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World Cup Preview - Group A
As there isn’t long now until the Word Cup starts, and also because I’ve been bored as hell today, I’ve done a review of each team and group (yes I have discovered public houses but I’ve got no money...I’m a student for god sake). I’ll be unpredictable and start with Group A. Might be a bit long so get a drink and get yourself settled.
Group A
Germany
Poland
Ecuador
Costa Rica
On paper looks a very easy group for the hosts. However all of the other three teams will fancy their chances of progressing and will be 100% committed for every game, that in itself could make it a more awkward group than it appears for Klinsmann, Ballack and co.
Germany
Should progress from group with comfort. However due to that fact and the home advantage they need to be careful that complacency doesn’t creep in. Despite easy group many feel the squad simply aren’t good enough to go all the way. Unbelievably reliant on Ballack, although Klose has the ability to score his share of goals, some pretty average players need to be at the top of their game if the hosts are to get past the quarter final stage or further. It’s been a long time since Germany beat a genuinely top team and recently got demolished 4-1 by Italy.
Key Man: (Not surprisingly) Michael Ballack.
Poland
A pretty impressive qualifying campaign saw them win all their games expect the two against England, both of which they only lost by a single goal. However their defeats to England probably show that against the top teams they simply lack the required quality to make an impact. However as shown in qualifying they can score goals, with Zurawski, and Rasiak providing the fire power. However a major shock in their World cup squad is the absence of Tomasz Frankowski, the top scorer in qualifying. They also have a lively winger in Jacek Kzynowek of Leverkeusen who could be a player to shine on the big stage. Will start as favourites of the ‘other three’ to progress from group but can’t be slack if they’re to get through.
Key Man: Jacek Kzynowek
Costa Rica
Still something of an unknown despite this being their third world cup appearance out of the last five. To many the only knowledge of Costa Rica will simply be Paulo Wanchope, who they remain reliant on. However the most striking thing about this team is the very adventurous 3-5-2 formation which the manager uses a lot. Especially adventurous as many see their three man defence as their big weakness. However due to the group they’re in, they wont get a much better chance than this to make an impact on a tournament. Their main chance of progressing still remains the goals of Paulo Wanchope, he’s the countries record goal scorer with over 40 goals in under 70 appearances. In with a chance of upsetting Poland.
Key Man: Paulo Wanchope
Ecuador
As bizarre a side as you’ll find in international football. At home they’re fantastic, yet away from home they’re hopeless. This is due to the fact they play all their home games at a very high altitude, obviously a little awkward for away teams. In qualifying they didn’t lose any of their home games and beat Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Colombia amongst others. However they only won once away from home in qualifying. However despite the altitude you still have to be a decent team to beat Brazil and Argentina and they’ll feel they have a chance due to the favourable draw. Personnel wise however there isn’t much to write home about. The only recognised names are likely to be: de la Cruz, Delgado and Hurtado, although bitter Palace fans might recall Kaviedes.
Key Man: do they have one?? If you had to pick, probably Delgado.
World Cup Preview - Group B
Group B
England
Sweden
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago
Many will see this group as being a two way contest between England and Sweden. However it’s crazy to write off a very tough Paraguay team. With England’s injury worries nothing can be taken for granted. Trinidad and Tobago meanwhile, look like they’re lined up for the role of group whipping boys.
England
The media hype will reach a frenzy close before England kick off their first game on June 10th. However how many will have truly forgotten a pretty uninspiring qualifying campaign which saw England score just 17 goals in 10 games, in what was an easy qualifying group. Add to that the injury and lack of match fitness dilemma, Sven’s shock squad selections and Sven himself and suddenly things don’t look so rosy. England have a tough opening game against Paraguay, then an easy game against T&T to recover before what could be a decisive game to end the group against Sweden. It really wouldn’t be the earth shattering shock many think if England didn’t progress or only scraped through. This isn’t the ‘walk in the park group’ many thought when the draw was made. However on the other end of the spectrum this really is England’s best chance of success for a whole 2 years, but yet again the fitness of Rooney could be decisive when it comes to the crunch (no pun intended). On paper a good team, but paper doesn’t pick the team, Sven does. If it wasn’t for Brazil you’d probably say we have a great chance of winning the whole thing but add to that doubts over key players fitness and suddenly another quarter final exit beckons.
