Euro 2012 Fearless Predictions - Day 9

Still on the coast of Maryland, enjoying crab, crawfish, beers and good friends, so we have to keep this fearless prediction fairly short, but you know I will be watching my beloved Greeks battle the Russians. And really did you think I wouldn't back my boys to beat Russia and get to the last 8.

Euro 2012 Fearless Predictions - Day 5

With the first round of games in the books, the second game for each team is probably the most vital as the groups begin to see some separation between the haves and havenots. Group A takes center stage today as the hosts Poland renew hostilities against Russia while Greece takes on the Czech Republic.

Euro 2012 Fearless Predictions - Day 1

As always with any major international tournament, there needs to be an opportunity to complete embarrass yourself by incorrectly prognosticating the results of all the matches. Thus was born PBP's 'Fearless Predictions.' Fearless in a sense that they are usually based on emotion, a limited lack of footballing knowledge and pure dumb luck. Let's begin with Day 1.

Euro 2012 - Group A Preview

Nervous? Excited? Perhaps slightly aroused? This is just a small sample of the potential emotions many of us will be feeling as we enter the home stretch before Euro 2012. Over the course of the next couple of days, the goal of this web-based enterprise is to provide a group by group preview of the entire tournament, pre-tournament power rankings and the first round of fearless predictions. So without any further delay, here is the preview of Group A at Euro 2012.

Fearless Predictions - Women's World Cup - Day 5

Every team has had their opportunity to strut their stuff at the Women's World Cup and at first glance Germany and the United States have been two of the more impressive sides, while Norway and Sweden, the Scandinavian beauties, have struggled against lower-ranked opponents. There is no need to panic, yet, as all teams still have a realistic shot to advance to the knock-out stage. Here are Day 5's fearless predictions.

Fearless Predictions - Women's World Cup - Day 1

Regardless of gender there is nothing more exciting than the opening day of a World Cup. Months of preparation have been building for these moments, where players can become legends and teams can become champions. Wow, if this post could get any more cliche we might as well hire James Earl Jones to provide the voice over. So, why not have some time for our world famous fearless predictions. As always enjoy the matches and remember PBP are not responsible for your gambling wins and losses, although if you do win, we will gladly take a beverage or two. Henrick's gin is always a good start.

Women's World Cup Preview - Group A

To be completely honest I was preparing to write an article or two on the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the past couple of days until I saw a few matches on television. The level of football played is pretty abysmal, first with the US losing to Panama and then with Canada barely squeezing by Guadeloupe. The only team that has accomplished anything of note is Mexico and five of their players have been kicked off the team due to a tainted blood sample because of some sketchy chicken . . . . . hmm, really who is sketchy here, the Mexicans or chicken? Couple that with the accusations of corruption due to ex-CONCACAF president Jack Warner and you really have the ugly stepchild of the FIFA family. So forget CONCACAF, it's garbage, and to be honest why not give some love to the ladies who play the beautiful game. With the Women's World Cup starting in 11 days, why not give you a special Posts By Panos preview. So let's get to it!

FIBA World Basketball Championships - Group A Preview

In less than a week the FIBA World Basketball Championships will tip-off in Turkey with the top 24 teams competing for the title of World Champion. The United States, Spain, Argentina and Greece are the four favorites for the semifinal spots, with a champion emerging from this group. Spain are the defending World Champions, beating Greece in Japan four years ago. The US have not won this competition since 1994 when the tourney was held in Canada. The competition divides the 24 teams into four groups of six, with the top four teams in each group advancing to the knock-out stages. Over the next couple of days PBP will look at each group and try to provide a concise preview. Let's begin with Group A! Enjoy!

Who Can Still Qualify?

Group A

Uruguay need only a draw to progress to the next stage in first place. Should they lose and France or South Africa draw, they will qualify in second place. Should they lose and one of France and South Africa wins, it will come down to goal difference.

