Group C

Group - C.  Columbia......Greece.....Ivory Coast.....Japan...

  Compared to the first two groups, group C is pretty weak. Columbia is likely to come out on top. Some of this prediction is based on the fact they are playing in their home continent. This has always been an advantage for teams at the World Cup. The winning percentage for teams in their own continent in the history of the tournament is about 20% higher. Columbia has world class talent and a deep roster. I do not expect them to do much in the second round, but getting there should be easy.
  Ivory Coast is my choice for second in the group. They are a big physical team that plays with flair. In this group that will be enough. Depth and team unity are not the greatest...but they will be in shape and they have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. For years the soccer world has predicted great things from them, and to this point they have not delivered.
In years past, Japan has had a strong team. They play with a team chemistry and discipline to be admired. However the talent pool is not where it has been in the past. The striker Honda is a player to watch, but when the tournament is over the Japanese squad will not be in the knock-out round.
  It was not that many years ago the the Greek national team came out of nowhere to shock Europe and win the European championship. They pulled off that feet with a stifling defense that shut out and frustrated opponents and an offensive that out worked the other guy as they pounced on mistakes. It was one of the biggest underdog stories in world soccer history. That was then...not now. Greece will be home before July.