SoccerAmerica - Spain over Brazil in split decision 06/09/2010

[PREDICTIONS] Soccer America editors Paul Kennedy, Ridge Mahoney and Mike Woitalla agree that Spain and Brazil will reach the 2010 World Cup final, though they are divided about the outcome. For how they see the USA doing, as well as all group finishes and knockout results ...

2010 WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS (FIRST ROUND)

Paul Kennedy	Ridge Mahoney	Mike Woitalla
Group A 1. Mexico 2. France 3. South Africa 4. Uruguay	Group A 1. Uruguay 2. France 3. Mexico 4. South Africa	Group A 1. Mexico 2. France 3. Uruguay 4. South Africa
Group B 1. Argentina 2. South Korea 3. Nigeria 4. Greece	Group B 1. Argentina 2. Greece 3. Nigeria 4. South Korea	Group B 1. Argentina 2. Nigeria 3. South Korea 4. Greece
Group C 1. England 2. USA 3. Algeria 4. Slovenia	Group C 1. England 2. USA 3. Algeria 4. Slovenia	Group C 1. USA 2. England 3. Algeria 4. Slovenia
Group D 1. Germany 2. Serbia 3. Ghana 4. Australia	Group D 1. Germany 2. Serbia 3. Ghana 4. Australia	Group D 1. Ghana 2. Germany 3. Serbia 4. Australia
Group E 1. Netherlands 2. Cameroon 3. Denmark 4. Japan	Group E 1. Netherlands 2. Cameroon 3. Denmark 4. Japan	Group E 1. Netherlands 2. Cameroon 3. Denmark 4. Japan
Group F 1. Italy 2. Paraguay 3. Slovakia 4. New Zealand	Group F 1. Italy 2. Paraguay 3. Slovakia 4. New Zealand	Group F 1. Italy 2. Paraguay 3. Slovakia 4. New Zealand
Group G 1. Brazil 2. Portugal 3. Ivory Coast 4. North Korea	Group G 1. Brazil 2. Ivory Coast 3. Portugal 4. North Korea	Group G 1. Brazil 2. Ivory Coast 3. Portugal 4. North Korea
Group H 1. Spain 2. Chile 3. Honduras 4. Switzerland	Group H 1. Spain 2. Chile 3. Switzerland 4. Honduras	Group H 1. Spain 2. Chile 3. Switzerland 4. Honduras

Paul Kennedy: The United States beats Algeria in its final group game to claim second place and advance. Injuries to key players doom African powers Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. All Latin American teams reach the knockout phase except Uruguay and Honduras.

Ridge Mahoney: The injury absences of Michael Essien (Ghana), John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) and Nani (Portugal) are just enough to dump those teams out, with Serbia, Greece and Ivory Coast, respectively, taking advantage. Group heavyweights prevail, except in Group A, where Uruguay’s tough defense frustrates France, Mexico, and the game but overmatches host nation.

Mike Woitalla: The USA upsets England even if the Americans don’t have the depth to go far in the tournament. Sub-Saharan African nations start strong, but the host, sadly, is overmatched. All former world champs, except Uruguay, reach the second round.

2010 WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS (KNOCKOUT PHASE)

Paul Kennedy	Ridge Mahoney	Mike Woitalla
Round of 16 Mexico b. South Korea Serbia b. England Netherlands b. Paraguay Brazil b. Chile Argentina b. France Germany b. USA Cameroon b. Italy Spain b. Portugal	Round of 16 Uruguay b. Greece Serbia b. England Netherlands b. Paraguay Brazil b. Chile Argentina b. France USA b. Germany Cameroon b. Italy Spain b. Ivory Coast	Round of 16 Mexico b. Nigeria Ghana b. England Netherlands b. Paraguay Brazil b. Chile Argentina b. France Germany b. USA Cameroon b. Italy Spain b. Ivory Coast
Quarterfinals Mexico b. Serbia Brazil b. Netherlands Argentina b. Germany Spain b. Cameroon	Quarterfinals Serbia b. Uruguay Brazil b. Netherlands Argentina b. USA Spain b. Cameroon	Quarterfinals Mexico b. Ghana Brazil b. Netherlands Argentina b. Germany Spain b. Cameroon
Semifinals Brazil b. Mexico Spain b. Argentina	Semifinals Brazil b. Serbia Spain b. Argentina	Semifinals Brazil b. Mexico Spain b. Argentina
Third-Place Game Mexico b. Argentina	Third-Place Game Argentina b. Serbia	Third-Place Game Mexico b. Argentina
Final Spain b. Brazil	Final Spain b. Brazil	Final Brazil b. Spain

Paul Kennedy: Spain and Argentina play at epic semifinal in which Barcelona stars Xavi and Andres Iniesta outlast their Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi. Brazil shuts down Mexico's young "Brazilian" star, Giovani dos Santos in the other semifinals. Spain captures its first World Cup title with a convincing win b. Brazil.

Ridge Mahoney: The top two teams in the world, Spain and Brazil, vie for the World Cup and after decades of disappointments the Spaniards win their first title. Surprising Serbia follows in the darkhorse European tradition of Bulgaria and Sweden (1994), Croatia (1998) and Turkey (2002) to reach the semifinals. Germany falls to the USA in a revenge rematch of their controversial 2002 meeting but the Americans can’t contain Lionel Messi’s magic, which is good enough for third place

Mike Woitalla: Mexico’s ambitious preparation schedule pays off, but El Tri finally falls to Brazil. Spain shines brightest, but after African teams are eliminated, fans adopt Brazil as their “home” team, boosting the Selecao as it makes a habit of winning every other World Cup.

