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Argentina
FIFA ranking position: 9
Qualification: 2nd place in the group
Friendly matches: 2-3 against Croatia, 2-0 against Angola
Form and position: It looks like they have a good chance to reach the semi-finals - for the first time since the 1994 World Cup, when the famous Diego Maradona left the team. Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United and Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who is already labeled as the "new Maradona," are healthy and ready for the match against Ivory Coast, and the team's head coach Jose Pekerman has a lot of talents at his disposal, including Juan Roman Riquelme.
Prediction: It's hard to see them winning the championship, but if Messi and Riquelme play well, they could go very far.
Netherlands
FIFA ranking position: 3
Qualification: 1st place in the group
Friendly matches: 1-0 against Cameroon, 2-1 against Mexico, 1-1 against Australia
Form and position: The team's preparation was hampered by a number of player injuries, so some reserve players had to be included in the main lineup for the match against Germany. A difficult victory against Cameroon and the draw with Australia suggest that the team needs time to recover, as soon as possible. Currently, Rud van Nistelrooy, who is no longer loved in Manchester, is in great shape.
Prediction: Injuries do not help this team, and it is quite likely that things may not go well this time.
Ivory Coast
FIFA ranking position: 32
Qualification: 1st place in the group
Friendly matches: 1-1 against Switzerland, 1-1 against Chile, 3-0 against Slovenia
Form and position: The only team without a single player playing in their country's championship. They ended the friendly match cycle with a great victory over Slovenia (3-0). This was the team's first victory in friendly matches following three draws. After the draw with Switzerland, the latter's head coach Kobi Kuhn described the Ivory Coast team as "undoubtedly the best team in Africa."
Prediction: If they manage to advance past the group stage, they have a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals. They may achieve the best result of all African teams.
Serbia and Montenegro
FIFA ranking position: 44
Qualification: 1st place in the group
Friendly matches: 1-0 against Tunisia, 1-1 against Uruguay
Form and position: Due to an injury to striker Mirko Vucinic, coach Ilija Petkovic called up his son Dusan Petkovic to the squad, but the latter withdrew from the team due to immense pressure from the media and public, as well as accusations of transparency. FIFA did not allow a new player to be included in the team, so the team will have one player less in the championship. Defender Nemanja Vidic will not be able to help in the first matches, but Mateja Kezman will be able to participate. The 6-0 victory against a team from the Carinthia province surely inspired more confidence in their abilities.
Prediction: The team has a solid defense, but they shouldn't expect to go further than the round of 16.
