Group D is, top to bottom, the hardest group in South Africa. It features four teams who could easily go on runs in the knockout round of the tournament if they were to get hot. I am aware that Group G, which features Brazil, Portugal and the Ivory Coast is considered to be the famed “Group of Death”, but I would rather my team be in a group where there is a guaranteed three points (lowly North Korea also dwells in G), than one where every game will be tough, every point will have to be earned. The teams in the group are Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana.
The seeded team in the group is Germany, a regular favorite to win the cup. A mixture of injuries and necessity to use extremely young players though, has pushed the Germans down the list of teams most likely to lift the cup on July 11th. The biggest blow to the German cause is the injury to captain Michael Ballack, who got hurt in the FA Cup final for Chelsea against Portsmouth by Kevin-Prince Boateng, a player of German descent who plays for Ghana. The apparent feud between Boateng and Ballack has been all over the headlines recently because of the Germany vs. Ghana connection, but who did the injuring to Michael Ballack isn’t really important. What is important is that Germany lost their stable force in the center of the pitch, a player who easily had the most experience on the team at the International level. He has been Germany’s go-to-guy since the 2002 World Cup, and he will be sorely missed. The captain’s armband will now be worn by fullback Philipp Lahm, arguably Germany’s best player even when Ballack could play. Lahm is a great player and he appears to be captain material, but he is only 26 years old, a little too young to be captain of your country. He is a player who already had lots of pressure heading into this tournament, and now more has been heaped on him because of this captaincy. Lahm appears eager to take the armband, but how effective he is remains to be seen. It doesn’t help his cause that much of the defense for Germany is an enigma. The only certainty is that Per Mertesacker will start at center back, after that it is unknown. Lahm is world class on both the left and right wing of defense, and if I had to bet, he will be on the left wing, with Jerome Boateng (yes, brother of Kevin-Prince), on the right. The center of defense alongside Mertesacker is still a problem though. Heiko Westermann could’ve easily been the starter had he not been injured, meaning the inexperienced duo of Serdar Tasci and Holger Badstuber could end up starting in South Africa. The goalie situation is also not great, with number one keeper Manuel Neuer recently getting injured, meaning backups Jorg Butt or Tim Wiese could start in South Africa. The center of the midfield is also a potential problem, as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira are the only defensive central midfielders Germany has. If either of the two get injured or suspended, then the Germans could be in trouble in terms of protecting the back four. The left midfield position will be taken by Lukas Podolski, the right will be either Thomas Muller or Toni Kroos, with Mesut Ozil being the creative player right behind the striker. Who will be the striker is a question. Based upon experience it will be Miroslav Klose, but Klose has had a horrendous year at Bayern Munich and shouldn’t be starting. Stuttgart’s Cacau should be the starter, coming off a good club year, but it could easily go to the experienced veteran Klose. In the end, this is not a physically imposing or frightening Germany squad, two aspects that go hand in hand with the German national team. Another character trait though is that of winning, even when they don’t deserve to, making them a very tough team to eliminate.
Australia is a very interesting team heading to South Africa. The Australians had a great campaign in 2006 which ended with a controversial loss to eventual champions Italy, the deciding goal resulting from a Fabio Grosso dive in the box that turned into a converted penalty kick. That was in the round of 16, a pretty good result for a team that had not scored a goal at the finals before that one. The Australians bring back much of the same team that took the field in Germany, which is both a good and bad thing. The experience will help, but the players are all starting to get on in years; questions about speed and durability come up when discussing the Australians. In between the pipes though, they have a very good keeper in Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer, who is particularly good at saving penalty kicks. He will have to be a big player in order for Australia to emerge from this group. The backline is consistent and experienced, so they shouldn’t be a problem. The midfield is also very good, with players like Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano, and Brett Emerton providing the creative flair going forward that many teams would envy. The biggest problem for the Aussies up front though is the forward position. At the last World Cup they had experienced veterans Paul Viduka and John Aloisi up front, but now both have moved on. The current striker is probably the lanky Joshua Kennedy, but his presence will not strike fear into opponents. If the Australians can discover a goal scoring threat from the forward position, they will be very dangerous heading into the tournament.
Serbia is possibly the most underrated team in the field heading into South Africa. They are extremely balanced in every department of the game. Up top, they have the power of Nikola Zigic paired with the opportunistic Marko Pantelic. In the midfield, they have youngster Milos Krasic on the right who is primed for a breakout tournament after a great year with CSKA Moscow. In the middle they have the do-it-all captain Dejan Stankovic paired with the very effective, defensive Nenad Milijas. At the back, they have a world class Manchester United center back in Nemanja Vidic, as well as the physical presence of Branislav Ivanovic on the right side of defense. Ivanovic crosses as well as anyone in the game from the right flank, and Vidic will be set to shut down opponents’ best strikers. The goalkeeper is a little shaky, as Vladimir Stojkovic has been injury prone the past three year resulting in few games played. He is currently healthy though, so Stojkovic will be Serbia’s number one going into the tournament. This is also a battle tested side, winning a group featuring France, Austria and Romania, all participants in Euro 2008. Their coach Raddy Antic has also got the full support of his players, a key difference between the side that failed miserably at the last World Cup. In Germany, then coach Ilija Petkovic created controversy when he attempted to call up his son, who wasn’t talented enough to be in the squad. He also randomly changed the tactics he had installed in his group during qualifying. This time the Serbs have a coach they believe in, and one who has his sights set on a good campaign.
Ghana is the last team in group D, and is just as dangerous an outfit as any in the group. Like Australia, the Ghanaians exceeded all expectation by advancing out of a tough group featuring Italy, the Czech Republic and the USA. What made their advancing even more impressive was that they were the only African team to progress out of the group stage, a tremendous honor and achievement. They fell in the round of 16 to Brazil, losing 3-0, despite controlling much of the game and honestly, creating better chances than the Brazilians. Finishing those chances ended up being the Achilles heel though for Ghana, and it could be this time as well. They have no fear-instilling forwards, and opponents like Serbia should be able to stop them with ease. Asamoah Gyan will probably get the start up front, but the leggy striker will have trouble ridding himself of the presence of defenders like Per Mertesacker and Nemanja Vidic. The quality of the midfield has also taken a massive blow by the injury of Michael Essien, who will not be healthy in time to participate in the finals. It is a true shame, as Essien is one of the most dynamic midfielders in the world and will be missed in South Africa. The show must go on though for Ghana, and players like Sulley Muntari, Stephen Appiah and Kwadwo Asamoah (only 21 years old) will have to pick up the slack without the presence of Essien. The backline is good though, and has depth, with promising right back Sammy Inkoom probably starting over the experienced Fulham back John Patnsil and three reliable center backs in John Mensah, Isaac Vorsah and Lee Addy. The probable starting duo in the center is Mensah and Vorsah because Addy is also effective at the left fullback position and will be starting there. Ghana also has a decent keeper in the form of the athletic Laryea Kingston, who had a very good World Cup in 2006 and has improved since. Ghana’s hopes have been dashed because of the injury to their world class midfielder Michael Essien, but don’t count them out yet as there is still plenty of talent in this team.
Conclusion:
This group is absolutely stacked, top to bottom, but my picks to advance are Germany and Serbia. Despite losing Michael Ballack, I still see the Germans winning all three games in South Africa and advancing. They are, after all, German. The Serbs also advance for me, beating Ghana and Australia with ease, and losing a tough one to Germany. Despite the loss, the Serbs advance as the second team out of the group. The problem with Australia and Ghana is they simply don’t have enough fire power to keep up with the two European teams. Losing Michael Essien is huge for Ghana, and while they do have other quality players, he was the motor that made that team run. Australia are not imposing enough up front, as Joshua Kennedy will disappoint in South Africa by not scoring a single goal. I do not see either team going without a point though. The meeting between these two teams will be the best game of the group, and I see it playing out as a 2-2 draw. Here is the table, schedule and how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: Germany 1 vs. 0 Australia
Game 2: Serbia 3 vs. 1 Ghana
Game 3: Germany 2 vs. 1 Serbia
Game 4: Ghana 2 vs. 2 Australia
Game 5: Ghana 0 vs. 2 Germany
Game 6: Australia 0 vs. 2 Serbia
Standings:
Germany 9 pts
Serbia 6 pts
Australia 1 pt
Ghana 1 pt
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Thoughts on What Will Happen in Group C
Group C offers one of the most hyped games of the entire group stage in England vs. the United States. It features two teams whose nations are continually linked together, not just on the pitch (1950 shock USA victory over England) but politically as well. While in modern times these two nations are each other’s biggest allies, people will still refer to it as another Revolutionary War, a callback to the war which resulted in the United States ridding them of English rule and becoming their own state. With all the back story heading into the first game, it is easy to forget two tricky teams also reside in this group in Algeria and Slovenia who will be anything but a pushover for the two bigger nations.
