We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2006 World Cup and half of the 32 teams in this year’s competition are making their way home. So what have we learnt from the group stage of the world’s greatest sporting spectacle?
The first thing to say is that, as ever, some groups have been tougher than others. Those who have successfully navigated groups C, E and F can consider themselves well-tested. Those who have come through groups A, B, D, G and H will face considerably sterner tests in the knockout rounds.
Secondly, it is a well-worn cliché that eventual winners often start slowly in the group stages. Certainly this was true of the West Germans in 1974, who went on to lift the trophy despite losing to their eastern compatriots in the first match, and of the Italians in 1982 who became champions despite drawing their first three games.
But equally, it must be said that World Cup winners often start well. Current holders Brazil won all their group games in 2002, including a 5-2 tonking of Costa Rica. West Germany won all their opening matches in 1990, including a 5-1 hammering of Yugoslavia. So, form in the group stages is not a reliable indicator of future success.
Heading into the knockout stages, this is one of the most open tournaments in living memory with no outstanding favourite. Brazil, Argentina, Holland, and Spain have all impressed so far while Portugal, Germany, Italy and maybe even France could still win through.
So here it is then, my thoughts on the group stages:
Group A
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Germany 3 3 0 0 8 2 6 9
2 Ecuador 3 2 0 1 5 3 2 6
3 Poland 3 1 0 2 2 4 -2 3
4 Costa Rica 3 0 0 3 3 9 -6 0
A fairly easy group for the hosts but they have breezed through quite impressively winning all three games. Miroslav Klose is the tournament’s leading scorer with four goals to his name. Two clean sheets will also have helped confidence following some shambolic defending in the opening 4-2 win against Costa Rica.
Ecuador have surpassed expectations and are not to be underestimated at the business end of the tournament. Poland have been insipid once again. Costa Rica’s poor showing begs the question, why CONCACAF gets four automatic places - the same as South America. Between them, the North and Central American teams managed one win in 12 matches, compared to South America’s eight.
Entertainment factor: 7
Highlight: Podolski’s brilliant breakaway goal against Ecuador.
Group B
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 England 3 2 1 0 5 2 3 7
2 Sweden 3 1 2 0 3 2 1 5
3 Paraguay 3 1 0 2 2 2 0 3
4 Trinidad and Tobago 3 0 1 2 0 4 -4 1
An awful group. On this form, both England and Sweden would be on their way home if they had been drawn in Italy or Brazil’s group. The English in particular have been disappointing, as the "golden generation" have produced one disjointed display after another. In Cole, Rooney and Gerrard though they have match-winners of the highest calibre and can therefore not be entirely discounted.
Sweden’s triangle of Larsson, Ibrahimovic and Ljungberg have laboured to find a point - let alone three. Trinidad and Susanna, taking up CONCACAF’s traditional basement spot, have at least acquitted themselves well, holding the Swedes to a nil-nil draw with ten men.
Entertainment Factor: 4
Highlight: Rooney’s hissy fit upon being substituted against Sweden. The nearest thing to passion Group B got.
Group C
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Argentina 3 2 1 0 8 1 7 7
2 Holland 3 2 1 0 3 1 2 7
3 Ivory Coast 3 1 0 2 5 6 -1 3
4 Serbia & Montenegro 3 0 0 3 2 10 -8 0
The group of death proved fairly straightforward for Argentina and Holland, who both toiled to deserved narrow victories over an impressive Ivory Coast. Both 1978 finalists have an abundance of talented young players who can light up the knockout stages.
For the Africans there is the disappointment of being drawn in a group with two genuine contenders, but they will hopefully be back in South Africa in 2010 to show what they can do. Farewell also to Serbia and Montenegro, the one side we will definitely not be seeing at the next World Cup, given the recent referendum result.
Entertainment Factor: 8
Highlight: Argentina’s magnificent 24-pass goal against Serbia and Montenegro. Teamwork at its most sublime.
Group D
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Portugal 3 3 0 0 5 1 4 9
2 Mexico 3 1 1 1 4 3 1 4
3 Angola 3 0 2 1 1 2 -1 2
4 Iran 3 0 1 2 2 6 -4 1
Portugal have limped to the head of a very unimpressive group without ever looking as good on grass as they do on paper. Comparing performances to expectations, Angola can claim to be team of the tournament after two draws and 1-0 defeat by Portugal.
Entertainment Factor: 5
Highlight: Angolan keeper Jiao Ricardo’s performance in his country’s 0-0 draw with Mexico. Not bad for a man without a club.
Group E
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Italy 3 2 1 0 5 1 4 7
2 Ghana 3 2 0 1 4 3 1 6
3 Czech Republic 3 1 0 2 3 4 -1 3
4 USA 3 0 1 2 2 6 -4 1
Probably the best group of the lot, with all four teams still capable of going through or going out after the first two matches. The Czechs looked impressive in the first match, beating the US 3-0, but in retrospect the injury to Koller in that match seriously undermined them in the next two games.
Italy seem to be moving up through the gears nicely, despite only drawing with a magnificently stubborn American team. Ghana are Africa’s sole representatives in the last 16.
