - SPAIN [1]
  
  
  Semi - Finals
  
  61: [06/07] NETHERLANDS [3] - URUGUAY [2]
  62: [07/07] GERMANY [0] - SPAIN [1]
  
  
  Third Place Playoff
  
  63: [10/07] URUGUAY [2] - GERMANY [3] <--- GERMANY WIN 3RD PLACE
  
  
  THE FINAL
  
  64: [11/07] NETHERLANDS [0] - SPAIN [1] <--- SPAIN ARE 2010 WC CHAMPIONS!!!

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 Golden Ball Winner: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 Golden Shoe Winner: Thomas Muller (Germany)

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 Golden Glove Winner: Iker Casillas (Spain)


You can also visit the official page, and click on the small clock icon on the top to see your local times - http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html

I've been married for 22 years to an Englishman (still the hottest man in the world!!) so I have watched 5 World Cups (never watched sports before I married him; now I watch all the popular American sports AND all the popular English sports). I see the U.S. and the U.K. are in the same group this year. I guess I'll have to divide my loyalties this time.

Some of the players to watch out for -

Thierry HENRY (France) - Arguably the fastest Forward in the world for quite some time, and one of my most favorite footballers. Age is catching up with him though.

Lionel MESSI (Argentina) - In the same league as Henry. One of the most dazzling footballers you ll ever see in your life.

KAKA (Brazil) - The third name in the must-watch list.

Diego FORLAN (Uruguay)

Frank LAMPARD (England)

Miroslav KLOSE (Germany)

Arjen ROBBEN (Netherlands)

Shunsuke NAKAMURA (Japan)

Samuel ETO'O (Cameroon)

Gianluigi BUFFON (Italy)

Roque SANTA CRUZ (Paraguay)

Didier DROGBA (Ivory Coast)

Cristiano RONALDO (Portugal)

Fernando TORRES (Spain)

BOOO! HISS! Football is for sissys. Rugby is a man's sport.

Rugby is for sofities - now Vale Tudo thats a real sport.

I'll be sure to tell Vinnie Jones you said that.

Vinne Jones lost any self respect with his infamous low blow! Bring it ooooooownnnn!

No Zidane magic this year, still im gonna stick to France - wont top last WC surprise though...

I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about; please explain.

Grabbing and squeezing Gascoignes balls to put him off during a football game.

portugal wins

True, Vinnie Jones was a dirty player, but hardly a sissy.

You mentioning this incident had me stumble on the news about Paul Gascoigne's mental state. Very sad.

I don't know much about soccer but it seems that sportscenter show some sick play by Leo Messi every week so I'm betting Argentina to win at 8-1.

With Messi in full flow, Argentina is a pretty safe bet.



Well, WC 2010 is already abuzz with plenty of happenings right now.

Germany have lost as many as 5 players to injuries so far, including their captain and key player Michael Ballack.

Some pretty glaring omissions by Brazil for their final squad.

Plus, a new "perfectly round" tournament ball which is giving most of the goalkeepers and players plenty of sleepless nights.

You left out the 2 biggest candidates for the Golden Boot award (Most goals)

Wayne Rooney (England)
David Villa (Spain)


Spain is gonna win the World Cup and Argentina is gonna flop once again.

Highly temperamental. No doubting the immense talent he brings to the equation, but can he keep his temperament in the big stage? He was a big flop in 2006, after coming into it with a rich vein of form even back then.


Good pick, but has been known to be hit-and-miss. I was going with 1 pick per team, and between Villa and Torres, I d rather go with the latter for sheer energy and skills to get those goals in.


The one team which has the best National League of the world (arguably) in the La Liga and some of the best regional teams in the world in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid, et al, yet have consistently failed to impress on the big stage.

I really hope you are proven right this time, bud. Its about time Spain did some serious ass-kicking in the WC once again.

The same can be said about Argentina. Amazing players individually, but as a team they always have difficulties against strong opponents.

