By Simon Wright – Follow
me on Twitter @Siwri88
The countdown
is almost over. Summer is here, four years have passed and the talking is going
to stop. Football’s greatest show on earth is around the corner, with the
opening ceremony just two days away now (written on 10 June).
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| The greatest football show on earth is just days away from beginning |
The World Cup
arrives home in one of its most spiritual places, Brazil. It is the first time
the country will host the competition in 64 years and the first time in the
continent since Argentina hosted and won the 1978 edition. No European side has
ever triumphed overall on these shores.
32 teams all
arrive in their various destinations across Brazil, preparing to take part in
64 games in some beautiful stadia (depending on whether they are all
completed!). England is among the elite and Roy Hodgson has assembled a young,
hungry squad with the country back home having much lower expectations than for
any major international event for at least a generation.
I now give a
quick guide to all the teams taking part in the World Cup of 2014, and how well
I think they will do. One record I think will go over the course of the next
month.
Group A
Brazil
All eyes will
be on the hosts and whether they can cope with the pressure of an expectant
nation. Luiz Felipe Scolari is in charge, just as he was when Brazil last won
the World Cup in 2002 and there seems to be a good vibe around the camp (team photo pictured). The
golden boy is Neymar and if he performs to his absolute peak, the Brazilians
will be hard to stop. There are still some concerns though about the lack of
depth in attack behind Neymar and Fred and it is for this reason that I think
they will just fall short in their efforts to win a sixth World Cup.
PREDICTION: Semi-Finals (3rd Place)
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| The Brazil team will be under huge pressure to deliver the main prize on home soil |
Croatia
Niko Kovac
was playing in a World Cup as recently as 2006. Eight years later, he guides
Croatia to this tournament. Qualification was assured via the play-offs over
Iceland but they have lost Mario Mandzukic for the first game. The Bayern
Munich hotshot is suspended due to a red card in the second leg of the
play-offs. Luka Modric is their main threat but this is a tough group for the
Croats. A trip to Manaus to face Cameroon convinces me that this tournament won’t
give much for the supporters to cheer about.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Mexico
Mexico limped
through to another World Cup, needing a two-legged play-off success against New
Zealand after making a meal of qualifying automatically. Four coaches have come
and gone in the last few years, so stability at the top of the hierarchy remains
a concern. However, they have a good tournament record. 1978 was the last time
Mexico qualified for a World Cup and failed to make the knockout rounds. The
Oribe Peralta/Javier Hernandez strike partnership should be just enough to
carry that statistic on for another four years.
PREDICTION: Round of 16
Cameroon
It has now
been 24 years since Roger Milla’s corner dancing and the Indomitable Lions
stunning run to the quarter-finals at Italia 90. Since then, Cameroon have
flattered to deceive on the main stage, failing to qualify for 2006 and ending
their finals in the group stages on three other occasions. A pay dispute has
already disrupted pre-tournament preparation, so confidence is not high. Ex-Chelsea
striker Samuel Eto’o needs to play well throughout for them to have any chances
to progress but an early flight home is the only forecast here.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Group B
Spain
It isn’t
quite the frightening force of previous major tournaments but the Spanish squad
is still incredibly strong and that is despite leaving out the likes of Isco,
Jesus Navas, Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo. The holders must not be
discounted, even if they aren’t favourites with many pundits. There is plenty
of quality in the final third and del Bosque’s men should go deep into this
World Cup. From a personal point, I want them to win again but a brave runners-up
spot is what my professional instincts are telling me.
PREDICTION: Finalists
Netherlands
There is
often a team that implodes on the main stage and I think that prize will go to
the Netherlands this time around. They might have some stars, such as skipper
Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben but there is a lack of team unity and most
individuals can’t win football matches on their own. Outgoing manager Louis van
Gaal already has a job after the finals and I don’t think his man-management
skills will help any mutinies that break out. There is little chance the Dutch
have of repeating their exploits from 2010. It will be three games only this
time around.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Chile
Chile
outclassed England in an international friendly back in November and are a very
popular team with many neutrals. Coach Jorge Sampaoli has followed Marcelo
Bielsa’s trend of playing fluent, attractive, attacking football. Arturo Vidal
is at the top of his game and when on top form, Alexis Sanchez is very tough to
stop. Injuries have affected preparation slightly but I like the Chileans a
lot. Only a probable run-in with the hosts (like in 1998 and 2010) will stop
them progressing further than the last 16.
