NHL 2010-11 Season Preview: Stanley Cup Playoffs

Now that my predictions are done for the Eastern Conference and Western Conference it's time to look towards the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Last season's playoffs saw incredible drama including the bottom two seeds in the Eastern Conference making the Eastern Conference Finals.  So who will take home sports most prestigious trophy this season?  Here are my predictions for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Eastern Conference

1. Washington
2. New Jersey
3. Buffalo
4. Pittsburgh
5. Boston
6. Tampa Bay
7. Philadelphia
8. Atlanta

Western Conference

1. Vancouver
2. San Jose
3. Detroit
4. Los Angeles
5. Nashville
6. Chicago
7. Anaheim
8. St. Louis

Conference Quarterfinals

Eastern Conference

1 Washington def 8 Atlanta
2 New Jersey def 7 Philadelphia
6 Tampa Bay def 3 Buffalo
4 Pittsburgh def 5 Boston

Western Conference

1 Vancouver def 8 St. Louis
2 San Jose def 7 Anaheim
3 Detroit def 6 Chicago
4 Los Angeles def 5 Nashville

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference

6 Tampa Bay def 1 Washington
4 Pittsburgh def 2 New Jersey

Western Conference

1 Vancouver def 4 Los Angeles
3 Detroit def 2 San Jose

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference

6 Tampa Bay def 4 Pittsburgh

Western Conference

3 Detroit def 1 Vancouver

Stanley Cup Finals

3 Detroit def 6 Tampa Bay

NHL 2010-11 Season Preview: Western Conference

The Blackhawks ended their Stanley Cup drought last season in thrilling fashion taking out the Flyers in six games.  The price was steep though as Chicago dealt with serious salary cap issues in the offseason that resulted in many members of their Stanley Cup team being moved.  Will the Blackhawks be able to repeat as champions after all of their offseason losses? Here are my predictions with each teams' playoff seeding in parentheses.

Central Division

1. Detroit Red Wings (3): Even with all of their injuries last year the Red Wings put together a fine season.  Young goaltender Jimmy Howard came into his own and established himself as one of the game's best.  Now that the team is healthy again, the Red Wings will be back on top of the Central Division.

2. Nashville Predators (5): The team that always seems to fly under the radar in the Western Conference won't do so this year.  Nashville locked up winger Patric Hornqvist and added underrated C Matthew Lombardi to boost their offense in the offseason.  Pekka Rinne will be a strong candidate for the Vezina Trophy this season.

3. Chicago Blackhawks (6): They still have their superstars, but the Blackhawks lost too much to be considered an elite team in the NHL.  Many of their glue guys from last season were moved putting added pressure on Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Marian Hossa to light the lamp.  Replacing playoff hero Antti Niemi with veteran Marty Turco isn't an improvement either.

4. St. Louis Blues (8): Christmas came early for the Blues when the Canadiens traded them G Jaroslav Halak during the offseason.  He may just be the missing piece to get St. Louis back in the playoffs.  If their young nucleus of forwards continues to get better, the playoffs are exactly where they will end up.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets had many problems last season with their main one being goaltender Steve Mason.  After winning the Calder Trophy in his rookie season, Mason had a dismal sophomore campaign with a GAA of 3.05.  He needs to be better for Columbus to have any hope in this deep division.

Northwest Division

1. Vancouver Canucks (1): Vancouver addressed their need for a lockdown defensemen and then some by bringing in Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard.  This team now has everything they need to take home Lord Stanley's Cup.  Roberto Luongo now has his best chance to silence his critics and excel in the playoffs.

2. Edmonton Oilers: With all of their young talent, the Oilers are going to be one fun team to watch.  #1 overall pick Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Magnus Paajarvi represent the strong youth movement and bright future for Edmonton.  The playoffs may not happen this season, but they are not far off.

3. Calgary Flames: The Flames were a major disappointment last season and really struggled to score goals.  Calgary didn't do much to improve its offense either and surprised many people by bringing back Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay.  If the Flames struggle out of the gates, don't be surprised if the Jarome Iginla trade rumors start swirling.

4. Minnesota Wild: Defense and goaltending have always been the backbone for the Wild and both underachieved last season.  Much like the Blue Jackets, the Wild's success this season is greatly based on the performance of their goaltender.  Niklas Backstrom must be better in 2010-11 for the Wild to contend.

5. Colorado Avalanche: Colorado defied the experts last season by making the playoffs with such a young and inexperienced team.  While they definitely have the talent to do it again, the Avs fit the perfect mold of a team having a letdown season.  They lack veterans, have injury-prone forwards (see Paul Stastny and Peter Mueller), and have a below average blue line.

Pacific Division

1. San Jose Sharks (2): Is Antti Niemi the missing piece of the puzzle for San Jose?  Only time will tell.  Until the playoffs come around, expect the same old story and another Pacific Division title for the Sharks. 

2. Los Angeles Kings (4): Even with all of their cap room, the Kings were unable to lure Ilya Kovalchuk to LA.  Their backup signings weren't too shabby though.  Alexei Ponakarovsky is an upgrade over Alexander Frolov and defenseman Willie Mitchell brings another veteran presence to the blue line.  This may be the last season the Kings look up at the Sharks in the divisional standings.

3. Anaheim Ducks (7): The Ducks are the forgotten team in this division with so much publicity going to San Jose, Los Angeles, and even Phoenix.  The truth is that the Ducks have star power on offense with Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Bobby Ryan and a solid netminder in Jonas Hiller.  Anaheim will be back in the playoffs this season.

4. Phoenix Coyotes: If the Avalanche weren't the biggest surprise in the NHL last year it was the Coyotes.  G Ilya Bryzgalov came into his own last season as did many of the Coyotes.  But just like the Avs, Phoenix looks like a team destined for a setback.  The secret is out on the Coyotes and they won't be able to sneak up on teams this season.

5. Dallas Stars: It's a new era in Dallas now that Mike Modano is no longer wearing a Stars uniform.  Unfortunately for Stars fans, the era won't begin successfully.  They don't have the talent to compete with the other teams in the Pacific Division and if they get off to a poor start, there's a good chance that Mike Ribeiro and/or Brad Richards could be dealt.

