FIFA Football World Cup 2018 - Matchday 1: Group C-D Review

Super Saturday is done and dusted and it's time to look back at the two groups that were involved. This is my review of Matchday 1 for Groups C and D.

Group C

Match 1: France vs Australia

The much vaunted French were out for their match in the early afternoon kick-off. They started off well enough, getting behind the Australian defence a couple of times early on, but not able to make use of it in terms of the finished product. Australia came into the game and started linking up well in midfield and kept the French at bay. They made a couple of inroads themselves but lacked the quality in the final third. The first half petered out and one wouldn't grudge the Aussies their point for the moment. The second half started in much the same way, with France huffing and puffing but not able to get the breakthrough. Then it happened, the historic moment, with the first use of VAR at this World Cup. Griezman was put through on goal, only to be clipped in the heels by Risdon. The Australian defender seemed to get a toe on the ball before the touch on Griezman, but the referee felt the latter was the more crucial touch. The French No. 7 converted the resulting penalty. Their lead did not last long. Australia got a penalty of their after a mind-blank moment from Samuel Umtiti, who handled inside his box. Mile Jedinak converted and we were level again! The Australians did not sit back however, and had some attacks of their own. The French were making better progress though and finally retook the lead with less than ten minutes to go, via a deflected shot from Paul Pogba. Once again technology made the decisive decision, goal-line technology involved with awarding the goal. France kept the majority of possession post that, and the Australians ran out of steam, if not heart, by then. The pre-tournament favourites had dodged a bullet.

Final Score: France 2 – 1 Australia

Match 2: Peru vs Denmark

Denmark were the more fancied team in this match but it was Peru who played the more attacking football from the start. Taking the game to the Danish from the start, their three man attacking midfield of Carillo, Cueva and Flores were at their fluid best, getting down the by-line and putting balls into the Danish box all through. Their efforts were rewarded with the awrding of a penalty kick, right at the end of the first half, and again with the intervention VAR. Yussuf Yurary Poulsen unfairly brought down Cueva, who stepped up himself to take the penalty. The nerves were written across his face and he went on to sky his kick well over! It was more of the same in the second half but the Danes started to make better inroads into their opposition defence. The breakthrough came in the 60^th minute when Christian Eriksen (who else), found space in the midfield and slid a ball to the same Poulsen, who made no mistake in beating the goalkeeper at the near post. Peru, to their credit, continued their onslaught on the Danish goal, and it took a few top-drawer saves from Kasper Schmeichel to keep them out. It wasn’t to be for the fighting Peruvians in a game where they truly deserved at least a point. The Danes joined France at the top of the group.

Final Score: Peru 1 – 2 Denmark

Group D

Match 1: Argentina vs Iceland

Argentina started off imperviously, and it looked like they were ready to shed their dependency on stalwart Messi as Aguero impressively turned and shot past the goalkeeper in the 19^th minute. They didn’t have everything their way till that point though, with Bjarnason missing a near open goal from about 15 yards just past the 10 minute mark. The Vikings hit back soon enough, and got level after just four minutes. Caballero parried a shot from Siggurdson into the center of his box and Finnbogason was on hand to pounce on the rebound. The tiny island nation were punching many times above their weight in their first World Cup outing and holding steady. They even had a chance to take the lead from a near carbon-copy situation at the end of the half, but this time the Argentine defence was able to get it away. The start of the second half was a little slow but things picked up when Mexa was brought down and his team were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Messi and hit a fierce drive to the goalkeeper’s right, but the ball wasn’t in the corner and the latter guessed correctly and saved well. What followed was a defensive lesson in stubbornness from the underdogs, and although Argentina came closer and closer, they could not find the important breakthrough. The Messi team had well and truly messed up!