Villa was stand out exceptional 2 years ago in the European Championship and Rooney has been the best player together with Messi in this years Champions League (annual european club tournament), so i've got high expectations for both of them.

I see.http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/...16_233x220.jpg

First of all, a big thanks to V for opening this thread.:)

FIFA Word Cup has always been the most favorite tournament since 1986 Maradona Magics. That was my first seen WC but I supported Brazil that time for the first & last time. Anyway, very often I like to have a funny debate with my father regarding 'The Best Sport on Earth: Football or Cricket' (as he loves to watch any game of cricket very much)...even last night while we were talking about the England-Bangladesh test match with frustration & anger, in the end I added 'anyway, I have now no time for think about Cricket anymore, the most boring game...it's only 10 days left for the biggest tournament of the greatest sport on earth!" He almost yelled at me in the reply.:D Most of the time I have a bad tendency to 'annoy' the favorite people around me.

Now, let's come to the point...WORLD CUP'2010 South Africa:

As the venue this time is outside Europe so the 'record' says...NO EUROPEAN TEAM IS GOING TO WIN THIS TIME. :D

Therefore, after eliminating all the European teams, among the rest of the world BRAZIL & ARGENTINA is having a good chance with their record under this weird possibility scenario.

Personally I have doubts about Argentina though it's my most favorite team. They have individually very talented players but I'm not sure how good they have been become as a team. Let's hope after a long time we'll gonna see some magics from Maradona as a coach to unite the team in a great understanding & support for each other in the field. I think Messi become the most talked about footballer currently this time around the world not just for his own skills or talents but also for the support he got from some of his brilliantly talented team mates in Barcelona...specially do they have a great play maker like XAVI in Argentine WC Squad? I hope there is.

It's really been a sad to know that there will be no Ronaldinho around this time for Brazil. He's a one of the very favorite players in football. I'll miss in him in yellow-green/blue jersey. I think Brazil has the best goal keeper (Julio Cesar) at the moment in the world with a good defense including Maicon (Inter Milan) & Daniel Alves (Barcelona) to watch out that has a good chance to produce some entertaining football & finally win the cup. I think there will be some surprises in both positive & negative way from Dunga's squad.

I also hope & predict an African team to be one of the quarter-finalist at least.

As a good football fan all I want to see some very tight & competitive matches and some magics in the field by the players from any team.

In last WC I supported Argentina, Portugal, Spain & Italy. But this time no Portugal as there is no Figo, now my favorites are...Argentina, Spain, Italy & Ivory Coast (just for Drogba).

Like Spain I like to mention Netherlands & England...for the last couple of WCs the teams who have regularly been playing like the potential candidates to win the cup but always got knocked out with some bad lucks.

I hope for some african teams to do it well - Cameroon had a hard quali, but they are with us :D

If you ask me, I have a feeling that the team which plays the best as a team this time will take the trophy. Its a big plus that many big names of all the fancied sides are either retired or left out.

England have announced their final squad. For all the UK residents of HDC, here it is -

Goalkeepers:

Robert Green (West Ham United),
Joe Hart (Manchester City),
David James (Portsmouth).

Defenders:

Jamie Carragher (Liverpool),
Ashley Cole (Chelsea),
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United),
Glen Johnson (Liverpool),
Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur),
John Terry (Chelsea),
Matthew Upson (West Ham United),
Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders:

Gareth Barry (Manchester City),
Michael Carrick (Manchester United),
Joe Cole (Chelsea),
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool),
Frank Lampard (Chelsea),
Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur),
James Milner (Aston Villa),
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards:

Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur),
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur),
Emile Heskey (Aston Villa),
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

oh yes, a sport where the hooker is a big hairy man :eek:

rofl...

ZWOTIIIIIII!!!

Shut up, boy. You're a disgrace for your country.


