World Cup 2006: Best game and result predictions
Are you ready for three games a day? Hardcore
enough for four? The game is on! Look here for ratings of which games should be
great and which are snoozers. Check for my predictions for winners in the group
stage. Click on "Read more" below.
There are 64 games, and only a few will be bold
(or deranged) enough to watch them all. Use this handy guide to decide when to
call in sick, when to tape and when to skip. Also nearby are my predictions for
winners. I had a mediocre set of first-round predictions in 2002, but it's hard
to choose between win, lose or draw. Hope I do better this
year!
These are my second-round picks,
see below for first-round predictions. The best second-round matches should be
Portugal v. Netherlands and Spain v
France.
Germany v Sweden: B- Sweden may
surprise. Predicted winner: Germany
Mexico v
Argentina: A- Should be entertaining. Winner:
Argentina
England v Ecuador: B England must
show up. Winner: England
Portugal v
Netherlands: A+ Should be excellent. Winner:
Netherlands
Italy v Australia: C+ Italy on
the spot. Winner: Italy
Switzerland v
Ukraine: B+ Nice match-up. Winner:
Ukraine
Brazil v Ghana: C Could be lopsided.
Winner: Brazil
Spain v France: A A great
rivalry. Winner: Spain
The best first-week games look to be
Argentina v. Ivory Coast on Saturday (June 10,) USA v. Czech Republic June 12,
Sweden v. Paraguay June 15, Holland v. Ivory Coast June
16.
Here are the full
details:
Game Date + time Rating
Comments Winner
C. Rica v Germany
6/9, noon B Enjoyable opener tie
Poland
v Ecuador 6/9, 3 p.m. B 2 organized sides
Ecu
England v Paraguay 6/10, 9 a.m B+ 1st
look at England Eng
Sweden v T&T
6/10, noon B- Lots of goals?
Swe
Argentina v. I. Coast 6/10, 3 p.m. A 2
talented sides tie
Serbia v Holland
6/11, 9 a.m. A- Holland look good
Holl
Mexico v Iran 6/11, noon B- Can
Mexico do it? Mex
Angola v Portugal
6/11, 3 p.m. B+ Colonizer wins
Port
Australia v Japan 6/12, 9
a.m. C+ Pacific toss-up tie
USA v Czech
Rep. 6/12, noon A- Should be close
Czech
Italy v Ghana 6/12, 3 p.m. B May be
a yawn Italy
S. Korea v Togo 6/13, 9
a.m. C+ Korea rampant? Kor
France v
Switzerland 6/13, noon B+ Joez-vous le fut?
Fra
Brasil v Croatia 6/13, 3
p.m. C- Global mismatch Bra
Spain v
Ukraine 6/14, 9 a.m. A- Could be epic
tie
Tunisia v Saudi A. 6/14, noon A- May be
key to group Tun
Poland v Germany
6/14, 3 p.m. B Neighbors at odds
Ger
Ecuador v C. Rica 6/15, 9
a.m. B- Similar styles cancel
tie
England v T&T 6/15, noon C+ Ugly
mismatch? Eng
Sweden v Paraguay 6/15,
3 p.m. A- Evenly matched tie
Argentina v
Serbia-M 6/16, 9 p.m. B Could get physical
Arg
Holland v I. Coast 6/16, noon A+ Group
of death indeed I.C.
Mexico v Angola 6/16,
3 p.m. C Mariachi music? Mex
Portugal v
Iran 6/17, 9 a.m. B- Iran's speedy surprise
tie
Czech Rep. v Ghana 6/17,
noon B+ Entertaining game Czech
Italy v
USA 6/17, 3 p.m. A- American surprise?
tie
Japan v Croatia 6/18, 9
a.m. A- Well-matched sides tie
Brasil v
Australia 6/18, noon C- Not much football, oz
Bra
France v S. Korea 6/18, 3 p.m. B+ Clash
of styles tie
Togo v Switz 6/19, 9
a.m. C Two unknowns Switz
S. Arabia v
Ukraine 6/19, noon B- Snow vs. sand
Ukr
Spain v Tunisia 6/19, 3
p.m. B Mediterranean mix Spain
Sweden v
England 6/20, 3 p.m. A- Always a nice game
tie
Paraguay v T&T 6/20, 3
p.m. B Paraguay pops Para
Ecuador v
Germany 6/20, 10 a.m. B+ Ecuadoran upset
Ecu
C. Rica v Poland 6/20, 10
a.m. B- Poland gets points Pol
Portugal
v Mexico 6/21, 10 a.m. B Tie could help both
tie
Iran v Angola 6/21, 10 a.m. B May not
matter Iran
Holland v Argentina 6/21,
3 p.m. A+ Crucial to both? Holl
I. Coast
v Serbia 6/21, 3 p.m. A- Africa's best bet
I.C.
Ghana v USA 6/22, 10 a.m. B USA finds
form USA
Czech Rep v Italy 6/22, 10
a.m. A- Defensive battle? tie
Japan v
Brasil 6/22, 3 p.m. C+ Brasil rolls on
Bra
Croatia v Australia 6/22, 3
p.m. B+ Could determine #2 Cro
S. Arabia
v Spain 6/23, 10 a.m. B May not matter
tie
Ukraine v Tunisia 6/23, 10 a.m. A- Key
to both Ukr
Togo v France 6/23, 3
p.m. D+ Pointless Fra
Switz v S.
Korea 6/23, 3 p.m. A- Toss-up Switz
Posted: Thu - June 8, 2006 at 10:33 PM