Gifts for China and the United States; Germany, Brazil, North Korea, and Nigeria group of death. Group E: China, Sweden, Argentina, Canada Group F: North Korea, Nigeria, Germany, Brazil Group G: Norway, United States, Japan, New Zealand
I just realized something. While the USA has had it's share of crappy draws, Nigeria is the team that continuously gets hosed. Have they ever not been in the "GROUP OF DEATH"? FIFA's got no love for the Super Falcons.
GROUP E 1. Sweden 2. China 3. Canada 4. Argentina GROUP F 1. Germany 2. Brazil 3. North Korea 4. Nigeria GROUP G 1. United States 2. Norway 3. Japan 4. New Zealand QUARTERFINALS North Korea def. Sweden Germany def. Norway United States def. Canada Brazil def. China SEMI-FINALS United States def. North Korea Brazil def. Germany BRONZE MEDAL Germany def. North Korea GOLD MEDAL United States def. Brazil
GROUP E 1. Sweden 2. China 3. Canada 4. Argentina GROUP F 1. Germany 2. N. Korea 3. Brazil 4. Nigeria GROUP G 1. United States 2. Norway 3. Japan 4. New Zealand QUARTERFINALS 19. USA-CHINA (USA) 20. NOR-GER (NOR) 21. CAN-NKR (NKR) 22. SWE-BRZ (SWE) SEMI-FINALS 23. NOR-NKR (NOR) 24. USA-SWE (SWE) BRONZE MEDAL 25. USA-NKR (NKR) GOLD MEDAL 26. NOR-SWE (NOR) I'm not entirely sure about my third-place group finishers (where they belong in the quarters) but I think they'll be the usual number of upsets, maybe even a few more this year. No team that has ever won a WWC has gone on to win the following OLY and I think this trend will continue. And I also think we'll see some break out teams, namely NKR and CAN. And yes, I'm hella biased, although I like to think of it more as 'optimistic.' And if there's any errors with my table, let me know. I'm still playing with the different configurations.
Ahh what the Hell... GROUP E 1. Sweden 2. Canada 3. China 4. Argentina GROUP F 1. Germany 2. Brazil 3. N. Korea 4. Nigeria GROUP G 1. United States 2. Norway 3. Japan 4. New Zealand QUARTERFINALS 19. SWE-JPN (SWE) 20. GER-NOR (GER) 21. USA-CHN (USA) 22. CAN-BRZ (BRZ) SEMI-FINALS 23. SWE-GER (GER) 24. USA-BRZ (USA) BRONZE MEDAL 25. SWE-BRZ (BRZ) GOLD MEDAL 26. GER-USA (USA)
E (close group between three teams, those three can pretty much end up in any oreder but I find this the most likely) Sweden China Canada (only 3rd palced that will get four points) F Germany Brazil (hard wich is going to win the group, it will most likely decide which have to face US in the semi and thus can only be assured of a Bronze and who can avoid US until the final and thus will get atleast silver. Both of these teams can beat the US but I wouldn't put even money on that. And they are clear favorites agains all other teams. But so Early in the tournamnet I am going for organization and experience and chances on Germany as group winners) G (These four teams are all at difference levels, any match here that is close would be a bit of a surprise) USA Norway JAPAN (JAPAN have New Zeeland in their group and will thus get a better goal difference than North Korea) QuarterFINALS 1G-3E/F USA-CAN 2E-2F CHI- BRA 1F-2G GER-NOR 1E-3F/G SWE-JAPAN Semis USA-BRA GER-SWE 3rd BRA-SWE Brazil take Bronze FINAL USA-GER USA winners PS! Why is the shortform for Japan censoured on the board? It is clearly a dicrimation against Japan that people can't write the country in s ahort form and thus omitts mentioning it.
My picks are: GROUP E 1. Canada 2. Sweden 3. China 4. Argentina GROUP F 1. Germany 2. Brazil 3. N. Korea 4. Nigeria GROUP G 1. United States 2. Norway 3. Japan 4. New Zealand QUARTERFINALS 19. CAN -JPN 20. GER - NOR 21. USA -CHN 22. SWE - BRA SEMI-FINALS 23. CAN - BRA 24. GER - USA BRONZE MEDAL 25. CAN -GER (GER) GOLD MEDAL 26. BRA - USA (USA)
I believe the proper abbreviation is JPN, since J-A-P is a derogatory term. (Which I'm fairly certain fell out of use after WWII, and I've yet to hear anyone say it in real-life, EVER, but y'know ... I guess it's still used that way.
