Groups C and D feature some interesting matches for different reasons. Group C seems to have some of the weaker teams in the tournament, while D has some uniquely qualified teams and is full of parity. Group C seems to have one clear favorite to advance to the round of sixteen (Colombia), while Group D seems to have one team that is almost a certainty not to advance (Costa Rica). Either way, expect some great football from both groups.
4. Greece
Greece came in 3rd in group play in the 2010 World Cup, but in 2012 lost in the semi-finals in the Euro 2012 competition, losing to a talent-laden German squad. So why have I placed them in the bottom of their group? After all, they seem to be competitive playing against other European teams.
What to watch for: The reason I’ve placed them fourth is that their style of play favors a European style of football, but their opponents aren’t European teams. I don’t believe they have the pace and stamina to keep up with their opponents, and frankly their “road to the cup” qualifying games were against some of the weaker European squads. So while they can certainly prove me wrong, I believe they’ll end up at the bottom of the group.
Goalkeepers: Orestis Karnezis (Granada), Panagiotis Glykos (PAOK), Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos).
Defenders: Kostas Manolas, Giannis Maniatis, Jose Holebas (all Olympiacos), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund), Giorgios Tzavellas (PAOK), Loukas Vyntra (Levante), Vasilis Torosidis (Roma), Vangelis Moras (Verona).
Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis (Kayserispor), Andreas Samaris (Olympiacos), Kostas Katsouranis (PAOK), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham), Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Torino), Ioannis Fetfatzidis (Genoa), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Bologna) Panagiotis Kone (Bologna).
Forwards: Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK), Giorgios Samaras (Celtic), Kostas Mitroglou (Fulham), Theofanis Gekas (Konyaspor).
3. Japan
The team is comprised of foreign players along with those from the fledgling J-League, which has helped develop their players and made them more attractive to teams outside of Japan. While their showings in geographic areas have improved somewhat, most of their success has come from regional competitions like the East Asian Cup in 2013. They were eliminated in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, but lost to quality teams like Mexico (1-0) and Italy (4-3), thus playing competitively against some of the best teams from all parts of the world.
What to watch for: Their manager, Alberto Zaccheroni, formally managed Juventus and AC Milan, and is known for his unconventional managerial style, which might be what this team needs on the world stage. Look for him to start play with a 3-4-3 in more of an attacking style of play.
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege/BEL), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)
Defenders: Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan/ITA), Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke/GER), Maya Yoshida (Southampton/ENG), Hiroki Sakai (Hannover 96/GER), Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart/GER)
Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Makoto Hasebe (Nuremberg/GER), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Keisuke Honda (AC Milan/ITA), Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United/ENG)
Forwards: Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale), Shinji Okazaki (Mainz/GER), Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nurnberg/GER), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka), Manabu Saito (Yokohama F-Marinos), Yuya Osako (1860 Munich/GER)
2. Ivory Coast
Most of their players may be past their prime, but they still compete at the highest level for their respective club teams, and have represented the national team in the past. They qualified in the last two World Cups and failed to get beyond the group stages, but competed in their own groups of death. Les Elephants were runners up in the African Cup in 2012 and are the highest ranking African team in the FIFA world rankings. In March of this year they played a friendly against a talent laden Belgian squad to a 2-2 draw.
What to watch for: Some of their better players are getting older, and this will probably be their last push for the cup. Expect maximum leadership and effort from players like Drogba and Kalou. Being somewhat weakened beyond their starting eleven, a lot of the Elephants’ success will be dependent upon staying healthy and not receiving a red card or a yellow card accumulation. Also worth watching is how effective Toure will be after just contracting malaria.
Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Sylvain Gbohouo (Sewe San Pedro), Sayouba Mande (Stabaek)
Defenders: Serge Aurier (Toulouse), Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (Toulouse), Didier Zokora (Trabzonspor), Kolo Toure (Liverpool), Souleman Bamba (Trabzonspor), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Cheik Tiote (Newcastle), Serey Die (FC Basel), Ismael Diomande (Saint-Etienne), Didier Ya Konan (Hannover), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Max Gradel (Saint-Etienne)
Forwards: Didier Drogba (Galatasaray), Wilfried Bony (Swansea), Gervinho (Roma), Salomon Kalou (Lille), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow), Mathis Bolly (Fortuna Dusseldorf)
1. Colombia
Another South American team making it through a tough qualifying season but playing in their own continent, two advantages that will help Colombia through the group stage and beyond. They are currently ranked fifth in the FIFA world rankings, the first time they have cracked the top ten since 2002.
This is the first time in sixteen years that Colombia has qualified for the World Cup, and I expect to see them play as the proud team they were in their “golden era” of the 1990s, when the team was known as much for their talent as they were for Carlos Valderrama’s mane.