NHL 2010-11 Season Preview: Eastern Conference

The NHL season is just days away and it is time for some prognosticating for the 2010-11 season.  The Flyers made a miraculous run to the Stanley Cup Finals as the 7th seed last season and are poised to do so again this year.  Will the road to the Stanley Cup go through Philadelphia again?  Here are my predictions for all three divisions in the Eastern Conference with each teams playoff seeding in parentheses

Northeast Division

1. Buffalo Sabres (3): With Ryan Miller in net, the Sabres will be the most consistent team in the division.  However, Thomas Vanek and Tim Connolly will need to stay healthy for Buffalo to win the Northeast.  Look for rookie Tyler Ennis to become a household name by season's end.

2. Boston Bruins (5): Thanks to the acquisitions of Nathan Horton and Tyler Seguin in the offseason, Boston will be much improved offensively even if C Marc Savard misses significant time   The key for the Bruins will be how their blue line performs in front of goalie Tuukka Rask.  Besides Zdeno Chara, the Bruins have many question marks on defense.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs: The Maple Leafs will be deeper, healthier, and more potent offensively this season.  If they find a consistent goalie, this could be the first time post-lockout that Toronto makes the playoffs.

4. Ottawa Senators: Sergei Gonchar was a big signing for the Senators but they should have used their money to resign Anton Volchenkov.  With trade rumors floating around about Jason Spezza, expect the Senators to take a step back this season.

5. Montreal Canadiens: In one of the most puzzling offseason moves in recent memory, the Canadiens traded playoff hero Jaroslav Halak away in favor of the enigmatic Carey Price.  The change between the pipes is enough to keep the Canadiens out of the playoffs and at the bottom of the Northeast Division.

Atlantic Division

1. New Jersey Devils (2): As much publicity as the resigning of RW Ilya Kovalchuk received, the bigger signing may have been D Anton Volchenkov.  The Devils now have the lock down defenseman they need in a division with Crosby, Malkin, Richards, Carter, and Gaborik.

2. Pittsburgh Penguins (4): Like the Devils, the Penguins bolstered up on defense with the signings of Zbynek Michalek and Paul Martin.  If they could find a consistent winger to play with Sidney Crosby and/or Evgeni Malkin, this team could be as scary as the Stanley Cup winning team two seasons ago.

3. Philadelphia Flyers (7): Philadelphia sports arguably the deepest offense and defense in the NHL, but they failed to obtain a legitimate #1 goalie in the offseason. Unless the Flyers makes a deal for top flight netminder, they will have trouble keeping up with New Jersey and Pittsburgh.

4. New York Rangers: Outside of star winger Marian Gaborik, the Rangers offense leaves a lot to be desired.  Expect goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to lose a lot of tough 2-1 and 1-0 games.

5. New York Islanders: With all of their young talent, the Islanders aren't far off from becoming a legitimate contender.  But with long-term injuries already suffered by Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit, the Isles will struggle out of the gate.

Southeast Division

1. Washington Capitals (1): After last season's collapse in the first round of the playoffs to Montreal, Alex Ovechkin and Co. better have the goods this time around. Alexander Semin is in the final year of his contract and Semyon Varlamov has yet to establish himself has an elite goaltender so if Washington falls short again, serious changes might be made.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning (6): GM Steve Yzerman has this team going in the right direction.  With the offseason signings of G Dan Ellis and LW Simon Gagne, and D Pavel Kubina, the Lightning have what it takes to get back into the postseason.

3. Atlanta Thrashers (8): Atlanta went for a change of pace this offseason by acquiring talent instead of trading it away. In the process they became "Blackhawks East" bringing in Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and Andrew Ladd. But their best signing during the summer was G Chris Mason. His veteran presence in net combined with the young talent up front will be enough to push Atlanta into the playoffs.

4. Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes got off to a wretched start last season but finished strong the last two months.  This team may still be a year or two away, but with a healthy Cam Ward for the 2010-11, Carolina will be in the mix for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.

5. Florida Panthers: They traded away star winger Nathon Horton in the offseason and Tomas Vokoun, David Booth, and Stephen Weiss might not be far behind.  We may be looking at another complete overhaul for the Panthers.

NFL 2010-2011 Predictions

Well it's that time of year again.  It feels like only yesterday that "Who Dat" won their first ever Super Bowl in Miami.  The NFL season begins tonight with a rematch of last seasons' NFC Championship Game between the Vikings and Saints.  So it's time for some predictions about what will happen this upcoming season.  Will the Saints become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl Champions since the New England Patriots of 2003-04? Here are my predictions for the 2010-11 season with the playoff seedings in parentheses.

AFC East:
1. New England Patriots (3)
2. Miami Dolphins (5)
3. New York Jets
4. Buffalo Bills

AFC North:
1. Baltimore Ravens (2)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Cleveland Browns

AFC South:
1. Indianapolis Colts (1)
2. Houston Texans (6)
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC West:
1. San Diego Chargers (4)
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Denver Broncos

NFC East:
1. Dallas Cowboys (3)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6)
3. Washington Redskins
4. New York Giants

NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers (2)
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

NFC South:
1. Atlanta Falcons (1)
2. Carolina Panthers (5)
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC West:
1. Arizona Cardinals (4)
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. St. Louis Rams

AFC Wild Card Round
New England def Houston
Miami def San Diego

NFC Wild Card Round
Dallas def Philadelphia
Carolina def Arizona

AFC Divisional Round
Indianapolis def Miami
Baltimore def New England

NFC Divisional Round
Atlanta def Carolina
Green Bay def Dallas

AFC Championship
Baltimore def Indianapolis

NFC Championship
Green Bay def Atlanta

Super Bowl XLV
Baltimore def Green Bay

Euro 2012 Qualifying Predictions

With South Africa officially in the rear-view mirror, it's time to look towards Euro 2012 in Poland/Ukraine.  All of Europe will look to qualify for just fourteen spots available (two spots for the host nations).  Although the international powers from North America and South America are not involved in this tournament, Euro 2012 shows the depth and dominance that the continent has in the sport.  There are eight qualifying groups for Euro 2012 with the winner of each group advancing forward.  In addition, the second place team with the most points automatically qualifies.  Lastly, the remaining group runner-ups advance to the playoffs to determine the final positions in the tournament.  Qualifying begins for most teams today so let's not waste anymore time and delve into my predictions for each group and who will make up the field for Euro 2012.

