World Cup 2010 Bracket

OK, here is a cheat sheet for you North Americans that know nothing about soccer but wants not to look like complete idiots around the water cooler for the following month.

Group Results

Group A
France
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay

France got very lucky with that draw, they should sail through the group stage without problems. Here the logical second place should be Mexico, but because of the advantage of playing at home, that is historically 1 goal per game, I give the Bafanas Bafanas a place in the final round

Group B
Argentina
Greece
South Korea
Nigeria

Maradona’s men seem to have found their way. There is just too much talent in that team not to sail through this group even if it is the official Group of Death of this World Cup. Again I see an upset with Greece making it over South Korea and Nigeria since these are two teams that are very vulnerable to “Germinised” system of Greece.

Group C
England
Slovenia
USA
Algeria

Again the favorite should sail through. I have Slovenia and the USA neck to neck but Slovenia got in the World Cup over Russia and will field the same squad as during the qualification round.

Group D
Germany
Australia
Ghana
Serbia

Yes Ballack and three others are out with injuries, but there is too much depth in German football and the coach is too good. Expect a though first game against Australia. As for Ghana and Serbia their recent performances were less than convincing.

Group E
Holland
Danemark
Kameroun
Japan

Holland will sail though. The recent performances of Japan are pathetic, therefore Danemark should make it to the final round.

Group F
Italy
Slovakia
Paraguay
New Zealand

Again, an easy group for the Europeans.

Group G
Brazil
Portugal
Ivory Coast
North Korea

I do not see how Ivory Coast can survive with a less than a 100% fit Drogba. North Korea is the big unknown in that group, but with a second rate Ivory Coast it should not be enough to mix things up.

Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Chile
Honduras

Unless Chile finds a way to play better than during their qualification campaign and recent friendly, they will not be able to beat the better organized Swiss.

Final Round

Sweet Sixteen

1. Greece over France – the pathetic showing of France and the easy group will come back to haunt them. Greece will win in injury time or on penalties.

2. England over Australia – The Socceroos are just not there yet. They could beat a second tier country, but not England, unless the Lions chose this game to choke.

3. Argentina over South African – Even with the bonus of playing at home, this is too big a bite for the Bafanas Bafanas to chew.

4. Germany over Slovenia – Germany is much better than Russia, no hope for Slovenia.

5. Holland over Slovakia – The dutch always bring their A-game to the World Cup

6. Brazil over Switzerland – Samba beats banks every time. Do I need to say more?

7. Italy over Danemark – I hate the Italians, but the Danes can’t do it this year.

8. Spain over Portugal – This is the toughest one, Spain is overrated in my opinion but I was disappointed by Portugal. But with Christiano Ronaldo leading the way anything can happen if there is one player that can reverse the course of a game, it is him.

Elite Eight

1. Greece over England – This is the game that the Lions will choose to play horrible football, let a soft goal in or take a stupid red card. They do that at every World Cup and this one will be no exception. Or they will just play it a little too safe, end up in penalty shooting and loose as usual.

2. Germany over Argentina – Rematch of 2006. Germany has the better overall squad, Argentian got the better individual talent, Germany got the better coach and will be better prepared. Will be one of the best game of the tournament.

3. Brazil over Holland – Again, not much to add. The Dutch could win it, but they would need a crappy game from Brazil and quite a bit of luck.

4. Spain over Italy – Overated, but too good to contain with boring defensive football. There is no way you can play defensive football and win against Spain. Germany tried it in the Euro 2008, did it very well but lost.

Final Four

1. Germany over Greece – The Cinderella team will meet its match. Germany is another team that you can always count on, they will smell blood. It will be the most boring match of the final round.

2. Brazil over Spain – The weakness of Spain will be exposed violently by the Brazilians. You got to score more goals to win.


Third place match

Spain over Greece – Playing for no stakes, the Greeks will get destroyed by the B team of Spain

Final

Germany over Brazil – Brazil will not be able to take on the new offensive type of football that the Germans will bring to South Africa. Özil and Kroos will flood the midfield, Cacau and Podolski will give nightmare to the defenders, draw free kicks and Germany will socre on set pieces. I know that it goes again the logical choice, but allow me to make my only partisan choice of the bracket.

Try to have fun and to pretend that 1-0 is an exciting result.