T-Minus 23 Hours and Counting

In just about 23 hours from now, the 8th world cup of my life will be going on. This one is in Germany, and they are playing the first match of the tournament at 9am eastern standard time tomorrow against the Ticos of Costa Rica. All games this year are going to be on either ESPN, ESPN 2, or ABC this year...which is both good and bad, good because I'll understand all of the match commentary, but bad because there was just something about listening to a spanish language broadcaster announce a goal scored by Japan's Junichi Inamoto.

Here are some other names I really want to hear a Spanish Broadcaster say:

Oguchi Onyewu
Tomas Rosicky
Andriy Schevchenko
Emmanuel Adebayor
and finally
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink

But I'll make do with the American commentators...on my DVR, and the occasional match day at the pub.

Of course the world cup being in Europe means that the matches will all be played during working hours here in the states...And since I can't take a bunch of vacation time that means I'll have to put myself on Media blackout at work. It will be tough, but I'll be able to persevere, cause I'm a professional.

Anyway, here's my predictions for the tournament...

Group A
Germany
Poland
Costa Rica
Ecuador

First place Germany
Second Place Poland

I don't think Germany is overly strong, and Poland scares me a bit, although they can score, and keep the ball out of the net. But I feel the home country and their neighbors will go through rather easily...Costa Rica could slip into the second slot...but Ecuador goes through without getting a point.
Group B

England
Sweden
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago

First Place England
Second Place Sweden

This is as cut and dry a group as there is. England wins it's first two, as does Sweden, they go into the last game knowing they'll both advance, so they play to a Nil-Nil draw. In order to keep people off yellow cards and get healthy. Rooney doesn't play in the first round, but will be ready for the knockout stages. Trinidad will score one goal, and the goal celebration will be Glorious.

Group C

Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia And Montenegro
The Netherlands

The Netherlands
Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast on the strength of a strong Defense and Didier Drogba heroics shock Argentina and advance. Holland will eventually squander the chance at winning the tournament, but they shall see themselves out of the Group of Death.

Group D
Angola
Iran
Mexico
Portugal

1st Place Mexico
2nd Place Portugal

This group has very little excitment to me. In fact, I'd almost consider skipping these matches.
The excitement will be if Iran's President shows up to the match.

Group E
Czech Republic
Italy
Ghana
USA

1st Place Czech Republic
2nd Place USA

Italy bit by injuries and yellow card suspensions will fall 2 pts shy of the USA for second place. Normally this would be a disgrace for Italy, but because of the match fixing scandal at home, peoople seem to forget the Azzuri are playing...Czech Republic is injured too, but have too much talent not to advance.
Group F
Brazil
Australia
Japan
Croatia

1st Place Brazil
2nd Place Australia

Australia sneaks into second place to everyone's surprise...Tim Cahill will have 5 goals in the first three matches. Brazil coasts through, despite Ronaldo being criticized for being overweight.

Group G
France
Switzerland
South Korea
Togo

1st place France
2nd place Switz.

Even though I love Emmanuel Adebayor, as an Arsenal fan, it's easy to see them going pointless, while France and Switzerland move on.

Group H
Spain
Croatia
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia.

1st Place Spain
2nd Place Tunisia

If Groupe E or B are the groups of death, this is the Group of Snooze. Who cares. except for maybe goalies with pants this offers nothing to me!

Second round winners
Sweden
England
France
Spain
Brazil
Czech Rep.
Mexico
Holland

Quarter finals
England
Brazil
France
Holland

England
Brazil

Brazil wins.

Players that will make a big name for themselves

Clint Dempsey
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Oguchi Onyewu
Carlos Tevez
Emmanuel Eboue
Peter Crouch
Joe Cole

Players that will dissapoint
Ruud Van Nistleroy
Hernan Crespo
Zinedane Zidane
Pavel Nedved
Francesco Totti