FIFA World Cup 2006 Predictions (or an exercise in American Predictive Futility)

RECORD TO DATE: 18-6-7 [.750]

As testament to the ultimate hubris that all us Americans apparently exhibit, I've decided that I am going to put myself out there and try to predict the outcome of every single game in this summer's World Cup from Germany. That's right - an American who admittedly follows very little soccer (though I did watch the UEFA Final last week and it was great) is going to try to predict the outcomes. I'll start by trying to predict from the first game through the final, but once pool play actually ends, I'll put up a second set of predictions for that point on. I will consider this experiment a success if I can break 40% correct.

Predicted winner is BOLD AND CAPS, actual winner is Underlined. Final score in standard [Home:Away] format. First team listed is Home team. I'm not going to predict ties, because that's lame. Ties won't count as right as wrong.

Stage 1: Pool Play


Pool A:
GERMANY vs. Costa Rica [4:2]
POLAND vs. Ecuador [0:2]
GERMANY vs. Poland [1:0]
Ecuador vs. COSTA RICA [3:0] (POL/CRC eliminated, GER/ECU advance)
Ecuador vs. GERMANY
COSTA RICA vs. Poland

Predicted Finish:
1. Germany
2. Costa Rica
3. Poland
4. Ecuador


Pool B:
ENGLAND vs. Paraguay [1:0]
Trinidad and Tobago vs. SWEDEN [0:0]
ENGLAND vs. Trinidad and Tobago [2:0] (ENG advances)
Sweden vs. PARAGUAY [1:0] (PAR eliminated)
SWEDEN vs. England
PARAGUAY vs. Trinidad and Tobago

Predicted Finish: (after tiebreakers)
1. England
2. Sweden
3. Paraguay
4. Trinidad and Tobago


Pool C:
ARGENTINA vs. Ivory Coast [2:1]
Serbia and Montenegro vs. NETHERLANDS [0:1]
ARGENTINA vs. Serbia and Montenegro [6:0]
NETHERLANDS vs. Ivory Coast [2:1] (CIV and SMT eliminated)
NETHERLANDS vs. Argentina
IVORY COAST vs. Serbia and Montenegro

Predicted Finish:
1. Netherlands
2. Argentina
3. Ivory Coast
4. Serbia and Montenegro


Pool D:
MEXICO vs. Iran 3:1
Angola vs. PORTUGUAL [0:1]
MEXICO vs. Angola [0:0]
PORTUGUAL vs. Iran [2:0]
Portugual vs. MEXICO
IRAN vs. Angola

Predicted Finish:
1. Mexico
2. Portugual
3. Iran
4. Angola


Pool E:
ITALY vs. Ghana [2:0]
United States vs. CZECH REPUBLIC [0:3]
Italy vs. UNITED STATES [1:1]
CZECH REPUBLIC vs. Ghana [0:2]
CZECH REPUBLIC vs. Italy
Ghana vs. UNITED STATES

Predicted Finish:
1. Czech Republic
2. United States
3. Italy
4. Ghana


Pool F:
BRAZIL vs. Croatia [1:0]
Australia vs. JAPAN [3:1]
BRAZIL vs. Australia [2:0]
JAPAN vs. Croatia [0:0]
Japan vs. BRAZIL
CROATIA vs. Australia

Predicted Finish:
1. Brazil
2. Japan
3. Croatia
4. Australia


Pool G:
FRANCE vs. Switzerland [0:0]
SOUTH KOREA vs. Togo [2:1]
FRANCE vs. South Korea [2:2]
Togo vs. SWITZERLAND [0:2]
Togo vs. FRANCE
Switzerland vs. SOUTH KOREA

Predicted Finish:
1. France
2. South Korea
3. Switzerland
4. Togo


Pool H:
SPAIN vs. Ukraine [4:0]
TUNISIA vs. Saudi Arabia [2:2]
Spain vs. TUNISIA
SAUDI ARABIA vs. Ukraine [0:4]
Saudi Arabia vs. SPAIN
Ukraine vs. TUNISIA

Predicted Finish:
1. Tunisia
2. Spain
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Ukraine


Stage 2: Knockout Stages

Round of 16:
1A vs. 2B: GERMANY vs. Sweden
1C vs. 2D: NETHERLANDS vs. Portugual
1B vs. 2A: ENGLAND vs. Costa Rica
1D vs. 2C: MEXICO vs. Argentina
1E vs. 2F: CZECH REPUBLIC vs. Japan
1G vs. 2H: France vs. SPAIN
1F vs. 2E: BRAZIL vs. United States
1H vs. 2G: Tunisia vs. SOUTH KOREA


Quarterfinals:
Germany vs. NETHERLANDS
CZECH REPUBLIC vs. Spain
England vs. MEXICO
BRAZIL vs. South Korea


Semifinals:
NETHERLANDS vs. Czech Republic
Mexico vs. BRAZIL


Final:
Netherlands vs. BRAZIL


Yeah, I know - really going out on a limb picking Brazil, eh? Well, they're the overwhelming favorites for a reason. That team is freaking LOADED. This should be interesting to see how this all turns out. I didn't realize that the USA got such a terrible draw.