Key Man: ROONEY! ROONEY! So much does depend on his fitness. A big game player
Sweden
A team England don’t have a great record against, and with attacking talent like Ibrahimovic, Larsson, Ljungberg and Wilhelmsson, it’s easy to see why. On paper their defence may look uninspiring but the likes of Mellberg are completely different players to the donkey he is in the Premiership. They also have the highly rated Andreas Isaksson in goal (no it’s not just Champ Manager, he’s good in real life as well). However it does come down to how Larsson and Ibrahimovic do in front of goal. Larsson hasn’t been the same scoring machine at Barca that he was at Celtic, and despite his potential brilliance, on an off day Ibrahimovic can be atrocious. They’ll need to be at their best if they’re to get anything from the England and Paraguay games, and losing both their qualifying games against Croatia may suggest they don’t have what it takes to open up the meanest defences.
Key Man: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. On his day he can be brilliant.
Paraguay
Always been a proverbial ‘ugly side’ and can be very hard to break down. Won’t win any awards for aesthetically pleasing football but are undoubtedly South America’s third best team. They have a very strong and physical defence and midfield, with the very experienced Carlos Gamarra organising the back line. However, they may be too defence minded to get results from England and Sweden, as playing a defensive game for a draw inevitably puts yourself under pressure for large spells of games. However they do have an attacking option in Bayern Munich’s Roque Santa Cruz. He’s Paraguay’s golden boy although he’s had a long term injury this season. They could run the two European teams close and are in with a genuine chance of progressing, although their lack of attacking options could end up being their downfall.
Key Man: Roque Santa Cruz
Trinidad and Tobago
Whipping boys. Remember this is the same team that lost 5-1 to Guatemala in qualifying. With their first team consisting of regulars from Port Vale and Wrexham they really have done well just to qualify and experience the World Cup. Realistically though they won’t have enough to even win one game. They’re by far the weakest team in Group B.
Key Man: Dwight Yorke. Well past his best but still T&T’s most talented player.
World Cup Preview - Group C
Group C
Argentina
Holland
Ivory Coast
Serbia and Montenegro
Every World Cup has a ‘Group of death’ and this is as deadly as it gets. Four very strong but very different teams and every single one of them will be looking to at least reach the 2nd round. Six potentially brilliant games make this the group to watch early on in the tournament.
Argentina
Find themselves in the ‘Group of death’ yet again, however unlike 2002 they should still be able to progress. On paper one of the very best teams in the tournament especially in attack with options such as Riqueleme, Crespo, Messi and Tevez certainly suggesting goals could be on the cards. Riquelme has shone for Villarreal and is one of the best creative midfielders in the world, whereas Messi has the kind of ability most players can only dream about. He’s been a revelation at Barca this season and is inevitably nicknamed the ‘new Maradona’. Crespo has shown time and time again in his career that he is a natural goalscorer, no more so than for Argentina where he averages more than a goal every two games. The lesser known Tevez is likely to attract huge attention from some of the big European clubs. He’s probably the best player playing in South America at the moment but can he fit into the team ahead of one of the other three? Either way a big move to Europe looks like it could follow. The squad also boasts names such as Aimar and Saviola. Behind the attacking options, Argentina are as physical and at times dirty in defence as ever. The likes of Sorin, Ayala and Heinze will hope to keep it tight at the back.
Key Man: Hernan Crespo. In with a real chance of winning the Golden Boot.