The team with the most expectations in this group heading into the World Cup is easily England. One could argue England is the craziest soccer-loving nation in the world and want the cup to be theirs for the first time since 1966, when they hosted the tournament. The fans and press, who both apply far too much pressure on the players, are craving the title more than usual before a World Cup because of how dominant England were in the qualifying campaign. They simply steamrolled their competition, being the second European team to qualify for the tournament after the Dutch. A dominating display in Zagreb against rivals Croatia that resulted in a 5-1 victory for the Three Lions was the marquee game for them, and one that announced to the world that the English could actually live up to the lofty expectations set for them by the rest of their nation in South Africa. Coach Fabio Capello has been hailed a genius by the press, and appears prepared to take the English on a deep run. The English will rely heavily on striker Wayne Rooney, who had a fantastic campaign for Manchester United despite suffering a few injuries towards the end of it. They are praying he will be healthy because it is very hard to see the English making any noise without him up front. The major concern for England is between the posts. Robert Green of West Ham United appears to be the number one choice, but he is anything but an elite goalie. It’s no knock against him, but Green will not carry them to the final; the defense will have to do well in front of him. Unfortunately there are question marks about the defense as well. Ashley Cole is an elite fullback and will be lock down on the left side, while Glen Johnson is solid defensively, and extremely dangerous going forward on the right side. The problem could be in the center. Usual starter John Terry had a bad year both on and off the field for Chelsea, which resulted in him losing the captaincy of England, making him appear much more unreliable heading into the tournament than during qualification. The captaincy was given to Rio Ferdinand, who has been injured pretty much all year, and hasn’t appeared himself of late when on the pitch. Capello made a mistake giving Ferdinand the armband because now he has to play Ferdinand, who could end up being a liability. Ledley King, another option, has possibly the worst knees on the planet and can’t practice with the team in between games because of how hurt they are, despite how well he has played when on the field. King is a good option, but the definition of unreliable in that he could get injured by something as simple as walking from his bed to the bathroom. Matthew Upson is the final option, but he is untested and does not have much big match experience for his club either. Defense is the big question for England, because the midfield and forwards they possess are world class. Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Aaron Lennon, Joe Cole, Gareth Barry and James Milner are all good options in the midfield, while Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey and Jermain Defoe are all good strike options upfront with Rooney. In the end, if England can settle their issues at center back and protect Robert Green, then they will be a formidable side.
The United States are a very interesting side heading into the World Cup. They are a diverse team, in that many of their players are seasoned veterans, while a few have less than five caps. This makes the United States a mix of precocious individuals who are somewhat shocked to be going to South Africa (Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley and Herculez Gomez… oh hey all forwards) and those who expected to be there when the team got knocked out in Germany four years ago. One thing that takes the United States from an average team to an elite team is their starting goalie Tim Howard. Howard is considered one of the best in the world and is coming off a good year with his club team in England, Everton. On numerous occasions he has bailed the team out of tight spots, and he will be called upon in South Africa to make big saves. If Howard is in the zone, the sky is the limit for the United States. The defense is a little shaky though, as there are numerous injury problems. One crucial detail though is the necessity of Carlos Bocanegra to play at left back. The position has been a cancer for the USA in many tournaments, and although Bocanegra would probably rather play center back, he is someone who can actually be competent on the left wing. Jay DeMerit will start in the center, and if he is healthy in time, Oguchi Onyewu will as well. Jonathon Spector appeared to be the starting right back until he looked beyond horrendous against Turkey in a recent friendly, making room for the consistent Steve Cherundolo to get the nod on the right wing. The midfield is deceptively strong and versatile; there are many different looks coach Bob Bradley can go with. Clint Dempsey should be on the left side of the midfield, not up top, as should Michael Bradley. After that players like Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Jose Torres and Stuart Holden can all fight for starting spots. Honestly, all could start at different points in South Africa given how diverse that group is; Clark is physical, Edu is very good defensively, Torres is a great creator going forward and Holden is a master crosser of the ball. Right now I would give the starts to Torres and Edu, but Clark and Holden could both prove crucial to the USA at different points in South Africa. America’s best player is Landon Donovan, and while he is a midfielder by trade, I would put him up top, slightly behind striker Jozy Altidore. His job would be to set up Altidore with good chances, as well as run at defenses. He is the best player on the field for the USA besides Tim Howard, and Donovan up top with Altidore could provide a lot of crucial goals. If not Donovan, the game against Turkey proved the USA needs speed to couple with Altidore’s power to be effective on the attack, meaning Robbie Findley would be the ideal person for the job. Findley is extremely quick and deceptively skillful, his biggest problem though being how inexperienced he is on the international level. Coming off the bench expected to score is Herculez Gomez, who is inexperienced but appears to be good at getting in good positions to poach goals.
Algeria is the third team in Group C and is the one with the lowest expectations amongst pundits entering the tournament. Despite being the consensus weakest team, nobody can deny that Algeria earned their spot in the tournament, winning a dramatic game against heated rival Egypt in Sudan, a stunning volley from center back Anthar Yahia the difference in the match. The strength for Algeria is their midfield, where they have the creative Karim Ziani running the show, as well as tricky players Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda running on the wings. This midfield is expected to control every game the Algerians play in if they want to have a decent showing in South Africa. The Algerians also have a solid goalkeeper in Lounes Gaouaui (did not know an individual was allowed to have that many vowels in a row). The biggest problem for the Algerians may not be their opponents, but themselves. They are an extremely fiery group that has been known to stop caring about games halfway through and concern themselves more with injuring their opponents (ex: 4-0 loss to Egypt in semi finals of African Cup of Nations this past January). This loss of focus could come back to bite them in South Africa and could mean a dramatic exit for the Algerians.
The Slovenians are an extremely dangerous team going to South Africa. Much is being made of how small the nation is that the Slovenians come from, but people should simply throw that logic out the window. The Slovenians beat Russia in a playoff to get here, you can be guaranteed they will not be intimidated by the size of England and the USA. The pundits should pay more attention to the massive size of the Slovenian players, with 16 of their 23 players being listed at 6 feet tall or taller. The frontline will be led by Milivoje Novakovic, listed at 6 ft 4in, who is one of the most feared strikers in the German Bundesliga. He will be coupled with Zlatko Dedic, a modest 6 feet tall, and Nejc Pecnik, 6 ft 2 in, will be the super substitute coming off the bench. In between the pipes, the Slovenians will send out their up and coming Samir Handanovic, 6 ft 5 in. Handanovic is coming off a good year for Udinese in Italy and will be expected to lead Slovenia to the knockout rounds. The midfield is well organized, led by miniscule captain Robert Koren, who will be expected to protect the much larger backline from opponents’ attack. The only other big name in the midfield is Rene Krhin, the 20 year old Inter Milan player who is the future of Slovenian football. The defense is an enigma, with no big names listed on the squad, but is pretty good, allowing sixteen goals in twelve games during qualifying. Handanovic will be expected to make some pretty big saves for the Slovenians to do well, but the backline should do a good job of protecting him.
