WORLD CUP.. (CONTINUE, groupe C)

If ever there was a nightmare group, then this is it. Argentina, Netherlands, Serbia and Montenegro, and Côte d'Ivoire are all in the top 50 of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. The Oranje and the Albiceleste are third and fourth respectively. As a result, the South Americans, who were also drawn in a tricky group in 2002, face a tough battle if they are to fare any better than they did in Asia.
The Dutch, imperious in qualification, will have their hearts set on making a successful return after an eight-year absence. The Serbo-Montenegrins, meanwhile, will come to the tournament full of confidence fresh from a preliminary competition where their defensive solidity impressed the entire world. And if the Africans are considered the minnows of the group, they are nonetheless brimming with talent and enthusiasm. It would be a brave man who staked his reputation on predicting a winner...

FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
Argentina 4th
Côte d'Ivoire 41st
Serbia and Montenegro 47th
Netherlands 3rd





I can tell you right now that Côte d'Ivoire will put a great show. Beside the fact that they are a smart team, talented and got a "cocky coach" (i.e. Henri Michel); they got the luckiest players in the world. a lot of promotions, lucrative contracts for their players and obviously high scoring in Europe backs my prediction. Now if you ask me how far they will go, I have no clue. African always showed great consistency in the first round and terrible performance in the second one… so.. no clue.

I believe Argentina will give a terrible show at this world cup, and the Dutch will come to compete well with the Africans. As for Serbia, they will lose all of their games. But hey!!!! I might be wrong.

That’s it for this time around.. come back for Group D’s analysis.

WORLD CUP.. (CONTINUE, groupe B)

England, one of the seeds in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final Draw in Leipzig, were grouped with familiar foes Sweden as well as Paraguay and a Trinidad and Tobago side who are competing in their first finals.
For England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson it is another clash against his home country and history favours Lars Lagerback's men. Paraguay, competing in the finals for the third successive time, will command respect having reached the last 16 in both 1998 and 2002, losing out to the eventual finalists on both occasions. Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, will be determined to put on a good show on their debut appearance.
FIFA/Cola Coca World Ranking
England 9th
Paraguay 30th
Trinidad and Tobago 51st
Sweden 14th

Matches

Date in your diary: Cologne, 20 June, Sweden v EnglandThis will be seen as the key fixture in the group and Eriksson will not need reminding that England do not have a happy record against his homeland. The sides drew 1-1 in Saitama in Korea/Japan 2002 and the Swedes then defeated England 1-0 in March 2004, continuing a long unbeaten run against England which stretches back to 1968.
David v Goliath: Nuremberg, 15 June, England v Trinidad and TobagoThis will be an occasion to relish for the Caribbean first-timers, many of whom ply their trade in England and Scotland.
History repeats itself: Berlin, 15 June, Sweden v ParaguayThe two nations met in the finals in Brazil in 1950. The game in Curitiba ended 2-2 and that was enough for Sweden to win Group 3 and progress to the next phase.

Analysis


England will be favourites to win the group and take the next step on the long road which they hope will see them claiming football's supreme prize 40 years after they were crowned world champions in their own country. However, Sweden, experienced campaigners at this level with their 11th appearance in the finals, will be strong contenders and will hope to improve on four years ago when they made it to the last 16.
Fourth in the South American qualifiers, Paraguay's aim will be to survive the group stage, something they accomplished in each of the last two finals. In qualifying, Anibal Ruiz's team managed a 1-0 victory at home to Argentina, having earlier held the two-time FIFA World Cup winners to a 0-0 draw in Buenos Aires. So they will not be lacking confidence.
Trinidad and Tobago may lack experience but in Leo Beenhakker they have a coach who is no stranger to the highest level of competition, guiding the Netherlands into the second round in Italy in 1990 when they bowed out to eventual winners West Germany. Sheer enthusiasm alone is bound to make them difficult opponents.


I can tell you from this Group, England will for sure go really really far.. they are the favourite for this world cup, and I expect them in the final. so put your money on them blindly. As for the other teams, you will have a great show and nice soccer, but none of them got what it takes to go far.

Did you know?

Trinidad and Tobago have never faced England and since 1985 have only met one of the other teams in the group – Paraguay. In March 1989 the two sides locked horns in two friendly fixtures, which ended 2-2 and 1-1.