2010 FIFA World Cup: Complete Group D Predictions

Sorry for taking a couple of days off in the predictions, but we should still have them all done well before the first kick-off on Friday.

The feedback on the first three groups has been monstrous, with not too much criticism. Yet, I feel this group's predictions may change that, just a bit.

Matches:

Serbia  2-1 Ghana (June 13, Pretoria—Match 7)
Germany 1-1 Australia (June 13, Durban—Match 8)

Germany 1-0 Serbia (June 18, Port Elizabeth—Match 21)
Ghana 0-2 Australia (June 19, Rustenburg—Match 25


Ghana 1-3 Germany  (June 23, Soccer City—Match 39)
Australia 1-2 Serbia  (June 23, Nelspruit—Match 40)

Standings:

1. Germany 2W-1D-0L 7PTS 5GA 2GA
2. Serbia 2W-0D-1L 6PTS 4GF 3GA
3. Australia 1W-1D-1L 4PTS 4GF 3GA
4. Ghana 0W-0D-3L 0PTS 2GF 7GA

Analysis:

Germany, as favourites of this group, will go on to win it. Despite what I predict to be an unprepared game against Australia that the Germans will tie, expect them to bounce back with a win over the unpredictable Serbia, and then easily handle Ghana in the group finale.

Serbia will shock some (not surprise others) by advancing out of this group as the second team. A win over Ghana in their opener will help boost the confidence, before being knocked back by a loss to Germany. In the all-important decisive game, I fully expect Serbia to bring their best and upset the Aussies.

Despite all the hype surrounding the Australian team, I just don't see them advancing out of this group. Following an impressive tie with Germany and an easy clean sheet victory over Ghana, the Aussies will face Serbia in a match to decide who advances. Unfortunately for the Land Down Under, I think that Serbia will just over-match and out-hustle the Aussies, leaving them in third in the group and caused to wonder what went wrong.

Ghana will play as one of the top teams expected to lose out in their group. Expect them to create some exciting plays and cause some nail-biting from fans of the three larger teams in their group. That being said, they just don't have the power to win in such a strong group, and don't be surprised if they lose all three games.