World Cup 2006 predictions

This is my tongue in cheek take of the upcoming World Cup:

Group A
Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

Should see host Germany going through easily. But who will follow them through? My pick: Poland. Costa Rica and Ecuador play well but do not get the results that matter most.

Group B
England
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago
Sweden

England. My pick for this world cup, as they are every year. With them.....Sweden. Sven Goran Eriksson has double happiness.

Group C
Argentina
Côte d'Ivoire
Serbia and Montenegro
Netherlands

The Group of Death. Argentina,like Brazil, have a great team for this championship. The Netherlands have in the past impressed to deceive and imploded when it mattered most. But this time round they have a team that was undefeated in qualification. So they stand a chance. Ivory Coast are the dark horses and could pull off a few upsets here. After all the dust has settled I see Argentina and the Netherlands to go through.

Group D
Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

Mexico and Portugal to go through. Iran shows potential but once again falter on the big stage. Angola...umm...err...

Group E
Italy
Ghana
United States
Czech Republic

Czech Republic and Italy to go through. United States are 4th in FIFA rankings so something has to give here. Ghana is another african team that could make an impact. My guess this group is gonna be tight with Italy and Czech Republic squeezing through.

Group F
Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Brazil are overwhelming favourites to go through based on their team sheet despite a none too stellar qualification campaign. But I do not think they are invincible. Brazil top their group after a few close shaves. Australia in the World Cup for the first time. They do well but lack the experience to make it to the final 16. However Croatia finally make good on their promise and make it to the next round. Japan find themselves unable to repeat their heroics of 2002.

Group G
France
Switzerland
Korea Republic
Togo

This one is tricky. France have several great players but somehow I think they will find it hard goings here. Despite having Zidane and Henry in their ranks, France will crash out in the first round like they did in 2002. South Korea repeat their heroics from the last world cup and go through to the next round. For some reason Togo find a way through. Switzerland just makes up the numbers.

Group H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

Spain, much like Holland, have under-achieved on the world stage. This time though they make good on their potential and scrape through. The Ukraine look to Schvchenko for inspiration as he singlehandedly leads the charge. Saudi Arabia show how far they have come as they explode into the 2nd round.

A: Germany,Poland
B: England, Sweden
C: Argentina, Netherlands
D: Mexico, Portugal
E: Italy, Czech Republic
F: Brazil, Croatia
G: South Korea......and Togo
H: Spain, Saudi Arabia

Round of 16

Germany vs Sweden
Germany win easily here and progress to the next round.

Argentina vs Portugal
Argentina go through after some simulation and a sending off.Portugal are unable to recover. Christiano Ronaldo ponders what could have been...

England vs Poland
England win emphatically

Mexico vs Netherlands
An exciting and absorbing match. Netherlands finally nick it with a Golden Goal that would make Van Basten proud.

Italy vs Croatia
Italy try to close down the game and go to penalties. Croatia break down their famed defence and go through.

South Korea vs Saudi Arabia
A clash of 2 asian titans.Only one will make it to the next round. South korea show their mettle and emerge comfortable winners.

Brazil vs Czech Republic
Czech make a go of it and have Brazil pinned back for most of the match. In extra time a moment of brilliance, Brazil go through...

Spain vs Togo
Togo win comfortably here as Spain disintergrate after a good start.

Quarterfinals

Germany vs Argentina
Germany play exciting free-flowing football and win it in extra time.

Croatia vs South Korea
South Korea go through on penalties. Croatia claim the referee was biased.


England vs Netherlands
A bloody battle. Both teams are heading to penalties. Then Wayne Rooney comes in extra time. He scores one which replays reveal he punched into goal. For good measure, he scores a second in a scintillating run in which he slaloms past the entire Netherlands defence.


Brazil vs Togo
Brazil dominate but are unable to break down Togo. In extra time Togo start to tire, Brazil start to run out of ideas. Ronaldo slips and falls in the penalty area! Referee awards Brazil a penalty although no Togo player was anywhere near him due to lax marking. Ronaldo scores from the ensuing penalty kick. He is hailed as a national hero in Brazil.

Semi Finals

Germany vs South Korea
The germans eat too much kimchi the night before and suffer from 'food poisoning'. They ask the organisers to postpone the semi's to no avail. Match goes ahead as scheduled. Germany struggle to keep up with the energetic koreans. At the end of extra time the score reads 0-0. Penalties! Germany win in clinical style, no pun intended.

England vs Brazil

A dull and boring match despite all the stars on the field. Both teams seem unmotivated and lack attacking ideas. In added time the match suddenly explodes to life, as england scores and then brazil immediately levels the score. normal time over. in extra time both teams have goals disallowed and hit the bar and upright respectively. PENALTIES!!! For once England win a shootout and head to the finals!!

Finals
The host versus England. Germany play on the counter attack hoping to bring it to penalties. England try in vain to score but to no avail. Rooney comes on in the second half. England apply great pressure but still the germans refuse to crack. In the dying minutes germany score one on the break. England then reply with a goal of their own in the final minute of added time through... Phil Neville!
No goals in extra time.
Penalties!!!
germany lead 3-2. final kicker:Wayne Rooney. If he scores then it is sudden death, if not Germany win.
Rooney steps up to the spot. Jens Lehmann is in goal. Wayne starts his run up. Lehmann paces on his line. Wayne feints left and shoots right!!
The ball cannons off the cross bar and appears to bounce over the line. The referee signals NO GOAL...
The germans celebrate. The england players protest to the match officials to no avail.

GERMANY WIN THE 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP in front of their adoring fans.