2006 World Cup Preview: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
Jun 10 '06
The Bottom Line BRA-ZEEEEEEEEEL!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought I had posted this on Thursday, but it evidently didn't make it. Anyway...
In case you didn't know, the biggest sporting event in the world is underway: The World Cup. I know everyone doesn't like soccer, and that's fine. I'm not one of those militant soccer fans who wants to cram the game down everyone's throat. However, this is the World Freaking Cup, the biggest sporting event on the planet. If the peerless passion that pervades every game and nation can't get you at least a little excited, then you have no soul.
With that said, here is the first part of a brief primer on what you need to know:
How it works: There are 32 nations, split into eight pools (labeled A through H) of four. Each of the four teams plays the other one time, tallying 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss. The two teams with the most points after the six games advance to the knockout phase, 16 teams bracketed off, NCAA tournament style. Winner moves on, loser goes home.
Here is a look at each group is coming, with teams in my predicted order of finish, the one game you must see in each group (all times are central), and a few other random comments...
Group A
Germany
Poland
Ecuador
Costa Rica
Must-see game: Germany v. Costa Rica. Friday, June 9th, 11 AM CT on ESPN2.
Germany should cruise in both this game and the group. But it's the first game, therefore it's a must-see. I doubt it will equal the thrilling opener from 2002, when Senegal upset defending champion France 1-0, but it also starts five hours later than that game did, which is nice.
Group B
England
Sweden
Paraguay
Trinidad & Tobago
Must-see game: England v. Sweden. Tuesday, June 20th, 2 PM on ESPN.
In 2002, England and Sweden played to a draw in the Group of Death, both moving on ahead of Argentina and Nigeria. Coaching in his last tournament as England's manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson is Swedish, just one of the wacky matchups created by the quirky world of international soccer.
Paraguay isn't a slouch, but England and Sweden should both get through fairly easily. T&T is just happy to be here; merely scoring a goal will cause riots.
Group C
Argentina
Serbia & Montenegro
Netherlands
Ivory Coast
Must-see game: Argentina v. Netherlands. Wednesday, June 21st, 2PM on ESPN.
In this year's Group of Death, this is the one game I most want to see in the group phase. One could make a decent case that these are two of the five best teams in the world, and they have a little history, as the Dutch knocked Argentina out in the quarters of the 1998 Cup. Plus they were both disappointing in 2002; the Netherlands didn't even make the finals, and Argentina didn't get out of their Group of Death. It's also the last game of the group, so either or both could be playing for their tournament lives. Too bad I probably won't see it.
More political fun: there are actually five countries represented here, because Serbia & Montenegro split last week, but soccer supercedes national boundaries, so here they are. You could make a case for any of these four teams to get through. Ivory Coast is an explosive bunch, and Serbia & Montenegro surrendered the fewest goals in European qualifying. All of which means I don't have a clue here.
Group D
Mexico
Portugal
Iran
Angola
Must-see game: Mexico v. Iran. Sunday, June 11th, 11 AM on ABC.
This game is worth watching from a negative point of view, as Mexico is USA's most hated soccer rival, and Iran is USA's most hated political rival that is at the World Cup. Plus there's the possibility that Iran's President Ahmadejwewektnsahk could get arrested in Germany for denying the Holocaust. That's always a fun sideshow.
None of the African countries except Tunisia have ever made the finals before. So I'd like to thank Angola for showing up, although they will provide great political intrigue in their first match. Portugal settled Angola back in the day, and bad blood remains, as their last game was not finished because Angola had too many players kicked out. Fun.
Group E
Italy
United States
Ghana
Czech Republic
Must-see game: United States v. Czech Republic. Monday, June 12th, 11 AM on ESPN2.
The first game is a huge game for the U.S. The Czechs are banged up, and if our boys can steal a win, they'll have an excellent chance to advance. Even a draw would be a morale booster. A loss, particularly a bad one, might crush any hopes of moving on.
Don't think Ghana will be a push-over, as their aggressive style scares some people. Plus an African team, though usually lightly regarded, has made the knockout phase every year since 1990, when this format was introduced. They're the 12-seed of the World Cup. Italian soccer is a mess right now, as the best league there is being rocked by a massive match-fixing scandal, so it will be interesting to see how that turmoil affects the team.
Group F
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan
Must-see game: Croatia v. Australia. Thursday, June 22, 2 PM on ESPN2.
I don't know all the political reasons behind it, but there are several players of Croatian descent on the Socceroos' team. Australia has been dissed a few times by the international soccer community as well, so this should be a chippy contest.
If Brazil doesn't win the group, that will be a shock. I doubt Japan can replicate their feat of reaching the second round at home in 2002, so Croatia-Australia may well be an elimination game.
Group G
France
South Korea
Switzerland
Togo
Must-see game: France v. Switzerland. Tuesday, June 13th, 2 PM on ESPN2.
As defending champions, France didn't score a goal in the 2002 World Cup. There are plenty of questions about this team, but one of them is not Thierry Henry, who is one of the best forwards in the world. To separate yourself from soccer newbies, know that his name is pronounced tee-AIR-ee on-REE. Anyway, the Frenchies will try to re-establish themselves in their opener against a stingy Swiss defense.
South Korea will try to prove their 2002 fourth place run wasn't just a product of playing at home. If Togo salvages a point at all, the country may burn down.
Group H
Ukraine
Tunisia
Spain
Saudi Arabia
Must-see game: Ukraine v. Spain. Wednesday, June 14th, 8 AM on ESPN2.
At least one top seed always fails to advance, and partially because Spain often underachieves in the international play, I think they will be this year's victim, even in a relatively weak group. Ukraine has striker Andriy Shevchenko (the soccer player in that Sportscenter commercial with Scott Van Pelt), who may be the world's best player not named Ronaldinho.
Tunisia will be the African team to advance. Saudi Arabia won't lose 8-0 like they did to Germany in 2002, but they again won't likely get a point.
Second Round
Germany d. Sweden
England d. Paraguay
Argentina d. Portugal
Mexico d. Serbia & Montenegro
Italy d. Croatia
Brazil d. United States
Tunisia d. France
Ukraine d. South Korea
Quarterfinals
Argentina d. Germany
England d. Mexico
Italy d. Tunisia
Brazil d. Ukraine
Semifinals
Argentina d. Italy
Brazil d. England
Third Place (not that anyone cares)
England d. Italy
Championship
Brazil d. Argentina
I don't necessarily like the idea of picking two South American teams in the final. Then again, one has made it there in the last five World Cups, with Brazil doing the honors in the last three. They clearly have the best talent in the tournament, and will win if they play to those abilities and their defense doesn't let them down.
Let's rock and roll.
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Pavel21
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