2010 World Cup Predictions: Beat The Pundits
It’s time for the World Cup predictions, to determine which teams will advance from each of the first round groups and which country will go on to win the biggest prize in world soccer — the World Cup trophy.
Up until now, I’ve held off on providing my predictions namely because I wanted to wait unless there were any last minute injury scares. So with that said, I’ve listed my predictions below from each group. While in every World Cup there are always surprises especially with heavyweights getting knocked out of the first round, I’m finding it difficult to see which soccer heavyweights will not make it into the round of 16. But there are undoubtedly some predictions below that you may not agree with.
To make the predictions more meaningful and to have a bit of fun, I’ve gone ahead and listed my predictions alongside those of other world soccer pundits including the World Cup Buzz Podcast team and others.
And to make it even more fun, I’d like to ask you – the reader – to post your predictions in the comments section below.
My plan, as the tournament unfolds, is to publish a prediction “league table” to show which pundits got the most guesses correct, as well as to see how the readers of EPL Talk did against the pundits. Do you have what it takes to beat the pundits? Post your answers in the comments below.
One last thing before I reveal the predictions. If there are any pundits who have made predictions who are not listed below, post those in the comments section too so I can update the page. The more predictions from pundits, the merrier.
Here are my predictions as well as those from leading pundits:
Group A:
- Kartik Krishnaiyer (World Cup Buzz): Mexico, South Africa
- Richard Farley (World Cup Buzz): Mexico, Uruguay
- Laurence McKenna (World Cup Buzz): Mexico, France
- The Gaffer (EPL Talk): Mexico, South Africa
- Andy Brassell: France, Uruguay
- Paul Hawksbee: France, Mexico
- Sean Ingle (The Guardian): France, Uruguay
Group B:
- Kartik Krishnaiyer (World Cup Buzz): Argentina, Nigeria
- Richard Farley (World Cup Buzz): South Korea, Argentina
- Laurence McKenna (World Cup Buzz): Argentina, Nigeria
- The Gaffer (EPL Talk): South Korea, Argentina
- Andy Brassell: Argentina, Nigeria
- Paul Hawksbee: Argentina, Nigeria
- Mike Leigh: Argentina, Nigeria
Group C:
- The Gaffer (EPL Talk): England, United States
- Andy Brassell: England, United States
- Paul Hawksbee: England, Slovenia
- Laurence McKenna (World Cup Buzz): England, United States
- Richard Farley (World Cup Buzz): England, Slovenia
- Kartik Krishnaiyer (World Cup Buzz): England, United States
- James Richardson (The Guardian): England
- Barney Ronay (The Guardian): England
- Kevin McCarra (The Guardian): England, United States
- Barry Glendenning (The Guardian): England
- Jonathan Wilson (The Guardian): England
- Sean Ingle (The Guardian): England
Group D:
- Kartik Krishnaiyer (World Cup Buzz): Germany, Serbia
- Richard Farley (World Cup Buzz): Germany, Serbia
- Laurence McKenna (World Cup Buzz): Germany, Serbia
- The Gaffer (EPL Talk): Ghana, Germany
- Andy Brassell: Germany, Ghana
- Paul Hawksbee: Germany, Australia
Group E:
- Kartik Krishnaiyer (World Cup Buzz): Netherlands, Denmark
- Richard Farley (World Cup Buzz): Netherlands, Japan
- Laurence McKenna (World Cup Buzz): Netherlands, Denmark
- The Gaffer (EPL Talk): Netherlands, Japan
- Andy Brassell: Netherlands, Cameroon
- Paul Hawksbee: Netherlands, Cameroon
- Mike Leigh: Netherlands, Japan
Group F:
- Kartik Krishnaiyer (World Cup Buzz): Italy, Slovakia
- Richard Farley (World Cup Buzz): Slovakia, Paraguay
