World Cup Discussion

[RedSoxFan]

South Africa 1 Slovenia 0

Slovenia was without their star playmaker, Zahovic, who was sent back to Slovenia after arguments with his coach.

South Africa had the better chances overall in this game that I didn't see. They scored in the fourth minute off of a free kick from Fortune which, rather than Nomvethe hitting it with his head, as he intended, knocked the ball off his right thigh, but it went in the net nevertheless.

South Africa had a few more chances for their second, but Slovenia only had two good chances for the equalizer. Ceh headed a cross on goal in the 71st minute, but it was deflected away by the keeper. In the 81st minute Slovenia had their best chance, but Karic's took a defensive give-away and struck it hard but it sailed just over the bar.

Slovenia was eliminated from 2nd round contention with the loss.

[RedSoxFan]

Japan 1 Russia 0

I missed this game as well, but I'm sure a lot of people watched this on TV and in person in Japan. The game was very close, and either side could have won.

Japan scored in the 51st minute as a one touch pass found Inamoto 12 yards from goal and he shot the ball past Russian keeper Nigmatullin.

Russia's best chance came shortly there after, when recent substitute Beschastnykh received a ball headed down by Khokhlov, then side-stepped the keeper but missed the open net.

[RedSoxFan]

Group A after two games:

Team P - W - D - L - Pts - GF - GA
DEN 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 3 -- 2
SEN 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 2 -- 1
URU 2 -- 0 -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- 2
FRA 2 -- 0 -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 1

Results:
Senegal 1 France 0
Denmark 2 Uruguay 1
Denmark 1 Senegal 1
Uruguay 0 France 0
Senegal vs. Uruguay, Denmark vs. France: 6/11, 2:30pm EST

Who will advance?
It is win (or draw) and you're in, for Denmark and Senegal.
If Uruguay wins but France loses or draws, Denmark and Uruguay are in.
If France wins by 2 or more but Uruguay loses or draws, France and Senegal are in.
If France wins by just 1 and Uruguay loses or draws, Denmark and Senegal are in.
However, if both France and Uruguay win, then there's a problem, because everyone in the group will have four points. Then, refer to VP's recent message to see what happens.

My prediction:
The easier pick is to predict Senegal will at least draw Uruguay. Senegal has been very impressive, while Uruguay couldn't score against just 10 Zidane-less Frenchman in 60 minutes.
Can France win by at least two? I don't think so. Maybe if they've been hot recently, but they are far from it. Senegal and Denmark will advance.

Game to watch (because they're both at the same time):
Get out your remote control. If France scores early, that will make that matchup very interesting. Otherwise, just watch whichever game is closer.

[RedSoxFan]

Group B after two games:

Team - P - W - D - L - Pts - GF - GA
ESP -- 2 -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 6 -- 6 -- 2
RSA -- 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 3 -- 2
PAR -- 2 -- 0 -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- 3 -- 5
SVN -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0 -- 1 -- 4

Results:

Paraguay 2 South Africa 2
Spain 3 Slovenia 1
Spain 3 Paraguay 1
South Africa 1 Slovenia 0
South Africa vs. Spain, Slovenia vs Paraguay: 6/12, 7:30 am EST

Who will advance?

Spain has clinched its spot to advance. It will finish first unless they lose to South Africa.

South Africa just needs a draw vs. Spain to advance. Paraguay's only chance is for it to win, South Africa to lose, and to win the tiebreak on goal difference. If South Africa loses by just one, Paraguay must win by two goals (and if South Africa scores more than 1, Paraguay must win by one more goal). If South Africa loses by two or more, then just a win will do (if South Africa scores more than 1, Paraguay must win by at least one goal).

My prediction:
I predict a surprise: Spain and Paraguay will advance. Though Spain has already clinched, they are still too strong for South Africa. I think Paraguay, with proper motivation, can beat slumping Slovenia by two goals if need be.

