World Cup -- The Very Tough Draw

Quick first thought about World Cup draw today. Group G looks toughest group by far, with three marquee teams battling for two qualifying spaces: Brazil (best or second best in world), Ivory Coast (best in Africa) and Portugal (Christiano Ronaldo's side).

For soccer fans, consequences of Group G draw are lousy. Loss of either Kaka, CR 9 or Drogba (ok, not a popular player but for sure top quality, as of now best or 2nd best in Africa) after first round. oy.

Group D looks second hardest, with perenially tournament-tough team Germany goes against Ghana (second best in Africa?) and Serbia (Balkans teams are usually good to very good).

But Group A also rough: South Africa battles France and Mexico; and Uruguay has scorers,

England has easy draw, in Group C with USA, who'll have to battle for 2nd spot with Slovenia, I think (Slovenia beat Russia). Algeria looks weakest here.

Spain (one of two best teams in tournament) has a vacation in Group H.

Here's draw:

Group A South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group B Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece

Group C England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia

Group E Holland, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark

Group F Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia

Group G Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Group H Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland

 

Comments

[Websterman]

05:40 AM on 12/07/2009

USA should be OK coming out on top of Algeria and Slovenia. I think Spain have a pretty easy group against Honduras, Switzerland and Chile, so my money's on them to go on and win the whole thing. Lucky I live in the UK, millions of other Europeans won't have that luxery! http://www.cli.gs/n3t7y0

[ipastor01]

01:25 AM on 12/07/2009

"Group D looks second hardest, with perenially tournament-tough team Germany goes against Ghana (second best in Africa?) and Serbia (Balkans teams are usually good to very good)."

What is he talking about? Germany has the second toughest group because they have to play Australia, Ghana, and Serbia/Her. Come on...

[ipastor01]

01:31 AM on 12/07/2009

Group A is the toughest, because any of the team there has the potential to pass or be eliminated in first rounds. Then is Group E, Holland Vs Denmark Vs Cameroon that ought to be good.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

09:08 AM on 12/05/2009

A- South Africa will be out in the first round. Mexico and France for me.

B- If Maradona is sacked before the tournament starts, Argentina may have a chance. Otherwise they may struggle. I'll predict Argentina and South Korea to go through.

C- England and USA will qualify. Algeria will do well though.

D- Very tough group. Impossible to pick who's going through. Probably Germany, but not sure who else.

E - Holland and Denmark to advance. No problems.

F- Easy group for Italy. Slovakia will also qualify.

G- Solid group. I'll go for Brazil and Ivory Coast.

H- Spain will cruise in this group. Switzerland will finish in 2nd.

[ipastor01]

01:42 AM on 12/07/2009

Oh come on ... you agree that Group D is though...?

Deutschland has a cake walk. Of all the teams that have a real credible chance at the cup, they have it the easiest. I' sure none of the players have a doubt who's big dog there.

[Usama]

05:46 PM on 12/04/2009

Algeria's players almost all play in Europe's premier leagues. They are NOT weaker than Slovenia. Algeria's weakness is its a fairly new team. This is its first World Cup for a long time. So while Algeria may not do much, it also has nothing to prove. In fact, it would love to beat USA.

[Barry Yourgrau]

06:21 PM on 12/04/2009

Here below are Algeria squad's club affiliations, called up for final deciding games with Egypt:
Fourteen of the 25 (just over half, not "most") indeed play in europe's premier leagues (allowing Scotland and Greece as "premier") Of these 14, most (accurately) are minor clubs. Doesn't mean they won't surprise, just means, it wld be a surprise.

ALGERIA PLAYERS' CLUBS:
Algeria Oran
Algeria Belouizdad
Algeria ASO Chlef
Scotland Rangers
England Portsmouth
Germany Bochum
Portugal Nacional
Algeria Sétif
Algeria ASO Chlef
Algeria Sétif
Algeria Algiers
France Lorient
France Strasbourg
England Portsmouth
Germany Borussia Mönchengladbach
Germany Wolfsburg
Italy Lazio
Algeria Sétif
England Blackpool
France Nantes
Greece AEK Athens
Italy Siena
Qatar Al-Khor
England Hull City

SLOVENIA'S CLUB AFFILS have rougly same proportion as above. I just weigh their beating Russia as significant... But also, obviously, as minnow...

Italy Udinese
Italy Mantova
Netherlands Sparta Rotterdam
Germany Köln
France Sochaux
Belgium Gent
France Grenoble
Germany TuS Koblenz
Russia FC Moscow
England West Bromwich Albion
Russia Tom Tomsk
Poland Wisła Kraków
Portugal Nacional
Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv
Netherlands Vitesse
Cyprus Omonia
Italy Internazionale
Germany Köln
France Auxerre
Belgium Gent
Germany Bochum

[mikefina]

12:33 AM on 12/06/2009

Respectfully, adding each player's name to his club affiliation would have been helpful.