- Laurence McKenna (World Cup Buzz): Slovakia, Italy
- The Gaffer (EPL Talk): Slovakia, Italy
- Andy Brassell: Slovakia, Italy
- Paul Hawksbee: Italy, Paraguay
Group G:
- Kartik Krishnaiyer (World Cup Buzz): Brazil, Portugal
- Richard Farley (World Cup Buzz): Brazil, Portugal
- Laurence McKenna (World Cup Buzz): Brazil, Portugal
- The Gaffer (EPL Talk): Brazil, Ivory Coast
- Andy Brassell: Brazil, Ivory Coast
- Paul Hawksbee: Brazil, Portugal
Group H:
- Kartik Krishnaiyer (World Cup Buzz): Spain, Chile
- Richard Farley (World Cup Buzz): Spain, Chile
- Laurence McKenna (World Cup Buzz): Spain, Chile
- The Gaffer (EPL Talk): Spain, Switzerland
- Andy Brassell: Spain, Switzerland
World Cup Winner:
- Sid Lowe (The Guardian): Brazil
- The Gaffer (EPL Talk): Brazil
- Barry Glendenning (The Guardian): Argentina
- Andy Brassell: Brazil
36 Responses to 2010 World Cup Predictions: Beat The Pundits
Group A: France, Uruguay
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria
Group C: England, United States
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire
Group H: Spain, Chile
World Cup Winner:
Netherlands over Spain in the Final
Group A : France, Uruguay
Group B : Argentina, S. Korea
Group C : England, USA
Group D : Australia, Germany
Group E : Netherlands, Denmark
Group F : Italy, Paraguay
Group G : Brazil, Portugal
Group H : Spain, Chile
Second Round:
France (2) – S Korea (0), England (2) – Germany (2) ((4) – (5) on Pens), Australia (1) – USA (1) ((4) – (2) on Pens), Argentina (4) – Uruguay (2), Netherlands (3) – Paraguay (0), Brazil (1) – Chile (0), Italy (2) – Denmark (0), Spain (3) – Portugal (2)
Quarters:
Netherlands (1) – Brazil (2), France (1) – Germany (1) ((4) – (5) on Pens), Argentina (2) – Australia (1), Italy (0) – Spain (3)
Semis:
Germany (0) – Brazil (2), Argentina (0) – Spain (1)
Final:
3 Place play-off:
Germany (1) – Argentina (3)
Final:
Brazil (1) – Spain (1) ((3) – (4) on Pens)
SPAIN will win their first ever world cup!!!!!!!!!!!!
Top 4 : England, Netheland, Arggentina, Spain
Final : Spain will defeat Nethaland
netherlands wont get into the last 4
newb..
Group A: France, South Africa
Group B: South Korea, Argentina
Group C: United States, England
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Cameroon
Group F: Paraguay, Italy
Group G: Brazil, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Chile
World Cup Winners: (If not the United States) France
Reasoning: Easiest time making it out of their group, talent and experience. Also the weather should help UEFA teams over CONMEBOL teams.
Group A: Uruguay, South Africa
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria
Group C: England, United States
Group D: Serbia, Germany
Group E: Netherlands, Cameroon
Group F: Paraguay, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Ivory Coast
Group H: Spain, Chile
Winner: Spain
Group A: France, Mexico
Group B: Argentina, South Korea
Group C: England, USA
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark
Group F: Italy, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Ivory Coast
Group H: Spain, Chile
Winners: Brazil, over Spain
I’m curious of how you’re scoring the predictions. Perhaps you have insight or better methodology for us? At my bar, we are asked to pick the group winner and the second place finisher and given 5pts for an accurately placed pick or 3pts for an incorrectly placed but accurate in guessing advancement pick. Immediately after the group stage, we pick a straight knockout bracket without the handicap of keeping our previous picks (but keeping our points) for 4pts, 6pts, 8pts, and 10pts respectively….
