What Two Teams Will Make It Out?

Netherlands have reached 3 world cup finals and 2 semifinals. While Belgium greatest archivement wc wise is only one semifinal in it's whole WC history.

 

Holland not only qualified to 3 finals and 2 semifinals, but often had a side that neutrals fancied and was a side that introduced us "total football". In fact, while I was no fan of the Dutch in 2010 or even 2014, there were plenty of Dutch teams that were my favorites, including their team in the 1974 World Cup (which was the first World cup I watched as a 9 year old) and their 1998 World Cup team (where they were my favorites after Iran). When it comes to Belgium, on the other hand, they are etched in my memory mostly for their loss to Saudi Arabia in Wc94, their 1:1 draw with a S.Korea side that had been humiliated 5:0 by Holland in Wc98, and their loss to Italy in Euro 2016. Otherwise, Belgium have been totally forgettable to me and even their matches in Wc2014 are largely things that I don't recall anymore!

 

I'd say Germany and Mexico go through.

Scoring points by nationality in the 2017/18 best four European leagues (ESP/ENG/GER/ITA) as of December 27.

Overall
01 Spain - 517 (270 goals & 247 assists)
02 Germany - 372 (172 goals & 200 assists)
03 England - 274 (148 goals & 126 assists)
04 Argentina - 192 (124 goals & 68 assists)
05 Brazil - 180 (104 goals & 76 assists)
06 France - 151 (93 goals & 58 assists)
07 Belgium - 108 (65 goals & 43 assists)
08 Uruguay - 63 (45 goals & 18 assists)
09 Croatia - 60 (33 goals & 27 assists)
10 Denmark - 57 (24 goals & 33 assists)

11 Portugal - 47 (15 goals & 32 assists)
12 Serbia - 45 (22 goals & 23 assists)
13 Switzerland - 44 (17 goals & 27 assists)
14 Senegal - 42 (32 goals & 10 assists)
15 Colombia - 39 (21 goals & 18 assists)
16 Poland - 32 (28 goals & 4 assists)
17 Japan - 31 (20 goals & 11 assists)
18 Morocco - 28 (14 goals & 14 assists)
19 Egypt - 25 (18 goals & 7 assists)
20 Iceland - 24 (14 goals & 10 assists)

21 Nigeria - 18 (7 goals & 11 assists)
22 Sweden - 13 (7 goals & 6 assists)
23 Mexico - 13 (6 goals & 7 assists)
24 Australia - 10 (8 goals & 2 assists)
25 South Korea - 9 (6 goals & 3 assists)
26 Costa Rica - 6 (4 goals & 2 assists)
27 Russia - 2 (2 assists)
28 Peru - 1 (1 assist)
29 Iran - 0
29 Panama - 0
29 Saudi Arabia - 0
29 Tunisia - 0

Average place by group
Group D - 13.5 (Argentina (04), Croatia (09), Iceland (20), Nigeria (21))
Group E - 14.0 (Brazil (05), Serbia (12), Switzerland (13), Costa Rica (26))
Group B - 14.8 (Spain (01), Portugal (11), Morocco (18), Iran (29))
Group H - 15.5 (Senegal (14), Colombia (15), Poland (16), Japan (17))
Group C - 17.0 (France (06), Denmark (10), Australia (24), Peru (28))
Group G - 17.0 (England (03), Belgium (07), Tunisia (29), Panama (29))
Group F - 18.0 (Germany (02), Sweden (22), Mexico (23), South Korea (25))
Group A - 20.8 (Uruguay (08), Egypt (19), Russia (27), Saudi Arabia (29))

By region (Europe)
01 (01) Spain - 517 (270 goals & 247 assists)
02 (02) Germany - 372 (172 goals & 200 assists)
03 (03) England - 274 (148 goals & 126 assists)
04 (06) France - 151 (93 goals & 58 assists)
05 (07) Belgium - 108 (65 goals & 43 assists)
06 (09) Croatia - 60 (33 goals & 27 assists)
07 (10) Denmark - 57 (24 goals & 33 assists)
08 (11) Portugal - 47 (15 goals & 32 assists)
09 (12) Serbia - 45 (22 goals & 23 assists)
10 (13) Switzerland - 44 (17 goals & 27 assists)
11 (16) Poland - 32 (28 goals & 4 assists)
12 (20) Iceland - 24 (14 goals & 10 assists)
13 (22) Sweden - 13 (7 goals & 6 assists)
14 (27) Russia - 2 (2 assists)

