Who Stands Where !!

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Group A
Germany & Ecuador will battle it out for the top spot on the 20th.
The runner up of this group will meet the Group B winner in the next round (England are in a confartable postion to win that group.) So thats a big incentive for the winner.
Interestingly Ecuador have a better Goal difference right now so, if the match ends in a draw hey will be at the top and we could have a England Vs. Germany in the 2nd round itself !!



Group B
England need a draw in the last match against Sweden to win this group. Sweden are most likely to reach the second round though Trinidad & Tobago have an outside chance (if England beat Sweden and Trinidad beat Paraguay then it will be down to goal difference b/w those two !!)

My prediction for next round
England Vs. Germany
Ecuador Vs. Sweden

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Group C
This group has a situation similar to Group A with both Argentina & Holland already through , but will battle it out for the top spot.Incentive : Avoid Portugal in the next round !
Argentina have a much superior goal difference so a draw would ensure them the top spot and we could have a Euro 2004 semi-final replay in the 2nd round - Holland Vs. Portugal !!



Group D
Again the situation is similar to Group B here, Portugal having already qualified and most likely to take the top spot. Mexico will most probably join them but Angola have an outside chance here(If Portugal beat Mexico and Angola beat Iran then it would be down to goal difference b/w those two !!)

My Predictions for next round
Portugal Vs. Holland
Argentina Vs. Mexico

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Group E
Well, this is surely the toughest group of the cup, both for going through and predictions (:P).
Hmmm.. as of now all four teams can qualify. I am not going to list all the permutations here but still...
#Going by the current form and considering the Italy-US match to be a crazy one , lets make the assumption that Ghana will beat US in their last match then, Ghana will go through with 6 points and Italy-Czech match will decide the other team. Though a draw would ensure that Italy go through. So Czech are in a must win situation here
# Ghana-US match is a draw : Ghana on 4 points. Now if the other match is a draw , Italy go through with 5 points . Ghana and Czech will be on 4points each and Ghana will go thru on better head-to-head record against Czech !! So Czech are in danger in this scenario and will have to beat Italy to go through.
#US beat Ghana : Only way US can qualify.US will be on 4 points and if Italy beat Czech , US go thru with Italy. Czech win , down to goal diff b/w US and Italy. Italy-Czech draw -> US out !!
USA are the only team who dont have it in their own hands.


Crazy Moment 1 : Zaccardo scored one of the most bizarre Own Goals !


Crazy Moment 2 : de Rossi outta nowhere launched his elbow straight into McBride's face. Referee sent him off as McBride lay there with blood on his face.


Crazy Moment 3 : Mastreoni was sent off just b4 the half time for a two-legged tackle on Pirlo.


Crazy Moment 4 : Eddie Pope commited a second bookable offence and was shown the red.

Group F
Brazil already through. Japan are almost out so its down to the Australia Vs. Croatia match to decide who will take the second spot. A draw would ensure that Australians qualify so Croats are in a must-win situation.



My predictions for next round
Brazil Vs. Ghana
Australia Vs. Italy

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Group G
This one again is a tricky group. Three teams - South Korea, Switzerland, France can still qualify and there is nothing to choose between them. Korea and Sui are right now on 4 points each, while France are on 2. The big match will be Korea Vs Switzerland though.
We can safely assume though that French will beat Togo in their last match and reach 5 points and they would qualify along with the winner of the Korea-Sui match(that team will top the group with 7) but, if that match is a draw then all three teams will be locked on 5 points each and it will be down to goal difference between those three !!
So France just need to score a few goals against Togo and they wll qualify for sure.



Group H
Spain have already qualified with two wins. Ukraine are in a good position after their thumping win over Saudi Arabia. Spain would definitely beat the struggling Saudis in the last match. Tunisia are in a must win position against Ukraine who just need a draw to qualify.



My predictions for next round :
France Vs. Spain
Ukraine Vs.