FanPost

World Cup Group-by-Group Predictions


It's time to make fun of my predictions! I’ve spent the last 2 years immersing myself into the world of soccer, and now find myself completely consumed by it. I’ve learned so much about the Champions League, the big four leagues in Europe, and the international game. But from day one in summer 2012, there’s been one competition that’s intrigued me the most. Everything about the World Cup, save the "FIFA" title next to it, is beautiful and perfect. Over 200 countries entered in June 2011, and nearly 1,000 games were played to determine the 31 countries that join the hosts in Brazil. I watched as many of those matches as I could, and the predictions I make below are based on those games, among other factors like health, form, and coaching.

GROUP A

1) Brazil

2) Croatia

3) Mexico

4) Cameroon

So, first things first, Brazil will win all three games and breeze through the group with ease. This is not debatable. They’re the beneficiaries of the best fans on earth, and easy group, and the most talented roster in the tournament. Croatia will need at a minimum a win against Mexico or Cameroon, and I feel they possess the talent to possibly win both games. Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, and Mario Mandzukic will be enough attacking force to see them through. Mexico has been bitten by the injury bug, and for some reason "The Louse" Miguel Herrera thinks Chicharito is not a starter. They will struggle mightily in their final 2 group stage games and miss the knockout round. Cameroon is the team that represents the hardest team to call in the group, since they’re essentially Samuel Eto’o and 22 other guys. He’s still a world-class striker, and has plenty of motivation and no health concerns. If he catches fire, Cameroon can shock a few people, but I’m still going with Croatia to join the hosts in the second round. Players to watch: Neymar (duh), Hulk, Mateo Kovacic.

GROUP B

1) Spain

2) Netherlands

3) Chile

4) Australia

So, there are a few facts that need to be laid out about this group: 1. Spain will at the very least move on and 2. Australia will not. The only question is who will join the Spaniards in the knockout round, the Dutch or La Roja of Chile. I love Chile’s attacking style and you have to appreciate a team that wants to win and take risks rather than playing conservatively and avoiding embarrassment. The Chile-Netherlands game will be the must-watch game of the first round, and will decide who moves on. I’m in the minority here, but I think the Oranje will make the knockout round through Robben, Sneijder, and van Persie. Players to watch: Diego Costa, Arturo Vidal, Wesley Sneijder.

GROUP C

1) Colombia

2) Ivory Coast

3) Japan

4) Greece

This is, along with Group D, the hardest set of picks of the tournament. Colombia was the runaway favorite until Radamel Falcao tore his ACL, but they still have a slew of great midfield players and a budding superstar in Jackson Martinez. Everyone knows that the Ivory Coast has star after star, but can their weak defense and suspect goalkeeper stay afloat long enough to let the Toures, Drogbas and Gervinhos of the world do their thing? My bet is yes. Japan is incredibly unorganized defensively and will likely give up more goals than they score. Greece will be impeccably organized and incredibly conservative, but pose no threat to the group. Didier Drogba gets the end to his career he deserves – a date with a world powerhouse in the knockout round and a chance at one more career-defining moment. Players to watch: Didier Drogba, James Rodriguez, Shinji Kagawa.

GROUP D

1) Uruguay

2) Italy

3) England

4) Costa Rica

Much like Group B, there are a few certainties. The first is that Costa Rica, despite a great qualifying campaign and future star Joel Campbell, will not make the knockout stage. The second is that Uruguay-Italy, England-Italy, and England-Uruguay are must-see TV. These three games will solely determine who moves on to play significantly weaker opponents in the round of 16, and who goes home. Uruguay is my pick to win the group, assuming Suarez plays. Even if he doesn’t, Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani have enough quality to will the team to back-to-back second round appearances. Italy has been flat-out dismal since last October, but there is something about the Azzuri. They come into every tournament with muted expectations and somehow sneak into the final four. They’ll find a way yet again, through Gianluigi Buffon’s goalkeeping and Andrea Pirlo’s magic. England have Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, and Daniel Sturridge leading the team, but never seem to have the luck. Players to watch: Ciro Immobile, Ross Barkley, Joel Campbell.

GROUP E

1) France

2) Switzerland

3) Ecuador

4) Honduras

Yet another difficult group to call – with an elite team and three middling teams fighting for the second berth in the next round. France, despite the injury to their finest player Franck Ribery, will advance with ease. The French aren’t being picked to do any damage beyond that, but they’re my dark horse to reach the final. Hugo Lloris is possibly the world’s best keeper, and they have a great midfield and a great striker in Karim Benzema, but the player to remember is Paul Pogba. You heard it here first: when Messi and Ronaldo are in their thirties, this man will be the world’s best player. As for the rest of the group, Honduras will defend for their lives and will be lucky to get a point. Switzerland have possibly the best coach in the World Cup in Ottmar Hitzfeld which is why I’m picking them to top a young and exciting Ecuador Team. Players to watch: Paul Pogba, Xherdan Shaqiri, Felipe Caicedo.

