By: James K. Attaglo Wilson
Our 2014 FIFA World Cup preview ship ducks today with the tagged group of death, G and H.
In Group G we have: Germany, Ghana, Portugal and the USA.
Joachim Low’s German side seems the most strongest statement in this group and they would be tipped by any student-of-the-game to go through to the next stage.
Low have got a winnable young, vibrant team with extremely talented crop of players like the crafty Mesut Ozil, Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos, Mathias Ginter, and Thomas Muller who can make things happen from nothing.
This German side blew aside Sweden by 4 – 0 in the qualifies and any team that comes face to face with the German machine in Brazil should bugle up for a real test.
Germany’s World Cup record stands: Three-time winners (1954, 1974, 1990), four-times runners-up (most recently in 2002).
Probable Line-up:
Manuel Neuer
Philipp Lahm
Benedikt Howedes
Jerome Boateng
Per Mertesacker
Toni Kroos
Thomas Muller
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Miroslav Klose
Mesut Ozil
Lukas Podolski.
It remains questionable how far Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo can spearhead his Portuguese team that may struggle when the going gets tough to qualify out of this group.
But one thing about this Portuguese side is that they become a bit too good in the latter stages so their main hurdle will be to have a good result in their first match against Germany.
It must be said also that Coach Paulo Bento’s side have been consistent tournament performers for the past decade, finishing runners-up at Euro 2004 and making it to the semis at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Paulo Bento should have a lot to concern about his weak defence but he can also count his egg on the rugged Pepe. Portugal’s Word Cup record stands: Third (1966), Fourth (2006), Last 16 (2010).
Probable Line-up:
Beto
Andre Almeida
Fabio Coentrao
Pepe
Bruno Alves
Raul Meireles
Nani
Joao Moutinho
Varela
Helder Postiga
Cristiano Ronaldo.
With matches against the Germans and Portuguese lying in wait, Coach Kwesi Appiah’s Black Stars will have to tackle the ‘group of death’ with a must win in their first match against the United State of America in sweltering Natal.
As has been the case, the Black Stars are very rich when it comes to their midfield where they have the likes of Kwadwo Asamoah, Andre Ayew, Rabiu Mohammed, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Afriyie Acquah, Sulley Ali Muntari and the experienced Michael Essien.
In attack, Kwesi Appiah can count on his captain Asamoah Gyan and secret weapon, Abdul Majeed Waris to pump in the goals to get the West Africans going but his headache is going to be his defence which seems to be his weakest department.
Haven’t said that, let me quickly add that the Ghanaian tactician also have got a lot of versatile players in his camp who could help shape his defence for him.
Ghana’s World Cup record stands: Quarter-finals (2010), Last 16 (2006).
Probable Line-up:
Adam Kwarasey
Daniel Opare
Harrison Afful
Michael Essien
John Boye
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu
Andre Ayew
Kevin-Prince Boateng
Abdul Majeed Waris
Asamoah Gyan
Kwadwo Asamoah.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has fashion his United States team on the principle of aggressive, pushing and high speed play with the son of former coach Michael Bradley being the fulcrum around which his team revolve.
For instance, it takes less than ten seconds for US to get to the opposition’s goal area so open up space against Klinsmann’s US team and consider yourself in football’s foreign land.
One good news for Jurgen Klinsmann is that his striker Jozy Altidore scored a pair of two goals in their send off match against the Super Eagles to break his six months goal drought. Altidore is very strong especially in the air and has the tenacity to press defence high upfield to allow his colleagues join him in attack..
US World Cup record stands: Semi-finals (1930), Quarter-finals (2002), Last 16 (1994, 2010).
Probable Line-up:
Tim Howard
Geoff Cameron
DaMarcus Beasley
Omar Gonzalez
Matt Besler
Michael Bradley
Graham Suzy
Jermain Jones
Jozy Altidore
Clint Dempsey
Fabian Johnson.
The last group in our 2014 FIFA World Cup preview is group H which is made up of ?Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea.
Belgium is considered as the fifth favorite to win the football’s greatest crown with their golden generation (Thibaut Courtois,Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, Mousa Dembele, Eden Hazard, Adnan Januzaj).
Though Coach Marc Wilmots’ team looks very juicy to read on paper but most of them have not had the experienceof playing in a high profile senior tournament like the FIFA World Cup which goes beyond mere talent and skill.
Belgium World Cup record stands:Fourth(1986), 2nd round/last 16 (1982, 1990, 1994, 2002).
Probable Line-up
Thibaut Courtois
Toby Alderweireld
Jan Vertonghen
Thomas Vermaelen
Vincent Kompany
Mousa Dembele
Eden Hazard Simon
Marouane Fellaini
Romelu Lukaku
Kevin Mirallas
Adnan Januzaj.
Coach Vahid Halihodzic’s Algerian side does not look like a team that can bring hope to millions of Africans who will be following the tournament from their various homes but if? they could pull a surprise win over Belgium or Russia then he stand the chance to qualify alongside the favorite.
Four years ago in South Africa, Algeria conceded only two goals but they failed to score a single and that denied them a qualification. Their World Cup record stands: Group stage (1982, 1986, 2010).
Fabio Capello’s Russia looks favorite to go through to the next stage from this group with Belgium.
Russia haven’t been to a World Cup since Belgium last did in 2002, but a fair chunk of the current crop of players have experience of tournament football from Euro 2012.
Russia have only managed to qualify for two previous World Cups in 1994 and 2002.
Coach Hong Myung-Bo’s South Korea could not impress in the qualification but we cannot also ignore the number of games this squad have played together as a team over the past few years.
Again, a number of their players also have experience of playing at a high level in Germany and England so they cannot be described as mere pushovers. Their World Cup record stands: Fourth (2002), Last 16 (2010).
Source:?www.sports24gh.com
