View Full Version : Which seeded team would NOT make 2nd round?
jinroh
13 Feb 2006, 03:08 AM
It's gonna be only third WC's since the field has expanded to 32 teams from 24. In each of two previous WC, there has been at least one seeded team getting knocked out in first round, Spain in 98 and France & Argentina in 02. Will it be a continuous trend in Germany? If so, who do you think has the biggest chance NOT making 2nd round?
Charlie Beagle
13 Feb 2006, 04:27 AM
Brazil
leg_breaker
13 Feb 2006, 06:08 AM
I can see Spain or Mexico being shown up.
Gold is the Colour
13 Feb 2006, 06:43 AM
If they weren't at home I'd pick Germany, otherwise France and Mexico are strongest tips.
Caesar
13 Feb 2006, 06:48 AM
Mexico would be my bet. As an outside shot, it's entirely conceivable that Italy will get boxed out in their group.
glennaldo_sf
13 Feb 2006, 06:49 AM
Not that they're a weak team but given the strength of their group, I'd say Argentina are the team that have the most challenging task ahead of them to get out of the 1st round. France and Mexico both have fairly easy groups so should get through and I know Spain are underachievers but if they fail to get out of this group, they should drop the entire team! So I'm going to go with Argentina. Oh yeah, and Italy will have to battle it out for second spot with Czech Rep and Ghana. ;)
PanchoM
13 Feb 2006, 11:25 AM
None .
I see all seeds passing ,Some seeds will pass as second best ,which will make for some great elimination games in the round of 16 .
Rakim_22
13 Feb 2006, 05:32 PM
Brazil
Are you serious? :eek:
simonb_nyc
13 Feb 2006, 06:15 PM
I can see Mexico and Spain not making it but I think Italy is the most likely candidate for not making it out of the group stage. Argentina isn't going to let itself get humiliated 2 World Cups in a row.
simonb_nyc
13 Feb 2006, 06:16 PM
Not that they're a weak team but given the strength of their group, I'd say Argentina are the team that have the most challenging task ahead of them to get out of the 1st round. France and Mexico both have fairly easy groups so should get through and I know Spain are underachievers but if they fail to get out of this group, they should drop the entire team! So I'm going to go with Argentina. Oh yeah, and Italy will have to battle it out for second spot with Czech Rep and Ghana. ;)
Italy will be last in the group.
King-James
13 Feb 2006, 08:26 PM
In my opinion, besides the two 'GoD's, team strength seems to be placed fairly evenly between groups - Or at least, most of the seeded teams look to have easy rides in the group stage. Like I thought France was going to have a poor chance to advance, until the draw was done.
But I'm just going by how things seem right now, in February. The actual performances may show something completely different.
jinroh
13 Feb 2006, 11:14 PM
Group B is the only group with 3 second rounders from WC2002. Although I think England would advance, it won't be easy by any mean.
ForeverRed
13 Feb 2006, 11:23 PM
I'm prety sure all seeded teams are going through but if I had to choose at the moment I'd go with Argentina due to the difficulty level of their group. I actually hope they go out the first round. :D
dor02
14 Feb 2006, 12:04 AM
Spain, they always have a tendancy to underachieve. Mexico could be another but I don't know if the Iranian team are capable of anything.
Italy should be able to qualify through their group. Italy has more depth in talent than the Czechs, Americans and Ghanians and even if Italy play poorly in the group stage, the Azzurri will be capable of passing the group stage.
Popol Vuh
14 Feb 2006, 03:35 AM
France and Italy, maybe Argentina. If Spain had a harder group I would vote for them, but I think they could make the 2nd round easily.
simonb_nyc
15 Feb 2006, 01:17 PM
To be honest, being seeded doesn't mean as much any more as it no longer means a team is "better". Unseeded teams can be tougher than seeded teams. Look at WC 2002. Argentina were seeded, but it was Argentina that went home. Remember that if France had failed to qualify for WC 2006, the US would have been seeded. All teams are tough these days. The so-called former "powers" of football should have learned from 2002 never to underestimate your opponent or you'll be going home. England will NOT be treating Trinidad & Tobago as a walkover. England is not a cocky, arrogant team. However I am pretty sure Italy is assuming they will demolish either the US or Ghana. Bye bye Italy!!
Da Shah
16 Feb 2006, 10:23 AM
Italy = out
France = out
argentina = out
TxFan
17 Feb 2006, 12:39 PM
italy
TxFan
18 Feb 2006, 11:52 AM
Italy = out
France = out
argentina = out
i can see argentina not making it. their group is touuuugh.
simonb_nyc
18 Feb 2006, 01:53 PM
Italy = out
France = out
argentina = out
I hope these 3 teams go out. I can't stand them. They shouldn't be even playing football. Let them rest in peace.