Group A Teams: What would be successful/unsuccesful WC

[Edwin Thorne]

For the teams in Group A, what do you think would constitute a good and/or bad WC performance.

Germany
My Prediction: Win Group. It may be impossible to meet past standards and expectations, especially as hosts
Good: Advance to Round of 16 and win 1 game there. Germany does not appear as talented in past to make serious run.
Bad: Fail to make it out of Group play

Poland
My Prediction: Fail to Advance
Good: Advance to Round of 16 and win 1 game there. Should be favorite to advance.
Bad:Loses to Ecuador and Costa Rica. One may beat them, but both should not.

Ecuador
My Prediction: Fail to Advance
Good: Earn 4 points
Bad:Fail to win/draw any game.

Costa Rica
My Prediction: Advance to Round of 16. Possibly the Senegal of the 2006 WC
Good: Earn 4 points
Bad: Fail to win/draw any game.

[karny9]

i see not advancing as an absolute failiure for Poland.

[Osnator]

I would not be very surprised if Germany fails to win the group, but anything less than quarterfinals would be a disappointment to me, because Germany reached (at least) the Quarterfinal at every WC since 1954. And if the team fails to do so in it`s own country, I would be really pissed.

[juanca]

with Germany playing at home, anything less than a top 4 finish will be considered a failure.

as far as my Ecuador is concerned, i think we will make it to the 2nd round, but if we manage to lose all matches, that will be an absolute failure.

[Latin Pride]

Germany
My Prediction: quarterfinals
Good: semis
Bad: round of 16

Poland
My Prediction: 2nd round
Good: quarters
Bad: group stage exit

Ecuador
My Prediction: group stage exit
Good: round of 16
Bad:Fail to win a game

Costa Rica
My Prediction: group stage exit
Good: round of 16
Bad: Fail to win a game

[Colm]

Germany

My Prediction: QF
Good: SF
Bad: failing to get out of the group

Poland

My Prediction: 2nd round
good: 2nd round
bad: going winless in the group

Costa Rica

My prediction: 1st round
good: 2nd round
bad: losing all 3 games

Ecuador

My prediction: 1st round
good: 2nd round
bad: losing all 3 games

[Jaga]

poland germany advance and 2 others pack your bags

[kofi86]

poland germany advance and 2 others pack your bags

"For the teams in Group A, what do you think would constitute a good and/or bad WC performance."

[MoRado]

Germany

My Prediction: semifinals
Good: world champion
Bad: failing to 1st round

Poland

My Prediction: 1st round
good: 2nd round
bad: going winless in the group

Costa Rica

My prediction: 2nd round
good: QF
bad: 1st round

Ecuador

My prediction: 1st round
good: 2nd round
bad: losing all 3 games

[kofi86]

Germany

My Prediction: semifinals
Good: world champion
Bad: failing to 1st round


come on then you basically say that about every country.

[Zwanzigoetzel]

Germany: Expected result: Quarterfinals!
Unacceptable result : Won't make it out of their group!
Fabulous result: Semifinals!
Kick-ass,waaaay beyond expections result: Winning the final!

[Karl Lagodzki]

I was very confident about Poland's chances in 2002, and look what happened. Given we have a weaker team this time around (and many players who were stars in qualifications for 2006 are going through some tough times: Dudek, Frankowski, Krzynowek, Rasiak, Kosowski, etc.), I'll say we lose two and tie one (Ecuador). This way I won't be disappointed (unless we lose out, and then I'll be pissed).

[karny9]

We have a much stronger team this time around, what are you talking about?

Rasiak was never a star during qualifying, and he is also not going through any tough times right now either...

Dudek won't start anyways so that's not necassarily a problem.

Franek will probably end up being a super-sub, a position where he excels at, so that isnt the end of the world.

The only actual bad spots are our flanks, with Krzynowek only coming on as a sub(still scoring, mind you), and Kosowski not in the coaches plans, it is almost certain Smolarek will play wide...more like, Smolarek is forced to play wide to make up for lack of depth in those positions. If Krzynowek consistently continues to get 20 - 30 minutes in per game, and plays all those friendlies before the WC, than I think he will be in good enough form to start.

[Smoga]

For Poland:

Successful: Final Match (if we make it out of the group the most difficult game until the final might just be Poland vs. Egland/Sweden; we do not face Brasil until the final)

Unsuccessful: Not making it out of the group. Dark scenarios such as "not winning a game" or "losing all three group games" are not even within a realm of possibility.

