World cup 2010 news

The World Cup is just over two weeks away. So it’s time to start making a few predictions. Who we think will qualify, and how the group will finish #1 to #4. Maybe it’s just because this is the first one, but I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that Group A might actually be the hardest to predict. You’ve got the weakest of the seeded teams in South Africa, and arguably the strongest of the second seed teams in France. Plus you’ve got two very good teams rounding out the group in Mexico and Uruguay.

Can you pick which of those teams is going to finish bottom? Normally you might say South Africa, but their hosting the event seems to make that unlikely. Some tough tough choices to make here.

First thing I did before writing this post was to ask Chris for his opinion. Because he’s always got one. Here’s how Chris sees Group A finishing:

1. France
2. Uruguay
3. South Africa
4. Mexico

I can see the logic there. France is technically and traditionally the strongest team, Uruguay are certainly solid enough to pick up enough points and South Africa will put up a brave fight but fail to qualify for the second round. Then I remembered that so far no host country has failed to make it past the first round of a World Cup. Which would make South Africa finishing third somewhat historic.

I want to say I have a gut feeling South Africa will make it out of Group A. But given the quality of opposition, I just don’t see it happening. And though I don’t see France being particularly strong in this World Cup (Raymond Domenech etc), being unseeded but then being drawn into South Africa’s group was a gigantic slice of luck, and I don’t see them wasting a gift like that. So, after much pondering, my prediction for Group A is…

1. France
2. Mexico
3. Uruguay
4. South Africa

I feel seriously bad predicting that South Africa will finish bottom. In my defence, I don’t think they’ll get slaughtered. They’ll pick up a point or two and I imagine Group A as a whole will be pretty tight. But France will have that little bit extra and the young guns of Mexico will have just enough to pip Uruguay to second place.

How do you see Group A finishing? Share your predictions in the comments.

- We’ll be doing a Soundoff predictions post for each group over the next couple of weeks, but you can also predict the whole tournament in our World Cup Bracket competition.

I know what you’re thinking: what does MTV have to do with the World Cup? I rebut: what does MTV have to do with music?

Exactly – nothing.

This is actually the non-American MTV, where they know that for one month this summer the whole world will be focused on one channel – that one with the funny audio buzz. So they’ve called themselves out on it while slyly poking fun at football fans. (MTV of all people…)

They get top grades for the concept, but the commercials themselves are quite odd – which if the few times I’ve flicked by the channel in the last half dozen years is any indication, means it’s business as usual.

Russia:

Spanish (speaking?):

Korea:

Man City and England defender will miss crucial contest with Spurs and remains injury doubt for World Cup next month.