The Epoch Times previews and analyzes the World Cup group by group.
Group A: Germany, Poland, Ecuador and Costa Rica
Three-time World Cup champion Germany was the losing finalist in 2002. The German pedigree is exceptional. The Germans make the most of their opportunities and get the results when they need them. Germany's performance leading up to this tournament has been mediocre, much like their previous build-up to the 2002 World Cup.
The key player for Germany is the attacking midfielder, Michael Ballack. Ballack will be expected to be the big scorer since Germany no longer possesses a striker like Juergen Klinsmann, who is now their coach. Interestingly, Oliver Kahn, voted MVP in 2002, is no longer the first choice keeper. That honor belongs to Arsenal's Jens Lehmann. With the home crowd support and vast experience, Germany is expected to win this group.
Poland, lacking players in the top European clubs, almost topped England in the qualifying rounds. Look for Jacek Krzynowek and Maciej Zurawski to play crucial roles as Poland's top scorer in the qualifier; Tomasz Frankowski was not included in the final roster. Poland could realistically finish second in this group and perhaps surprise the Germans in what will be a very intense contest. The Poles will be eager to erase the memories of their lousy performance in 2002, when they were eliminated in the group stage.
The Ecuadorians finished third in South American qualifying based on their strong performances in the altitude of Quito. Their record away from Quito, however, was the second worst out of the ten South American teams. Ecuador failed to progress past the group stage in 2002. They will be hard to break down but won't have the talent to progress this year either.
Costa Rica finished third in the Northern and Central American qualifier. The Ticos almost advanced past the group stage in 2002, losing out on goal differential to Turkey. Costa Rica will also be remembered for its entertaining match with Brazil in 2002, a match Costa Rica lost 5-2. Paulo Wanchope, with his height and guile, provides a dangerous attacking threat. Costa Rica's defense could be a liability.
The battle for second place in this group is not a foregone conclusion. Poland just might come out of this first round.
The first matches in this group will be played opening day, June 9, as Germany faces Costa Rica, and Poland battles Ecuador.
Group B: England, Sweden, Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago
England has the potential to win the tournament. Most of the talk in the England camp thus far has been focused on Wayne Rooney's injured foot. Whether or not Rooney plays, England has several goal-scoring options. Adding to that their solid defense, consistent goal keeping and experience, it's hard not to see England progressing from this group. The question is what formation will they employ? England advanced to the quarter finals of Euro 2004 and the 2002 World Cup.
The Swedes feature the attacking trio of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson and Freddie Ljungberg. Historically, Sweden has been consistently solid in the major tournaments, winning their groups at Euro 2004, and World Cup 2002. A very experienced, organized team that doesn't make mistakes, Sweden has a reasonable chance to top the group and obtain a relatively favorable match up in the next round. What is most disconcerting is Sweden's indifferent results since qualifying successfully for the World Cup.
Paraguay brings an experienced squad to Germany. With no Chilavert as goalkeeper this time, Paraguay will have to rely on the experience of classy defender Carlos Gamarra and center forward Roque Santa Cruz. Paraguay knows how to defend like the Italians, having narrowly lost out in the round of 16 in the last two World Cups. Paraguay won't score many goals but can pose a serious obstacle to the favored teams.
Trinidad & Tobago qualifying for its first ever World Cup has to be the feel-good story of the year. Representing a nation of just over one million, Trinidad & Tobago won a playoff against Bahrain to qualify. The fan support will add to the excitement of the event. The most recognizable name is Dwight Yorke, the former Manchester United striker who now plays in Australia. Realistically though, Trinidad & Tobago are overmatched in this group.
England and Sweden should advance from Group B. Potent attacks are what distinguish them both from Paraguay. Both will look to rack up the goals on Trinidad & Tobago and hope that a draw will suffice when they face each other in the last match of the group stage. Competition to win the group should be intense as both teams would rather avoid a round of 16 clash with Group A favorite Germany. Group B gets underway June 10, with England facing Paraguay and Sweden battling Trinidad & Tobago.
Group C
Group C is one of the most competitive groups, with powerhouses Argentina and Holland, accompanied by the Ivory Coast and Serbia & Montenegro.
Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, but four years ago failed to qualify for the round of 16. Argentina's squad is loaded with experience. Hernan Crespo leads a potent strike force, Juan Riquelme marshals the midfield, and defensively, Argentina can rely on a number of players with European experience. Goal keeping could be the only weakness in a squad with tremendous potential.
Holland, under coach Marco van Basten, is generally a very young team with a few key veterans. In an effort to eliminate squabbling egos, the youth movement proved to be astute as Holland qualified with the best record from Europe. The attack is centered on Ruud van Nistelrooy while goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar is one of the world's best. Arjen Robben, Rafael Van der Vaart, Philip Cocu and Mark van Bommel are all world class players in an exciting side that should go far.
The Ivory Coast, playing in its first World Cup, could be the most confident of all African teams having reached the final of the African Cup of Nations in January. The Ivory Coast is led by Didier Drogba, a powerful striker in the air and on the ground. Kolo Toure and Emmanual Eboue, two defenders from Champions League finalist Arsenal, should feature prominently. The team definitely can compete in this group though their experience is limited..