Game to watch (because they're both at the same time):
I'd keep an eye on both games. If Spain starts beating South Africa, keep an eye on how much Paraguay is winning by.

[RedSoxFan]

Group C after two games:

Team P - W - D - L - Pts - GF - GA
BRA -- 2 -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 6 -- 6 -- 1
CRC -- 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 3 -- 1
TUR -- 2 -- 0 -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- 2 -- 3
CHN -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 6

Results:
Brazil 2 Turkey 1
Costa Rica 2 China 0
Brazil 4 China 0
Costa Rica 1 Turkey 1
Costa Rica vs. Brazil, Turkey vs. China: 6/13 2:30 am EST

Who will advance?
Brazil has clinched a spot in the next round.
Costa Rica needs at least a draw vs. Brazil to advance (easier said than done). Turkey must win (easier done than said) its game vs. China and have Costa Rica lose, then win the tiebreak on goal difference. If Costa Rica loses by 1 goal, Turkey will advance if they win by 3 (can advance if win by two if Costa Rica is held scoreless), while if Costa Rica loses by 2, Turkey will advance if they win by 2.

My prediction:
Brazil and Turkey will advance. Both teams will probably win by at least two goals, and that will be enough to advance.

Game to watch (because they're both at the same time):
Whichever game is closer. They're both prone to be blowouts.

[RedSoxFan]

Group D after two matches:

Team P - W - D - L - Pts - GF - GA
KOR -- 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 3 -- 1
USA -- 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 4 -- 3
POR -- 2 -- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 3 -- 6 -- 3
POL -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 6

Results:
Korea 2 Poland 0
United States 3 Portugal 2
Korea 1 United States 1
Portugal 4 Poland 0
Portugal vs. Korea, United States vs. Poland, 6/14 7:30 am EST

Who will advance?
It is win or draw and you're in for the US and Korea, but Korea has the more difficult task. There are still possibilities for either team should they lose. I've seen some of those listed by other posters on here, so I'll save myself some effort.

My prediction:
Portugal and the US will advance. I think Portugal found their rhythm against Poland, and although Korea has looked very sharp so far, I think a determined Portugal team will beat them. Also, the US should manage a draw against disappointing Poland.

Game to watch (because they're both at the same time):
For the Americans, the US vs. Poland, to see if we advance. For everyone else, Korea vs. Portugal. Can the Koreans use their confidence and home support to upset favorites Portugal? Can they avoid becoming the first host country to miss out on the 2nd round?

[RedSoxFan]

Group E after two games:

Team P - W - D - L - Pts - GF - GA
GER -- 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 9 -- 1
CMR -- 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 2 -- 1
IRL --- 2 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0 -- 2 -- 2 -- 2
KSA -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 9

Results:
Ireland 1 Cameroon 1
Germany 8 Saudi Arabia 0
Germany 1 Ireland 1
Cameroon 1 Saudi Arabia 0
Cameroon vs Germany, Ireland vs Saudi Arabia, 6/11 7:30 am EST

Who will advance?
Germany will unless it loses and Ireland wins, because of its huge advantage in goal difference. In situations where Germany and Cameroon tie, with Ireland winning, Cameroon will be the odd team out because one would expect Ireland to win by at least two. But if either Germany or Cameroon lose, Ireland will certainly qualify in their place. If Ireland doesn't win, Germany and Cameroon both advance.

My prediction:
(Oops, forgot to write this in before the first halves are nearly over, so you'll have to trust me...)
Germany and Ireland will both win, and advance.

Game to watch (because they're both at the same time):
Gemany vs. Cameroon. The winner advances, while Germany only will advance in all likelihood if it's a draw. This is a tough task for Cameroon, however. If Cameroon plays close, watch Ireland's score for the goal difference tiebreaker.

