Quoting bouzoukia@yahoo.com in rec.sport.soccer:>Mid-way through most of the qualifiers, does anybody have any>predictions as to who we'll see top each group?
I'd really like to find time and resources to create a huge data warehouse that can be used to examine trends and probabilities based on historical snapshots over time. "Give me the probability that the third team in a group advances from a group given that the team still has to play this set of teams home/away AND given that set's teams' to-date group results AND historical group results in similar situations".
-- All that we see, or seem, is but a dream, within a dream, installed by the Machine
anders t wrote:> Quoting bouzoukia@yahoo.com in rec.sport.soccer:>
Mid-way through most of the qualifiers, does anybody have any>>predictions as to who we'll see top each group?>
I'd really like to find time and resources to create a huge data warehouse> that can be used to examine trends and probabilities based on historical> snapshots over time. "Give me the probability that the third team in a> group advances from a group given that the team still has to play this set> of teams home/away AND given that set's teams' to-date group results AND> historical group results in similar situations".>
Vidar Jortveit 20 April 2005 16:01:40 [ permanent link ]
bouzoukia@yahoo.com wrote in news:1113993315.829335.276100 @g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
Mid-way through most of the qualifiers, does anybody have any> predictions as to who we'll see top each group?
Sure. I'll have a go:
Europe:
Group 1:
A neck-and-neck thing between Netherlands and Czech Rep. by the looks of it. Romania would need an unlikely upsurge in form (like beating Netherlands away) to be in it. I predict Czech Rep. in front of Netherlands, as Czech Rep. have the home game against Netherlands left.
Group 2:
Ukraine looks like they will take this group, getting their debut in a senior football competition. Turkey and Greece to battle it out for second, Turkey to edge it out I think.
Group 3:
Portugal will eventually edge out Slovakia for the group win, but I think Slovakia with the help of Mintal will stay second.
Group 4:
This is almost too tough to call. I don't think Israel will be strong enough to make the top two, their depth will undo them. Ireland *should* be in the best position, but I go for the surprise and say Switzerland will top the group. France will edge into second place, because when it matters they will go up a notch.
Group 5:
Italy to top the group with ease. Norway and Belarus to fight ferociously for second, I fear that Hleb will decide the battle (unless Scotland wakes up in their ties with Belarus).
Group 6:
England should win this one, as Poland has a total England jinx. Poland should make second spot though.
Group 7:
Spain have important home games ahead of them, they seldom falter there. Spain to be first, Serbia/Montenegro to edge out brave Lithuania and late starters Belgium for second.
Group 8:
Bulgaria seems to be broken from their last results, I think Croatia will win there and secure top spot. Sweden will be second with ease.
This would get the following second spots: Netherlands, Turkey, Slovakia, France, Belarus, Poland, Serbia/Montenegro, Sweden
The way the "second place table" looks now, Sweden and Poland should gain direct spots. Netherlands, Turkey and Serbia/Montenegro to win the playoffs, because France will sadly be blown out by their efforts in the ending of their group...
Africa:
Group 1:
This one is suprisingly open, it'll maybe go down to a three-way tie on internal meetings between Senegal, Togo and Zambia. I believe Senegal will make it though, as they will draw Zambia away.
Group 2:
Ghana unfortunately spilled away a good chance yet again, South Africa to take this one.
Group 3:
Ivory Coast with yet another super-tough group, but this time they'll finally make it to qualify ahead of Cameroon for their first WC appearance. Watch that attacking firepower come 2006!
Group 4:
Can't see Nigeria missing now, as outsiders Angola lost away at Zimbabwe last round.
Group 5:
This one's tough as well, as Kenya looks better than anytime. However, it'll probably be down to the duel between Morocco and Tunisia. Morocco will win it because of a stronger thirst for success (being away from last WC).
CONCACAF:
Hex:
Mexico to win the group by some margin, followed by USA and newcomers Guatemala. Costa Rica have to go to playoffs against an Asian team.
CONMEBOL:
The top four looks set. Argentina to clinch top spot ahead of Brazil, Paraguay to move past Ecuador for 3rd and 4th, meaning Ecuador going to their 2nd consecutive WC. Big rumble for fifth, which Chile will take because of their remaining fixtures. Chile will have to face the Oceania winners.
Asia:
Group A:
Saudi-Arabia to take top spot and Kuwait to edge out South Korea for second spot.
Group B:
Iran and Japan to be top two easily. Bahrain have to meet South Korea.
South Korea to wake up and beat Bahrain, setting up a matchup against Costa Rica.
Oceania:
Australia to suffer a scare in the away match against Solomon Islands, but waking up to beat them comfortably at home to get the matchup against Chile.
Inter-continental playoffs:
Costa Rica to edge out South Korea in a tense matchup. Australia to lose away in Santiago, but beating Chile at home to book their place in Germany.
You heard it here first
-- Vidar Jortveit Bergen, Norway
- "We're jumping like clocks" Norwegian ski jumpers trying to explain the revolutionary training methods of Mika Kojonkoski in an Oberstdorf press conference
<bouzoukia@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1113993315.829335.276100@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...> Mid-way through most of the qualifiers, does anybody have any> predictions as to who we'll see top each group?> CONCACAF
Mexico wins the group over the U.S., but the U.S. doesn't field it's best lineup in the final match since it has already qualified, which leads to not getting all 3 points allowing Mexico to win the group. Guatemala edges out Costa Rica for the 3rd spot Costa Rica wins the playoff against Asia