Final Score: Argentina 1 – 1 Iceland

Match 2: Croatia vs Nigeria

The two teams started well-matched with both getting balls into the oppositions’ box on a few occasions. Modric showed his quality, finding teammates with long range passes on a couple of occasions as well. In the 32^nd minute, Mario Mandzukic threw himself at a corner, his glancing header flicked off the standing leg of Etebo, and went in. This was another African team who had the misfortune of an own goal, albeit much less spectacular this time.  Dejan Lovren put in an important block a couple of minutes later from a rasping drive by Alex Iwobi. Kramaric nearly doubled his country’s lead with a header, as the Nigerian goalkeeper was caught out of position but the ball landed on top of the net. Similar to the first half, both teams were able to get efforts on goal in the early part of the second half, without success, with Rebic failing to convert a volley from around 8 yards out. A big penalty shout for Nigeria was turned down as Strinic made contact with Victor Moses. Just a few minutes later, a penalty was awarded at the opposite end, as Ekong wrestled Mandzukic to the floor while defending a corner. Up stepped Modric and he made no mistake in converting from the spot. It was a question of getting through the final 20 minutes for Croatia as their opponents seem to run out of energy and ideas. The Europeans move to the top of the group and with Argentina not looking very impressive will fancy their chances of topping the group.

Final Score: Croatia 2 – 0 Nigeria

FIFA Football World Cup 2018 - Matchday 1: Group A-B Review

Just two days in and we’ve already had 13 goals to enjoy at this World Cup. There have been some brilliant performances, a couple of dull affairs and two goals that are already Goal of the Tournament contender. This is my review of Groups A and B.

Group A

Match 1: Russia vs Saudi Arabia

The match started evenly with both teams exchanging possession early on. Then it got sloppy for a while with no team able to take control of the midfield. Once the hosts scored, it was pretty much game over. The Saudis looked like a tired unit, both mentally and physically, and the Russian took full advantage of that. Scoring five unanswered goals, this was just the start that they were hoping for. Aleksandr Golovin ran the show for the hosts, contributing with two assists and a goal to wrap up proceedings in injury time. Denis Cheryshev also scored two, with his second being a spectacular half-volley.

Final Score: Russia 5 – 0 Saudi Arabia

Match 2: Egypt vs Uruguay

The big news at the start was that of Salah starting on the bench and not in the first team. Egypt were the better team in the first half, with better coordination and composure on the ball. Tarek Hamed was everywhere, breaking down opposition attacks and linking up play for his team. Suarez was woefully short on pace while Cavani showed glimpses of good touch without any final product. As the match progressed into the second half, the Uruguayans took control with Egypt sitting deeper and deeper in their own half. The injury to the afore-mentioned Hamed did not help. Substitutions came and went but there was no sign of Salah. The strategy nearly paid off as the North Africans held forte for 89 minutes, when a towering header by José Giménez broke Egypt’s hearts and sent the Uruguayans into dreamland. It was a heart-breaking moment for the former, and the lasting image from the game has to be Salah’s dejected hanging of the head in the dugout as the final whistle blew.

Final Score: Egypt 0 – 1 Uruguay

Group B

Match 1: Morocco vs Iran

A late late show gave Iran an unlikely victory and almost surely looks to have already sealed Morocco’s fate in the tournament. Morocco were the better side for most of the game, but that’s not saying much in this drab affair. The game had a lack of flair and creativity and looked to be coasting a 0-0 scoreline when disaster struck for the Moroccans. Aziz Bouhaddouz headed into his own net, trying to clear a free-kick in the 95^th minute, completing Iran’s smash and grab. It was a nightmare moment for the substitute and it looks to be very difficult for his team to make any further mark in this tournament. As for Iran, they’ll now just be looking to take a point from one of their other games, to give themselves a chance of progression.

Final Score: Morocco 0 – 1 Iran

Match 2: Portugal vs Spain

It was a Friday night bonanza for the fans in Sochi as the Iberian rivals played out a draw to remember. Portugal were on the front foot inside 3 minutes, as Ronaldo was fouled inside the box and ably put away the resulting penalty. Their lead lasted for about 20 minutes. Diego Costa clobbered Pepe in the follow-up, then showed great close control under pressure before slotting into the bottom corner. At the end of the first half, Ronaldo fired a low, seemingly harmless shot straight at De Gea, but the Spanish stopper inexplicably let it deflect off him and squirm into the net. Who would’ve thought that was possible! In the second half, Spain came out firing, and very soon they were level again, thanks to Costa being at the right place at the right time, to score his second. Sergio Busquets headed a David Silva free-kick across the six yard box and Costa tapped it in. Spain then took the lead thanks to a stunning half volley from Nacho who got on the end of a bouncing ball at the edge of the Portuguese penalty box. He was the player who gave away the penalty and this was some way to get atonement. Spain dominated possession in midfield for most of the match, with Portugal able to make inroads via counter attacks. The former looked to have things under control with the elegant exchanges between Isco, Silva and Iniesta in midfield. Isco, incidentally, was my Man of the Match. A couple of minutes before the 90 were up, Portugal were awarded a free-kick from around 25 yards. Ronaldo lined it up and from the moment he did there was a sense of inevitability about it. And it turned out to be true, as the ball sailed into the top corner with De Gea rooted to the spot. Ronaldo’s hat-trick was complete and he had just doubled his World Cup goal tally in this match alone! No further action till the full-time meant the heavyweights shared points. Ronaldo’s celebration at the final whistle perhaps an indication of how important it was for both teams not to lose this one.

