With 8 days to football’s greatest tournament, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Kawowo Sports previews the different 8 groups of teams that qualified for the final showpiece in Brazil.
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
BRAZIL
Strength: Counter Attack
Best World Cup finish: Champions (5 -Sweden 1958, Chile 1962, Mexico 1970, United States 1994, Korea/ Japan 2002)
Last World Cup appearance: South Africa 2010 (Quarter-Finals)
All eyes will be on Group A as it features the home team in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Selecao. After garnering last summer’s Confederations cup, Brazil (hosts) bear the most pressure to win the whole thing and do it in style. Brazil, with a super-talented squad led by household-name- in-waiting Neymar (Barcelona) with the likes of Oscar (Chelsea), Hulk (Zenit St. Petersburg), Paulinho (Spurs) and Fred (Fluminense) will be tested in the gala opener against defensive-minded Croatia on June 12.
The hosts are expected to bank on the back line led by captain Thiago Silva who must be resilient enough, Dani Alves, David Luiz and Marcelo in front of goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Brazilian player to watch will be Neymar who has 30 goals in 47 national team appearances. The 22-year-old Barcelona star’s appearance will unfold as his World Cup debut. With more style and flair to his game, the talented winger will wear the No. 10 jersey that once belonged to Pele.
Brazil Squad
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro)
Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell, Thiago Silva (both Paris St Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli)
Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires, Willian, Oscar (all Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (VfL Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg)
CROATIA
Strength: Offensive Midfield
Last World Cup appearance: Germany 2006 (Group Stage)
Best World Cup finish: Third Place (France 1998)
If Croatia dont get blown up by Brazil in front of of a rabidly partisan home crowd, the chances of making the last 16 will grow immeasurably. The team will be without its biggest offensive threat in Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), who will serve the final game of a two-game suspension for seeing red in the first game of Croatia’s two-game playoff with Iceland.
However, Coach Niko Kovac will not be bereft of offensive options .Brazilian-born Eduardo or 35-year-old veteran Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg) could slot into Madzukic’s spot in the opener. Southampton central defender Dejan Lovren, captain Darijo Srna and former long-time Spurs half-back Vedran Corluka will anchor the back as left back position awaits a crucial decision of fielding Pananthinaikos’ Danijel Pranjic.
Croatian player to watch will be midfielder Luka Modric, who was one of the best player on a star- studded field for Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic comes close, a sure-footed passer with attacking flair.
Croatia Squad
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Dinamo Zagreb).
Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld, Danijel Pranjic (both Panathinaikos), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Sammir (Getafe), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka). Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina).
MEXICO
Strength: Cohesive Back and midfield
Best World Cup finish: Quarter-Finals (2 – Mexico 1970, Mexico 1986)
Last World Cup appearance: South Africa 2010 (Round of 16)
Mexico qualified for the 2014 World Cup thanks to a convincing 9-3 aggregate win against New Zealand in the playoffs. With a new coach in Miguel Herrera (the team’s fourth coach in 10 months), not much is known about how Mexico will play but an attacking style based on rampaging wing-backs is most probable. Captain (and ex-Red Bull) Rafa Marquez will be relied on, playing deep in the defensive midfield, after losing midfielder Luis Montes to a gruesome broken leg.
Mexican player to watch will be Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez who is the team’s most recognizable talent. Despite the poor form and restricted playing time for his club (Manchester United), he knows where the back of the net is, with his blistering pace and stunning movement enough to give him plenty of goalscoring chance.
Mexico Squad
Goalkeepers: Jose de Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
Defenders: Miguel Layun (America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres), Paul Aguilar (America), Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America), Diego Reyes (Porto), Rafael Marquez (Leon).
Midfielders: Miguel Angel Ponce (Toluca), Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon), Javier Aquino (Villarreal), Hector Herrera (Porto), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Carlos Pena (Leon).
Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal), Raul jimenez (America), Alan Pulido (Tigres).
CAMEROON
Strength:Solid Midfield
Best World Cup finish: Quarter-Finals (Italy 1990)
Last World Cup appearance: South Africa 2010 (Group Stage)
The strength of the Cameroon squad / Indomitable Lions lies down the spine full of well-built players like midfielders Alex Song (Barcelona), Eyong Enoh and Stephane Mbia (Sevilla). Goal-scoring might be a problem since 33-year- old Samuel Eto’o is not the same player who terrorized defenders in La Liga and Serie A.
Lorient star Vincent Aboubakar, Barcelona phenom Jean Marie Dongou, a player many view as Eto’o’s successor, and Eric-Maxim Choupo- Moting (Mainz) may be asked to shoulder some of the offensive load. Player to watch is Samuel Eto’o, the Chelsea striker, in line to play in his fourth World Cup after appearing at the 1998 tournament at the age of 17.
Cameroon’s squad
Goalkeepers: Charles Itandje (Konyaspor), Sammy Ndjock(Fetihespor), Loic Feudjou (Coton Sport)
Defenders: Allan Nyom (Granada), Dany Nounkeu (Besiktas), Cedric Djeugoue (Coton Sport), Aurelien Chedjou (Galatasaray), Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille), Henri Bedimo (Lyon), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Eyong Enoh (Antalyaspor), Jean Makoun (Rennes), Joel Matip (Schalke), Stephane Mbia (QPR), Landry Nguemo (Bordeaux), Alex Song (Barcelona), Edgar Salli (Lens)
Forwards: Samuel Eto’o (unattached), Eric Choupo Moting (Mainz), Benjamin Moukandjo (Nancy), Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient), Pierre Webo (Fenerbahce), Fabrice Olinga (Zulte- Waregem).
