The World Cup draw is now complete, and, despite FIFA's attempts to create "balanced" groups with its new seeding system, we still ended up with potentially the worst group in World Cup history. Group A is so bad, in fact, that the opening game of the tournament pits the two worst teams in the entire World Cup against each other.
Uruguay sure lucked out by ending up in that group with Russia, Saudi Arabia and a third world-beater in Egypt. If Uruguay doesn't win this group, they deserve to get relegated to the USA-Italy consolation tournament. And Russia ended up with home field advantage after all. Because they should be able to beat both Saudi Arabia and Egypt to grab that second spot in the knockout round.
FIFA was trying to avoid the proverbial "Group of Death," but when Spain ended up in Pot 2, you knew it was possible. And, especially since we have that Group of Crap, there's most definitely a "Group of Death." In fact, there are a couple of really tough ones. If I had to declare one as the "Group of Death," though, I'd have to go with Group E--Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia.
Spain's group is perhaps the most interesting of the eight. There's actually a point on the northern tip of Morocco where you can look across the Mediterranean see both Portugal and Spain. Yet the three neighbors never play each other. And now they finally will. In Russia. Where they'll also play Iran.
Poland being seeded is a joke. But at least they ended up with Colombia in their group. And at least Belgium, still the most overrated team in the world, was matched up with England. Ideally, Spain would've been with either Poland, Belgium or Russia, but England ended up with Belgium is just as good. Especially since England is better than Belgium. And I wouldn't be totally shocked to see the two teams that come out of Group F being Colombia and Senegal, either.
They did somewhat achieve their objective of balanced groups, though. Because Group C looks to be very competitive with France, Denmark, Peru and Australia. So does the Germany, Mexico, Sweden trio in Group F, where South Korea will be the sacrificial lamb. Finally, there's Group D, where World Cup buddies Argentina and Nigeria are joined by Croatia and the team destined to become the darlings of the tournament, Iceland. It's really gonna be a tight battle for that second round of 16 spot behind Messi and Co.
As for tournament favorites, I've gotta go with the usual suspects, and by that I mean Germany and Brazil. Can Neymar finally lead Brazil to a World Cup title? And what about Messi? We know he can lead Argentina to major finals. But can he finally seal the deal and not choke in one? Then there's Group B, where you have two strong sides in Spain and European champion Portugal. Let's not forget about France, either.
OK, time of the way too early picks. Uruguay and Russia come out of Group A. Spain vs. Portugal in the first game at Sochi Olympic Stadium will likely decide the winner of Group B. Frankly, whichever one wins the group doesn't really matter, since they're both going to the quarterfinals. And they might actually be better off finishing second since the Group B winner gets the Group D winner (meaning Argentina) in the quarterfinals. Whereas the A1-B2 winner may play France (Euro 2016 final rematch?), although Peru could be the surprise team of the tournament.
I'm giving Peru that second spot behind France in Group C and a round of 16 matchup against their South American rival Argentina. The second team out of Group D? That's a tough one, but I'm going with Iceland.
Even with three tough opponents in their group, Brazil should have no problem advancing. In fact, I think things will be much easier for the Brazilians this time since they don't have the pressure of hosting and the weight of expectations on them. Anyway, Costa Rica was a quarterfinalist in Brazil, but I don't think they get out of the group stage in Russia. I've got the Swiss taking that second spot.
Group F is equally as challenging, but Germany and Mexico are a cut above and should advance. Let's keep in mind, too, that they were both semifinalists in the Confederations Cup for whatever that's worth (Germany's squad will be almost completely different, so it likely means very little for them). In Group G, it's obvious that the two European teams will end up on top. And in Group H, as I teased before, I'm going Colombia No. 1 and Senegal as the only African (or Asian) team to get out of the group round.
My round of 16 games are Uruguay-Portugal, France-Iceland, Brazil-Mexico, England-Senegal, Spain-Russia, Argentina-Peru, Germany-Switzerland and Colombia-Belgium. In the quarterfinals, my matchups are Portugal-France, Brazil-England, Spain-Argentina and Germany-Colombia. Give me Portugal-Brazil and Argentina-Germany semis, giving us all three of soccer's biggest stars and the defending World Cup champions.
So which one of the Big Three finally claims that World Cup prize? None of them. Germany defends its title, becoming the first repeat champions since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, by beating the Brazilians in the final. I just hope for Brazil's sake that it isn't 7-1 again.
No comments:
Post a Comment