[PanchoM]

The candidates , these guys can win the whole thing without it being an upset . They would be favorite against any other not of this group. Only Argentina is missing from this group .

Brazil
England
Spain
Netherlands
Italy
Germany


The round of 16 favorites , these are the snack for the candidates in the round of 16 , If any of these win their group, they have a good chance at the 1/4's , but forcing 2 candidates to eliminate themselfs . Portugal is missing here .

Cote d'Ivoire
Ghana
Paraguay
Chile
Mexico
Denmark
Serbia



The "3 and out" croud , many more yet to qualify , these are the last to qualify and the first to go home .

Japan
Australia
Korea Republic
South Africa
Korea DPR
United States

what do you think ?

[GoodDead]

I think you will be proven wrong on a lot of fronts. There is a reason they play the games.

[scotch17]

Originally Posted by PanchoM

these are the last to qualify

Considering Australia, Japan, and ROK were among the first to qualify and South Africa are hosts... you're already woefully wrong.

[Maruti]

First: The refs will be on South Africa's side, at least in the group phase.

Second: South Africa will have the easiest group.

Third: The host has never not progressed from the group phase.

[Cirdan]

In principle, I agree with your ranking, though you forgot France, who belong in the first group if they qualify and Russia, who belong in the second group if they qualify.

However, since only the group head will be seeded by strength and the other 3 teams by continent, there are bound to be easy and strong groups again, which makes predictions about which team will go how far mood at this point. OK, you can pick some group heads that you expect to reach the quarter, and you can pick the favourite, but who else survives the group stage depends on the draw, as does the question of who will reach the semis.

[Lusankya]

Originally Posted by Maruti

First: The refs will be on South Africa's side, at least in the group phase.

Second: South Africa will have the easiest group.

Third: The host has never not progressed from the group phase.

Somehow I have this weird feeling South Africa will get a tough group and won't make it out of it. Just a feeling of course. But they will have a team like Paraguay or Chile. They will have an European team, which could be pretty strong.
The question is what kind of team they get from the CONCACAF/AFC pot.

Well it's funnier to speculate about groups, when you know the actual pots.

With 5 CONMEBOL (including Argentina) and 3 CONCACAF teams it would be pretty obvious.
pot 1: Host, Brazil, Argentina + 5 UEFA
pot 2: 8 remaining UEFA
pot 3: 5 CAF + 3 remaining CONMEBOL
pot 4: 5 AFC/OFC + 3 CONCACAF

it isn't obvious without Argentina or with 4 CONMEBOL and CONCACAF teams

[PanchoM]

Originally Posted by Lusankya

Somehow I have this weird feeling South Africa will get a tough group and won't make it out of it. Just a feeling of course. But they will have a team like Paraguay or Chile. They will have an European team, which could be pretty strong.
The question is what kind of team they get from the CONCACAF/AFC pot.

Well it's funnier to speculate about groups, when you know the actual pots.

With 5 CONMEBOL (including Argentina) and 3 CONCACAF teams it would be pretty obvious.
pot 1: Host, Brazil, Argentina + 5 UEFA
pot 2: 8 remaining UEFA
pot 3: 5 CAF + 3 remaining CONMEBOL
pot 4: 5 AFC/OFC + 3 CONCACAF

it isn't obvious without Argentina or with 4 CONMEBOL and CONCACAF teams

Considering the pots will likely be as you posted,
and the 5 seeded European teams are England,Spain, Italy, Germany,*France
The toughest possible group of death:

Brazil
Holland
Ivory coast
Mexico

What a joy to watch this would be !

[PanchoM]

Originally Posted by scotch17

Considering Australia, Japan, and ROK were among the first to qualify and South Africa are hosts... you're already woefully wrong.

I realized that after I posted , I was thinking about the teams yet to qualify since most will end up in this group

[johan neeskens]

Originally Posted by Cirdan

In principle, I agree with your ranking, though you forgot France, who belong in the first group if they qualify and Russia, who belong in the second group if they qualify.

However, since only the group head will be seeded by strength and the other 3 teams by continent, there are bound to be easy and strong groups again, which makes predictions about which team will go how far mood at this point. OK, you can pick some group heads that you expect to reach the quarter, and you can pick the favourite, but who else survives the group stage depends on the draw, as does the question of who will reach the semis.

I actually think Russia are a lot stronger than France at the moment.

Looks like Holland won't be seeded in Pot A so there's your group of death.

[Cirdan]

At the moment, I'd probably bet on Russia in a direct confrontation. However considering the players they have, France should be a lot stronger. I can see France suddenly finding the right team chemistry and winning the cup, but I would be more than a bit surprised if Russia reaches the final.