World Cup Preview; Groups C & D

Following on from my take on Group A and B, here's a preview of what's in store in terms of Group C and D in Brazil.

Group C:

Colombia: Colombia’s first World Cup since 1998 will see them have to go through a campaign without their talisman Falcao. They are expected to do well at this year’s tournament and that’s even without their star man who scored nine teams in qualifying. In attack they still have Jackson Martinez, Bacca and Adrian Ramos who will guarantee you goals though. Meanwhile, they have a talented midfield with the likes of Guarin, James Rodriguez and Barca bound Cuadrado. Prediction: Will safely get out of the group but will get knocked out in the last 16.

Greece: Group C has the potential to be very interesting and Greece will be one of the teams trying to finish second in the group to Colombia. They are a well organised group of players but they could struggle in the intense Brazilian heat. They are an extremely experienced side as well and bolster the likes of Samaras, Karagounis, Salpingidis and Katsouranis. On paper they don’t look like such a bad side but lack that extreme quality that is needed on the big stage. They will probably be over reliant on Mitroglou’s goals. Prediction: Despite what I’ve said about them, I think they’ll finish bottom of what will be a tight group.

Ivory Coast: The elephants never seemed to have lived up to expectation despite the fantastic array of players they have in their squad. They’re deadly going forward but their defensive capabilities could be questioned, and if they are to perform they need to sharpen things up defensively. Gervinho, Drogba and Yaya Toure are all big players and if they do well Ivory Coast should do well. Prediction: Second in the group but knocked out in the last 16.

Japan: Japan seemed to play fairly well at last year’s Confederations Cup and therefore may fancy their chances in Group C. On their day they are an extremely dangerous side but many of their players have proved to be extremely inconsistent. Honda and Kagawa are great creative outlets meaning Okazaki should score goals throughout. They meanwhile have the hugely experienced Endo in midfield and Southampton’s Maya Yoshida at the back. Prediction: Third just behind Ivory Coast. 

Group D:

Uruguay: The South American side are expected to do quite well, providing they get out of their group of course. In South Africa they finished in fourth place, and arguably, many of their players are now a lot better. Luis Suarez of course will be crucial, as will Cavani. Their defensive, like a few sides at the World Cup, can be questioned but in Godin and Muslera they have some reliability. Prediction: Will get out of the group in either first or second place.

Costa Rica: Costa Rica, as one of football’s minnows probably have, aside from Australia, the toughest group if you consider their football status. They have only qualified for three World Cup’s aside from Brazil and you can’t see how they’ll get any points in this group. Their defence doesn’t look great but in Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz they have quality going forward. Prediction: Bottom of the group with no points.

England: Perhaps the lowest expectation for an English World Cup squad in a very long time means we could actually surprise a few teams. Our preparation hasn’t exactly been amazing but our team is very exciting if you compare it to the one we took to South Africa. Wayne Rooney is yet to show what he’s made of at international level and he’ll be crucial to whether we go far in the competition. What is encouraging though is our defence looking solid, and our pace going forward. The conditions definitely don’t suit us though and we’ll have to be extremely patient and take our chances in this tough group. Prediction: We’ll just about scrape through the group, and could go onto reach the quarter-finals.

Italy: Before preparation began for the World Cup I saw Italy as a serious threat to our position in the group, however, on second thoughts they don’t actually look a great side. Their form isn’t great and their opening fixture against England could fizzle out into a boring 0-0 draw. They have obvious qualities in the form of Pirlo, Balotelli and Chiellini but seem to lack that deadly end product. Prediction: I’m going to be brave here and say they won’t get out of the group like four years ago. It’s certainly all up for grabs in Group D though.

World Cup preview; Groups A & B

Although this is an Arsenal blog, it’s come to that time of the year where it’s hard to take your eyes off of international football with the world uniting in Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Over four parts, I’ll be previewing the teams, two groups at a time, playing in this year’s football festival.

Group A:

Brazil: The hosts and possible World Cup favourites go into this world cup under the expectancy of a nation. Their last triumph came in 2002 and they’ll be eager to put all the political unrest behind the country as they bid to win the competition for the sixth time. They won last year’s confederations cup which if that is anything to go by, then they’ll have a very successful tournament. Neymar will be pivotal to any success they have and their defence is very solid with the likes of Dante and Thiago Silva at the back. If there’s one issue, it’s in the forward department; Jo and Fred are their main outlets ahead of a very talented midfield. Prediction: I think they’ll reach the final, and may well go onto win the whole thing.