I just realized I posted my prediction in the USA Women's forum instead of this one. No wonder I couldn't see it on here ... I'm going with the tried and true: Germany: gold Brazil: silver USA: bronze
I'm surprised so few people are predicting any major upsets. Granted, I did my whole list as nothing but upsets, but still. So, does everyone really think the top three will continue their dominance?
Well, I just watched three WC games over the weekend. I strongly doubt Brazil will play terrible, their players are the best in the world, technically speaking. Germany may not have Lingor available who suffered a serious shoulder/collar bone injury and will be operated on. Who knows whether she'll be ready in time. If all other players are available and play well, Germany will do well. I haven't seen the USA play under PIA. I thought they played awful during the WC but who knows. N. Korea is strong but I doubt they'll take Gold. As for Norway and Sweden, are they good enough to cause a major upset? Still, it's soccer and anything can happen.
Norway and Sweden are a mixed bag, to say the least. Norway loses to Sweden and England in Cyprus (thawing out from hibernation, maybe?) then shuts out Germany in the Algarve, but loses horribly to USA in the same tourney. Then Sweden falls to Germany in the Algarve ... It'll be interesting to see what happens with either of them. I know Bjarne is just itching to beat the U.S. (he hasn't yet) but I also know he's got some strong players to replace (Nordby, Ragnhild). But Norway seems to be finding their groove again. And luckily they'll be in the middle of their league play when they start their pre-OLY camps. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Norway pulled off a shocker in the OL. And Sweden is anyone's guess. I don't think they're as strong as they once were, but I think they're good enough to hold their own.
Sweden is a mess. They only tend to do well when it doesn't matter *and*they're expected to lose big time. They're a bit between generations now so I wouldn't count on them doing wonders. I expect good things of Norway, though, as long as they leave Own-goal Trine at home.
During the Germany-Norway match at the World Cup, I was messaging a friend in Norway who was watching the match at work. She said the office went deathly silent when Rönning scored... She also told me that Norwegian commentators often make jokes at T.R.'s expense along the lines of "Some people say Trine Rönning is one of the best players in the world. I say... Hmmmm...". But I have to say that I missed her at the Algarve Cup: Germany could have done with some help.
Poor, poor Rønning. Well, there's a possibility Ger, er, Norway may have to make do without her in the OLY if they don't get her knee taken care of. The surgery she had on her knee back in Jan. didn't work, so she's going back under the knife soon.
Good to see that Argentina has qualified for the first time. But they are in quite a difficult group. So it doesn't look good for them. But I guess that if they can avoid a trashing and score a couple of goals, it will be a good result.
I would say they are in the easiest of the groups. But I see your point, while Sweden and China is by far the weakest 1st and 2nd rated team in any of the groups Canada may be harder than Nigeria or Japan so for a team aiming for a 3rd place spot in the group it may be the hardest group.
Yes, that's exactly what I was trying to say. It will be very hard for Argentina to not finish last in this group.
Predictions Group E 1. China 2. Canada 3. Sweden 4. Argentina Group F 1. Germany 2. Brazil 3. Nigeria 4. North Korea Group G 1. Japan 2. United States 3. Norway 4. New Zealand Quarterfinals Nigeria > Japan Germany > United States Brazil > Canada China > Norway Semifinals Brazil > Germany China > Nigeria Bronze Germany > Nigeria Gold Brazil > China
What do you mean 1st and 2nd rated? FIFA has Canada ranked ahead of China. Wouldn't that put China as the 3'rd rated team in the group?
Usa Norway Japan New Zeeland Brasil Germany North Korea Nigeria China Sweden Kanada Argentina Usa-Kanada 1:0 nOT Brasil-Norway 2:1 Germany-Sweden 2:0 nOT Japan-China 2:0 Usa-Japan 2:0 Germany-Brasil 0:0,0:0,5:4 nP Brasil-Japan 4:0 Usa-Germay 0:2