TTB takes on the World Cup (of soccer)
In honor of my pick-up basketball teammate Luke (a big-time soccer fan who said he’d look at my blog more if there was more soccer here) and my allegiance to Greece, I provide this 2010 World Cup report.
The World Cup draw was announced just minutes ago. Here’s what it looks like (with FIFA world rankings in parentheses):
Group A: South Africa (86), Mexico (15), Uruguay (19) and France (7)
Group B: Argentina (8), Nigeria (22), South Korea (52) and Greece (12)
Group C: England (9), United States (14), Algeria (28) and Slovenia (33)
Group D: Germany (6), Australia (21), Serbia (20) and Ghana (37)
Group E: Netherlands (3), Denmark (26), Japan (43) and Cameroon (11)
Group F: Italy (4), Paraguay (30), New Zealand (77) and Slovakia (34)
Group G: Brazil (2), North Korea (84), Ivory Coast (16) and Portugal (5)
Group H: Spain (1), Switzerland (18), Honduras (38) and Chile (17)
-You have to feel sorry for North Korea and Ivory Coast, who have to play in a group with Brazil and Portugal. It’s mandatory to proclaim one World Cup group the “Group of Death,” and Group G is that group.
-Speaking of Group G, Portugal won’t be sending any Christmas cards to the South African side; because the host country was granted one of the top seeds, the Portuguese got stuck with Brazil in their group.
-The United States got a reasonable draw. Not advancing out of Group C would be viewed as a disappointment.
-Greece, my father’s home country, has a solid chance to advance in Group B. Although not if you ask my dad. Here’s the conversation we had over the phone after Greece qualified for the draw:
Me: How about those Greeks!
Dad (in his thick Greek accent): They need new players.
Me: What about the players that qualified?
Dad: They’re old and they’re no good.
OK, maybe don’t put all your money on the Greeks.
-So who comes out of the groups? Here are my fearless predictions:
Group A: Uruguay and France
Group B: Argentina and Greece
Group C: England and United States
Group D: Germany and Ghana
Group E: Netherlands and Cameroon
Group F: Italy and Slovakia
Group G: Brazil and Portugal
Group H: Spain and Switzerland
-My quarterfinalists: France, Argentina, Ghana, Germany, Netherlands, Cameroon, Brazil and Spain.
-Semifinalists: France, Germany, Brazil and Spain.
-Finals: Brazil vs. Spain.
-Champion: Spain.
So there you have it. 188 days, 17 hours and 21 minutes early, your Thirsty Beagle World Cup predictions!
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Comments
Nice write-up! I’m with you on most of your group picks, except I think Mexico will edge out Uruguay in Group A, the Aussies will sneak past Ghana and Serbia in Group D, and Chile will knock the pants off Switzerland in Group H.
Also, despite how much I hate watching Italian soccer (Serie A is painnnnfully boring), Italy has made it to at least the quarters in 6 out of the past 8 World Cups, and I can’t imagine them not making it again this year, but I’ll buy you a pint if your prediction stands up!
This is the first place I’ve found that has the FIFA rankings with each of the teams – that’s convenient.
We beat Endgland before when it mattered (1776 & 1950)
Go USA!