WC '06 Final 4, Final 8 - Predictions

[StormFire]

Everybody is hacking on all the top teams in the world (OK - except Brazil): Mexico can't win in the knock out stage, Germany has gone down hill, Spain is psychotic, USA is overrated, etc. So let's flip this around - who is going to be in the final 4? In the final 8? And anybody picking Brazil to bomb out early for once (like Argentina did in '02) or not advance much in the knockout stage? Let's see those predictions (and maybe some analysis)!

[MassachusettsRef]

This sounds somewhat like a cop-out, but I think more than any other WC, the outcome of this one depends largely on the draw. I've noticed that, throughout the past few months and years discussing seedings and mock draws, there is a huge discrepancy amongst serious soccer fans as to whom will be serious contenders and threats at the World Cup next year. Some examples (other than the "obvious" contenders):

1) Some think Germany is a lock to advance to at least the semis and threaten for the title. Others have stated clearly that the team is weak and the homefield advantage might not be enough to carry them out of the early stages if they face a difficult draw.

2) The "second tier" European teams (I don't include Holland here, even though they are not a seed): Some see a team like Ukraine as a serious darkhorse to contend, while others remember past great European qualifying campaigns that have translated into nothing at the final tournament. Some see Serbia as a boring side, in Germany only to make up numbers. Others see it as a highly organized defensive team, who could progress very far on minimal offense. Some see Poland, Croatia and Czech Republic as very dangerous teams that will gain a boost from a near-home field advantage in some circumstances. Others look at them as teams that will get easily taken apart by a Brazil, Argentina, Holland, or Italy.

3) The African teams; some look at the relatively 5 unknown sides and right them off as 'second-rate'. Others remember Senegal's performance from 2002. Or, more generally, some take the view that as African soccer has progressed, so has parity, and that these five sides aren't flukes. Ivory Coast and Ghana very well might go 3 and out. On the other hand, they might be two of the best African sides every to qualify for the World Cup.

4) USA, Australia, Paraguay, Japan, South Korea: These 5 teams, to varying degrees, are viewed as anything from darkhorse semifinalists to outright pushovers in the wrong group. Has the USA really developed to a world class side, or will they remain unable to beat a European side in Europe? Is Australia a great team that's just been unlucky to qualify the past 2 WCs, or are they effectively a second-rate Asian side? Does Paraguay constitute a real threat to the powers that be, or are they the first example of how much the quality of play drops off in South America after Brazil and Argentina? Finally, have South Korea and Japan evolved into threats to the favorites, or are we back in the pre-2002 era when all Asian teams were considered pushovers?

In my mind, 2006 is the beginning of the era (to finally be fully realized in 2010) where global parity has truly been achieved. Do I think a non-European or South American side will win the World Cup in Germany? No, not yet. But when the draw comes out it's going to be much, much harder than usual to label one group as the Group of Death (unless, of course, Holland and Brazil end up together with a 3rd Euro side). The groups that people refer to as pushovers in a couple days will be looked back upon next August as impossibly tough groups.

One thing to note is that ever since 1994, at least one team has made the semifinals that didn't even qualify for the previous World Cup (Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey). I think that will continue with the Netherlands.

All that being said, totally on a whim, I'll predict a final 8:

Brazil
Netherlands
England
Czech Republic
Italy
Serbia
Ivory Coast
USA

I, of course, reserve the right to amend those predicitions significantly after the draw.

[argentine soccer fan]

Lets see...before the draw:

Final eight:

Brazil: Most talent

Germany: Home team and physically intimidating

Argentina: If you ask me... what do you expect? :D

England: Improved and more experienced than 02 squad.

Netherlands: Enough talent to make a difference

Italy: Solid and tough to beat

Ucraine: Dark horse, has some talent.

Czech: Dangerous team for anybody.

(Top Seeds Spain and Mexico come up short, because I had to sneak in my two Euro dark horses)


Final four:

Brazil
Germany
Argentina
England

Final two

Germany: Home team beats England. Good bye hooligans.
Argentina: Of course we beat Brazil.

And there's no way Germany wins it. Not on my post. :D

[jec1]

alittle biased it seems.... which is useless....of course germany will be there in the end.
italy,england,the czech,sweden are favorites to win it.

anything can happen but like i said my team is portugal.... i wont be biased but will say they make it to the final 8.... but lose out in the final 8.

UKRAINE will win the wc....cause lets face it times have changed other teams are better and well prepared which means playing the underdog role is an advantage to there game....lets just hope its fairplay and the refs dont screw teams over. :eek:

so the finals will be UKRAINE vs ENGLAND....yep i said it....

[ChcgoStingInMyBlood]

Final 8:

I think the Brazilians can be had. When they play their best, they are fantastic, but when they don't they are very beatable. They'll make the second round but I think they're going to be bumped this time.

Argentina
Poland
Germany
Mexico
US
Holland
Ghana
Czech Republic

Final Four:
Germany
US (one more rung on the ladder)
Holland
Argentina

Final
Germany - Holland

Winner - Germany (don't European hosts usually win?)

Of course what the f do I know.

