South Africa 2010!!!!

It has been a while since I posted because I've been busy. I have decided it is time to take this blog in the direction of the World Cup. The biggest sporting event in the world (yes, statistically more people watch the world cup than any other event) takes place this summer in South Africa and once again 32 nations will compete for the chance to become World Cup champions. I have decided that I will do a group by group analysis with my predictions for each group and then after going through each group, give my predictions for the subsequent knock out rounds.

So lets start with group A:

France (FIFA rank 10, 13th appearance, 1 time winner (98))

France is the highest rated team in this group and most people seem to think that they will easily advance but I have to disagree. France did very poorly in qualification, finishing second to Serbia and forced to play in a playoff to make the world cup. And in that playoff against Ireland, Thierry Henry's handball has become famous. If not for that handball France might not have made it to South Africa.
Yes France made it to the final last world cup but they are not nearly as good as they were. This is not the same team with Zidane in the line up. Zidane had said he wouldn't play in the 2006 World Cup and wasn't playing qualifying either until France made an emergency call to him as they were doing poorly in qualification.
Henry and Benezema, their two best scorers, are in poor form and rarely finding playing time at the moment. Ribery has had an on and off year so no one knows how he will play. France do have a solid back line however which may save them.

Mexico (17, 15)

Mexico is another conundrum. They have qualified for the World Cup every year since 1950 but this time it was much harder. they barely made it to the final round of CONCACAF qualification, passing only on goal differential. Sven Goran Errikson was the coach and Mexico player terribly, starting of the final round very poorly and out of contention. However, Javier Aguirre came in and turned things around leading Mexico to 5 wins and 1 draw in their last 6 games and into second in the CONCACAF region.
This team was saved by a new coach and bring Blanco back into the squad. He helped create in the middle and this team is back on the rise. This team could very easily win this group and cause problems for other teams. Dos Santos and Torrado and midfield dynamos who can control and create. Carlos Vela is the man expected to score the goals

Uruguay (18, 11, 2 time winners (30, 50))

Uruguay finished 5th in their qualification group and had to play Costa Rica in a playoff to make the world cup final. CONEMBOL is one of the toughest qualification groups and South American teams always prove difficult opponents in the world cup. Uruguay finished qualifying on a high note by beating Argentina and then eliminating Costa Rica.
Diego Forlan, the former Man U player, is the big name in this side. He is a big time scoring threat against any of these teams and will cause problems for teams. He will be partnered by Luis Suarez, another goal scorer. These two together can reek havoc on their opponents, if they get enough supply of the ball from their midfield. The midfield is the big question for this team and will make or break them

South Africa (90, 3)

South Africa qualified as hosts of this world cup. Many believe that they would not otherwise have made it to the final and I tend to agree. However, no host has ever not made it to the knock out stages. There is something about playing for your home fans and in your home stadiums that cause these teams to over achieve (ie, France 98, Japan and South Korea 02).
Steven Pienaar is their best player and plays for Everton in England. He is a quality winger with good speed and touch on the ball. Gaxa is a solid left back who likes to get forward and will have his opportunities. Matt Booth is one of the most well known players and is very solid at center half. However, the question is where will the goals come from.
South Africa will try to build on its 4th place finish at the Confederations Cup last summer.


PREDICTIONS:

I honestly think France is going to crash out early this World Cup as they are lost without Zidane. The way the fixtures are set up lead me to think that Uruguay has a very good chance to finish top of the group with Mexico just behind them. I think Mexico are unlucky to have to play South Africa in the first game as South Africa will be hyped up and ready to go. The fans will be in full force and South Africa could win this though I see it ending as a tie. I see Mexico taking top spot with 5 points and winning on goal differential. Uruguay in second also on 5 points. France takes third on 3 points and South Africa finishes with 2 points.