June 9th, 2010 - 2010 World Cup Predictions

Email Tom @ TomO@NJMAX.com

On the eve of the world’s greatest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, I thought it would be an appropriate time to offer perspective from our charming little corner of the world here in New Jersey.  Of course, our interest in the tournament is on a national level, as we all hope the U.S. team can better its disappointing performance in Germany four years ago.  Ultimately, this appears to be the one of the deepest World Cups to date, with stars from Europe’s top club teams spread out over the globe like never before.  This level of competition is sure to present problems for the U.S., who have made their living year to year by pounding weak nations in CONCACAF (The North American soccer federation).  We don’t have those stupid Canadians to beat up on anymore however, these are the big boys.  England, Spain, Argentina, The Netherlands, and Brazil all arguably have fielded their most talented squads in history, and none of those four teams were even semi-finalists in ’06. 


With the vast amount of talent amassed in year’s Cup, I feel a deciding factor in the tournament will be location.  South Africa, a relatively foreign land to most of the world, has to be considered a truly neutral site to the soccer powerhouses of Europe and South America.  As almost a rule of thumb in World Cup matches, European teams always with in Europe (as shown in 2006, with the four semi-finalists all being European nations), and, consequently, South American teams win in their homelands, having won every World Cup played in the Western Hemisphere.  With neither of the two “power continents” being used as the stage for the competition this year, the field is broken completely open.  Add that to the increasing number of capable national teams in this day and age, and we could have all the makings of the most surprising and capricious World Cups in history.  This factor bodes very well for underdog teams like the Americans, as well as the five nations from the hosting African continent.  Expect the unexpected, as this Cup should be very unpredictable.  That being said, I am now going to predict it:

Group A

  1. Mexico (Young, talented, fearless)
  2. South Africa (No host nation has ever failed to advance past the group stage in World Cup history.  Although the South Africans are not amazingly talented, their home-field advantage is just too great to ignore)
  3. Uruguay (Solid, but not solid enough)
  4. France (Is France.  ‘Nuff said)

Group B

  1. Argentina (Two words are all that is needed to explain why Argentina will win this group: Lionel Messi)
  2. Nigeria (Home-continent advantage propels this mediocre team to advance in a mediocre group)
  3. Greece (Seriously, Argentina has more talent than the other three group B teams combined.  By far)
  4. South Korea (Name one player on the South Korean national team.  Nevermind, don’t strain yourself, you know you have no idea)

Group C

  1. England (Anyone who thinks the U.S. has a legitimate shot at beating England isn’t as stupid as they sound.  It could happen… it’s not going to happen… but it could happen)
  2. United States (Solid team without any huge egos in the locker room that tend to cripple many World Cup squads.  The Americans need to get out of this group, as, on paper, they are the good enough to advance over Slovenia and Algeria.  If the U.S. falters, it will be a huge disappointment back home)
  3. Algeria (Who?)
  4. Slovenia (Just looks like one of those teams that makes their World Cup debut with a big fat goose egg)

Group D

  1. Australia (These guys are my big upset pick for 2010.  Their goalkeeping is outclassed by few, if any, in the world, and, as we know from American football, defense wins championships.  They’re familiar with the Southern Hemisphere, and the neutral site gives them a real chance.
  2. Germany (I think the loss of captain Michael Ballack with have a bigger effect than the Germans will let on.  Much of their team is very young and inexperienced, uncharacteristic of German sides)
  3. Ghana (Made a surprise run in ’06, but won’t be able to can lightning in a bottle twice)
  4. Serbia (Did not score a single point in World Cup ’06 and probably will not fair much better this time around)

Group E

  1. Netherlands (This team is absolutely loaded.  They have so much talent it’s scary.  If they can get it together, they could go all the way)
  2. Denmark (I really like Denmark.  They play really hard, and it is difficult to pick against teams who play with that much determination)
  3. Cameroon (A lot is made about Samuel E’to, and deservingly so.  Past him, however, the team is very thin)
  4. Japan (Asian soccer is just not up to par with the rest of the world yet)

Group F

  1. Italy (Easiest group in this year’s cup makes an easy road for the defending champions)
  2. Paraguay (Only other decent team in the group)
  3. Slovakia (Where?)
  4. New Zealand (Go to ESPN.com and watch the team profile video on New Zealand.  It’s hilarious.  They have absolutely no choice)

Group G

  1. Brazil (Anybody who knows anything about soccer anywhere knows Brazil is always the team to beat.  They are the New York Yankees of World Cups.)
  2. Portugal (Cristiano Ronaldo: I know, I hate him too)
  3. Ivory Coast (Drogba broke his arm… Kurt Angle won an Olympic Gold Medal with a broken freakin’ neck.  Hey, it’s possible)
  4. North Korea (Commys, like cheaters never prosper)

Group H

  1. Spain (Probably the odds-on favorite to win the whole darn thing, especially coming off their win in European Championships where they beat both Italy and Germany.  They have more world-class players than New York has bad drivers)
  2. Chile (They are dangerous little team.  They have a few world-class players)
  3. Switzerland (They have as many world-class players as Lance Armstrong has testicles)
  4. Honduras (They have no world-class players)
Round of 16 - Those group results means the bracket will play out like this:

Mexico over Nigeria Mexico easily beats Nigeria.

England over Germany - England’s midfield play, not Wayne Rooney, ousts Germany much earlier than it is used to exiting.

Argentina over South Africa - Argentina simply outclasses the hosts South Africa.

Australia over USA - Australia takes down the Americans in extra time.  Sorry Uncle Sam, you survived the group, and this can be seen as a successful World Cup, although, Australia is a team the Americans know they can beat.

Netherlands over Paraguay - Netherlands outclasses Paraguay.

Brazil over Chile - Brazil has a tough time with a Chile team that knows them well.

Denmark over Italy - The Danes upset an old and uninspired Italy.

Spain over Portugal - Spain beats Portugal in what may be the game of the tournament.

Round of 8

England over Mexico - England then defeats Mexico, whom at that point will be just happy to have made it to the quarterfinals.

Australia over Argentina - Two words why Argentina will completely choke against an Australia team they should beat 100 times out of 100: Diego Maradona, whom just so happens to be the worst national team coach I have ever seen.  There is just too much talent on Argentina for an incompetent coach to handle on this big of a stage.  I am, however, predicting right now that Argentina will win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Brazil over Netherlands - Speaking of Brazil, they beat the Netherlands in penalties, although I actually believe this game could go either way.  I’ve been flip-flopping on it for hours.  The winner of this match should become the team to beat in the tourney.

Spain over Denmark - Spain and its massive amount of soccer skill oust Denmark.

Round of 4

Brazil over England - Brazil then defeats England.  This is when England blows it.  I know readers have been waiting the entire article to find out when that happened. I know I’ve picked Australia to advance to the semifinals over the likes of Germany and Argentina, and that this makes me crazy in the minds of many.  Crazy, but not stupid.

Spain over Australia -   Spain will ruin the Aussies dreams, as Spain is just a powerhouse.

Finals

Brazil over Spain - This means the 2010 World Cup Final match will be between Brazil and Spain, a true clash of titans.  Neither team has a flaw.  Both have potent offenses, rock-solid defenses, strict ball-control, smart coaching, leadership and team chemistry.  Both teams are championship worthy, but only one can win the championship.  Every World Cup since 1962 has alternated between South American and European champions.  With Italy winning in 2006, it is South America’s turn.  These kind of historical trends don’t lie, as Brazil, led by former FIFA player of the year Kaka will take the 2010 FIFA World Cup home.

Most Recent Update
-updated 6.9.2010