Who will win the World Cup 2010?

The Game Room
21

Here’s the latest FIFA rankings for all of the World Cup finals teams:

  1. Brazil
  2. Spain
  3. Portugal
  4. Netherlands
  5. Italy
  6. Germany
  7. Argentina
  8. England
  9. France
  10. Greece
  11. USA
  12. Chile
  13. Mexico
  14. Uruguay
  15. Cameroon
  16. Nigeria (tie)
  17. Australia (tie)
  18. Slovenia
  19. Switzerland
  20. Côte d’Ivoire
    30 Paraguay
  21. Algeria
  22. Ghana
  23. Denmark
  24. Slovakia
  25. Honduras
  26. Japan
  27. Korea
  28. New Zealand
  29. South Africa (hosts)
  30. Korea DPR

Group A
10. France
17. Mexico
18. Uruguay
90. South Africa

Total: 135
Range: 80
Spread: 1

Group B
7. Argentina
12. Greece
20. Nigeria
47. Korea, Southern version

Total: 86
Range: 40
Spread: 8

Group C
8. England
14. USA
23. Slovenia
31. Algeria

Total: 76
Range: 23
Spread: 9

Group D
6. Germany
16. Serbia
20. Australia
32. Ghana

Total: 74
Range: 26
Spread: 4

Group E
4. Netherlands
19. Cameroon
35. Denmark
45. Japan

Total: 103
Range: 41
Spread: 16

Group F
5. Italy
30. Paraguay
38. Slovakia
78. New Zealand

Total: 151
Range: 72
Spread: 8

Group G

  1. Brasil
  2. Portugal
  3. Cote d’Ivoire
  4. Korea, Nutbar version

Total: 137
Range: 105
Spread: 24

Group H
2. Spain
15. Chile
26. Switzerland
40. Honduras

Total: 83
Range: 38
Spread: 11

So, first, I acknowledge that FIFA ratings are generally complete and utter bollocks. That didn’t stop me, of course, from using them for a cursory analysis. I’ve assigned 3 values to each group.

The first shows the total ranking points (just positions in the rankings added together). A lower total would generally indicate a tougher group.

The second shows the range of ratings, subtracting the highest rated team in group from the lowest rated team.

The second is the spread between the 2nd and 3rd rated team. A high spread should indicate a high chance that the top two teams would tend to go through (at least in theory).

22

England: I’m going with them because they’ve got the talisman of the moment (well, not this moment, since he’s hurt…) in Wayne Rooney, and Don Fabio. I think Fabio Capello is the best manager of the 32 for the summer (maybe 2nd behind Lippi), and he’ll know his squad very, very well.

If they and Germany both win their groups, England avoids Germany until the semifinal, and Capello gives them the mental strength to win that match. The weather in South Africa won’t be brutal at all (their winter), so England should fair well in that regard. Also, the 2 favorites, Spain and Brazil, fall on the other side of the bracket, meaning England won’t have to beat them both. I did a run through of the whole tournament, and my prediction had England beating Ghana in the 2nd round, Nigeria in the quarters, Germany in the semis, and either Spain or Brazil in the final.

23

The cases of Iniesta, Torres and Cesc might actually turn-out to be blessings in disguise – especially the first two, as they always seems to limp along towards the end of the season. Del Bosque seems to be fairly sure that all three will be available come list day. As for Senna, not a worry IMHO, good as he was at the Euros (and he was awesome) I think his best days are behind him and his position is well covered with both Xabi Alonso and Busquet and if we need a third holding mid, Bilbao’s Javi Martínez is the latest stud to come down the pike at the position – has many a team, foreign and domestic drooling for him.

If anything, I am more worried about Xavi not getting injured in either today’s CL’s semi’s, the very tough four matches left in la Liga and a possible CL final. Definitely a must-have player for us loaded as we are at the position.

