Jim "Scoop" Johnstone will be looking to improve that 6-10 2nd round record for calling games. He chose a few too many draws, and now with almost every group still up for grabs, teams will be giving everything they've got. Teams will want to determine their own fate, and not let it lie in the hands of others.
GROUP A (Moria) - If Angband wins, Moria can advance with a tie. If Angband ties, Moria can grab the top spot with a win. Minas Tirith must beat Moria to advance, and if Angband ties, Minas Tirith can snatch the top spot with a win. Alqualonde needs a win to advance, and can still grab the top spot if Moria and Minas Tirith tie. In this group, the only thing the teams should be thinking about is, you win, you're in. Every team has fate in their own hands
Alqualonde vs Angband
Alqualonde needs a win to advance, but they will be going up against a very tough Angband team. To insure their top spot, in Group A, Angband needs a win, and I can't imagine them allowing the prancy Elves to control the game. Alqualonde got handled by Moria, Angband will be even more physical, but also have less internal chaos...this spells trouble for Alqualonde's chances.
Angband wins 3-2 and takes the top spot.
Minas Tirith vs Moria
This will be a brutal match, and it will be extremely difficult for Minas Tirith, with Moria being the host team and the crowd will be hostile. Moria's biggest downfall will be their team chemistry, and with advancement on the line, Durin and Durin's bane (and the home crowd's fights) may be their ruin. Minas Tirith must show they can win a game, and so far all they've proven is they can stay competitive. Staying competitive will not be enough against Moria. I see with so much at stake, in this one game, Moria (and the crowd) will channel all their internal anger directly at Minas Tirith, MT will still play tough, but it will ultimately be too little.
Moria wins 3-2.
GROUP B (Mirkwood)
Helm's Deep vs Nargothrond
This game for Helm's Deep is for pride. They know they are eliminated, but Helm's Deep will go down fighting, and if they had to, dying to the last man. Nargothrond can not get lazy, or that top spot may slip away. Ultimately, since Nargothrond still has more to play for (more than simply pride) they will win, but Helm's Deep will probably play their best game of the tournament.
Nargothrond wins 2-1.
Arnor vs Mirkwood
Arnor needs a win to advance, Mirkwood needs only a tie. Early in the match, advantage will be towards Arnor, who knows they need to win, and will look to take out the crowd factor. However, it is impossible to keep up that level of adrenaline for 90 minutes and Mirkwood will get the win. Scatha, Legolas, and Thranduil are a dangerous attack.
Mirkwood wins 2-1
GROUP C (Isengard)
Gondolin vs Minas Morgul
Gondolin can advance with a tie if Isengard defeats Hithlum. However, I imagine Gondolin would not want to place their faith in the dreadfully bad Isengard team. They will be playing for the win, along with Minas Morgul, whom has played better than expected in this tournament. The problem with the Wiki's team, is the Gondolin elves (with Gothmog) will not be intimidated by the Wiki and his Nazgul. How they managed to tie Hithlum, it must have been by some dark magic from the Wiki.
Gondolin wins 2-1 and advances.
Hithlum vs Isengard
Isengard will only be playing for pride, the problem is, unlike Helm's Deep, this team aint got a bit of pride in them. Saruman will only be bitter and seek to give his team an illegal edge in the match, but that edge will fail miserably. How's the Ring working for you Saruman?
Hithlum will control the entire game, and take the top spot.
Hithlum wins 3-0.
GROUP D (Erebor)
Mordor vs Osgiliath
A lot of things need to go right for Osgiliath to advance, luckily they are playing a maligned Mordor team, and Erebor will have to go up against a team that has looked like one of the strongest teams in the tournament. Mordor offensively, will not provide much of a threat against a competent Osgiliath defense. Anarion will have a big game for Osgiliath,
Osgiliath wins 2-0.
