Teams to Round of 16 Predictions

[FWHORN]

With 1 match left for all sides its time to make predictions on who goes on and why:

Group A
Uruguay and Mexico will kick it around for 90 minutes and draw so both advance with Urugauy first on goal differential

Group B
Argentina will beat Greece to take first and S. Korea will defeat Nigeria to advance

Group C
England and US both win to advance and in upset US will win group on differential beating Algeria by more then England top Slovenia

Group D
Germany and Serbia win and Germany takes group on goal differential over Serbs

Group E
Japan and Denmark draw sending Japanese through on goal differential joining the Dutch who win group

Group F
Paraguay beat Kiwis to win group and Italy top Slovakia to go through in second

Group G
Brazil beat Portugal but both advance with Portugal advancing over Cote D'Ivoire on differential

Group H
Spain will beat Chile by enough to advance and the Swiss will top Honduras to take second on goal differential over Chile.

4 conmebol
2 concacaf
2 asian
8 Euro

 

[hellbunny]

I like to think of what games will be good/bad to watch:

Mexico - Uruguay : might be interesting early but more likely to be atrociously dull, especially if tied at the half.

France - South Africa : a chance at a French meltdown on the field? Probably not.

England - Slovenia : English fight for their tournament life.
US - Algeria : US needs win to be sure of advancement.

Ghana - Germany : Germany has to win to be safe. Ghana can settle for a draw.
Serbia - Australia : Serbia basically has to win.

Japan - Denmark : winner advances.

Netherlands - Cameroon : snooze...

Slovakia - Italy : Italy plays to avoid embarrassment

Paraguay - New Zealand : This game becomes monumentally crazy if Italy - Slovakia stays a draw. Unless Paraguay stomps NZ.

Portugal - Brazil : do they have fun or snooze...

EDIT: See JohnnyM

 

[JohnnyM]

aren't the final group matches played simultaneously so teams DONT know what they need?

 

[hellbunny]

Ahh, you're right. I assume they'll know what's happening in each other's games though.

 

[FWHORN]

Yep it is simultaneous to prevent shenanigans. Screen in screen to follow both games.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

I dont think there are any snoozers. It depends on how teams are bracketed in the 2nd round. If a team will have an "easier" draw in the 2nd round by being first in their group, and winning the final game guarantees that, then they will play to win, even if they only need a tie.

Im too lazy to look at what all the possibilities are, but theres no certainty that some teams will just trot out and kick it around if they clinch with a tie. Im stoked about Portugal and Brazil... That should be a barnburner.

 

[Hornin Hong Kong]

Mexico will try to win so they finish first and get easier game

 

[GemStateJim]

There's only one match on my mind at this moment, and it's not Australia-Serbia.

I'm talkin' 'bout our Yanks, and while I'm very pleased with the resiliency and effort they've displayed thus far in this tournament, I can't escape a sense of "creeping doom."

My heart wants a win, but my head and gut keep telling me to expect a 1-1 draw. That wouldn't necessarily prevent the U.S. from advancing, but it would make for one very tense morning.

I'm not sure why I feel this way. Maybe the play of our backline is to blame, or our habit of surrendering early goals. Or maybe having that game-winning goal disallowed has me thinking this just ain't our year.

Whatever the reason, I hope to hell I'm merely being pessimistic. If Donovan, Dempsey and the rest of the gang want to serve up a heaping helping of crow, I'll be the first to dig in.

 

[GemStateJim]

Man, this is some tasty motherfuckin' crow. Anyone else want a bite? I'm nearly full up.

 

[FWHORN]

The results havent matched the predictions but 6 for 6 in the teams going through so far. Only one that mattered was the US and they took every second they needed to do it.

 

[general35]

Group H
Spain will beat Chile by enough to advance and the Swiss will top Honduras to take second on goal differential over Chile.
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Chile is damn good and could easily beat Spain. I see a draw there. Keep in mind that the S. American teams are the best. They all have won their group so far and all will advance imo.

 

[FWHORN]

Got my first wrong prediction with Serbia. 7 for 8.

General you may well be right re Chile but if Chile and Spain draw, Spain will likely be out so I see the Spaniards having their best match of the tourny as they play for their lives. Chile is plus 2 and the Swiss are at even so any kind of Swiss win and Chile loss favors the Swiss at least catching up on goal differential and means goals scored will decide or it could fall to head to head goals which would favor the Chileans. Friday afternoon will be a lot of fun.

 

[GemStateJim]

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