World Cup Predictions Blog

Yes I can see the Czech Republic getting to the semis but suspect the usual will rise to the top again... HOPEFULLY including England if Rooney stays fit.

Look for Togo to be a shocker. They beat some tough teams to qualify and have a pretty stingy defense. Also I differ in opinion and don't even think the Czech's will advance from group. Italy will win the group, but USA's scrapy play and explosive counter-attacks are going to take win them the second slot.

I think Czech won't do as well this time round. Togo could be a good strong physical side and the aussie's will make the knockout but not get an further. As for England, the cup has our name on it, Come on lads!

England have all the players to be the best team in the World BUT As patriotic as I am, I don't think England will rise to the occassion (frustratingly again!!) They'll get the usual bout of stage fright and drop their load in the latter stages but hopefully they'll give us something to shout about. It sickens me to say it but I think the Germans will get to the final.

I don´t think the Czech Republic could be considered a shoker if it qualifies to the latter stages of the World Cup, they are a strong team and people expects a lot from them since their great performance in the Euro. I don´t see any african teams going to the knockout stages, Ivory Coast was my favorite to do so before they were set up in the the group of death. The Ukraine is going to be according to my predictions the surprise of the World Cup, advancing to the quarter finals before getting beaten.

i think spain can be the dark horses-but they have to start better than usual

the surprise will be serbia, if they can beat argentina. Argentina have so much pressure, and, in every sport, the stingiest defenses always make a bing difference. Quarterfinals for them, as they beat mexico too.

I don't think that Ukraine can reach the quarterfinals...I have them beaten in the second round by France. Also, I don't think the Germans can reach the final. I have them beaten by holland in the Quarterfinal. Germany's team is nothing like 2002's. They don't have solid goalkeeping (Lehmann and Kahn are too old).

I think the Czechs will get out of the group. the U.S. is overrated.

I fancy Sweden to win it, and have done so for over a year. My last predictions were Baros for top goal scorer last euro, and Ronaldo for top goalscorer last wc. Í admit I'm better with goalscorers, but who knows... I think Sweden could definitely be a shocker like they were in 1994. It depends much on that no good [censored] Zlatan. Much as I hate him, he may be the difference for Sweden.

Watch out for the Croatian team. Teams from that region have been known to give Brazil trouble and the Croats are much better than an overrated Aussie team. Plus if the Croats go through, chances are they may face Italy which also hasnt had much success against Balkan sides. Remember the name Klasnic, you may hear it alot.

I really fancy Italy 2 do well this year, but that's only if Luca Toni and Francesco Totti are playing at the top of the game. With a stiff defence and a fiesty midfield I believe they have what it takes. I also fancy Sweden to go all the way to the quarters at least, with Zlatan and Larsson up top you'll go far 2 find anything that can stop that

The Croatians shut down Zlatan and Henrik twice, home and away, shutting out the Swedes in both.

I'm thinking Poland and Czech Republic. But Croatia and Serbia are just names that stick out to me

The Yanks

The Americans still don't get any respect....I suspect they might get a bit more after Germany. Look for USA to win the group, avoid Brazil, and go on to a third place finish.

Or they will go 0-3 and everyone will say I told you so...

England all the way. We don't need Rooney, he's good, but unessential. We got through qualifying without 1 of his goals. AS for Dark Horses, I fany Spain and Holland to shine through to be honest

Watch out for Ukraine. Semi Finalists at least.

Here are the dark horses:
-Ukraine
-South Korea
-Sweden
-Iran

Here are the dark disappointments:
-Brazil (too much talent will turn against itself)
-France
-Germany

I think that czech republic can do a great performance, but not more than semi finals if they make it that far. Mexico can go well just as they did in sub 17. but it´s not the same so Ill go for Argentina or England to win the worldcup

I personally think England will do what they normally do, qualify in 2nd (even though on paper it is an easy group). They will then come up against the Winner of Group A which will probably end up as the Germans. I think we will beat them, the nation will go ott like it normally does and we will get knocked out by the Serbs or Argies in the Quarters.