GROUP F

1) Argentina

2) Bosnia-Herzegovina

3) Nigeria

4) Iran

Lionel Messi is the world’s best player. Even after all that Cristiano has accomplished this year, Messi has scored 300 goals in the last 5 seasons. THREE BLEEPING HUNDRED. Can he finally translate that Barcelona magic into a World Cup run to the final? Methinks yes. Surrounded to his left by Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero to his right, the Argentines will score at will. They will coast through the group leaving all other teams gasping for air. Debutants Bosnia will play with as much heart as any team you’ll see in this tournament and will be a treat to watch. Nigeria are supremely talented and should make the knockout round if the game was played on paper, but they struggle mightily against even slightly better competition and at times look lost. Iran has a true talisman in Javad Neukonam, but even his leadership won’t be enough to see them register a result. Players to watch: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko.

GROUP G

1) Germany

2) United States

3) Portugal

4) Ghana

And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for….BANG. The "Group of Death" lives up to its name and the Portuguese leave Brazil bitterly disappointed. Germany is dealing with injuries to world-class stars Bastian Schweinsteiger, Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil, and has already lost their scoring superstar Marco Reus. It doesn’t matter. They boast the deepest pool of talent on planet earth and will coast past the opposition. Portugal have the reigning World Player of the Year, and enough pieces around him to win. Ghana, lest we forget, were a missed Asamoah Gyan penalty away from the semifinals in the last tournament. They’ll play valiantly in this group, but cannot afford a loss to both of the teams above them. As for our Yanks, I’m among the world’s harshest critics of coach Jurgen Klinsmann, but even I have to admit he’s going all-out and taking massive risks instead of playing it safe like most coaches will in Brazil. A stunner in Manaus seals the US's progression and Ronaldo is left wondering what could have been. Players to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo, Mario Gotze, Michael Bradley.

GROUP H

1) Belgium

2) Russia

3) South Korea

4) Algeria

The weakest group in the World Cup boasts a dark horse contender in Belgium, an underrated side in Russia, a team on the decline in South Korea, and the tournament’s worst team in Algeria. Belgium have stars in goal, in defense, in midfield, and up front. They might just be the most complete and balanced team among the challengers. Russia will miss their captain Roman Shirokov, but have the class and the coach to move on. South Korea have been playing awful soccer ever since their qualification, culminating in a dismantling at the hands of Ghana in their final tuneup. And as for Algeria, anyone who watched them at the last World Cup knows they will defend with 10 men behind the ball and lull the viewing public to sleep. Their only bright spot is Islam Slimani, who could inject a bit of life to the dull side. Players to watch: Eden Hazard, Thibault Courtois, Romelu Lukaku.

KNOCKOUT ROUND

Brazil over Netherlands

Spain over Croatia

Italy over Colombia

Uruguay over Ivory Coast

France over Bosnia

Germany over Russia

Argentina over Switzerland

Belgium over United States

The round of 16 features no surprises. I feel that this tournament will be much closer to 2010 and 2006 than 2002. In the 2002 World Cup, upset after upset shook the planet, but that won’t be the case this time around.

QUARTERFINALS

Brazil over Italy

France over Germany

Argentina over Belgium

Spain over Uruguay

Again, the favorites advance….save for one shocker! As I outlined above, the French are complete. World-class keeper, world-class defenders, the future worldwide sensation Paul Pogba, and a strikeforce that most teams would love to have. Germany are widely expected to reach the final, but their runs ends here. As for the other fixtures, Uruguay will succumb to the Spanish in a thriller between the counter-attack of the Celeste and the possession play of the defending champs. Brazil steamrolls the Italians who have a nice showing until that point, and Argentina outclasses the Belgians despite a heroic Thibault Courtois performance.

SEMIFINALS

Brazil over France

Argentina over Spain

An unprecedented, unparalleled, immaculate six year run at the top of world soccer ends for Spain at the hands of its adopted son Lionel Messi. It was the greatest run any national team has ever had, but the time is now for the attack-minded Albiceleste. It’s a thriller in Sao Paolo as the hosts end the Cinderella run of France with the pace of Neymar, Hulk, and Dani Alves wearing down the French in the Brazilian heat.

FINAL

June 13th, Rio de Janeiro (Maracana)

Argentina 3 Brazil 2

64 years ago, Uruguay pulled the biggest upset in World Cup history by beating Brazil in the same city, the same game, and the same stadium as this game will be played in. 199,854 people viewed the game live, a record that will stand forever. It was a coronation, a festival celebrating Brazil’s first World Cup title and a beautiful moment for soccer’s greatest nation. Someone forgot to tell Uruguay that, as they stole the title 2-1 and silenced a nation. Expect history to repeat itself, and expect Lionel Messi to cement his place as the greatest player of all-time by shocking the Brazilian faithful once more.

This is a FanPost written by a member of our blog's community. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the feelings or beliefs of the blog itself or the staff.