The World Cup kicked off yesterday with much fanfare and a
couple of oops moments, something which any Opening Ceremony seems to be
incomplete without. Hosts Russia made the perfect start, sweeping aside a
tired-looking Saudi Arabia and putting the pressure on the other teams in their
group. A full review of the action from Groups A and B will be published in the
next article.
In this article, I will preview the first set of matches for
Groups E through H, to finish off the preview series.
Group E
Match 1: Costa Rica vs Serbia
Much like action in Group A, both Costa Rica and Serbia will
be looking to score early points as the teams fancied to qualify from the group
face-off in the other match. Serbia boasts of strong midfield with the pairing
of Matic and Milinkovic-Savic the perfect foil for each other. The former has a
lot of experience in playing for top clubs while the latter is one of the
hottest midfield prospects in all of Europe at the moment. They will be well
supported by Dusan Tadic, who is an always willing runner down the wings.
Alexander Mitrovic, on his day is lethal in front of goal, with only his
temperament and consistency coming in the way sometimes. Costa Rica, while
without any major superstars, always hold potential for a major upset or two in
these tournaments. Their goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, is a three time defending
UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid, a record which will take some
beating, by any goalkeeper anywhere! Their midfield and forward line is aging,
so they won’t be depending on pace, but rather brains and teamwork to target
success at this tournament. I can see the North Americans pull off a minor
upset here, taking victory by the odd goal.
Prediction: Costa
Rica 2 – 1 Serbia
Match 2: Brazil vs Switzerland
It has become somewhat of a custom for Brazil to start it
off a major tournament with a tricky fixture. It is also a custom for them to
overcome those fixtures, albeit after a wobble. This time around, I don’t see
them wobbling. The Selecao should get past their European opponents easily, but
won’t bet for them keeping a clean sheet. Brazil’s forward line of Neymar and
Gabriel Jesus, with Coutinho behind them, and Firmino off the bench later will
be too hot to handle for the Swiss. For the latter, a lot will depend on the
midfield pairing of Shaqiri and Behrami, and on how well they play at the back.
It seems almost an impossible task keeping this Brazilian attacking line-up
from scoring. Perhaps the only way to get one over on them is to frustrate them
by playing a deep line and blocking off the channels. Easier said than done!
Predictions: Brazil
3 – 1 Switzerland
Group F
Match 1: Germany vs Mexico
Germany, the defending champions, haven’t had the best of
run-ups to this tournament with a loss against Poland and a narrow 2-1 win
against lowly Saudi Arabia in the friendlies. However, come a major tournament
and they transform into a well-oiled and well-drilled clockwork. No team has
defended the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 and it won’t be easy for this
German team to do the same. Their defense starts against a sprightly Mexico,
who have become an ever-present figure in this tournament. The Mexicans will be
looking to take advantage of the slow starting Germans, who seem to take their
time getting used to each other but their get into top gear and don’t look back
from there. Javier Hernandez and up-and-comer Hirving Lozano will be the danger
man for the Central Americans with the ageless Giovani Dos Santos running
things from midfield. A special mention for Rafael Marquez, who will be turning
out for his fifth World Cup, joining Antonio Carbajal, Lothar Matthaeus and
Gianluigi Buffon on that list. As for the Germans, provided Ozil is not injured,
the mid-field trio of Ozil, Kroos and Khedira look to be the most important
part of this squad in terms of both creativity and solidity. They have a lot of
players who can play further forward but will need the work of this triumvirate
to set them up. Given Germany’s habit of starting off slow, and Mexico’s
never-say-die attitude, I’d predict a close match separated by a single goal.
The defending champions to shade this for me.
Prediction: Germany
2 – 1 Mexico
Match 2: Sweden vs South Korea
Sweden were the ultimate giant-killers in the Playoffs,
knocking out 2006 champions Italy after a 1-0 win at home, and keeping the
Azzurri out in the return leg. They will start this match as favourites. Their
stalwart Ibrahimovich has retired, and the team has reached this far without
him, so they can’t be taken lightly. With a good mix of youth and experience
throughout, they should be favourites to qualify from this group along with
Germany. Watch out for Emil Forsberg to be their differentiator, both in this
match as well in the rest of the tournament. South Korea have failed to reach
the lofty heights they reached at home in 2002. A lot of their hopes will rest
on striker Son Heung Min, who has been in the form of his life for Tottenham
this season. There’s not a lot of experience otherwise and it looks tough for
them to pick up any points in this tournament. I can see Sweden easily walk
away with this one.