Group A: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Germany, Kazakhstan, Turkey

Coming off an impressive campaign in South Africa, Germany are the clear favorites to win Group A.  Die Mannschaft should face some tough matchups on the road, but not enough to be challenged at the top of the group.  One of the most interesting storylines in this group will deal with German star Mesut Ozil.  Ozil was born in Germany, but is half Turkish and had the choice to play for Turkey internationally.  Don't expect him to get a warm welcome when he visits Istanbul in October 2011.  Behind Germany, the Turks look like the team to beat in this group.  They have an experienced team that had great success in Euro '08 getting all the way to the semifinals and have veteran coach Guus Hiddink patrolling the bench.

1. Germany
2. Turkey
3. Austria
4. Belgium
5. Kazakhstan
6. Azerbaijan

Group B: Andorra, Armenia, Macedonia, Republic of Ireland, Russia, Slovakia

The most shocking team not to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup from Europe may have been Russia.  After a great showing in Euro '08, Russia gave Germany a run for their money in their World Cup qualifying group only to fall just short and eventually lose a playoff to Slovenia.  Russia will look to bounce back but may have trouble doing so in this top heavy group.  Slovakia is a team on the rise after advancing to the knockout stages in South Africa and no team in the world is hungrier for an international tournament than the Republic of Ireland.  Defending home soil could be the difference between winning this group and coming up empty.  With the momentum that Slovakia has coming out of the World Cup, they will continue to surprise and top a rather difficult Group B.

1. Slovakia
2. Russia
3. Republic of Ireland
4. Macedonia
5. Armenia
6. Andorra

Group C: Estonia, Faroe Islands, Italy, Northern Ireland, Serbia, Slovenia

Like Group B, Group C is incredibly top heavy with Italy, Serbia, and Slovenia.  All three teams made the World Cup and all three had their tournament end in heartbreaking fashion.  The Azzurri are in the midst of a much needed youth movement as Cannavaro, Gattuso and Co. are now an image of the past.  Serbia is a strong defensive team but lacks the scoring punch up front to be considered elite.  Slovenia is as good if not better than Serbia defensively, but they don't have much creativity in their midfield besides Robert Koren.  In the end, Italy will have just enough to win this group with Serbia finishing a couple points behind.  More heartbreak for Slovenia.

1. Italy
2. Serbia
3. Slovenia
4. Northern Ireland
5. Estonia
6. Faroe Islands

Group D: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Luxembourg, Romania

In one of the weaker qualifying groups for Euro 2012, France will look to bounce back from the utter embarrassment at the World Cup.  New coach Laurent Blanc will have his hands full building team chemistry and finding someone to captain the squad.  Even though Group D lacks quality, France isn't a lock to run away with first place.  In fact, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a rising team led by striker Edin Dzeko and don't be surprised if they top the group.  France will struggle to build chemistry and team unity in their first few matches and it will cost them the top spot in Group D.

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. France
3. Albania
4. Romania
5. Belarus
6. Luxembourg

Group E: Finland, Hungary, Moldova, Netherlands, San Marino, Sweden

The Netherlands went unblemished during their qualification for World Cup 2010.  This time around shouldn't be as easy.  Not to say that the Dutch won't top Group E, but Sweden, Finland, and Hungary will all prove to be tough road tests for the World Cup runner-ups.  The battle for second place will be interesting as Sweden, Hungary, and Finland all have a legitimate chance.  Sweden has the most talent of the three and will squeak by the other two to make it to the playoff round.

1. Netherlands
2. Sweden
3. Hungary
4. Finland
5. Moldova
6. San Marino

Group F: Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Malta

There's always one group in qualifying that seems weaker than the rest and Group F is it. Croatia should be the team to beat and will be hungry after missing the World Cup.  After them, Greece is the best team on paper.  But that doesn't tell the whole story.  Since winning Euro 2004, Greece has struggled mightily in international tournaments.  In such a wide open group, it's common for an upstart team to surprise and finish second.  Latvia will be that team and take the next step on the international level.

1. Croatia
2. Latvia
3. Greece
4. Israel
5. Georgia
6. Malta

Group G: Bulgaria, England, Montenegro, Switzerland, Wales

The Three Lions will not only look to win Group G but will look to win back the hearts of their fans after a disappointing showing in South Africa.  Euro 2012 may also prove to be the last international tournament for Steven Gerrard, John Terry, and Frank Lampard so the window for England may be closing.  England is definitely the most talented team in this group, but coach Fabio Capello needs to find a starting XI that gels.  With their defensive prowess, Switzerland is the type of team that can give England fits so Capello needs to find an offensive spark and someone to pair with Wayne Rooney.  England will win this group but it won't be pretty.  Expect lackluster scorelines especially on the road.

1. England
2. Switzerland
3. Bulgaria
4. Wales
5. Montenegro

Group H: Cyprus, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Portugal

For the second straight international tournament, Denmark and Portugal are in the same group.  In World Cup qualifying, Denmark had a comeback win at Portugal and played to a draw at home en route to topping that group.  Expect these two teams to battle for the top spot in this group as well.  However this time around, look for Portugal to finish in first place.  Despite losing their coach Carlos Queiroz for their first four matches, Portugal's defense will prevail in this group as they just edge out Denmark.

1. Portugal
2. Denmark
3. Norway
4. Iceland
5. Cyprus

Group I: Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Scotland, Spain

The World Cup champions and defending European champions have an absolute cakewalk in Group I.  They should not and will not drop a match in this group.  It is difficult to establish who actually is the second best team in this group.  Czech Republic is the team with the most international success in the past, but they do not have near the talent they used to.  Much like Group F, look for an unknown team to surprise in Group I and finish a distant second place.  Lithuania will be that team.

