2010 World Cup Soccer: Predictions, Assumptions, Analysis, Market Odds.
These predictions are purely based on pre-tournament odds for the teams and which opponents they are likely to face in the knockout fixtures as per the World Cup draws. As most people would agree, “The beautiful game” never fails to surprise us in unpredictable ways and we all are hoping to experience more of these during the showpiece tournament in South Africa.
This second part of the tournament is known as the knockout stage. Teams’ will make it there once the first round is over with. Going with the group winners and runners-up predicted in the first part, below are their likely opponents in the knockout stage, as per the market odds of course.
Round of 16:
Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up: France may not have qualified easily through their group but they would be backed to win against Nigeria.
Group C Winner vs Group D Runner-up: The superstar team will not have a run in the park facing a strong Serbian side. The match is not easy to call but with better one-on-one players, England will be the likely winners.
Group D Winner vs Group C Runner-up: The German team is good in grinding out positive results against any opponents and they will be favourites against the U.S.
Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up: For this early in the tournament, a team like Argentina will be backed to win against any team, let alone Mexico.
Group E Winner vs Group F Runner-up: The Dutch team is an extremely talented bunch of players who are yet to reach the highest level in their development. This match against Paraguay will be a step towards the right direction.
Group G Winner vs Group H Runner-up: Brazilians playing in a World Cup always give them a special kind of lift and there will be no stopping against their South American rivals Chile.
Group F Winner vs Group E Runner-up: Denmark will have nothing to lose at this stage but the pressure of playing in a tournament such as this will prove to be difficult for them. Italians are used to playing the highest level of football week in week out and they will prove to be a little too strong for the Danes.
Group H Winner vs Group G Runner-up: Whichever betting market you go to, Spain is the hot favourite team that is expected to win the title. They have a relatively easy group but it’s here in the knockout stage where the test really begins. They have a tough route to the final beyond the group stage and are likely to have first knockout match against their neighbours Portugal, but will be favoured to go through.
Quarter-finals:
R16 Winner 1 vs R16 Winner 2: It’s not harsh to say that the French team will be lucky enough to be this far in the tournament. England will be really looking forward to break their quarter-final hoodoo this time and are likely to succeed.
R16 Winner 3 vs R16 Winner 4: A likely repeat of the 2006 quarter-final but the result can be different as the Germans will not have the home support while Argentina is stronger than before.
R16 Winner 5 vs R16 Winner 6: Netherlands do not have the strongest of defensive lines in the tournament and against Brazil you badly need to have this strength. Brazil will be favourites to make yet another final-four appearance.
R16 Winner 7 vs R16 Winner 8: Defending champions Italy are far from their best and Spain is just reaching theirs. Spain will not falter without giving a complete fight.
Semi-finals:
QF1 Winner vs QF2 Winner: England vs Brazil
QF3 Winner vs QF4 Winner: Argentina vs Spain
Let’s leave it here – football can’t be this predictable you know – the market odds are one thing but it’s the team performance on the ground that matters the most. May the best team win!
Tags: