World Cup 2010 - Germany, Serbia, Australia, Ghana

[cnnonyx]

Thoughts?

Anyone follow the world game here?

Very exciting group.

Germany qualified first in their group, with a great campaign.
Serbia as usual, solid qualifying campaign, topping their group and sending France to playoffs.
Australia topped Asian qualifying.
Ghana topped African qualifying.

Big teams. Personally I think we have the most exciting group, and most challenging group.

I would say Germany is always going to make it through the group stages ('78 was the last time I think they DIDNT advance).
Serbia are chokers in recent times on the world stage, although are fielding a blazing squad at the moment.
Ghana have a fantastic youth team, perhaps this is their chance to finally shine.

Only Australia worries me in this group. We are not in the best of form lately, the runaway freight-train excitement of 4 years ago has dissolved. I hope we can pull it off, but I fear an early exit is on the cards. The thing we have going for us is Southern Hemisphere conditions - South Africa should suit us much more than Germany did 4 years ago. Keep this in mind when considering Ghana.

My (sad) prediction will be:

1. Germany
2. Serbia
3. Ghana
4. Australia

We wont take out Germany, Ghana are locals on their own continent, and Serbia is due for a great perfomance on the world stage, for the first time since the old Yugoslavia glory days.

Thoughts?

COME ON AUSSIE COME ON COME ON!

Fingers crossed I will be over there in 6 months time!

[Rub]

I think it will be a good group for Australia..

Australia have prooved themselves against what Europe has to offer, sticking it to the Dutch most recently.

Remember who Australia had in the last world cup.

[X BC X]

people may disagree with this, but i think its one of the BEST possible situations to be in.

Our team has the tendency of falling deep into complacency.....pitching us against strong opponents will force us to switch on and bring our A game...an A game which i think can match or better our group opposition.

Pim will embrace this in a similar way.....watch out for upsets, as we did (and should have) four years ago.

bc

[vx001]

Easy group, pretty happy with the draw. just hope harry an timmy will step up.

[DukeZ]

it is the world cup.....is there such thing as an easy group??? all the teams are beatable if australia play at there best......if pim gets them thru to the 2nd round will he become a messiah to australian football fans like guus????? or does he have to make the semis to becopme one???

[team illucid]

Well obviously I hope the Fatherland goes through :) - usually we are very lazy or very good in the first game. So it could be a chance, however with the recent suicide of #1 Goalkeeper, who knows what that will do to team morale.

Ghana can get f$%^ed.

Serbia are a dangerous proposition due to utter unpredictability.

Australia I believe, can beat Germany.

I would like to see Australia go through, and don't see why it won't happen.

[DukeZ]

what recent suicide??

[team illucid]

what recent suicide??

Germany stunned by Enke's suicide death

By JUERGEN VOGES (AP) – Nov 11, 2009

HANNOVER, Germany — The suicide death of Robert Enke left Germany stunned Wednesday, sending the soccer-obsessed country into mourning and leaving the national team without its top goalkeeper for next year's World Cup.

Enke's widow appeared at a news conference, broadcast live throughout the country, saying her husband battled depression for years before he stepped onto the tracks and got hit by an express train Tuesday evening not far from his home.

"I tried to be there for him," Teresa Enke said, choking back tears. "When he was acutely depressive, it was a difficult time. We thought we'd manage everything. We thought with love, we could do it. But you can't."

Hundreds of people filed into Marktkirche, a Lutheran church, on Wednesday evening to attend a religious service and then march silently to Hannover's soccer stadium to honor Enke, who was the local club's captain.

The memorial service was conducted by Bishop Margot Kaessmann, the first woman ever elected to lead the nation's Protestants.

"The death of this athlete shows that soccer is not everything in our life," Kaessmann said. "Behind popularity and success there could be profound loneliness and desperation."

Kaessmann closed by saying, in English, "You'll Never Walk Alone," the title of a song adopted by Liverpool fans and supporters of other soccer teams, including German clubs.

Enke's widow was the first to light a candle.

Germany coach Joachim Loew and captain Michael Ballack were among those attending the service, and the German soccer federation canceled an exhibition against Chile slated for Saturday. Hannover canceled all practice until Monday.

[SimoVXSS]

I think Australia has a real chance in this group. They should beat Serbia and Ghana. Germany is the only real worry IMO.