Mexico need only a draw to progress to the next stage in second place. Should they lose and France or South Africa draw, they will qualify in second place. Should they lose and one of France and South Africa wins, it will come down to goal difference.

France require a win over South Africa; and for Uruguay and Mexico not to draw; and to secure a superior goal difference to the losing side of the other fixture, in order to qualify in second place.

South Africa require a win over France; and for Uruguay and Mexico not to draw; and to secure a superior goal difference to the losing side of the other fixture, in order to qualify in second place.

Group B

Argentina need only avoid defeat against Greece to qualify in first place. Defeat is fine, too, unless it is by three or more goals, and South Korea win, in which case they will finish third. Second place is possible if they lose by a high margin to Greece but are not leapfrogged by South Korea.

South Korea are guaranteed to qualify in second place if they win and Greece drop points; or if they win by a higher margin than Greece; or the same margin whilst preserving a goals scored superiority.

Greece will finish second if they secure more points than South Korea. If they win and South Korea win, then it comes down to three-way goal difference, in which the Greeks must score two goals more than the Koreans.

Nigeria must beat South Korea and hope that Greece lose to Argentina. Only this set of results will see them qualify in second place while scoring more goals than both Greece and South Korea.

Group C

Slovenia will qualify for the next stage with a draw against England. They can also qualify in second place - or even first - with a narrow defeat, providing that Algeria win only by a slim margin against the United States.

United States will guarantee qualification with a win over Algeria, and will finish first if Slovenia can only draw at the time, or if England win by a narrow margin. A draw will be enough if Slovenia beat England, or if Slovenia and England draw while the USA preserve a better goal record than England. The only scenarios that see the USA finish first instead of second is if they secure a better goal difference than Slovenia whilst the Europeans draw with England; or if England beat Slovenia and the USA retain a better goal difference than them. Meanwhile if the USA lose they are definitely out.

England are guaranteed to progress if they defeat Slovenia. They can also qualify in second place if both matches end in a draw and they score three more than the United States do in their tie with Algeria (e.g. 3-3 and 0-0.) Defeat eliminates England entirely, as does a draw if either USA or Algeria pick up a win. First place is possible for England only if they win and the USA and Algeria draw, or Algeria win.

Algeria cannot win the group but can qualify in second if they beat the USA and Slovenia win; draw; or lose by a significantly greater margin than Algeria currently possess.

Group D

Ghana need only avoid defeat to qualify. If Serbia beat Australia and Ghana and Germany draw, Ghana finish second. If Serbia beat Australia and Germany beat Ghana, Ghana finish third.If Australia draw with Serbia and Ghana retain their goals scored advantage over Serbia in a one-goal loss, Ghana qualify in second; a larger margin of defeat results in a third place finish. If Australia beat Serbia and Ghana lose, Ghana qualify in second place.

Germany will qualify in first place with a win over Ghana, assuming Serbia fail to beat Australia by a three goal margin. A draw with Ghana will see them through in second if Australia and Serbia draw; or if Australia win without repairing their goal difference. Any other scenario results in elimination for the Germans.

Serbia will qualify with a win over Australia. They will finish second in doing so unless Ghana and Germany draw; or if Germany win and Serbia can repair their goal difference over them. A draw will be sufficient for Serbia to qualify in second place if Germany lose; or if Germany win and Serbia secure a better goal record than Ghana.

Australia will qualify in second place if they beat Serbia and Ghana beat Germany. They can also qualify in second if they win and Ghana and Germany draw, providing that Australia  can overcome a mammoth goal difference margin of seven; or if Germany beat Ghana and Australia can overcome a their goal difference margin vis-a-vis the Africans. Realistically Australia need a win, and a Ghana win.

Group E

Netherlands have already qualified and are likely to finish first. They will only finish second if they lose and if the winner of the Denmark-Japan fixture can secure a better goal record than the Dutch.

Japan will qualify in second place with a draw or a win against Denmark. They can win the group if the Dutch lose and the Japanese can secure a superior goal record while winning versus Denmark.

