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Liverpool fans finished the season idolising their centre-forward by crooning from the Kop ‘there’s only one Luis Suarez’. However, and I am sure this will delight Everton and Manchester United fans, they are wrong. Group E of the FIFA World Cup contains Honduras, which is managed by … Luis (Fernando) Suarez.
Admittedly, we are likely to see more of the Uruguayan deeper into the competition, although that does not mean that the eccentric coach will be shirking the limelight. Describing himself as ‘very intelligent’ he is aiming high by targeting France in their opening match.
To achieve this he will have to rely on his experience managing Ecuador to their highest finish. The reality is that any win will be celebrated as Honduras have never secured more than a draw the two times they have qualified previously.
Their strength lies in their desire and organisation, meaning their best chance of success is to not get too carried away, as they did against Brazil in a recent warm-up, succumbing 5-0.
Experience can be found in the form of English Premier League duo, Wilson Palacios of Stoke City and Hull City’s Maynor Figueroa. The main goal threats come from the relatively unknown Jerry Bengston and Carlo Costly who will be hoping that a strong showing earns a costly transfer.
Suarez has rightly identified France as their main threat. Didier Deschamps, their coach and former winner in 1998, has already stamped his authority on the squad, ejecting the in-form and title-winning Manchester City star Samir Nasri, earning himself a foul-mouthed twitter rant from the midfielder’s girlfriend in the process.
Unity is a commodity lacking in the French world cup squads in recent tournaments and Deschamps may feel that he already has enough quality in a strong midfield to be able to dispense with a player he considers to be ‘disruptive’.
He may be right. Paul Pogba has been a revelation for Juventus this season having snubbed Manchester United, while PSG’s Blaise Matuidi has been equally dominant, allowing the creativity of Johan Cabaye to come to the fore.
Franck Ribery is starting to reproduce his club form for the national side, managing five goals and eight assists in qualifying. France also has pace and no little technical ability on the opposite flank with Mathieu Valbuena who is blessed, according to one former coach, with the best technical ability he has ever worked with.
Up front Les Bleus rely on Oliver Giroud and Karim Benzema, both of whom have enjoyed a good season. Intriguingly, France has won every match in which Benzema has scored.
While no-one expects the French to lift the trophy, they should win their group.
The Swiss are a well-organised unit as you might expect with German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld at the helm. An unbeaten qualification campaign earned Switzerland a seeding of seventh that has provided a favourable draw and an opportunity to match their best-ever result at a finals – a quarter-final appearance 50 years ago!
Against the weaker teams expect to see some flair from Xherdan Shaqiri although their joint top scorer was Fabian Schaer – who is a centre-back. The heat may affect their midfield running although I still expect them to qualify as the group is so weak.
On paper Ecuador should be a strong proposition having secured seven victories in qualifying. However, when you consider these were all achieved at home in their Atahualpa Stadium at altitude and they failed to win away, their prospects fade considerably.
There will be some needle in their second match with their coach, Reinaldo Rueda, having previously been in charge of Honduras. He has been attempting to encourage a faster transition from defence to attack and will rely on Manchester United winger, Antonio Valencia, along with Christian Noboa.
La Tricolour will be the favourites for many neutrals having had to overcome the tragic death of star forward, Christian Benitez, who died of a heart-attack in Qatar last year. He has been replaced by Jefferson Montero, who has scored five times, at the fulcrum of the attack.
Any side that can omit the third highest scorer in Serie A must have a strong side and Argentina has that. With Carlos Tevez having booked his family into Disneyland it will be Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero plotting the fairytale ending that would see the Albiceleste take the title in the backyard of their bitter rivals.
It has been an incredible 28 years since Argentina has tasted success and the opportunity to pop Brazil’s carnival balloons will be a strong motivator.
It was an unpopular decision made by coach, Alejandro Sabella, to drop the popular Tevez, although all appears to have been forgiven as the extra freedom afforded to Messi has seen him replicate the form for his country that had proved elusive at anything other than club level.
Messi will be supported by Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain in what looks to be the most formidable front line in world football. Angel di Maria joins them at pace on counter-attacks while Javier Mascherano protects a defence that is their weak link, particularly in goal where the first choice ’keeper hasn’t been selected by his club, Monaco.
However, Argentina was the top scoring team in CONMEBOL, qualifying with 35 goals and only Colombia conceded fewer – all this after starting with a defeat against Venezuela.
The battle for the remaining place could be an intriguing one. Carlos Queiroz, former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, has forged a close-knit unit in Iran, as evidenced by the fact that they are now the top-rated team of the 43 nations competing in Asia.
Hindered by economic sanctions they overcame the Korean Republic away from home 1-0 to qualify. The most familiar face will be Fulham’s Ashkan Dejagah who will shore up the midfield. Creativity comes from their captain, Javad Nekounam. Team Melli have a poor record at the finals although will relish their underdog status in front of thousands of passionate fans.
Competing against them will be a team making its finals debut, Bosnia and Herzegovina, although the individuals within the side boast a wealth of experience. Edin Dzeko finished the European campaign as the second highest scorer with 10 goals and plays alongside Vedad Ibisevic. This helped the Bosnians qualify on goal difference over Greece. Asmir Begovic conceded only six goals and looked assured, although subsequent defeats to Argentina and Egypt have left confidence low.
Results from Nigeria’s qualification on paper looked impressive although they had the most favourable matches of almost all teams to qualify. However, a more compelling argument for onward passage from the group stage can be found from the Super Eagles clinching the 2013 African Cup of Nations.
Having dropped many of the ‘big name’ stars for that competition, authoritarian coach, Stephen Keshi, is now more settled with his selection which appears to have paid dividends. Renowned as a greedy and argumentative bunch, retaining squad harmony will be essential.
John Obi Mikel is given more freedom at international level than at Chelsea thanks to the cover provided by impressive youngster Ogenyi Onazi. Up front Nigeria will aim to find the physical Emmanuel Emenike while Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa will hope to get in on the act.
Abu’s predictions:
Group E qualifiers:
France and Switzerland
Group F qualifiers:
Argentina and Nigeria
