When they were drawing the World Cup groups from the last pot, which contained Costa Rica and the USA along with five other teams, I was hoping the US would end up in Germany's group. Of course, Costa Rica ended up there and the USA ended up in the group of death. (Yes, the USA group is the group of death despite commentators saying that the Argentina-Holland group is the toughest one). Not only do we have to contend with Italy, a team that is so good at stifling creativity and chances, but the scary team in the group has to be Czech Republic. Also, Ghana is no pushover, and it is entirely plausible that the USA can end up in it's last game against Ghana with nothing to play for. All that being said, Italy's recent record has been sorry, the Czech team can be tied or even won on a good day (a la Portual circa 2002), and the Ghana game is regardless a must-win.
Sorry for the rant. Congratulations on the new website and look forward to your contributions.
Bob- Yep, that's correct. Though the Germans would probably just say Todesgruppe.
And i agree with Zak, the Argentina-Netherlands group is only the todesgruppe for the Ivory Coast and Serbia & Montenegro. My predictions for the groups:
Such American bias in this analysis, breaking down the two claimed groups of death:
Argentina is better than Italy and has played better than Italy over the last 2 years.
The Netherlands played much better in the same World Cup Qualifying group as the Czech Republic.
I'd put S&M slightly below the US in terms of quality, but they were very impressive in their qualifying run as well.
As for the African teams, I like Ghana and the Ivory Coast almost equally, maybe the slightest of edges to Ghana in terms of talent.
I can see the possibility of no Asian or African teams advancing, primarily because there are only two Asian teams that are decent, South Korea and Japan, and neither has done anything away from home, although I do pick South Korea to advance. As far as African countries advancing, my two favorites are in impossibly difficult groups, I'm predicting that Togo advances primarily because their group isn't as difficult and they're not as bad as Tunisia.
Re: 3,4. I agree with Bob, I think you underestimate the African and Asian teams, who have more and more players on premier teams in Europe.
My try:
GROUP A
Germany (home team, never failed to qualify before)
Equateur (will come down to first game against Poland, I think they are more dangerous and should be able to handle Costa Rica better)
GROUP B
England (even though I agree that they are not very strong and dont see them going far)
Sweden (they will get through by a very friendly tie with England in the last match of the group)
GROUP C
Holland (talent)
Argentina (even more talent)
GROUP D
Portugal (to me the most dangerous attacking team outside Brasil)
Iran (Im biased but, they have many quality players who play professionally in Germany, and the crowds will probably be on their side)
GROUP E
Ghana (The Ghana-Italy first game is the big shocker waiting to happen)
Czech Republic (I think the US and Italy will be incompetent in finishing and their attacking players will take advantage to put them through)
GROUP F
Brasil
Australia (I really have no idea for this one, ill go with them because they are the biggest country in the world cup. Did anyone else realize that Russia,China, and Canada are not in the world cup?)
GROUPE G
France
Corée du Sud (parce qu'ils sont le meilleur equipe d'Asia)
GROUP H
Espagne
Ukraine (one name I cant spell- Schevchenko)
I might be underestimating the CONCAF teams especially after their success at the last world cup but the best teams from there have tough groups. The US obviously has the worst group. And Mexico is in the most underrated group as they face the runners-up of the last European and Asian tournaments.
8. I disagree with your choice of Iran over Mexico, but I can at least see it, but I have to strenuously object to picking Ecuador out of their weak group. I watched nearly every CONMEBOL qualifying match and can tell you that away from the elevation of Quito, I sincerely doubt that they'll beat even the sad little side from T&T.
Ecuador should schedule qualifiers on the Galapagos.
When I was visiting Easter Island in 2004, Chile was playing a World Cup qualifier. The whole island shut down to watch the match (that doesn't take a lot of people.) Of course, there is only one TV channel on Easter Island and it's the Chilean national network.
The reason this is not the Group of Death, even though ARG and HOL are probably better teams than ITA and CZE, is because the other two teams have very little chance of advancing in this group, whereas in USA's group, all four teams can realistically advance. This group would have been a lot more interesting if ARG and HOL had to play each other first, letting Serbia or Ivory Coast get off to a flyer.
Group D:
Portugal, Iran
I have a hard time seeing Mexico beat Iran in Germany.
Group E:
Czech Republic, USA
Just a hunch, but Italy has been way below par in the last two major tournaments they played in. Totti and Del Piero don't exactly inspire, nor do Nesta and Cannavaro/Materazzi anymore. Toni gives them their best option in scoring in years, but we'll see how he and Gila turn it on.
Group F:
Brazil, Japan
Two things.. my brain says Croatia will go through, but my heart wants Japan to go through, so I'll pick them (the old school of baseball way of thinking). Second, I have a feeling that Japan's last game against Brazil may be ripe for a surprise (1. Brazil will have qualified, and probably confirmed as group leaders, 2. Japan's coach is loved in Brazil and already Brazilian players are wishing that they did not have to play against his team. I can see an interesting result coming out of this one, and 3. I can see Japan actually giving a second string Brazilian team fits (if Brazil already qualifies, they'll rest a bunch of starters for this one.)