:D

henry - passed it. ribery has been playing well for bayern so he might have a good tournament. france will probably be undermined by their manager domenech again.

kaka - not been playing well, absent from the real team recently. but brazil have so many good players that they should progress.

forlan - not expectin anything from him, not expecting anything from uruguay.

lampard - how many deflections and penalties can 1 man get. rooney is the main man for england.

klose - does he play anymore, can't get into the bayern team anymore, like gomes.

robben - been playing very well, holland if they click will do well.

japan, paraguay, cameroon - not expecting anything.

drogba - class player (pains me to say this).

ronaldo - very good player, but the rest of the team not enough to progress far.

italy - too old

spain - the team to beat, class players.

argentina - brilliant individuals, but a team? i'd say no, and maradona doesn't help any.

Yep...Drogba is one of finest strikers I have seen in years who alone can be great threat for his opponents. I don't have any idea about the rest of squad of Ivory Coast but they need to have 2 good play maker from the mid field to support him & making some upset in the group stage.

I think C. Ronaldo is still more on his showmanship & often goes for some unnecessary tricks & turns but of course he's a gifted footballer.

Pirlo is a great play maker from Italy who shown some class football last time. Not care for their being 'old' issue, they are the defending champions...in 2006 they surprised me with their attacking attitude in the field and I can even only support them for their cool jersey. :D

Don't know what the hookers do, but I learned what the wingers do.http://wesclark.com/rrr/hopoates_finger.jpg

i predict england won't even get out of their group

Of course England will win ...

If they can sort out the following,

#1 The back four.

Defensively England have looked vulnerable lately,Johnson,Ferdinand,Terry and Cole are quality players but have not played together enough in the run up to the World Cup,if as a unit there is any lack of cohesiveness then we will concede goals too easily.

#2 Gareth Barry's fitness.

Since becoming the first choice holding midfielder Barry has brought an assured presence to the middle of the park,not having him there would be a serious weakness.

#3 Wayne Rooney.

Getting the best out of Rooney is key.Giving him the right strike partner is crucial,I believe playing him with Defoe is not an option,Heskey works well with him but has been woefully out of form and lacking fitness.My choice would be Crouch,he holds the ball up well and will provide Rooney with plenty of knockdowns/layoffs to run onto.

#4 Penalties.

Penalties are to be avoided at all costs.


Putting loyalty to one side,Spain are the logical choice as tournament winners,they have been the outstanding side in World football for several years,they have been drawn in an easy group and are worthy favourites.

I would agree with Zwoti that Holland could go well,and for that reason I would pick Van Persie for the Golden Boot.

Serbia would be my pick of an outside team that could surprise.


Bring it on !

History tells us that the underrated teams have had a tendency to do well in the WC.

(remember Senegal beating France?)

So watch out for teams like Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Paraguay, the Koreas, Japan, etc. who might create a flutter or two.

And I think we all agree on one common thing - Spain is THE team to watch for this WC edition.

Any predictions on the Finalists? I ll stretch my neck out and say...


Argentina vs Spain

Brazil-Spain

oh..that will be a dream final for me.:)

....the last match of Round of 16.;)

It's not using that tactic that makes you a douchebag, it's being a bit more discreet than Vinnie was :D I mean, when I used to play Rugby our coach always told us that once you've taken someone to the ground, if the Ref is on the left of you, giving them a quick punch in the side on the right. Dirty tactics make a game, it's when you're obvious about it that you're a douchebag.

But don't you DARE bring up Bloodgate!

Okay.http://wesclark.com/rrr/hopoates_finger.jpg

Agreed about Spain.


Oh and Thierry Henry sucks something awful, lazy bastard.

Hey hey. Dude's just old.

He may be lazy and old, but he is still very much a threat. ;)


But frankly speaking, I don't expect France to do very well in this WC. Maybe Semi-Finals at best, but that's about it.

A Prediction...
 

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2...roupstage1.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5...roupstage2.jpg

If the first round results turns up like this then just see what may happen...

Just followed the schedule...

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1...ctionro16a.jpg

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2...roundof16b.jpg

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/6...onqsfinals.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4...ctionfinal.jpg