Your Top 16 Teams [pre-draw]

[MassachusettsRef]

Ok, for those that have been following the seeding or group of death discussions, I've been putting forth the argument that the Group of Death is not necessarily the "best" quality or "hardest" to predict, but the one that the most people look at and say: "wow, I can't believe that 1 (or 2) of those teams will not be in the 2nd round". That means that 3 or 4 teams that most people in general (or you in particular) would rank amongst the top 16 in the tournament are being grouped together.

So, to have a little fun over the next couple of days, I thought it'd be interesting to have people rank their Top 16 teams pre-draw. This means, all things being equal these would be the 16 teams you'd expect to find in the second stage come late June. This should not be a list of who you hope will make the knockout stages, but rather which 16 teams you think are the best quality heading towards the tournament.

After the draw Friday, we'll see which groups contains 3 or 4 teams that are consistently ranked among the top 16 in this thread. And I'm not interested starting a discussion on the definition of "Group of Death", since we already have a thread for that. Just a Top 16, perhaps with some analysis as to why you feel that way, will do. Separating a top 8 could also help, but there's no need to rank all 16, necessarily. I'll start:

Netherlands
Brazil
England
Argentina
Germany
France
Italy
Serbia
----------
Portugal
USA
Ivory Coast
Croatia
Sweden
Paraguay
Czech Republic
Mexico

Japan and Spain just miss the cut for me (I go back and forth between them and Czech Republic and Mexico as my final 2). I also think that Ghana and Australia are dangerous teams that could shock some people with the right draw, but I don't consider them to be top 16 sides pre-draw.

[spoonman]

Semis or better
Brazil
Spain
England
Netherlands
--------------
Losing in quarters
Czech Republic
Portugal
Ivory Coast
Sweden
----------------
Last 16
Argentina
Croatia
Serbia & Montenegro
Mexico
Germany
Switzerland
France
Italy

[bravo340]

Brazil
Germany
Mexico
Netherlands
England
France
Italy
Argentina
Paraguay
Croatia
USA
Serbia & Montenegro
Ivory Coast
Sweden
Portugal
Spain

In no order.

[dooodoool]

I dont think ivory coast should be there...

brazil
sweden
iran
japan
korea
germany
holland
argentina
ghana
mexico
usa
paraguay
france
ukraine....

final:ukraine vs germany...

[karny9]

I dont think ivory coast should be there...

brazil
sweden
iran
japan
korea
germany
holland
argentina
ghana
mexico
usa
paraguay
france
ukraine....

final:ukraine vs germany...


iran, japan, korea, ghana, paraguay??????????? Wow, i'm going to have to disagree. And Ukraine in the final, Ouch!

[Portista69]

Brazil
Spain
England
Netherlands
Czech Republic
Portugal
Poland
Sweden
Argentina
Croatia
Serbia & Montenegro
Mexico
Germany
Paraguay
France
Italy

In no particular order....

[ursula]

Again, no particular order:

Brazil
England
Germany
Netherlands
Portugal
Argentina
Serbia & Montenegro
Mexico
USA
Italy
Paraguay
Poland
Sweden
Spain
Japan
Czech Republic
Ghana

Andorra just misses the cut.

[CK]

WC Finalists
Italy
Czech
--------------
Losing in Semis
Brazil
England
--------------
Losing in quarters
France
Portugal
USA
Sweden
----------------
Other 8 teams
Argentina
Germany
Poland
Angola
Ecuador
Netherlands
Japan
Saudi Arabia

[Stupid_American]

Brazil
Spain
England
Netherlands
Czech Republic
Portugal
Poland
Sweden
Argentina
Croatia
Serbia & Montenegro
Mexico
Germany
Paraguay
France
Italy

In no particular order....

I'm not saying I disagree with your list. In fact, it is certainly a solid group. However, I would be fairly surprised to see no African team make the second round.

[Charlie Beagle]

England
Holland
Portugal
Italy
Spain
Sweeden
France
Ghana
Australia
Japan
Iran
Saudi arabia
Paraguay
Costa Rica
Brazil
Argentina

[Portista69]

I'm not saying I disagree with your list. In fact, it is certainly a solid group. However, I would be fairly surprised to see no African team make the second round.

In fairness i've not seen any televised games involving the African teams!

[PSsoccer123]

In Order
1. Brazil
2. Italy
3. Argentina
4. Germany
5. England (though they will probably choke)
6. Holland
7.Portugal
8. Sweden
9. Mexico
10. France
11. Ivory Coast
12. Poland
13. U.S.
14. Spain
15. Paraguay
16. Austrailia
Surprises: No Czech, Austrailia, Italy, Ivory Coast

[Wessoman]

Okay, my top 16.