Holland
Find themselves in a very tough group but come into the tournament on the back of an incredibly impressive qualifying campaign. In their group they kept 10 clean sheets in the 12 games and comfortably beat Czech Republic, Romania and Finland both home and away. The impressive campaign is probably due to van Basten dropping a lot of the big names e.g Seedorf, Makaay, Kluivert and Davids, and replacing them with younger and hungrier players from the Dutch league itself. This has led to a much better team spirit, the lack of which has often being the decisive hurdle for Holland. A front three of Robben, van Nistlerooy and Dirk Kuyt (a player who has attracted a lot of attention from English clubs) look more than capable of scoring goals. The squad also has attacking midfielders such as van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder as well as Robin van Persie who has shown at Arsenal that he knows where the goal is. However van Basten appears to of missed an opportunity by not including the very prolific and very impressive Klaas Jan Huntelaar. Strangely he went for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink instead. The heartbeat of the team is Phillip Cocu. He’s had a new lease of life since he left Barca and is one the best defensive midfielders in Europe. Full backs Gio van Bronckhorst and Jan Kromkamp are probably the weakest link of the team. However have the ability to go a long way but need to be on song to get out of a tough group to begin with.
Key Man: Phillip Cocu. Holds the team together in the centre of midfield.
Ivory Coast
Many people’s dark horses despite being in a tough group and this being their first Word Cup appearance. They would need to be at their very best to progress as they are arguably the weakest team in a very, very tight group. If they weren’t in such a tough group they’d be looking to reach the second round or quarter finals. However they still have plenty of very good players. Kolo Toure has been immense for Arsenal this season as has Emmanuel Eboue. In midfield Didier Zokora, and Kolo Toure’s younger but very highly rated brother, Yaya Toure, look an impressive combination, Zokora in particular is a much underrated, complete midfielder. Up front meanwhile Didier Drogba goes from being an unpopular diver and not a natural goalscorer that he is at Chelsea, to leading the line with a whole host of goals. They’re the best African team at the moment and are unlucky with the draw they got, however they’re not out yet and being a quick and attacking team will unsettle the other teams in the group. Could be involved in some thrilling high scoring games.
Key Man: Didier Drogba. Rediscovers his Marseille form for his country.
Serbia and Montenegro
Don’t score many goals but don’t concede many either, conceded just one in their whole qualifying campaign which saw them win their group ahead of Spain and Belgium. Not pretty to watch, unlike the other three in the group, but very effective. Their main players are Man Utd’s centre back Nemanja Vidic, Inter Milan’s midfielder Dejan Stankovic, and the impressive strike force of Mateja Kezman and the huge Nikola Zigic. Zigic is a 6’ 7’’ brute of a man who is good in the air, but also decent with the ball at his feet (think Crouch, but good). The big man has been attracting attention, even being linked to Arsenal. He combines brilliantly with former Chelsea flop Kezman. Serbia also have attacking options on the bench with former Villa ‘favourite’ Savo Milosevic and Lecce’s Mirko Vucinic. Like Ivory Coast they’ll fancy their chances of progressing at the expense of either Argentina or Holland and are more than capable of doing so. However success will depend on whether they can carry their mean defensive record into a group where they face three very good attacking teams.
Key Man: Nikola Zigic
World Cup Preview - Group D
Group D
Portugal
Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal and Mexico will be the favourites to progress, although Iran might also fancy their chances. Undoubtedly the weakest group in the competition and probably the least likely to contain attractive football. Angola makes up the numbers and are something of an unknown quantity.
Portugal
Be the favourites to top the group as they still boast an impressive amount of talent. However they’ve come into the World Cup somewhat under the radar, with few people discussing them as serious contenders. Indeed many feel they missed their chance for success at the European Championships, when they lost the final on home soil. Despite that disappointment and the huge disappointment of 2002 where they failed to even progress through the group stage, they still have the likes of Deco, Figo, Ronaldo and Pauleta who are all capable of creating and scoring goals. Deco in particular could be the real danger man. Brilliant on the ball and wins plenty of free kicks, he’ll still be on a high from winning the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. However their biggest hope of making an impact depends on the brilliance of their coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. One of the big names in International management ‘Big Phil’ led Brazil to Word Cup success in 2002 and came close to success with Portugal in 2004. With a proven record Phil smashed the FA’s and many England fans dreams when he turned the England job down recently. Many will watch his subsequent performance with a keen eye
Key Man: ‘Big Phil’ himself.
