Group G - GER, GHA, POR, USA

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FIFA Ranking: 4

Most Caps: Luis Figo 127
Most Goals: Cristiano Ronaldo 49/110 games

Coach: Paulo Bento



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This was the year the great legend Eusebio and fellow team mate Mario Coluna passed away. They were there the last time Portugual acheived anything of real note aside from their journey to the 2006 semifinal was when he and the backbone of a great Benfica and their rivals Sporting Lisbon side held sway back in 1966. Qualification was far from smooth for Portugual having trouble navigating home against Israel and Northern Ireland forcing them into a two legged playoff against Sweden where for once Ronaldo turned up scoring all four goals as they came through 4-2 on aggregate.

Bento has made no startling omissions in terms of his goalkeepers all of whom are experienced campaigners meaning that promising youngster Anthony Lopes of Lyon will have to wait another World Cup to make his mark. Indeed the the majority of the squad is experienced. In the centre of defence Bento has gone with his tried and trusted pairing of Pepe and Alves though teams can exploit the relative lack of speed of Alves. Given the fact that one of the two is indisposed to disciplinary indiscretions Neto who has had a solid season with Zanit or Ricardo Costa will fill in.

Pereira and Coentrao are the choices at right back and leftback although injuries or suspensions to both will stretch Bento's resources. The recent form of Andre Almeida for Benfica and his ability to play across the back four has seen him creep in. He however is prone to lapses in concentration and giving the ball away.If necessary although he has not played there for a while Veloso can fill in at the left back spot from his preferred spot of defensive midfielder. Antunes of Malaga can count himself unfortunate to not have retained his left back berth having been part of a relatively mean defence at Malaga.

Veloso is the favoured choice to anchor the Portuguese midfield. His deputy will be Ruben Amorim who like Veloso can fill in at right back if needed.Adrien Silva who has excelled with Sporting Lisbon in the central midfield role can count himself extremely unlucky to have missed out with his work rate and passing more than equal to Amorim and in all probability better than Meireles this season.

Bento prefers a 4-3-3 and the two more advanced midfielders are the fortunate Meireles who will play box to box with Moutinho trying to create openings in a more advanced role. Upfront sees Nani played wide on the right although in more of a withdrawn role acting in concert with Pererira to overload the right flank of the opposition. Coentrao performs a similar role down the right.

However his partner Ronaldo tends to drift forward and often does not work back which should provide an avenue of attack in the vacated space. Almeida is the choice for Bento as the sole forward which he alternates with Ronaldo. The young wunderkind Bruma compared to Ronaldo (having started out at Sporting Lisbon)who starred in the u20 2013 World Cup winning a Silver Shoe is Bruma and he may well have been part of the squad as Ronaldo's deputy barring a serious knee injury he picked up while playing for Galatasary against Tokatspor in January.

This does highlight the weakness of this Portuguese side a lack of goals outside of Ronaldo who is as usual desperate for glory, whether for himself or the team one is uncertain. Nani has had a poor season troubled by injury and of the other strikers selected they all have had seasons plagued by injury problems and a real lack of goals. Given Almeida's lack of pace opposition teams will find it easier to play a higher line and cramp the Portuguese midfield should they need to do so.

Which makes the absence of Danny vis a vis Moutinho puzzling given the latter's barren spell with Monaco while Danny has been knocking them in with regularity for Zenit this season while playing much the same role.

If teams shut Ronaldo down then Portugual can expect to struggle. Their youngsters look rather promising and two with great promise William Carvalho and Rafa Silva have made the cut with an eye to the future. Silva who has excelled with Braga this season is a neat composed passer and dribbler with an eye for goal whose performances mean it most unlikely Braga will be able to retain his services. Bento is likely to use him as an impact substitute.

Star player is of course Ronaldo despite his general unlikeability.

[video=youtube;q4y1ypgttwU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4y1ypgttwU[/video]​

 

FIFA Ranking: 13

Most Caps: Cobi Jones 164
Most Goals: Landon Donovan 57/156 games

Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann


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The Americans under the guidance of Herr Diver qualified with comfort from the final stage of CONACAF topping the table. In recent seasons the coach has utilized his connections in Germany and brought in a flavour of Mexico so to speak with several Americans of Mexican parentage melding the two into a solid if unspectacular outfit based on a fluid 4-2-3-1.

The choices in goal Guzan and Howard both of whom excelled this year in the PL were straightforward. The third choice has gone to Nick Rimando instead of a deserving youngster such as Sean Johnson or Bill Hamid, given it is extremely unlikely the first two goalkeepers are incapacitated through injury. Several players who were part of the qualification campaign have been discarded in the final selection and can feel hard done by. These include Jose Torres and Brad Evans at left back.

