Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Brazil Will Dominate Group G While lacking the hype of previous years, this Brazil team has the talent to go all the way in South Africa. How they got here The five time World Cup champions topped the South American qualifiers to comfortably qualify for South Africa. After opening with a draw at Colombia, Brazil brought out the big guns...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Ivory Coast Will Bring Goalscoring Threats to South Africa All eyes will be on the up front duo of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou for Ivory Coast but the bigger questions lie behind these two stars. How they got here Ivory Coast, or Cote d’Ivoire as they are officially known within FIFA, posted an undefeated record en route to only its second ever appearance...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 North Korea Will Frustrate Opponents in South Africa No team in the 2010 World Cup is surrounded by more mystery than North Korea. Making their first appearance since 1966, Al feels the team will enjoy a short but eventful trip to South Africa. How they got here North Korea, or Korea DPR as it is recognized by FIFA, had one of the longest...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Portugal Will Need to Catch a Break in Group G Portugal’s mixed form entering the World Cup makes it tough to predict how far they will go in South Africa. How they got here Having been expected to cruise through the qualifier Portugal made hard work of the road to South Africa. A home defeat to Denmark in their second game followed by a road...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Italy and Paraguay Look Set to Make Knockout Stages One old power and one tight knit team will emerge from Group F, Al is just left to work out if the latter is Slovakia or Paraguay. Italy will rule supreme This will be the last dance for many of the current Italian national team so expect a determined effort from the start to win...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Italy's Experience Will Tell in Group F Italy played a smart drama free qualifying campaign, can they do the same in the World Cup asks Al Dannity. The Azzurri will have a good platform to build on in South Africa. How they got here The World Champions looked the part in qualifying, playing with enough style to impress but not so much...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Group F Presents Tough Challenge for Paraguay Paraguay is the hot pick to join Italy in the knockout stages but Al feels the schedule could work against them. How they got here Paraguay performed impressively in the South American qualifiers finishing third and just one point behind Brazil, who topped the 10 team group. A draw on the road to Peru was...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Slovakia Has a Chance to Progress From Group F Slovakia may be making its first appearance in a World Cup but Al feels this team has a chance at making it to the knockout stages. How they got here Slovakia won the most competitive and exciting group in the European qualifiers to book an automatic spot in the 2010 World Cup. Slovakia got off...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 New Zealand Will be the Worst of the Worst in South Africa While not the lowest ranked team in the World Cup, New Zealand has the worst team making the trip to South Africa. Al expects a quick exit for the All Whites. How they got here New Zealand qualified for only the second World Cup in its history thanks in large part to Australia’s decision to...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Netherlands and Cameroon Will Progress from Group E 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 Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Loaded Netherlands Look to Impress 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...
Soccer Al Dannity Last Updated: October 4, 2017 Japan Will be Out of its Depth in South Africa 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...
Al Dannity