Denmark will qualify in second place with a win against Japan - no other result will suffice. They can win the group if the Dutch lose and the Danes can secure a superior goal record while winning versus Japan.

Cameroon are eliminated.

Group F

Paraguay Paraguay will qualify for the next stage in first place with a win against New Zealand. They can also finish second if they lose and Italy and Slovakia draw; or if Slovakia beat Italy while repairing their goal difference deficit over the Paraguayans. Any other scenario results in elimination.

Italy will qualify with a win over Slovakia. They will also qualify if they draw and Paraguay defeat New Zealand; or if they draw while Paraguay and New Zealand draw, while scoring more than New Zealand. Should Italy and New Zealand both draw by the exact same scoreline then a drawing of lots will take place to determine qualification. Italy can only finish in first place if they win, while Paraguay and New Zealand draw and Italy achieve a better goal difference than Paraguay. Or, if Italy win, New Zealand win, and Italy achieve a better goal difference over New Zealand.  Any other scenario will result in elimination.

New Zealand New Zealand will qualify in first place with a win over Paraguay unless Italy also win with a bigger scoreline. They can also qualify in second if they draw and Italy and Slovakia draw, and while doing so also score more than Italy (e.g. 1-1 and 0-0.) Should New Zealand and Italy both draw by the exact same scoreline then a drawing of lots will take place to determine qualification. Any other scenario will result in elimination.

Slovakia cannot finish first. They will finish second if they win and New Zealand fail to beat Paraguay. They can also qualify in second place if they win and New Zealand defeat Paraguay, providing that the Slovakians can repair their goal difference deficit over the South Americans.

Group G

Brazil have already qualified for the last 16. A draw is all they need to clinch top spot.

Portugal need only a draw to qualify, but a win will see them top the group. They will also qualify if they lose and Ivory Coast fail to win. They can still lose in the event of an Ivory Coast victory so long as the two results don't result in a swing of nine or more goals. Should Portugal lose 3-0 and Ivory Coast win 6-0 then lots will be drawn to determine who progresses.

Ivory Coast require a win, coupled with a Portugal defeat, which ensures a minimum nine-goal swing to progress. A 6-0 victory and a 3-0 Portugal defeat will be mean a drawing of lots.

North Korea are eliminated.

Group H

Chile only need a draw against Spain to qualify as group winners. They will also progress even if the lose and Switzerland fail to beat Honduras. A win will guarantee top spot.

Spain will qualify top of the group if they defeat Chile by even a single goal and Switzerland do not beat Honduras by two goals or more. If Spain can only draw with Chile, they will only progress if Switzerland fail to beat Honduras. If Spain lose, they can still advance provided Switzerland also lose by an equal or bigger margin.

Switzerland will make the last 16 if they defeat Honduras and Spain can only draw with Chile. If Switzerland only manage a draw, they can still go through if Spain lose to Chile. Switzerland can finish top of the group if they win and Spain beat Chile, but they must have a better goal difference than both Spain and Chile. If Switzerland and Spain are levelled on points, goal difference and goals scored, the Swiss will go through having beaten Spain.

Honduras cannot finish top of the group. They can only finish second if they beat Switzerland and Spain lose to Chile, and they record a better goal difference than the Spaniards.

Day 12 Fearless Predictions

The final group games start on Day 12, and two groups will be settled at the end of the day. Both Group A & Group B are in action and all the teams are theoretically alive for the knockout stage, so the games should be exciting and with the Greeks in action, I am sure that I will be fired up as well. Speaking to the Greece -Argentina match, I will be hosting a live chat at 2:00 p.m. EST during the match, so readers can interact with me during the match. There might be times where I will be incoherent and unable to type but for the most part it should be a good session. Onto the picks!

Day 12

France - South Africa

Wow, what a disaster the French team have been, considering the amount of talent that this team possess. Patrice Evra will be dropped from the team due to his altercation with the coach and I suspect several changes will be made to the starting line-up. For South Africa, they are in danger of becoming the first host team to not qualify for the knock-out stage. I think the French situation  is out of control and see South Africa playing worry-free football and winning the game for their people.