Expected: Poland fans always expect more than is realistic. Whereas no one thinks that Poland can win the whole damn thing, many figure that Poland will come in third or fourth.


For Germany:

Successful: Winning the World Cup

Unsuccessful: Not advancing out of the group stages.

Expected: A strong showing, perhaps winning the third place match or losing in the final.

[Jaga]

omg smoha your rigthh lol my dad thinks we will not make it out the first group

[G.B.Jesus]

Germany

My Prediction: QF
Good: SF
Bad: failing to get out of the group

Poland

My Prediction: 2nd round
good: 2nd round
bad: going winless in the group

Costa Rica

My prediction: 1st round
good: 2nd round
bad: losing all 3 games

Ecuador

My prediction: 1st round
good: 2nd round
bad: losing all 3 games


that is possibly

[boniek1982]

We have a much stronger team this time around, what are you talking about?

Dudek won't start anyways so that's not necassarily a problem.

Franek will probably end up being a super-sub, a position where he excels at, so that isnt the end of the world.

The only actual bad spots are our flanks, with Krzynowek only coming on as a sub(still scoring, mind you), and Kosowski not in the coaches plans, it is almost certain Smolarek will play wide...more like, Smolarek is forced to play wide to make up for lack of depth in those positions. If Krzynowek consistently continues to get 20 - 30 minutes in per game, and plays all those friendlies before the WC, than I think he will be in good enough form to start.

I agree that we have a better side this time out. But I dont see Dudek sitting on the bench. Unless he is injured. From what I know Boruc has been on and off at Celtic...we'll see. Its good that we have solid options at G/K. I wish the same could be said in the back line.

As for Germany, anything less than a convincing win in the group will be disappointing. The German press will not accept anything less than the final, even if its by some fluke or bad referee decision (ie. see lucky win against USA in Korea '02).

[marcin79]

Germany

My Prediction: Quarterfinal
Good: Final
Bad: Last 16

Poland

My Prediction: Last 16
good: Quarterfinal
bad: 3rd in group

Costa Rica

My prediction: 1st round
good: 2nd round
bad: losing all 3 games

Ecuador

My prediction: 1st round
good: 2nd round
bad: not winning single game

[milicz]

Not a single one of the four teams is going to be satisfied if they don't advance from the group, all four will view it as a bad result. Once out of the group only Germany will view being knocked out earlier then the quarters as a dissapointment.

[ASUXLOP]

I was very confident about Poland's chances in 2002, and look what happened. Given we have a weaker team this time around (and many players who were stars in qualifications for 2006 are going through some tough times: Dudek, Frankowski, Krzynowek, Rasiak, Kosowski, etc.), I'll say we lose two and tie one (Ecuador). This way I won't be disappointed (unless we lose out, and then I'll be pissed).


I had seen every qualifying match before 2002, and I always knew (but hoped otherwise) they would not do well...and perhaps be embarrased (the US game saved them). There was no fluidity or skill; nothing in midfield; and a defense which didn't seem like it really knows how to play on a world level. They qualified (and the first to qualify) for two reasons: 1. no tough opponents; Norway had been favored but turned out to be very weak that time. 2. Olisidebe. When the ball came bouncing around up front, he was very opportunistic. The team was basically the same as in the previous 15 years in quality except for him and Dudek.

Also, if you noticed.. they had a horribly stupid preparations schedule. The only "tough" teams were Japan and Romania B and they lost both of those.

During WC2002...they were in their own half the whole game vs SK. I remember commentators criticizing Bak that he plays high school level..he doesn't challenge when someone attemps a shot. When Olisidebe finally scored (vs US) is when they won. But note... immediately afer that the US had a goal disallowed when Majdan was looking nervous...foul called against the US was very questionable. 1-1 at that point may have had a different outcome.

This time, again I saw all qualifying matches; Poland looks much improved from 2002. And not relying on Olisidebe. I thought the midfield looked suprisingly good much of the US game before the snow came down. But as we mentioned in other threads, the defense could be a problem against speedy forwards. They tend to be sloppy as well. Goalkeeping is also a question. Dudek is not consistent. I thought we had something in Boruc when I watched the England game.. but then that awful play vs the US. I hoped he watched the tape after, how Keller played a similar cross by catching it.