Serbia & Montenegro draw on Yugoslavia's historic past. Their strength lies in their defense. The back four of Vidic, Gavrancic, Krstajic and Dragutinovic allowed only one goal in the European qualifier. Considered as slight underdogs in this group, Serbia & Montenegro is a well-balanced and experienced squad. Mateja Kezman is the main goal-scoring threat and midfielder Dejan Stankovic is a creative attacking midfielder.
Group C is unpredictable. Argentina and Holland have the better pedigrees and would be favored to advance. But it is far from certain. This group begins play June 10 as Argentina faces Ivory Coast while Holland versus Serbia & Montenegro will be played June 11.
Group D
Group D features Mexico, Portugal, Iran and Angola.
Mexico's technical ability, tenacity and solid results over the past two years make it the seeded team in this group. In 2002, the Mexicans bowed out to their American arch-rivals in round 16 after topping their group. Similar faces make up the Mexican squad this year. Jared Borgetti's aerial threat and Rafa Marquez's no-nonsense defending form a solid nucleus. Mexico also has a talented and experienced supporting cast.
Portugal qualified for Europe without losing a single game. Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo represent the best of the new generation and old. Portugal would like to forget the 2002 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage. The team is coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to their triumph in 2002. Scolari declined England's offer to become coach after the World Cup which should further boost Portugal's spirits.
Iran is back in the World Cup after missing out in 2002. Now, more Iranians are playing in top European leagues, especially Germany. German champions Bayern Munich currently feature Ali Karimi and also once employed striker Vahid Hashemian. Ali Daei and Mehdi Mahdavikia also have extensive experience playing in Germany. The Iranians have posted solid results in the warm-up matches and will definitely be the contenders to advance.
Angola is perhaps one of the weakest teams to qualify for the World Cup. They did beat out Nigeria to qualify as African representatives, which is no small feat. The former Portuguese colony requested that two Portugal-based players be allowed to switch allegiance. This request was turned down. Angola is very much an unknown quantity. Its players mostly ply their trade in Angola or the Portuguese lower divisions.
Group D's favorites are Mexico and Portugal while Iran has the tools to disrupt both teams. Opening matches for this group will be played June 11 as Mexico faces Iran and Portugal takes on Angola in an 'explorer versus colony' match.
Group E
Group E, like Group C, should be one of the most competitive groups of all. It features Italy, the Czech Republic, the United States and Ghana.
Italy, a three-time champion, is again a strong title contender. In 2002, the Italians lost in the round of 16 to South Korea in a highly controversial match. Currently, the Italians favor the attacking 4-3-3 formation, dispelling the stereotypes of old. The Italian defense is one of the most formidable in the world and keeper Gigi Buffon could be considered the world's best. Italy is one of two teams in the tournament where all players play domestically. There are no weaknesses on this team.
Then there is the Czech Republic. They may be slightly past their prime as a team, but they still rank second in FIFA's debatable ranking system. The Czechs bring an attack-minded approach with striker Milan Baros, the Euro 2004 Golden Boot winner, and Arsenal's newest signing, Tomas Rosicky. Petr Cech is a terrific keeper who makes few mistakes. The last time the Czechs made it to the World Cup was in 1990 (as Czechoslovakia) when, oddly enough, they were also grouped with Italy. They lost to Italy 2-0 but still made it to the quarter finals.
The United States will be hard-pressed to duplicate their 2002 quarter final run. Brian McBride, a typical center forward, and DaMarcus Beasley, a speedy winger, are two Americans enjoying considerable success in Europe. Keeper Kasey Keller is one of the few players who played in the 1990 tournament. The United States haven't looked convincing of late, although qualification was routine. The Americans bring some good young talent with an eye on making an impression on the top European clubs.
Ghana is one of the stronger African teams. Chelsea's Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah and Sulley Muntari, all world-class midfielders, provide Ghana with a strong backbone. They qualified ahead of South Africa for their first-ever appearance in the World Cup. Their 4-1 demolition of Jamaica on May 29, and 3-1 defeat of South Korea on June 4, proved that they should not be taken lightly. Ghana did, however, disappoint in the African Cup of Nations, losing to Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
Despite the stiff competition, Italy should take this group. The Czechs are the second favorites, possessing attacking threats that the Ghanaians and Americans don't have. Group E play begins June 12, with the Czechs facing the Americans while the Italians take on the Ghanaians.
Group F
Group F is Brazil's group. As defending champions, they were automatically placed here and subsequently drawn against Croatia, Australia and Japan.
Brazil is strongly favored to repeat. Ronaldinho has evolved into the world's best soccer player; Ronaldo, who won the 2002 Golden Boot, is still only 29; Adriano adds muscle to the strike force, and Robinho could possibly steal the show from all the aforementioned stars. Dida is a confident keeper whose form hasn't been spectacular with AC Milan lately. Brazilian captain Cafu seems to be the right fullback most players want on their team. Defensively, Brazil has a good combination of talent and toughness and will get support from solid holding midfielders, such as Emerson and Gilberto Silva.
