Van's Amazing World Cup 2006 Predictions, 
from start to finish.

The top two teams from each first-round group advance to the second round.

(Teams marked with an * finish ahead of the team below them, based on goal 
differential.)

FIRST ROUND

Group A
Germany 2-0 Costa Rica
Poland 2-0 Ecuador
Germany 2-1 Poland
Costa Rica 1-0 Ecuador
Germany 2-0 Ecuador
Poland 1-1 Costa Rica

Germany 9
Poland 4 *
Costa Rica 4
Ecuador 0

Comments: Germany have a fairly easy draw and a home field advantage and 
get through easily.

Group B
England 1-0 Paraguay
Trinidad 0-2 Sweden
England 2-0 Trinidad
Paraguay 0-0 Sweden
England 2-0 Sweden
Trinidad 0-2 Paraguay

England 9
Paraguay 4 *
Sweden 4
Trinidad 0

Comments: Paraguay make it to the second round for a third straight World 
Cup, based on their great defense. Sweden need to run up the score against 
Trinidad, but their match comes too early for them to know that yet. If 
Sweden keeps it closer with England, they can squeak past Paraguay in 
points.

Group C
Argentina 3-0 Ivory Coast
Serbia-M 1-2 Netherlands
Argentina 2-0 Serbia-M
Ivory Coast 0-3 Netherlands
Argentina 1-1 Netherlands
Serbia-M 2-0 Ivory Coast

Argentina 7 *
Netherlands 7
Serbia-M 3
Ivory Coast 0

Comments:  The Group of Death ends with the two heavyweights going through, and 
Serbia-Montenegro joining the USA as deserving teams on the outside looking 
in.

Group D
Mexico 2-1 Iran
Angola 1-2 Portugal
Mexico 2-0 Angola
Iran 0-1 Portugal
Mexico 1-1 Portugal
Iran 1-1 Angola

Mexico 7 *
Portugal 7
Iran 1
Angola 1

Comments: Who can predict the Mexicans? Iran finish with one point but 
lose by only 2 goals total.

Group E
Italy 2-0 Ghana
USA 0-1 Czech Rep
USA 1-1 Italy
Czech Rep 3-1 Ghana
USA 1-1 Ghana
Italy 1-1 Czech Rep

Czech Rep 7
Italy 5
USA 2
Ghana 1

Comments: Slow starters Italy are so fortunate to draw Ghana first. That's 
the key to them making it to the second round. USA in shock draw with Italy 
and is probably the best third-place team in any group-- if the USA drew 
Italy first, they could win. The USA play their third game in every World 
Cup inexplicably poorly.

Group F
Brazil 2-0 Croatia
Australia 1-2 Japan
Brazil 4-0 Australia
Croatia 2-0 Japan
Brazil 2-0 Japan
Croatia 3-0 Australia

Brazil 9
Croatia 6
Japan 0
Australia 0

Comments: Brazil walks into the second round from this group. 

Group G
France 2-0 Switzerland
S Korea 2-1 Togo
France 2-2 S Korea
Switzerland 0-0 Togo
France 3-0 Togo
S Korea 2-1 Switzerland

France 7 *
S Korea 7
Togo 1
Switzerland 1

Comments: I'm not sure what to make of France, but with this group, they 
should get through. Will "Korea Team Fighting" prove to be a one-Cup 
wonder? I think not, given their amazing hustle.

Group H
Spain 2-2 Ukraine
Tunisia 3-0 Saudi Arabia
Spain 3-1 Tunisia
Ukraine 2-0 Saudi Arabia
Spain 4-1 Saudi Arabia
Tunisia 1-3 Ukraine

Spain 7 *
Ukraine 7
Tunisia 3
Saudi A 0

Comments: Spain need to run up the score in their last game to win the 
group, but they're used to that. Ukraine actually may get the better deal 
by finishing second in this group-- see below.

SECOND ROUND
* indicates won in a shootout.

Germany 1-0 Paraguay

Argentina 2-1 Portugal

England 1-0 Poland

Netherlands 2-1 Mexico

Czech Rep* 1-1 Croatia 

Ukraine 2-1 France

Brazil 1-0 Italy

S Korea* 2-2 Spain

Comments: Poor Italy draw Brazil this early. Take this as a wakeup call, 
Azzurri-- win your group! I think the Czech Rep/Croatia game is a tossup. 
Ukraine upsets France, and the Spanish bow out as usual.

QUARTERFINALS

Germany* 1-1 Argentina

Netherlands 2-1 England

Czech Rep 1-0 Ukraine

Brazil 3-1 S Korea

Comments: Should be a great Germany-Argentina rematch of the 1990 Finals. 
I'm taking the Dutch over England but whichever prevails only gets to lose 
to Brazil next. I never would have expected to put the Czechs into the 
Semis like this, but I'll take them over Ukraine. Like the Germans, they're 
finding an easier than expected path to the later rounds. At least Korea 
Team Fighting scores a goal on the holders.

SEMIFINALS

Germany 1-0 Czech Rep

Brazil 3-2 Netherlands 

Comments: I don't much care for Germany, but they can certainly eke out a 
1-0 win over the Czechs, playing at home. I'm going with the same score 
Brazil won by, over the Dutch, in 1994 in the US.

3RD PLACE

Netherlands 2-1 Czech Rep

FINALS:

Brazil 2-0 Germany

Comments: I cannot believe this. I would never have guessed, when I 
started working through this, that the same two teams as last time would be 
here at the end, with the same result. Especially Germany, obviously. But 
the Germans have two things working in their favor-- home field advantage, 
and (according to my earlier predictions) an especially favorable path to 
the finals. So, there it is, like it or not-- another Brazil-Germany final. 
And SIX World Cups for Brazil. Ugh.