Final Score: Portugal 3 – 3 Spain

FIFA Football World Cup 2018 - Group E-H Preview

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

FIFA Football World Cup 2018 - Group A-D Preview

Just as this World Cup is about the begin, news filtered in yesterday of FIFA awarding the 2026 World Cup to the joint bid by Canada, USA and Mexico. The pinnacle of football will return to North America after 32 years. Mexico, will be hosting their third World Cup, which will become a record.

Coming back to the current edition, and with the action just hours away now, we switch our focus to the matches and how they’re likely to shape up. In this post, I will be previewing the first set of matches for Groups A through D. The next post will have the previews for Groups E through H.

Group A

Match 1: Russia vs Saudi Arabia

The hosts kick things off against Saudi Arabia, the two lowest ranked teams in the tournament! The Russians would be hoping to take the focus away from the country’s problems, both in terms of football culture and geo-political, with their on-field showings. They should just edge this game, making full use of their home advantage. Saudi Arabia will look catch out their opponents via long balls or in set-pieces, probably their best chances of scoring.

Prediction: Russia 2 – 0 Saudi Arabia

Match 2: Egypt vs Uruguay

The match which was billed as the clash between Suarez and Salah seems likely to have just one them playing. Salah’s injury in the Champion’s League final was a huge blow for his World Cup chances. He has returned to training, but his shoulder looks far from being back to normal. He is unlikely to play a part in this match, and could be started on the bench to be brought on later. That might be a little too late! Uruguay’s stars have aged but they do have a new age coming through. The forward line-up of Cavani and Suarez should prove too hot to handle for the Egyptian defense.

Prediction: Egypt 1 – 2 Uruguay

Group B

Match 1: Morocco vs Iran

The battle of minnows of Group B will see both teams get an early win under their belt to put pressure on their more fancied group members. Morocco should prove too strong for the Iranians who do not look like picking up any points from this group. Mehdi Benatia is the star for the North Africans, while Hakim Ziyeh will be the player to watch.

Prediction: Morocco 2 – 0 Iran

Match 2: Portugal vs Spain

Spain have shot themselves in the foot with the sacking of coach Julen Lopetegui just two days before their Iberian clash with Portugal. Fernando Hierro has been brought in as replacement. Talent-wise, they’ll have no problems! Any country that can replace the retiring Xavi with the likes of Isco, Asensio, Saul Niguez and Koke, deserves applause for their player development. Portugal too, have a talented midfield with Joao Mario and William Carvalho pulling the strings and Gelson Martins, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva providing the flair. Plus, there is the added intrigue about whether this will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup and whether he can complete his trophy cabinet by adding the World Cup to the European Championship win. Despite their turmoil, Spain should still have enough to see off their opponents, but I expect just an odd goal in the game.

Prediction: Portugal 0 – 1 Spain

Group C

Match 1: France vs Australia

Title favourites France start their campaign with a tricky tie against the Socceroos. Granted, the Australians aren’t quite the force they used to be, with a lot of new faces breaking into the first team since the last World Cup. 19 year old Daniel Arzani is being tipped as their star for the future, ready to take up the mantle from evergreen Tim Cahill, who looks to be playing his last World Cup. There is enough European league experience in this team but they face a daunting opposition. France’s bench could probably qualify for the World Cup themselves, such is the talent at their disposal at the moment. They should get by Australia easily, and I’ll be surprised if they don’t keep a clean sheet. Expect them to come out flying to make a statement to the other teams in the tournament. An interesting side-note to follow in this tournament for the French would be whether Paul Pogba gets back his form in the center of midfield.