By region (South America)
01 (04) Argentina - 192 (124 goals & 68 assists)
02 (05) Brazil - 180 (104 goals & 76 assists)
03 (08) Uruguay - 63 (45 goals & 18 assists)
04 (15) Colombia - 39 (21 goals & 18 assists)
05 (28) Peru - 1 (1 assist)

By region (rest of the world)
01 (14) Senegal - 42 (32 goals & 10 assists)
02 (17) Japan - 31 (20 goals & 11 assists)
03 (18) Morocco - 28 (14 goals & 14 assists)
04 (19) Egypt - 25 (18 goals & 7 assists)
05 (21) Nigeria - 18 (7 goals & 11 assists)
06 (23) Mexico - 13 (6 goals & 7 assists)
07 (24) Australia - 10 (8 goals & 2 assists)
08 (25) South Korea - 9 (6 goals & 3 assists)
09 (26) Costa Rica - 6 (4 goals & 2 assists)
10 (29) Iran - 0
10 (29) Panama - 0
10 (29) Saudi Arabia - 0
10 (29) Tunisia - 0

 

Uruguay is not a powerhouse. My own parents weren't even born yet when they last won a cup...and I'm old!!

If you have Uruguay in your powershouse list, then maybe it would be fair to throw Hungary in there as well, considering they were a juggernaut in that same time period.

 

Whatever, but seriously though Uruguay recently has not been performing badly. Keep in mind they have more Copa America titles than any other team.

 

Uruguay takes the Copa America a lot more seriously than say Brazil, who would try out new players.

Not taking anything away from Uruguay, but #justsaying.

 

Everyone says Germany and Mexico (me, too LOL). But, what the hell! I'll just go with Sweden instead of Mexico, just for the fun of it

 

Germany and most likely Sweden will advance from this group. Mexico will be a tough challenge for Swedes.

 

If Sout Korea can play like they did against Colombia and Serbia maybe they can be a dark horse in this group.

 

Forsberg back from injure

 

Looked decent yesterday!

 

Germany has scored at least 4 goals in their first game between 2002 and 2014.

2002 8-0 Saudi Arabia
2006 4-2 Costa Rica
2010 4-0 Australia
2014 4-0 Portugal

 

And the only time Germany's first opponent, Mexico, has given up four goals in their last 30 matches---to Germany, in the Confederations Cup.

 

Yes Germany and Mexico in that order.

One of these teams will Win the tournament. Guess which one

 

Deutschland Deutschland Uber Alles!!!!!

 

Remember what happened to the holding champs since 2002. Germany isnt favorite for anything in this group

 

Interesting point. Brazil made the quarterfinals in 2006 as the reigning (2002) champs, but whenever the reigning champions have been a European team, ever since 2002, they have bombed badly. France in 2002. Italy in 2010. Spain in 2014. None advanced from their groups!

 

The German game plan was unbelievable in Brazil. The team was made up mostly of the 2 best teams in the German league. Dortmund and Bayern Munich. With assorted strikers from the rest of the teams in Germany. Plus they could play in many different ways long short inside and outside. Best keeper in the world the sweeper/ keeper the guy gobbles up opponents through passes. It like have 12 defenders on the team instead of 11. Plus a great manager to put all the pieces in place.

I think the chances are very good that they can repeat.

 

I really had to laugh about this (friendly), as I read that and thought "how German".^^
I join in:
Yes, but we do have very talented players, who might have a potential they can develop.
And we do have some guys like Manuel Neuer who maybe are nearly close to the tier 1 level.
And if we focus on our German virtues and play our game, with a little bit luck, we might have a chance to proceed from that group...

(@Random reader - that is German soccer talk - it is not the same behind the stage, tho...)

We can at least hope. Hope - the thing that guides all 80 mil. coaches, the head coach, the players, the staff during each WC.
Could be a new marketing slogan: German soccer - we play on hope. White shirts we got for that already.^^

 

Germany win their group without breaking sweat.

 

Mexico and Germany as knowledge.

 

Huh? That French team imploded to complacency & infighting. Neither of which same to be challenges for Germany this time around.

With France being even more badly mismanaged we really have no excuse not to win

 

I would mostly worry about Spain to be honest ....

 

It is difficult for me to see weaknesses in Germany which is part of the reason I have them penciled into the Semis almost every Cup.

That said, their Defense and Keeping situation may not be as cohesive as they would like it to be going into the tournament. Mostly due to injuries. But that is nitpicking.

 

And even if they have injuries they're deep there so...