(Soccer America Readers: What do you think of our predictions? Who do you like to win the World Cup? How do you see the USA finishing? Let us know in the comments below.)

0 comments

BILL MOORE

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 9:55 a.m.

So, you guys think Group B is the "Group of Death"???

Terence Chu

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 11:21 a.m.

Pretty good predictions all around. Except there are too many favorites topping their groups, which throws off the 16 bracket. I personally think there will be lots of suprises this tourney, and more injuries afftecting the perennial favorites.

Gil Ramirez

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 11:25 a.m.

I like Kennedy's and Woitalla's. And although Kennedy is more realistic, the idea of Mexico making it so far, however compelling based on what they have shown and the months of preparation, is too far reaching. I think Mexico will make it to Quarterfinals, same with the USA, but both will fall due to inherent deficiencies in defense. Mahoney has it wrong in Group A, where Uruguay moves at the expense of Mexico. The weaker sides in that group are France and the South Africans. UR may advance at the expense of FR, but Mexico is right now superior on the field to FR. Either FR or UR moves, but not both.

Matthew Reber

commented on: June 9, 2010 at noon

It's always a crap-shoot picking winners, but I don't think Mexico has the people to go that far. I think (and I'm hoping) that the Netherlands will finally show up for a cup. They had moments of unstoppable brilliance in the last Euro. Until they got stopped, that is. I have a distaste for Brasil (probably stemming from their repeated success), so I'm picking Holland to eliminate them. Argentina is always pretty good, but I never bet against the Germans. At the end, in my bracket, finally, after all these years, to make up for a decade of teams that severely underachieved, I have the Dutch beating Spain for the Cup.

Terence Chu

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 12:41 p.m.

@Matthew interesting pick, as I agree and I've read about quite a few others picking Holland to finally fulfill their potential (as Spain finally did in euro 08). I have Holland beating Argentina in the final, with Spain coming in 3rd.

Alex Lozano

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 2:42 p.m.

Pretty good picks...though, I don't think France will advance or Serbia & Mexico making a deep run. I'm picking Holland or Spain to win it all, with Brazil a close second. Much as I hate to say it, I can see England going farther than the Round of 16. In a perfect world, I see the USA finishing first in their group, meeting Mexico in the Q-finals and, just like in 2002, beating El Tri before losing to Holland in the semis. But my head says second place in Group C & a date with Germany in the Round of 16...where we outplay the Germans again but fall short.

steffen adair

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 4:23 p.m.

If Brazil and Spain win their groups, and keep advancing as predicted, wouldn't they meet up in the semi-finals? I see a repeat of the last EURO final with Germany extracting revenge over Spain and continuing their trend of winning the cup every 20 years (54-74, 90-10).

Danny Driscoll

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 5:40 p.m.

Cameroon over Italy? Please.

Kerry Ogden

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 6:31 p.m.

Brazil, like Spain could be upset by several other Teams, Don't forget what the US National Team did last year in the Confederate Cup, Beating up on Spain and almost beating Brazil in the finals. I would love to see the USA & Mexico in the finals, but due to their group positions they would or could be playing against each other in the Quarter finals. I hope to see Great Games and may the best team win. GOOD LUCK TO ALL NATIONS!!!!

Saverio Costantino

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 9:37 p.m.

There is no way Camaroon beats Italy. Italy never loses a game like that (In 2002, they were robbed by the ref). How can all 3 of you think that Cameroon could beat Italy? Camaroon has not even impressed anyone so far. They are not a great team and they are certainly not good enough to beat Italy in the Round of 16.

Saverio Costantino

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 9:43 p.m.

Did you all forget that Spain couldn't even score a goal against Italy in Euro 2008? I wouldn't put too much stock in the Confederations Cup last year. I think Spain has peaked and will be upset at this tournament. England could do damage and so could Holland. Germany is always a threat along with Brazil. Cameroon. I think your predictions are more about what you want to see happen rather than what probably will happen.

Jose Barrillo

commented on: June 9, 2010 at 10:27 p.m.

I believe you guys are close. How ever I am, how you say, hopefull that MEXICO goes a little farther. I Believe Mexico will be the 2010 Champion

Bret Newman

commented on: June 12, 2010 at 11:15 p.m.

Mexico in 3rd place? Please! I'll bet the farm they don't finish in the top 3, however I do predict them to advance out of their group. France will not! Italy may not make it out of their group either, but they might being that they our in an easy group.

James Madison

commented on: June 17, 2010 at 12:57 a.m.

Based only on the first round of group games plus Uruguay v. South Africa, (a) the group winners look right, except possibly for Groups A and H, and Germany and Argentina look like the class of the competition. Greece is pathetic and South Africa not far behind. Group G is the "group of death," which is why Ivory Coast, the best of the Sub-Sahara African teams, and Portugal played carefully for a tie on the assumption, now maybe questionable, that they would both defeat North Korea and goal difference would decide 2nd v. 3rd place.

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