Prediction: France 3 – 0 Australia

Match 2: Peru vs Denmark

A really tough match to call. Peru look to be the underdogs because of their opponents’ pedigree at this level, but count them out at your own peril. The South Americans have shown recently that they are well capable of hanging with better opposition. The Danes on the other hand are heavily dependent on their talisman Christian Eriksen but it would be tough for him to take this team through the tournament on his own. Watch out for 20 year old forward Kasper Dolberg, who has tipped for big things in the future. I’m going to go for a scoring draw with Eriksen influential in Denmark’s goal.

Prediction: Peru 1 – 1 Denmark

Group D

Match 1: Argentina vs Iceland

The Vikings will be looking to spoil the party for Lionel Messi and his band of merry men. Iceland won hearts and captivated the world in their European adventure from two years ago. They’ve qualified for their first ever World Cup which shows their performance in the last tournament wasn’t a flash in the pan. Argentina will be looking to start off on a positive note to set the tone for a successful tournament. For their sake, let’s hope the others can take some of the responsibility off Messi’ shoulders. Make no mistake, this will not be an easy fixture for Argentina, and is a potential banana skin for them. I however believe that they will out victorious, just!

Prediction: Argentina 2 – 1 Iceland

Match 2: Croatia vs Nigeria

The Croats come into this tournament with a decent team, a good mix of experience at this level and youth. With Modric and Rakitic in midfield, they possess two of the most successful midfielders in Europe. The forward trio of Perisic, Kramiric and Mandzukic can be lethal at their best. Their defense isn’t the strongest but it’s a solid unit with plenty of experience. Nigeria, on the other hand don’t look to have their giant-killing potential from previous editions. Their forward line is strong but the midfield and especially the defense leave a lot to be desired. A lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of veteran John Obi Mikel. Wilffred Ndidi, if used well, could catch the eye. Victor Moese comes off the back of two good club seasons, and a lot of the country’s attacking movement will pass through him. Croatia should be too strong in this encounter I believe.

Prediction: Croatia 3 – 1 Nigeria

FIFA Football World Cup 2018 - Tournament Preview

The World Cup! The dream every footballer hopes to live and achieve! The pinnacle of world sport!

The 2018 FIFA Football World Cup is upon us and this is the first of what I hope will be a series of blog posts written by me on the event.

The club football seasons throughout the world have come to an end. The footballers have left their clubs and spent a short time with their families. Some transfer deals have already been completed, some have been discussed, while some have already collapsed! However, unlike other years, there is no long holiday for the more than 700 players called up for their national teams. They have all traveled to Russia, or are in the process of doing so, to compete in the biggest sporting tournament. The tournament kicks-off at 1800 hours local time (20:30 PM IST) on 14th June (tomorrow) and I, for one, cannot wait.

The awarding of the tournament to Russia has been shrouded by controversy ever since the announcement. The annexation of Crimea, the invasion of East Ukraine, chemical attacks, et al. are just the start of the list of ethics violations that the country have inflicted in the recent past. FIFA have lived up to their corrupt reputation and conveniently overlooked everything. Compounded to this is the rampant racism prevalent there, with repeated incidents unpunished by the authorities, both national and FIFA! Let us hope the tournament, and its paraphernalia, are better than the country’s reputation.

Favourites

France

The most talented team in the tournament. With players like Alexander Lacazette, Anthony Martial, Kingsley Coman, Adrien Rabiot, Dimitri Payet, Laurent Koscielny and Lucas Digne missing out, one can see the depth of talent that the 1998 champions have in their ranks. Coming to the players who did make the World Cup squad, all of Griezman, Mbappe, Dembele, Fekir, Matuidi and Pogba (trust me there are more!) are possible match-winners in themselves. Their defense is solid, with experienced goal-keepers to boot. They made it all the way to the finals of Euro 2016 in their home country before losing to Portugal and will be hoping to go one better. They are the team to beat and in my eyes, favourites to lift the trophy.

