World Cup Draw 2014 - Analysis, Opinion and Prediction
Article by Robert Wake
With much hullaballoo and the occasional dropping of balls, the draw for the 2014 World Cup was made in Brazil on Friday. On Thursday 12th June 2014, the World’s attention will turn to Sao Paulo, as hosts Brazil open the tournament against Croatia. For the next month there will be the usual tears, tantrums and histrionics, as players, Managers and fans covet the biggest prize in sport. There will, of course, be great games, spectacular goals, and world class players to light up our living rooms. Below I take a look at the runners and riders at ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’.
Brazil start as worthy favourites. Not only are they playing every game at home, they also possess some excellent players; Neymar and Oscar are the pick of the hosts attacking options that also include Hulk, Fred, Robinho and the emerging Bernard. Defensively they do not appear as vulnerable as in previous years with the excellent Thiago Silva partnered by either David Luiz or Dante at centre-back with Dani Alves and Marcelo supplementing the attack from the full-back positions. Try as I might I cannot see beyond Brazil as winners. The biggest obstacle facing the hosts is exactly that – that they are hosts, and will have a huge weight of expectation placed upon them by an unforgiving, football-mad public. Failure will simply not be tolerated, and they know it.
I believe that with the tournament being staged in Brazil, the leading South American teams will pose the main threat to those famous yellow shirts. Argentina may not be force they once were, but are in the easier half of the draw, and have a clear route to a possible quarter final with France. Any team that can boast Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain among its strikers have to be given the utmost respect and I expect them to at least reach the semi-finals. Reigning champions Spain, and the tournament specialists, Germany are likely to head the challenge of the European nations. Spain remain a very gifted outfit, but there is a suggestion that perhaps the sun is about to set on their ‘Golden Era’. Carles Puyol is now 35, Xavi Hernandez 33, Xabi Alonso and David Villa both 32. Another factor against them is they are likely to run into Brazil at the quarter final stage, if not sooner. Germany have a tricky opening group which also contains Portugal, Ghana and USA, but should they navigate their way through to the knockout phase, nobody will want to face them. The Germans are always well organised defensively, and in Manuel Neuer possess one of the world’s great keepers. Offensively, they are blessed with creativity in the shape of Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze, Marco Reus, Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil, though they are perhaps short of a world class number 9. I would expect Germany to join Brazil and Argentina in the last four.
As referred to earlier, the conditions are going to strongly favour the South American nations and Colombia and Uruguay certainly have enough quality to flourish and progress as others wilt in the heat and humidity. Colombia contain the deadly Radamel Falcao to provide the finishing to the ammunition provided by Monaco team mate James Rodriguez and Fiorentina’s much coveted Juan Cuadrado. Uruguay not only enjoy the attacking talents of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani up front, but in Diego Godin, Jorge Fucile and Maxi Pereira have an experienced and tenacious back line that will ensure they are difficult to beat. My final dark horse is Belgium. Most of Belgium’s likely starting eleven ply their trade to great effect in the Premiership, and this group of players has the potential to equal Belgium’s Semi-Final appearance of 1986, though they are likely to have to negotiate a route past both Portugal and Germany to achieve this.
It could have been England’s group, but I think Group B is the toughest. Spain, Netherlands, Chile and Australia. We know all about the qualities of the first two, and recently saw at Wembley the dangers that Chile can pose. Australia should not be under estimated either and could provide a damaging blow to any of the other three. What makes Group B even tougher is that qualifying in second place will almost certainly result in a last 16 encounter with hosts Brazil.
My advice would be not to expect too much. England are in a tough group in a demanding, unfamiliar climate, against durable opponents. Their best chance of progression from Group D may well hinge on the opening match against Italy in the heart of the Amazon with humidity of 80% and temperatures of 30C. Why do I say best chance then? Well, Italy are notoriously slow starters in tournament football, generally improving as the competition progresses, and will have similar issues with the heat and humidity, allowing an even playing field. Next up will be Uruguay whose strengths I have already highlighted, before a final game in Belo Horizonte against minnows Costa Rica. Should England progress out of the group, it is likely to be in second place and a potential last 16 meeting with Colombia, followed in all likelihood by the next flight home, at which point we can all begin to enjoy the tournament.
No great surprise I’m afraid. I’m going to go with the hosts Brazil to beat a resilient Germany in the Final on Sunday 13th July. Argentina and Colombia to be losing semi finalists, and England to squeeze out of Group D, but to be eliminated at the last 16 phase. As for Golden Boot – plenty of candidates including Neymar, Falcao, Suarez and Messi, but at a bigger price, maybe Karim Benzema is worth an each way punt. France have an undemanding group that includes Honduras and Ecuador, and should at least advance to the quarter finals.
GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D
BRAZIL SPAIN COLOMBIA URUGUAY
CROATIA NETHERLANDS GREECE COSTA RICA
MEXICO CHILE IVORY COAST ENGLAND
CAMEROON AUSTRALIA JAPAN ITALY
GROUP E GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H
SWITZERLAND ARGENTINA GERMANY BELGIUM
ECUADOR BOSNIA-HERCE PORTUGAL ALGERIA
FRANCE IRAN GHANA RUSSIA
HONDURAS NIGERIA UNITED STATES SOUTH KOREA
© e-Football 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
With much hullaballoo and the occasional dropping of balls, the draw for the 2014 World Cup was made in Brazil on Friday. On Thursday 12th June 2014, the World’s attention will turn to Sao Paulo, as hosts Brazil open the tournament against Croatia. For the next month there will be the usual tears, tantrums and histrionics, as players, Managers and fans covet the biggest prize in sport. There will, of course, be great games, spectacular goals, and world class players to light up our living rooms. Below I take a look at the runners and riders at ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’.