Conclusion:
I am joining many pundits here by taking both England and the USA to advance into the knockout rounds. I think there is too much fire power for England not to get out of the group, and the USA is extremely tenacious, making them a tough out too. I see the big match being a somewhat boring draw at 1-1, with Landon Donovan and John Terry getting on the score sheet. The English will beat the other two teams in the group to take first place, while the Americans will tie the Slovenians and beat the Algerians to take second. Slovenia, who I’m predicting will be very difficult to beat, will edge the Algerians 1-0 in their first game before a disappointing draw against the USA. The Algerians will self-destruct on the final matchday, realizing they cannot advance, and the USA will be the benefactors from it, tanking them 4-0 on the final day to advance. Here is the table, schedule and how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: England 1 vs. 1 USA
Game 2: Algeria 0 vs. 1 Slovenia
Game 3: Slovenia 1 vs. 1 USA
Game 4: England 2 vs. 1 Algeria
Game 5: Slovenia 0 vs. 2 England
Game 6: USA 4 vs. 0 Algeria
Final Standings:
England 7 pts
USA 5 pts
Slovenia 4 pts
Algeria 0 pts
The team with the most expectations in this group heading into the World Cup is easily England. One could argue England is the craziest soccer-loving nation in the world and want the cup to be theirs for the first time since 1966, when they hosted the tournament. The fans and press, who both apply far too much pressure on the players, are craving the title more than usual before a World Cup because of how dominant England were in the qualifying campaign. They simply steamrolled their competition, being the second European team to qualify for the tournament after the Dutch. A dominating display in Zagreb against rivals Croatia that resulted in a 5-1 victory for the Three Lions was the marquee game for them, and one that announced to the world that the English could actually live up to the lofty expectations set for them by the rest of their nation in South Africa. Coach Fabio Capello has been hailed a genius by the press, and appears prepared to take the English on a deep run. The English will rely heavily on striker Wayne Rooney, who had a fantastic campaign for Manchester United despite suffering a few injuries towards the end of it. They are praying he will be healthy because it is very hard to see the English making any noise without him up front. The major concern for England is between the posts. Robert Green of West Ham United appears to be the number one choice, but he is anything but an elite goalie. It’s no knock against him, but Green will not carry them to the final; the defense will have to do well in front of him. Unfortunately there are question marks about the defense as well. Ashley Cole is an elite fullback and will be lock down on the left side, while Glen Johnson is solid defensively, and extremely dangerous going forward on the right side. The problem could be in the center. Usual starter John Terry had a bad year both on and off the field for Chelsea, which resulted in him losing the captaincy of England, making him appear much more unreliable heading into the tournament than during qualification. The captaincy was given to Rio Ferdinand, who has been injured pretty much all year, and hasn’t appeared himself of late when on the pitch. Capello made a mistake giving Ferdinand the armband because now he has to play Ferdinand, who could end up being a liability. Ledley King, another option, has possibly the worst knees on the planet and can’t practice with the team in between games because of how hurt they are, despite how well he has played when on the field. King is a good option, but the definition of unreliable in that he could get injured by something as simple as walking from his bed to the bathroom. Matthew Upson is the final option, but he is untested and does not have much big match experience for his club either. Defense is the big question for England, because the midfield and forwards they possess are world class. Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Aaron Lennon, Joe Cole, Gareth Barry and James Milner are all good options in the midfield, while Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey and Jermain Defoe are all good strike options upfront with Rooney. In the end, if England can settle their issues at center back and protect Robert Green, then they will be a formidable side.
The United States are a very interesting side heading into the World Cup. They are a diverse team, in that many of their players are seasoned veterans, while a few have less than five caps. This makes the United States a mix of precocious individuals who are somewhat shocked to be going to South Africa (Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley and Herculez Gomez… oh hey all forwards) and those who expected to be there when the team got knocked out in Germany four years ago. One thing that takes the United States from an average team to an elite team is their starting goalie Tim Howard. Howard is considered one of the best in the world and is coming off a good year with his club team in England, Everton. On numerous occasions he has bailed the team out of tight spots, and he will be called upon in South Africa to make big saves. If Howard is in the zone, the sky is the limit for the United States. The defense is a little shaky though, as there are numerous injury problems. One crucial detail though is the necessity of Carlos Bocanegra to play at left back. The position has been a cancer for the USA in many tournaments, and although Bocanegra would probably rather play center back, he is someone who can actually be competent on the left wing. Jay DeMerit will start in the center, and if he is healthy in time, Oguchi Onyewu will as well. Jonathon Spector appeared to be the starting right back until he looked beyond horrendous against Turkey in a recent friendly, making room for the consistent Steve Cherundolo to get the nod on the right wing. The midfield is deceptively strong and versatile; there are many different looks coach Bob Bradley can go with. Clint Dempsey should be on the left side of the midfield, not up top, as should Michael Bradley. After that players like Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Jose Torres and Stuart Holden can all fight for starting spots. Honestly, all could start at different points in South Africa given how diverse that group is; Clark is physical, Edu is very good defensively, Torres is a great creator going forward and Holden is a master crosser of the ball. Right now I would give the starts to Torres and Edu, but Clark and Holden could both prove crucial to the USA at different points in South Africa. America’s best player is Landon Donovan, and while he is a midfielder by trade, I would put him up top, slightly behind striker Jozy Altidore. His job would be to set up Altidore with good chances, as well as run at defenses. He is the best player on the field for the USA besides Tim Howard, and Donovan up top with Altidore could provide a lot of crucial goals. If not Donovan, the game against Turkey proved the USA needs speed to couple with Altidore’s power to be effective on the attack, meaning Robbie Findley would be the ideal person for the job. Findley is extremely quick and deceptively skillful, his biggest problem though being how inexperienced he is on the international level. Coming off the bench expected to score is Herculez Gomez, who is inexperienced but appears to be good at getting in good positions to poach goals.
Algeria is the third team in Group C and is the one with the lowest expectations amongst pundits entering the tournament. Despite being the consensus weakest team, nobody can deny that Algeria earned their spot in the tournament, winning a dramatic game against heated rival Egypt in Sudan, a stunning volley from center back Anthar Yahia the difference in the match. The strength for Algeria is their midfield, where they have the creative Karim Ziani running the show, as well as tricky players Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda running on the wings. This midfield is expected to control every game the Algerians play in if they want to have a decent showing in South Africa. The Algerians also have a solid goalkeeper in Lounes Gaouaui (did not know an individual was allowed to have that many vowels in a row). The biggest problem for the Algerians may not be their opponents, but themselves. They are an extremely fiery group that has been known to stop caring about games halfway through and concern themselves more with injuring their opponents (ex: 4-0 loss to Egypt in semi finals of African Cup of Nations this past January). This loss of focus could come back to bite them in South Africa and could mean a dramatic exit for the Algerians.
The Slovenians are an extremely dangerous team going to South Africa. Much is being made of how small the nation is that the Slovenians come from, but people should simply throw that logic out the window. The Slovenians beat Russia in a playoff to get here, you can be guaranteed they will not be intimidated by the size of England and the USA. The pundits should pay more attention to the massive size of the Slovenian players, with 16 of their 23 players being listed at 6 feet tall or taller. The frontline will be led by Milivoje Novakovic, listed at 6 ft 4in, who is one of the most feared strikers in the German Bundesliga. He will be coupled with Zlatko Dedic, a modest 6 feet tall, and Nejc Pecnik, 6 ft 2 in, will be the super substitute coming off the bench. In between the pipes, the Slovenians will send out their up and coming Samir Handanovic, 6 ft 5 in. Handanovic is coming off a good year for Udinese in Italy and will be expected to lead Slovenia to the knockout rounds. The midfield is well organized, led by miniscule captain Robert Koren, who will be expected to protect the much larger backline from opponents’ attack. The only other big name in the midfield is Rene Krhin, the 20 year old Inter Milan player who is the future of Slovenian football. The defense is an enigma, with no big names listed on the squad, but is pretty good, allowing sixteen goals in twelve games during qualifying. Handanovic will be expected to make some pretty big saves for the Slovenians to do well, but the backline should do a good job of protecting him.
Conclusion:
I am joining many pundits here by taking both England and the USA to advance into the knockout rounds. I think there is too much fire power for England not to get out of the group, and the USA is extremely tenacious, making them a tough out too. I see the big match being a somewhat boring draw at 1-1, with Landon Donovan and John Terry getting on the score sheet. The English will beat the other two teams in the group to take first place, while the Americans will tie the Slovenians and beat the Algerians to take second. Slovenia, who I’m predicting will be very difficult to beat, will edge the Algerians 1-0 in their first game before a disappointing draw against the USA. The Algerians will self-destruct on the final matchday, realizing they cannot advance, and the USA will be the benefactors from it, tanking them 4-0 on the final day to advance. Here is the table, schedule and how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: England 1 vs. 1 USA
Game 2: Algeria 0 vs. 1 Slovenia
Game 3: Slovenia 1 vs. 1 USA
Game 4: England 2 vs. 1 Algeria
Game 5: Slovenia 0 vs. 2 England
Game 6: USA 4 vs. 0 Algeria
Final Standings:
England 7 pts
USA 5 pts
Slovenia 4 pts
Algeria 0 pts
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thoughts on What Will Happen in Group B
For me, Group B was the most difficult group to make predictions for. I have done numerous different “drafts” of my predictions, and at one point or another I have had all four teams advance at different stages of the process. Why? I see each team as being extremely high quality for varying reasons, as well as being extremely flawed in certain areas. This is a group that I do not see being settled until the last day, being potentially the most competitive group in the entire competition.
