Aug 06
Olympic Soccer Predictions
We’re less than a day away from the Olympics starting, and with no real soccer news to report yet today, we’re going to do a little guessing. Below are the Olympic groups and then below that, you place the teams that win and come in second in their groups where they are supposed to be. I think you guys get it.
Feel free to discuss the picks after you’ve entered them.
Group A: Argentina, Australia, Ivory Coast, Serbia.
Group B: Japan, Netherlands, Nigeria, USA
Group C: Belgium, Brazil, New Zealand, China
Group D: Cameroon, Honduras, Italy, South Korea
Predictions
Group A Winners:
Group A Runners Up:
Group B Winners:
Group B Runners Up:
Group C Winners:
Group C Runners Up:
Group D Winners:
Group D Runners Up:
QF #1 – Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D:
QF #2 – Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C:
QF #3 – Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B:
QF #4 – Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A:
SF #1 – QF 1 Winner v QF 3 Winner:
SF #2 – QF 2 Winner v QF 4 Winner:
Final – SF #1 Winner v SF #2 Winner:
August 6th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
A: Argentina, Ivory Coast
B: Nigeria, Netherlands
C: Brazil, Belgium
D: Cameroon, Italy
Final: Argentina-Italy (Winner-Argentina)
August 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Chuck is making me not want to wake up at 3am.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
A: Argentina, Australia
B: USA, Netherlands
C: Brazil, Belgium
D: Italy, Cameroon
QF 1: Brazil
QF 2: Italy
QF 3: Argentina
QF 4: USA
SF 1: Argentina
SF 2: USA
Final: Argentina 2-1
in years past, it has been proven that anything can happen in the Olympics. I think it will happen again. If the US can win the group (no easy feat, but more unbelievable things have happened) they have a very strong chance to get to the medal round and at least get fourth. But I think we are going to figure it out and find out how to score and get to the final. That is a reason to get up at 3am.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
wow, actually i just saw that Messi probably will not be at the olympics afterall, so I think Argentina loses to Brazil in the Semis and Brazil goes on to win it 1-0.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I just really think the lack of finishing is going to be the reason for our early exit. I’m not the most optimistic person in general but I’m just not thinking that we’ll be able to score more than 2 goals this tournament (which I’m predicitng one will come from the spot). Which also reminds me, who’s going to ref these games?
August 6th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
unfortunately, I’m in a pessimistic mood and I’m going to predict the US don’t make it out of the group.
Here’s my predictions.
A: Argentina, Serbia
B: Nedtherlands, Japan
C: Brazil, Belgium
D: Cameroon, Italy
QF 1: Brazil
QF 2: Cameroon
QF 3: Argentina
QF 4: Serbia
SF 1: Serbia
SF 2: Brazil
Final: Brazil 3-1 Serbia
I think everybody is overlooking Japan. They’re talented without a doubt. I also really like Serbia. They were really good at the U-21 Euro’s and it’s practically the same team. Look for them to be a surprise.
What do you guys think about my picks?
August 6th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Serbia, very interesting pick to make it to the finals, Max. I haven’t heard much about them. I think that if they play cameroon though anything can happen. This first game between Japan and the US will be huge. For both sides a win is a must here. Very interesting, and exciting…I can’t wait until 3AM…I didn’t think I would ever say that.
Also Brazil is good, but two of there players Diego and Rafinha won’t be playing, so they are going to miss a solid attacking option and a very good right back, so I don’t know if they will make it to the finals either.
Its up in the air as far as I’m concerned. This will be a good tournament.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
actually charley, they will be playing. After the clubs won their arbitration, they said both of them could play. Weird right. The nice thing about the olympics is that just about anything can happen in it. If USA can win their first game, I bet they’ll go through, but if they don’t, it’s a long and hard rode to advance.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
huh that is weird. okay well never mind about all that. haha
August 6th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
yeah it’s the weirdest thing i’ve ever seen. Barca still wants Messi, but he says he doesn’t want to leave China and go back. here is a detailed report
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10525747
It sounds like messi really wants to play.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Argentina and Serbia
USA and Netherlands
Brazil and New Zealand (WHAT?! NEW ZEALAND?! yeah, that’s what I said.)
Italy and South Korea
Brazil over South Korea
Italy over New Zealand
Netherlands over Argentina
USA over Serbia
Brazil over Netherlands
USA over Italy
USA over Brazil on penalties.
Now let me go ahead and say why… I don’t think Brazil can defend against Jozy and McBride in the air, and Freddy Adu worked them pretty hard in the U-20 WC.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
And exactly how can we cover Jo, Pato, Anderson, Diego, Ronaldinho?
August 6th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
it’s quite simple
we unleash benny on them.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Maybe your team can score goals. Michael Bradley will fight your entire team. By himself. Watch out Brazil.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:02 am
haha we unleash benny on them…feilhaber has officially become the best joke ever
August 7th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
we put a prostitute outside of Ronaldinho’s hotel room… he won’t make it to the game.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
genius. that will do it.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
i think you americans are really underestimating Italy. Giovinco and Rossi are probably just as good as Messi and Ronaldihno (considering his poor form) and our defense is solid as always. we just manhandled honduras 3-0 who btw beat team USA in the final. Italy-Brazil final with italy beating brazil as revenge for 94. brazil is the best but they will beat themselves. Argentina is also very strong
August 8th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
i think italy will make it out of the group stages, but will lose to a really strong, really good brazil team. That’s reasonable. Italy is a strong team, but rossi and giovinco are not anywhere near messi, or even ronaldinho. Those guys are dynamic, can’t be dispossesed and are the best players in the world, are giovinco and rossi the best in the world. If your answer is yes, you are unrealistic. Messi is a superstar, Rossi isn’t yet, but he could be. Remember that he’s an American, you can thank us.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
he is american as i am max! born by chance! and talking about importing talent you shouldnt be saying anything since adu is 100% african. giovinco and rossi arent the best in the world (not even in italy)! and ronaldinho and messi arent either! i would say kaka and mr. torres are! seedorf is better than ronaldinho and milan will pay for trying to replace him. messi and giovinco are comparable but messi is better now because of more experience. giovinco is juve’s next del piero (who was the best forward). italy will not face brazil in the 1st round! we’ll win our group. and play a lesser team and make it to the final not meeting the south americans until then.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
by chance i mean 1st generation and not truely american yet
August 8th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
u have to be kidding me, giovinco is no where near messi. Messi is third best in the world as illustrated by the fact that he was third for fifa world player of the year behind kaka, and ronaldo. if that’s the case, you’ll make it to the semifinals where you will play argentina and lose.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
you’re picking argentina to finish second in their group? with messi? as you should have noted messi IS BETTER than giovinco is what i said. if giovinco had gotten the experience of messi they would be at the same level. you see the goal against honduras?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
no, im picking them first and they play italy in the semifinals if italy wins the group. That is reasonable. I watched the Argentina game in its entirety and messi just dominated. a goal and an assist against a strong ivory coast squad.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:36 am
if italy wins and argentina wins they can not meet until the final read the bracket better dude before talking…argentina-brazil is a semifinal almost set in stone…..italy-holland is the other probable one..