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Joachim Löw’s squad is, on paper, one of the strongest here, even without Michael Ballack
and there are plenty of players who could step into that role such as the
sublimely talented Toni Kroos or Bastian Schweinsteiger, though the middle of
the park is
probably the weakest in depth.
 | |
Still, they should qualify from this group as winners and proceed at least until
the Semis and with their record at international level, can they be bet
against?
I don’t think Germany has the depth to win the competition, but I can see them getting
very far as usual. If they meet Spain in the Semis, they will be out; should
Spain not make it that far, they have a chance, though I don’t think they could beat Brazil either.
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Dutch master, Pim Verbeek has an experienced and talented
squad at his disposal, though this is probably the last crack at success for the
likes of Mark Schwarzer, Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell.
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This is a really hard group to call but I have a feeling Australia, with luck,
could just about edge Serbia for that elusive 2nd place, though it will be
close and probably come down to who can stand up better to the Germans. If
Australia can make it through, they will most likely succumb to top opposition.
Key Men: Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer
Potential Star: Nikita Rukavytsya
Last Time: 2nd Round (2006)
Chriso says: Group Stage (3rd)
Key Men: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski
Potential Stars: Toni Kroos, Jérôme Boateng, Marko Marin
Last Time: 3rd Place, Semi Finals (2006)
Chriso says: 1st (GS), 4th Place, Semi Finals
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As most press members’ first question to coach Radomir
Antić would be, how important is inspirational midfielder, Dejan Stanković’s form in relation to your World Cup ambitions? Integral is the answer, though
the Serbs can call on a number of experienced names to form the basis of their
team.
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If they can edge Australia for that 2nd spot, I think they have a chance against
England and may even go onto beat them if the draw goes that way. Should they
do so, I can’t see them getting any further.
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Michael Essien is one of the finest midfielders in the world
and his loss was massive to his club, Chelsea, though not enough to prevent them
winning the Premiership.
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This Ghana team won’t be so fortunate, however. They have some decent players and may even end up
embarrassing Australia, but I can’t see them getting out of this group.
Key Men: Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan
Potential Stars: André Ayew, Dominic Adiyiah
Last Time: 2nd Round (2006)
Chriso says: Group Stage (4th)
Key Men: Nemanja Vidić, Nikola Žigić
Potential Stars: Zdravko Kuzmanović, Radosav Petrović
Last Time: Group Stage (2006)
Chriso says: 2nd (GS), 2nd Round
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Bert van Marwijk is blessed with a talented squad, though its
main strength lies within its first team. The likes of van der Vaart, van
Persie, Sneijder and Robben will have to be at their brilliant best, but, as
always seems to be the case with the Dutch, their attacking prowess is let down
by the lack of quality in defence and there’s no Edwin van der Sar to save the day either.
 | |
I think they will win their group, as the Dutch traditionally start well, but
after that its either the Quarter Final or 2nd Round at best, depending on the
draw.
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Morten Olsen will be leading the Danes into only his second
World Cup, knowing that their display in 2002 was inferior to 1998 and of
course, the great Laudrup(s) side.
 | |
This time around I don’t see many brighter lights, it’s an ageing squad in the main, though that does give them one of the most
experienced squads. That aside, I don’t see them getting beyond the Group Stage, though this could be a very close
group.
Key Men: Nicklas Bendtner, Simon Kjær
Potential Star: Christian Eriksen
Last Time: 2nd Round (2002)
Chriso says: Group Stage (3rd)
Key Men: Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben
Potential Stars: Ibrahim Afellay, Gregory van der Wiel
Last Time: 2nd Round (2006)
Chriso says: 1st (GS), Quarter Finals
 |
Paul Le Guen is one of the most respected young coaches
around after his achievements at Lyon and at Cameroon has produced good results
initially.
 | |
At the World Cup I think Le Guen’s crop of players is the best 23 available and there is a lot of talent within.
Carlos Kameni is a fine keeper and will do the likes of Jacques Sango’o proud. Defensive duties are Premiership ones and with the excellent Jean
Makoun and Samuel Eto’o, they have some fine players.
I think they will be pipped by the Dutch for top, they could potentially beat
Italy or Paraguay, but will fall in the Quarters.
 |
This will be Japan’s 4th consecutive Finals appearance,
though the only time they did manage to escape the groups was when the
competition was based on home soil in 2002.
 | |
This time, I don’t think it will be much different as I feel that this Japan side is weaker than
the one that they brought to the 2006 World Cup. There’s always latitude for surprises, but I’d be quite astonished if the Blue Samurai was the team to do it.
Key Men: Shunsuke Nakamura, Junichi Inamoto
Potential Stars: Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki
Last Time: Group Stage (2006)
Chriso says: Group Stage (4th)
Key Men: Jean Makoun, Samuel Eto’o
Potential Stars: Georges Mandjeck, Joel Matip
Last Time: Group Stage (2002)
Chriso says: 2nd (GS), Quarter Finals
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Outgoing Italy coach, Marcello Lippi will want to do so with a
bang and his squad are among the most experienced at the Finals. The Italian
team has a nice mix of youth and experience and they will need all of that to
contend with some of the livewires in their initial group.
 | |
Whether Italy do make it through that group as winners remains to be seen
however. I don’t think they will do so, but they will qualify and will do well to make it to
the Quarter Finals with a squad that’s already tasted the prize.
 |
Paraguay was one of the most successful qualifiers and
whilst that shouldn’t be used as a form guide, I do think they will surprise a few people at the
World Cup by winning their group. They play well as a unit and have some big
name stars in Édgar Barreto, Roque Santa Cruz and Oscar Cardozo.
 | |
How far they can go from that remains to be seen, but if they do come up against
Cameroon, they have every chance of advancing to the Quarter Finals, where it’s unlikely they’ll progress further.
Key Men: Gianluigi Buffon, Vincenzo Iaquinta
Potential Star: Claudio Marchisio
Last Time: Champions (2006)
Chriso says: 2nd (GS), 2nd Round
Key Men: Oscar Cardozo, Roque Santa Cruz
Potential Stars: Édgar Benítez, Rodolfo Gamarra
Last Time: Group Stage (2006)
Chriso says: 1st (GS), 2nd Round
 |
If you thought USA’s Bob and Matthew Bradley were the
only father and son duo at this World Cup, think again. Slovak coach, Vladimír Weiss also has a son who goes by the same name.
 | |
Sentiments aside, I do think Slovakia are going to push Italy and Paraguay all
the way but will ultimately fall short, possibly due to a lack of goals. They
have some decent players, such as captain, Marek Hamsik, but like Gheorghe Hagi
and Hristo Stoichkov before them, these are isolated geniuses.
 |
It’s been 28 years since the All Whites qualified for a World
Cup and unfortunately the odds are rather stacked against them. I don’t think they’ll go home with nothing and can see them frustrating a team or two but their
recent 1-0 high profile victory as coach, Ricki Herbert acknowledged has rather
opened their opposition’s eyes to the style of play the team are likely to employ. A valiant effort, but
ultimately I see no joy for the team or their White Noise.
 | |
Key Men: Ryan Nelsen, Chris Killen
Potential Stars: All of them!
Last Time: Group Stage (1982)
Chriso says: Group Stage (4th)
Key Men: Marek Hamsik, Miroslav Stoch
Potential Stars: Vladimír Weiss
Last Time: 1st time as ‘Slovakia’, FIFA recognize Czechoslovakia as the team’s heritage.
Chriso says: Group Stage (3rd)
(c) ChrisOnline.biz 2010