[HazzaHSV]

Bad news about Enke. Always a shame when something like that happens.

I am with the others here. I think Australia has a very good chance to get out of this group. Obviously we need a bit of luck, but a determined Socceroos can definately do it. Lets not be silly by thinking Ghana and Serbia are going to be easy games though.

[SteveK]

Yup, good group for Australia. Germany are notorious slow starters so we can spring a surprise there. I'd be weary of Serbia but if Vidic can continue his recent run of red cards because of his shambolic defensive qualities then there's a chance also. Who's Ghana?

P.S. Lucas Neill, please stay on your feet in the penalty box, even in the dying seconds of the game. Surely you have more experience now, than previously, to know of the ramifications.

[JimmyXR6T04]

Ghana have a couple of very good midfielders, namely Essien and Muntari.. They're a pretty solid squad.. Should be a good group for the Aussies, hopefully they can grab a couple of wins/draws and push their way through!

[vt2vx]

Germany first up will be hard, its good to win your first game to keep up spirits to win the rest. knocking of Germany would be good first up..

[UTESRULE]

i hope the aussie go thru to the next stage and take on england

cant wait till the start whats the time difference between south africa and nsw

[Namheul]

I believe they are 9 hours behind us now.

[SteveK]

Apparently most games during the group stage will be either 12:00am or 4:30am. So somewhat reasonable, if you are used to getting up/staying up for the Premier League/Champions League.

[JimmyXR6T04]

Apparently most games during the group stage will be either 12:00am or 4:30am. So somewhat reasonable, if you are used to getting up/staying up for the Premier League/Champions League.

Perfect for when i'm on night shift!! i'll actually look forward to nights knowing something will be on TV... hopefully FTA has decent coverage..

[Frankster_P]

Bad luck for aus, tough group.
All 3 opponents are good ones.

Italy got an easyish draw for once, thank heavens.

[AFAR]

Here is the schedule with the times/date for every group match.
Just make sure it is set to your timezone and not local time (South Africa).

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html


Also you guys shouldn't be writing off Ghana.
You'll be surprised what they are capable of.
They're easily capable of beating us with their speed and attacking pressure.

The group (sadly) will end like this.
Germany
Ghana
Serbia/Aus
Aus/Serbia.

I don't think we'll progress this time round.
We're currently playing as a very poor team.

The draw against the Netherlands doesn't mean much as they pretty much completely dominated the game..they just didn't score.

[Irish]

Here is the schedule with the times/date for every group match.
Just make sure it is set to your timezone and not local time (South Africa).

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html


Also you guys shouldn't be writing off Ghana.
You'll be surprised what they are capable of.
They're easily capable of beating us with their speed and attacking pressure.

The group (sadly) will end like this.
Germany
Ghana
Serbia/Aus
Aus/Serbia.

I don't think we'll progress this time round.
We're currently playing as a very poor team.

The draw against the Netherlands doesn't mean much as they pretty much completely dominated the game..they just didn't score.

I don't think Aus will do very well. We only won 1 game last world cup remember?

[Frankster_P]

Here is the schedule with the times/date for every group match.
Just make sure it is set to your timezone and not local time (South Africa).

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html


Also you guys shouldn't be writing off Ghana.
You'll be surprised what they are capable of.
They're easily capable of beating us with their speed and attacking pressure.

The group (sadly) will end like this.
Germany
Ghana
Serbia/Aus
Aus/Serbia.

I don't think we'll progress this time round.
We're currently playing as a very poor team.

The draw against the Netherlands doesn't mean much as they pretty much completely dominated the game..they just didn't score.

Wasnt the Holland game a friendly?
Friendlies are about blooding new players, trying new tactics and formations.
Dont read into them too much.

[cnnonyx]

A lot of people here are putting the goods on Australia .... which is surprising. I am skeptical.

No one is paying any attention to Serbia - is that just a lack of knowledge about the teams capabilities? Some top quality players in there at the moment, probably one of the best gel-ing teams in Europe at the moment, with big club stars all over the team.

I am predicting Germany Serbia for sure.

Ghana, as per most African teams, will disappoint.

Australia will find Germany and Serbia way, way too difficult to score against. Defensive powerhouses, both of them.