but if I had to pick everything on today’s info
Group A: Mexico, South Africa
Group B: Argentina, South Korea
Group C: England, United States
Group D: Germany, Ghana
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark
Group F: Italy, Paraguay
Group G: Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire
Group H: Spain, Chile
QF: South Korea, Ghana, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Spain. SF: Ghana, Brazil, Germany, Italy. F: Brazil 4-2 Germany, Consolation Match: Italy 1-0 Ghana
Group A: France, Uruguay
Group B: Argentina, South Korea
Group C: England, United States
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Japan
Group F: Italy, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire
Group H: Spain, Chile
World Cup Winner:
England over Italy in the Final
A: Uruguay, South Africa
B: Argentina, Nigeria
C: England, USA
D: Germany, Serbia
E: Netherlands, Denmark
F: Italy, Slovakia
G: Brazil, Portugal
H: Spain, Chile
Brazil over ?? for the final…going with either Argentina (maybe wishful thinking) or Spain
Group A: Uruguay, Mexico
Group B: Argentina, Greece
Group C: England, USA
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark
Group F: Italy, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Ivory Coast
Group H: Spain, Chile
Brazil
Group A: France, Mexico
Group B: Argentina, Greece
Group C: England, United States
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland
Semifinals: Spain over Germany, Brazil over France
Final: Brazil over Spain
Group A: Mexico, Uruguay
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria
Group C: England, USA
Group D: Serbia, Germany
Group E: Netherlands, Cameroon
Group F: Paraguay, Italy
Group G: Brazil, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Chile
Final: Argentina beats Netherlands 2-1
My Top 2 from each Group Predictions:
A – Mexico, France
B – Argentina, Nigeria
C – England, Slovenia
D – Germany, Australia
E – Netherlands, Denmark
F – Italy, Slovakia
G – Brazil, Portugal
H – Spain, Chile
Group A : Mexico, S. Africa
Group B : Argentina, S. Korea
Group C : England, USA
Group D : Germany, Ghana
Group E : Netheland, Denmark
Group F : Paraguay, Italy
Group G : Brazil, Ivory Coast
Group H : Spain, Chile
Top 8 : S. Korea, England, Netheland, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Denmark, Spain
Top 4 : England, Netheland, Arggentina, Spain
Final : Spain will defeat Nethaland
Group A : Mexico, France
Group B : Argentina, Nigeria
Group C : England, USA
Group D : Germany, Ghana
Group E : Netheland, Cameroon
Group F : Italy, Paraguay
Group G : Brazil, Portugal
Group H : Spain, Honduras
Top 8 : Mexico, England, Argentina, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, Cameroon, Spain
Top 4 : England, Germany, Brazil, Spain
Final : Germany beats Brazil
Group A : France, Uruguay
Group B : Argentina, S. Korea
Group C : England, USA
Group D : Australia, Germany
Group E : Netherlands, Denmark
Group F : Italy, Paraguay
Group G : Brazil, Portugal
Group H : Spain, Chile
Second Round:
France (2) – S Korea (0), England (2) – Germany (2) ((4) – (5) on Pens), Australia (1) – USA (1) ((4) – (2) on Pens), Argentina (4) – Uruguay (2), Netherlands (3) – Paraguay (0), Brazil (1) – Chile (0), Italy (2) – Denmark (0), Spain (3) – Portugal (2)
Quarters:
Netherlands (1) – Brazil (2), France (1) – Germany (1) ((4) – (5) on Pens), Argentina (2) – Australia (1), Italy (0) – Spain (3)
Semis:
Germany (0) – Brazil (2), Argentina (0) – Spain (1)
Final:
3 Place play-off:
Germany (1) – Argentina (3)
Final:
Brazil (1) – Spain (1) ((3) – (4) on Pens)
SPAIN will win their first ever world cup!!!!!!!!!!!!
Group A:
France, Uruguay
Group B:
Argentina, Greece (It’s insane how none of you picked Greece, even with their poor form in friendlies.)
Group C:
England, United States
Group D:
Germany, Serbia
Group E:
Netherlands, Denmark
Group F:
Italy, Slovakia
Group G:
Brazil, Portugal
Group H:
Spain, Chile
Quarterfinal:
Greece, Argentina, England, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Brazil
Semifinal:
England, Germany, Netherlands, Spain
Finals
Netherlands, Spain
Winner
Netherlands
Reasoning: The Dutch are stacked and are obliterating teams. The Germans are in good form as well and despite the loss of Ballack they are still going to battle into the Semi’s. They are a team that gets it done. Spain will beat who they are expected to beat, but I don’t see them winning it all. Brazil vs. Netherlands will be the best game of the tournament, but I see a dramatic overtime loss for Brazil in the future. Italy might even lose to Denmark, I was being nice giving them that win. Greece will be sort of a cinderella story but England will prove to be too much for them. The poor Portuguese will go down in humiliating fashion to Spain. Chile will play Brazil well. Uruguay will play Argentina well.
