Group C

Argentina
Côte d'Ivoire
Serbia and Montenegro
Netherlands

I believe

#1 Netherlands
#2 Argentina
#3 Serbia
#4 Ivory

Why?
Its all about the best headers and fastest game, Holland got what it takes with the big battle taking home the group, I believe it will be 1-1 but argentina will only get tie vs serbia or ivory who will have a chance for the second spot but miss it just at the goalline.

Argentina will most likely win the poule without a loss. Holland and Argentina will win both their other games but the goal difference of Argentina makes them play pretty defensive vs Holland. The Dutch won't be able to break the wall but won't conceede a goal therefor a bloody boring 0-0.

dont underestimate hollands offensive force, they come with the ajax module that is pretty offensive.
I think that argentina will have bigger problems vs serbia as i wrote, if u saw serbia play a few days ago u saw how good stancovic owned in the mittfield

Serbia & Montenegro have the best defence in Europe and they are my tip for the surprise team of the tournament. If you are doing a 'fantasy league' team for the World Cup, pick some Serbian defenders!

Serbia & Montenegro
Argentina
Netherlands
Ivory Coast

This is the group of death though in my opinion, any of the 4 could win.

not ivory... they dont got that good defense and they will be demolished on the "Standard situations" with heading goals by serbia/holland and argentina..

the balkans (serbia) dont got the edge :/ they are really good but not good enough to be #2, will fall right on the goalline

Ivory Coast have Eboue and Toure from Arsenal in their defence, they're not that bad!

still bad enough to get loose all games and tie maybe vs argentina...

you have probably not watched the african championships on Eurosport

I'd say the Elephants have the skill to win over Holland & Serbia-Montenegro, mayby not over Argentina. The real problem is mental. African teams tend to lose concentration in tight games.
The Elephants are the best African team in WC2006, so sad they're in such a group.

The toughest group out of them all.

My prediction:

1. Argentina
2. Ivory Coast
3. Netherlands
4. Serbia and Montenegro

I dont get it what u guys see in Ivory...
they will go down HARD in this group, NO african team will go to the playoffs, I will repeat
NO AFRICAN TEAM WILL GO TO THE PLAYOFFS

Argentina always get a easy gruop. No chance that it wont go to the playoffs.

Hehe, for me Ivory Coast is not bad at all. They played friendly with Switzerland 27/05 and were better team on field (created much more moments) and showed some good tp skillz, but still 1-1. And before that they loosed to Spain 2-3 in tight match. Eboue (Arsenal), Kolo Toure (Arsenal), Dindane (Lens), Kone (PSV), Kalou (Chelsea), Drogba (Chelsea) are all good eu-players. CIV can be a pain in ass for any eu-team. One thing that scare to me is their discipline: 3 players got booked vs Swiss, 4 vs Chile (1 red).
So, my vote:
1. Argentina
2. Ivory Coast
3. Netherlands
4. Serbia and Montenegro

P.S. Keep an eye on CIV WC blog: http://ivorycoast.worldcupblog.org/

ivory coast got plenty experienced players from european fields, argentina got a pretty good football themselves and holand is renewing their players (Davids, and i think, Kluivert are off the team )... didnt saw much of serbia tho... tough call, but i ll risk a guess here

#1 Argentina
#2 Ivory Coast

Despite the rivalry between your nation and Argentina I'd say it's bullshit saying they have an easy group, it's in fact, the toughest out of them all and no team will be 100% sure to qualify from this group.

It's not rivality, it's respect. Holland sure is a very strong team, no doubt about that. But, with the team Argentina has, I don't think that Côte d'Ivoire nor Serbia and Montenegro has any chance here.

If you don't belive what i'm saying just remeber that Villareal played the semi-finals of the Champions League this year. 11 players in their lineup, 7 "hermanos", and not all of them will go to Germany.

Imho Netherlands can't overcome their inexperience. 6-7 players left from Euro'04 squad. There are lot of young players. Van der Vaart have injury, Robben and Cocu might have worrying knocks.

I agree, they miss alot of great players from '04 like "Jaap Stam, Frank de Boer, Ronald de Boer, Marc Overmars'

But the new team showed some good performace 2. Beating Mexico with 2-1 with the NL b-squad is not bad. 76% vs 24% ball-possession.

It makes me currious about how the new team will do vs the top teams.

Cocu, Sneijder, van Bronckhorst all were injuried in friendly with Australia (1-1).

hope holland make it to the playoffs

will be nice to beat them again

Côte d'Ivoire really won't make it, and the Dutch will have no problems with Serbia. It will be pretty hard for the Dutch to score a goal but the skills of Robben, Van Persie and Van Nistelrooij will slip through just once and make the goal. After that Serbia has to attack and give Holland the opportunity to counter and us the space behind their defensive line to create more chances.

That's if Serbia don't realise that the Dutch will start crying if they tackle them hard (hi Australia)

Hard tackles lead to yellow cards, yellow cards lead to caution or a red one . But after yesterdays match Arg vs Côte I feel sorry for Holland .

So, that's the endo of the first round.

#1 Argentina
#2 Holland
#3 Servia
#4 Côte d'Ivoire

Look's like the pressure is on Servia and Côte d'Ivoire now having to win their next games. As I said before, i'm looking forward to Holland vs Côte d'Ivoire. Argentina shall now have any problem against Servia.

Serbia

i think you might be suprised, either serbia or ivory coast winning their next match could cause a big upset in the end

That's what I wanna see!

Côte d'Ivoire and Serbia (soory about that, in portuguese we say "Servia e Montenegro" ) winning now would be unbelivable good.


But I still think Argentina will go to the playoffs.

how's that Serbia Montenegro defence looking for you now Gaz? ))

demolished!

i really hope Ivory Coast beat Holland this evening.

Argentina is the best team of the world cup, there is no doubt about that now.

They are the team to beat.

just to remember you: MESSI!!

They only conceded once in the qualifying campaign, something has clearly gone badly wrong for them