Croatia finished third in the 1998 World Cup but failed to pass the group stage in 2002. Although they defeated Sweden twice in the qualifier, they've had mediocre results in the warm-up matches. Croatia has a capable strike force with Ivan Klasnic and Dado Prso, but most of the news revolves around the coach selecting his son, nicknamed "Fatty," as the team's playmaker!
Australia is making its first appearance in the World Cup in 32 years. Their physical approach and guidance under master tactician Guus Hiddink, who took South Korea to the semi finals in 2002, make them a difficult opponent. Key players such as Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill are just three of the Aussies playing in the Premiership. Australia fought out a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on June 4.
Japan is led by former Brazilian great Zico. As co-hosts of the 2002 tournament, they reached the round of 16. Watch for Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura, veteran Hidetoshi Nakata, and Shinji Ono, who belong in the best midfield in Asia. Champions of Asia, Japan are the highest ranked Asian team and were also the first nation to qualify for the World Cup, winning their first six games. Japan played to a 2-2 draw against Germany on May 30.
Group F is really about second place. Croatia, Australia and Japan all have merit. Perhaps Australia has the best chance of fighting to a draw with Brazil as their physical approach could be something different for Ronaldinho and company. Group F kicks off June 12, with Australia versus Japan. Brazil faces Croatia June 13.
Group G
Group G features France, Switzerland, South Korea and Togo.
France won as hosts in 1998, but four years later they self-destructed, finishing dead last in their group without scoring a single goal. This is the last we'll see of Zinedine Zidane, who will retire completely after the tournament. Zidane actually came out of retirement to guide France through a difficult situation in qualifying. Thierry Henry again has the chance to prove himself on the biggest stage. Unlike Zidane, he is in the prime of his career. He has now committed himself to Arsenal, and can focus one hundred percent on the World Cup.
Switzerland last reached the World Cup in 1994, losing in the round of 16. This year's team is young, hardworking and very familiar with their French rivals. France and Switzerland were in the same qualifying group, where they drew both matches. The two countries were also matched up in Euro 2004, where France won 3-1. The Swiss have never been granted the attention of a top European team, but with talent like Johan Vogel, Alexander Frei and young central defender Philippe Senderos, the Swiss will be competitive.
South Korea co-hosted the 2002 tournament and used home crowd support, favorable refereeing and Guus Hiddink's acumen to reach the semi finals. Now in Germany, they won't be able to count on at least two of those things. A different Dutch coach, Dick Advocaat, leads South Korea this year. Ji-Sung Park and Young-Pyo Lee both had solid seasons in the Premiership with Manchester United and Tottenham respectively. South Korea employs a tremendous work rate but it's hard to see a repeat of 2002 here.
Togo qualified for their first ever World Cup ahead of Senegal. German coach Otto Pfister leads the Togolese, who rely heavily on lanky Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor. Togo performed poorly in the African Cup of Nations in January, losing all three matches, and the Togolese have not tested themselves against European opposition recently. Realistically, getting a draw or two would be respectable for them. Advancing is highly unlikely.
France should win Group G and Switzerland should edge South Korea for second place. This group kicks off on June 13, as France and Switzerland renew acquaintances and South Korea battles Togo.
Group H
Finally, group H features Spain, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.
Spain, the consummate underachievers, again bring a world-class squad to Germany. In 2002, Spain lost on penalty kicks in the quarter finals. This year's Spanish team will feature a different strike force as Valencia's David Villa is the main man. Raul, the leading scorer in Spanish history, has had a difficult time in the past two seasons with Real Madrid. Exciting striker Fernando Torres should also get plenty of action. Defensively, Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos and Michel Salgado are solid. It is hard to find a real weakness on this talented team.
Ukraine was the first team to qualify out of Europe. This will be their first appearance at the World Cup. Ukraine relies heavily on Andriy Shevchenko, although they have a decent supporting cast. Shevchenko has been suffering with a knee injury lately and hasn't had much match play. A good portion of the national side play was for Dynamo Kiev. The Ukrainians may not have the depth in this squad but if Shevchenko is healthy enough, he is capable of carrying the team.
Saudi Arabia began the 2002 World Cup by getting hammered 8-0 against Germany. The Saudis have reached the last four World Cup finals, something not too many teams can claim. Their best result came in 1994 when they reached the round of 16. Sami Al-Jaber, 33, is the greatest Saudi player and keeper Mohamed Al-Deayea brings vast experience to the squad.
Tunisia was the only African team to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. In a tense final qualifying match, they drew against their rivals, the Moroccans. Central defender Radhi Jaidi made a name for himself with Bolton in the Premiership. Hatem Trabelsi has had a solid career in Europe with Ajax and did generate some interest from Arsenal not long ago. Tunisia is led by former French coach Roger Lemerre. Their un-African style tends to make them relatively solid although unspectacular.
Group H is a fairly weak group, as it combines mediocre teams from Africa and Asia, so it is hard not to see Spain advancing here. Tunisia and Ukraine will also be competitive while the Saudis don't have enough quality to take advantage of this favorable group. Play begins June 14, with Spain versus Ukraine and Saudi Arabia versus Tunisia.
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