And Gaffer I admire some of your underdog picks, but if you somehow get a perfect brackets through the first round I will be utterly stupidly shocked.
Group A: Mexico, South Africa
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria
Group C: England, United States
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark
Group F: Paraguay, Italy
Group G: Brazil, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Chile
R2: Mexico, Argentina, England, Germany, Netherlands, Paraguay, Brazil, Spain
World Cup Winner: Spain over England
QF: England, Argentina, Netherlands, Spain
SF: England, Spain
Final: Spain
Group A: France, Uruguay
Group B: Argentina, Greece
Group C: England, USA
Group D: Germany, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay
Group G: Brazil, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Honduras
QF: France, England, Netherlands, Brazil, USA, Argentina, Italy, Spain
SF: England, Brazil, USA, Spain
3rd England over USA
FINAL: SPAIN OVER BRAZIL
Group A: Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, Greece
Group C: England, Slovenia
Group D: Serbia, Germany
Group E: Holland, Cameroon
Group F: Paraguay, Italy
Group G: Brazil, Cote D’Ivoire
Group H: Chile, Spain
QF: Greece, England, Holland, Spain, Argentina, Serbia, Paraguay, Cote D’Ivoire
SF: England, Spain, Argentina, Cote D’Ivoire
3rd Cote D’Ivoire over England
FINAL: Spain over Argentina
Dutch all the way
Winner – Without doubt The Netherlands. Strength in depth in all positions on the field from the keeper to the front line. Injury prone however it if the key players can maintain fitness they’ve a good chance.
Dark Horses – probably South Africa. Home nations do tend to be buoyed significantly by their native crowd. Look at South Korea in 2002. That said they won’t win it! No dark horses will win it, the time is not right that the European/South American dominance to be broken.
England Predictions – being Welsh I don’t care. I have no desires for England to lose especially, but if they can’t get past the EASY (England, Algeria, Slovenia, Yanks) group then something is seriously wrong. Quarter-finals at best.
Player of the Tournament – Robin van Persie. this guy will have a tournament similar to Dennis Bergkamp in France ‘98. Remember that goal against Argentina? The Arsenal legend will no doubt conjure up something akin to this.
Golden Boot – there is no significant trend in the Golden Boot winner over the past few World Cups however, on aggregate, more Brazilians appear to have won it than not. On that basis I am going for Luís Fabiano.
Emerging Player – somebody’s African. Everybody will be looking to Africa. This guy seems to have a good strike rate, Katlego Mphela. Mind you, that’s properly against the likes of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic and other bastions of world football!
Group A:
France, Uruguay
Group B:
Argentina, Greece
Group C:
England, United States
Group D:
Germany, Serbia
Group E:
Netherlands, Camaroon
Group F:
Italy, Slovakia
Group G:
Brazil, Portugal
Group H:
Spain, Chile
Quarterfinal:
Greece, Argentina, England, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Brazil
Semifinal:
England, Germany, Netherlands, Spain
Finals
Netherlands, Spain
Winner
Netherlands
It’s time that the Dutch take it, they’ve easily been the best team ever to have never won the world cup, and 2010 will change that. They’ve been a champion team with no championships. That will end, they are stronger than ever (almost
) and they want it more than ever. It’s the year of the Dutch.
Go Nederlands!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spain to beat Argentina in Final
Wow, Richard Farley is sniping.
All I got to say is look at Richard Farley’s predictions so far. The guys has only missed twice in the top 2 group selections out of 6 groups. (10 for 12) Impressive
Definitely. I thought I was decent in 12 out of 16. hats off to Farley’s 13
also really weird that all the remaining European teams are all segregated into exclusively European groups
There’s no doubt that Spain will be in the final.
Uruguay will win the world cup 2010
GERMANY, GLORY!
I want Spain or Uruguay
WILL WIN – GERMANY
For the 3rd place will be Uruguay and for 1st place Spain.
But the other 2 team are strong.
I believe Uruguay will win. I just have this feeling.