Others like Brek Shea and Eric Lichaj simply are not playing in the right level of competition to merit consideration. Klinsmann is likely to go for an all MLS pairing at the heart of his back four in Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez highlighting the general improvement of the MLS in recent seasons. DaMarcus Beasley and Geoff Cameron play a high line for supposed fullbacks. Beasley in his fourth World Cup will provide pace down the left while Cameron who has been solid for Stoke this season is expected to be more a stay at home defender. Beasley is far from comfortable defensively and his age too may provide an avenue for opposition attacks. Cameron's deputy will be the young DeAndre Yedlin whose pace is expected to be used as the opposition tires. However he is a bit like Anya in being rather hit and miss.

The two defensive midfielders should be the vastly experienced Roma now at Toronto veteran Michael Bradley whose reading of the game, passing is the cornerstone of the midfield. His partner should be Jermaine Jones who will be expected to also provide some attacking impetus while trying to avoid picking up needless cards. Klinsmann has once again put his trust in MLS players with Graham Zusi and Brad Davis both gifted set piece takers from the right and left flank of midfield respectively. Fabian Johnson another BL player maybe deployed should the need arise with his defensive abilities to cover that area on the left for Beasley.

The surprise pick amidst all the furore over the dropping of Donovan is Julian Green. He could feature again as an impact player on the left wing cutting in using his impressive close control and speed. Klinsmann may have moved for him to secure his services for the national team in the long term given that the German youth sides were sniffing around the Florida born player who is highly regarded in the Bayern set up.

Upfront Klinsmann has restricted himself to four strikers although given the abilities of Jozy Altidore it might as well be three. He may be hard working and link up well with Clint Dempsey tucked in behind and top scored in qualification with the massive amount of four goals but in all other respects he is the proverbial donkey.

Dempsey on the other hand has been in fine form in the MLS for Seattle having regained his confidence. The other two forwards are Icelander Aron Johansson who was in decent form with AZ until the end of the season when goals have dried up. This is a concern for Klinsmann although he does have a solid replacement who perhaps deserves to start in Chris Wondo Wondolowski. A Golden Boot winner in the MLS in 2010 and 2012 who is a real threat in the box with his elusiveness and strength he has been used sparingly thus far but offers far more than Altidore particularly in the air.

In the past the USA have been a very durable team despite a lack of household names where teamwork is the prize asset. They could quite easily frustrate any of the other teams in theis group of death but in the long run despite having one real starlet just lack that extra touch of quality and flair to progress past the group stages in which case the absence of Landon Donovan will be brought up once again.

Star Player and the key man is Michael Bradley who organizes the defence and midfield with intelligence, dropping into space and playing the simple passes to get things moving while covering his defence. I would not be surprised to see him follow into the footsteps of his father as a coach.

[video=youtube;3bOrTO7-8zI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bOrTO7-8zI[/video]​

 

FIFA Ranking: 2

Most Caps: Lothar Matthaus 150
Most Goals: Gerd Muller 68/62 games

Coach: Joachim Low



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The Mannschaft qualified very impressively for the World Cup as was to be expected brushing aside their group opposition aside apart from a momentary lapse against Sweden. This WC will see if Low continues in his role after a disappointing European Championships. This is despite the successful bleeding in of more youngsters into the senior side and the move away from the rather dour, physically strong if decent technically teams that characterized German sides in the past.

The revolution in youth coaching that came as a result of declining fortunes on the international stage where space was becoming reduced and required more gifted technical players is producing in number and quality and will continue to do so judging by some of the kids that were thrown into the Bundesliga last season.

However winning silverware is the ultimate judge of a coach and there are many who are growing disconcerted by some of Low's personell choices and his stubborn refusal to pick others. A wily tactician Low prefers his teams to rely on possession for defence, far easier given the now impressive technical capabilities of the new German generation and when confronted by teams of an equal stature to use high pressing and deep defensive lines to minimize space and time to his opponents.

Like most teams within the Bundesliga, Low prefers a 4-2-3-1 with a midfield that can constantly interchange to drag the opposition defensive lines about to create space. He also seems to have been influenced by the Bielsa model via Barcelona of not using more than one striker, quite content for the midfield to make runs into the box to create chances and goals.

Low is blessed with an excellent technical programme (Bernd Leno and Marc ter Stegen wait in the wings) in all aspects and has three very solid keepers with precious few deficiencies to count upon. Neuer the preferred starter is comfortable sweeping as well but he can make the odd error with over exuberance.

For his back four Low had plenty of options. Unlike most other teams but like Argentina he has opted instead of natural fullbacks to go for stay at home centrebacks to play this role. This is puzzling given that Boateng and Howedes lack of pace has been exposed even if their height has helped cutting out diagonals and crosses. As converted fullbacks go they are pretty decent in terms of their creative abilities with Howedes a more than decent crosser of the ball.

