What! no Sweden? There ought to be a prize for whomever get the top three right and in the right order.
I think USA, Norway, Sweden, Germany (in that order) have the best chances of winning the world cup. Norway have been performing on par to their normal game, while Germany have been inconsistent. The USA and Norway have the best chance of winning because they have done the best at incorporating their young up and comers into their squads. You can never can't out Sweden because Ljunberg and svensson are the most dynamic forward duo in the world right now and the team is very well organized all over the field. Champions: USA runner up: Norway third: Sweden fourth: Brazil
With the injury to Swedens best goalkeeper and Moström and Sjöström retired, no i don´t think Sweden will reach top 4, not this time.
Have there been no young swedes able to replace the retired vets? If that's the case maybe i should change my world cup predictions...
It´s not that easy to replace a player like Moström, she was that good, but we got a couple of young players that could turn out to be a succses or a disaster. Don´t think it is just the lack of Moström but alot of little things like the injurys to Caroline Jönsson, Josefin Öqvist, Frida Nordin and Hanna Ljungberg and a goalkeeper that just came out of a ACL injury, put them together and will be much harder this wc for Sweden than 2003. The expectations over here are not as high as they would have been without the injurys and with Moström. Ofcourse we wish them all the best, but sometimes you have to be realistic, don´t get me wrong, they are still a good team but i am glad if they make it out of the group this time. Put all of those things together + a tough group i would say that Sweden has no luck what so ever this time. Even the best teams need a little luck now and then. It´s just like the Titanic little things put together that eventually sank the ship. I really do hope that i am wrong, but i wont hold my breath. Read somewhere that Englands Kelly Smith is after revenge on Sweden after they lost to us 1-0 in the Euro 2005, and she says that after we have lost some key players and with the injurys, they have a better chans of beating us in a quarterfinal, so they are going to take that opportunity , nice as ever Kelly even if you think it don´t say it it is unsportman like and cowardly.
I would love to See England come out on top... Kelly Smith the best player in the World realistically, I don't think Germany will win I don't think Brazil will have a great WWC, but they will probabley win the next olympics (Takes time for a team to come together) it is all set up so that the US should make the Semi's but they can be surprised, the conbination of old and young may be the downfall, not sure if some of the older ladies have it in them to play so many games in in a short time. China, if organized and their finishing improves, could take it... i am placing my bet on Australia (Can't resist the longshot) Top 3 (No clear Winner) Australia China England honorable mention - Brazil OK, now you can tell me I am FN Crazy - I refuse to go with USA germany China or Sweeden or Norway