[Rakim_22]

Final
Germany - Holland

Winner - Germany (don't European hosts usually win?)

Of course what the f do I know.
If that happend again then lightning really does strike twice.

[Rakim_22]

Final
Germany - Holland

Winner - Germany (don't European hosts usually win?)

Of course what the f do I know.
That would be a disaster if that happened. A repeat of 74. This time Holland will win if that scenario plays out.

[Italia'82]

Final 8:
1. Brazil
2. Italy
3. Argentina
4. England
5. Germany
6. Holland
7. Spain
8. Sweden

Final 4:
1. Italy
2. Argentina
3. Germany
4. Sweden

[jec1]

If that happend again then lightning really does strike twice.

really what are the odds that will happen 1 in a 10....

[IASocFan]

Final 8:
1. Brasil
2. Netherlands
3. Argentina
4. England
5. Germany
6. Czech Rep.
7. Spain
8. Sweden

Final 4:
1. Brasil
2. Argentina
3. Germany
4. Netherlands

[twenty]

I think the Brazilians can be had. When they play their best, they are fantastic, but when they don't they are very beatable. They'll make the second round but I think they're going to be bumped this time.


You can say that about any team. Any team can be had if they don't play their best. Brazil, however are rarely caught off form. They have only lost once, I think in the last 3 WCs and that was to France in the final, not to a weak/mid-level team in the first round. That's why people are hesitant to predict Brazil being upset early. Their record speaks for itself.

[Shahryar]

The first 4 out of my final-8 are:

1. Brazil
2. Netherlands
3. Germany
4. Czech Rep.

These are the more predictable ones, and I think they will come through. But it is in the second half of the last-8 that things get interesting. I think we will have some surprises next year and the following teams will make an appearance in the final-8:

5.Mexico
6.Ivory Coast
7. Japan
8. Poland (or France)

[tomvandamn]

wow you people couldnt wait til friday when the draw is done
then perhaps you can have a more accurate guess at the top4 and 8

[eL-ShorTy]

Lets see...before the draw:

Final eight:

Brazil: Most talent

Germany: Home team and physically intimidating

Argentina: If you ask me... what do you expect? :D

England: Improved and more experienced than 02 squad.

Netherlands: Enough talent to make a difference

Italy: Solid and tough to beat

Ucraine: Dark horse, has some talent.

Czech: Dangerous team for anybody.

(Top Seeds Spain and Mexico come up short, because I had to sneak in my two Euro dark horses)


Final four:

Brazil
Germany
Argentina
England

Final two

Germany: Home team beats England. Good bye hooligans.
Argentina: Of course we beat Brazil.

And there's no way Germany wins it. Not on my post. :D

Thats a nice list. Most will probably make the top 8.

[Charlie Beagle]

Fianl 8-
Argentina
Poland
Serbia and Montenagro
Australia
Italy
Ghana
Sweeden
Saudi Arabia

Final 4-
Argentina
Serbia
Australia
Italy

Final-
Australia
Italy

Winner-
Australia

[CariocaEWR]

As of 12/06/05, today, now .....things will change, big time, on the 9th.

Eight:
- Germany
- Brazil
- England
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- USA
- Argentina
- Paraguay :eek:


Four:
- Brazil
- Germany
- ???????
- ???????

[spencercs]

Its hard to do this before the draw as potentially the two teams i pick for the final could meet in the second round, so this is kind of like which 8 teams do you expect to play best and in that case this is my selection

England - one of the best teams there, rooney will step up and make it his tournement

Netherlands- undoubted class, brilliant qualifying record Van Der Vaart is awesome

Brazil - the team with the most quality

Argentina - I fully expect Riquelme to hit top form

Spain - if they start playing well together then they'll be formidable, their squad is only second best to Brazil

Italy- undoubteded quality, pace and creativity, solid at the back, injuries to nesta or cannvaro could be disastrous as materrazzi is a liability

Czech Republic - i surpised to see them listed at 28 -1 to win, might have a bit of a flutter on that, rosicky, jankulovski, ujfalusi, cech all great players

Ivory Coast - I hope the draw france in the group stage and do a senegal, some quality players like drogba, toure and zokora, expect them to be one of the most athletic teams like most african teams, (cameroon, senegal.)

the semis i reckon will be

england
italy
czech republic
argentina

then england to beat argentina in the final!

[Sinter]

before we see a draw...

Final 8:
Brazil
Argentina
England
Spain
Netherlands
Czech Republic
Italy
Germany

Honestly don't think we'll see many suprises.

Final 4:
Brazil
Spain
Netherlands
Italy

Finals: Spain over Brazil :)

[Colm]

final 8

T&T
Togo
Costa Rica
Angola
Iran
Switzerland
USA
Saudi Arabia

final 8
T & T
Angola
Iran
USA

final
T & T
Iran

winner
T & T

[tptp]

Final 8 (before the draw):
Brazil
Portugal
Holland
Czech Republic
Germany
Mexico
Argentina
Ghana

Final 4:
Brazil
Portugal
Czech Republic
Argentina

Final:
Brazil-Portugal

Winner: ???

Of course, this is all irrelevant before the draw.