Overview By O Dogg

http://www.football.co.uk/football_features/story_28.shtml

Please all take a moment to look at the piece composed by our very own O Dogg and his predictions for the world cup next summer!

Well done and thanks Shane!

lol No probs

Feel free to comment, disagree or debate here.

LOL! I really enjoyed reading it!! Thanks O Dogg!
I agree with some of it as disagree also. I think you could be right with Germany, Spain and Portugal, but that thing about England is a bit unbelievable, with all my respects of course.
You win the world cup in an epic match, LOL. Very epic! I'd say, after beating Argentina, Brazil, Holland, first of group... Yes, a nice worldcup. But I understand this would be really great for all you english supporters. So, good job!!

Oh, BTW! Ukraine beating Spain!!?? LOL!

It was meant to cause a debate!

Good job!

Excellent work, I have not been a great lover of football in the past, a great write up, very informative, great predictions, loved it! Nice one mate!

Thanks guys - and I am glad you enjoyed the read Raul. Would love for more people to read and comment on it. Also would like to know where people disagree etc. Get into the World Cup spirit

Great stuff there Mr D

I think Sweden will win England's group though, with England second, so the next round could be Germany v England. I wouldn't like to predict that one

And I think Australia may surprise people, in the group stage at least.

I also think either or both Argentina and Brazil will reach the final.

Nice work O Dogg,
I remember doing something similar for Euro 2004 and then Euro 2005 (Women)

I have to admit I agree with most of your predictions
as to who's gonna finish as No.1 and No.2 in their groups,
maybe except for Holland - Argentina

And although I love teams England and France the most,
I'm affraid Brazil wil win it again...

Thanks for your opinions both. Much appreciated. The Holland and Argentina prediction is from a gut feeling. I think Argentina have the better team, although that doesnt necessarily mean they will play to their full potential. The dutch are in great form. I hope it pans out like that anyway lol. I think most people will have slightly different ideas about how it will go though.

Great piece O Dogg, your reasoning for all results is sound, im convinced England can do it.

Whether they will or not is another matter, Brazil are an amazing team and luck plays a huge part in these tournaments.

First off, well done on the World Cup write-up O'Dogg, the time you put in it shows by it's quality...!

For what it's worth, I'd like to touch briefly on the groups and how I see them.....

Group A - I agree Germany and Poland will advance. Klinsmann and the home nation couldn't have asked for a better draw. Poland has to be pleased as well, and the June 14th Germany - Poland match-up will be very interesting, which should produce the winners and runners-up. Germany & Poland.

Group B - England has to be delighted with it's group draw. I think it should come down to the June 20th England - Sweden match, and I think this will decide the group winner. True that England has not beaten the Swedes in the last 37 years, but they now have the players that can put an end to that streak, and I think they will. I see England and Sweden advancing, but of note, Paraguay should not be overlooked, they are a capable side when on their game. England & Sweden.

Group C - This is my 'group of death'. Holland, Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory Coast who all won their qualifying groups, and Argentina who tied Brazil for the top spot in the group, only to lose out on goal difference. Holland and Argentina stick out, because of their rich World Cup history as well as their past encounters with each other. The the Ivory Coast and Serbia & Montenegro should not be taken lightly since they are very capable sides and may very well have a say so who advances. This group will be worth the money to watch in my opinion. Holland & Argentina.

Group D - Mexico couldn't have asked for more, their Christmas came early. Their June 21st match against Portugal should decide who will advance as the group winner and runner-up. I see Portugal the winner and Mexico as the runners-up. Portugal & Mexico.

Group E - My 'group of death II'. Not what the U.S had been hoping for. I'm probably one of the few but I feel if the U.S. can get a result against the June 17th meeting against Italy that they have a decent chance of advancing. I think the Czech's will advance, and it's only a matter of who finishes second in this group. Ghana could very well throw a wrench in who advances here. This will be another tightly contested group, and well worth watching all it's matches. Czechs & US.

Group F - Only thing to determine here is who will be joining group winners Brazil in advancing. I feel Japan has an excellent chance to go through, and it will be determined in the June 18th face-off when they meet Croatia. Croatia is a very good side as well, and is capable of advancing as well. I put nothing Guus Hiddink and his Australia side, he's proved that he can do wonders with teams he's coaching, and the Socceroos have players that are very capable. Maybe an upset is here waiting to happen? Brazil & Japan.

Group G - Another very interesting group. I think underachievers France will finally show a bit of spark and get out of the group as the winners. It should be a dog fight between Switzerland and So. Korea for the second spot, and the June 23rd match-up will be the decider as to who finishes as the runner-up. Togo will be happy just to drink the whole World Cup experience in. France & So. Korea.

Group H - Spain got a kind draw. Will they underachieve? No, not in the group stage, anyway. I feel they should advance along with the Ukraine. These two countries face-off with one another on the groups opening match, June 14th. It will be a big match for both sides as far as who will be the group winner and the runner-up. Spain & Ukraine.

Well, that's how I see the group stages, I will post again once we are in the knock-out stage.

Now let's hear you're take on it all!



edited for spelling corrections...Orjplza

Great write up's there Oranje, and that is the sort of reply I was really looking for. Great work there. Also nice to see that you agree with almost all of my predictions - and for the record, my first write up did have the US as qualifiers in place of Italy, however I got talked out of it by Stefanie and The General!

I am still confident that if there is going to be an "upset" as such, then the US will be the one's to do it at group stage level, by dumping Italy out of the tournament.

I agree with both predictions mostly but a few I dont agree on.
I think Oz will qualify ahead of Japan and on your prediction Orange, Italy ahead of USA.

Brazil will beat England in the semi though!!

That really is another great piece about the draw and the possibilities we have some real talented writers with true opinions on the site!

Long may that continue as we move forward

great work O Dogg and Oranjepalooza. I have to agree with Oranje, USA will beat out Italy.

both are great works i think.

well..actually this World Cup would be my first one to get into after became a football fan.
i don't really know well as you guys which team got more chance or something..
(but i do know which one to support! lol)
anyway, your predictions just gave me a general picture of it, which is great. thanks for that!

Glad you enjoyed the read Amy.

You are in for such a treat. This is as good as it gets - the real pinnacle of football. You don't get bigger than this. Watch as much as you can and soak up all the atmosphere!!

I hope so, I don't like Italy

World Cup will be a big thing here as well, but to be honest, i think people just want to catch up the trend. they know nothing about football. We don't really like Japan, Hong Kong or Singapore where people watch football even it's not World Cup. Many of my friends said they're looking forward to the upcoming World Cup, but i think it's really ridiculous... Only three things they know: 1. Brazil is the best. 2. David Beckham is England's captain. 3. Korea was a cheater. And that's it. They don't know about any league, any other player except for Beckham and Ronald...lol

Oh, if everything goes well as i expected, hopefully i could be in England at the time!!

Oh you would definately experience that atmosphere then Amy. When England play in the World Cup, the whole nation tunes in - and all pubs will be packed out, and if and when england win - there will be parties all over England.