Mexico
Should progress from group but would do well to go much further. Despite some positive results against bigger nations they don’t really have the quality to win on the bigger stage. Their main strength is the strike force of Jared Borgetti and Guillermo Franco. Borgetti has a fantastic scoring record for his country despite not setting the world alight at Bolton. Franco meanwhile caught the eye for Villarreal in leg against Arsenal, when he looked particularly lively. Their other European based player, Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez is the captain, and leads by example. He’s comfortably their best player and will be vital if they’re firstly to progress from the group and secondly if they’re to go any further.
Key Man: Rafael Marqueztheir second
Iran
Ironically their only World cup victory to date was against USA in 1998. Since then they’ve developed into the best team in the Middle East with a host of players based in Germany. The two best players from these are Ali Karimi and Mehdi Mahdavikia. Karimi is a playmaker for Bayern Munich, and likely to replace Ballack, Mahdavikia meanwhile is a right winger for Hamburg. Both players are skilful and are the main creative threats in the Iranian team. Upfront remains the 38 year-old, all time international goalscoring record holder, Ali Daei. He’s scored over a hundred goals in international football, the only man to ever do so. Iran certainly have a serious chance of progressing from the group stage, their game against Mexico in particular could be decisive. However if they are to progress they need their German based stars to be on top form.
Key Man: Mehdi Mahdavikia
Angola
Will enjoy playing against former masters Portugal, but that could be the end of the enjoyment for them. They’re the weakest team in the group and were surprise qualifiers ahead of Nigeria as well as failing to progress from the group stage in the African cup of nations. A substantial amount of their squad play in Portugal, the best known of these being Pedro Mantorras and Mendonca (no, not Clive). Mantorras certainly has ability but has never really consistently shown it for Benfica. Realistically these World Cup first timers are probably in Germany just to make up the numbers.
Key Man: Pedro Mantorras
World Cup Preview - Group E
Group E
Italy
Czech Republic
USA
Ghana
If it wasn’t for Group C this would be known as the ‘Group of death’. Four very good teams who before the draw was made would have been eyeing the possibility of the quarter finals. However the draw has been unfriendly and this could be an absolute cracking group, with every game having quality players and the possibility of goals. Italy will be expecting to progress but the other three are battling for the second spot.
Italy
Come into the tournament with a scandal rocking Italian football and a pretty unimpressive qualifying campaign, which saw an away defeat at Slovenia and only a draw away at Scotland. However on paper this is probably the second best team after Brazil, with a solid defence, balanced midfield, and a dangerous attacking partnership. Nesta and Cannavaro are the most solid defensive partnership in the tournament. In midfield meanwhile the brilliant Andrea Pirlo pulls the strings with his wide variety of passing, as shown we Italy recently destroyed Germany 4-1. In that match the strike partnership of Gilardino and Toni also looked like world beaters. Indeed Toni is something of a goal machine and looks set to really become a household name at the World Cup. With the much underrated Filippo Inzaghi on the bench (another natural goalscorer) Italy certainly look they can score goals. A tough group shouldn’t be too much difficulty for the Italians and they look like they can go a long way in this tournament and are rightly one of the favourites.
Key Man: Luca Toni. A natural goalscorer, in with a chance of the golden boot.
Czech Republic
A team who have become used to the term ‘dark horses’. However they come into this Word Cup with a whole host of players lacking match fitness, including Koller, Smicer and Lokvenc. Also despite the almost schizophrenic club/country performances of Milan Baros he really is in no form whatsoever. However the attacking midfield trio of Nedved, Rosicky and Poborsky (now player/owner of a second division team in Czech Republic!!), still provide plenty of opportunities for the front two and will be the main hopes of this Czech side. Rosicky in particular was the Czech’s best player in qualifying and is looking likely to join Atletico Madrid, despite links to Arsenal. However the Czech’s find themselves in a tough group and don’t come into this tournament with the greatest preparation. Also with a leaky defence they could well find themselves losing out to either Ghana or USA.