PREDICTION: Round of 16
Australia
Brazil 2014
will be a third successive World Cup for Australia. The Socceroos have gone for
a mixture of youth and experience in the squad. The likes of Tim Cahill and
Mark Bresciano will be making way after this tournament for a younger
generation of Australian footballer. They conceded 16 goals in three games to
Brazil, France and Ecuador in friendly matches, so I don’t think they will
threaten the other three teams in Group B. They will go down fighting though as
expected.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Group C
Colombia
16 years have
passed since Colombia were at France 98. This crop of exciting footballers
shows much promise under boss Jose Pekerman. The loss of Radamel Falcao to
injury is a big blow, but that is more for the tournament spectacle. Jackson
Martinez and Adrian Ramos promise goals and James Rodriguez is one of the young
superstars of the European game. A quarter-final result is most definitely achievable
for this bright South American side.
PREDICTION: Quarter-Finals
Greece
Rewind back
to Euro 2004 and no-one gave Greece a hope. Yet the 150-1 outsiders stunned the
world with their success and showed teams win football matches, not single
individuals. A decade has passed and there are still representatives of that
squad, like Giorgos Karagounis. They’ve done well to qualify for their second
successive World Cup but lack the firepower required at the highest level. I
think a lean tournament awaits the Greeks. However, they deserve to be here and
have the potential to surprise people once again.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Ivory Coast
Having been
given the dreaded ‘Group of Death’ in both 2006 and 2010, the Ivory Coast must
be happy to have a more favourable draw this time around. They have one of the
best midfielders in the world in Yaya Toure of Manchester City and Didier
Drogba is bound to have a say in what is likely to be his international
swansong. They qualified well and could be Africa’s best hope for success.
Sadly for the White Elephants, it will be third time unlucky when it comes to
escaping the group stage.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Japan
Technically
gifted and with plenty of power and skill to hurt opposition, 2014 could be a
breakthrough competition for Japan. They might have lost all their games at the
Confederations Cup last summer but they impressed many with their free-flowing
style. Keisuke Honda of AC Milan is their star player, but Shinji Okazaki is a
proven goalscorer having netted 15 in the Bundesliga last season and Shinji
Kagawa has a point to prove after his frustrating time at Manchester United.
The Blue Samarai in my view will produce Asia’s best performance in a World Cup
on foreign soil.
PREDICTION: Quarter-Finals
Group D
Uruguay
The Uruguay
squad is relatively unchanged from four years ago, when they reached the
semi-finals. Holders of the Copa America and semi-finalists last summer in the
Confederations Cup, there is no doubt that the Uruguayans are big tournament
performers. In Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, they have the deadliest
frontline duo going to Brazil but a fragile backline could be their undoing.
The last 16 is as far as they will go in 2014.
PREDICTION: Round of 16
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
are an unpredictable outfit but don’t underestimate them, despite being in one
of the tougher groups. Scotland did in 1990 and were embarrassingly beaten.
There aren’t many household names, although Bryan Ruiz did have a spell in
England with Fulham and Joel Campbell impressed for Olympiakos in the Champions
League against Manchester United. They have a sound defensive unit but will be
missing main goal threat Alvaro Saborio, due to a foot injury. It will be a
battling, but predictable group stage exit.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
England
So what do we
make of England’s chances? Roy Hodgson has picked a strong squad and whilst he
has been starved of Walcott, Rodriguez and Townsend – injuries have been
relatively unscathed compared to some nations. This is the final chance for the
likes of skipper Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and maybe even Wayne Rooney to
shine on the international stage. There is plenty of promise for the future and
with more experience; the 2016 European Championships is a more realistic
target for a better performance. With two wins in six since qualifying just in October,
form is sketchy but confidence and morale is high within the Three Lions camp.
I think getting out of the group is the realistic goal and they will just about
do that. Anything further than the Round of 16 and World Cup 2014 will have
been a notable success for the Three Lions. If anyone is still dreaming of
winning the World Cup, keep dreaming because realistically, that is not going
to happen.
