In a little under 5 days, the 18th Football World Cup will kick-off in Munich as the hosts Germany take on Cotsa Rica! Thus shall begin 31 days of some of the best Football you shall ever see!
Group A
Germany, Poland, Equador, Costa Rica
Are Germany strong enough!? 4 years ago they managed to reach the World Cup Final with what I would call a 'not-so-spectacular' team. Could they do the same on home soil (just so England can thrash them in the Final
), or will the other 3 Group A nations spring a surprise!? I can see home momentum taking Germany through, but a close battle between the other 3 teams.
Schedule: Friday 9th June
Germany .v. Costa Rica (17:00) [Munich]
Poland .v. Equador (20:00) [Gelsenkirchen]
Wednesday 14th June
Germany .v. Poland (20:00) [Dortmund]
Thursday 15th June
Equador .v. Costa Rica (14:00) [Hamburg]
Tuesday 20th June
Ecuador .v. Germany (15:00) [Berlin]
Costa Rica .v. Poland (15:00) [Hanover]
Group B
England, Sweden, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago
England 6-0 Jamacia was the score yesterday, and Jamacia are ranked above Trinidad, but we all know how stupid the FIFA World Rankings are!
Despite that, England should make it through this group. A very strong team spirit has developed despite the current injury to Rooney (can he make it in time!?). There are no easy teams, but on a good day we can beat them all. I fancy Sweden to make it through as well. They are a very strong outfit.
Schedule: Saturday 10th June
England .v. Paraguay (14:00) [Frankfurt]
Trinidad & Tobago .v. Sweden (17:00) [Dortmund]
Thursday 15th June
England .v. Trinidad & Tobago (17:00) [Nuremburg]
Sweden .v. Paraguay (20:00) [Berlin]
Tuesday 20th June
Sweden .v. England (20:00) [Cologne]
Paraguay .v. Trinidad & Tobago (20:00) [Kaiserslautern]
Group C
Argentina, Holland, Serbia & Montenegro, Ivory Coast
The group of death!!
Serbia qualified through a group including Spain, Bosnia and Belgium; only conceding one goal along the way. The Ivory Coast have a strong squad of players, including Drogba, Toure, Eboue and Kalou. I feel both of these teams can get results against Argentina and Holland . I even feel both Argentina and Holland could be knocked out in this group. Whatever happens, this is one group where I won't miss a match!
Schedule: Saturday 10th June
Argentina .v. Ivory Coast (20:00) [Hamburg]
Sunday 11th June
Serbia & M .v. Holland (14:00) [Leipzig]
Friday 16th June
Argentina .v. Serbia & M (14:00) [Gelsenkirchen]
Holland .v. Ivory Coast (17:00) [Stuttgart]
Wednesday 21st June
Holland .v. Argentina (20:00) [Frankfurt]
Ivory Coast .v. Serbia & M (20:00) [Munich]
Group D
Portugal, Mexico, Iran, Angola
There is always one group that fails to live up to expectations.. Portugal will win all 3 games relatiively easily. Mexico (who have a ridiculous ranking of #4
) should win their other 2, as for Iran and Angola, thanks for coming, but you're going home after this group! How Angola actually qualified is something which still mistifies plenty of other African nations, espcially Nigeria.
Schedule: Sunday 11th June
Mexico .v. Iran (17:00) [Nuremburg]
Angola .v. Portugal (20:00) [Cologne]
Friday 16th June
Mexico .v. Angola (20:00) [Hanover]
Saturday 17th June
Portugal .v. Iran (14:00) [Frankfurt]
Wednesday 21st June
Portugal .v. Mexico (15:00) [Gelsenkirchen]
Iran .v. Angola (15:00) [Leipzig]
Group E
Italy, Czech Republic, USA, Ghana
IMO, this is the group of death #2.
Italy and the Czechs are strong teams, but USA have proven over the years that they can compete (especially shown 4 years ago when they should have knocked out Germany). I feel Ghana could spring a surprise or two as well.