Defense, you’re correct concerning the flanks, Ramos, Arbeloa (whom I prefer defensively at the position with Ramos in the middle) and Capdevila are key; knocking on wood all three are tip-top when the WC starts.

Conclusion: lot’s of real and imagined pressure for La Roja yet again, but as others have mentioned, winning Euro '08 might have gone a long way in killing many a phantom from days past.

So yeah, I’m picking us to go all the way.
:::gulp:::

24

Was that the kiss of death?

25

Get otta’ my head, you bastid! :smiley:

26

Fancy England to do well with Capello definitely capable of tipping things their way in the type of close games you get in the later stages of the WC.

The injury / form situation sucks though - it’s a bit of a misnomer to talk about players coming off the treatment table and being fit for the tournament. You really need to be match fit. Defence in particular looks dodgy - Cole is a world class player but is only just back playing after Agent Donovan crocked him. Ferdinand has been in and out of the Utd side all season with chronic back trouble, Glen Johnson (is he the first choice rb?) has missed a huge amount of the season but does at least have some games under his belt. Gerrard is putting the finishing touches to his worst season in a decade (soon to get worse if you believe internet rumours), Lennon is crocked just as he’s turning into a great winger etc etc.

No team breezes into the WC without injury concerns, but I just get the feeling that a significant number of key England players aren’t hitting the tournament in the best shape.

27

I took Brazil because no European team has ever won outside of Europe. The weather won’t be hot and the time zone is euro-friendly, but why go against history?

Argentina is coached by a clown, so Brazil is my choice.

28

Well, I didn’t really know who to go for so I decided to read the thread first, and I’m still undecided. It seems a harder one to pick than it has been for many years, with no team as stand-out favourites. In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to vote for the home team (England), as I just don’t believe it’s possible. I didn’t want to vote for Spain because that’s what most people seem to think. Brazil - again, too predictable a choice. So I went for Germany, as they always seem to be the best side for winning against all the odds.

29

Well actually, I think there is a stand out favorite in Spain. It’s just that many people have doubts because they have never done it before and the whole great 4 plus home teams thing (and also European teams only winning in Europe). But looking at the players and how the national team has played over the last few years there’s few who wouldn’t say that Spain are the favorites.

While I voted for Brazil, I actually do think the European teams have a great chance of finally winning on another continent. The temperatures in SA will be nice and mild for the likes of England, Netherlands and Spain; unlike tournaments in Asia or (Latin) America.

30

As much as it pained me to do so, I chose Brazil. It’s not that I don’t like Brazil - I do - but I would love to see a dark horse win the trophy this year.

Most of the usual suspects will make deep runs, including England, Spain, Italy, and Germany. I don’t rate Argentina very highly because of Maradona and their poor performances during qualification, but they got a favorable draw and should make it to the quarterfinals.

I’m pulling for the US and expect them to make it out of the group stage.

31

I’m surprised that England has so few votes. Even Frenchman Michel Platini thinks they’re one of the 3 teams that can win.

32

The World Cup isn’t being held in England this year.

33

I voted for Brazil as from top to bottom they have the most talent.

My heart however, will be with Portugal.

34

But it is being held in a place that England ruled not too long ago. :wink:

35

I picked England, because I misread the question. I thought the question was “Who will come tantalizingly close to the final of the World Cup 2010 but lose on penalties?”

36

That narrows it down.

37

Okay, then, I’ll take the Dutch. The Boers were there first, weren’t they?

38

:smiley: hahaha

Tough choice this year. I picked Brazil, but I think Spain would have also been a great pick.

39

You need to change the parameters of the vote. I want to pick…

A) North Korea will make the most shocking and dramatic Cinderella run to the title in World Cup history (as far as anyone in North Korea will be told)

B) Argentina will actually win the World Cup.

40

Well, one of the best things about following sport is that, routinely it throws up true stories that no self respecting writer would consider realistic. So on that basis only one team can win, Greece.