1. Spain
2. Lithuania
3. Czech Republic
4. Scotland
5. Liechtenstein

So Germany, Slovakia, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Netherlands, Croatia, England, Portugal and Spain automatically qualify for winning their respective groups.  As for the second place team with the most points, look for Russia to lock up that spot.  Lastly, the remaining eight second-place teams will face off with the top four ranked teams according to FIFA's rankings being seeded.  For the sake of this blog, we'll use the current rankings to make these hypothetical matchups.  Turkey v. Sweden, France v. Latvia, Serbia v. Denmark, and Switzerland v. Lithuania.  Look for Sweden, France, Denmark, and Switzerland to survive their respected two-legged playoffs. 

So now that my predictions are done, here is my projected field for Euro 2012.

Poland (co-host)
Ukraine (co-host)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Portugal
Russia
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

FIFA Power Rankings

For those of you who aren't football (soccer) fans out there, it's time to address an issue that has become quite nagging: the FIFA World Rankings.  To put it in perspective for the non-football (soccer) fans, the FIFA World Rankings are as embarrassing as the BCS.  For example, Mexico, who advanced to the round of 16 at the World Cup, fell seven spots.  Meanwhile, Greece, who only beat Nigeria in the World Cup and failed to advance out of their group, somehow rose one position.  So with that in mind, it's time to release my own power rankings to bring some sense to the football (soccer) world.  So without further ado, here are my rankings of the top 30 teams in the world with their current FIFA ranking in parentheses.

1. Spain (1): It is near impossible to get Spain out of their style and tempo.  Switzerland showed that the only way to do so is by scoring first.

2. Germany (4): With their youth and explosiveness, Germany is only going to get better.  Expect them to be the favorite in Poland/Ukraine two summers from now.

3. Netherlands (2): The Dutch finally broke through on the world stage in South Africa.  Don't expect them to leave the limelight anytime soon.

4. Brazil (3): Talent wise, Brazil is as good as any team in the world.  But they didn't show that in the World Cup.

5. Argentina (5): (see directly above)

6. Uruguay (6): The drop off after Argentina is significant.  Uruguay gets the nod with an impressive World Cup campaign.

7. Russia (17): I know what you're saying. "They didn't even qualify for the World Cup."  Don't forget that Russia almost topped Germany to win their group in World Cup qualifying.  They will be a force in Euro 2012.

8. Portugal (8): Portugal has one of the best defenses in the world, but their offense is absolutely abysmal.  Their only goals in South Africa came against lowly North Korea.

9. Chile (10): They didn't show off how explosive they are on offense during the World Cup, but they still advanced to the knockout stages and gave Spain a run for their money in Group H.

10. Mexico (24): This team is only going to get better.  Javier (Chicharito) Hernandez and Giovanni Dos Santos represent the very bright future for Mexico.

11. Ghana (23): Yes, they are a young team that made it all the way to the quarterfinals, but the Ghanaians scored most of their goals from the penalty spot.

12. Croatia (15): They failed to qualify for South Africa, but Croatia will be back on the world stage in two summers.  Their qualifying group for Euro 2012 is more than manageable.

13. USA (13): The key for the United States in the upcoming years will be turnover.  Odds are Donovan, Dempsey, and Howard won't be around in 2014. 

14. Egypt (9): Despite their failure to qualify for the World Cup, Egypt is arguably the best team on the continent.

15. England (7): The Three Lions have no leadership, no chemistry, and no consistent goal scorer.  Fabio Capello made many poor choices leading up to and during the World Cup.  He won't be allowed to make many more before he loses his job.

16. Australia (20): Take a closer look at their matches in South Africa.  After losing to Germany, they had the lead against Ghana and drew because of a red card, and beat a decent Serbia team 2-1.  The Socceroos are better than people give them credit.

17. Paraguay (16): Paraguay benefited from an easy draw and got all the way to the quarterfinals in South Africa.  If they were in any other group, they would have had trouble advancing to the knockout stages.

18. Slovakia (27): They have enough talent to match their success in South Africa two years from now.  Marek Hamsik is one of the brightest young players in the world today.

19. Japan (32): Surprised many by making it out of Group E.  The Japanese play an enjoyable style of football (soccer) and will rival Australia as the best team in Asia.

20. Switzerland (18): Switzerland can only play one style and that is put ten players in front of the ball and hope for a draw or a lucky 1-0 victory.  Until they learn another to win, they won't progress deep into an international tournament. 

21. Denmark (29): Couldn't follow up an impressive World Cup qualifying campaign in South Africa. With Bendtner, Kjaer, and Agger, the Danes still have the talent to qualify for Euro 2012.

22. Ivory Coast (26): Probably could have advanced to the knockout stages if they weren't in a group with Brazil and Portugal.

23. Italy (11): A despicable performance by the Azzurri in their World Cup title defense.  They looked old and slow in every match.  With a lack of young talent on the horizon, it could be awhile before Italy becomes a legitimate threat again.

24. Korea Republic (44): Just like Japan, Korea Republic surprised many by making it to the knockout stages.  They are far better than their FIFA ranking suggests.

25. Serbia (13): One of the biggest underachievers in South Africa.  Many people had high hopes for Serbia in the World Cup and even though they knocked off Germany, they failed to score goals at even strength.

26. Turkey (28): The Turks had a reasonable qualifying group for the World Cup but still failed to qualify.  However, teams shouldn't take them for granted though going forward.

27. Slovenia (19): Although they are not as good as their FIFA ranking, Slovenia has proved that they are not to be taken lightly on the international stage.  Remember, they were a Landon Donovan goal in the 91st minute away from advancing to the knockout stages.

28. France (21): Talent wise, France is worthy of a ranking in the top 15.  But their chemistry issues are worse than any teams in the world.  New coach Laurent Blanc has a lot of work to do.

29. Republic of Ireland (36): The most controversial team not to make the World Cup should be motivated to show they are worthy for a spot in Euro 2012.

30. Sweden (35): Usually a lock to make the World Cup, the Swedes fell short in 2010.  Because they have a veteran squad, Euro 2012 could be their last chance to make an international tournament for awhile.