Argentina is the seeded team heading into the competition, and therefore have to be favorites to advance into the knockout rounds. They are among the top of my list of most interesting teams to watch at the World Cup, possessing an unfair amount of talent up front and in the midfield, along with potentially the craziest manager to ever manage at a Finals event. Manic manager Diego Maradona, already a legend in Argentina for his exploits as a player, will have a plethora of players to choose from up top. All six of his forwards could start for at least ¾ of the rest of the teams at the tournament. They are his son-in-law Sergio Aguero, Diego Milito, Martin Palermo, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and the reigning player of the year Lionel Messi. It really will be interesting to see what tactics Maradona will use in South Africa. The two weaker forwards are Aguero and Palermo, who will almost definitely not see the pitch, but the other four are truly world class. Messi will obviously start, but who will partner with him? The bullish Carlos Tevez, who is coming off a major year with Manchester City, the star striker from one of the biggest clubs in the world (Real Madrid) Gonzalo Higuain, or the player who just netted twice in the Champions League Final for Inter Milan, Diego Milito. It truly is not fair how many options he has. My guess is that Maradona will use a 4-2-1-3 formation, with Juan Sebastion Veron being the creater behind the forwards. Messi will start on his favored right side, Carlos Tevez will take the left and either Higuain or Milito will take the center forward spot. Although I think Maradona favors Higuain, I would start Milito who has been in great form the past few months. In defense, Maradona favors starting four center backs across the backline for size, while midfielders Angel di Maria and Javier Mascherano will stand in front of them. Despite all this talent, Argentina is anything but a stable team. Maradona is very inexperienced as a coach, and the team struggled during the qualifying campaign. In Maradona’s defense he was not manager the entire campaign, but the club is still not the most consistent in the field, despite possibly being the most talented. Argentina is a dangerous team, but one that should be able to navigate this group.
Nigeria also resides in this group. They are a stereotypical African team, extremely athletic with fantastic options up front in Obifemi Martins and Yakubu, as well as aged legend Nwankwo Kanu coming off the bench. Martins’ speed, pace and control couples well with Yakubu’s power and size, leaving the Nigerians with possibly the best duo up front. They will have to provide goals if the Nigerians have any hope of getting through this group. In defense is where the Africans could have trouble though, since they do not have a single, well-tested goalie on their roster and few talented defenders. One bright spot will be Joseph Yobo, a talented and experienced center back who will be expected to lead the defense. He is a physically imposing character, and will be given the tough assignment of stopping other teams’ best forwards. His play will be crucial to the Africans advancing, as well as the play of John Obi Mikel. The Chelsea defensive midfielder has won the race to become healthy in time for the finals, and should be able to start against Argentina on the 12th of June. He will most likely be partnered with Dickson Etuhu in the center of the midfield, and it will be their job to break up play going forward for their opponents. Etuhu and Mikel are also physically imposing, as well as quick, so expect big things from the center of the park for Nigeria. All in all, Nigeria are one of the better all around teams from Africa, and will be tough to beat.
The third team in the group is South Korea. A well organized team, led by Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park, Korea will be very difficult to beat. They are extremely quick and hard working. The main problem that I see with South Korea is where the goals are going to come from, especially with striker Lee Dong-Gook, who started all through qualification, injured for at least the opener in South Africa. But even with Gook on the field, I still see problems for the Koreans in that they do not have a proven goal scorer who is not past his prime. They do have the heroic striker from the 2002 World Cup, Ahn Jung-Hwan, but he is far past his prime and many in South Korea think his inclusion smacks of desperation for inspiration up top by coach Huh Jung-Moo. That said, the midfield should be difficult with Park running the show and promising talent Lee Chung Yong playing on the right wing. They also have an experienced goalkeeper in Lee Woon Jae, who will be called upon to make big saves in order for success in South Africa. On defense, the Koreans feature many unknown players who apply their trade in Asia, but the apparent drawback to them is their lack of size in the middle, making them susceptible to giving up goals on headers from set pieces. At the end of the day, I believe Korea’s success will come down to if their talented midfield can control the pace of the game and provide goals, along with Jae having another big World Cup.
The last team in Group B is Greece. Many are favoring the Greeks because of their extremely defensive style of play; the Greeks only allowed 10 goals in 12 games, including an impressive shut out at Ukraine in the second leg of their playoff series that resulted in Greece gaining a berth. They also have a reputation for being very physical, not being afraid of injuring an opponent in order to stifle them. Up front, they will rely on Theofanis Gekas, who led Europe in 10 goals scored during qualification. A major asterisk that one can put next to Gekas’ impressive record though, is that six of those came against Latvia, who were strong in a very weak qualification group. I do not question Greece’s defense as it is well known as being extremely physical and tough to break down, a trait that most teams managed by Otto Rehhagel possess, but they don’t have any real leaders in the middle of the park or in attack. The Greeks won’t concede many goals, but they won’t score many either, making them a tough team beat but an easy team to at least gain a tie from. People will say this team is similar to the side that won Euro 2004 in Portugal who played a similar style, but one could also look at the team in Euro 2008 and the incompetency they showed in the offensive side of the field. That incompetency will eventually lead to the Greeks downfall.
Conclusion
My teams to advance through are Argentina and Nigeria. Although I have many doubts about Maradona’s competency as a manager, I believe Argentina have far too much talent to not advance. I see them having a pretty easy time of it too, easily beating Nigeria and South Korea, before a draw against Greece on the last day. I have Nigeria advancing too, with their speed and power up front being too much for the Koreans in the biggest game in the group. Expect Yakubu to score on a header from a set piece in this tie, as the Nigerians prove too athletic for the disciplined Koreans. It’s tough for me to not put South Korea through because I do like them as a team, but I don’t see enough fire power up front for them to advance. I do think they will beat the Greeks on Matchday 1 from a Ji Sung Park penalty late in the game, but that will be their only win as Argentina’s fire power up front will be too much for their defense and Nigeria’s athleticism will overpower them. Greece will confirm how tough their defense is by allowing only two goals, but the problem will be that they score one, I’m predicting against Nigeria. Here is how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: Argentina 3 vs. 1 Nigeria
Game 2: Korea Republic 1 vs. 0 Greece
Game 3: Greece 1 vs. 1 Nigeria
Game 4: Argentina 2 vs. 0 Korea Republic
Game 5: Nigeria 3 vs. 1 Korea Republic
Game 6: Greece 0 vs. 0 Argentina
Final Standings:
Argentina 7 pts
Nigeria 4 pts
South Korea 3 pts
Greece 2 pts
Argentina is the seeded team heading into the competition, and therefore have to be favorites to advance into the knockout rounds. They are among the top of my list of most interesting teams to watch at the World Cup, possessing an unfair amount of talent up front and in the midfield, along with potentially the craziest manager to ever manage at a Finals event. Manic manager Diego Maradona, already a legend in Argentina for his exploits as a player, will have a plethora of players to choose from up top. All six of his forwards could start for at least ¾ of the rest of the teams at the tournament. They are his son-in-law Sergio Aguero, Diego Milito, Martin Palermo, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and the reigning player of the year Lionel Messi. It really will be interesting to see what tactics Maradona will use in South Africa. The two weaker forwards are Aguero and Palermo, who will almost definitely not see the pitch, but the other four are truly world class. Messi will obviously start, but who will partner with him? The bullish Carlos Tevez, who is coming off a major year with Manchester City, the star striker from one of the biggest clubs in the world (Real Madrid) Gonzalo Higuain, or the player who just netted twice in the Champions League Final for Inter Milan, Diego Milito. It truly is not fair how many options he has. My guess is that Maradona will use a 4-2-1-3 formation, with Juan Sebastion Veron being the creater behind the forwards. Messi will start on his favored right side, Carlos Tevez will take the left and either Higuain or Milito will take the center forward spot. Although I think Maradona favors Higuain, I would start Milito who has been in great form the past few months. In defense, Maradona favors starting four center backs across the backline for size, while midfielders Angel di Maria and Javier Mascherano will stand in front of them. Despite all this talent, Argentina is anything but a stable team. Maradona is very inexperienced as a coach, and the team struggled during the qualifying campaign. In Maradona’s defense he was not manager the entire campaign, but the club is still not the most consistent in the field, despite possibly being the most talented. Argentina is a dangerous team, but one that should be able to navigate this group.
