Former winners spice up group

AS the buildup to the FIFA World Cup steps up a pace we continue our review of the groups and consider which teams have the best chance as we focus on C and D.

Group C intriguingly pits four teams from separate continents, none of which have faced each other previously in the World Cup Finals.

Strong favourites to advance are Colombia who have improved steadily under new coach, Jose Pekerman, to a point where they are now ranked by FIFA as the fourth best side in the world.

Despite their ranking they only qualified second in the group, although showed their determination in recovering from a three-goal deficit to draw against Chile.

However, this was based on results before the loss of star-striker Radamel Falcao.

They possess a strong midfield, primarily comprising Inter Milan’s in-demand Fredy Guarin along with Monaco’s promising youngster, James Rodriguez. They will link up with popular veteran, ‘Super’ Mario Yepes.

The Colombians will hope that Falcao’s strike partner, Jackson Martinez, can pick up some of the slack, while he could be replaced by a trio of other options who have impressed throughout Europe this season. 

In Germany Adrian Ramos has earned a transfer to Borussia Dortmund while in Portugal Fredy Montero has impressed for Sporting Lisbon. They could also consider Sevilla’s Carlos Bacca and so have several options and a squad that boasts good depth.

Their main rivals in the group are likely to be the Ivory Coast with Brazil representing the last chance for their ‘golden generation’.

The Elephants are packed with star names, including the player who, for me, has been the star performer of the English Premiership season, Yaya Toure.

Toure can now set aside the Premiership rivalries with his Anfield-based brother, Kolo, to focus on trying to lift another trophy. He is joined by players such as Wilfried Bony, Didier Drogba and Gervinho in a line-up that promises goals.

What could count against them is the heat draining their ageing stars and a defensive line that often struggles to support the midfield line leaving gaps to exploit.

Of the remaining sides Japan are the one most likely to cause an upset although much will depend on how well star performer, Shinji Kagawa responds to a season effectively keeping the bench warm at Manchester United.  Used sparsely throughout the season he will either be well rested or short on the confidence required to drive his team forward.

The Blue Samurai do have the experience of having played in the Confederations Cup last summer where they were unfortunate to lose to Italy 4-3.

Japan are showing signs of starting to adapt to a new style of play introduced by experienced Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni. He has built a defence around Uchida who plies his trade at Inter Milan and Yoshida at Southampton although it is Honda and Okazaki who are expected to be the main attractions.

The weakest team of the group is Greece. Giorgos Samaras will lead the line alongside Kostas Mitrogloi, who both sparkle domestically, albeit in leagues that are far from competitive beyond their own borders.

The Greek strength lies in their strong work ethic and cohesion. First and foremost they are likely to try to nullify the threats posed by the opposition and hope to sneak a result on the break.

While Group C brings together four sides that have never met before, Group D is full of rivalry and history and brings together three former winners in a group for the first time in World Cup Finals history.

Uruguay are one of two South American teams to have hoisted the World Cup trophy on home soil, and also beat hosts, Brazil, in a shock 2-1 win in the Maracana in 1950. They struggled to qualify for this one, however, having only accumulated two points from their first six games. They ultimately booked their berth thanks to a comfortable play-off victory over Jordan.

On form they have a fearsome front-line based around the Premiership’s leading striker, Luis Suarez, who also finished top of the South American goal charts with 11. Joining him in terrorising opposition defences in Paris St. Germain’s Edinson Cavani who set a French league transfer record in arriving for 60 million euros in the summer although he has not been happy about being forced to play wide in a three-man front-line.

England, while currently ranked 11th in the world, have been falling down the rankings and arrive in the hot-house of Manaus more in hope than expectation.

Young guns such as Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling have been playing well in helping Liverpool exceed expectations while the Southampton trio of defender Luke Shaw, midfielder Adam Lallana and striker Rickie Lambert have been a revelation this season.Arsenal’s injury-stricken midfielder Jack Wilshere has also fully recovered and features in the squad.

Yet the optimism generated by individual performances can be tempered by the fact that they have rarely played together and had the opportunity to gel. More often they have been provided bit-part roles.

If Gerrard is asked to play the holding midfield role he has learnt and excelled in for Liverpool this year then this, in my opinion, provides the side a better balance. However, the defence, without the snubbed and experienced Ashley Cole, is one that will have the likes of Suarez salivating … and Gerrard is more distributor than enforcer. 

Furthermore, the heat dictates a slow-paced possession game and those are terms rarely associated with England.

You may think that having won the trophy as recently as 2006 and having a settled side packed with experience and club partnerships breeding familiarity would therefore give cause for optimism. However, Italians are far from that despite also coming through a qualifying group undefeated against opposition including Denmark and Croatia.

The reason for this is their collapse in 2010 in South Africa, finishing bottom of what appeared to be a relatively straightforward group. 

The Italian side is built around the influence of Andrea Pirlo. Christened Mozart by fans at league-winners, Juventus, he has accumulated over 100 caps for the Azzurri and alongside Giuseppe Rossi will look to orchestrate the midfield.

The enigmatic and explosive partnership of Mario Balotelli and Pablo Osvaldo will be expected to fire as coach Cesare Prandelli remains committed to a more-attacking brand of football than that for which the Italians are renowned.

It is hoped that youngsters Ranocchia and Veratti can reproduce their club form while the Italians have also secured the ‘transfer’ of Gabriel Paletta from Argentina on residency grounds.

Costa Rica may have secured their qualification to the finals with two matches to spare yet, with a perfect home record, it is uncertain how their form will translate to Brazil.  What will undoubtedly help is a defensive record that meant they conceded fewer goals than any of their rivals.

Portuguese coach, Jorge Pinto, has introduced a flexible system yet with star player, Bryan Ruiz, often drifting in and out of games, in a tough group they are likely to struggle. The skills of Joel Campbell will also provide optimism although, realistically, Los Ticos will have to keep it tight defensively and hope for some magic.

Abu’s predictions ...
Group C qualifiers:
Colombia and Ivory Coast
Group D qualifiers:
Uruguay and Italy