January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Which teams will be going home early?
The 2002 competition was perhaps the most shock-filled of all. Turkey and South Korea reached the semis and Senegal and the U.S. both reached the quarters.
There's always a big name team to go home early too. In '02 Portugal, France and Argentina were all high profile first round casualties. In '98 it was Spain. So who will be the World Cup dark horses this time?
James Whittaker: My tips to do well this year — Ukraine and the Ivory Coast. Big-guns to go home early - France and Holland.
Chris Gibbons: Agree on Ukraine and Ivory Coast. I think Ukraine will be tough to break down and, in Shevchenko, they have one of the world's best.
With Drogba, Toure and Eboue and a wily old fox like Henri Michel at the helm, Ivory Coast is best placed of the African nations to make an impact.
England and Sweden should not underestimate Paraguay — especially if Roque Santa Cruz is fit. My other pick is Mexico.
Early exit? I think Group E with the U.S., Czech Republic and Ghana looks like three potential banana skins for the Italians and either Argentina and Holland could go.
Robert Calderon: I agree regarding Ukraine and suspect that Serbia and Montenegro will surprise Holland in round one.
England has gone from a small group of favourites to a team that could lose in the second round.
Selecting Downing, Lennon and Walcott is under the best of conditions a gamble but with Owen and Rooney's injuries and lack of match fitness, you have to believe Sven is under the influence. This team is not in the best of shape and could be left arguing about rebates on hotel rooms toward the end of June....
George Holdipp: I am hoping it will be Spain, not for footballing reasons, but for failing to sack coach Luis Aragonés after his racist remarks. The behaviour of the Spanish fans with their monkey chants directed towards Eto and other black players plying their trade in La Liga also leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
The failure of the Spanish football federation to act has turned this one time admirer of Spain to wish nothing but an early trip home for them.
CG: Aragones apart, this is actually the first World Cup in ages that I have not put money on Spain because I'm fed up with them under-achieving.
On racism, I think the climate in Europe, especially among nations like Croatia, Serbia and Poland is very worrying.
JW: Sacking Aragones would have been a good example to set.
The race issue aside, I think this might have been the time to have some money on Spain.
With strikers Raul and Torres, Fabregas and Xavi in midfield and Puyol at the back they have strength in every department.
They can't choke every time. Can they?
I think England will make the second round at least, probably the quarters.
Does that make Germany the favourites this time?
RC: No. It just says how difficult it has been for countries outside of that elite group to win away from home.
England’s progress even to the quarters is going to hinge considerably on Owen's fitness and form.
Only Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay ( in the 30’s ), Germany and Italy have won the WC on foreign soil. In short Spain’s best chance was in ‘82. Further Raul is not at his best and they are very suspect defensively. Only Puyol has played with any degree of consistency.
CG: FIFA has threatened to dock points or expel teams whose fans are racially abusive. While I think any attempt to kick out racism in football is laudable. Is it practical or fair to punish a team for the actions of a minority over whom it has no control?
GH: Certainly, particularly if those in authority i.e. the Spanish FA fails to act. That is tantamount to condoning the behaviour - it must be stamped out and if the majority have to suffer in order for something to be done so be it!
RC: The WC is not the stage to start the real campaign against racism in football. FIFA must mandate that all associations ban players, fans and clubs (Lazio being a prime example ) that openly tolerate and therefore promote racism at their grounds. The bans must be severe.
GH: I beg to differ Robert, what better stage to send a message on — FIFA and the Spanish Football federation have been lax in dealing with this issue that is why Luis Aragonés is there — he should not even have been allowed to attend the world's greatest celebration of football!
RC: It’s not the stage it’s the difficulty in determining if the offending individuals (fans) are genuine followers of a specific country.
There can be no better punishment than for Spain to be allowed to retain Aragones as he is not the best tactician and Spain will suffer on the field as a result.[[In-content Ad]]
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