Key Players: Antoine Griezman, Kylain Mbappe, Ngolo Kante, Ousmane Dembele, Paul Pogba

Brazil

It is not often that I like a Brazilian team but this is a rare exception! Packed with skill and flair that the South Americans are known for, the likes of Neymar, Coutinho, Firmino and Jesus are a frightening prospect for the opposition. The midfield is a solid unit with Casemiro, Fernandinho and Paulinho likely to play a major role. Allison is perhaps the most sought-after goalkeeper in the world at the moment and the World Cup will be his perfect audition. There always is a question-mark about Brazil’s defense, as was ruthlessly exposed by Germany in the semi-final of the last edition, but they can outscore any opponent on their day. Don’t bet on them to sit back on a lead. The tournament structure is such that, all things turning out as expected, they will come up against France in the semi-final. It could very well be that whoever wins that clash will win the World Cup.

Key Players: Neymar, Philippe Coutinho, Gabriel Jesus, Roberto Firmino, Paulinho

Spain

Spain will be hoping to make the memory of their horrible title defense in 2014 evaporate from memory. Their golden generation seems to be going on and on, in what is a major complement to their country’s development system. Gone are most of the old guard that won them two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup. In their place, a new generation of players mostly in their 20s looking to get their nation back to the top of world football. Spanish clubs have been immense in Europe over the past half-decade, winning 9 out of the 10 major trophies on offer. The fact that most of the players play for those teams show how good a bunch they have. Further incentive is the fact that this could be the swansong for a certain Andreas Iniesta, the darling of the 2010 Cup win, who has already left his boyhood club Barcelona and moved abroad. Like France, another team who have strength in depth in all positions, backed up with the right amount of experience in the spine; the perfect winning combination. Whether the news of their coach leaving to join Real Madrid at the end of the tournament becomes a motivation or a distraction remains to be seen.

Edit: Within an hour of this article being posted, Spain sacked Julen Lopetegui!

Edit 2: Fernando Hierro has been appointed as the replacement for Lopetegui.

Key Players: Andreas Iniesta, Isco, David Silva, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique

In the Hunt

Germany

No matter how much you want to write them off, an important tournament and Germany are like a match made in heaven. Having never failed to reach the semi-final of the World Cup since 1998, the Germans come into this tournament with a big reputation to protect. The team isn’t the best balanced, with a dearth of strikers, something that has plagued them for a few tournaments now, and increased manifold with the retirement of record goal scorer Miroslav Klose. There is however, no dearth of players who can play in advanced midfield and winger positions, and can easily do a job as a striker if required. In fact, the Germans are notorious for playing with a fluid frontline, where you are never quite sure who will turn up in which position. This makes it imperative for the midfield to support both the forward line and the defense, which is where I believe Germany’s hopes lie. The triumvirate of Ozil, Kroos and Khedira (or whoever plays in central midfield) will hold the key to how they perform, given their vast experience at this level. A big question mark is the fitness of their goalkeeping supremo Manuel Neuer, who is just coming back from a major injury and not having played the whole season.

Key Players: Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, Marko Reus, Mats Hummels, Manuel Neuer

Argentina

The Messi team! The messy team! I pat myself on the back for that…

The eternal question, how can a team so deeply ingrained with talent manage to under-perform at every World Cup? More recently, the question that seems to be on everyone’s mind is how long can Lionel Messi keep his cool before he ends up throttling Gonzalo Higuain? People playing Football Manager don’t end up with an attacking line-up as good as the one Argentina have at every major tournament. This with Icardi, the highest scorer of the Italian Serie A, not even in the squad at the World Cup! And yet, their last major tournament win is the Copa America all the way back in 1993. They have won a couple of Olympic Gold medals in the 25 year span since then, but it is to be remembered that the Olympics are mainly an U23 level tournament. One man who does have an Olympic gold, and is the golden boy for the nation and for many others is Messi. Once again, he will be their stalwart, and once again, if they end up becoming the ‘Pass to Messi’ team, they will falter. Featuring superstars such as Aguero, Dybala, Di Maria, Mascherano and the inconsistent Higuain, this is not a team that should be a one-man show. This is a team that should be capable of dominating matches against the best teams in the world. Whether coach Sampaoli is able to buck the trend remains to be seen.

Key Players: Lionel Messi (and hopefully also Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega)

Belgium

Over the past decade, in my eyes, Belgium have become what Spain were in the 90s and the early years of this millennium, hugely talented but woefully inconsistent under pressure. Boasting some the best players in the world, the likes of Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku and others have failed to provide the spark needed to get past difficult opposition. This could very well be the last World Cup for quite a few of the golden generation and maybe that will provide the catalyst which sees this team perform better. Kompany’s presence will be a big factor if they are to be successful, and he should have a solid backline around him. There is loads of talent throughout the squad and a semi-final appearance is what they should be aiming for. Getting there will prove difficult, as it would mean overcoming either Brazil or Germany in the Quarter Final, depending on where they finish in their group, and they get past their Round of 16 opponents from a relatively easy Group H. However, those are exactly the matches they need to win to live up to their potential.

