GROUP A Croatia Detroit | Zrinjski Chicago | Windsor Croatia | Dalmacija Streetsville Last year’s finalists from Chicago got a very nice draw. They are the clear favourites in this group and should advance. A second place berth however is up for grabs for the three remaining teams who are all evenly matched. Dalmacija is much improved this year and could sneak a wildcard berth. Still I am taking only one team to advance. ~ WINNER: Zrinjski Chicago
GROUP B Sudbury Adria | Hamilton Croatia | San Jose Croatia | CSC Mississauga | Hrvat Chicago Three of last years quarterfinalists are in this group, but none of them are the favourites. Hamilton Croatia is the team to beat here and should be very happy with this draw. They are having a great season and should advance. Sudbury will be a non-factor. I do see a second team going through and it is a toss up from the other three. Will either or both of Hrvat Chicago and San Jose have a sophomore jinx? Can Mississauga Croatia repeat their shock performance from a year ago? It should be interesting to see but I am taking only one team to go through. ~ WINNER: Hamilton Croatia
GROUP C London Croatia | Clev. Dragovoljac | Croatia Florida | Oakville Livno | Norval Croatia Livno has gone downhill since winning the Ontario Soccer League’s Provincial Division. Once considered among the mightiest clubs, they seem to have lost their passion to win. Still I cannot see them screwing up the Croatian tournament again – on paper they are still a very strong side. Their main challenge should come from Norval who is having a great season. London and Florida will also be tough competition but in the end, Livno and Norval should both go through. ~ WINNER: Livno; WILD CARD: Norval
GROUP D Toronto Croatia | CBP Chicago | Velebit-Karlovac| Cleveland Croatia | St. Cath.’s Hrvat Someone in St. Catherine’s right now is wondering what they did to deserve this? Take the top three ranked Croatian teams in North America, who also just happen to be the most active winningest clubs in tournament history, and then toss in an undefeated Velebit-Karlovac for good measure. You are left with the most deadly of groups in the history of all sports! It is extremely hard to pick a winner or even who might advance. Other than St. Kitts, every team here has a shot to go through and was considered among the favourites before the draw came out. I really, really wanted to take Cleveland to sneak through and knock out Chicago CBP in the group stage but I will take the safe pick and say: ~ WINNER: Chicago CBP; WILD CARD: Toronto Croatia
GROUP E Kitchener Hrvat | Toronto Zagreb | Milwaukee Hrvatski Orlovi | Croatia S.S. Marie Another decent group, but pales in comparison to Group D. Zagreb was a big disappointment last year in the tournament and have not performed well this year but they are always a serious threat. I however think Milwaukee is the team to beat – they have consistently been quarterfinalists the last few seasons and it’s hard to pick against them. Zagreb will battle Kitchener for second place and I think they will win that head-to-head encounter, along with the game against Sault Ste Marie to give them enough points to advance. ~ WINNER: Hrvatski Orlovi Milwaukee; WILD CARD: Toronto Zagreb Thus your playoff teams are: Chicago Zrinjski, Hamilton Croatia, Norval Croatia, Oakville Livno, Toronto Croatia, Chicago CBP, Toronto Zagreb and Milwaukee Orlovi. ~ And the winner will be…Toronto Croatia Toronto is having another fine season in the CPSL and will look to carry the performance into Labour Day. Expect them to battle with Chicago CBP, but this year they do look strong enough to end the dynasty. ~ Dark Horse: Hrvatski Orlovi Milwaukee They have been on the doorstep for the last few seasons. They will very likely be playing Sunday though and don’t be shocked if it is in the final. Well that is my predictions for another year but I am sure a couple will be wrong. After all, that is why they play the game.
