FIFA World Cup 2006: 15th June Review And Predictions

By Matt Jackson (WebWiseWords)

Ecuador v Costa Rica

Germany's victory yesterday means that they are assured a place in the next round and Poland have failed to progress. Either of these two teams could end up being the ones to move on from the group stages with Ecuador's 2-0 win making them the favorites. Ecuador had been expected to perform badly in Germany because almost all of their qualifying points had been won on their home soil at high altitude but they proved all of their critics wrong by taking their second ever World Cup victory.

While Costa Rica didn't take a victory from their opening match against the Germans it is fair to say that they performed well against the host nation losing out 4-2. However, they invited attempt after attempt from the Germans and paid the consequences.

Prediction - On the basis of last matches and qualifying matches, Ecuador are favorites to take the 3 points and a spot in the next round regardless of how they perform against the Germans in the final group match. Costa Rica leave holes at the back that the Ecuadorians can take advantage of. Final Score 3-1

England v Trinidad & Tobago

England managed to partially throw off their "slow starter" label by winning their opening match. However, their 1-0 victory over Paraguay was far from convincing, winning by an own goal scored in the fourth minute. They tend to get stronger in each match and Trinidad & Tobago shouldn't cause too many problems.

Trinidad & Tobago caused one of the minor upsets of the first round when holding Sweden to a 0-0 draw with only 10 men. Dwight Yorke who played his football in the English Premier League was the star man and will need to give everything he has in order to take any points from England.

Prediction - Despite England's rather fortunate three points and Trinidad & Tobago's plucky 1 point in the first round it is England who are expected to win this game and they should do so relatively easily. Final score 2-0

Sweden v Paraguay

Sweden will still be hurting from their opening match draw with Trinidad & Tobago. They have quality players running through the team and the result was far from expected. In today's match they will be desperate to earn themselves the points they need if they are to have a hope of progressing.

Paraguay were unlucky not to take a point against England especially considering they were the scorers of the one and only goal of the game. They are likely to be outgunned by a resurgent Sweden today though.

Prediction - 2-0 to Sweden

Matt Jackson is copywriter and freelance writer for WebWiseWords. For more information visit their site at www.webwisewords.com or email info@webwisewords.com.

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