Eregion vs Erebor
The outcome of the 1st match will heavily be in the mind of the host, Erebor. If Osgiliath gets a two goal victory over Mordor, they can't afford to lose to Eregion. Eregion will definitely want to hold onto their top spot, so they will not be content with a loss to Erebor. Erebor must hold Eregion to only 1 goal, because it may be virtually impossible to get more than one against that defense.
Draw 1-1. Erebor, behind their home crowd will slip in...barely.
GROUP E (Lothlorien)
Doriath vs Dor-Lomin
Eol has been a consistent scorer for Doriath, and that should continue against Dor-Lomin. For Dor-Lomin, which Turin will show up? One who can grab 7-8 pts in a game or is held in check by Doriath's keeper? If Dor-Lomin wins, Turin will prove he can show up in big games, when it matters, and I will stop hastling him for choking. Too bad for Turin though,
Doriath wins 2-1.
Armenelos vs Lothlorien
If Doriath wins, the crowd (and Lothlorien) will know the door is open for them to advance. Sauron vs. Galadriel, this will be one of he most anticipated individual match-ups of the entire tournament, and with the home crowd, the beautifully enchanting elf queen will come out the winner.
Lothlorien wins 1-0, and both Armenolos and Lothlorien will advance.
GROUP F (Shire)
Dorthonion vs Taniquetil
Taniquetil has not been playing with any sense of urgency - tying the lowly hobbits, and even losing to the farmers with pitchforks from Rohan! Taniquetil better shape up. That could come against Dorthonion, who also lost to Edoras and tied with The Shire. Neither team will probably be able to achieve more than 1 goal, so if either one has any desire to knock out the hobbits from #2, they will need a shut out. Taniquetil will get that,
winning 1-0.
Edoras vs Shire
What a weak group this is, the 2nd spot can be picked up by merely having 2 pts...what a joke. Edoras is in with the top spot, The Shire has something to play for, and if Taniquetil wins, they will defintely be under the gun to win. Too bad Edoras has played in this group very well (although that is not really saying much). Theoden and the defense will get their 3rd consecutive shut out. While Eowyn and Eorl still prove adequate offensively, against this deginerate group.
Edoras wins 2-0.
GROUP G (Tuna)
Brethil vs Gondor
Brethil will be a tough opponent for Gondor. Gondor may find it difficult to score. The key to this game will be controlling the mid-field, if Imrahil and Gondor can get the ball deep to the Gondor boys, than Gondor should win fairly easily. If they can't, Brethil will spoil whatever hope Gondor has to advance, either with a tie or by upsetting them.
Gondor wins 2-1.
Tol-in-Gaurhoth vs Tuna
Even if Gondor wins, TIG would have to have a total meltdown against Tuna to lose hold of the 2nd spot. This is not likely to happen to the team that finished with bronze last year, even though they have practiced less than everyone else. Tuna's been impressive offensively, and Miriel has continued to be the offensive power house she was last year. The issue for Tuna is, they have not faced a mid-field or a defense as strong as TIGs. If TIG keeps ball possession in their favour, they will really can begin to expose that weak Tuna defense, that only looks strong because of the offense.
TIG wins 3-2. They take the top spot, and both teams will advance.
GROUP H (Bree)
Romenna vs Valimar
Should I even predict these games? What does it matter. Romenna has played well, behind the sturdy goal keeping of Elros. Romenna's technicality and strategy is perhaps one of the best in the game. But ultimately, they lack the powerful scoring capability of Valimar, one of the top teams in the tournament.
Valimar wins 2-1
Amon Sul vs Bree
What a great match to end the 1st round of group play with...let's see which team stinks more? Which team gets cellar and which one gets the sub-cellar? I doubt anyone would show up for this match, and even if you are a Bree fan, don't...just boycott it, spend your money on a match later on that means something. And even worse, this will probably end in a tie, oh well, the few Bree fans in attendance may see some things to hope for come next Arda cup.
Draw 1-1.