2010 World Cup Group Draws

Quick, name the #1 sporting event in the world? Okay, just read the title of the post . . . yep, the World Cup soccer tournament. In 2010 it will be in South Africa and is a tournament where national soccer teams compete against each other (like the olympics, which is another reason I like it).

I have three favorite national teams: the USA obviously, England since I just love that country and my mom lived there for awhile, and Argentina. A coach of my club team as a kid that was from Argentina and our shirts were blue and white striped like the Argentina national team, so I have supported them since then.

The first round of the tournament is to take the 32 teams that qualify for the World Cup and put them into groups of 4. The 4 teams in the groups, play a round robin mini-tourney and the top 2 teams in each group moves on in the World Cup. The groups were determined today so I thought that I would give my input on them and my opinion on who will advance from each group.

Group A: South Africa (host), Mexico, Uruguay, and France
The host country usually gets a big boost, but I just don't see it happening in this group.
Advancing: France and Mexico

Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, and Greece
Korea would have a much better team if they were unified. No doubt, there are clearly two top teams in this grouping.
Advancing: Argentina and Greece

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, and Slovenia
I'm concerned that the US players will not adapt well to the environment and we don't have the most experienced team. However, I don't think that Algeria or Slovenia really provide a great test to the top two teams in this group.
Advancing: England and USA

Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, and Ghana
This is the first group that I think that the African environment will really help one of the teams — Ghana. Australia and Serbia are probably better teams overall, but I'm picking an upset and having Michael Essien playing for Ghana and Chelsea (the club that I support) helps them in my book.
Advancing: Germany and Ghana

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, and Cameroon
The Dane goalkeeper Sorenson could make this interesting, but not enough to change my pick.
Advancing: Netherlands and Cameroon

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, and Slovakia
Slovakia is an interesting team to me, but Paraguay plays such tough competition in South America that I think they are more prepared for this tournament.
Advancing: Italy and Paraguay

Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, and Portugal
This is by far the most difficult group and one of the good teams will get knocked out in the first round. North Korea is the poor team that will likely get beat up in this group and Brazil is the clear favorite in the group. Portugal was one of my favorite teams to watch in the last World Cup, but I am hoping that Ivory Coast advances out of the group.
Advancing: Brazil and Ivory Coast

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, and Chile
Spain is one of the best teams in the world and to many the favorite to win the tourney. Like North Korea in Group G, poor Honduras doesn't have much of a chance in this group.
Advancing: Spain and Chile

So, there they are . . . my picks for the winners of the group stage of the 2010 World Cup in South America. So, what do you think?