PREDICTION: Round of 16
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| England head into this World Cup with much lower expectations for a long time |
Italy
Cesare
Prandelli has just extended his contract to remain boss of Italy until after
Euro 2016. He might be quite pleased to do this. While the Azzuri qualified
easily, a sloppy 2-2 home draw with Armenia cost them a top seeding and that
must be regretted now. Since then, only one win in seven suggests rocky form
and even the manager seems to not know his best formation to proceed with. It
is always dangerous to write off the Italians, especially when they can call on
Buffon, Pirlo and Balotelli but I think they will be the former winners who won’t
escape Group D.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Group E
Switzerland
This will be
Ottmar Hitzfeld’s last tournament as a manager. Having won multiple Bundesliga
titles in his successful career and the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund
in 1997, Hitzfeld has achieved a lot and guiding Switzerland into the world’s
top 10 according to the FIFA World Rankings must rank highly among his
achievements. I thought they were lucky to be seeded though and will be found
out for that this summer in South America.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Ecuador
Ecuador
showed flashes of brilliant skill against England in a recent international
friendly, even if their discipline was called into question. Coach Reinaldo
Reuda will be aiming to match the Ecuadorians last World Cup effort, which was
a run to the last 16 in 2006. Ecuador will also want to honour their late
striker Christian Benitez this summer. ‘Chucho’ scored four times in qualifying
before passing away last July at the tender age of 29 from a cardiac arrest.
Progression out of the group would be a fitting tribute to the no.11.
PREDICTION: Round of 16
France
The French
national team are like marmite. You either love them or hate them. In the last
four World Cups, they have either shamed themselves in first round elimination
or gone on to reach the final, winning the prize on home soil in 1998. Key man
Franck Ribery has been ruled out thanks to injury, whilst in-form Samir Nasri
was excluded from the squad altogether by Didier Deschamps. The group looks
routine and with a few promising youngsters, a satisfactory run to the last
eight beckons for Les Bleus in 2014.
PREDICTION: Quarter-Finals
Honduras
On the
evidence of last Saturday’s friendly with England, Honduras might turn all of
their football matches into boxing contests! Their tackles were cheap and
appalling and had no place in the game. They have done well to reach their
second successive finals but made no impact on the competition in South Africa
four years ago. It will be a similar story this time around, although don’t be
surprised if their campaign is littered with injuring other players and red
cards.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Group F
Argentina
There is
nothing else Argentina would love than to win the World Cup on the backyard of
their biggest footballing enemy, Brazil. In Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and
Gonzalo Higuain, they have perhaps the best forward combination and if Angel Di
Maria can repeat his stunning performance in the Champions League final, their
attack promises loads of goals. There is still some concern about the defence
and goalkeeper though and I think it could be their downfall. A shock
quarter-final loss to the USA is my surprising prediction.
PREDICTION: Quarter-Finals
Bosnia-Herzegovina
The only
debutants at this football festival will be Bosnia-Herzegovina. Two decades
ago, the country was destroyed by genocide and civil war that turned Sarajevo
into a war zone. Now, they are about to embark on a maiden appearance in the
World Cup finals. It is a remarkable turnaround. Edin Dzeko promises goals, and
should be supported by Miralem Pjanic and Vedad Ibisevic. After a tough opening
in the Maracana against Argentina, I think the Bosnia team will reach the last
16 and get a hero’s welcome on their return.
PREDICTION: Round of 16
Iran
Managed by
Carlos Queiroz, this group of Iran players is probably the best they have going
to a World Cup. However, they have only one win to their name in the finals and
that was against the USA in 1998. No household stars they might have, but there
is plenty of team spirit and if they can match their impressive qualifying form
that saw only Japan qualify from Asia with a better record, they might match
Queiroz’s objective of a place in the last 16. I think that is a bridge too far
but don’t discount Iran. They could be a real success story.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Nigeria
Nigeria has
undergone a radical football transformation following World Cup failure in 2010.
The underachieving stars were replaced by a younger breed and Stephen Keshi was
rewarded for that youth gamble by becoming African champions last February.
