Poll: Which countries will advance from Group C?

Colombia and Japan

 

This is a tough one to predict, but I'm going for Colombia and Ivory Coast

 

Colombia + any one else. Group is pretty balanced.

Japan just has a little more balanced team than Greece and Ivory Coast

 

... and for where we stand today you're not so far away from my option.

 

You guys must be high....Columbia and ivory coast.....japan will fall under pressure as they always do

 

Wow.

 

I think Colombia is a mystery with Falcao sidelined for so long. I think Japan is not as strong as in previous years and Ivory Coast has not convinced that they can play as a team. Greece might be lacking the quality players the other teams might have but are a solid compact team. This group is wide open. Any of the four could qualify in my opinion. My prediction is that it will be the lowest scoring group.

 

Even though as a team Colombia and Cote d'Ivoire have the most prolific set of goalscorers, save for Argentina?

 

I think that is a big overstatement. The only prolific goalscorer proven at a national level is drogba at the age of 36.

 

Very good. The more Okazaki is overlooked, the better.

 

Not a chance.

You have 3 pretty weak defences in Japan, CIV, Colombia

You also have 3 very attacking sides known for goal scoring in Japan, CIV, Colombia

The matches between those 3 teams will most likely be very high scoring, with each team trying to outscore each other. I expect very exciting end to end football in the games between these 3 teams. Possibly some of the best matches of the first round.

I think a couple of Greece's matches may be low scoring, but honestly I expect them to concede a lot of goals as well against at least one of those other 3 teams.

 

I made a prediction we will see at the end. I believe that all teams will be cautious in this group.

 

Colombia's strikers will need to capitalize and stand out; even by this point we can't decide who to use aside from Teo as a starter. We need a number 9.

 

hmmm, let's see:
Jackson M = top striker Portuguese league 2 years in a row
Bacca = MVP and top striker for Belgium league last year and top scorer for Sevilla this year(Uefa cup champs)
Ramos = MVP Bunsdesliga this year and top 5 scorer in Bundesliga this year

That's pretty much our #9s not counting Falcao...

 

even though we are lacking "names" in the defense department, we make that up tactically. We had the record of less goals against in the qualifiers.

However I do expect very open games between these 3 teams

 

I am watching the friendly between Japan and Cyprus in Saitama. In a ground of 65000 full of Japanese fans Japan is finding difficult to break through the Cyprus defense. Cyprus playing a similar style to the one Greece will be playing but are having a much inferior team and lost 4 key players two days before the game. Japan just scored in the 43rd minute with their right back after a series of mistakes in the Cypriot defense. This game is a good test for Japan but so far i think they are failing it despite going ahead.

 

Are u saying that Greece is planning to park the bus for all 3 games ?

 

Yes, and they will try to hit on the break with mitroglou and Gekas. This is what they do best, why change it? That is why this game was a test against a weak Cypriot side with 6 debutants looking only to defend.

 

I am surprised by the voting. CIV is not going to lose to Japan.

Preparing for the egg on my face now...

 

greece and japan i think

 

I think Columbia/Japan I hope Columbia/Ivory Coast.

Just destroy Greece.

 

Dude, why do you keep spelling 'Colombia' with an U? That's not the letter at the country itself uses.

 

Sorry, Colombia. The country not the US city Columbia.



I blame Mac spell checker

 

Or in Canadia; British Columbia state from what I understand.