Entertainment Factor: 7
Highlight: I must confess that I missed a lot of the games in this group, so I’ll have to give this accolade to the Americans for holding Italy to a 1-1 draw at nine men against ten. How strange to be rooting for the US, but the World Cup is that strangest of beasts, where the world’s only superpower is the underdog.
Group F
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Brazil 3 3 0 0 7 1 6 9
2 Australia 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 4
3 Croatia 3 0 2 1 2 3 -1 2
4 Japan 3 0 1 2 2 7 -5 1
The holders eventually came good, beating Japan 4-1 after labouring to victories over Croatia and Australia. But the old problems remain. World Cup all-time leading scorer he may be, but Ronaldo is still fat and pedestrian hampering the rest of the team, particularly Ronaldinho. Better teams will exploit this weakness.
Elsewhere, the Aussies have produced plenty of excitement and will be dangerous opponents in the last sixteen. That Guus Hididnk knows a thing or two about football management, that’s for sure. And a special mention to Graham "Three Yellows And You’re Off" Poll for taking some of the heat off England with his comedy refereeing during the Croatia-Australia match.
Entertainment Factor: 7
Highlight: Gilberto, Brazil’s reserve left-back, finishing like a top-class striker against Japan.
Group G
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Switzerland 3 2 1 0 4 0 4 7
2 France 3 1 2 0 3 1 2 5
3 South Korea 3 1 1 1 3 4 -1 4
4 Togo 3 0 0 3 1 6 -5 0
Four bald men fighting over a comb, this was the most pointless of all groups. France were dire against the Swiss and Koreans before finally coming good against Togo. Les Bleus just don’t seem to care if they stay in this World Cup or not, in all three games they have given off an air of world-weary indifference.
A poor Korean team might still have made the last sixteen but for some poor refereeing decisions in the Switzerland match. Still, the Reds are the only Asian team to win a match and the only ones who didn’t finish dead last in their group.
Entertainment Factor: 3
Highlight: Korea’s fans in the second half of the French match, willing their team forward to score an unlikely equaliser.
Group H
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Spain 3 3 0 0 8 1 7 9
2 Ukraine 3 2 0 1 5 4 1 6
3 Tunisia 3 0 1 2 3 6 -3 1
4 Saudi Arabia 3 0 1 2 2 7 -5 1
Could this finally be Spain’s year? Any team which can’t accommodate Cesc Fabregas in its starting line-up must be pretty impressive. Ukraine are surely the only team in World Cup history to bounce back from a 4-0 thrashing by winning 4-0 themselves but don’t seem to have enough to go further. They played for a draw against Tunisia and got a win after Shevchenko fell over his own bootlaces in the penalty area. No 8-0 thrashing this time for Saudi Arabia but they did manage to lose to Spain’s second eleven which says it all.
Entertainment Factor: 6
Highlight: Tunisia and Saudi Arabia’s 2-2 draw, with both teams scoring late goals.
And now, to really make a fool of myself, here are my predictions for the second round games:
Saturday, 24 June 2006
Germany v Sweden, 16:00
The hosts are hitting form, with both their strikers having found the net in the last match and the country starting to believe that a previously under-par team could go all the way. Even with the incomparable Larsson, Sweden look dire.
Prediction: Germany 2 Sweden 0
Argentina v Mexico, 20:00
The best team so far will surely waltz past CONCACAF’s finest. Jose Peckerman has the luxury of bringing back fresh players having rested some of them agianst the Dutch.
Prediction: Argentina 3 Mexico 0
Sunday, 25 June 2006
England v Ecuador, 16:00
Those jammy Saxons, first they get the easiest group, then the easiest second round match. Nevertheless, England’s inability to string a few passes together should not be underestimated. The heart says Ecuador, the head says England.
Prediction: England 2 Ecuador 1
Portugal v Holland, 20:00
Robben, Van Persie and Horseface will provide the Portuguese with a sterner test than Mexico, Angola and Iran. Holland have enough good players to win, but never underestimate the dark arts of a Big Phil team.
Prediction: Portugal 1 Holland 2
Monday, 26 June 2006
Italy v Australia, 16:00
On paper this looks straightforward, Italy have significantly more world-class players than the Ozzies. The one doubt in my mind is the presence of perennial semi-finalist Guus Hiddink in the Australian dug-out.
Prediction: Italy 1 Australia 0
Switzerland v Ukraine, 20:00
Oh God, one of these teams is going to make it to the last eight. Did Switzerland really win a World Cup group?
Prediction: Do I have to? OK, then. Switzerland 0 Ukraine 0, the Swiss to win on penalties after Shevy misses the crucial spot-kick.
Tuesday, 27 June 2006
Brazil v Ghana, 16:00
Could be a great game but Ghana will miss the suspended Essien. Fat Boy could pass Gerd Muller in the all-time scoring charts in this match.
Prediction: Brazil 4 Ghana 2
Spain v France, 20:00
Spain should have the edge here, given their considerably better form in the group stages. Au revoir, Monsieur Zidane.
Prediction: Spain 2 France 1