FIFA World Cup 2010 Group Stage Predictions – Group B

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Group B has an interesting mix of teams. In Argentina, there is the experience style and flair, and a team that will be keenly watched particularly for the talents of one Lionel Messi. Then there are two teams who have had spectacular “dark horse” performances in international tournaments in the past – South Korea, who came from nowhere to finish fourth in 2002 and Greece, who won the Euro 2004 competition. Then there is Nigeria, who may find the conditions playing on African soil favourable.

This is a group where it looks like the teams have everything to play for.

Argentina

As the seeded team in this group, Argentina are looking strong. Fourth favourites to win the tournament outright, with odds of 9-1 making phenomenal striker Messi second favourite for the Golden Boot, it would be quite a surprise if Argentina don’t make it through this group.

Topping Group C, the much discussed “Group of Death”, in 2006, Argentina were knocked out on penalties by the hosts, Germany in the quarter finals.

They have won the World Cup twice, in 1978 when they hosted it and 1986, so it is a long time since they have gone all the way. It is still very hard to see them failing to dominate this group.

South Korea

This will be South Korea’s 8th World Cup outing, and football in the nation and indeed across Asia has come on a lot since they co-hosted the 2002 tournament in Japan. With captain Park-Ji Sung, now a regular on Manchester United’s first team, leading the way for more Asian players to establish themselves in the tough European leagues, this is a team that will be watched with interest.

South Korea had a disappointing 2006 World Cup after the impressive campaign of 2002, and didn’t make it out of their group, narrowly missing out on second place in Group G to eventual finalists France.

Nigeria

One of the less favoured of the African teams appearing in the 2010 tournament, Nigeria are among the outsiders to win the cup outright at 150-1. This is in some ways surprising as Nigeria had a good 2010 African Cup of Nations performance, finishing third, whereas the African team with the shortest odds, the Ivory Coast at 25-1 to win the World Cup, only got as far as the quarter finals.

Perhaps because teams like the Ivory Coast and Ghana have had more visibility in past World Cups and have well known players like Drogba and Essien these seem like more comfortable bets, but with African teams having the location advantage for the first time one or more of them is bound to surprise, and there’s no reason to rule out Nigeria.

Greece

With their Euro 2004 glory the only time Greece have really brought themselves to the world’s attention and most of their players playing in their own domestic league, this team is easy to overlook, but they do have a very strong goalscorer in Theofanis Gekas, who was the top goalscorer in the whole European division during World Cup qualifying. Gekas, who was also the German Bundesliga’s top scorer in the 2006-2007 season, is certainly a player to watch in this group.

Prediction

There is plenty of potential for upset in this group, with such a diverse set of teams all with some powerful strengths, but it is very hard to see Argentina failing to win this stage. My prediction is:

1. Argentina
2. South Korea
3. Nigeria
4. Greece