World Cup 2010 - South Africa --- June 11 - July 9, 2010

The 2010 World Cup is starting in South Africa on June 11 with the opening match: South Africa vs. Mexico. Being an avid soccer fan and despite the fact that my beloved Croatia is not participating, I will closely follow the tournament and make a few predictions as well. This is probably the most exciting month in all of sports as the whole world will be watching...
Although it is very difficult to predict the winners - that won't stop me from trying. My database consists of all the qualifying matches played. Without going into much detail - my predicted winner of the 2010 World Cup will be "NETHERLANDS" , the closest nation to Croatia when it comes to national flags: red, white, and blue....

My "Dark Horse" team - a team that can come out of nowhere and win it all: "PARAGUAY"

But, of course - one can never leave out Brazil, Italy, and Germany. England ?, well, let's just say I hope they get their asses kicked by the United States. England is not one of my favorite teams simply because they threw the game against Ukraine on purpose (undisputable) just to get back at Croatia for eliminating them from the Euro finals.....

To make it more pleasurable and easier to follow you can download my mini excel program I put together just for this occasion. You can follow in English, Spanish, Croatian, German, and Korean. Just enter the results and Enjoy... See preview.... WC-2010

RP-Excel World Cup -2010.xls

CONGRATULATIONS TO SPAIN - THE WORLD CHAMPIONS - "Viva Espana"
A well deserved win - Spain was the best team at the World Cup - no and's, if's, or but's....!!!!!!!

My predictions:   32-32  (50.0%)    -    Knockout Phase Only:  12-4  (75.0%)

 

RP-XL POWER RATING:
My Power Ratings for each team. The rating is indicative of how many goals a team will / can score against a formidable opponent, i.e., an opponent ranked in the top 10 of the world's elite....., The rankings are for the teams who made it into the second round...

Finals Predictions: Regular time only...

"Uruguay 2 : Germany 3"
"Netherlands 0 : Spain 1"

Semi-Finals Predictions: Regular time only...

"Netherlands 3 : Paraguay 2"
"Germany 0 : Spain 1"

Quarter-Finals Predictions: Regular time only...

"Netherlands 2 : Brazil 1" - Great comeback by the Dutch....
"Uruguay 1 : Ghana 1" - a tragedy for Ghana and all of Africa - missed pk in last minute leads to loss on pk's...
"Argentina 0 : Germany 4" - very deserved as Germany totally out-classed Argentina...
"Paraguay 0 : Spain 1" - exciting 2nd half - Spain fortunate as regular goal by Paraguay denied...

Second Round Predictions: Regular time only...

"Uruguay 2 : Korea Republic 1"
"USA 1 : Ghana 2"
"Germany 4 : England 1"   -  the most satisfactory score of the tournament - Go home England...
"Argentina 3 : Mexico 1" - Messi - the best player in the world, period.
"Netherlands 2 : Slovakia 1" - my pick continues to roll..., next, Brazil...
"Brazil 3 : Chile 0"
"Paraguay 0 - Japan 0" - Paraguay advances on PK's 5-3..., my dark horse team to win it all still with a chance...
"Spain 1 : Portugal 0" - In my opinion, Spain plays the most beautiful soccer - love to watch them play - and, they are oh so very strong... - if I could change my pick now - I'd say Espana will be the next World Champion....!!!!!!

June 25, 2010 Predictions.....

"Portugal 0 : Brazil 0"
"Korea DPR 0 : Ivory Coast 3"
"Chile 1 : Spain 2"
"Switzerland 0 : Honduras 0"

June 24, 2010 Predictions.....

"Denmark 1 : Japan 3"
"Cameroon 1 : Netherlands 2"
"Slovakia 3 : Italy 2"
"Paraguay 0: New Zealand 0"

June 23, 2010 Predictions.....

"Slovenia 0 : England 1"
"USA 1 : Algeria 0"
"Ghana 0 : Germany 1"
"Australia 2 : Serbia 1"

June 22, 2010 Predictions.....

"Mexico 0 : Uruguay 1"
"France 1 : South Africa 2"
"Nigeria 2 : Korea Republic 2"
"Greece 0 : Argentina 2"

June 21, 2010 Predictions.....

"Portugal 7 : Korea DPR 0"
"Chile 1 : Switzerland 0" - the awful referee-ing continues..
"Spain 2 : Honduras 0"

June 20, 2010 Predictions.....

"Slovakia 0 : Paraguay 2" - my dark horse team played really well...
"Italy 1 : New Zealand 1" - Italy draws due to gift by referee...
"Brazil 3 : Ivory Coast 1" - how can you miss 2 hand balls on one play....

June 19, 2010 Predictions.....

"Ghana 1 : Australia 1" - Heroic effort with 10 men by Australia...
"Netherlands 1 : Japan 0"
"Cameroon 1 : Denmark 2" - very enjoyable game

June 18, 2010 Predictions.....

"Slovenia 2 : USA 2" - great effort by the USA who should have won as a legitimate goal was denied...
"England 0 : Algeria 0" - YEAH - I just hate the pathetic English - too bad they didn't lose...
"Germany 0 : Serbia 1" - the upsets continue, but, Serbia played well and deserved the win...

June 17, 2010 Predictions.....

"France 0 : Mexico 2" - well deserved...
"Greece 2 : Nigeria 1: - playing with 10 men for more than a half, Nigeria could not salvage the game...
"Argentina 4 : Korea Republic 1"

June 16, 2010 Predictions.....
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"South Africa 0 : Uruguay 3"
"Honduras 0 : Chile 1"
"Spain 0 : Switzerland 1"  -  Wow, what an upset.....

June 15, 2010 Predictions......
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"New Zealand 1 : Slovakia 1"
"Ivory Coast 0 : Portugal 0"
"Brazil 2 : Korea DPR 1"

June 14, 2010 Predictions.......

"Netherlands 2 : Denmark 0"  - Netherlands was the better team.
"Japan 1 - Cameroon 0"  -  Japan in an upset over Cameroon in the best game so far. Wow, what a shot at the end of the game by Mbia from about 30 yards away that rocked the woodwork. Best shot of the world cup so far.
"Paraguay 1 : Italy 1" -  Italy was the better team and dominated the second half to pull out a draw.

June 13, 2010 Predictions.......

"Algeria 0 : Slovenia 1" - Slovenia pulls out the win thanks to a stupid red card by the Algerian substitute.
"Germany 4 : Australia 0" - Germany dominated Australia in a very pleasing game.
"Serbia 0 : Ghana 1" - Ghana was fortunate enough to win thanks to, once again, a stupid and unnecessary hand ball in the penalty are.

June 12, 2010 Predictions.......

"Argentina  1  :  Nigeria  0" - Argentina gets by Nigeria on early goal..., Maradona's team deserved the win...
"Korea Republic   2 : Greece 0" - Korea Republic totally outplayed Greece and easily won...
"England 1 : USA 1" - England and USA played to a draw...

June 11, 2010 Predictions.......

"South Africa 1  :  Mexico 1" - South Africa played great and almost won the game in the 90th minute, but the goal post saved Mexico. Mexico played a great game as well and deserved a draw... 
"France 0 : Uruguay 0" - France was simply awful and did not deserve to win although they showed signs of life playing with a man up in the last 10 minutes. Uruguay are a very brave team with a superb defense. Well deserved draw...