Group G:
France, South Korea
I just think Switzerland's time has come and South Korea really badly wants to prove that 2002 was not a fluke.
15. Good points, the main problem I have with yours is that Brasil thrives against teams like Japan, it is hard teams that constantly foul that give them fits. The one side that they have struggled against the most in the last decade is Uruguay, that is the kind of team I see being able to surprise Brasil and I think that Aussies may be that team. I see the Japan game going more like Brasil's game against Costa Rica in the last world cup.
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Sorry for the rant. Congratulations on the new website and look forward to your contributions.
And i agree with Zak, the Argentina-Netherlands group is only the todesgruppe for the Ivory Coast and Serbia & Montenegro. My predictions for the groups:
GROUP A
Germany
Poland
GROUP B
Paraguay
Sweden
GROUP C
Argentina
Netherlands
GROUP D
Mexico
Portugal
GROUP E
Czech Republic
USA
GROUP F
Brazil
Croatia
GROUP G
France
Switzerland
GROUP H
Spain
Ukraine
Of your final 16, all but two are UEFA or CONMEBOL teams.
Argentina is better than Italy and has played better than Italy over the last 2 years.
The Netherlands played much better in the same World Cup Qualifying group as the Czech Republic.
I'd put S&M slightly below the US in terms of quality, but they were very impressive in their qualifying run as well.
As for the African teams, I like Ghana and the Ivory Coast almost equally, maybe the slightest of edges to Ghana in terms of talent.
I can see the possibility of no Asian or African teams advancing, primarily because there are only two Asian teams that are decent, South Korea and Japan, and neither has done anything away from home, although I do pick South Korea to advance. As far as African countries advancing, my two favorites are in impossibly difficult groups, I'm predicting that Togo advances primarily because their group isn't as difficult and they're not as bad as Tunisia.
My try:
GROUP A
Germany (home team, never failed to qualify before)
Equateur (will come down to first game against Poland, I think they are more dangerous and should be able to handle Costa Rica better)
GROUP B
England (even though I agree that they are not very strong and dont see them going far)
Sweden (they will get through by a very friendly tie with England in the last match of the group)
GROUP C
Holland (talent)
Argentina (even more talent)
GROUP D
Portugal (to me the most dangerous attacking team outside Brasil)
Iran (Im biased but, they have many quality players who play professionally in Germany, and the crowds will probably be on their side)
GROUP E
Ghana (The Ghana-Italy first game is the big shocker waiting to happen)
Czech Republic (I think the US and Italy will be incompetent in finishing and their attacking players will take advantage to put them through)
GROUP F
Brasil
Australia (I really have no idea for this one, ill go with them because they are the biggest country in the world cup. Did anyone else realize that Russia,China, and Canada are not in the world cup?)
GROUPE G
France
Corée du Sud (parce qu'ils sont le meilleur equipe d'Asia)
GROUP H
Espagne
Ukraine (one name I cant spell- Schevchenko)
I might be underestimating the CONCAF teams especially after their success at the last world cup but the best teams from there have tough groups. The US obviously has the worst group. And Mexico is in the most underrated group as they face the runners-up of the last European and Asian tournaments.
When I was visiting Easter Island in 2004, Chile was playing a World Cup qualifier. The whole island shut down to watch the match (that doesn't take a lot of people.) Of course, there is only one TV channel on Easter Island and it's the Chilean national network.
Group A:
Germany, Poland
Group B:
England, Sweden
Group C:
Argentina, Holland
The reason this is not the Group of Death, even though ARG and HOL are probably better teams than ITA and CZE, is because the other two teams have very little chance of advancing in this group, whereas in USA's group, all four teams can realistically advance. This group would have been a lot more interesting if ARG and HOL had to play each other first, letting Serbia or Ivory Coast get off to a flyer.
Group D:
Portugal, Iran
I have a hard time seeing Mexico beat Iran in Germany.
Group E:
Czech Republic, USA
Just a hunch, but Italy has been way below par in the last two major tournaments they played in. Totti and Del Piero don't exactly inspire, nor do Nesta and Cannavaro/Materazzi anymore. Toni gives them their best option in scoring in years, but we'll see how he and Gila turn it on.
Group F:
Brazil, Japan
Two things.. my brain says Croatia will go through, but my heart wants Japan to go through, so I'll pick them (the old school of baseball way of thinking). Second, I have a feeling that Japan's last game against Brazil may be ripe for a surprise (1. Brazil will have qualified, and probably confirmed as group leaders, 2. Japan's coach is loved in Brazil and already Brazilian players are wishing that they did not have to play against his team. I can see an interesting result coming out of this one, and 3. I can see Japan actually giving a second string Brazilian team fits (if Brazil already qualifies, they'll rest a bunch of starters for this one.)
Group G:
France, South Korea
I just think Switzerland's time has come and South Korea really badly wants to prove that 2002 was not a fluke.
Group H:
Spain, Tunisia
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