Monday, May 22, 2006
World Cup Preview: Group A
In the coming two weeks leading up to the World Cup, the world's largest sporting event, I will preview the tournament with a look at each group, "A" through "H". This is the first installment.
The World Cup will kick-off on June 9th in Germany with 32 teams fighting for the right to be crowned as the world champions. This year, like in many others, the squad from Brazil will be the team to beat. As usual they will have plenty of stiff competition from the likes of South American rival Argentina, as well as traditional European powers like Italy, Spain, France, England, Germany, and the Netherlands. Not to mention the usual dark-horse teams, and there are several that are more than capable of an upset.
For the most part, the usual European suspects were able to qualify. Euro 2004 Champion Greece, as well as 2002 3rd place finishers Turkey, and Denmark, were the most notable ommisions. Incidently, all three of those nations were in the same qualification group, which was won by Ukraine who is making their first appearance at the World Cup. It was pretty much business as usual in Asia as well. In South America, Uruguay was edged out in a play-off with Oceania winner Australia. Most of the upsets occured in Africa. 2002 upset specialists Senegal missed out, 2010 host South Africa didn't make it, nor did traditional African powers Nigeria and Cameroon. In place of them, we have Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Angola all making their first appearances, while three-time participant Tunisia rounds out the African squads. Perhaps the biggest underdog in the entire tournament will be Trinidad and Tobago, who has made it to the final 32 for the first time.
Group A: Germany, Poland, Costa Rica, Ecuador
History: The host Germans have won the tournament three times (1954, 1974, 1990). They have made it to the final game four other times, including the last time around in 2002. Not since 1938 has Germany failed to advance out of the first stage. Poland has managed a pair of 3rd place finishes (1974, 1982), and were eliminated in the group stage in 2002. Costa Rica's best showing was a 2nd round defeat in 1990; their only appearance besides a group stage elimination in 2002. Ecuador is in their second World Cup, the first being four years ago where they managed one victory in the opening round.
Germany: The traditionally strong Germans will send one of their weakest squads ever to the World Cup, but the fact that it is being played on home soil means they can never be counted out. In the 2002 tournament they rode hot goalkeeper Oliver Kahn all the way to an unlikely appearance in the final, afterall. It will be Jens Lehmann between the sticks this time around with Kahn his back-up. On the back-line it will mainly be up to Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder to hold the fort, while up front the Germans will hope Miroslav Klose rediscovers his scoring touch from 2002. But it is the midfield that will be the key, with fiery Michael Ballack, one of the world's best, leading the way. The pressure will be on for a team with many question marks. Anything less than a quarter-final appearance on home field has to be considered a disaster.
Poland: The Poles enjoyed a strong qualifying campaign, which brings hopes that they will make up for a quick exit it 2002 with a stronger perforamance. This Polish squad lacks any big name stars, and will rely on Wolverhampton's Tomasz Frankowski and Maciej Zurawski of Scottish champion Celtic to score goals, just like they did in quaification. Not an overly strong squad, at least not compared to the legendary Polish teams of the 1970s, the group draw was kind to them, and thus they have a good chance to advance to the round of 16.
Costa Rica: If this was the Costa Rican team that nearly stunned Turkey at the last World Cup, they would have a legitimate chance to advance from this group. But unfortunately, four years have passed and many of their key players are on the back end of their careers. What this does give them is experience in the form of defender Luis Marin, midfielder Mauricio Solis, and one time goal scoring maching Paulo Wanchope. They open the tournament against the host team, and a result in that match would give them a big jolt of momentum.
Ecuador: This tiny South American nation continues to impress, qualifying ahead of the likes of Uruguay, Colombia, and Peru, though many credit their success to the high altitude of their country, which gives them a greater advantage over visiting squads. Like Costa Rica, they will be underdogs, but are an experienced bunch. Agustin Delgado is the most recognizable name as he is Ecuador's all time leading goal scorer. This team did knock off favorites Argentina and Brazil in qualifying, so take them lightly at your own risk.
Match to Watch: Poland v Ecuador, June 9th. Played on the opening day, this might be the make-or-break game for each side. Poland will be favoured, but not so much that an Ecuador win would be any great surprise. The winner will be well on their way to qualifying for the knock-out stage, while the loser will likely be faced with the prospect of needing a win over Germany to advance.
Prediction: 1) Germany, 2) Poland, 3) Ecuador, 4) Costa Rica. Despite their short-comings, Germany will not be upset on home soil, especially in one of the weaker groups. Ecuador will give Poland a scare, but the European side will hold them off and advance.
