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Schedule

11/06 09:00 Johannesburg - JSC South Africa vs Mexico
11/06 13:30 Cape Town Uruguay vs France
16/06 13:30 Tshwane/Pretoria South Africa vs Uruguay
17/06 13:30 Polokwane France vs Mexico
22/06 9:00 Rustenburg Mexico vs Uruguay
22/06 9:00 Mangaung / Bloemfontein France vs South Africa

**All times CST.

Definitely one of the hardest groups to predict, with a France team that has failed to impress since last world cup, the home team, and two teams in Mexico and Uruguay that you never know what to expect from.

magik9113 wrote:Definitely one of the hardest groups to predict, with a France team that has failed to impress since last world cup, the home team, and two teams in Mexico and Uruguay that you never know what to expect from.

Yep.

This is arguably the most unpredictable group in the WC IMO.

I think Uruguay/France make it through. I'm a Mexico hater but I also just don't think they're good enough to beat a red hot striker combo of Suarez/Forlan. Forlan looked great in Europa while Suarez helped Ajax perform their usually raping of the Dutch league.

and1GS wrote:I think Uruguay/France make it through. I'm a Mexico hater but I also just don't think they're good enough to beat a red hot striker combo of Suarez/Forlan. Forlan looked great in Europa while Suarez helped Ajax perform their usually raping of the Dutch league.

Maybe so.

I think Mexico will be a wild card throughout the WC like always. They have the ability to play with anyone in the world but history has shown that they underachieve for the most part.

But I have a good feeling for Mexico though. I think they will come out the gates running and make it at least to the round of 16.

I predict Mexico and Uruguay going through. France just looked so dodgy I just don't know what their going to do.

I wouldn't say mexico usually under-achieves, they're just usually not that talented. This year however I have them and SA advancing. SA is the host after all and no way does FIFA let them not advance.

I did not watch the France-China game, but to be fair i saw that they did outshoot China 17-2

France - Just a mess right now. I had them going undefeated in this group when the draw came out, now I'm doubting they'll advance.

Mexico - Not going to bet against this team making it through, they've done it 4 straight WCs(94, 98, 02, 06)and they've done it in harder groups, exception of 06. They'll have the ball 70% of the time against the 3 others but can they finish consistently? Not seeing it from Hernandez lately but Dos Santos and Vela are clicking and Barrera is a constant threat off the bench.

Uruguay - Good attack in Forlan, Suarez, and the newcomer Lodeiro. Not sold on the rest of this team though.

South Africa - Clearly not better than the other 3 but homefield will go a long way.

I'll go Mexico 1st and SA 2nd in a very tight group.

Vela's improved play in qualifying makes me want to put Mexico through, but I really think the Suarez/Forlan combo is going to prove deadly.

Still France then Mexico for me.

This is the toughest group IMO, any team can advance. I give the nod to France and Uruguay.

i orginally predicted Uruguay first and France second but building up to the cup i can see Mexico handling Domench lead French team.

As much as it pains me I now have France/Mexico going through. I really wanted it to be France/Uruguay or Uruguay/SA but I can't imagine Mexico would suck that horribly when they have so many talented strikers on their squad. The strength of Uruguay is up top and so is Mexico's so I'm not sure which has the advantage.

Also, this is a good point from an ESPN article I just read:

3. Can they handle the pressure of the opening match? Much of Mexico's success in the World Cup will depend on getting full points from the opening match with South Africa. But up against the host in front of a raucous full house at Soccer City, it won't be an easy task.

^I think they can handle that, if you look at their squad they have the right blend of experience and youth at the international level, if anything I think this is probably the best Mexico squad in years and if they're going to make some noise this is the perfect time. They've got experience in guys like Marquez, Salcido and Torrado. Good experience and great talent in Dos Santos, Guadardo and Barrera, and some young legs in Vela. I expect them to do well and get to at least the knockout stages.

I really think this will be the first time the host does not make it past the group stage.

I'm really expecting Chicharito to score a couple of goals in the first round itself.

SA was playing really well in the confed cup!

SA could easily pull a Senegal and embarrass France. Mexico is my darkhorse to make it to the quarter finals and Uruguay also has some great talent upfront.

France has already stated that Laurent Blanc will become their new coach after the world cup. There are some many red flags about that team, it's really hard to see them advance, but heck, they still got some of the best players of the world...