Possibilities and Predictions – Group E
Every team is still in with a chance of making it through to the Round of 16 in a Group E that has been dominated by France. The 1998 World Cup winners have looked one of the better teams so far in this tournament with convincing wins over Honduras and Switzerland, mathematically that could still be knocked out but the necessary 9 goal swing would be next to impossible. The two teams that will be vying for the second place are Ecuador and Switzerland who are both on three points but if both lose it could be Honduras who sneak through if they are able to bag a handful of goals.
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#
|
Country
|
GP
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
PTS
|
|
|
1
|
France
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
2
|
6
|
6
|
|
|
2
|
Ecuador
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
|
|
3
|
Switzerland
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
6
|
-2
|
3
|
|
|
4
|
Honduras
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
-4
|
0
|
|
Honduras v Switzerland
SBS TWO 6am AEST
If France defeat Ecuador, a win Swiss should see them through to the Round of 16 despite being gazumped 5 – 2 in their last match against France. Switzerland have yet to show the form that sees them sit as the 6th ranked team in the world with some going as far as saying they were the favourites to win this group. This being said they should have enough to beat a Honduras side that doesn’t really have much in the way of offensive structure and if the beforementioned France win occurs, the Swiss will be sitting pretty to verse the winner of Group F.
There was little expectation on Honduras even after their draw against England in the warm up matches and so far they have lived up to the low expectations with a poor effort against France in their opening match where they went down 3 – 0. Their second game against Ecuador was marginally better with a narrow 2 – 1 loss where their inability to build substantial attacking moves cost them. This being said, if France can beat Ecuador by 3 goals they would only need to beat Switzerland by 2 to progress through to the Round of 16.
Switzerland 2 – 0
Ecuador v France
SBS ONE 6am AEST
The lowest ranked South American nation at this World Cup has performed well without being brilliant. They were unlucky not to get a point after losing 2 – 1 to the Swiss in the dying minutes of their opening match but they were able to beat Honduras in their second by the same scoreline. A win here would see them through to the Round of 16 in second spot, a 3 goal plus win would see them finish the group stage ahead of France. A loss however will leave both Switzerland and Honduras the chance of snatching the second spot in Group E.
For a previous winner of the World Cup there was minimal expectation on a French side that went out in the group stage four years ago. This time around however they a 6 points from 6 with a impressive 8 goals for and 2 against headlined by their 5 – 2 win over rivals Switzerland. A win will see them top the group and only a heavy loss to Ecuador will see them drop to second.
France 3 – 1
Expect France to top this group with Switzerland sneaking into second place.
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