The 2002 Finalists. Argentina Belgium Brazil Cameroon China PR Costa Rica Croatia Denmark Ecuador England France Germany Ireland Republic Italy Japan Korea Republic Mexico Nigeria Paraguay Poland Portugal Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Tunisia Turkey Uruguay United States Who will return? I think China is the only one who is officially out, although some will need help.
From Europeans my guess is we won't be seeing Belgium, Denmark, Russia, Slovenia. France and Turkey are also a solid bet.
The five African qualfieris are in serious trouble. tunisia are battling it out with Northern African rivals Morocco. Cameroon could be replaced by Ivory Coast and Nigeria need to win their last two games not to be replaced by Angola. Senegal meanwhile may lose their place to Togo while South Africa are all but out ... to be replaced by Ghana.
China is already out. Saudi, SK, Japan and Argentina have already qualified. That's 4. Brazil is practically qualified if not mathematically. 5, Ukraine are almost there too but weren't in 02'. So.. I'd Guess: Africa - Nigeria (still think they'll make it) S.America - Ecuador, Uruguay N. America - Mexico, Usa, Costa Rica Europe - Denmark (got this hunch), Portugal, Sweden, Croatia, Poland, England, Italy, Spain, France and of Course hosts Germany. So that's 21. A bit more than half then, that seems about right.
Here are my bets... y = will go .... n = no, will not go... Argentina - y Belgium - n Brazil - y Cameroon - n China PR - n Costa Rica - y Croatia - y Denmark - n Ecuador - y England - y France - y Germany - y Ireland Republic - n Italy - y Japan - y Korea Republic - y Mexico - y Nigeria - n Paraguay - y Poland - y Portugal - y Russia - n Saudi Arabia - y Senegal - n Slovenia - n South Africa - n Spain - y Sweden - y Tunisia - y Turkey - n Uruguay - y United States - y I guess Denmark are probably the biggest casualties there....
Argentina - y Belgium - n Brazil - y Cameroon - n China PR - n Costa Rica - y Croatia - y Denmark - n Ecuador - y England - y France - y Germany - y Ireland Republic - n Italy - y Japan - y Korea Republic - y Mexico - y Nigeria - n Paraguay - y Poland - y Portugal - y Russia - n Saudi Arabia - y Senegal - n Slovenia - n South Africa - y Spain - y Sweden - y Tunisia - y Turkey - n Uruguay - y United States - y bold indicates qualified teams italic indicates failed to qualify
Uruguay probably won't qualify. With only 3 games to go, they're about ******** out of luck. Belgium could still make it, but probably won't. If they do make it, Spain may not have made it. Russia might not qualify. Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, and South Africa (praise the lord) are just about out, barring miracles. Tunisia is looking good now, but could lose out to Morocco. France is in not as bad a shape as a lot of people are saying, but they have to beat some people. Likewise, Republic of Ireland could still lose out to Switzerland or Israel or France. Turkey will probably make it, but most stay ahead of Greece and then win against some other Euro team. Poland will have to win the home and away series.
i forgot denmark... they're definitely not going. it's a shame. why oh why did the euro lottery have to put turkey, greece, denmark and the ukraine all in one group? i know why, but it sucks. greece and the ukraine just weren't good teams three years ago.
Argentina- Semis Belgium- Won't Qualify Brazil-Semis Cameroon- Won't Qualify China PR- Already out Costa Rica- RO16 Croatia- Won't Qualify Denmark- Out in GS Ecuador- Out in GS England- Finalist France- Won't Qualify Germany- quarters Ireland Republic- Ro16 Italy- Quarters Japan- GS Korea Republic- GS Mexico- quarters Nigeria- Won't Qualify Paraguay- Ro16 Poland- GS Portugal- Quarters Russia- Won't Qualify Saudi Arabia- GS Senegal- GS Slovenia- Won't Qualify South Africa- Won't Qualify Spain- Quarters Sweden- Ro16 Tunisia- GS Turkey- GS Uruguay- Ro16 United States- Quarters Other Teams Netherlands- Finalists Czech Republic- Quarter Ukraine- Ro16 Greece- Won't Qualify Ghana- GS Cote d'Ivoire- Quarters Togo- GS Zambia- Won't Qualify Angola- GS Bahrain- Won't Qualify Guatamala- GS Israel- GS Switzerland- Won't Qualify Norway- Won't Qualify Serbia and Montenegro- GS I probably made some technical errors with how many per round and region but this is my predictions.