Speculation is rife, from our Anglo-Saxon friends at the bar counters who perennially see Brazil as the big favorite for the upcoming World Cup. But which 16 countries will have the chance to compete for a place in the quarterfinals of the great German football event?
The team at Nice Première has ventured some predictions regarding the next round of 16 games of the competition, which will start on Saturday, June 24, 2006 and end on Tuesday, June 27, 2006.
The first match will take place in Munich (5 pm) between the winner of Group A and the runner-up of Group B. It would be surprising if the Germans don’t win their qualifying group (Germany, Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador) and they might face Paraguay, who should emerge victorious from a challenging Group B (England, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Sweden).
The second encounter, taking place the same day in Leipzig (9 pm). The winner of Group C (Argentina, Ivory Coast, Serbia, and the Netherlands) could well be Argentina who would face an old acquaintance in the national team of Mexico, which should have fought hard to finish second in a reachable Group D (Mexico, Iran, Angola, Portugal).
The third matchup, scheduled for June 25 in Stuttgart (5 pm), should see the winner of Group B (probably England) and the team finishing second in Group A (potentially Ecuador, who should have managed to outdistance Poland and Costa Rica).
The fourth game of these knockout rounds will also be played on June 25 in Nuremberg (9 pm), featuring two other Europeans with Portugal, who would win first place in Group D (Mexico, Iran, Angola, Portugal), and Serbia-Montenegro, who would take second place in Group C (Argentina, Ivory Coast, Serbia, and the Netherlands).
The fifth meeting, played on June 26 in Kaiserslautern (5 pm), could be quite interesting as the winner of Group E (Italy, Ghana, USA, Czech Republic), likely Italy, will encounter the runner-up of Group F (Australia, Japan, Brazil, Croatia), who, barring major surprises, should be Croatia. A high-level European encounter awaits.
The sixth match on the agenda for the same day, June 26 (9 pm), sees the winner of Group G (hopefully France) who could find themselves facing the Spaniards who must navigate the many pitfalls of Group H (Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia). Another high-flying match between two European heavyweights.
The seventh showdown of these round of 16 matches will see the entry of the big favorites of the competition on June 27 in Dortmund, with the Brazilians who should finish top of their Group F (Australia, Japan, Brazil, Croatia), playing this battle for the quarters against a Czech Republic which, after finishing second in Group E (Italy, Ghana, USA, Czech Republic), would dream of adding the world champions to their list of conquests.
Finally, the last round of 16 game will be played on June 27 in Hanover (9 pm) and the last quarter-final spot should go to Ukraine, emerging first from Group H (Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia), and Switzerland having secured the second qualifying spot from Group G (France, Togo, Switzerland, South Korea).
Here are our predictions while waiting for your reactions and your own forecasts a few hours before the start of this 2006 World Cup which may hold some beautiful surprises.
Round of 16 schedule:
Germany – Paraguay
Argentina – Mexico
England – Ecuador
Portugal – Serbia Montenegro
Italy – Croatia
France – Spain
Brazil – Czech Republic
Ukraine – Switzerland
