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| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Actually, the weather in São Paula shouldn't be much of a hindrance to either of them (that's where they'll face each other) and, whereas Holland will play in Porto Alegre (one of the coolest cities in Brazil, temperature wise), Chile was punished with a game in Cuiabá - a place so damp it makes England look like a place in the Middle East, and so hot all year round Finns reportedly believe they're dead and went to sauna heaven.
But, yeah, Holland has disappointed me repeatedly. I just hope South Korea won't fail on me   |
I haven't looked at the venues for any of the matches or the order they're in, I just saw the groups. I do think the heat will play a big factor over the course of the tournament, because fatigue is a big factor in international tournaments even before you throw in high temperatures.
Here's some hasty bullshit off the top of my head about each team's chances. Let's see how it holds up next year:
Group A:
Brazil - If they don't stroll out of this group then something will have gone seriously wrong. Man for man they don't have nearly the strongest team in the tournament but they really impressed in the Confederations Cup, they've got home advantage and they're got four or five top class players, which can be enough. I wouldn't rule them out from winning it.
Croatia - Had a good team 5 years ago, not so convinced now. Without knowing where they're playing, I suspect they won't deal with the heat nearly as well as the other three in this group.
Mexico - They should cope with the heat fine, but as with Croatia they don't look as strong as 5 years back. I think second place in this group could be an almighty scrap, but I doubt anyone who gets out will go too far.
Cameroon - I think they have better players than the other two - most of the squad play for good European sides and they have a couple of top drawer players - but they seem to have seriously underperformed in the last few years, which will need to change fast.
Group B:
Spain - They're still probably the favourites to win the whole thing, but a couple of cracks are showing. Players like Xavi and Puyol are on the downward slope and Barcelona, where the spine of the team comes from, are also a little less invincible than 2-4 years ago.
Netherlands - The Dutch have some brilliant players and could be a real force, but they could also be shite and crash out at the group stage as they did at Euro 2012. They have a very top-heavy team with brilliant forwards and mediocre defenders. I can't decide what they'll do.
Chile - A pretty handy side, who I think could surprise the Dutch and get out of the group. Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal are top class players and they turned England over easily enough at Wembley.
Australia - Whipping boys.
Group C:
Colombia - Most people's favourites for a pretty weak group, and in Falcao and Jackson Martinez they've got some serious firepower backed up by a solid team front to back.
Greece - I really can't see them doing anything. They defended well in qualifying but they're going up against a different class of forward line in this group.
Ivory Coast - I'd like to see them get out of the group. Their best players may be getting a bit long in the tooth but the previous World Cups put them in nightmare groups and they still have some excellent players.
Japan - They're supposed to have a really technical team these days, and Kagawa and Honda in particular are great creative players. They could get overpowered by more physical teams in this group, or they could pass their way out of it.
Group D:
Uruguay - I think they'll qualify. Suarez and Cavani are two of the best strikers in the competition and there's just good quality right through the team. They've done really well recently and could go a long way in this tournament with the right draw.
Costa Rica - Just happy to be there.
England - I think we're fucked. We under-perform at the best of times, this team is in transition with lots of players several years away from hitting their peak, the group is a nightmare and we'll die in the heat.
Italy - They don't have as many star players as previous Italy sides but I think they have an excellent overall team who play great technical football, there's a spine of world class players down the middle (provided Pirlo has another campaign in his old legs) and they can trouble any team in the tournament.
Group E:
Switzerland - They seem to have a few good young players and this is a weak group so perhaps they'll qualify. Don't expect them to go any further than that though.
Ecuador - A couple of good players, they should handle the weather conditions and again, they could get out of this group.
France - Their team isn't half as good as the French sides of the last 15 years but there's a deceptive amount of quality in their ranks nonetheless and if they can stop pissing around and arguing and actually play to their potential they could go pretty far. They should certainly waltz out of this group, barring another 2010-style meltdown.
Honduras - Even in this group, I completely fail to see them qualifying.
Group F:
Argentina - They might break some sort of goals record in this group. If Messi can put his recent injury problems behind him they should destroy all of these teams and terrify anyone they meet after the group stage. The amount of firepower on display is truly staggering and the only real problem is fitting it all into a functioning system. If they meet Brazil the outcome will be epic.
Bosnia-Hercegovina - They've got a couple of really good players and there's a chance in this group but they're more of a hindrance than a threat to anyone.
Iran - Just can't see them doing anything.
Nigeria - Of all the African teams, they have the best chance of getting somewhere. They just won the African Cup Of Nations, they should cope well with the heat (especially as quite a few of their players ply their trade in African leagues) and this is a nice group for them. They should qualify.
Group G:
Germany - Well well. They look, quite simply, awesome right now. They have individual talent in every position but they also play incredible technical team football, they have a fantastic tournament mentality and a very good tactical manager. It's going to take a special team to stop them.
Portugal - As it's been for the past 5 years or so, Portugal are a very solid team with one unbelievably good player. They should get out of this group and go a fair distance, although I don't realistically see enough overall quality to win it.
Ghana - A pretty good team, but not as good as Germany or Portugal and it'll be a miracle if they play more than three matches.
USA - Pretty fucked.
Group H:
Belgium - These guys. I think everyone wants them to do well. I don't think they'll ever have a better group of players - it's surely some sort of statistical freak for Belgium to have so many genuinely world class players. This is a really good opportunity for them and I hope they win the group and get a good draw in the next round.
Algeria - Don't see anything happening for them.
Russia - They've fallen a fair way from the dizzying high of Euro 2008 but I do think they're a dangerous side and will probably qualify.
South Korea - Sorry Lira, but I don't think they're as good as Russia. Maybe I'm wrong because I haven't seen them play much in recent years, but a look at their squad doesn't really change my mind.
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