Nigeria also resides in this group. They are a stereotypical African team, extremely athletic with fantastic options up front in Obifemi Martins and Yakubu, as well as aged legend Nwankwo Kanu coming off the bench. Martins’ speed, pace and control couples well with Yakubu’s power and size, leaving the Nigerians with possibly the best duo up front. They will have to provide goals if the Nigerians have any hope of getting through this group. In defense is where the Africans could have trouble though, since they do not have a single, well-tested goalie on their roster and few talented defenders. One bright spot will be Joseph Yobo, a talented and experienced center back who will be expected to lead the defense. He is a physically imposing character, and will be given the tough assignment of stopping other teams’ best forwards. His play will be crucial to the Africans advancing, as well as the play of John Obi Mikel. The Chelsea defensive midfielder has won the race to become healthy in time for the finals, and should be able to start against Argentina on the 12th of June. He will most likely be partnered with Dickson Etuhu in the center of the midfield, and it will be their job to break up play going forward for their opponents. Etuhu and Mikel are also physically imposing, as well as quick, so expect big things from the center of the park for Nigeria. All in all, Nigeria are one of the better all around teams from Africa, and will be tough to beat.
The third team in the group is South Korea. A well organized team, led by Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park, Korea will be very difficult to beat. They are extremely quick and hard working. The main problem that I see with South Korea is where the goals are going to come from, especially with striker Lee Dong-Gook, who started all through qualification, injured for at least the opener in South Africa. But even with Gook on the field, I still see problems for the Koreans in that they do not have a proven goal scorer who is not past his prime. They do have the heroic striker from the 2002 World Cup, Ahn Jung-Hwan, but he is far past his prime and many in South Korea think his inclusion smacks of desperation for inspiration up top by coach Huh Jung-Moo. That said, the midfield should be difficult with Park running the show and promising talent Lee Chung Yong playing on the right wing. They also have an experienced goalkeeper in Lee Woon Jae, who will be called upon to make big saves in order for success in South Africa. On defense, the Koreans feature many unknown players who apply their trade in Asia, but the apparent drawback to them is their lack of size in the middle, making them susceptible to giving up goals on headers from set pieces. At the end of the day, I believe Korea’s success will come down to if their talented midfield can control the pace of the game and provide goals, along with Jae having another big World Cup.
The last team in Group B is Greece. Many are favoring the Greeks because of their extremely defensive style of play; the Greeks only allowed 10 goals in 12 games, including an impressive shut out at Ukraine in the second leg of their playoff series that resulted in Greece gaining a berth. They also have a reputation for being very physical, not being afraid of injuring an opponent in order to stifle them. Up front, they will rely on Theofanis Gekas, who led Europe in 10 goals scored during qualification. A major asterisk that one can put next to Gekas’ impressive record though, is that six of those came against Latvia, who were strong in a very weak qualification group. I do not question Greece’s defense as it is well known as being extremely physical and tough to break down, a trait that most teams managed by Otto Rehhagel possess, but they don’t have any real leaders in the middle of the park or in attack. The Greeks won’t concede many goals, but they won’t score many either, making them a tough team beat but an easy team to at least gain a tie from. People will say this team is similar to the side that won Euro 2004 in Portugal who played a similar style, but one could also look at the team in Euro 2008 and the incompetency they showed in the offensive side of the field. That incompetency will eventually lead to the Greeks downfall.
Conclusion
My teams to advance through are Argentina and Nigeria. Although I have many doubts about Maradona’s competency as a manager, I believe Argentina have far too much talent to not advance. I see them having a pretty easy time of it too, easily beating Nigeria and South Korea, before a draw against Greece on the last day. I have Nigeria advancing too, with their speed and power up front being too much for the Koreans in the biggest game in the group. Expect Yakubu to score on a header from a set piece in this tie, as the Nigerians prove too athletic for the disciplined Koreans. It’s tough for me to not put South Korea through because I do like them as a team, but I don’t see enough fire power up front for them to advance. I do think they will beat the Greeks on Matchday 1 from a Ji Sung Park penalty late in the game, but that will be their only win as Argentina’s fire power up front will be too much for their defense and Nigeria’s athleticism will overpower them. Greece will confirm how tough their defense is by allowing only two goals, but the problem will be that they score one, I’m predicting against Nigeria. Here is how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: Argentina 3 vs. 1 Nigeria
Game 2: Korea Republic 1 vs. 0 Greece
Game 3: Greece 1 vs. 1 Nigeria
Game 4: Argentina 2 vs. 0 Korea Republic
Game 5: Nigeria 3 vs. 1 Korea Republic
Game 6: Greece 0 vs. 0 Argentina
Final Standings:
Argentina 7 pts
Nigeria 4 pts
South Korea 3 pts
Greece 2 pts
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thoughts on What Will Happen in Group A
My next few updates are going to be my predictions for what will happen at the World Cup. I intend to go through every group, pick what will happen game by game, and explain why I think certain teams will advance and why some won't. After the group stages, I will do one for each round, as I slowly reveal who I think will win the tournament. I begin with Group A, which features the hosts South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France.
World Cup Group A is not as simple as people are making it out to be. Many experts and fans are putting Uruguay and France through simply on the roster the two teams have along with them being big name countries who have won the tournament. They also have South Africa not advancing and Mexico not having enough fire power to get through. I however, do not see this group as straightforward as people is making it out to be.
Firstly, it is absolutely foolish to write off the Mexicans. Many within Mexico feel this may be the best team to go to the World Cup in a long time and that is saying a lot considering the Mexicans have made it to the round of 16 the last four tournaments. Although they are considered perennial underachievers with disappointing exits in 1994 to Bulgaria on penalty kicks and the USA in 2002, one safe bet would be the Mexicans scraping their way through the group stages. Exciting players like Giovanni dos Santos, Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela are expected to provide the offensive power, while experienced defenders like Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez are going to hold down the defense. Oh and don’t count out their fat, overweight, 37 year old captain Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who is still a crafty player despite how humorous he looks as he runs around the field.
As hosts of the tournament, it would also be foolish to not have the South Africans break through the group stage. The host of the tournament has never failed to get out of the group stage and while the Bafana Bafana are the lowest rated host team ever, they still have history on their side. The one major thing South Africa has going for them is that they will have much of the crowds at their games cheering for them. One could also expect these stadiums to be the loudest ever at a World Cup final, not because South Africans are known for being loud, but because they will possess the extremely annoying vuvuzelas, hornlike instruments that are blared in unison during local games. They are a staple part of South African soccer, and while foreign teams have made efforts to have them banned from stadiums, they will be present. In a recent friendly which South Africa won over Colombia, the Colombian head coach said after the game that the stadium was the loudest he’d ever stepped in, and teams will have trouble communicating on the pitch because of the horns. The South Africans shouldn’t though because they will be used to the horns as they have heard them and are used to them. I believe the vuvuzelas’ impact on the goings on at the cup have been underrated by many pundits, and the South Africans will take advantage of that.
The French enter the tournament with tons of controversy swirling around them ranging from the players’ and country’s dislike for coach Raymond Domenech, the apparent arguments amongst players in the locker room, the coach not selecting certain players (Patrick Viera, Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema come to mind), the Thierry Henry handball that led to the deciding goal that gave France their berth to the tournament at Ireland's expense and that little issue involving some of the players and underage prostitutes that happened in Paris. Despite all this, on paper this team should be contending for the title, featuring world class players like Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery, Florent Malouda, Yoann Gourcuff, Patrice Evra, Nicholas Anelka, William Gallas and Hugo Lloris. Unfortunately for France though, the tournament is not played on paper. This dislike amongst the players for Domenech can, and will affect how the team performs on the field. Supporters of France will disagree, citing the 2006 World Cup when Domenech fielded a team that didn’t believe in his tactics that eventually lost in the finals to Italy. The big difference between that squad and this one though is the lack of leadership amongst the players. The 2006 edition had two players in Patrick Viera and Zinedine Zidane who provided leadership and charisma that the players rallied around. Current captain Henry does not appear to be that player, the one who can motivate his teammates to perform for their country to the best of their ability and not care about Domenech. This lack of leadership results in inconsistent play from a truly talented squad, making them anything but a safe bet to advance from this tricky group.
Uruguay rounds out this group. They are expected to advance along with France because of their talent up top, with strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez expected to net multiple goals in South Africa en route to a successful campaign for the Uruguayans. I don’t doubt the talent of Uruguay, just the spottiness of their qualifying campaign. There is a lot expected of a team who had to go through a playoff with Costa Rica to make the field, not doing well enough to earn an automatic bid like Chile and Paraguay, despite those two teams having less fire power. I do not know a whole lot about the Uruguayans, but a loss to last place Peru, and only managing two draws from lowly Venezuela show me a team that can be extremely inconsistent no matter how talented they are. They were only able to take 24 points from an 18 game world cup qualifying campaign, anything but impressive for a team who is favored by many to be the dark horse team to make a run in the knockout stages.
