A Restless Mind

Here are some of my thoughts concerning the draw of the 19th installment of the biggest sporting event in the world, the FIFA World Cup, to be held in South Africa in 2010:

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
It was going fairly okay for South Africa till France was drawn. But I still think they will struggle to finish in the top three. France will be rather happy with this group, because being in Pot 4, they could have done so much worse. Mexico are a very underrated team and I see them going through.

My Predictions:
1. France (then playing Nigeria in the next round)
2. Mexico (then playing Argentina in the next round)
3. Uruguay
4. South Africa

Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Interesting little group, with Argentina seemingly the favourites to finish top. But given all their troubles in qualifying for the WC, they could find it tricky against Nigeria who will be playing in their home continent and South Korea led by Park Ji Sung. There is also Greece, the surprise winners of Euro 2004 who, we all know, cannot be ignored.

My Predictions:
1. Argentina (then playing Mexico in the next round)
2. Nigeria (then playing France in the next round)
3. Greece
4. South Korea

Group C: England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia
England have got the group they dreamt of. Algeria and Slovenia are pretty decent teams, but I don't see them overpowering England and the USA. England and the USA should battle it out for top spot. I am personally outraged at such luck, but then I am sort of looking forward to the deluded expectations which will build up now, piling even more pressure on the England team. They should still go through though.

My Predictions:
1. England (then playing Ghana in the next round)
2. USA (then playing Germany in the next round)
3. Slovenia
4. Algeria

Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Welcome to the Group of Death! All teams finished top of their qualifying groups and will all fancy their chances of going through to the next round. Germany are seasoned WC participants, Serbia and Australia are two emerging football nations while Ghana is one of the strongest Africans teams with numerous Europe-based players. I will be very biased in my predictions since I support Germany in major international competitions.

My Predictions:
1. Germany (then playing USA in the next round)
2. Ghana (then playing England in the next round)
3. Serbia
4. Australia

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Another interesting group with a top side (Netherlands here) and which will involve a battle for second place between 2 teams (3 if Japan are not disappointing as they are expected to be). Cameroon will have a tough job qualifying for the next round, but I think with the 'home' support, they should scrape it past Bendtner's Denmark.

My Predictions:
1. Netherlands (then playing Paraguay in the next round)
2. Cameroon (then playing Italy in the next round)
3. Denmark
4. Japan

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
What looks like an easy group for the current world champions will still require them to get the job done. Paraguay and Slovakia could spring a surprise or two, given the very little amount of exposure they have had. Slovakia have quite a technically gifted team, mainly in the form of Marek Hamsik. Paraguay did rather well in the South American qualifiers and would be expected to provide some resistance instead of just rolling over. Finally, it is a tall order for New Zealand to not finish bottom of this group.

My Predictions:
1. Italy (then playing Cameroon in the next round)
2. Paraguay (then playing Netherlands in the next round)
3. Slovakia
4. New Zealand

Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Another group which has been touted as Group of Death, although only 3 teams will be realistically competing to reach the knock-out stages. And they will all be involved in mouth-watering clashes, especially Brazil and Portugal. Ivory Coast are arguably the strongest African team in this WC, but if they manager to qualify from this very tough group, they could go a long way! North Korea, being an unknown quantity might find it too hard to gather any points at all. Still, one should not forget the 1966 WC where the North Koreans beat Italy on their way to the quarter finals where they lost to Portugal in a thrilling match which ended 5-3.

My Predictions:
1. Brazil (then playing Chile in the next round)
2. Ivory Coast (then playing Spain in the next round)
3. Portugal
4. North Korea

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
The current european champions were as lucky as England, Italy and Argentina. They are arguably the best team in the world right now and I think they will negotiate their passage to the next round very easily. Chile, who finished second behind Brazil in their qualifying group will be a strong candidate for second place although Honduras and Switzerland will provide stiff opposition.

My Predictions:
1. Spain (then playing Ivory Coast in the next round)
2. Chile (then playing Brazil in the next round)
3. Honduras
4. Switzerland

Now, before I get lambasted from all sides when my predictions go completely wrong, let me make it clear that as easy as it sometimes is to predict who will go through in which group, anything can happen in a WC match, as history suggests.

Also, the other big question is whether an African team can finally win the WC. I do not think it can realistically happen next year. But if Ivory Coast or Ghana could reach the semis, they are both capable of winning it. The biggest favourites will be Brazil and Spain, with a lot of other excellent candidates who could win it, because all the big teams have made it to the greatest show on Earth.

What do you think of the draw and its implications for the prospects of the various teams? What are your predictions?