The World Cup will kick-off on June 9th in Germany with 32 teams fighting for the right to be crowned as the world champions. This year, like in many others, the squad from Brazil will be the team to beat. As usual they will have plenty of stiff competition from the likes of South American rival Argentina, as well as traditional European powers like Italy, Spain, France, England, Germany, and the Netherlands. Not to mention the usual dark-horse teams, and there are several that are more than capable of an upset.
For the most part, the usual European suspects were able to qualify. Euro 2004 Champion Greece, as well as 2002 3rd place finishers Turkey, and Denmark, were the most notable ommisions. Incidently, all three of those nations were in the same qualification group, which was won by Ukraine who is making their first appearance at the World Cup. It was pretty much business as usual in Asia as well. In South America, Uruguay was edged out in a play-off with Oceania winner Australia. Most of the upsets occured in Africa. 2002 upset specialists Senegal missed out, 2010 host South Africa didn't make it, nor did traditional African powers Nigeria and Cameroon. In place of them, we have Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Angola all making their first appearances, while three-time participant Tunisia rounds out the African squads. Perhaps the biggest underdog in the entire tournament will be Trinidad and Tobago, who has made it to the final 32 for the first time.
Group A: Germany, Poland, Costa Rica, Ecuador
History: The host Germans have won the tournament three times (1954, 1974, 1990). They have made it to the final game four other times, including the last time around in 2002. Not since 1938 has Germany failed to advance out of the first stage. Poland has managed a pair of 3rd place finishes (1974, 1982), and were eliminated in the group stage in 2002. Costa Rica's best showing was a 2nd round defeat in 1990; their only appearance besides a group stage elimination in 2002. Ecuador is in their second World Cup, the first being four years ago where they managed one victory in the opening round.
Germany: The traditionally strong Germans will send one of their weakest squads ever to the World Cup, but the fact that it is being played on home soil means they can never be counted out. In the 2002 tournament they rode hot goalkeeper Oliver Kahn all the way to an unlikely appearance in the final, afterall. It will be Jens Lehmann between the sticks this time around with Kahn his back-up. On the back-line it will mainly be up to Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder to hold the fort, while up front the Germans will hope Miroslav Klose rediscovers his scoring touch from 2002. But it is the midfield that will be the key, with fiery Michael Ballack, one of the world's best, leading the way. The pressure will be on for a team with many question marks. Anything less than a quarter-final appearance on home field has to be considered a disaster.
Poland: The Poles enjoyed a strong qualifying campaign, which brings hopes that they will make up for a quick exit it 2002 with a stronger perforamance. This Polish squad lacks any big name stars, and will rely on Wolverhampton's Tomasz Frankowski and Maciej Zurawski of Scottish champion Celtic to score goals, just like they did in quaification. Not an overly strong squad, at least not compared to the legendary Polish teams of the 1970s, the group draw was kind to them, and thus they have a good chance to advance to the round of 16.
Costa Rica: If this was the Costa Rican team that nearly stunned Turkey at the last World Cup, they would have a legitimate chance to advance from this group. But unfortunately, four years have passed and many of their key players are on the back end of their careers. What this does give them is experience in the form of defender Luis Marin, midfielder Mauricio Solis, and one time goal scoring maching Paulo Wanchope. They open the tournament against the host team, and a result in that match would give them a big jolt of momentum.
Ecuador: This tiny South American nation continues to impress, qualifying ahead of the likes of Uruguay, Colombia, and Peru, though many credit their success to the high altitude of their country, which gives them a greater advantage over visiting squads. Like Costa Rica, they will be underdogs, but are an experienced bunch. Agustin Delgado is the most recognizable name as he is Ecuador's all time leading goal scorer. This team did knock off favorites Argentina and Brazil in qualifying, so take them lightly at your own risk.
Match to Watch: Poland v Ecuador, June 9th. Played on the opening day, this might be the make-or-break game for each side. Poland will be favoured, but not so much that an Ecuador win would be any great surprise. The winner will be well on their way to qualifying for the knock-out stage, while the loser will likely be faced with the prospect of needing a win over Germany to advance.
Prediction: 1) Germany, 2) Poland, 3) Ecuador, 4) Costa Rica. Despite their short-comings, Germany will not be upset on home soil, especially in one of the weaker groups. Ecuador will give Poland a scare, but the European side will hold them off and advance.
