Wednesday 20 February 2013

Mens Group A

Sudan- Last years surprise winners have redefined how to play in the WCP Cup. Their new style involves treating every dead ball situation including goal kicks and kick ins as though they are free kicks. Add in two gigantic strikers and you have an effective though not always pretty strategy.

Somalia- Here are the two things I can remember about the Somalia team. 1) They were not very good. They are going to have to step it up significantly if the expect to compete at all. Especially in this group. 2) They have by far the best national anthem in the tournament. Harlem Shake who?

Italy- A surprise team from last year. Italy began the tournament with a series of strong performances but fell apart as the tournament went on. A middle of the pack team that most likely will not win the tournament but will be competitive at least.

El Salvador- El Salvador will be the same El Salvador as we have seen in years past. A quick, skilled team that can hang with the upper echelon teams. However, without any resounding pick ups I don't believe that El Salvador will have the ability to make it out of the quarters much less their own group.

France- It was only two years ago that France looked poised to almost certainly win the WCP Cup but they came up just short. Though they had a bit of a down year last year it was simply for them to reload. Coming off a fantastic victory in the RSA Men's tournament France look like the odds on tournament to whine win the 2013 WCP Cup.

Predictions

Mike

1. France
2. Sudan
3. El Salvador
4. Italy
5. Somalia

Like I said France look in fine form and are favourites to win the whole thing. I also think people will start to figure out Sudan which will ultimately lead to their downfall. It is incredibly hard to repeat. Would not want to meet them in playoffs though. Therefore I have ES as the odd man out just because I think they will fall to both Sudan and France. Italy might make a game or 2 interesting while Somalia will sputter at best.

David

1. France
2. Sudan
3. El Salvador
4. Italy
5. Somalia

Same predictions as Mike here. France are awesome, so any group they are in I had to have them winning it. I think Sudan will just edge ES in a deciding game for the 2nd playoff spot. Italy have a squad in which they could possibly upset one of the top 3 teams which could stir everything up. Somalia hopefully went out and recruited some talent, otherwise they will experience the same results as last year.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know for a fact that France will win this group/tournament. They signed 3 players from that Winnipeg team to play but only in the playoffs.

Anonymous said...

word on the street...#10,#9,and tall cheeky keeper from rsa tourny.

Anonymous said...

did they signed that number 10 from Winnipeg? France needs a Zidane and that guy sure played/resembled him, but fatter

Not Annonymous said...

I agree with both of you. France should be the best all around team. Sudan could beat them, but France is a smart enough team to plan for that game, and they have enough talent to execute a solid game plan. Even with a good game plan, I can't see any other teams being capable of beating Sudan.

Italy and El Salvador will battle it out for third, and though Italy did beat ES last year, I think that was more a result of catching ES off guard. ES is still a stronger team and should take third place here. Unless Somalia made some major changes, they should have 5th place locked up.

Anonymous said...

France will finish first in the group. With the added strength of those Winnipeg players, they'll be going to semis at the very least.

Anonymous said...

Winnipeg players for France? Did you watch that game? France and Winnipeg didn't even shake hands after France kicked their a*#'s after their first game. Rumour mill- this myth has been BUSTED!!