France - South Africa (0-2)

Mexico - Uruguay

Both teams need a draw to advance to the last 16, and somehow these things always work out. I am not suggesting collusion or anything along those lines, but these things always work out, that's all I am saying. Furthermore, both teams will be looking for a relaxing game before their Round of 16 matches. A bore draw is on the cards.

Mexico - Uruguay (1-1)

Nigeria - South Korea

The Nigerians need a victory against South Korea and must hope for Argentina to beat Greece, to have any chance to advance to the Round of 16. The Koreans are through to the next round with a draw or victory coupled with an Argentine victory. This match should be wide open and I expect Nigeria to win the match.

Nigeria - South Korea (2-1)

Greece - Argentina

Ahhhh, if only the gods could evoke the memories of 2004 then Greece perhaps will have a chance. I suspect that King Otto will play a defensive game looking to play for the draw and then hopefully use the counter-attack to grab a vital goal. Argentina on the other hand are practically through to the Round of 16 and I expect Diego Maradona to rest some of his veteran players.

Greece - Argentina (1-1)

OVERALL RECORD

17-15

Day 7 Fearless Predictions

Back to below .500, I really am an expert, aren't I? Day 6 saw Uruguay and the one-man show of Diego Forlan dominate South Africa, while the Swiss and Chileans recorded 1-0 wins over Spain and Honduras respectively. It was extremely disappointing to see another favorite under perform, but let's not talk about that, we are onto Day 7 and the picks are in.

Day 7

Argentina - South Korea

Both teams recorded victories in their first match at the World Cup. A victory for Argentina will see them climb to the top of Group B while the South Koreans can also climb the summit with a victory of their own. Maradona has taken the brunt of the pressure off the Argentines with his larger than life personality, while the Koreans exhibit a workmanlike attitude toward their football. In this match I see Lionel Messi pocketing his first goal with a second scored by substitute Diego Milito.

Argentina - South Korea (2-0)

Greece - Nigeria

Greece were extremely poor in their match against South Korea and will need a more determined effort against a Nigerian squad that played well against Argentina. I see Greece scoring a goal, their first in a World Cup, but allow two to the Nigerians and at the end of the day will be in last place in Group B. I expect Nigeria to use their speed along the flanks to expose the slower Greeks.

Greece - Nigeria (1-2)

France - Mexico

With Uruguay's dominant victory over South Africa, this match represents a must win for both teams if they are trying to finish first in the group. Mexico are the more cohesive team and I see them coming away with a 2-1 victory. The French are an absolute mess and if Gallas can't play in the back, I don't see any hope for Les Blues.

France - Mexico (1-2)

OVERALL

8-9

Day 6 Fearless Predictions

Day 6 sees Group H finally take the field for their first games at the World Cup. Furthermore, the Bafana Bafana are back in action against Uruguay. After Day 6, every team will have at least played one game, so be sure to expect an updated Panos Rankings coupled with a State of Play piece on the quality scene on the pitch at the World. Onto the games!

Day 6

Honduras - Chile

Everything about this game screams wide open attacking football. Both teams love to attack and all we can hope for is our first wide open game at the World Cup. But for some reason nothing is going according to plan, so with absolutely no logic I see Chile scoring twice and beating Honduras in the early match.

Honduras - Chile (0-2)

Spain - Switzerland

Brazil was not quite Brazil against a determined North Korean squad, so here is hoping that Spain can re-affirm its favorite status with an exquisite performance of attacking flair. The Swiss are missing several key players in Frei and Behrami and will find it tough against a Spanish side that is also missing Iniesta and Torres.

Spain - Switzerland (2-0)

South Africa - Uruguay

The Bafana Bafana are still undefeated in 16 games now after their opening round match against Mexico. Buoyed by the vuvuzelas and the rowdy crowd I expect South Africa to score an early goal and hold for the victory. Uruguay are currently lacking creativity in the midfield and with the red card to Nicolas Lodeiro their options are limited.

