From: statlab1@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: WORLD CUP/EUROPE
Date: 11 Jan 93 09:49:11 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

Group 1:
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Firstly Scotland has started badly and is out of the game. Italy got on
the wrong foot but that is not a problem because it can win away games rather
easily. Switzerland began well but I would choose Porugal as the second team 
to go to USA 94 from this group because they have the player who can make the
difference (Paolo Futre) and because they can win Italy at home.
Prediction: First: Italy ; Second: Portugal


Group 2:
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Very hard group. It has 4 teams able to go to USA 94 and one good regulating 
team(Turkey) which can draw both at home and away. Poland does not seem to be
the team of the '70s and early '80s. Holland started off very badly. Normally 
this would not be a problem but with England, which always does well in the
preliminary round and with a Norway, which does not want to lose at home, 
Holland has a problem.
Prediction: First: England; Second: Norway.


Group 3:
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Emotions should be put aside when predictions are made. I would have to go
against one of my most favourite teams here, i.e. Denmark. Two reasons: I
think Spain will win all their home teams and Ireland can draw away very
easily and can win at home marginally.
Prediction: First: Spain ; Second: Ireland.


Group 4:
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If I would bet on just one team to win a group it would be Belgium. The second 
team is a choice between Chechoslovakia and Romania. The regulating team, Wales,
will probably end up deciding which of the two teams will prevail. CSR lost at
home to Belgium but Belgium is so good at this point thet they can win at 
Bucharest as well. It is a real toss up but I would go with Chechoslovakia.
Prediction: First: Belgium ; Second:Chechoslovakia.


Group 5:
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One of the best teams in Europe is out of the picture. It is unfortunate that
Yugoslavia cannot participate at the time they have the best national team ever.
I would also bet a lot of money on Russia to win their group. This group would
have been over as early as 11/11/92 but Greece failed to win Hungary at home. 
All forecasters and statisticians of world cup qualifiers should pay particular
attention to the regulating teams, in tis group Iceland. Greece will go to USA 
94 because they beat Iceland twice and Hungary will not go to USA 94 because 
they lost to Iceland at home and they might lose at least one more point in 
Reyjiavik. This group had easy predictions to start with (Yugoslavia, Russia). 
Now it is again an easy prediction group.
Prediction: First: Russia; Second: Greece.


Group 6:
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What seems to be a hard prediction group I would consider rather easy. The 
reasons: A school of soccer(Sweden) and a dominant player(Kristo Stoikov).
You can take the last line as a sportswriter joke but don't take it very
lightly. Sweden will go to USA 94 because they want to go. France is not
at its best form and with Papin playing (or rather not playing) in Italy
I have to count them out. Austria is not the good team of the 70s and will
not even play a good regulating role.
Prediction: First: Sweden ; Second: Bulgaria.


Stavros, Michigan.