Goalscoring hero from that final Sunday Mba has been left at home though and
they might be relying on more goalkeeping heroics from Vincent Enyeama – one of
the most consistent in that position. I think it will be a disappointing
campaign for the Super Eagles.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Group G
Germany
The German
team is ready to take on the world and they have been the bridesmaids for so
long. Manager Joachim Low has had a wealth of talent to choose from and looking
at their attacking options is scary, despite losing Marco Reus on the eve of
the competition to a heartbreaking injury. Thomas Muller and the experienced
Miroslav Klose will lead the line and there is barely a weak link in the
starting XI. If they can escape a tough group and cope with the conditions, I
think another star will be added to Germany’s three on their shirts after this tournament.
PREDICTION: WINNERS
Portugal
Dragged to
the finals almost single-handedly by Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal have plenty to
thank their skipper for. The greatest player on the planet at the moment has
missed the build-up with a knee injury and they look limp without him. They
might have Champions League winners in Pepe and Fabio Coentrao and the talented
Joao Moutinho in midfield but if Ronaldo is injured or doesn’t perform to his
maximum, Portugal struggle. Add in the hardest group of the first round and I
think this tournament will be a step too far for them.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Ghana
The Black
Stars from Africa came within a crossbar of making the semi-finals four years
ago. Ghana won the hearts of many neutrals and are still considered as Africa’s
best side, even if they continue to choke in the games when it matters in the
African Cup of Nations. The Ghanaians have appeared in the last 16 on both of
their previous World Cup final attempts. This time around, the power of the
opposition will be just too much to repeat this feat.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
USA
I like the
look of Team USA. Jurgen Klinsmann has put a lot of time and effort into this
team and he has a core of strong and promising players to choose from. Omitting
Landon Donovan from the final 23 was an incredibly tough decision and a massive
surprise but Klinsmann is a winner and he believes he has enough goal power in
Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore and MLS ace Chris Wondolowski. Previously seen as
a ‘joke’ outfit, they are serious dark horses and I reckon they will cause big
surprises en route to a shock semi-final berth.
PREDICTION: Semi-Finals (4th place)
Group H
Belgium
There is a
lot of attention around Belgium, who have a very familiar squad to many who ply
their trade in the Barclays Premier League. The likes of Kompany, Hazard,
Lukaku and Fellaini are ready for the challenge of a World Cup but can they
deliver on the main stage. Sometimes, teams can flatter to deceive after such a
big build-up. I hope I’m wrong because I really want Belgium to succeed but I
have a feeling that this pressure means expectations are far too high. A last
16 place is the minimum and probably realistic achievement.
PREDICTION: Round of 16
Algeria
Away goals
were what was required for Algeria to get to Brazil, denying Burkina Faso a
World Cup debut bow. They played a very old fashioned style of football four
years ago, which did earn them a great point against England in Cape Town but
offered little going forwards. Not much has changed since. I think they will
score a goal, which they didn’t manage in 2010 but a similar early exit awaits
the Algerians.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
Russia
A familiar foe
is in charge of Russia and he has a point to prove. Fabio Capello’s reputation
took a battering when in charge of England’s dismal challenge in South Africa
four years ago. He didn’t help himself either and his abrupt departure over the
John Terry racism row in February 2012 meant he wasn’t missed. To his credit,
Capello has rebuilt his international career in charge of Russia and will guide
them to the 2018 World Cup. Losing skipper Roman Shirokov to injury is a big
blow but they topped Portugal in a challenging qualifying group and have the
potential to at least reach the last 16 – possibly as group winners.
PREDICTION: Round of 16
South Korea
South Korea
reached the last 16 in 2010, eliminated on a rain-sodden evening in Port
Elizabeth by Luis Suarez and Uruguay. Although they made heavy weather of
qualifying, beaten by Iran to top spot, the Koreans have every chance of
repeating the 2010 result. A run to the semi-finals like they managed in 2002
is highly unlikely though. Heung-Min Son of Bayer Leverkusen is their star man
and in what is likely to be a three-way shootout with Belgium and Russia for
progression, I believe South Korea will be the unlucky side to miss out.
PREDICTION: Group Stage
So the action
is about to begin. You can follow all of the World Cup on BBC and ITV this
summer and it all begins on Thursday night (12 June) with the opening ceremony
from 7pm on ITV, followed by the opening match which is Brazil v Croatia.
England’s first match is in the Amazon rainforest against Italy on Saturday, 14
June, kicking off at 11pm.
Let the games
begin!
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