2010 FIFA World Cup Recap

The 2010 FIFA World Cup has come to a close, but not before providing the world with a plethora of incredible memories.  From Siphiwe Tshabalala's opening goal for South Africa on June 11th to Andres Iniesta's World Cup-winning goal for Spain on July 11th, this tournament had everything. Vuvuzelas, goal-line controversies, handballs, country pride, continent pride, team turmoil, a first-time champion, and a psychic octopus named Paul all made the experience in South Africa one we won't soon forget.  So now that the 2010 FIFA World Cup has ended, it's time to hand out some superlatives for the best and worst from the last month in South Africa.

Best Player: Diego Forlan, Uruguay:
The straw that stirred the drink for La Celeste all tournament.  When Uruguay struggled offensively in their opening match against France, he moved from the striker position to center forward and showed off his versatility.  Forlan scored five goals in the World Cup and scored them all in different fashions.  Whether it was a free kick, a penalty kick, or a blast from outside of the box, Forlan made his presence known in every match.  What separated Forlan from the other top players in the tournament is the fact that his play was more important to his team's success. 
Notables: Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)

Worst Player: Fernando Torres, Spain:
Yes, he came into this tournament coming off of an injury, but Fernando Torres was a liability on the pitch for the Spaniards.  He was given opportunities in the group stages to snap out of his funk and missed numerous chances to put the ball in the back of the net.  By the time the group stages rolled around, Torres was being subbed out earlier in matches than before and was eventually taken out of the starting lineup in the semifinals.  La Furia Roja was a better team when Torres was out of the lineup in this tournament.  Torres' tournament success can be summed up by his performance in the World Cup final where he came on in extra time and pulled a hamstring while making a run.  But hey, he got to hoist the World Cup trophy so it wasn't all bad.
Notables: Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), France (France)

Best Goal: Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Netherlands v. Uruguay:
ESPN broadcaster Ian Darke put it perfectly when he said that Giovanni Van Bronckhorst's 35-yard blast was "an absolute fire cracker".  Not only was it the best goal of the tournament, it happened in the World Cup semifinals. 
Notables: Diego Forlan (Uruguay) v. Germany, David Villa (Spain) v. Honduras, Carlos Tevez (Argentina) v. Mexico

Flubbed Goal: Yakubu Ayegbeni, Nigeria v. Korea Republic:
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was full of "what ifs" for Nigeria.  The biggest one was Yakubu Ayegbeni's miss from just a few yards out with nobody in front of him in the 66th minute against Korea Republic.  If he had made the shot, Nigeria would have advanced to the knockout stages and become tournament darlings along with Ghana. 
Notables: Arjen Robben (Netherlands) v. Spain

Best Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas, Spain
Full Back: Maicon, Brazil
Centre Back: Carlos Puyol, Spain
Centre Back: Diego Lugano, Uruguay
Full Back: Phillip Lahm, Germany
Left Wing: Andres Iniesta, Spain
Centre Midfield: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany
Centre Midfield: Wesley Sneijder, Netherlands
Right Wing: Thomas Muller, Germany
Striker: Diego Forlan, Uruguay
Striker: David Villa, Spain

Notables: Manuel Neuer (Germany), Lucio (Brazil), John Mensah (Ghana), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)

Worst Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Robert Green, England
Full Back: Patrice Evra, France
Centre Back: Wayne Gallas, France
Centre Back: John Terry, England
Full Back: Eric Abidal, France
Left Wing: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
Centre Midfield: Ricardo Clark, United States
Centre Midfield: Felipe Melo, Brazil
Right Wing: Franck Ribery, France
Striker: Wayne Rooney, England
Striker: Fernando Torres, Spain

Notables: Federico Marchetti (Italy), Jonas Gutierrez (Argentina), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Alberto Gilardino (Italy), Jozy Altidore (United States)

Biggest Surprise: Ghana
After Michael Essien's injury, not many people believed that Ghana could repeat their success from 2006.  But the Black Stars became Africa's Cinderella nation in the knockout stages.  Youngsters Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew, and Kevin-Prince Boateng played inspired football and captivated the continent of Africa.
Notables: Uruguay, Paraguay, Slovakia

Biggest Disappointment: France
Everyone knew that France was in a state of turmoil before the World Cup started, but nobody thought it was this bad.  Coach Raymond Domenech was a pathetic excuse for a coach and made matters worse after sending home striker Nicolas Anelka.  They refused to practice, performed miserably on the pitch, and disgraced their home country.
Notables: Italy, England, Portugal, Brazil

Most Unforgettable Moment: Uruguay v. Ghana
Africa was so close to reaching a state of total euphoria.  Striker Luis Suarez had just been sent off for a blatant hand ball that prevented Dominic Adiyiah from scoring the game-winning goal.  They had one shot to assure themselves a place in the semifinals and carry the hopes of a continent on their backs.  But an entire stadium of screaming fans in Johannesburg went dead silent as Asamoah Gyan's PK attempt rattled off the crossbar at the end of extra time sending Ghana's quarterfinal match against Uruguay into penalty kicks.  Cinderella's slipper officially shattered a few minutes later as Uruguay prevailed 4-2 in the penalty shootout leaving an entire continent in undeniable anguish.  There hasn't been such a crushing defeat in the World Cup to this point than the one the Ghanaians suffered on July 2nd.
Notables: Andres Iniesta goal v. Netherlands, Frank Lampard missed goal v. Germany, Landon Donovan goal v. Algeria, Siphiwe Tshbalala goal v. Mexico

Most Entertaining: Germany
With precision passing, excellent chemistry, and the best counter-attack in the world, Germany was a force to be reckoned with this summer.  The youth and flair brought on by Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, and Sami Khedira revamped this squad into an attacking dynamo that will be heard for years to come.  Although they fell short in the semifinals to Spain, their landslide victories over Argentina and England will not soon be forgotten.
Notables: Ghana, Argentina

The FIFA World Cup is nonstop drama and excitement and the 2010 version was no different.  There isn't an event like it in the world and South Africa brought new aspects to it that made it even more special.  So after this wild, roller coaster of a month, let me speak for the millions and billions who were captivated this summer and simply say, thank you South Africa.  Brazil 2014!