My Final Four:

Brazil
Netherlands
Germany
Spain

Brazil I feel is the team of the tournament, hands down. The Netherlands are my personal favorites to win--They will have fan support in droves, and I think are the only European team to really have the talent and depth of Brazil. Germany aren't the German team of old, and are not too dynamic, but home field advantage will go a long way (Ask Korea). Spain will be the suprise team of the tournament: Sure, they haven't played well, but I think that teams underrating Spain's ability may get knocked out...But overall, Spain will take a dump in the World Cup like they always do.

Losing in Quarters:
England
Argentina
Portugal
Sweden

England will play well but I see them playing against Germany (In Germany) or Brazil, and you know what will happen then. As for the rest, I think Sweden may be the strongest team of the quarterfinalists...

The rest of the round of 16:

Ukraine
Serbia and Montenegro
Mexico
Ghana
Australia
United States
Czech Republic
South Korea

What a doozy. Ukraine will storm in the group stage but don't be suprised to see hard tackling leave Shevchenko battered up and hence sadly limiting their run. The Czechs will be a doozy but I see them get a hard team in the round of 16. South Korea have shown that they are indeed still the power in asia with their recent performance against Serbia and Montenegro. As for that aforementioned team, I think they are quite underrated and may be the heartbreakers of the WC (I can totally see them knocking down a big team like France or Italy). Australia are the darlings of the tournament. I think that they have the morale and momentum to ride into the round of 16, and the fact that everybody will play them as suckers will play right into their strengths. As for the USA--Sure, they certainly have the talent to advance from any given group, but does anybody really think that the USA can do much in Germany considering her dismal performances in Europe? Okay then.

[fk51785]

Round of 16
1. Brazil
2. France
3. Italy
4. Argentina
5. Germany
6. Sweden
7. United States
8. Mexico
9. Czech Rep
10. Rep of Korea
11. Ecuador
12. Japan
13. Côte d'Ivoire
14. Portugal
15. Spain
16. Netherland
17. Croatia
18. England

Round of 8
1. Brazil
2. Germany
3. USA
4. Netherland
5. Croatia
6. Italy
7. Argentina
8. England

Semi-Finals
1. Brazil
2. Germany
3. Argentina
4. England

Finals
1. Brazil
2. England

Winner: Brazil

[jhawkinva]

1. Brazil
2. Netherlands
3. England
4. Germany (because they are at home)
5. Argentina
6. Czech Republic
7. Italy
8. Portugal
9. Spain
10. France
11. USA
12. Mexico
13. Sweden
14. Ivory Coast
15. Japan
16. Croatia

[Saeyddthe]

For the easier selection of others, here are all 32 teams (I've bolded my top 16 INPO):

Germany
Brazil
Italy
France
Argentina
Spain
Mexico
England
Australia
Angola
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Togo
Tunisia
Ecuador
Paraguay
Croatia
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Iran
Japan
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Costa Rica
Trinidad & Tobago
United States
Serbia

[Wessoman]

England
Holland
Portugal
Italy
Spain
Sweeden
France
Ghana
Australia
Japan
Iran
Saudi arabia
Paraguay
Costa Rica
Brazil
Argentina


Wow...Australia, Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Costa Rica all advance to the round of 16, while the hosts do not? A very strange world cup indeed. The Asian Federation would love it, however! :D

[Charlie Beagle]

Round of 16
1. Brazil
2. France
3. Italy
4. Argentina
5. Germany
6. Sweden
7. United States
8. Mexico
9. Czech Rep
10. Rep of Korea
11. Ecuador
12. Japan
13. Côte d'Ivoire
14. Portugal
15. Spain
16. Netherland
17. Croatia
18. England

Round of 8
1. Brazil
2. Germany
3. USA
4. Netherland
5. Croatia
6. Italy
7. Argentina
8. England

Semi-Finals
1. Brazil
2. Germany
3. Argentina
4. England

Finals
1. Brazil
2. England

Winner: Brazil

there is only meant to be 16 teams in the round of 16.....
hence the name - round of 16

[Charlie Beagle]

Wow...Australia, Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Costa Rica all advance to the round of 16, while the hosts do not? A very strange world cup indeed. The Asian Federation would love it, however! :D

its gonna happen

[n4100]

Germany
Brazil
Italy
France
Argentina
Spain
Mexico
England
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Sweden
United States
South Korea
Japan

Not too sure about the Japan pick, as I'd say I've got 15, the 16th could be Japan, Tunisia, or Paraguay as far as I'm concerned.