South Africa - Uruguay (1-0)

OVERALL

7-7

Day 1 Fearless Predictions

How can I consider myself a World Cup 'expert' without making some sort of ridiculous predictions, so before each day I will predict the score for each game the night before. Let's start with Day 1:

Day 1

South Africa - Mexico

South Africa will be boosted by the raucous crowd and the appearance of 91 year-old Nelson Mandela in the crowd. Expect the Bafana Bafana to score two first half goals before Mexico pots a consolation goal making the final minutes of the game a nervy affair.

South Africa - Mexico (2-1)

Uruguay - France

Both teams will not be able to live up to the pageantry of the first game, and I anticipate a dull draw. The French are in tatters with whispers of turmoil affecting the team and ex-captain Thierry Henry, but I still see them holding Diego Forlan to one goal while Nicholas Anelka pops one in for Les Blues.

Uruguay - France (1-1)

Group A Preview

Let's get something straight, over the course of the next couple of days, so-called soccer 'experts' will try to provide previews and predictions on what they think is going to happen at the World Cup. Here is the truth, no one is an expert, a lot of different soccer correspondents and footie fanatics might know a little bit more than you, but really no one is an expert. Case in point, try to find someone who had a World Cup final of Italy - France four years ago. So in reality, all that you are left to do is to try to accumulate as much information as you can, learn about certain players, find out who is and is not injured and at the end of the day enjoy the games.

So, ignoring what is said above, I will try to provide my own 'expert' analysis via a group by group preview of the World Cup. Let's begin with the first group, Group A:

Overview:

Group A is probably the hardest group to predict because of the relative similarities between all four teams and how even all teams appear to be before the start of the tournament. The South Africans will rely on their home field advantage and will be backed by the support of 90,000+ screaming fans coupled with their beloved vuvuzelas. The Mexicans have managed to blend youth and experience in a squad that are performing extremely well in the pre-World Cup friendlies. The French are an interesting case, some of their players including William Gallas are boycotting the media and their coach, Raymond Domenech, because Domenech chose Patrice Evra for the captaincy, after Thierry Henry was regulated to the bench, instead of Gallas. With the French, there is always drama, but least we forget, that Domenech was the same coach who led Les Blues to the World Cup final in 2006. Finally, we are left with Uruguay. The former two-time champion have actually brought 150 pounds of yerba mate, the hot herbal beverage that is viewed as the country's national drink, to South Africa. Perhaps this Uruguayan form of Gatorade may inspire the likes of Diego Forlan to score goals.

Players To Watch:

France - Hugo Lloris - Lloris is actually one of the only French players who might actually be entering the World Cup after a successful domestic season. This 23 year-old Lyon shot-stopper was the primary reason why Lyon was able to make the semi-finals of the Champions League and his play will be integral in France's run throughout the tourney.

Uruguay - Luis Suarez - Suarez, another 23 year-old, should line-up opposite Diego Forlan in Uruguay's attack. His primary strengths lie as a supporting striker in a two-striker set, and at his club Ajax Amsterdam he has served as a supporting striker to such players such as Klaas-Jan Hunterlaar and later Marko Pantelic. Currently, he serves as the captain of Ajax but with a successful World Cup he could see his services acquired by a bigger club.

Mexico - Giovanni dos Santos - This former Barcelona cantina product currently plies his trade in England with Steve Nash's favorite team, Tottenham Hotspur. The 21 year-old winger will be undeniably the main fulcrum in Mexico's attack and will be responsible for creating the goal-scoring chances for the Azteca.

South Africa - Steven Pienaar - Pienaar is a 28 year-old who plays on both wings and will be the central figure in the Bafana Bafana's attack. Pienaar currently plays for Everton, but his performances at this World Cup will determine whether interested clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City or Tottenham make a move for his services.

Projected Order Of Finish:

Mexico

South Africa

France

Uruguay