Conclusion
My writing is pretty biased, I bet you can tell where I stand on this group: I see Mexico winning it, with South Africa nipping the second place on the last day by tying France. The French have proven they can underachieve when expectations are high (ex: 2002 World Cup where they didn’t score a goal as defending champs), and I think this team is set up to do so. With Uruguay, I think they are simply overrated as a team and I don’t see them getting a single point in the group stage. I really like Mexico though, and think they will do enough to win the group. I see them drawing with South Africa on the first day, but barely beating the French and Uruguayans to sneak into the Round of 16 like they always seem to do. Here is the table, schedule and how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: South Africa 1 vs. 1 Mexico
Game 2: Uruguay 0 vs. 2 France
Game 3: South Africa 2 vs. 1 Uruguay
Game 4: France 0 vs. 1 Mexico
Game 5: Mexico 3 vs. 2 Uruguay
Game 6: France 2 vs. 2 South Africa
Final Standings:
Mexico 7 pts
South Africa 5 pts
France 4 pts
Uruguay 0 pts
World Cup Group A is not as simple as people are making it out to be. Many experts and fans are putting Uruguay and France through simply on the roster the two teams have along with them being big name countries who have won the tournament. They also have South Africa not advancing and Mexico not having enough fire power to get through. I however, do not see this group as straightforward as people is making it out to be.
Firstly, it is absolutely foolish to write off the Mexicans. Many within Mexico feel this may be the best team to go to the World Cup in a long time and that is saying a lot considering the Mexicans have made it to the round of 16 the last four tournaments. Although they are considered perennial underachievers with disappointing exits in 1994 to Bulgaria on penalty kicks and the USA in 2002, one safe bet would be the Mexicans scraping their way through the group stages. Exciting players like Giovanni dos Santos, Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela are expected to provide the offensive power, while experienced defenders like Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez are going to hold down the defense. Oh and don’t count out their fat, overweight, 37 year old captain Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who is still a crafty player despite how humorous he looks as he runs around the field.
As hosts of the tournament, it would also be foolish to not have the South Africans break through the group stage. The host of the tournament has never failed to get out of the group stage and while the Bafana Bafana are the lowest rated host team ever, they still have history on their side. The one major thing South Africa has going for them is that they will have much of the crowds at their games cheering for them. One could also expect these stadiums to be the loudest ever at a World Cup final, not because South Africans are known for being loud, but because they will possess the extremely annoying vuvuzelas, hornlike instruments that are blared in unison during local games. They are a staple part of South African soccer, and while foreign teams have made efforts to have them banned from stadiums, they will be present. In a recent friendly which South Africa won over Colombia, the Colombian head coach said after the game that the stadium was the loudest he’d ever stepped in, and teams will have trouble communicating on the pitch because of the horns. The South Africans shouldn’t though because they will be used to the horns as they have heard them and are used to them. I believe the vuvuzelas’ impact on the goings on at the cup have been underrated by many pundits, and the South Africans will take advantage of that.
The French enter the tournament with tons of controversy swirling around them ranging from the players’ and country’s dislike for coach Raymond Domenech, the apparent arguments amongst players in the locker room, the coach not selecting certain players (Patrick Viera, Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema come to mind), the Thierry Henry handball that led to the deciding goal that gave France their berth to the tournament at Ireland's expense and that little issue involving some of the players and underage prostitutes that happened in Paris. Despite all this, on paper this team should be contending for the title, featuring world class players like Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery, Florent Malouda, Yoann Gourcuff, Patrice Evra, Nicholas Anelka, William Gallas and Hugo Lloris. Unfortunately for France though, the tournament is not played on paper. This dislike amongst the players for Domenech can, and will affect how the team performs on the field. Supporters of France will disagree, citing the 2006 World Cup when Domenech fielded a team that didn’t believe in his tactics that eventually lost in the finals to Italy. The big difference between that squad and this one though is the lack of leadership amongst the players. The 2006 edition had two players in Patrick Viera and Zinedine Zidane who provided leadership and charisma that the players rallied around. Current captain Henry does not appear to be that player, the one who can motivate his teammates to perform for their country to the best of their ability and not care about Domenech. This lack of leadership results in inconsistent play from a truly talented squad, making them anything but a safe bet to advance from this tricky group.
Uruguay rounds out this group. They are expected to advance along with France because of their talent up top, with strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez expected to net multiple goals in South Africa en route to a successful campaign for the Uruguayans. I don’t doubt the talent of Uruguay, just the spottiness of their qualifying campaign. There is a lot expected of a team who had to go through a playoff with Costa Rica to make the field, not doing well enough to earn an automatic bid like Chile and Paraguay, despite those two teams having less fire power. I do not know a whole lot about the Uruguayans, but a loss to last place Peru, and only managing two draws from lowly Venezuela show me a team that can be extremely inconsistent no matter how talented they are. They were only able to take 24 points from an 18 game world cup qualifying campaign, anything but impressive for a team who is favored by many to be the dark horse team to make a run in the knockout stages.
Conclusion
My writing is pretty biased, I bet you can tell where I stand on this group: I see Mexico winning it, with South Africa nipping the second place on the last day by tying France. The French have proven they can underachieve when expectations are high (ex: 2002 World Cup where they didn’t score a goal as defending champs), and I think this team is set up to do so. With Uruguay, I think they are simply overrated as a team and I don’t see them getting a single point in the group stage. I really like Mexico though, and think they will do enough to win the group. I see them drawing with South Africa on the first day, but barely beating the French and Uruguayans to sneak into the Round of 16 like they always seem to do. Here is the table, schedule and how I see the group playing out:
Game 1: South Africa 1 vs. 1 Mexico
Game 2: Uruguay 0 vs. 2 France
Game 3: South Africa 2 vs. 1 Uruguay
Game 4: France 0 vs. 1 Mexico
Game 5: Mexico 3 vs. 2 Uruguay
Game 6: France 2 vs. 2 South Africa
Final Standings:
Mexico 7 pts
South Africa 5 pts
France 4 pts
Uruguay 0 pts
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thoughts on Five Young Stars to Watch at the World Cup
In this post, I am highlighting 5 young stars who I think people should be watching at this World Cup. They are the future of the sport, and could easily have a break out tournament that thrusts them from up and coming talent to elite world superstar. Any players either 23 or younger were deemed young enough to be mentioned.
Yoann Gourcuff (France)- It’s tough to be expected to step into Zinedine Zidane’s shoes and have the same impact as him at your first World Cup, but that is what the French expect from this talented 23 year old midfielder. After having a great year for underachieving Bordeaux, Yoann Gourcuff is expected to be on everyone’s transfer lists after a superb World Cup. An attacking midfielder with a knack for scoring eye popping goals, Gourcuff is expected to run the show for France, orchestrating the attack going forward and organizing the defense behind him.
Carlos Vela (Mexico)- It’s hard to imagine this explosive Mexican forward as younger than 23, since he’s been a well-known commodity for six years already. Carlos Vela was thrust into the limelight when he signed from his hometown club of Guadalajara to London giants Arsenal Football Club, a club known for plucking young talent and building their teams around them. He went on loan for the first two years of being Arsenal’s property, returning in 2008. Since returning though, Vela has had trouble breaking into the first team, making only twenty five total appearances for the Gunners, scoring twice. This is different for the Mexican national team though, where Vela, despite only being 21 years old, is expected to be a starter. His play against England in a recent friendly was encouraging though, as his link up play with Giovanni dos Santos is anticipated as being a crucial part of Mexico’s attack.
Lee Chung Yong (South Korea)- Despite only being 21 years of age, Yong was an important player during South Korea’s qualifying process. Playing on the right side of midfield, he had the explosiveness and speed that many young wingers use to attack opposing defenders, but also the decision making of what to do once they beat the defense that many players should have once they have more experience. Lee Chung Yong is currently applying his trade his England for Bolton Wanderers, where he did fantastically this year, and is expected to sign for a big club. A big World Cup for this youngster could lead to more interest in having his signature on a contract from big name clubs.
Michael Bradley (USA)- The hard man in the middle of the midfield for the USA, Michael Bradley’s tenacity and intensity easily stick out when one watches him play. A deeply passionate player, whose only drawback may be his possibility of receiving red cards for caring a little too much, Bradley is extremely important to the USA. An injury ridden defense behind him, the 22 year old native from New Jersey has the job of ensuring that the backline does not have much to do. He will most likely partner with Maurice Edu in the center of the midfield, another defensive player, which will allow Bradley to fly forward occasionally and show off his attacking prowess as well. Bradley is a vital player to the USA’s cause, and a big showing from him is necessary in order for his team to do well. Currently playing for Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, playing well could secure a transfer to a club with a higher profile this summer.
