A Date in Dortmund?

Word arrived this week that Marcello Lippi has lined up a friendly in March against Germany. I don’t like to put much emphasis on Friendly results, but the match bears watching as a tactical preview of what could go off in Germany three months down the road.

The two sides haven’t met since the summer of 2003 when Christian Vieri stuck one past Ollie Kahn in Stuttgart, but they’re on a possible collision course to meet in the semi-final at Dortmund. I’m going out on a short limb to say it’s going to happen. How?

If you’ve looked beyond the group draw, and I’m guessing you have, the winner of Italy’s Group E will be slotted in to play 2nd place in Group F (Croatia?), a match the Italian side should be able to seal up. Things get a bit hairy then- a quarterfinal date with the likes of France or Ukraine. Still, a very winnable match. That sets up a Fourth of July showdown in Dortmund with Klinsmann’s crew.

Why am I confident Italy will win their Group? Let me put it this way… if you finish second in Group E, you get Brazil. Nobody wants Brazil. That’s all the motivation one needs.

My initial Group E predictions are:
Italy 2 – Ghana 1
Italy 1 - USA 
1
Czech Republic 0 – Italy 1

Seven points should win that group handily. Then it’s a dance through the second round and the Quarters. See you in Dortmund.