AuthorJeffEyesRimmer The groups have been decided for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia and there are some really interesting match ups to come. There is a bit of Iberian flavour to Group B, who will win that battle of the peninsula? Will Australia be able to get some revenge on Peru - the conquerors of their trans-Tasman brothers? Can Argentina erase the recent humiliation at the hands of Nigeria? Who will be relatively pleased with their groups and which one is the group of death? Below in Part 1 we review the first four groups and look at the various match ups for next year’s showcase. Part 1: Groups A-D Group A – Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay The hosts will likely be very pleased with this group, not being pooled with one of the European or South American heavyweights has to be seen as a plus. However, this is not as easy a group as it might look on paper. They were poor in the Euros last year and they were poor again on home soil in the Confederations Cup. There is something to be said for playing at home and being roared on by home support but I think it will be a quick World Cup for our Russian hosts. Egypt were beaten finalists at this year’s African Cup of Nations (the champions Cameroon didn’t make the world cup) and I think they are the team to beat in this group. Mo Salah (Liverpool) is playing his best football ever at the moment and if he can take even a small amount of that form into the World Cup then the teams in this group are going to find it difficult to deal with Egypt. Uruguay are the other obvious team in this group that will hold realistic hopes of topping the table. They came second in the South American Qualifiers behind Brazil, a great effort indeed. They started well in qualifying before fading a bit but when they have the quality of Luis Suarez (Barcelona) in attack they always stand a chance. Saudi Arabia are the unknown quantity in this group, with all of their players playing at home it is difficult to judge how they might do. However, they picked up good wins over Japan and Iraq in qualifying and so could cause a few problems; they have a staunch defence and a quick attack but I can’t see them making it out of this group. Uruguay and Egypt I think have too much quality in their squads and will qualify. Qualifiers: Uruguay, Egypt Image: www.themetro.co.uk Group B – Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran A bit of an Iberian feel to this group what with Portugal, Spain and Morocco all involved and it adds a little bit of extra dimension to the games. The clear favourites for going through here are the current European champions Portugal and former champions Spain. Iran are not the push overs many will have you believe though, they topped their qualifying group ahead of South Korea after all. They also only conceded 2 goals in 10 games and didn’t lose a game either. The majority of their squad are based in Iran but they do have a smattering of quality outside their home country, with Karim Ansarifard being likely the most well-known player, who plays at Olympiacos. However, the teams in this group are a slightly different proposition and although they are Iran are a tough outfit I can’t see Iran getting past the big hitters in this group. Morocco didn’t concede a goal in the entire of qualifying, so it’s safe to say they have a pretty strong defence, led by Captain Medhi Benatia (Dortmund). They are going to need all that defensive might to stop both Spain and Portugal and I don’t think they are going to be able to keep them out. They do have some attacking talent that the big hitters will have to be wary of though; Sofiane Boufal (Southampton), Younès Belhanda (Galatasaray) and Fayçal Fajr (Getafe) all have the ability to cause problems, so teams will have to be on guard or there could be an upset. Portugal and Spain are very much known quantities, both have formidable squads and both teams have won major competitions in recent memory. In short it will take a monumental effort from either Morocco or Iran to stop these two from making it through. They just have quality all over the pitch and have star men that can change a game. Portugal has the likes of Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Bernardo Silva (Man City), with Spain having Álvaro Morata (Chelsea) and David Silva (Man City). Spain has arguably the best goal keeper in the world with De Gea (Man Utd) as well. If I’m being honest, it will be down to the Portugal and Spain match to decide who tops the group. Qualifiers: Spain, Portugal Group C – France, Australia, Peru, Denmark I have to start with Australia here (I do live here after all). It is important to note that Australia go into this tournament as the Asian Champions having won the last iteration in 2015. They are more than the sum of their parts but do have a few stars like Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield) and Matt Ryan (Brighton) in the squad. Australia does like to play passing football but contrary to that methodology and something that has been a worry for a while is that they struggle to score in open play. The majority of their goals come from set pieces, a recent stat suggested they need 10 chances to put away 1 goal – that’s not going to cut it in the World Cup. This was reflected in qualifying as Australia needed two playoff wins against Syria and then Honduras to make it to the World Cup after coming third in qualifying. Against both Denmark and France I think they may come unstuck, both those sides are of much higher quality and are better drilled at set pieces. Although I do think they can beat Peru. Speaking of Peru, the initial joy of reaching the World Cup through the playoff win over New Zealand could be premature. There has been talk that due to the Peruvian government potentially taking over the team they could be thrown out of the World Cup (FIFA regulations)! While the government has backed off for now FIFA are keeping an eye on it. That’s hardly the best preparation for the tournament even this far out. I think Peru flatter to deceive though, they do have good players but a 0-0 draw with New Zealand in the first playoff game shows they can be stopped and their best players are the wrong side of 30 now - Jefferson Farfán (33, Lokomotiv Moscow) and Paolo Guerrero (33, Flamengo). I cant seem them making it out of the group really. Its an envious position to be in but France could send three of four teams to this World Cup and any of them would be in with a shout, that’s how much quality they have in depth. They are one of the clear favourites for taking the trophy home and rightly so. The only thing is whether the team that is sent to the World Cup stay united or implodes like we have seen in the past. Personally though, I think they will win this group at a canter and will be one of the teams to challenge for the trophy. In the end it was comfortable for the Danish against the Irish in their playoff game, Christian Eriksen’s (Tottenham) class coming through (they won 5-1). I think they will have enough to make it through the group stage here, although they will have to be cautious against Australia and Peru. Both those sides do have the ability to cause an upset but I expect Denmark to grab second place. They also have Lord Bendtner (Rosenborg) in their squad so they may end up winning the whole thing! Qualifiers: France, Denmark Image: 101greatgoals.com Group D – Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
I don’t think there is a group of death this time out but this one probably is the closest to it. Argentina had a rough time during qualifying and almost didn’t make it to this tournament. There is no doubt they have a terrific squad and it always helps to have one of the best players ever in the team in Messi (Barcelona). It seems to be that successive managers haven’t been able to find the right formula for this team yet. That’s the worry, coupled with a humiliating 4-2 defeat at home against Nigeria this past month and Argentina are not looking as assured for qualification as you might immediately think. However, I think that with the players they have at their disposal they should get out of the group and they do tend to find form at tournaments. It’s a wonderful story to see Iceland at another major tournament and they’re thoroughly deserving of being there. They won their qualifying group and now the smallest nation ever to appear at the World Cup get a chance to shine again. While it is a great story of how to exceed all expectations I can’t see Iceland making it out of the group. While they have a good group of players, wonderful support and a togetherness that teams envy their surprise factor has diminished and I think the other teams in this group will be ready for them. I can’t wait to see the Viking clap and Cardiff’s very own Aron Gunnarsson at the World Cup though, amazing. Croatia underperformed in qualifying but then made it look easy in crushing Greece to make it through. On paper they have a fantastic squad, with the likes of Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona) and Ivan Perišić (Inter Milan), however, they have looked sluggish and at times disinterested in playing and so I think there is a very real danger of them not getting out of this group. They laboured to a 1-1 draw against Finland in one of their final group games, this is a team that is beatable despite the quality there. Nigeria are the dark horse in this group for me, they shouldn’t be underestimated and they very much signalled their intent in that recent win over Argentina. They play fast paced counter attacking football and in Ahmed Musa (Leicester), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester) and Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) they have the speed and attacking talent to cause plenty of problems. I’m tipping them to get out of the group at the expense of the European teams. Qualifiers: Argentina, Nigeria ----- Check back later this week to read the second part of the World Cup groups review. |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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