Key Man: Tomas Rosicky
USA
A team with a large number of its squad based in England, have been named as many people’s dark horses. However their best players remain Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley. They’ll be hoping to repeat their journey of 2002 when they reached the quarter finals before just losing to out Germany. However a tough group and a potential second round match with Brazil make that unlikely. To many people’s (Footy Manager addicts) disappointment Freddy Adu isn’t in the squad. However they are a good side who will be fresh and fit and will fancy their chances of reaching the second round. However to get out of the ‘Group of extreme pain’ they’ll need Beasley and Donovan to be at their best.
Key Man: Landon Donovan.
Ghana
Another team who will fancy their chances of reaching the second round. This surprisingly is their first World Cup and they come into it on the back of a poor African Cup of Nations. However they have some talented individuals. Sammy Kuffour provides valuable experience at the back, while Stephen Appiah is a strong central midfielder who made a name for himself in Italy before moving to Fenerbache and he’ll captain the team. They also have Udinese’s Suley Muntari on the wing, and the lively attacking duo of Matthew Amoa and Asamoah Gyan. However their star player remains Michael Essien. One of the bets midfielders in Europe, he was missing from the teams flop at the African Cup of Nations, but will come back to partner Appiah in the centre of midfield. Despite their pace and section of talented individuals, Ghana are a surprisingly physical side and will be awkward to play against. The group will be tight but they’ll still need Essien to be inspirational if they’re to progress. Like Ivory Coast they’d of fancied their chances of making a real impact in the tournament before a tough group likely to be their downfall.
Key Man: Michael Essien.
World Cup Preview - Group F
Group F
Brazil
Croatia
Japan
Australia
Without being disrespectful about the other three teams, this group really is just about one team, and how easily they’ll carve the others open. Brazil will walk through the group, but the battle for second looks tight. The second placed team is likely to face Italy in the next round so will only be around for one extra game anyway.
Brazil
Overwhelming favourites for tournament. Will easily win this group. Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka, Adriano and Robinho. (take a breath). Fred, Juninho, Carlos, Cafu, Cicinho, Dida, Lucio, Gilberto, Emerson and Edmilson. That’s why.
Add to that list Rogerio Ceni, their back up keeper who has scored over 60 goals in his career, and notice the lack of Julio Baptista. A player who would walk into any other squad in the tournament.
Awesome.
Key Man: You’d think with so many stars it would be difficult to pick. It can only be Ronaldinho though.
Croatia
About as opposite a team to Brazil as you’ll find. They get numbers back and soak up pressure before trying to play on the break. Tactically they normally play with four defensive midfielders, with Niko Kranjcar (the coaches son) being the only real creative midfielder. This makes them difficult to break down, as shown in qualifying when they twice beat Sweden 1-0. If Sweden found them tough to break down then Japan and Australia probably will do as well. Indeed out of the three Croatia are probably the best team and certainly the meanest defensively. Should qualify for second round but won’t find the Japan or Australia games easy.
Key Man: Niko Kranjcar
Japan
Coached by Brazilian legend Zico, they’ll need his inspiration if they’re to progress from the group. Their main weakness is their uninspiring strikers that don’t really score enough goals. However they do have Celtic’s Nakamura and Hidetoshi Nakata of Bolton who are creative midfielders and are their two best players. However despite a decent Confederations Cup last year they’d need to be at their best to get a win from this group. Lack the attacking ability to break down Croatia so their best hope of progression is to win against Australia, a side they have a decent record against. Probably won’t repeat their 2nd round appearance from 2002.
Key Man: Shunsuke Nakamura
Australia
Despite what many seem to think Australia would do well to progress from the group and would be depending on a miracle to get any further than the 2nd round. Realistically Viduka and Kewell are past their Leeds best and Australia are far more reliant on Cahill and Marco Bresciano. Bresciano is a very talented right winger who plays for Parma, Cahill meanwhile who has a good scoring record for Australia (he plays in a more advanced role than he does for Everton) is struggling to be fit after obtaining an injury towards the end of the season. However Australia’s main worry will be their 3 man defence. It’s likely to be Tony Popovic, Lucas Neill and Craig Moore. It’s almost scary to think what Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and co will do against the aggressive Blackburn man and the ageing Newcastle and Palace men. If they’re to break down Croatia they need Viduka and Kewell to rediscover their best as well as Cahill to be fit, and need their rickety defence to hold firm. Will be tight as to whether they progress ahead of Croatia and Japan but that defence really could be costly.