Schedule: Monday 12th June
USA .v. Czech Rep (17:00) [Gelsenkirchen]
Italy .v. Ghana (20:00) [Hanover]
Saturday 17th June
Czech Rep .v. Ghana (17:00) [Cologne]
Italy .v. USA (20:00) [Kaiserslautern]
Thursday 22nd June
Czech Rep .v. Italy (15:00) [Hamburg]
Ghana .v. USA (15:00) [Nuremburg]
Group F
Brazil, Croatia, Japan, Australia
Another interesting group! Expect the samba boys to turn it on in style, but also expect Croatia, Japan and Australia to prove stiff opposition. I'm not sure who will finish in the top 2 along with Brazil (they're too strong to be eliminated here), but I know for sure that it'll be fun finding out.
Schedule: Monday 12th June
Australia .v. Japan (14:00) [Kaiserslautern]
Tuesday 13th June
Brazil .v. Croatia (20:00) [Berlin]
Sunday 18th June
Japan .v. Croatia (14:00) [Nuremburg]
Brazil .v. Australia (17:00) [Munich]
Thursday 22nd June
Japan .v. Brazil (20:00) [Dortmund]
Croatia .v. Australia (20:00) [Stuttgart]
Group G
France, Switzerland, South Korea, Togo
Togo can expect to be the whipping boys here. France should win the group as they still have a great team, but I don't think its such a clear call between South Korea and Switzerland for the second knockout qualification spot.
Schedule: Tuesday 13th June
South Korea .v. Togo (14:00) [Frankfurt]
France .v. Switzerland (17:00) [Stuttgart]
Sunday 18th June
France .v. South Korea (20:00) [Leipzig]
Monday 19th June
Togo .v. Switzerland (14:00) [Dortmund]
Friday 23rd June
Togo .v. France (20:00) [Cologne]
Switzerland .v. South Korea (20:00) [Hanover]
Group H
Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia
Many people seem to think that Ukraine are one of those teams who were lucky to qualify and will struggle. To them I would say get your facts straight! Ukraine qualified ahead of Greece (European Champions), Turkey (3rd in 2002) and Denmark (regular qualifiers and a good, solid team) on merit. They have a very good striker in Shevchenko, and I believe they'll win this group and reach the Quarter-Finals. From then on, we shall see just how strong they are. Spain should qualify, but they'll need to watch out for Tunisia.
Schedule: Wednesday 14th June
Spain .v. Ukraine (14:00) [Leipzig]
Tunisia .v. Saudi Arabia (17:00) [Munich]
Monday 19th June
Saudi Arabia .v. Ukraine (17:00) [Hamburg]
Spain .v. Tunisia (20:00) [Stuttgart]
Friday 23rd June
Saudi Arabia .v. Spain (15:00) [Kaiserslautern]
Ukraine .v. Tunisia (15:00) [Berlin]
Knockout Stages Saturday 24th June R2-1: A1 .v. B2 (16:00) [Munich]
R2-2: C1 .v. D2 (20:00) [Leipzig]
Sunday 25th June R2-3: B1 .v. A2 (16:00) [Stuttgart]
R2-4: D1 .v. C2 (20:00) [Nuremburg]
Monday 26th June R2-5: E1 .v. F2 (16:00) [Kaiserslautern]
R2-6: G1 .v. H2 (20:00) [Cologne]
Tuesday 27th June R2-7: F1 .v. E2 (16:00) [Dortmund]
R2-8: H1 .v. G2 (20:00) [Hanover]
Friday 30th June QF-1: R2-1 .v. R2-2 (16:00) [Berlin]
QF-2: R2-5 .v. R2-6 (20:00) [Hamburg]
Saturday 1st July QF-3: R2-3 .v. R2-4 (16:00) [Gelsenkirchen]
QF-4: R2-7 .v. R2-8 (20:00) [Frankfurt]
Tuesday 4th July SF-1: QF-1 .v. QF-2 (20:00) [Dortmund]
Wednesday 5th July SF-2: QF-3 .v. QF-4 (20:00) [Munich]
Saturday 8th July
3rd/4th Playoff (20:00) [Stuttgart]
Sunday 9th July
FINAL (19:00) [Berlin]
So then, what are your predictions? expectations? potential shocks and surprises!? .. who do you want to win overall? .. and what players do you think will shine outright? Discuss!
P.S. - anyone caught referring to Football as 'Soccer' in here shall be ejected from this thread at the 200th floor!! KTHXBYE!
Explain! 
