Monday, March 29, 2010
Update
Since no one likes getting accounts, we're going back to anonymous commenting. The lack of commenting on posts is quite disturbing. Have at it.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Preview A Pool: Group D
Laos
Ukraine
France
Austria
Greece
Italy
Group D will definitely not be an easy group, and along with Group B could be considered the hardest pool. Laos gets the 4th seed in this one. Ukraine joins them, but it is a significantly weaker Ukraine team. They should definitely not be counted out though. France, another top contender, is back and raring to go. Austria was a strong team last year, giving France all they handle in the group stage and keeping up with Ukraine in a scorefest in last year's group stage. Greece, another mainstay, is always up to play, and gives everyone a good game. Italy is the last team, and anything they can do to the other teams will be a huge blow to that team's hopes. France should be able to pull it together this year and come through on top, and Ukraine will also be playing hard. Laos will be hard-pressed to fend off these teams, and this could be the year they finally fall.
Prediction(in order of finish): France, Laos, Ukraine, Greece, Austria, Italy.
Game to Watch: Laos vs. France. Two of the top 4 teams in the tournament. That's all you need to know.
Ukraine
France
Austria
Greece
Italy
Group D will definitely not be an easy group, and along with Group B could be considered the hardest pool. Laos gets the 4th seed in this one. Ukraine joins them, but it is a significantly weaker Ukraine team. They should definitely not be counted out though. France, another top contender, is back and raring to go. Austria was a strong team last year, giving France all they handle in the group stage and keeping up with Ukraine in a scorefest in last year's group stage. Greece, another mainstay, is always up to play, and gives everyone a good game. Italy is the last team, and anything they can do to the other teams will be a huge blow to that team's hopes. France should be able to pull it together this year and come through on top, and Ukraine will also be playing hard. Laos will be hard-pressed to fend off these teams, and this could be the year they finally fall.
Prediction(in order of finish): France, Laos, Ukraine, Greece, Austria, Italy.
Game to Watch: Laos vs. France. Two of the top 4 teams in the tournament. That's all you need to know.
Preview A Pool: Group C
Portugal
Nigeria
England
Serbia
Northern Ireland
Poland
Group C features the surprise teams from last tournament, with Portugal and Poland. If you remember correctly, Group C from last year had top contenders in Scotland and Germany. Both were beaten out by, you guessed it, Poland and Portugal. Portugal ended up in 3rd place to top it off. Now these teams will have to prove that last year was no fluke. Poland is well on their way to becoming a top contender, and should be quite strong this year. Portugal has been quiet, but they have the ability to score on teams at will, so you can never count them out. Northern Ireland was also a part of one of the better games last year, when they beat Ireland 4-3 in the group stage. They'll get their rematch with Portugal from last year's quarterfinal. Nigeria has been a mainstay of the tournament, but they can never seem to pull together as team. England is back again, but has been very quiet. Serbia, the final team, was hyped up last year, but fell hard. Whether they get the players they were supposed to get remains to be seen.
Prediction(in order of finish): Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Nigeria, England.
Game to Watch: Poland vs. Portugal. The two best teams in the group.
Nigeria
England
Serbia
Northern Ireland
Poland
Group C features the surprise teams from last tournament, with Portugal and Poland. If you remember correctly, Group C from last year had top contenders in Scotland and Germany. Both were beaten out by, you guessed it, Poland and Portugal. Portugal ended up in 3rd place to top it off. Now these teams will have to prove that last year was no fluke. Poland is well on their way to becoming a top contender, and should be quite strong this year. Portugal has been quiet, but they have the ability to score on teams at will, so you can never count them out. Northern Ireland was also a part of one of the better games last year, when they beat Ireland 4-3 in the group stage. They'll get their rematch with Portugal from last year's quarterfinal. Nigeria has been a mainstay of the tournament, but they can never seem to pull together as team. England is back again, but has been very quiet. Serbia, the final team, was hyped up last year, but fell hard. Whether they get the players they were supposed to get remains to be seen.
Prediction(in order of finish): Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Nigeria, England.
Game to Watch: Poland vs. Portugal. The two best teams in the group.
Preview A Pool: Group B
El Salvador
Scotland
Germany
Afghanistan
Norway
Jamaica
While all the groups came out relatively even this year, Group B could be considered the hardest. El Salvador will be very strong this year, and looking to avenge their loss in the final last year. Germany has a stronger team this year, and though they often fall below expectations, this could be year they finally pull it together. Scotland is not the powerhouse they once were, with a completely new team this year. Afghanistan, another new team, will be tough to gauge. With so many good teams in this group, Afghanistan and Scotland could have a lot of fun spoiling the plans for some teams. Norway has also gotten better, and will also be looking to regain their former glory. Jamaica, always a good team, is the last team in the pool, and always a threat to make it out.
This group will be very interesting. El Salvador may be favored to take the group, but as we've seen before, that's anything but certain. But they will be hard to knock off. Once again, it should be a battle for that second spot.
Prediction(in order of finish): El Salvador, Germany, Norway, Jamaica, Afghanistan, Scotland.
Game To Watch: El Salvador vs. Germany. This game should bring out the best in two very skilled teams. It will showcase both teams' strengths and weaknesses.