Gervinho (Ivory Coast)- Another player who is expected to step into a national star’s boots, Gervinho will have many eyes watching him at this tournament. Expected to one day replace Ivorian captain and icon Didier Drogba, Gervinho will want to showcase his talent which has made him a standout player with his club team Lille in France. He netted 13 times for Lille this year, enough to put him in the top ten of scorers in Ligue 1 this year. A player with pace and a killer knack for scoring big goals, a big tournament from Gervinho will give Ivory Coast fans a little bit of reassurance for the future after Drogba’s retirement that the team will still be in reliable hands. A good showing would also be highly beneficial for Gervinho, already on the radar of many of Europe’s elite clubs, who could secure a big transfer this summer.
Yoann Gourcuff (France)- It’s tough to be expected to step into Zinedine Zidane’s shoes and have the same impact as him at your first World Cup, but that is what the French expect from this talented 23 year old midfielder. After having a great year for underachieving Bordeaux, Yoann Gourcuff is expected to be on everyone’s transfer lists after a superb World Cup. An attacking midfielder with a knack for scoring eye popping goals, Gourcuff is expected to run the show for France, orchestrating the attack going forward and organizing the defense behind him.
Carlos Vela (Mexico)- It’s hard to imagine this explosive Mexican forward as younger than 23, since he’s been a well-known commodity for six years already. Carlos Vela was thrust into the limelight when he signed from his hometown club of Guadalajara to London giants Arsenal Football Club, a club known for plucking young talent and building their teams around them. He went on loan for the first two years of being Arsenal’s property, returning in 2008. Since returning though, Vela has had trouble breaking into the first team, making only twenty five total appearances for the Gunners, scoring twice. This is different for the Mexican national team though, where Vela, despite only being 21 years old, is expected to be a starter. His play against England in a recent friendly was encouraging though, as his link up play with Giovanni dos Santos is anticipated as being a crucial part of Mexico’s attack.
Lee Chung Yong (South Korea)- Despite only being 21 years of age, Yong was an important player during South Korea’s qualifying process. Playing on the right side of midfield, he had the explosiveness and speed that many young wingers use to attack opposing defenders, but also the decision making of what to do once they beat the defense that many players should have once they have more experience. Lee Chung Yong is currently applying his trade his England for Bolton Wanderers, where he did fantastically this year, and is expected to sign for a big club. A big World Cup for this youngster could lead to more interest in having his signature on a contract from big name clubs.
Michael Bradley (USA)- The hard man in the middle of the midfield for the USA, Michael Bradley’s tenacity and intensity easily stick out when one watches him play. A deeply passionate player, whose only drawback may be his possibility of receiving red cards for caring a little too much, Bradley is extremely important to the USA. An injury ridden defense behind him, the 22 year old native from New Jersey has the job of ensuring that the backline does not have much to do. He will most likely partner with Maurice Edu in the center of the midfield, another defensive player, which will allow Bradley to fly forward occasionally and show off his attacking prowess as well. Bradley is a vital player to the USA’s cause, and a big showing from him is necessary in order for his team to do well. Currently playing for Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, playing well could secure a transfer to a club with a higher profile this summer.
Gervinho (Ivory Coast)- Another player who is expected to step into a national star’s boots, Gervinho will have many eyes watching him at this tournament. Expected to one day replace Ivorian captain and icon Didier Drogba, Gervinho will want to showcase his talent which has made him a standout player with his club team Lille in France. He netted 13 times for Lille this year, enough to put him in the top ten of scorers in Ligue 1 this year. A player with pace and a killer knack for scoring big goals, a big tournament from Gervinho will give Ivory Coast fans a little bit of reassurance for the future after Drogba’s retirement that the team will still be in reliable hands. A good showing would also be highly beneficial for Gervinho, already on the radar of many of Europe’s elite clubs, who could secure a big transfer this summer.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thoughts on the USA World Cup Squad
So Bob Bradley and I agree pretty much with who should be representing the United States at the World Cup in South Africa; my team had 21 of the 23 players who will board the plane for Johannesburg on Sunday. I also predicted one of my players who would not make Bradley’s squad. Unfortunately there was no place for Robbie Rogers, who simply put should be on the team instead of defender Jonathon Bornstein. Bornstein is benefiting from Bradley’s defensive mentality, along with the apparent necessity of a seventh defender on the squad. It also doesn’t hurt when your competition is Heath Pearce who I’m pretty sure could’ve been beaten consistently by the lesser players in the travel soccer League I participated in when I was 12. Oh well, it isn’t the worst thing in the world. It’s not like Bornstein is expected to get any sort of playing time in South Africa, it’s just unfortunate that a player of Rogers’ quality has to miss out on an excellent opportunity because of the position he plays.
The major shock of the squad was the absence of forward Brian Ching, and the inclusion of speedster Robbie Findley. I thought Findley’s chances were dead and buried after not playing last night, but a second look at that game shows me that he may have benefited from not playing. Eddie Johnson, his rival for a spot, was unable to get involved in the game enough to make the plane. I interpreted Findley’s absence as not impressing in the camp prior to the game, but apparently Findley was much safer than I thought. It looks as if Bob Bradley had made up his mind when he named the 30-man provisional roster that he was going to take one forward who is a speedster, clearly a replacement for the injured Charlie Davies. Although skill wise I would take Ching over Findley, Findley offers something and I think that’s why he will be going to South Africa while Ching watches from home.
Ching’s absence was good news though for forwards Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle, who are on the team despite having two International caps between them both going into last night’s match. Gomez scoring against the Czechs I thought guaranteed him a spot on the roster, along with his impressive scoring record for his club. Buddle I thought performed well enough to make the roster, same as Ching, but apparently Ching wasn’t up to snuff. Something that may have made Buddle stand out was his desire. After having his lip busted open in the leadup to the Maurice Edu goal, Buddle had to step off the pitch for a few minutes to be stitched up while his teammates had to carry on without him. Upon his return to the pitch, Buddle made sure to make up for lost time, battling consistently with the Czech defenders and doing a good job of getting involved in the flow of play. His heart and desire might’ve carried him through, along with his impressive linkup play with Landon Donovan at the LA Galaxy, which Bob Bradley may hope to exploit at some point during the tournament. No matter the reason, it is a sad blow for the flyin’ Hawaiian Brian Ching, as this was most likely his last chance to play at the World Cup.
The major shock of the squad was the absence of forward Brian Ching, and the inclusion of speedster Robbie Findley. I thought Findley’s chances were dead and buried after not playing last night, but a second look at that game shows me that he may have benefited from not playing. Eddie Johnson, his rival for a spot, was unable to get involved in the game enough to make the plane. I interpreted Findley’s absence as not impressing in the camp prior to the game, but apparently Findley was much safer than I thought. It looks as if Bob Bradley had made up his mind when he named the 30-man provisional roster that he was going to take one forward who is a speedster, clearly a replacement for the injured Charlie Davies. Although skill wise I would take Ching over Findley, Findley offers something and I think that’s why he will be going to South Africa while Ching watches from home.
Ching’s absence was good news though for forwards Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle, who are on the team despite having two International caps between them both going into last night’s match. Gomez scoring against the Czechs I thought guaranteed him a spot on the roster, along with his impressive scoring record for his club. Buddle I thought performed well enough to make the roster, same as Ching, but apparently Ching wasn’t up to snuff. Something that may have made Buddle stand out was his desire. After having his lip busted open in the leadup to the Maurice Edu goal, Buddle had to step off the pitch for a few minutes to be stitched up while his teammates had to carry on without him. Upon his return to the pitch, Buddle made sure to make up for lost time, battling consistently with the Czech defenders and doing a good job of getting involved in the flow of play. His heart and desire might’ve carried him through, along with his impressive linkup play with Landon Donovan at the LA Galaxy, which Bob Bradley may hope to exploit at some point during the tournament. No matter the reason, it is a sad blow for the flyin’ Hawaiian Brian Ching, as this was most likely his last chance to play at the World Cup.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thoughts on the USA vs Czech Republic match and the USA World Cup Squad
Wednesday’s game between the United States and Czech Republic, which saw the Czechs win 4-2, proved one major flaw about the United States national team: they have absolutely no depth, especially at the back. First of all, the best solution to the Jonathon Bornstein vs. Heath Pearce debate is simply to take neither, as both proved tonight why the United States should be terrified if they step on the pitch in South Africa. I think Bradley should take Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathon Spector and Clarence Goodson. Taking Bornstein or Pearce is simply a waste of a roster spot, especially Pearce who was responsible for the second and third Czech goals. I’m hoping that takes Pearce out of the running, and while Bornstein wasn’t as bad, I don’t see what he can contribute at the World Cup. I would feel much more comfortable with Maurice Edu slotting in at the back if necessary, but I doubt that will ever be the case. I know seven defenders would be favorable to six, but I would much rather see the USA have to revert to playing a 3-5-1, a formation they never play, instead of having a cancer like Jonathon Bornstein or Heath Pearce on the field.