Key Players: Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Vincent Kompany

Dark Horses

England

What new do I say about the team that has always had it all, but has never played as a team! England have always been a squad of individuals, looking to better each other rather than playing as a unit and achieving their target. Manager Gareth Southgate looks to have had this in mind when picking the team for this edition of the World Cup. There is more emphasis on performances this past season, and on the squad’s harmony, than in promoting stars into the team. The squad is mostly young, and fresh, and mostly haven’t been part of the toxic environments of previous editions. The one decision I do question is the awarding of the captain’s armband to Harry Kane, who, firstly, has never been the captain of any team before, and secondly, recently, and perhaps more importantly, has been known to put himself ahead of his team. There is no doubt about Kane’s goal-scoring prowess though. The team is a little light in the midfield and can struggle if a couple of starters pick up knocks. The key question facing the manager is whether to start Dier or Henderson as the link man in midfield and this can prove a vital decision at the business end of the tournament. I know who I’d start, but that’s not a decision for me to make and I don’t think that’s what will happen. Another problem position for hem has been the goalkeeper. Jordan Pickford looks to be the one who’ll get the nod for now. It remains to be seen how he performs.

The English press have not wasted any time in unsettling the team, as has been their norm, wrongfully targeting Raheem Sterling for personal expression. And we wonder why their sporting teams fail!

Key Players: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Dele Alli, Gary Cahill

Portugal

The European Champions don’t come into this tournament as one of the favourites but should be looking to get into the Knockout rounds with ease. They’ve been placed in the same group as Spain but should get through as the other teams aren’t the strongest. They are led by Balon D’Or Cristiano Ronaldo, for whom the World Cup is the only major trophy missing from his cabinet. They are a tough team to predict, because on their day they are well capable of beating much stronger teams. They are also prone to the occasional slumps, as was evident in their first group game against Germany in the last World Cup, and eventually failed to get past the group stage! Some of the Portuguese players have been going through a tough time of late with the crisis facing Sporting Lisbon. William Carvalho, Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes are now free agents and will look to showcase their skills on the biggest stage. This could very well turn out to be the spark that ignites the team, adding to the fact that this could (but I think will not be) Ronaldo’s last World Cup. Can they repeat their Euro heroics over the next month? It seems unlikely but stranger things have happened.

Key Players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, William Carvalho, Rui Patricio

Senegal

Yes, you read that right! I’m tipping Senegal to do a repeat of their 2002 Cup run and possibly reach the Quarter Finals in this tournament. The team is a solid unit with a lot of talent in the midfield and forward line. Sadio Mane is coming off the best season of his life and with the support of Niang, Sow and Keita Balde, could light up this year’s World Cup. Idrissa Gana Gueye will be another player to watch. Koulibaly, at just 26, is a seasoned campaigner who will provide the required solidity to the defense along with goalkeeper Diallo. They have been placed in a relatively open group, along with Poland, Japan and Colombia, and I won’t be surprised if they top the group. Qualifying from their group would mean a second round match against one of Group G’s qualifiers, which is likely to be either England or Belgium. That fixture is definitely not a given for the more fancied Europeans.

Key Players: Sadio Mane, Mbaye Niang, Keita Balde, Moussa Sow, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Kalidou Koulibaly

Stay tuned for previews of the first two groups and match predictions from the first two days to come in the next post.

Steven Gerrard - Thank You for the Memories!

26^th May, 2005.

12:15 AM

Class 11. Summer Vacation.

I am awake, watching a late night football match for the first time in my life…

Just a week before, my ICSE results were announced. I’d done well, so my spirits had been high the whole week. Something else I’d been looking forward to very keenly was the Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan which was just about to start.

All year long, this being the year of the Board examination, I followed Liverpool’s exploits in the UEFA Champions League, without ever actually staying up for the match. By now, everyone knows my fascination with Liverpool FC. It’s like a love affair. The love affair is four years old now. I can’t explain to people why I like this particular team so much, why I wait all week to see them play, having absolutely no connection to anything remotely close to Merseyside. Even to this day, I still can’t!