Scotland
Germany
Afghanistan
Norway
Jamaica
While all the groups came out relatively even this year, Group B could be considered the hardest. El Salvador will be very strong this year, and looking to avenge their loss in the final last year. Germany has a stronger team this year, and though they often fall below expectations, this could be year they finally pull it together. Scotland is not the powerhouse they once were, with a completely new team this year. Afghanistan, another new team, will be tough to gauge. With so many good teams in this group, Afghanistan and Scotland could have a lot of fun spoiling the plans for some teams. Norway has also gotten better, and will also be looking to regain their former glory. Jamaica, always a good team, is the last team in the pool, and always a threat to make it out.
This group will be very interesting. El Salvador may be favored to take the group, but as we've seen before, that's anything but certain. But they will be hard to knock off. Once again, it should be a battle for that second spot.
Prediction(in order of finish): El Salvador, Germany, Norway, Jamaica, Afghanistan, Scotland.
Game To Watch: El Salvador vs. Germany. This game should bring out the best in two very skilled teams. It will showcase both teams' strengths and weaknesses.
Preview A Pool: Group A
Ireland
Colombia
Chile
Botswana
Canada
Group A kicks us off with the defending champions. Ireland gets the pool of 5 this year, and not a very hard pool at that. New-look Canada and Chile will likely be their best opponents, while Colombia and Botswana will attempt to play the role of spoilers. Canada and Ireland are both physical teams, and it will be interesting to see if Canada can finally make it back to the playoffs. Chile has been playing together all team in the Men's League, and they are definitely no slouch either. They plan well as a team and will likely be battling Canada for the second spot in the group.
Prediction(in order of finish): Ireland, Chile, Canada, Colombia, Botswana.
Game to watch: Chile vs. Canada. This should determine the second spot.
Colombia
Chile
Botswana
Canada
Group A kicks us off with the defending champions. Ireland gets the pool of 5 this year, and not a very hard pool at that. New-look Canada and Chile will likely be their best opponents, while Colombia and Botswana will attempt to play the role of spoilers. Canada and Ireland are both physical teams, and it will be interesting to see if Canada can finally make it back to the playoffs. Chile has been playing together all team in the Men's League, and they are definitely no slouch either. They plan well as a team and will likely be battling Canada for the second spot in the group.
Prediction(in order of finish): Ireland, Chile, Canada, Colombia, Botswana.
Game to watch: Chile vs. Canada. This should determine the second spot.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Draw Date
The WCP Cup Draw will take place at the Italian Club on Friday, March 26.
The Italian Club is located on 2148 Connaught Street, just off of Lewvan and 13th Avenue. It's the best part of March, and it's always sure to be a great time. Bring your friends, and show them just how much fun the Saskatchewan Soccer community can have. See you all there!
There also seems to be some confusion as to which teams are even entered in the tournament. If you know for a fact which teams are entered, please post them in the comments so we can get some in-depth analysis going.
NEWS:
Early Favorites- The favorites for the tournament this year might surprise some people. The previous pre-tournament favorites, such as ROI, Laos, Ukraine, and Scotland, are no longer the teams they once were. ROI is the only team that looks to remain a top contender, but even they are feeling the effects of age. Laos has lost a couple key players this year, and hasn't gained any difference makers. It is uncertain as to whether Ukraine will have a team due to many difficulties in assembling players, and Scotland is unlikely to have a team.
So we're essentially left with ROI and Laos from those 4, but those two will be challenged by new and old teams this year. El Salvador, last year's runner-up, will still be strong, and France will be out for revenge with a better team as well. Can Jamaica regain some former glory? Can Serbia finally get the players they hoped would come?
New challengers will include Germany, who are always considered a top team but have never had the players to push them over the top until this year. Also, Poland looks to have added good players and will build on their surprising success last year. Afghanistan is a newcomer, and will likely have a lot of the players that made Saudi Arabia a contender last year. Canada has gained former Scotland players, and should make it back to the top ranks this year.
-To note: With Saudi Arabia not in the tournament this year, who takes their place in the top 4? With all the new teams this year, we could see a Group of Death like no other.
Any other news, please post in the comments.
The Italian Club is located on 2148 Connaught Street, just off of Lewvan and 13th Avenue. It's the best part of March, and it's always sure to be a great time. Bring your friends, and show them just how much fun the Saskatchewan Soccer community can have. See you all there!
There also seems to be some confusion as to which teams are even entered in the tournament. If you know for a fact which teams are entered, please post them in the comments so we can get some in-depth analysis going.
NEWS:
Early Favorites- The favorites for the tournament this year might surprise some people. The previous pre-tournament favorites, such as ROI, Laos, Ukraine, and Scotland, are no longer the teams they once were. ROI is the only team that looks to remain a top contender, but even they are feeling the effects of age. Laos has lost a couple key players this year, and hasn't gained any difference makers. It is uncertain as to whether Ukraine will have a team due to many difficulties in assembling players, and Scotland is unlikely to have a team.
So we're essentially left with ROI and Laos from those 4, but those two will be challenged by new and old teams this year. El Salvador, last year's runner-up, will still be strong, and France will be out for revenge with a better team as well. Can Jamaica regain some former glory? Can Serbia finally get the players they hoped would come?
New challengers will include Germany, who are always considered a top team but have never had the players to push them over the top until this year. Also, Poland looks to have added good players and will build on their surprising success last year. Afghanistan is a newcomer, and will likely have a lot of the players that made Saudi Arabia a contender last year. Canada has gained former Scotland players, and should make it back to the top ranks this year.
-To note: With Saudi Arabia not in the tournament this year, who takes their place in the top 4? With all the new teams this year, we could see a Group of Death like no other.
Any other news, please post in the comments.
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