The other concern at the back is Oguchi Onyewu. I’ve never been Onyewu’s biggest fan, feeling he has always been physically gifted, but not a tough enough player mentally. With his physical abilities limited, as shown by his performance last night, his value as a player dips heavily. It is tough to be critical of Onyewu, who has done a great job in rehab to even be considered to be on the roster, but this is the World Cup and if a player isn’t able to perform as well as another then the less talented one should not play. I will reserve total judgment on Gooch though, waiting to see how he does against the remaining games with Turkey and Australia before the tournament, but what he showed me tonight was a player not physically ready to perform at the World Cup. At this moment, my starting back four would be Cherundolo at right back, Jay DeMerit and Carlos Bocanegra at the center back positions and Jonathon Spector starting at left back. If Gooch proves he is physically fit by then, I would put him at center back, move Bocanegra to left back and have Cherundolo and Spector battle it out for the starting right back spot. Until then though, Onyewu has to sit.
In the midfield, I was impressed with the play of Maurice Edu, Stuart Holden and Jose Torres. Torres really did his hopes of making the team a favor with his performance tonight, doing a good job of spraying passes around to a variety of teammates and setting up the offense well. I think he will be announced in Bradley’s squad tomorrow, probably at the expense of Sacha Kljestan who was absent for much of his time on the pitch. I think Edu made a strong claim to be the central midfielder next to Michael Bradley in the starting lineup, while Holden’s play on the right side was encouraging as he could easily be asked to start there at some point during the World Cup so Clint Dempsey can move up to forward. DaMarcus Beasley, a player I have been critical of, also had a solid game and I think earned a spot in the World Cup roster. The midfielders I would select would be Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres, Benny Feilhaber, DaMarcus Beasley and Robbie Rogers.
Up front, I was encouraged by the play of Herculez Gomez. I believe he has a role for the USA at South Africa, probably coming off the bench with the expectation of finding the back of the net. His goal proved that he can obtain favorable positioning for goals, but I think he will be more productive coming off the bench than starting. However, I would still love to see him start alongside Jozy Altidore against Turkey, seeing how well the two work together. If they appear to have chemistry, than he may start in South Africa. I also think Brian Ching had a typical solid game. I’ve never been Ching’s biggest fan, likening him to a poor man’s Emile Heskey, but he is a physical presence on the pitch that could prove to be a handful against certain teams. The final roster spot would come down to either Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson or Robbie Findley. Findley appears to not have made the cut, not getting a minute of playing time tonight. It’s probably for the best; Findley is a little too raw for International football at this point in his career. So it’s down to Johnson or Buddle. If I had to pick I would take Buddle, who did a good job tonight of holding up the ball and getting involved in the game. He is an individual who could perform better as the talent around him gets better, particularly when Donovan is on the field. The two have great chemistry for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and while the MLS is nowhere near the quality of the soccer they will face in South Africa, it is a bond the United States could benefit from. Johnson however, offers a different skill set then the other forwards being considered. This is because of Johnson’s speed, who would be the most natural fit to replace Charlie Davies at the starting forward position in terms of skill set. Johnson was unable to get involved in the game tonight though, as well as being extremely inconsistent over the past four years, I would take Buddle who has had fantastic form of late over him. Thus, the four forwards I would take to South Africa would be Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Brian Ching and Herculez Gomez.
My 23-man roster would then look like this: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathon Spector, Clarence Goodson, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres, Benny Feilhaber, DaMarcus Beasley, Robbie Rogers, Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Brian Ching and Herculez Gomez. I don’t expect to get the roster completely correct though; I bet Bornstein makes the team at the expense of Rogers, Johnson could easily be taken over Buddle and I have a sneaky suspicion (although I pray to God I am wrong) that Sacha Kljestan could be selected over Jose Torres. No matter what happens tomorrow though when Bob Bradley selects his roster for South Africa, I hope he plays a better side against Turkey. This is not because I will be in attendance in Philly for the match, but because I think the United States needs a little momentum going into South Africa. Last night was good for experimenting; Saturday will be good for setting the tone for the tournament ahead.
The other concern at the back is Oguchi Onyewu. I’ve never been Onyewu’s biggest fan, feeling he has always been physically gifted, but not a tough enough player mentally. With his physical abilities limited, as shown by his performance last night, his value as a player dips heavily. It is tough to be critical of Onyewu, who has done a great job in rehab to even be considered to be on the roster, but this is the World Cup and if a player isn’t able to perform as well as another then the less talented one should not play. I will reserve total judgment on Gooch though, waiting to see how he does against the remaining games with Turkey and Australia before the tournament, but what he showed me tonight was a player not physically ready to perform at the World Cup. At this moment, my starting back four would be Cherundolo at right back, Jay DeMerit and Carlos Bocanegra at the center back positions and Jonathon Spector starting at left back. If Gooch proves he is physically fit by then, I would put him at center back, move Bocanegra to left back and have Cherundolo and Spector battle it out for the starting right back spot. Until then though, Onyewu has to sit.
In the midfield, I was impressed with the play of Maurice Edu, Stuart Holden and Jose Torres. Torres really did his hopes of making the team a favor with his performance tonight, doing a good job of spraying passes around to a variety of teammates and setting up the offense well. I think he will be announced in Bradley’s squad tomorrow, probably at the expense of Sacha Kljestan who was absent for much of his time on the pitch. I think Edu made a strong claim to be the central midfielder next to Michael Bradley in the starting lineup, while Holden’s play on the right side was encouraging as he could easily be asked to start there at some point during the World Cup so Clint Dempsey can move up to forward. DaMarcus Beasley, a player I have been critical of, also had a solid game and I think earned a spot in the World Cup roster. The midfielders I would select would be Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres, Benny Feilhaber, DaMarcus Beasley and Robbie Rogers.
Up front, I was encouraged by the play of Herculez Gomez. I believe he has a role for the USA at South Africa, probably coming off the bench with the expectation of finding the back of the net. His goal proved that he can obtain favorable positioning for goals, but I think he will be more productive coming off the bench than starting. However, I would still love to see him start alongside Jozy Altidore against Turkey, seeing how well the two work together. If they appear to have chemistry, than he may start in South Africa. I also think Brian Ching had a typical solid game. I’ve never been Ching’s biggest fan, likening him to a poor man’s Emile Heskey, but he is a physical presence on the pitch that could prove to be a handful against certain teams. The final roster spot would come down to either Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson or Robbie Findley. Findley appears to not have made the cut, not getting a minute of playing time tonight. It’s probably for the best; Findley is a little too raw for International football at this point in his career. So it’s down to Johnson or Buddle. If I had to pick I would take Buddle, who did a good job tonight of holding up the ball and getting involved in the game. He is an individual who could perform better as the talent around him gets better, particularly when Donovan is on the field. The two have great chemistry for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and while the MLS is nowhere near the quality of the soccer they will face in South Africa, it is a bond the United States could benefit from. Johnson however, offers a different skill set then the other forwards being considered. This is because of Johnson’s speed, who would be the most natural fit to replace Charlie Davies at the starting forward position in terms of skill set. Johnson was unable to get involved in the game tonight though, as well as being extremely inconsistent over the past four years, I would take Buddle who has had fantastic form of late over him. Thus, the four forwards I would take to South Africa would be Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Brian Ching and Herculez Gomez.
My 23-man roster would then look like this: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathon Spector, Clarence Goodson, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres, Benny Feilhaber, DaMarcus Beasley, Robbie Rogers, Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Brian Ching and Herculez Gomez. I don’t expect to get the roster completely correct though; I bet Bornstein makes the team at the expense of Rogers, Johnson could easily be taken over Buddle and I have a sneaky suspicion (although I pray to God I am wrong) that Sacha Kljestan could be selected over Jose Torres. No matter what happens tomorrow though when Bob Bradley selects his roster for South Africa, I hope he plays a better side against Turkey. This is not because I will be in attendance in Philly for the match, but because I think the United States needs a little momentum going into South Africa. Last night was good for experimenting; Saturday will be good for setting the tone for the tournament ahead.
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