As for dark horses, I can see Serbia doing well and one african team, similar to Senegal last time round. Other than that I think it is the Brazilians to lose.

Ukraine are a dark horse, i think spain will win the group with ukraine second. i feel that shevchenko will not disapoint anyone and may go on to be top goal scorer whilst taking ukraine to the quarters or even the semis.

Australia will have a big World Cup. They will have little difficulty progressing past the group stage as, while Brazil will win Group F, Croatia and Japan don’t pose any great threat. With decent on-pitch personnel and the organisational skills of Hiddink, I think they will actually perform better than many of the over-hyped, ego-laden nations of South America and Europe.

LOOK OUT FOR MEXICO. THEY COULD CAUSE SOME SHOCKS ALONG WITH THE UKRAINE. ALSO SPAIN HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE MARK SOME DAY.

KOREA!!!

This year, korea has it all worked out :P watch out for japan too, the asians have got it coming :D.

Australia's gonna do pretty good too...if viduka actually bothers trying.

England, i reckon, is never gonna beat Brazil. of course, brazil might get beaten by another team. hm...

Mexico will make the Semi's

i think the dark horses will be Ukraine....compared to the other dark horses they have a relatively easier group ..at least will clear the first round.

COME-ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!

The Darkhorses for me have to be Australia, Portugal and Ukraine.

Australia is a true darkhorse. They possess some fantastic players such as Kewell, Viduka and Bresciano and with the guidance of an absoultly awesome manager Guus Hiddink, they a definately a real threat to any competition. They are the only team in their group to defeat Brazil before and they have a good record against Croatia. With the support of the entire nation Australia will be a team to look out for.

Portugal, i believe has a real chance of taking out the 2006 World Cup in Germany. I cant understand why people have wriiten Portugal off. They were runners-up in Euro 2004 ( performing better then any other European team which has qualified for this years World cup), defeating Spain, Netherlands and England along the way. Portugal has scored the most goals then any other European side in qualification and they also have the experience of a World cup winning coach as well as possesing some of the most skillfull and creative players such as Deco, Figo and Cristano Ronaldo. They also have a solid defence spearheaded by Ricardo Carvalho. Also looking at statistics in the last 2 years of most International football matches, Portugal has the highest winning percentage of any team, competiting in this years world cup ( without including Euro 2004 results, which should only make Portugal's record look for promising). Portugal have won 70.58% of their games, drawing 23.52% and losing only 5.82%. If you compare this to so-called favourites like Brazil, Italy and Germany, Portugal's record outclass's them by far(
Brazil won 57.14%, drawn 25% and lost 18.51%, Italy won 57.89%, drawn 31.57% and lost 10.52% and Germany winning 54.54%, drawn 27.27% and lost 18.18%) . Portugal will be a force to be reakon with and should be a VERY HARD team to beat.

I consider Ukraine to also provide some upsets, and i can see them making the Quarter-finals. They might not have the biggest star players ( except for shevchenko of coarse), but in modern football that counts for nothing, its how they gel and work as a team. this is something Ukraine has done quite well. They have also defeated some big names in the past 2yrs including Euro 2004 champions Greece, 2002 World cup third placers Turkey, Denmark, Asia's most powerfull team Japan and Serbia & Montenengro. Ukraine will pull off some suprises.

I think ukraine will be the dark-horses in this world cup

Thers always at least one Darkhorse in every World Cup!!.Remeber Senegal in 2002?...This time..who knows??...I'm picking Poland to make the 2nd round and from here..who knows??...Hard to predict??...Isn't Ghana supposed to be a dangerous team??

UKRAINE ARE THE DARK HORSES!They drew 0-0 wiv italy, beat greece turkey japan and denmark,and in world cup warm ups beat costa rica 4-0 libya 3-0 luxembourg 3-0 and drew wiv italy 0-0 And they did all that wivout shevchenko!Come on ukraine!ukraine!ukraine!YKRAINA!YKRAINA!YKRAINA!YKRAINA!YKRAINA!World cup watch out!