The Favourites
Brazil start as worthy favourites. Not only are they playing every game at home, they also possess some excellent players; Neymar and Oscar are the pick of the hosts attacking options that also include Hulk, Fred, Robinho and the emerging Bernard. Defensively they do not appear as vulnerable as in previous years with the excellent Thiago Silva partnered by either David Luiz or Dante at centre-back with Dani Alves and Marcelo supplementing the attack from the full-back positions. Try as I might I cannot see beyond Brazil as winners. The biggest obstacle facing the hosts is exactly that – that they are hosts, and will have a huge weight of expectation placed upon them by an unforgiving, football-mad public. Failure will simply not be tolerated, and they know it.
Leading Contenders
I believe that with the tournament being staged in Brazil, the leading South American teams will pose the main threat to those famous yellow shirts. Argentina may not be force they once were, but are in the easier half of the draw, and have a clear route to a possible quarter final with France. Any team that can boast Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain among its strikers have to be given the utmost respect and I expect them to at least reach the semi-finals. Reigning champions Spain, and the tournament specialists, Germany are likely to head the challenge of the European nations. Spain remain a very gifted outfit, but there is a suggestion that perhaps the sun is about to set on their ‘Golden Era’. Carles Puyol is now 35, Xavi Hernandez 33, Xabi Alonso and David Villa both 32. Another factor against them is they are likely to run into Brazil at the quarter final stage, if not sooner. Germany have a tricky opening group which also contains Portugal, Ghana and USA, but should they navigate their way through to the knockout phase, nobody will want to face them. The Germans are always well organised defensively, and in Manuel Neuer possess one of the world’s great keepers. Offensively, they are blessed with creativity in the shape of Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze, Marco Reus, Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil, though they are perhaps short of a world class number 9. I would expect Germany to join Brazil and Argentina in the last four.
Dark Horses
As referred to earlier, the conditions are going to strongly favour the South American nations and Colombia and Uruguay certainly have enough quality to flourish and progress as others wilt in the heat and humidity. Colombia contain the deadly Radamel Falcao to provide the finishing to the ammunition provided by Monaco team mate James Rodriguez and Fiorentina’s much coveted Juan Cuadrado. Uruguay not only enjoy the attacking talents of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani up front, but in Diego Godin, Jorge Fucile and Maxi Pereira have an experienced and tenacious back line that will ensure they are difficult to beat. My final dark horse is Belgium. Most of Belgium’s likely starting eleven ply their trade to great effect in the Premiership, and this group of players has the potential to equal Belgium’s Semi-Final appearance of 1986, though they are likely to have to negotiate a route past both Portugal and Germany to achieve this.
The Group of Death
It could have been England’s group, but I think Group B is the toughest. Spain, Netherlands, Chile and Australia. We know all about the qualities of the first two, and recently saw at Wembley the dangers that Chile can pose. Australia should not be under estimated either and could provide a damaging blow to any of the other three. What makes Group B even tougher is that qualifying in second place will almost certainly result in a last 16 encounter with hosts Brazil.
England Expects
My advice would be not to expect too much. England are in a tough group in a demanding, unfamiliar climate, against durable opponents. Their best chance of progression from Group D may well hinge on the opening match against Italy in the heart of the Amazon with humidity of 80% and temperatures of 30C. Why do I say best chance then? Well, Italy are notoriously slow starters in tournament football, generally improving as the competition progresses, and will have similar issues with the heat and humidity, allowing an even playing field. Next up will be Uruguay whose strengths I have already highlighted, before a final game in Belo Horizonte against minnows Costa Rica. Should England progress out of the group, it is likely to be in second place and a potential last 16 meeting with Colombia, followed in all likelihood by the next flight home, at which point we can all begin to enjoy the tournament.
Predictions
No great surprise I’m afraid. I’m going to go with the hosts Brazil to beat a resilient Germany in the Final on Sunday 13th July. Argentina and Colombia to be losing semi finalists, and England to squeeze out of Group D, but to be eliminated at the last 16 phase. As for Golden Boot – plenty of candidates including Neymar, Falcao, Suarez and Messi, but at a bigger price, maybe Karim Benzema is worth an each way punt. France have an undemanding group that includes Honduras and Ecuador, and should at least advance to the quarter finals.
GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D
BRAZIL SPAIN COLOMBIA URUGUAY
CROATIA NETHERLANDS GREECE COSTA RICA
MEXICO CHILE IVORY COAST ENGLAND
CAMEROON AUSTRALIA JAPAN ITALY
GROUP E GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H
SWITZERLAND ARGENTINA GERMANY BELGIUM
ECUADOR BOSNIA-HERCE PORTUGAL ALGERIA
FRANCE IRAN GHANA RUSSIA
HONDURAS NIGERIA UNITED STATES SOUTH KOREA
© e-Football 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
No comments: