Soccer

South Africa Will Make a Big Breakthrough in the World Cup

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The road to the World Cup may have been short for South Africa but the hosts plan  on making an extended trip into the knockout rounds How they got here The Bafana Bafana’s battle for qualification ended in 2004 when South Africa overcame challenges from Morocco, Egypt, and a joint bid by Libya and Tunisia...

Soccer

Mexico and South Africa will Progress from Group A

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Al Dannity has drawn the ire of Uruguay fans once this week already and he’s at it again with his predictions for Group A in the World Cup. A different game Passive soccer fans and even the more active followers of European leagues often fall into the trap of thinking the club form of players...

Soccer

Argentina and Greece Will Make it Out of Group B

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

With three well matched teams battling it out for second place in Group B, Al Dannity reckons the order of the games will prove decisive in determining who stays in South Africa and who goes home. Argentina’s talent will prevail Bad teams hope for miracles, average teams need luck, good teams look to avoid a...

Soccer

Korea Republic Need Some Luck in South Africa

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Korea Republic could play the dark horse role in a tricky Group B according to Al Dannity. How they got here Korea Republic, or South Korea, has been the model of consistency in Asia and continued that trend with qualification for its seventh straight, and eighth overall, World Cup. They progressed through the first group...

Soccer

Rehhagel Will Work his Magic and Pull Greece into the Second Round

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Greece brings a team lacking star power but loaded with organised and disciplined players capable of causing some surprises in South Africa. How they got here Following a battling performance in the group stage of the qualifiers, Greece overcame Ukraine to claim a place in the 2010 World Cup. Having won their opening three group...

Soccer

England to Cruise Through Group C in World Cup 2010

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

England’s problems off the field won’t interfere with their progress through Group C of the 2012 World Cup. How they got here After the debacle of the 2008 European Championship qualifiers, England enjoyed a smooth ride to the 2010 World Cup. After making hard work of a trip to Andorra in their opening tie, Fabio...

Soccer

Slovenia to Finish Bottom of Group C

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Slovenia may never get a better shot at making it into the knockout rounds of a World Cup but Al Dannity thinks they will fall short in South Africa. How they got here Slovenia’s home form proved decisive in its progression through the opening group phase of qualification. Home wins over Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Poland,...

Soccer

Bradley's USA Will Take Second Place in Group C at the 2010 World Cup

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Contrary to popular belief, the USA’s World Cup hopes won’t live or die on the game against England. How they got here The United States opened its qualifying campaign with a comfortable 9-0 aggregate victory over Barbados. Trinidad and Tobago scored a 2-1 upset of Bob Bradley’s team in the first group phase but the...

Soccer

Algeria Lack the Firepower to Get Out of Group C

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Algeria will look to shock the world and pull an upset in Group C but Al isn’t convinced. How they got here By beating the odds. Algeria was ranked outside the top 12 teams in Africa for the first group stage meaning the North African nation was only a second seed behind Senegal. Algeria overcame...

Soccer

England and USA Will Emerge From Group C

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

England and the USA will duel it out on June 12 but both will live to fight on into the knockout stages of the 2010 World Cup If England slip it will be early Like many major nations England has a tendency to get off to a slow start in major competitions. A narrow victory...

Soccer

Serbia Need to Play at Their Best to Progress in World Cup 2010

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Serbia comes into World Cup 2010 with a squad capable of making up for the disappointment of Germany 2006. How they got here A battling performance in the qualifiers saw Serbia overcome the odds and top their group. Despite winning their opener against the Faroe Islands, a defeat at France in Serbia’s second game meant...

Soccer

Australia Face Tough Challenge in Group D

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Socceroos proved they can compete in 2006 but how will they fare in what Al Dannity feels is the real group of death in South Africa. How they got here Having received a bye through to the first group stage in Asia Australia made light work of the group initially, winning twice and drawing...

Soccer

Ghana Must Overcome Injury Crisis to Succeed in South Africa

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Ghana will look to repeat their success at the last World Cup by progressing to the knockout stages in South Africa. How they got here Ghana qualified for their second consecutive World Cup the hard way. After winning three of their first four games in the opening group phase, Ghana lost on the road to...

Soccer

Germany Will Dominate Group of Death

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Germany can overcome the challengers in Group D but who will join them in the knockout stages? The old power is today’s power In the past it’s been easy to over-rate Germany’s chances of impressing in major tournaments. For a decade they lived off the success of the 1990 World Cup and 1996 European Championships...

Soccer

Denmark Faces a Tough Challenge in Group E

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Denmark has a solid history of progressing through the early rounds of the World Cup but how will it fare in 2010. How they got here Denmark secured its place in South Africa by winning one of the toughest qualifying groups in the entire competition. A thrilling 3-2 on the road to Portugal in their...

Soccer

Cameroon Has the Talent to Go Deep in World Cup 2010

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Cameroon qualified for the 2010 World Cup with ease, making it out of the group stages will prove a lot tougher. How they got here Cameroon made light work of the World Cup qualifiers. In the opening group phase the Indomitable Lions, possibly the best nickname in all of sports, won five out of six...

Soccer

Germany Will Overcome Group D Challengers

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Germany may have the favorite’s tag in Group D but reaching the knockout stages will be far from easy. How they got here Germany dominated the competition in the qualifiers, posting an unbeaten record to secure an automatic place in the 2010 World Cup. After beating Liechtenstein 6-0 on the road, Germany slipped to a...

Soccer

Japan Will be Out of its Depth in South Africa

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

Japan is a big name nation without big names on the park at the 2010 World Cup. How they got here Qualification never looked in doubt for Japan but it was a far from perfect ride to South Africa for the former hosts. Having received a bye through the first group phase, Japan won four...

Soccer

Netherlands and Cameroon Will Progress from Group E

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Netherlands will win Group E and Al feels the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will join the Oranje in the knockout rounds of the 2010 World Cup. A class apart Japan possesses a player with great promise, Denmark has experienced veterans and Cameroon has a strong midfield and attack. The Netherlands have all of these...

Soccer

Loaded Netherlands Look to Impress

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

The Netherlands possesses the talent to hang around in South Africa for a while this summer. How they got here No team made lighter work of the road to South Africa than the Netherlands. With eight wins from eight games, Bert van Marwijk’s Oranje team was in a different class to its group rivals. After...