FIFA 2010 World Cup: Group A’s moment of truth; Strategies and Predictions
Group A has lived up to its notoriousness in this World Cup too. While the elimination of France seems evident the underdogs are starting to become the leaders of the pack and ready to make upsets in the next stages. The fate of the teams rests upon the results of these last matches in which every single goal whether necessary or not might come in handy for the progression. Here is a brief scenario of Group A and predictions and advises by experts for each team for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
The current standings of Group A are as such: leading the table is first World Cup’s Champions and 2 time winners Uruguay with 4 points and a healthy goal difference of 3 above. Then comes along Mexico scoring 4 points while managing a goal difference of 2 plus. Then it’s the disappointing and humiliated France with just a point and a goal difference of negative two and lastly South Africa, who though scored the opening goal of the tournament, but couldn’t manage to relay that performance, achieving a point and a goal difference of negative 3.
Now the remaining matches are scheduled for the 22nd of June where Mexico will battle against Uruguay, which will prove to be a promised thriller and the chance for France to redeem itself. Although the Les Bleus will have a tough chance to win as Mexico and Uruguay will to have a draw or a one sided win and the French will have to defeat the ‘Bafana Bafana’ with more than four goals, they can still enter into the top 2 of the table.
Uruguay
Uruguay progresses with their audacious opening match victory against France to the South Africans, thrashing them a defeat of 3-0 in the process. In their last Group A match La Celeste will just need a draw against Mexico to lock up the top spot on the table. If they are defeated then they would be in deep trouble as South Americans would then face fierce competition for the glory from either France or South Africa. However they would have the edge as the tailing teams would have to compile a goal difference of 5 for that to happen.
Mexico
The Mexicans stunned the world when they humiliated the Les Blues with their 2-0 triumph. The El Tri like Uruguay is in need of just a draw to qualify into the next stages. Mexico’s final match against Uruguay will be a tough one which will test all their departments once again but I they succeed they will be one of top under dogs for the run of Gold. Uruguay having it in their blood will play a notch more offensive than the Mexicans while a lot interesting midfield game is expected from the El Tri. Still the Mexicans will try to defeat the Celeste as the second team in the Group is likely to play against Argentina and the Mexicans would have learnt from South America that the ‘Abiceleste’ is not a team to just randomly stand up against. Also if France or South Africa wins by a large goal difference than they would be knocked off from the second place.
France
It was well known fact that it’s hard to humiliate France not because they are extremely resilient but because their endurance for the humiliation is too high. Well the whole French nation is ashamed at the episodes of France and it proceedings for World Cup. The team won’t be much of a team after the removal Nicolas Anelka and the saga of the refusal to train. The French Football fans had long ago given hope for France to be in the race for World title. The still have a chance to rejuvenate from their ashes and defeat South Africa by at least four goals so that which will strengthen the chances of them entering the next stages of the World Cup.
South Africa
They started the tournament in a star fashion; with cheers, roars and vuvuzela’s erupting the brains of their competitors. They scored a marvellous opening goal for the tournament but then disappointed everyone with their 3-0 defeat against Uruguay. But all hope is not yet gone; if they manage to defeat the crumbling France by around 5 goals, they might proceed. A massive defeat by either Uruguay or Mexico will help a lot too.
Prediction
Uruguay will have a 2/1 chance of coming out as the group leaders while the French will have a close call in coming up as the second best in the group but eventually they will be unsuccessful.
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