World Cup 2010 Predictions: World Cup Final

Only two remain.  An all-South American final will decide the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  Not only are these two teams from the same continent, they are bitter rivals.  Everlasting memories and haunting nightmares will be created in just 90 minutes (or possibly 120 plus PK's!) for Brazil and Argentina.  So who wins the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  Here is my analysis and prediction for the World Cup Final.

Goalkeeping: Both goalies are starting in their first ever World Cup, but Brazil's Julio Cesar (Inter Milan) is already very experienced in important games.  He saw plenty of them this year alone as he helped lead Inter Milan to the UEFA Champions League trophy.  Sergio Romero is a bright young goalie for Argentina, and may end up being the better keeper in the long run, but Julio Cesar is the better in 2010. Edge:

Defense: Brazil has an excellent back four led by their sturdy duo in the middle of Lucio (Inter Milan) and Juan (Roma).  Maicon (Inter Milan) is an excellent defender at left back who poses an offensive threat when Brazil is on a rush.  The Argentine side is no slouch either as Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich) and Walter Samuel (Inter Milan) anchor the middle for them.  Also, Gabriel Heinze (Marseille) is a veteran prescence at right back for Argentina and is very reliable.  Defense doesn't stop with Brazil and Argentina after the back four.  Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos) at defensive midfield is one of Coach Dunga's most important players on the pitch.  The same can be said about the Albicelestes and Javier Mascherano (Liverpool).  Both teams have very sound defenses, but the middle pairing for Brazil is more seasoned and have been in more

meaningful games.  They get the slight edge.  Edge:

Midfield: Now it all depends on the lineups of Dunga and Maradona, but for now Kaka (Real Madrid) and Lionel Messi (Barcelona) will count as midfielders.  Both will look to create for themselves and others and are the major focal points of their offenses.  A Seleção doesn't have the big names in the midfield that most people are used to, but they are very talented and fit Dunga's technical style of football.  Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool) returns for Argentina in the midfield and is still a dangerous threat out on the wing.  Argentina's deadly weapon besides Messi in the midfield may come off the bench as Angel Di Maria (Benfica) seems poised for a breakout summer.  Both midfields are so impressive that there is hardly anything to separate the two.  Edge:

Forwards: Against most countries in the world, Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) and Robinho (Manchester City), would have the advantage against the opposing team's strikers.  That is not the case against Argentina.  No team has more depth up front than the Albicelestes.  Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid) and Diego Milito (Inter Milan) tore it up this year for their respective club teams and are in arguably their best form to date.  If they weren't enough, Sergio "Kun" Aguero (Atletico Madrid) and Carlos Tevez (Manchester City) are also available.  Aguero and Tevez would be one of the most deadly duos in the world if they were on another team and they will most likely be featured off of Maradona's bench.  The depth of Argentina's attack makes their strikers the better bunch. Edge:

Prediction: This should be one amazing World Cup Final between these arch rivals.  These teams played to a scoreless draw the first time they faced each other in qualifying and then Brazil thrashed Argentina the second time 4-1.  Brazil has had the Argentines number over the last few years including a win in the final of Copa America 2007 3-0 and in the 2005 Confederations Cup Final by the score of 4-1.  Argentina has watched Brazil stomp all over them for the better part of five years.  That ends this summer.  This World Cup will be one about offense and speed.  Argentina has both in spades.  Lionel Messi will make the jump from international star to international legend in the soccer world.  Argentina will be the team raising up the trophy on July 11th. Winner:

World Cup 2010 Predictions: 1/2 Finals

Three South American teams join Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup semifinals.  All four of these teams are extremely aggressive so the possibility of high-scoring affairs is very likely.  One can only hope that this year's World Cup has as much drama as four years ago when both matchups were decided by one goal (one ending in extra time).  Which teams will move one match away from eternal football glory?  Here are my predictions for the 1/2 final matchups with each team's group result in parentheses.

Uruguay (Group A winner) v. Brazil (Group G winner):  Familiarity is the major theme for this semifinal between the country who won the first ever World Cup and the country with the most World Cup titles.  Uruguay and Brazil met twice in South American qualifying with Brazil taking both matches by scores of 2-1 and 4-0.  No matter which way you slice it, Brazil seems to have the decisive edge in this match.  The midfield will be totally dominated by A Seleção, which will lead to few chances up front for Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid) and Luis Suarez (Ajax).  Dunga's finesse style will completely stymie Uruguay offensively and on the other end, expect Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) to have scoring chances early and often.  Brazil moves on to their fourth World Cup final in the last five tournaments.  Prediction: Brazil

Argentina (Group B winner) v. Spain (Group H winner): The best player in the world faces off against arguably the best team in the world in this semifinal match.  Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and the Argentines have the daunting task of taking down the mighty Spaniards.  The Albicelestes are on a short list of teams that have the talent take down Spain and will have to play a strong match to do so.  Javier Mascherano (Liverpool) will be a key for Argentina at defensive midfielder.  If he can neutralize Xavi (Barcelona) in the middle of the field then Spain's offense will not run as smoothly.  Much like Messi is for Argentina, Xavi is the straw that stirs the drink for Spain.  Argentina has a greater chance of slowing down Xavi than La Furia Roja does of shutting down Messi.  In what should be a highly entertaining matchup, Argentina will have just enough to get past Spain.  Prediction: Argentina.

World Cup 2010 Predictions: 1/4 Finals

It's down to eight.  The pressure is really on the remaining teams now to become heroes for their country and advance on to the semifinals.  The 1/4 finals in the last World Cup were heart-pounding as two matches were decided in penalty kicks.  Will this year's final eight matchups be as exciting? Only time will tell.  Here are my predictions for the 1/4 finals with each team's group result in parentheses.

