Wow...now THAT was a World Cup Draw!!!! The Group-by-Group Analysis!

The draw has been made, and just as well thought, there are SEVERAL tricky groups rather than just the one group of death. There are many banana skins for the "big" teams and groups where I am finding it hard to pick two teams to go through. This should make hopefully, if all things go well for preparation, a pretty exciting little tournament.

Scolari should be pretty happy with the draw he was given. I see only Mexico giving them problems, with Croatia and Cameroon to be really be straight forward. As for the second team, I am looking at Mexico but Cameroon may spring a surprise and Croatia are a very good team all round, and have been for many years.
  Brazil will need to be careful and use the home support to lift them higher as it did at the Confederations Cup, and not make it a hindrance to make them nervous. Watch out for Mexico though who will have a new look team. I expect them to maybe be the little surprise package, if they can get the team clicking together and get the best out of Peralta. 

Group B is the first of those killer groups. Australia should really be going home early, and it will be a fight for Holland, Chile and the holders Spain. Spain ought to finish first and Holland second, but it all depends on which Holland shows up and if Chile can really use that South American soil to raise their game even higher, and get revenge on Spain from their previous encounter in South Africa.
  Spain somehow always find a way and I almost made the mistake of saying they won't make it through, but after Euro 2012, I have realized they are a real threat and will find a way of making it out of the group on top.....to avoid Brazil in the next round.

FINALLY, Ivory Coast are not in the toughest group. It's not an easy one, but EASIER than their other ones. Colombia are the favorites to top it with Falcao and the South American element, but Japan and Greece are tricky teams. Japan are really the dangerous team that may pose a serious threat. If Honda and Kagawa are playing well, and they get that passing game going, sue me...they can go ahead and top this group.
  Ivory Coast have to be happy with this, and must get it done and look to try and finish the group as winner or at LEAST, second.

This is another of the hard groups. Don't look past Costa Rica who did well in qualifying and will have many of their own people making the short trip to support them.
  Realistically, Italy and Uruguay should really get it done and make it out of this group. England are much worse and older than they were and I just don't see that quality they need to beat the Italians or the South Americans.
  Beware the wounded animal. England's pride has been very damaged with how embarrassed they have been at tournaments. They have been outplayed so badly that the English have given up hope on seeing them do anything. That is why they could just be the surprise package of this tournament.

France got it lucky. Yes, they have two South American teams who will be used to the conditions, but France should have the skill to beat them. Then we have Switzerland who have no star players, but just a good team. France should also pretty much beat their neighbors and come out at the top of this group.
   You have to watch out for Valencia and Ecuador who have really improved in the last few years. They can maybe be the team to squeeze their way through and really give France and Switzerland some problems. Yeah, Honduras can be in the mix but they are not as good as Ecuador.
   After France just about got through, via those playoffs, they will be happy with this group. But they must remember the very good point that Zidane made. He wanted France to get a tough group meaning they hit that ground at speed. With an easier group, it may lead to them becoming complacent, and the more I think of it, Honduras and Ecuador may be the two teams to beatdown on their European adversaries.

It could have been a lot worse for Nigeria. Apart from somehow for some INEXPLICABLE reason, getting Argentina for the FOURTH DAMN TIME!(I am sick of getting these dudes in the group), Nigeria have to look to beat Bosnia and Iran. If they are serious about trying to win this tournament, those are games that they HAVE to win...nothing else. With regards to Argentina, I think there comes a time when a team must get sick of losing to the same damn team and finally beat them. Maybe, this is the one time Nigeria can crack this code?
  Argentina have a pretty good path to the quarters and beyond. If Messi and Aguero are both fit and hungry, then they will be one of the teams to go far. Remember, no team is too big to get shocked...even in the group stage.

It's the group that everyone says is THE hardest group, as it is trending on Twitter. But as you have seen from the others, it's just another tough group that's in the mix.
  I really don't know who will come second. Germany, unless something strange happens, should top this group and pretty much get all nine points. As for the other three, I really don't know. At the moment, I am leaning towards Ghana getting it done and really edging out Portugal and USA. If Cristina becomes Cristiano or the USA can really click well as a team with Michael Bradley being the key man under Klinsmann, then my prediction may be off. It should be an intriguing group and don't ASSUME Germany will just find it easy.

Finally we have the dark horses, the HYPE team. I thought Belgium would get one of those tricky groups and fail to get through, but they got lucky and this is a group they should win.
  Korea have fallen off since 2002 but they can still spring a surprise. Algeria should not really do much, but again, they could somehow have that rare good game. With Capello coaching Russia, they will finally have a robust and disciplined defence to go with the technique and flair they have in attack.
 I would say Russia top this group with Belgium finishing second. As for Belgium going all the way? I would not bet my chewing gum wrapper on it.....


 It all starts next June, and we hope Brazil can get everything ready and in time. Hopefully, this won't mean the residents being screwed over because of a tournament of fishnet ball....life comes before sport. I just want this and NEED this to be THE football tournament....after all, it is on the land of football...the perfect venue. Hopefully, it can be the perfect tournament.


HH