[RedSoxFan]

Group F after two games:

Team P - W - D - L - Pts - GF - GA
SWE 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 3 -- 2
ENG 2 --- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 2 -- 1
ARG 2 --- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 3 -- 1 -- 1
NGA 2 --- 0 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0 -- 1 -- 3

Results:
England 1 Sweden 1
Argentina 1 Nigeria 0
Sweden 2 Nigeria 1
England 1 Argentina 0
England vs. Nigeria, Argentina vs. Sweden: 6/12, 2:30 am 6/12

Who will advance?
It is draw or win and you're in for England and Sweden, and win and you're in for Argentina.
If England loses and Sweden wins, they still advance. If Argentina wins, see below. If it is a draw, England must battle tiebreaks with Argentina. If England loses by two goals or more, Argentina definitely advances. If the loss is by one goal, Argentina must score 2 more goals than England to advance.
If Sweden loses, Argentina is in. Sweden can only advance if England also loses. Whoever loses worse will not advance and the other will. If they both lose by the same margin, we look to the goals scored tiebreaker, and Sweden leads that by one.
Nigeria cannot advance.

My prediction:
England and Argentina will both win, and both will advance. England will get the #1 seeding.

Game to watch (because they're both at the same time):
Argentina vs. Sweden: The winner advances (and Sweden advances if there is a draw). It also has the added drama that the other big favorite to win it all (in addition to France) may not advance either. England will probably finish off a disheartened Nigeria side with relative ease.

[RedSoxFan]

Group G after two games:

Team - P - W - D - L - Pts - GF - GA
MEX -- 2 -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 6 -- 3 -- 1
ITA --- 2 -- 1 -- 0 -- 1-- 3 -- 3 -- 2
CRO -- 2 -- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 3 -- 2 -- 2
ECU -- 2 -- 0 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0 -- 1 -- 4

Results:
Mexico 1 Croatia 0
Italy 2 Ecuador 0
Croatia 2 Italy 1
Mexico 2 Ecuador 1
Mexico vs. Italy, Ecuador vs. Croatia, 6/13 7:30 am EST

Who will advance:
Mexico advances with a win or draw: in these cases, if Croatia wins, they advance (they can merely draw if Mexico wins). If Italy wins, they and Mexico will advance unless Croatia also wins. In that case, we have a dreaded three way tie at the top, all sides with 2 wins and one loss. Italy will advance from that scenario, because they will have a goal difference advantage over Mexico, while Croatia can advance if they can beat up Ecuador.

My prediction:
Italy and Mexico will advance. Croatia could easily sneak in there though. I have a feeling Italy will come out strong vs. Mexico, and Ecuador is not so soft that it will get blown out by Croatia.

Game to watch (because they're both at the same time):
Primarily Italy vs. Mexico, but if Italy is winning, keep an eye on the Croatian score. This is especially tense because pre-cup favorites Italy (along with France, Argentina, and Portugal) might miss advancing.

[RedSoxFan]

Group H after two games:

Team P - W - D - L - Pts - GF - GA
JPN -- 2 -- 1 -- 1 -- 0 -- 4 -- 3 -- 2
RUS -- 2 -- 1 -- 0 -- 1 -- 3 -- 2 -- 1
BEL -- 2 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0 -- 2 -- 3 -- 3
TUN -- 2 -- 0 -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- 3

Results:
Japan 2 Belgium 2
Russia 2 Tunisia 0
Japan 1 Russia 0
Tunisia 1 Belgium 1
Tunisia vs. Japan, Belgium vs. Russia: 6/14, 2:30 am EST

Who will advance?
Japan and Russia both have win or draw and you're in scenarios. Japan will advance even if they lose by one, but Tunisia will qualify instead if they win by two. Belgium will qualify if they beat Russia.

My prediction:
Japan will advance. The other game is tougher to predict. Belgium hasn't proven they can win a game, while Russia played well in both games despite getting one loss. I think Russia can at least get a draw.

Game to watch (because they're both at the same time):
Russia vs. Belgium. You might switch over to Japan Tunisia if Tunisia is ahead and the other game starts to get out of control.