Croatia: The Croats reached the finals via a play-off victory over Iceland. As far as I’m concerned Group A is wide-open in terms of who will finish behind hosts Brazil. Croatia have a very tough start as they face the hosts themselves and because of that could face an uphill struggle against a Mexican and Cameroonian side who the conditions will be favourable for. They do have a very talented squad but whether they can cut it at international level on the biggest stage of all remains to be seen. Their strike force consists of Mandzukic, Jelavic, Eduardo and Olic so they won’t be short going forward. Meanwhile they have the creative talents of Modric and Rakitic. Srna, Dejan Lovren and Vedran Corluka mean they aren’t too shoddy at the back either. Prediction: It’s tough to predict who will finish second but looking at their squad I think they might just make it through to the last sixteen.

Mexico: The Mexicans have gone into this year’s competition in poor form and for that reason may not do that well when it comes to Brazil. The conditions will favour them but their best has yet to be seen. Carlos Vela is still refusing a call-up to the national side so the hopes rest on Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez. A few of their players seem to be growing old, Rafeal Marquez who used to play for Barca had a good 2010 campaign but is past his best, as is ex-Fulham full back Carlos Salcido. They do have a reliable centre-half in Espanyol defender Hector Moreno though. Looking elsewhere, Guardardo, Giovani and Herrera will be looking to provide Hernandez with the chances. Prediction: 3^rd in Group A.

Cameroon: Their golden era of talent seems to be coming to an end and their squad looks very thin on the ground in terms of quality. They’ll most likely be battling it out with Mexico for the wooden spoon in the group but their brand of football and lack of creative players mean they could be in for a very troubled World Cup. Their goals will be relied upon by record scorer Samuel Eto’o. Their defence doesn’t look altogether that bad though, and you can’t help but feel their best tactic would to be ‘park the bus’. Alex Song and Mbia will be holding whilst N’Koulou, Chedjou, Bedimo and Assou-Ekotto will probably line-up at the back, all of those four play their trades in Europe. Prediction: Hard to see them winning any games, will probably finish bottom of the group.  

Group B:

Spain: The 2010 winners go into this World Cup as perhaps the only European side that can realistically win in Brazil. They arguably have a greater pool of players than in 2010 but it can be argued that some of those players lack experience. Saying that, it didn’t seem to matter for the Germans in South Africa with their youthful squad. The Spanish however seem to have the perfect mix of youth and experience within their ranks. The 2013 Confederations Cup showed that they can’t play with the same tempo that they’re so used to and therefore a change in tactic will perhaps be needed if they’re to retain their title and continue their dominance. Xavi, Iniesta, Ramos/Pique and whoever they chose to play upfront will be crucial. Prediction: At least the semi-finals, have the potential to go on and lift the trophy.

Holland: Under the stewardship of new Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, the Netherlands have a manager with huge experience and that could prove crucial in what could be a tournament to forget for the Dutch. Their first game is a repeat of the 2010 final against Spain which is an incredibly tough fixture. They didn’t lose once in qualifying though which is an encouraging sign. There’s no doubting their attacking quality with the likes of Robben, van Persie and Sneijder creating and scoring goals but their defence remains an issue. Prediction: Will face a tough battle to get out of the group and I think they’ll finish third.

Chile: They’re being tipped by many to go far in the competition due to the fact that the competition is being held in South America. That’s fairly understandable and they have some players that could really shine at this year’s competition. They managed to finish third only to Argentina and Colombia qualifying and even finished above Uruguay. They meanwhile beat England 2-0 in November 2013. With players such as Barca’s Alexis Sanchez and Juve’s Arturo Vidal they have the potential to go far. Other notable players include David Pizarro, Gary Medel of Cardiff, Beausejour of Wigan and Isla from Juventus. All of the players above should mean Chile are a threat going forward, especially with Eduardo Vargas up front. Prediction: Second in the group, ahead of Holland. Could be worth putting a couple of quid on.

Australia: You have to feel sorry for the Aussies with the group they’re in. They’re highly unlikely to win a game and the Socceroos are probably in for a dismal time in Brazil. The players they fielded throughout qualifying were of a higher quality and experience than the ones going to the World Cup. Many of their notable players haven’t been picked but they still bolster Mile Jedinak, Mark Bresciano and of course Tim Cahill. You can’t see them having anything but from a disappointing campaign and they could leak a few goals on the way too. Prediction: Bottom of the group.