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If you're a D.C. United fan - and if you're reading this site, chances are that you could be (except maybe for those of you who found this post through search, in which case, welcome! Make yourselves at home) - there's only one team you can really be rooting for in this group. Which is too bad, because Honduras will need a miracle to escape. Honestly, they'll be happy with a single win against the likes of Switzerland, France and Ecuador, which would be los Catrachos' first ever World Cup win. We're all hoping Andy & co. get it, but here's what we think will happen with Group E, which starts play Sunday.
Ryan Keefer
The one group that has the seeded team going home early, it's France that takes the group. They are stronger than Switzerland and they show it in their three matches. Ecuador continues the run of CONMEBOL teams making the knockout stage by finishing 2nd.
ChestRockwell
Ah, Switzerland's group! Prepare for me to reference this Kids in the Hall skit every time they play. They'll win this group without doing anything spectacular. I was prepared to go with Ecuador edging out France, but the French midfield is too good to bet against. Look for Paul Pogba to become one of the stars of the tournament. Honduras won't go out easily, but their lack of a real goal threat - I see you, Jerry Bengtson, sit down - hurts them here. Andy Najar will do something awesome, at least.
blazindw
The one group that has the seeded team going home early, it's France that takes the group. They are stronger than Switzerland and they show it in their three matches. Ecuador continues the run of CONMEBOL teams making the knockout stage by finishing 2nd.
stephen.whiting
Perhaps the second weakest group of the tournament, the French have to be pinching themselves that this is their draw. France certainly always has the ability to self-implode, but I expect to see the French win the group. Ecuador will take second, while the Swiss will be one of the European sides most affected (negatively) by playing in South America. Honduras (with our favorite Belgian league player, Andy Najar) will struggle mightily, but they will try every trick CONCACAF teams employ when playing better teams.
Adam M Taylor
Look for Switzerland to pull the 2014 version of New Zealand in 2010: draw all three group stage matches and then go home. The Swiss will keep their unreasonably long unbeaten streak alive, but not in any kind of convincing fashion, failing to beat even little Honduras, who also (unfortunately) will fail to escape group play. France edge Ecuador on goal differential, and they both go through to the round of 16.
Ben Bromley
I wish that I could predict Andy Najar going to the knock-out rounds, but it just doesn't seem likely. Les Blues and Ecuador will move on, but France will make it difficult for themselves and leave the group in second place.
What do you think? Can Honduras shock the world? Will Switzerland disappoint us as much as we think they will? Does anybody have anything nice to say about France? Could you point to Ecuador on an unlabeled map? These are the important questions we expect you to answer down in the comments.