Because I couldn’t stay up for the games in the early season, I read about them tearing up Bayer Leverkusen, winning 3-1 both home and away. I used to watch the sports news at 6:50 AM while having breakfast before leaving for school half an hour later. I saw on the news how Luis Garcia beat the now legendary Gianluigi Buffon with an audacious long-range effort in Turin in the Quarter Final. I watched on the news again, the same Garcia squeeze the ball just over the line in the semi-final against Chelsea to seal progress to the final. But before all that, the defining moment of Liverpool’s progress was Steven Gerrard’s screamer to beat Olympiakos in the last group match. One of the greatest goals of his life, for both the shot and it's importance.

As the final started, so did the deflating reality of the gulf of class between the teams. Liverpool went behind after less than a minute. They were 3-0 down at half-time. I had the distinct urge to turn off the TV and go to sleep. Surely, there was no chance of a comeback now. I was also preparing my responses to friends who I was sure was not going to let me hear the end of this possible drubbing. As the second half started, I was just watching for the heck of it. But then something strange happened. Liverpool put the simply outstanding Milan side under tremendous pressure. The man himself, Steven Gerrard, pulled a goal back. Within six more minutes, the score was 3-3! What a brilliant decision to stay awake and watch the full match.

As they say, the rest is history. Liverpool went on to win what has been called arguably the greatest final in UCL history. It definitely was the greatest comeback achieved in any UCL final. It was dubbed as ‘The Miracle of Istanbul’. Steven Gerrard, already Liverpool captain for a couple of years, lifted the trophy. Despite this fairy-tale culmination, this was only the start of Liverpool’s captain fantastic.

The following year, Liverpool faced West Ham in the FA Cup final. They were 2 goals down before they came back to tie the game at 2-2, the second goal being scored by Steven Gerrard. A fine half-volley into the roof of the net. West Ham then took the lead again with about 20 minutes remaining. The scores stayed the same till injury time at the end of the match. Then, running on to a bouncing ball 30 yards from goal, by his own later admission, a tired Gerrard, instead of looking for a pass inside the box, teed up and shot a low drive which beat the goalkeeper. The game was tied, again at 3-3. Liverpool would go on to win the FA Cup on penalties, once again.

The two instances above made the man a legend. The man himself, kept his legend alive by carrying what was often a less than world-class side on his back, almost single-handedly. In a game like football, where team-work reigns supreme, I have witnessed Steven Gerrard change results, turning losses to draws and draws to wins when his teammates seemed clue-less.

Besides Gerrard, there were always a couple of players of caliber in the Liverpool squad, the likes of Xabi Alonso, Javier Mashcherano, Fernando Torres and very recently, Luis Suarez, who could be match-winners on their day. Yet, if you read what they have to say about Gerrard, all of them have the same opinion – this man was the living personification of what Liverpool Football Club stood for. His famous quote, “When I die, don’t bring me to the hospital. Bring me to Anfield. I was born there and will die there” describes him completely.

I used to be absolutely terrified when talks of his transfer to clubs like Chelsea and Real Madrid surfaced. To put things into perspective, Jose Mourinho, him of the Liverpool hating, wanted to buy Gerrard, despite having Frank Lampard in his squad. The duo never played well together when turning out in English colours. And yet, here was Mourinho, then dubbed the greatest manager in the world, ‘The Special One’ if you may, willing to risk potential disaster by playing them both in his Chelsea team.

Often derided for not having won the league, Gerrard leaves behind a legacy that very footballers can dream of achieving at their boyhood club. He is revered by the club’s supporters, and often called the greatest ever at Liverpool. Whether that is true or not is a topic of debate. The fact that such utterances are made, for a team that has seen the likes of Dalglish, Rush, Sounness and Keegan play for them and achieved immense success in their history, speaks for itself. He turned down big money moves to other clubs, where he probably would’ve won more trophies. He has the unique record of scoring in the Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup finals. He has captained England in three major tournaments, albeit without much success. He leaves after having played the game at the top level for 19 years. I’ve been lucky to have followed 15 of those.

