World Cup Draw

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/06/sport/football/world-cup-draw-brazil-2014/

Groups:

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon.
Group B: Spain, Netherlands,Chile, Australia.
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan.
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy.
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France,Honduras.
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria.
Group G: Germany, Portugal,Ghana, USA.
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea.

I think the U.S is between a rock (Germany) and a hard place (Portugal). And Ghana has had the U.S.'s number in the past. Just getting out of that group would be huge win for U.S. football.

I don't know that Brazil has an easy draw, at all. I think they'll get through, though.

Spain and the Netherlands look okay, as well. I don't think that group (B) has many surprises. And Argentina has something of a cakewalk, no doubt.

Groups H and C should be a lot of fun, though Colombia should go through much easier than Belgium.

France has the best draw I think, apart from Argentina.

The real "Group of Death" is Group D, imo. I know G is getting that label right now, but there are some bloodbaths in D. Uruguay/Italy is just gonna be epic, I think. And England against both. Then there's Costa Rica, who are currently ranked 31. I think they're a very dangerous team and the three heavyweights in D need to be very, very careful.

No easy groups here - I agree, maybe Argentina and France have the best draw?

Australia would have it tough no matter what. They need to prove they belong; 2006 was a long time ago. But they're going with an Australian coach now, so it appears they're committed to going homegrown. This is coming-of-age time.

I've finished my admittedly amateurish analysis of the groups and brackets.

My early predictions:

Semis: Germany defeats Spain, the Netherlands defeats Argentina

Finals: the Netherlands defeats Germany.

The full analysis and predictions are linked to in my siggy, for those interested (even for those that want to tell me I'm full of it, because I have England failing to get out of the group stage and Brazil losing in the round of 16 ).

Ermmm.... you are actually aware of the history of the Netherlands in the World Cup, yes?

Because they are notorious for going in looking like world beaters and then imploding in the semis.

And did you say that final against Spain where they were pretending to be Bruce Lee?

The Netherlands? Seriously?

mirandashell said:

Ermmm.... you are actually aware of the history of the Netherlands in the World Cup, yes?

Because they are notorious for going in looking like world beaters and then imploding in the semis.

And did you say that final against Spain where they were pretending to be Bruce Lee?

The Netherlands? Seriously?

Click to expand...

Yep. Hey, they were in the finals, regardless of what happened in the actual game. That's better than ever other team in the draw in 2010, aside from Spain, of course.

But it's cool, I don't mind the heat. My pick is just an opinion, based on little more than my imagination.

Who is your pick?

Argentina v Brasil final. Who will win, I don't know.

robeiae said:

The full analysis and predictions are linked to in my siggy, for those interested (even for those that want to tell me I'm full of it, because I have England failing to get out of the group stage and Brazil losing in the round of 16 ).

Click to expand...

England failing to get out of the group stage, very possible.

I predict Italy against either Germany or Brazil, with the Italians coming on top.

Nah.... the Italians won't win this time. They're not in enough trouble at home.

Bad news for the Germans: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/07/marco-reus-doubt-world-cup-germany

Marco Reus is out of the World Cup. He was--for me--a key factor for the Germans. With him gone, I may have to change my predictions to some extent.