The World Cup draw has been kind to England. To draw USA, Slovenia and Algeria is what I’d call a really lucky draw. England and the USA will be the favourites to progress and I expect both to do just that.
Slovenia and Algeria got to the World Cup via play-offs both unexpectedly. Slovenia gained a shock victory over the Russians and Algerian got to South Africa 2010 by beating bitter rivals Egypt.
American threat
The only real threat to England are the much improved Americans. They are no longer footballing novices. The game seems to be growing in a country that already has so many domestic sports to choose from. That should be the game that decides the winners of the group.
Neither of the other sides in the group will just let their more illustrious opponents walk over them but if England can’t beat the likes of Algeria and Slovenia they might as well not bother going to South Africa in the first place. These are the sort of teams that England have been swatting away easily under Fabio Capello. Knowing England though they probably won’t make it easy on us fans.
Hard group
I think that Germany could struggle to get to the knockout stages. They face Australia, Serbia and Ghana. I can see a shock occurring in group D and the Germans going out at the group stage. Although its dangerous to write the Germans off, they are not the dominant force they have been in the past.
Ghana, Australia and Serbia are all up and coming nations in world football. Most of their players are in top European leagues. It will be difficult to predict who will qualify from this group but whoever quality’s will face teams from England’s group.
Old Foes
England face a difficult second round clash when rather than if they qualify. Its important to finish top of your group to get a so called easier game. However I don’t think England will have an easy game against any of those four teams. I just hope England don’t get Germany in the second round for the fear of yet another penalty shootout exit.
As English football fans we’ve faced the German’s so many times at major tournaments and our lasting memories of the games are usually heartbreaking penalty defeats. If England do play Germany we should have enough quality to defeat them. I don’t think this Germany squad has enough quality to compete with England.
Group G interesting
Group G is the most interesting group for me apart from England’s of course. Brazil, Ivory Coast, North Korea and Portugal. We will expecting Brazil to win the group as they are favourites for the competition. North Korea will probably go down as the whipping boys in the group.
Apparently Ivory Coast didn’t want Brazil, Germany or England in the group stages. Unfortunately for Toure, Drogba and co. they got the Samba boys. However I have great hopes for the African side. I do believe they could get the better of the inconsistent Portugal and make it into second place of the group.
Spain, Italy and Holland seem to have straightforward groups and would be expected to qualify. Argentina have quite a tricky group with Nigeria, South Korea and Greece. However I expect Diego Maradona’s side to make it through as group winners. Its hard to choose from the other three but I’ll go for Nigeria.
Fascinating
There will be shocks and surprises like every World Cup and will be interesting to see where they come from. The draw has produced lots of talking points and the tournament promises to be one of the most exciting World Cup’s ever. The likes of Messi, Kaka and Ronaldo all gracing the fields of South Africa. Whatever happens in next years competition there is sure to be millions around the world tuning in and hoping that their country come out on top and lift that trophy.
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