 Uruguay (Group A winner) v. England (Group C winner): England finds themselves in a familiar position in the 1/4 finals of a World Cup. They were there in 2002 and 2006 with both matches ended in gut-wrenching defeats.  Coach Fabio Capello hopes 2010 will be a different story but his squad will have their hands full with Uruguay.  England can really take advantage of Uruguay if they can get contributions out of their midfield from Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) and Frank Lampard (Chelsea).  Uruguay's defense is solid but not spectacular and their midfield does lack a true playmaker.  That being said, England's back four is a total patch job with the losses of Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) and Wayne Bridge.  If Uruguay can control the tempo in the midfield, Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid) and Luis Suarez (Ajax) should see some good chances up front.  England has been tortured with heartbreaking losses in penalty kicks time-and-time again.  This one will be slighty easier as they get upset in extra time.  Prediction: Uruguay

 Netherlands (Group E winner) v. Brazil (Group G winner): Not many matches in the 2010 World Cup will field more individual talent than Netherlands v. Brazil.  The midfield battles between Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), and Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) of the Oranje and Kaka (Real Madrid), Robinho (Manchester City), and Felipe Melo (Juventus) of Brazil will be worth the price of admission alone.  While the focus of this match will be the offensive firepower, the match will be decided by the play of each team's defense.  That is where A Seleção will have an advantage.  Lucio (Inter Milan) and Juan (Roma) form a strong nucleus in the middle while Maicon (Inter Milan) is arguably the best left back in the world.  The Dutch just don't have the defense that can hold down Brazil for 90 minutes.  Gio van Bronckhurst (Feyenoord) is well past his prime and Joris Mathijsen (HSV) is a real liability at center back.  Defense will be the Achilles heel for the Netherlands yet again.  Prediction: Brazil

 Argentina (Group B winner) v. Germany (Group D winner): In a rematch of one of the best matches from the 2006 World Cup, perennial powers Argentina and Germany square off.  Four years ago, in front of their home crowd, Germany tied their contest with Argentina in the 81st minute and eventually won in penalty kicks.  This year's match will have similar faces from the one in 2006 and possibly an equal performance from both teams.  As fast as Germany is, Argentina will be the aggressor in this matchup so the Germany back line will need to be on their toes.  Expect young midfielder Sami Khedira (Stuttgart) to have the responsibility of following Lionel Messi (Barcelona) the entire match.  Argentina and Germany are evenly matched  for the most part so don't be surprised if this match takes extra time or penalty kicks once again.  Unfortunately for Germany, they don't have a veteran goalie and a home country behind them this time around.  Maradona's bunch will get revenge and move on to the semifinals in a thriller.  Prediction: Argentina

 Italy (Group F winner) v. Spain (Group H winner): Italy and Spain will meet in the quarterfinals for the second straight international tournament.  Spain took the match in Euro 2008 in penalty kicks in a hard-fought defensive battle that saw Italy play for overtime.  As good as Italy is defensively, that strategy won't work this time around.  Spain is even better on offense now plus they have seen this strategy before so it won't be as effective for the Azzurri.  Also, Italy's defense is not as firm as it was two years ago as age has started to catch up with Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) and Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan).  It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Spain may have a 60-40 advantage in time of possession in this match.  Xavi (Barcelona) and Iniesta (Barcelona) will wreak havoc in the midfield, which will lead to open opportunities for David Villa (Barcelona) and Fernando Torres (Spain).  La Furia Roja won't be tested this time around.  The defending champs quest for a repeat title dies in the 1/4 finals.  Prediction: Spain

World Cup 2010 Predictions: Round of 16

My field of 32 has been cut in half as the 2010 World Cup now advances into the knockout stages.  Teams will have to be sharper at this stage of the tournament because one mistake could be the difference between a team advancing and going home.  Who will have what it takes to make it to the quarterfinals?  Here are my predictions for my round of 16 matchups with each teams group finish in parentheses.

Uruguay (Group A winner) v.  Nigeria (Group B runner-up): Two teams that missed the World Cup in 2006 face off in this 1/8 round battle.  This should be a very exciting match as both teams love to get up and down the pitch.  Uruguay and Nigeria could each start three strikers so if you like goals, be sure to tune in.  In such a fast-paced battle, the back four for each team will play gigantic roles.  Uruguay's Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce) has the experience and leadership necessary for a battle such as this.  If Nigeria had John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) healthy for this matchup the result may turn out different, but Uruguay will have the offense from Suarez (Ajax) and Forlan (Atletico Madrid) and just enough defense to move on to the last eight.  Prediction: Uruguay

England (Group C winner) v. Australia (Group D runner-up): England was in this position four years ago and needed a free-kick goal from David Beckham (LA Galaxy) to escape against an upbeat Ecuador squad.  Will it be an easier go this year?  Australia isn't a team that finds itself way ahead or way behind in many matches.  The Socceroos will try to slow down the pace and play for overtime much like they did against Italy in 2006.  It would not be a shock to see this match go into the halftime locker room at a scoreless tie.  England will need some time to feel out the Aussie defense and effective changes will be made by Fabio Capello for the second half.  Australia won't be able to lock down Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) for the entire match.  The Three Lions will convert on chances in the last 45 minutes against Australia and advance with a little more ease than four years ago. Prediction: England

Netherlands (Group E winner) v. Slovakia (Group F runner-up): Now I know what most of you are thinking when you see this matchup.  There is no way the Netherlands can lose to little Slovakia.  Well, everyone was saying similar statements two summers ago when the Oranje faced off against Russia in the Euro quarterfinals.  This match will serve as a trap for the Dutch and they can't get caught looking ahead at a potential matchup with Brazil or Chile.  Even though the Netherlands have been prone to lose to teams they shouldn't, history won't repeat itself this time.  The offensive prowess of the Dutch is too strong for the Slovaks to handle.  Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan) and Rafael Van der Vaart (Real Madrid) will be all over the field and the Netherlands will cruise to a comfortable victory.  Prediction: Netherlands

Brazil (Group G winner) v. Chile (Group H runner-up): In this all-South American elimination match, defense may turn out to be optional.  Brazil and Chile should prove to be an all-out, offensive frenzy as these teams were the two highest scoring countries in South American qualifying.  Even though both teams can score at will, it is definitely more important for the Chileans to get out to an early lead.  Brazil has the experience and depth that Chile lacks so if they did fall behind early, it won't be as big a deal as vice versa.  Chile will get their scoring opportunities, but Brazil is the type of team that will eat them alive because of their overly-aggresive style.  Expect a fair share of breakouts for Kaka (Real Madrid), Robinho (Manchester City), and Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) and a high scoring victory for A Seleção.

