Group G

1.Brazil
2.Côte d`Ivoire
3.Portugal
4.Korea DPR

Brazil, the record five-time world champions in a tough group together with the "European Brazilians" and slightly overrated Portugal, also in my eyes the best African nation, Côte d`Ivoire who is coached by Sven-Göran Eriksson and finally Korea DPR who will be looking for the same surprise as the one they stood for back in the 1966 WC where they amazingly reach the quarterfinals. Brazil is of course the favorites in this group and as always a contender for the trophy. They are the only nation that has participated in every WC since it`s early days back in 1930. Coach Dunga the veteran defensive midfielder is controversial and left out big names like, Ronaldinho, Pato, Adriano out of the squad. Most of their players are based in Italy (8) with two domestic players in their squad, defender Gilberto from Cruzeiro and midfielder Kleberson from Flamengo. Brazil have been doing good results the last few years winning the Copa America in 2007, and last year the won the FIFA Confederations Cup and finishing first in the qualification CONMEBOL. Brazil have world-class quality all over their squad with Ceasar in goal, defenders like Maicon, Alves, Lucio, playmaker Kaka, Fabiano and Robinho in attack. Côte d`Ivoire (CDI) is in my eyes the best African nation. Coached by "Svennis" they will be looking to improve their performance from their 2006 WC campaign were they failed to reach the 2nd stage. But what I saw from them in that WC impressed me a lot. Unfortunately CDI had their influential striker Drogba injured in their last pre WC friendly, and Drogba`s participation in the WC is very uncertain. Would be a massive loss for them and the whole WC if Didier won`t make it. With players like, the Tourè brothers, Ebouè, Kalou, Zokora they look strong. Portugal reached their 4th WC by winning the play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Portugal had important Nani injured recently and he will miss the WC. They are ranked 3 on the FIFA ranking. Portugal depends a lot of Ronaldo who is also their captain, but I feel that he is a little to isolated in their team. They are far to depending on a single player to make the impact. Will of course battle with CDI who will join Brazil in the 2nd stage. I think that coach Carlos Queiroz side will lose this battle. Korea DPR for obvious reasons a bit tricky to scout, especially domesticly. Korea DPR of course without a chance in this group. A single point for them in this group would be a sensation. They havn`t sent a single journalist to this WC to cover it, and the games won`t be live on TV back home. They nominated a striker as a third choice goalkeeper to bost their attacking options, but that backfired completely since the player now only can play in the goalkeeper position.

Prediction; Brazil as group winners and Côte d`Ivoire as runners up.


Group H

1.Spain
2.Chile
3.Switzerland
4.Honduras

Regaining European Champions Spain with their extremely strong squad in a group that they must be pleased with. Chile ranked 18th in the FIFA ranking will here participate in their 8th WC with their best result being placed 3rd in the their 1962 WC. Switzerland will also they be participating in their 8th WC with best results back in the 30:s where they reached the quarterfinals at two occasions. Honduras will be participating in their 2nd WC and have a few players that really deserves respect. Spain has never won the WC, their best result are "only" a fourth place back in 1950. But as regaining European Champions they enter this tournament as one of the favorites. And with players like, Casillas, Villa, Torres, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Pique, Fabregas who could argue with that. They have a tremendous strong squad and are possible the strongest on paper. Spain won all their ten qualifying games and will enter the WC ranked two in the FIFA ranking. Chile had a good qualification were they finished at 2nd place after Brazil in the CONMEBOL. They don`t really have any big names in their squad, probably Humberto Suazo and Matias Fernandez are their most known players abroad. Coached by Marcelo "Madman" Bielsa. La Roja as they are called are to me favorites to reach the second stage together with Spain. Honduras with players like Suazo, Palacios can`t be underestimated. Even though they have been awful in the pre WC friendlies. Midfield is their strength and they could be a tough apponent to Switzerland and Chile. Also a team that is better than people in common thinks. Switzerland coached by German tactician Hitzfeld reached their 9th WC despite a shocking loss at home to Luxemburg in the qualifiers. Playing a classic 4-4-2 and is a hard working team. They have a decent team with Senderos, Barnetta, Inler, and their captain Frei. Spain clear favorites in this group, battle for second place pretty open but I think that Chile will reach the second stage.

Predition; Spain as group winners and Chile as runners up.



If I have predicted the groups correctly that leaves us with these finals with advancing/winning nations in dark;

Round of 16;

South Africa - Korea Republic
England - Australia
Germany - USA
Argentina - France
Netherlands - Paraguay
Brazil - Chile
Italy - Denmark
Spain - Côte d`Ivoire

Quarter-finals;

Netherlands - Brazil
South Africa - England
Argentina - Germany
Italy - Spain

Semi-finals;

England - Brazil
Argentina - Spain


Third Place play-off;

England - Argentina


FIFA World Cup Final;

Brazil - Spain


So that`s my WC predictions. I have Brazil as favorites to win the WC with Spain as runners up. England will defeat Argentina in the bronze medal game. I think either Fabiano of Brazil or Villa of Spain will be the tournaments top goal scorer. I`m so excited that the WC is only a day away now and I think it will be a very good tournament. Great goals, major disapointments, great joy and a lot of noice from the vuvuzela in the stands is expected!

Let the FIFA World Cup 2010 begin!

- M@tteo