To put things into perspective, Gerrard is not the reason I started supporting Liverpool. It was another academy boy Michael Owen whom I admired at the start. But Steven Gerrard is well and truly the reason I persisted with Liverpool. Steven Gerrard was the reason Liverpool football club was still relevant for much of the first decade of this millennium. Steven Gerrard will always remain the footballer I idolized in my teens and beyond. Steven Gerrard will always remain the first player to pop into my mind when I think of my sport heroes. When Gerrard said, “How can I think of leaving Liverpool after a night like this?” after winning the Champions League, he meant it. All of us younger fans mean it too when we say he is the best!

Farewell and enjoy the retirement Steven Gerrard. Thank you for the wonderful memories...

"Mushkil" (Difficult) to Watch!

Love and Friendship. Love or Friendship? Karan Johar goes back to his usual formula for this controversial Diwali release. The eagerly awaited film, mostly for its enchanting music and off-center casting, received enough buzz to last a whole year, mostly for reasons not remotely associated with cinema. 

Ignoring the controversies surrounding this latest offering from Dharma Productions, I went to watch 'Ae Dil Hain Mushkil' not completely convinced of a good product but hoping to be proved wrong. What it turned out was a Karan Johar inspired, insipid walk down memory lane, of all his movies and a lot of everyone else's movies too! In parts, this movie reminded me of almost all of Ranbir Kapoor's hits. There are scenes reminiscent of 'Rockstar', of 'Yeh Jawaani Hain Deewani', of 'Tamasha' and even 'Sawaariya' (I'm ashamed, yes!. Although I did watch it only until Salman's entrance. That was the last straw. Sawaariya that is). There is a scene paying tribute (??) to 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na' (and maybe even 'I Hate Love Stories'), all but the horse ride to the airport!

Having said this, the only reason the first half is somewhat enjoyable is because of Ranbir and Anushka's presence and on-screen chemistry. They light up a failed script and out-of-sorts direction. Some of their scenes together are genuinely funny and both actors have splendid comic timing. The second half sees Ranbir drift to 'Rockstar' mode, in a much less effective way than the afore-mentioned movie. Aishwariya Rai Bachchan is effective without being spectacular. It is very rare that I don't criticise Mrs. Bachchan for her role in any movie, so this is the best I can do (I'm sorry, I'm just biased in this case. Judge it for yourselves). She plays the older woman, the elegant seductress with ease and her chemistry with Ranbir is quite appealing. Amid all the hoopla about his inclusion, Fawad Khan's role in the movie is minuscule and nothing much to remember him by (this is not a reflection in any way of my opinions on the topic. I refrain from getting into that conversation here).

Coming to the leading man, I now worry for Ranbir. In my eyes, he is the best of his generation, in terms of overall acting ability. He, however, seems to now be cast in similar roles across all movies. As if to prove my point,  in this movie, Karan Johar has cast him as every other role he has ever done! I seriously hope that he does not get type-cast. He is much better than that.

Coming back to Karan Johar, he once again goes back to his formula of using high-profile guest appearances to earn 5 minutes of applause, in a movie which fails to live up to its lead actors otherwise. I think everyone knows by now the list of guest appearances. However, for the few who don't, I won't spoil the surprise (is it, really?). He also goes back to address the dilemma of whether Friendship is better than Love when it comes to soul-mates. The famous line that a boy and girl cannot be friends is used again. The fact that soul-mates often don't spend eternity together is also repeated, a plot line much better handled in movies like 'Ek Main aur Ek Tu'.

The sole shining light throughout the movie is it's music. Pritam has outdone himself once again, with three songs which are completely different from one another, yet completely superb on their own. 'Bulleya' did not catch my imagination when I had first heard. Now, I love the song for its fast pace and thoughtful lyrics. 'Channa Mereya' is a soulful rendition which has a calming influence despite the circumstances under which it is sung in the movie. It is a huge injustice that the movie does not include the entire track. The title track is the movie in short! The songs deserved a better movie...

Karan Johar needs to pull up his socks if he wants to stay relevant in Bollywood going ahead. Sure, there will always be an audience for this kind of movie, but his image as a 'film'-maker (judgements welcome) will degenerate if he keeps re-hashing his old work. Ranbir Kapoor needs to explore himself further. Anushka Sharma, well she's the best part of this movie, and just needs to keep doing what she's doing. As for the others, their roles were not big or impactful enough to warrant a suggestion here.