Argentina (Group B winner) v. France (Group A runner-up): Argentina and France are eerily similar for the fact that they both have tons of individual talent but lack certain leadership and team chemistry.  The difference is that the Albicelestes have game-changers.  Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) is a very gifted player for France, but has shown the tendency at the club and international level to rely on other players to take over.  The Argentines don't have that problem.  Even if Lionel Messi (Barcelona) is kept in check, France won't be able to contain Tevez (Manchester City), Higuain (Real Madrid), and Co.  This matchup would have had a lot more appeal four years ago in Germany.  Argentina should have no problem moving forward.  Prediction: Argentina
 

Germany (Group D winner) v. Slovenia (Group C runner-up): Germany's offense will be put to the test against defensive-minded Slovenia.  Much like Australia will attempt to do against England, Slovenia will play low-risk football and focus most of their attention on stopping the German attack.  As good as Slovenia's defense is, they haven't seen an attack like Die Mannschaft.  England will be their closest comparison but even they don't have the quickness that Germany does.  Germany has too much speed on the wing with Lukas Podolski (Cologne) and Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen) that it will be hard for Slovenia to keep up.  With the style that Slovenia will be employing, there is a good chance Germany will only need one goal to win the match.  They will get two and make their eighth straight trip to the quarterfinals.  Prediction: Germany

 

Italy (Group F winner) v. Denmark (Group E runner-up): This match will be the polar opposite of Brazil v. Chile.  The winner will most likely have two goals maximum with a good possibility of only one.  Tempo will be critical for Denmark in this match because if they fall victim to Italy's smothering defense, it will be a long 90 minutes.  The Azzurri wont run away with this match by any means, but they have a knack of making a 1-0 deficit look more like 3-0.  Italy will be able to inflict their style and force on Denmark and completely shut down Christian Poulsen (Juventus).  Even though Italy doesn't have the talent it had four years ago, it still takes a very gifted offensive team to take them down.  Olsen's Eleven won't be good enough.  Prediction: Italy

 

Spain (Group H winner) v. Portugal (Group G runner-up): Without a doubt the most hyped matchup of the round of 16 will be between border-rivals Spain and Portugal.  Both teams are ranked top five internationally and the individual talent that will be on the pitch is astonishing.  Spain definitely is the more talented of the two teams, but Portugal has shown countless times over the years that they have what it takes to take down the world's best.  Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) won't be able to do all himself against La Furia Roja, which means the likes of Raul Meireles (Porto) and Simao (Atletico Madrid) will have to share the load.  This will be a close battle down to the referee's last whistle.  In the end, Spain will have too much talent and will win in extra time on a Xavi (Barcelona) free-kick goal.  Prediction: Spain

World Cup 2010 Predictions: Group H

Now on to the last but definitely not the least group in the tournament.  Group H is similar to Group B for the fact that three teams love to push the tempo and light up the scoreboard while one chooses to fall back and rely on their defense.  Spain is the favorite in Group H and one of the favorites to go all the way this summer.  In order to finish first, they will have to pass three tough tests against Switzerland, Honduras, and Chile.  Will someone challenge Spain at the top of Group H?  Here are my predictions for Group H with each team's record and point total in parentheses.

 1. Spain (3-0-0, 9 points): Spain is hoping that the tournament monkey is now off their back after winning the European Championships in 2008.  Currently ranked number two in the world, La Furia Roja is chock-full of talent at every position.  It all starts for them in the midfield where Xavi (Barcelona) is the table setter.  He along with Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) in the midfield look to set up the best striking duo in the world in David Villa (Barcelona) and Fernando Torres (Liverpool).  Villa led the Euro Championships in goals in 2008 and is arguably in the best form of his career.  Defensivly, Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) and Carlos Puyol (Barcelona) form a strong nucleus in front of all-world goalkeeper Iker Casillas (Real Madrid).  Spain should have their way with this group, but it won't be an easy path going forward as they will have to play the second place finisher from Group G(roup of death) in the round of 16.  If they stay focused like they did two summers ago, they could be the team to beat this summer.

 2. Chile (2-1-0, 6 points): Maybe the most exciting team in the field of 32, Chile is back in the World Cup for the first time since 1998.  La Roja finished in a tie for second in qualification behind Brazil and won a continent-best five matches away from home.  Chile lines up in the extremely agressive 3-4-3 formation which leads to many chances on offense, but also can leave them hung out to dry on defense.  Midfielder Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon) is Chile's best playmaker and has the responsibility of setting up strikers Humberto Suazo (Zaragoza) and Alexis Sanchez (Udinese).  Chile will give up its share of goals in this tournament (especially to Spain), but they will score more more than they will allow.  There is a good chance that the best goal of the tournament will come from the cleats of a Chilean. 

 3. Switzerland (0-2-1, 1 point): Compared to the other three teams in this group, Switzerland will look like they are moving in slow motion out on the pitch.  Their slow down style did work well during qualifying as the Swiss won their group with ease.  Since then though they have struggled losing back-to-back friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica.  For Switzerland to be successful in this tournament, goalkeeper Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg) will have to be sensational.  They will see a lot of pressure on their defense and anything short of Benaglio's best won't be enough.  On offense, winger Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen) is very creative in the midfield.  The problem is that Barnetta will be the focal point for The Swiss' opposition and without much other talent in the midfield, he could be neutralized.  In the end, Switzerland doesn't have enough firepower to be a threat to Spain and Chile. 

 4. Honduras (0-2-1, 1 point): Tiny Honduras makes its first appearance in the World Cup since 1982 and only the second in their history.  After a solid qualification finishing third in the CONACAF standings, Los Catrachos has struggled to score in friendlies.  They have been shut out in four of their last five matches including matches against lowly Azerbaijan and Venezuela.  Their offense will need to perform to have any chance to advance from this group.  That responsibility will fall on 36-year-old Carlos Pavon (Real Espana). He has proven over time to be a formidable striker in international play in the past and will need to keep that up for Honduras this summer.  Honduras won't be a pushover for their Group H opponents, but they won't have the depth or speed to hang in every match for 90 minutes.