Prediction: Sweden
3 – 0 South Korea
Group G
Match 1: Belgium vs Panama
The golden generation of Belgium start off their World Cup
campaign against debutantes Panama, in what should be an easy start. The
Belgians will be looking to shed their underachievers tag and will be looking
to lay down a marker of intent in this match. With Kevin de Bruyne and Yannick
Carrasco running midfield and the likes of Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku up
top, there should be a lot of goals in this team. The defensive quartet of
Kompany, Alderweireld, Verthongen and Vermaelen look formidable but their
fitness is always a concern. Personally, I don’t think they’ll all start
together, overlapping best positions also being a reason. No worried for them
in the goalkeeping department either with Courtois expected to be one the
safest hands in the tournament. Anything Panama achieve in this tournament will
be a bonus. Boasting no known names and no previous experience in this sort of
competitions it looks a slippery slope for them. However, the World Cup has
been known to throw up romantic stories and this would be some story if they
can somehow upset the odds. Sadly, I can’t see that happening under any
circumstances and predict Belgium to romp home.
Prediction: Belgium 4 – 0 Panama
Match 2: Tunisia vs England
Is there ever a match at a major tournament for England that
is not a potential banana skin? The Tunisians won’t be pushovers, with some
players having decent experience playing in European leagues. They will try to
sit back and stifle the English attack, and look to catch them out on the
counter. England should really have enough quality to get past their opponents
but as history would show, they are prone to running out of ideas when faced
with a dogged opponent. They will do well to start with two forwards up front,
Kane and Vardy have very different strengths and should complement each other.
The midfield is a problem area, with a lack of depth. At the end of the day,
what will matter is whether England are smart enough to adapt to the situation
or whether Tunisia will be able to hold forte. Without much assurance, I’ll go
with a narrow win for the English in this one.
Prediction: Tunisia
0 – 1 England
Group H
Match 1: Colombia
vs Japan
Colombia and Japan will get us off in the most open group of
the tournament. The Colombians were the darlings of the neutrals in the last edition of the World Cup with James Rodriguez making a
name for himself with superb performances throughout and an unforgettable goal
against Uruguay in the Round of 16. This time around, they’re perhaps not as
good a unit but should still be competitive. The same James will be the
stalwart in midfield with support from Cuadrado while the forward pairing of
Falcao and Bacca are capable of coming up with the goods. For Japan, the story
is about aging stalwarts leading in search of Japan, with Honda and Okazaki
well into their 30s. Shinji Kagawa will be the glue and the creator in
midfield, and he will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. I can’t
see Japan having the quality or the firepower to get past this Colombia side
and will go with a comfortable win for the latter.
Prediction: Colombia
2 – 0 Japan
Match 2: Poland
vs Senegal
Poland have had a good run of games leading up to the
tournament, even coming from behind to defeat Germany in the pre-tournament
friendlies. As you know, I’ve already tipped Senegal to reach the Quarter
Finals with the talent they’ve got. With this mind, I could very well see this
as being the best match of Matchday 1, despite there being more high-profile
clashes elsewhere. Sadio Mane has been in red hot form this season. They have
Kouyate and Gueye in midfield, and a strong forward line consisting of Sow,
Keita Balde, Niang, Sakho and Diouf, any two of whom are likely to partner Mane
up front. At their explosive best, they’ll be very hard to keep out. Their
defense has top class experience in the form Koulibaly, who despite being only
26, is rated highly and is a regular for Napoli in the Serie A. Poland come
into the tournament as one of the eight seeded teams and will be looking to
improve their performances at the World Cup. Their last two appearances have
ended in Group Stage eliminations and their last result of note was in 1982, a
3
rd place finish. They have all the tools to progress though. Robert
Lewandowski has been one the premier strikers in Europe for the last few years
and has had a good season. Grosicki, Blaszczykowski and Krychowiak have a lot
of experience at this level, and Piotr Zielinski is being tipped for big things
in the future. All things considered,
this could very well turn out to be the match that decides the winner of this
group. I predict Senegal to edge a high-scoring thriller.
Prediction: Poland
2 – 3 Senegal
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