Erik Durm and Lahm are the natural choices for the fullback roles however. Durm's is impressive in covering the flank with stamina to match and little needs to be said about Lahm. However it is quite possible for Lahm to end up organizing the midfield should Schweinsteigers fitness prove questionable.

As for the centrebacks Low will opt for the ball playing Hummels alongside Per Mertesacker. Despite a lack of pace compensated for by a deeper defensive line, he has proven an effective man marker and reads the game decently. Youngsters Ginter and Mustafi could deputize in the fullback berths are also comfortable ball players but given their lack of experience may not see any game time at all.

In his midfield Low likes to have some bite. The role was expected to be filled by Sami Khedira. A rather limited player his fitness and match sharpness is still a concern. The deputy who is more capable as a ball player would have been Lars Bender but a spate of injuries during the season to many team candidates claimed (Gundogan being another) him prior to selection with his spot being taken by Christoph Kramer. While still filling out the tall defensive midfielder has elegance about him and is an extremely accurate passer which is a requirement should Low turn to accepting pressure and playing on the counter.

His chances of playing are also boosted by worries over the fitness of Schweini the all action Bayern midfielder and another integral component of Low's plans that seem to have been disrupted. Kroos is more of a creative player albeit he has hardly been shining this season and the advanced point of any triangle will be occupied by Ozil with Gotze as his deputy. Both of these are the new wave of talented smaller players that were non existent in the past.

Both will look to pick the ball either on the counter hanging upfield and use their speed to get into areas around the box to use their dribbling ability to find one of the forwards or indeed given their relative accuracy in shooting attempt to score themselves. Low will have to choose between the two although given Gotze has had the better season it should be him. Someone like Maximilian Arnold might have been given his chance ahead of Ozil as well. But Low trusts his players and what they have done and are capable of so Ozil has been kept given he also has far more experience. It is possible Low might even contemplate using Gotze's speed to play as a false forward right upfront.

Low has been criticized for only selecting one out and out striker in the veteran Klose and more so given his goal production dipped sharply this season for Lazio. There was no shortage of options particularly in the targetman area with the gifted youngster Lasogga and experienced Kiessling. Low however does not get on with Kiessling. At the very last moment he also removed the young Kevin Volland perhaps in part due to the similarity of his playing style with some of the withdrawn wing forwards already picked. Something in hindsight he may regret given Volland's sheer pace and ability to create space and chances, more so with the loss of Reus yesterday. A lack of a tall targetman also eliminates the proverbial plan B of lumping it and hoping should the team be chasing a result.

But as mentioned before Low sees his attacking midfielders as the primary goal getters through playing combinations in and around the box. In qualification Ozil topped the scoring charts with eight, Reus with six and Schurrle adding another four. The loss of Reus with his pace and ability to get beyond fullbacks provide crosses and instinctive finishes is a big blow but they do have a very capable flair player in Julian Draxler. He possesses an almost South American spontaneity in his tricks and no shortage of confidence, is an incisive passer and great setpiece taker. If needs be he could play as the playmaker ahead of Ozil or Gotze in the midfield three but now that Reus is out will probably pop up on the left wing.

Andre Schurrle is expected to perform the Reus role down the right cutting in to unleash a powerful heavy shot. Thomas Muller and he more than cover this role with Podolski now expected to gain more time with Reus absence doing the same down the left.

All three can also if need be tuck in alongside Klose to act as secondary strikers. As in the recent past both wing forwards drop readily into midfield to form a bank of four to protect the defence while leaving Gotze/Ozil upfront with Klose.

The team would have pressed hard against Portugual while playing more boldly against Ghana and the USA but with all three of their fixtures in intense heat and humidity and given a team list that is carrying niggles this is unlikely. I expect Low to pack the midfield and play a patient passing game with sudden short bursts of speed or use set pieces as his scoring opportunities more than ever. They should have more than enough to win the group but given several absences, a lack of a prolific striker they may struggle to get beyond the quarterfinals this time.

There are several players worthy of mention but my eye is always taken by the repertoire of skills displayed by young Julian Draxler.

[video=youtube;ufaj8yOkcA0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufaj8yOkcA0[/video]

FIFA Team Profile:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoSOGoolFGs

National Anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhQwLeMcbRY
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FIFA Ranking: 22

Most Caps: Roger Kingson 90
Most Goals: Kwasi Owusu 30

Coach: James Appiah



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Germany 3 up v Portugal who have had Pepe sent off (no surprise there!)

Mind you Muller maybe made the most of the incident.

All this without Reus.

 

Germans and USA to mastermind a draw?

 

Might be more Water polo than football.

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blog...-rainstorm-biblical-proprtions-125840406.html