The World Cup is considered the very best sports tournament because every team has a chance to make some noise. After playing in two years of regional play, no team just strolls into the tournament. Any of the teams that are good enough to get through the round-robin group play will be good enough to win four more in the knockout stages.
So, with all of this parity it would be easy for the casual fan to have no idea what to expect. Strap in and prepare. It will be a bumpy, beautiful and downright brutal affair.
Group A
Home team, Brazil, will walk thru the group. On paper Mexico is better than Croatia, but Mexico under-performed and need outside help to get into the tourney. Look for Croatia’s well-balanced team to squeak by. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, are more toothless and aging than scary.
Group B
Not picking Spain is a fool’s errands. They have won the last three major tournaments and should snooze through group play. That leaves the very formidable Chile and Netherlands to duke out second place. Chile has much to prove but is a very strong sleeper pick. Australia is like the winner of the Big Sky Conference and faces North Carolina the first game of March Madness.
Group C
Colombia has demons to exorcise and desperately want to proof there is more to South America than bigger brothers Argentina and Brazil. Expect them to come out guns blazing versus everyone in group play. Ivory Coast and Greece are aging and past their prime. Expect Japan to defy the bookies and grab second place.
Group D
This group rivals G’s “group of death” label. England, Italy, and Uruguay all could win the group 3-0 or go home early. The winner will be decided by how much England can score and how well Italy and Uruguay’s defense can blank opposing offenses. We’ll take Uruguay to take first, England second and Costa Rica to play spoiler against the Italians.
Group E
Top seed, Switzerland, may not advance if you listen to projection models and bookies. However, the super young Swiss is hitting its stride at the right time which leaves France second place. Honduras and Ecuador could play spoilers but… probably be on the outside looking in.
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Group F
We’ll mention Iran first because it will be the only time we pay them any attention. Nigeria is in a rebuilding year. That leaves Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina to finish on top respectfully in boring fashion.
Group G
Poor unfortunate Americans. They have to face the last teams to knock them out the tournament in Ghana, Germany, and Portgual. Sure it is a great chance for them to face past ghosts which makes for a great storyline, but it this really comes down to how well coach Klinsmann new diamond-formation plays into the Americans’ strengths. Germany wins the group. Ghana stumbles on poor organization. We’ll bet on Klinsmann over Portgual’s tendency to over-rely on star Ronaldo.
Group H
This is Belgium’s group and their Cup to prove they deserve a slightly surprising top seed. We will buck conventional wisdom and pick the well-balanced South Korea over Russia. The Russians are a poor man’s Germany but lack the superstars. Algeria is the cliché ‘just happy to be there’ team.
KNOCKOUT STAGES
Round of 16
Brazil over Chile is tough to watch as Chile could get past many teams in the Round of 16.
Colombia falling to England will be the best game of the round.
Switzerland breezes past Bosnia-Herzegovina.
South Korea and Germany will be an interesting game of styles but Germany prevails.
Belgium ends the dream of the Americans (or whoever hobbles out of that group in 2nd place).
Argentina shows France the door in what should be a tremendous matchup.
Uruguay knocks out the last non-Euro or South American team when it shows Japan the door.
Spain continues being Spain over Croatia.
Quarterfinals
Brazil versus England could be their greatest ever. We’ll cite history. England can’t win in the southern hempishpere and Brasil is the home country.
Germany sends the young Swiss home with some parting gifts and experience.
Argentina over Belgium is really a toss-up, but Argentina has the edge with experience and momentum.
Spain rolls through their easy schedule with an easy win over Croatia.
Semi-Finals
While Germany is a great team, Brazil is a determined group. As long as their defense holds the line. We’ve been surprised as how un-Germany the Germans have been lately showing creativity and style. However, the Brazilians are masters at the ‘beautiful game’ and will outshine them.
Argentina over Spain is quite possibly the toughest game to predict. Both play hard on both sides of the ball. We’re picking Argentina because no European country has ever won the World Cup in South America. We don’t think Spain will win it all and this seems like the best place for their three major tournament streak to end. Maybe it is the surprise of their first big challenge or Messi’s being a more-team player…. But the Spain Reign ends here.
Final
Brazil takes down Argentina in the highest scoring, most exciting final in decades.
Brazil hoists the trophy on home soil.
Brian Reddoch is a CraveOnline reporter and rabid fan of all teams Seattle. You can follow him on Twitter @ReddReddoch or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
