Hello World! I am back! It has been five whole months since I lasted posted and a lot has gone on since then. I FINALLY graduated and am getting very excited to leave for my month in Europe in 19 days! Speaking of going international, I am getting caught up in the World Cup fever so I am here to give my group stage predictions (two a day) followed by the knockout stage. There will be a post every day for the next week or so, get hyped!
GROUP A (note: rankings are of May 8th 2014)
Brazil (4)
Croatia (20)
Mexico (19)
Cameroon (50)
This group is easily set up for the host country of Brazil to cruise on through at the top of the group. They have an enormous amount of talent ranging from the top with Neymar and Hulk, to the midfield with Oscar and Paulhino and a monster back 4 with Thiago Silva, Dante, David Luis and as you saw in the UEFA Champions League final the damage that Marcelo can do. The real battle is going to be for who gets the second spot in the group. Mexico is a team that just barely qualified (with a little help from the USA). They still have Hernandez and Dos Santos on the team but they are not playing very well with each other at the moment Croatia is a team with a lot of talent such as Real Madrid's Modric, Munich's Mandzukic and Inter's Kovacic. Cameroon is an older squad that, with their leadership from Samuel Eto'o up top and Assou-Ekotto in the back, can make waves in the tournament if the younger players follow their lead.
I anticipate that Brazil will win all three of their games with no real issues. The only team that have the back 4 and midfield that MIGHT be able to keep up with them would be Cameroon and even then the age of Cameroon would probably catch up to them. The match that is going to decide who gets second in the group is the game on June 18th in Manaus between Croatia and Cameroon. If there is a winner of the game then that will be the team that finishes in second, however if there is a draw then which ever team can come close to Brazil and beat Mexico to retain some goal differential would come out of the group to make it to the knockout stages. I think that the veteran leadership and the last go around for some of the Cameroon players allow them to make it to the knockout rounds
Group A predicted final standings
1. Brazil
2. Cameroon
3. Croatia
4. Mexico
GROUP B (note: rankings are of May 8th 2014)
Spain (1)
Netherlands (15)
Chile (13)
Australia (59)
First off, I just have to say poor Australia. They qualify for the World Cup, only to be drawn into a stacked group like this. That being said, they have a unique opportunity in this group. They have a chance to knock off one of the big boys because the top 3 in this group may very well be beating up on each other and an opportunistic Aussie team led by Tim Cahill might have a shot to pull a huge shock win in the group stage. What more can you say about Spain? They might be the best national squad to ever play the game. The talent up and down the roster is insane; from Diego Costa and David Villa to Iniesta, Alonso, Mata, Fabregas, Busquets, David Silva all manning the midfield and Juanfran, Pique and Sergio Ramos in the back and of course, Iker Casillas in goal. There is no doubt in my mind that this team will top the group or at the very least advance. The Dutch, of course, are well known for their high flying, high scoring offensive brand of football. With Robben, Van Persie, de Jong, Sneijder and Huntelaar they can outscore just about anyone. What concerns me is their defense and goaltender, it does not matter how much you score if the other team can stop you and they can counterattack and shred your defense for goals. Chile was one of my top 3 dark horse picks in the World Cup this year (along with Belgium and Ivory Coast) until I saw the group they were drawn into. This is a talented team with Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona and Vidal, Carmona, and Beausejour (who plays at WIGAN!!). They have a relatively young team that can make noise if they play up to their potential.
The opening game in the group is a rematch of the 2010 final between Spain and Holland. I have a strong feeling this game will end in a draw as each team will be feeling each other out for most of the game but if there would be a winner out of the game it would be Spain. Australia's goal for this tournament should be to try and get at least 1 goal. I would say try and get a point out of the group but there is distinct chance that the Aussie's could lose every game by 3-5 goals. The second place in the group comes down to the Dutch vs Chile game on June 23rd, which are both squads final game of the group stage. Each of their results vs Spain will determine how the flow of this game goes (since they both SHOULD beat Australia). I just think the Dutch are too good here and they should advance in the second spot.
Group B predicted final standings
1. Spain
2. Netherlands
3. Chile
4. Australia
That will do it for today! Make sure to come back tomorrow for when I predict groups C and D!