What to watch for: Colombia’s superstar striker, Radamel Falcao has been idled since ACL surgery in January. His recovery timeline had initially ruled him out of World Cup play, but he returned to training while trying to return to the lineup for the group stage matches. A valiant effort to no avail, as Falcao is now officially removed from the Colombian roster.
While most of their team is under 30 years old, some of their veterans that they have relied upon are past their optimum playing age (Mondragon is 42, Yepes is 38 and Perea is 35). While their leadership will be welcome, playing at this level after a long club season might take its toll on the older players, but that remains to be seen.
Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Nice), Faryd Mondragon (Deportivo Cali), Camilo Vargas (Santa Fe).
Defenders: Camilo Zuniga (Napoli), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Mario Alberto Yepes (Atalanta), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Pablo Armero (West Ham), Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate), Carlos Valdes (San Lorenzo).
Midfielders: Alex Mejia (Atletico Nacional), Freddy Guarin (Inter), Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Aldo Leao Ramirez (Morelia), Carlos Sanchez (Elche), Juan Quintero (Porto), Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina), James Rodriguez (Monaco).
Forwards: Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate), Jackson Martinez (Porto), Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari), Adrian Ramos (Herta Berlin)
4 .Costa Rica
Los Ticos finished in second position in CONCACAF (behind the United States) after failing to qualify in 2010, and qualifying in 2006 but failing to get out of the group stage, finishing 31st overall. It is unlikely that they will get beyond the group stage, and based upon their competition, they might not earn a point.
What to watch for: This is a team built largely on youth, with only a few players older than 30 years old. In order to stay competitive, they’ll have to rely on a rapid pace and somehow protect themselves from a counterattack, no small task.
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Levante), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense) Daniel Cambronero (Herediano).
Defenders: Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew), Michael Umana (Saprissa), Oscar Duarte (Bruges), Waylon Francis (Columbus Crew), Heiner Mora (Saprissa), Junior Diaz (Mainz 05), Christian Gamboa (Rosenborg), Roy Miller (New York Red Bulls).
Midfielders: Celso Borges (AIK), Christian Bolanos (Copenhagen), Esteban Granados (Herediano), Michael Barrantes (Aalesund), Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), Diego Calvo (Valerenga), Jose Miguel Cubero (Herediano).
Forwards: Bryan Ruiz (PSV Eindhoven, on loan from Fulham), Joel Campbell (Olympiakos, on loan from Arsenal), Randall Brenes (Cartagines), Marco Urena (FC Kuban Krasnodar).
3. England
The Three Lions have replaced some of their “golden generation” players with youth in an attempt to add some spark to their play. After the last couple of disappointments in tournament play, they are thought to be able to improve their performance on the world stage, and I think that will happen. But they are in a tough division, and it will be tough to finish in one of the top two spots.
What to watch for: With the advent of younger offensive weapons like Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck, their offense should open up and be more difficult to defend against. But lacking a certain level of experience in crucial positions, is manager Roy Hodgson looking too far ahead?
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Fraser Forster (Celtic)
Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Leighton Baines (Everton)
Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampart (Chelsea)
Forwards: Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
2. Uruguay
A mix of experience and youth make this South American team one to watch in the group stage and beyond. La Celeste haven’t won a World Cup since 1950, and are hoping that playing on their continent will give them an edge. Look for a team that believes in the sum of their parts, as they rely heavily on a team approach rather than any one player. With players like Diego Forlan hanging up his international cleats after this World Cup, he and others know that time is running out on some of the more experienced players.
What to watch for: Their most potent offensive weapon, Luis Suarez, just had surgery on his knee and while he claims he will be ready for the match vs England on June 19, many don’t see that as likely. If he is unable to contribute to the offense, it puts a lot more pressure on the remaining offensive weapons that are available.
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Rodrigo Munoz (Libertad).
Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Lugano (West Bromwich Albion), Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez (both Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Liverpool), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto).
Midfielders: Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio), Alvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), Walter Gargano (Parma), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Morelia), Diego Perez (Bologna), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Gaston Ramirez (Southampton), Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo).
Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Abel Hernandez (Palermo), Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka), Christian Stuani (Espanyol).
1 .Italy
The Azzurri are ranked 9th in the current FIFA standings and should advance well beyond the group stages behind a solid defense, a good midfield and an offense that can put the ball in the back of the net. Almost the entire national team play on club teams in Italy, and the players are familiar with each other’s style of play.
What to watch for: Which Mario Balotelli will show up to the matches? Italy needs a solid performance from him in order to advance without any distractions, and I think he’s matured enough to produce a solid World Cup for the Azzurri.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Ignazio Abate (Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma)
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
