Group A´s influence?

[BicOfBorg]

I was wondering how Groups A´s outcome will influence group B.

If Germany come second for example will we have the odd spectacle of England and Sweden trying to loose in order to avoid the home team who seem to be on Form?

And if Germany come top, then maybe we´ll have a epic battle between Sweden and England.

[DanneS]

Sweden won't try to lose that game on purpose but I would like this to happen to spice things up

1. Paraguay will do their job well and not concede any goal against T&T

2. Ecuador ties Germany to become the first team of that group

A tie with England would be ok for Sweden.
Losing the game could mean that we're giving T&T a chance to go through.

Olof Mellberg says that the English team has never been better so he's prepared for a very tough task of keeping the ball outside the net tomorrow. England won't give up this game in any circumstances.

Read the Mellberg interview at Fifa.com
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060616/1/7pqf.html

[BicOfBorg]

just hope the both dont agree on a draw, thus a boring game!

[DanneS]

just hope the both dont agree on a draw, thus a boring game!
Maybe boring but safe for Sweden at least. We need one point!

I do hope that Sweden gets an early goal and that perhaps Owen scores 1-1 in the 90th minute.
That would be ok with me... if Ecuador ties Germany. :D

[Zico]

I think the world cup is about getting your team to improve as the tourney progresses... if you sit and try to plan who you are going to play then you will not win the tourney... you must be prepared to beat the best teams.

i hope we have an epic battle between England & Sweden followed by one of them against Germany.

Lets have the best world cup ever :)

[DanneS]

The german papers are concerned. They don't want their team to meet Argentina too soon.

"Would it be better if we only came second in the group?"

http://www.bild.t-online.de/BTO/sport/wm2006/aktuell/06/19/buehnenteaser/4-1-4934056-1-wm-zweiter.gif

[BicOfBorg]

The german papers are concerned. They don't want their team to meet Argentina too soon.

"Would it be better if we only came second in the group?"

http://www.bild.t-online.de/BTO/sport/wm2006/aktuell/06/19/buehnenteaser/4-1-4934056-1-wm-zweiter.gif

wow people actualy think that far, Germany was lucky last world cup to get an easy path, this time they´r fucked:))

[DanneS]

Maybe I'm evil but I want Germany to look down on a paper that says

1. England

if losing go home, relax and have a beer
if winning go to 2

2. Argentina

if losing go home, relax and have a beer
if winning go to Semifinal

:D

[cookie-monster]

Psychologically it might be better for England to get Germany (and win).
Ecuador is unknown factor to me. England knows better Germany.

And another thing to remember : the ONLY teams that ever in the world cup history have won England on the knock-out stages and got her out of the tournament are teams that previously WON the WORLD CUP . So the statistics says a big NO to Germany, and a big yes to Ecuador
.

[BicOfBorg]

On englands form Germany would have preffered them from what Ive read.

I think Swedens speed and strong standards will at least get them to a penalty shoot out against Germany.

As for Ecuador, oh thier Manager is a sly fox, I saw him on TV after the Germany game where they played a B team. You could see in his smile, in his eyes that he fancies his chances against England and the Germany game was a friendly for them. They didn´t want to come first, Argentina and sweden are playing fast and offensive.