Key Man: Guus Hiddink. Need him to inspire them, as he did South Korea, if they’re to progress.
World Cup Preview - Group G
Group G
France
Switzerland
South Korea
Togo
On paper another case of one team strolling through leaving a battle for second place. However that was also France’s plan in 2002. Switzerland can be a difficult team whereas South Korea will be hoping to recapture the spirit of 2002. Togo are the other team and could be looking at three very uncomfortable games.
France
Its easy to look at a list of names including Henry, Zidane, Trezeguet, Vieira, Makelele, Thuram and Gallas and think you’re looking at serious contenders for the World Cup. Although it’s a surprise that Ludovic Giuly misses out on the squad. However they come into the World Cup on the back of a qualifying campaign when they scored just 14 goals in 10 games, 11 of them coming in the games against Cyprus and the Faroe Islands. For any team that would be disappointing, for a team with the attacking trio of Zidane, Henry and Trezeguet however it’s abysmal. Their 3 home games against Israel, Switzerland and Ireland all finished 0-0. Many put this down to the manager; Raymond Domenech. They guy would struggle to be any more unpopular, however he recently excelled himself yet again when he announced Barthez was to be the first choice keeper ahead of Lyon’s Gregory Coupet, unquestionably France’s best keeper recently. Whereas the names on the sheet look promising the ageing side is probably incapable of winning the tournament, especially seeing as they fail to get anywhere near the best out of Thierry Henry, their best player. That is the core of the problem. France’s biggest weakness, ironically, is Zidane himself. It’s simply impossible to get the best out of him and Henry in the same team. Henry is reliant on quick attacking breaks with the midfield breaking in support. Zidane meanwhile hogs possession and slows the attack and the game down. Henry made a comment that wasn’t fully picked up on after Euro 2004 effectively moaning about the team being based around Zidane. Whereas they don’t concede many, just two in qualifying, they simply don’t score enough either and that is due to Zidane. So it looks like France simply lacks the team and the manager to be a success. Will progress from the group, but not too much further.
Key Man: Thierry Henry. If they don’t get the best out of him they could struggle.
Switzerland
They were lucky to qualify. They drew all their games against close competitors France, Israel and Ireland in qualifying and only went through a playoff against Turkey on away goals, despite going into the second leg with a two goal cushion. However their two draws with France will fill them with confidence as a draw with France this time round would go a long way to securing progression from the group. In Johann Vogel and Raphael Wicky they have a decent central midfield. However Hakan Yakin misses the 23 man squad and is on the standby list instead. Alexander Frei will be looking to add the goals upfront and Phillipe Senderos will hope to take his rock solid Arsenal form into the World Cup. Should progress along with France but the South Korea game will be decisive.
Key Man: Phillipe Senderos.
South Korea
They certainly won’t be repeating the fourth place from four years ago and would do well to even make the 2nd round. Without Hiddink and home advantage, and the outrageously favourable refereeing which seemed to follow them in 2002, they look a far weaker prospect this time. Lee Young-Pyo, Park Ji-Sung and Seol Ki-Hyeon are the recognised names over here and they’ll need to be at their best if the team are to pip Switzerland to second place. Should beat Togo so the game against Switzerland will be their main target.
Key Man: Park Ji-Sung
Togo
I won’t even pretend to know much about these. Basically they have one decent player in Emmanuel Adebayor and even he can look a bit donkey-ish and Kanu-ish at times. They were shock qualifiers ahead of Senegal and highlighted just how much of a shock by losing both their games in the African Cup of Nations. After that their coach was sacked, but not before him and Adebayor could have a major falling out which divided the dressing room. Rubbish team, split dressing room and up against three established international teams make Togo Group G whipping boys.
Key Man: Emmanuel Adebayor
World Cup Preview - Group H
Final group…
Group H
Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia
Looks a clear cut group and is. Spain and Ukraine are simply battling for top spot and to avoid France in the 2nd round. Tunisia are much better than Saudi Arabia but find themselves up against two other very good teams. Saudi Arabia should be bracing themselves for another Germanyesque hammering at some point.
Spain
Incredibly their best performance in a World Cup remains a fourth place finish back in 1950, the only occasion they’ve gone further than the quarter finals. In qualifying they were more than frustrating. Drawing home and away with Serbia and Bosnia as well as only getting one point from a visit to Lithuania. In the end they needed a playoff although they comfortably beat Slovakia. Another team who on paper look very good. Great keeper in Casillas, and Puyol organises the defence very well, although if he were to pick up an injury or suspension it would suddenly look vulnerable. Their strength lies in central midfield. A whole raft of decent central midfielders includes Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Albelda and Xabi Alonso. For wingers they have Reyes, Joaquin and Garcia. However upfront Raul is in no form whatsoever so Torres and Villa look more likely to start. Torres could be lining up a move to Barca after Henry stayed at Arsenal and David Villa is an outside contender for the Golden Boot. Although whether Spain will be in the tournament long enough to give him such hopes is debatable. Again on paper at least they should be challengers but face a tough test to win the group ahead of Ukraine, and even if they did they’d be scheduled in for a quarter final with Brazil. Decent team but looks like underachieving, yet again.
Key Man: Carlos Puyol
Ukraine
The dark horses of the tournament. Fancied to have an extended visit by many and particularly because they’re led by one of the best strikers in the world. Undoubtedly they’re massively reliant on Shevchenko, be it his goals, assists or general presence on the pitch. He’s another who’s in with a genuine shout for the Golden Boot, although he is carrying a slight knee injury. As a team they looked very good at times in qualifying, winning six on the trot at one point, including an away win at European champions Greece and a thumping 3-0 win in Turkey. They’re a very well organised and a physically strong team and they’ll fancy their chances of winning the group ahead of Spain. They have a trio of decent midfielders in Timoschuk, Rotan and Husin. Other than Shevchenko they also have a few other decent options upfront including Leverkeusen’s Andriy Voronin, Olexiy Belik and Andriy Vorobei; 3 very capable attackers. They also have former Spurs ‘favourite’ Sergei Rebrov who’s back at Dynamo Kiev and actually not in too shabby form. Certainly if he and Shevchenko can recapture their old spark then Oleg Blokhin’s team have a real chance of upsetting a few teams and progressing a fair way through the tournament. A team to watch out for.
Key Man: have a guess.
Tunisia
If it wasn’t for being drawn against two top European teams, Tunisia might have fancied their chances of reaching the 2nd round for the first time. However with the draw their best chance is beating Saudi Arabia in the first game, taking confidence into their two tough games and maybe sneaking a draw in one of them two games. However that would be a real achievement and realistically they may have to settle for third place in the group. They should comfortably beat Saudi Arabia mainly due to the goal scoring talent of Brazilian born Francileudo Santos upfront, who’s scored 13 goals in 18 games for Tunisia and has been linked with a move to Portsmouth. However their best known players remain Bolton’s man mountain Radhi Jaidi and Ajax full back Hatem Trabelsi, a very good right back who’s been strongly linked with Arsenal in the past. Other well known players include Mehdi Nafti and Hamed Namouchi. A decent team but not good enough to oust Ukraine or Spain for one the top two spots.
Key Man: Francileudo Santos
Saudi Arabia
Yet again bring another poor team to the World Cup. It does seem that unlike teams like Iran, South Korea and Japan they’re simply making no progress and maybe getting worse, both as an international team but also in the quality of their individual players. Every single one of their squad plays in Saudi Arabia, and whereas some countries like Mexico sees the bulk of their team remaining in their domestic league as a positive, for Saudi Arabia it simply highlights a lack of quality players. Their best player (its not easy putting one on a pedestal above the others) is Asian Player of the Year, the defender Hamad Al-Montashri. Simply put they’re a very poor team and will most likely lose all their group games. Serious contenders for weakest team in the tournament.
Key Man: At a push, Hamad Al-Montashri
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FAQ
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 7:47 pm Author: Ian W Post subject: World Cup Preview:
