World Soccer - The Complete Guide To World Cup 2014 PDF

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HOLLAND
page 98
GERMANY
page 92
USA page 124

ENGLAND
page 88
BELGIUM
page 70
FRANCE page 90
SPAIN page 120
HONDURAS
page 100
PORTUGAL
page 114
ITALY page 104
COSTA RICA
page 82
ALGERIA page 64
BRAZIL page 74
NIGERIA page 112
MEXICO page 110
IVORY COAST
page 106
CAMEROON
page 76
COLOMBIA
page 80
GHANA page 94
URUGUAY
page 126
ECUADOR
page 86
CHILE page 78
ARGENTINA
page 66
4 WORLD CUP 2014

The
SWITZERLAND
page 122 TEAMS
CROATIA page 84
RUSSIA page 116
BOSNIA-
HERZEGOVINA
page 72
IRAN page 102
JAPAN page 108
S KOREA page 118
GREECE page 96
AUSTRALIA
page 68
WORLD CUP 2014 5

KEY INFORMATION
GROUP H SCHEDULE
June 17 v Belgium, Belo Horizonte
June 22 v South Korea, Porto Alegre
June 26 v Russia, Curitiba
BETTING
William Hill
1000/1 to win World Cup
1/8 to be eliminated at group stage
WORLD CUP HISTORY

1982 First-round exit
THE PLAYERS ENGLISH CONNECTION are of Algerian descent. They have a reasonable
KEY MEN Combative, French-born midfielder first-round draw.
Madjid Bougherra Adlene Guedioura (right) was
Centre-back who plays his club football in the signed by Premier League new boys Weaknesses
relative calm of Qatar these days, but even at 31 Crystal Palace last summer, after They lack a consistent goalscorer. Their previous
he is a crucial figure for Algeria. Scored the spells with Wolves and Nottingham finals form is not good. There is speculation that
decisive goal in the qualifiers. Forest. However, injuries have coach Halilhodzic may be ditched before the finals.
restricted his influence this season.
Sofiane Feghouli World Soccer prediction
A skilful playmaking midfielder who has been ANALYSIS Elimination at the group stage again.
linked with Manchester United as a summer How they qualified
transfer target – a result of his reputation in La The Desert Foxes qualified for a second successive WHAT THEY SAY
Liga with Valencia and across the African World Cup after edging past Burkina Faso over two THE COACH
continent. The heartbeat of the side. legs in the final-round play-off. Vehad Halilhodzic
After a disappointing performance at last year’s “We could have landed a much tougher group, but
Faouzi Ghoulam African Nations Cup in South Africa, where they there’s no easy group or ‘group of death’. We’ll do
Joined Napoli for 5million euros in the January did not even make the knockout stage, they beat a our best to surprise them. We’re not going to Brazil
transfer window to plug a hole at left-back. He is strong Mali side to top their qualifying group. as tourists, but it will be difficult. We have to be
yet another player raised in the French youth In the play-offs against Burkina Faso, they were disciplined, strong and modest. We have nothing to
system who has opted to represent Algeria. unfortunate to go 3-2 down away in the first leg to lose but we can win something. Trust me, I will be
a dodgy penalty call, but at 1-0 in the return they going there with a lot of determination.”
ONE TO WATCH were set to qualify, hanging on precariously when
Tottenham teen the Burkinabe struck the woodwork in stoppage THE PUNDIT
Nabil Bentaleb time. Had the ball gone in, the game would have Mark Gleeson, World Soccer Africa
(left) broke into the ended 1-1 and the tie 3-2 in the visitors’ favour. correspondent
Spurs side this But over the three hours of football, Algeria “Algeria will carry the hopes of the Arabic-
season. He was deserved their triumph on the away goals rule. speaking world in Brazil. Yet while expectations will
born in France but be greater than in South Africa four years ago,
has pledged his Strengths their chances of creating an upset on the same
international future Algeria have strengthened their squad by signing scale as their famous 1982 win over West
to Algeria. up lots of French-born youth internationals who Germany in Spain are slim at best.”
64 WORLD CUP 2014

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LINE-UP: 4-2-3-1
M’Bolhi
RAIS M’BOLHI NACEREDDINE Bougherra Medjani
GOALKEEPER KHOUALED
Club: USM Alger RIGHT-BACK Khoualed Ghoulam
Born: 07.10.82 Club: USM Alger
(aged 32) Born: 16.04.86 Taider Mostafa
Apps in qualifiers: 7 (aged 28)
Mins in qualifiers: 630 Apps in qualifiers: 2 Soudani Brahimi Feghouli
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Mins in qualifiers: 180
Goals in qualifiers: 0
Slimani
MADJID CARL MEDJANI FAOUZI

BOUGHERRA CENTRAL DEFENCE GHOULAM
CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Valenciennes (Fra) LEFT-BACK
Club: Lekhwiya (Qat) Born: 15.05.85 Club: Napoli (Ita)
Born: 07.10.82 (aged 28) Born: 01.02.91
(aged 31) Apps in qualifiers: 8 (aged 23)
Apps in qualifiers: 6 Mins in qualifiers: 720 Apps in qualifiers: 3
Mins in qualifiers: 540 Goals in qualifiers: 1 Mins in qualifiers: 199
Goals in qualifiers: 1 Goals in qualifiers: 0
MEHDI SAPHIR TAIDER SOFIANE

MOSTEFA CENTRAL MIDFIELD FEGHOULI
CENTRAL MIDFIELD Club: Internazionale ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Club: Ajaccio (Fra) (Ita) Club: Valencia (Spa)
Born: 30.08.83 Born: 29.02.92 Born: 26.12.89
(aged 30) (aged 22) (aged 24)
Apps in qualifiers: 6 Apps in qualifiers: 6 Apps in qualifiers: 7
Mins in qualifiers: 506 Mins in qualifiers: 456: Mins in qualifiers: 600
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Goals in qualifiers: 2 Goals in qualifiers: 3
YACINE EL ARABI HILLEL ISLAM SLIMANI

BRAHIMI SOUDANI CENTRE-FORWARD
PLAYMAKER ATTACKING MIDFIELD Club: Sporting Lisbon
Club: Granada (Spa) Club: Dinamo Zagreb (Por)
Born: 08.02.90 (Cro) Born: 18.06.88
(aged 24) Born: 25.11.87 (aged 26) (aged 25)
Mins in qualifiers: 207 Mins in qualifiers: 543 Mins in qualifiers: 472
OTHER PLAYERS Udinese (Ita) THE COACH

RYAD NABIL
BOUDEBOUZ BENTALEB 3 apps/204 mins/0
ESSAID goals in qualifiers
VAHID
BELKALEM MIDFIELD MIDFIELD HALILHODZIC
Bastia (Fra) Tottenham (Eng) ISHAK 15.10.52 (age 61)
DEFENCE 2 apps/125 mins/0 0 apps in qualifiers BELFODIL Guided Ivory Coast to the
Watford (Eng) goals in qualifiers
4 app/360 mins/0 2010 World Cup but was
MEHDI LACEN FORWARD
fired just months before
goals in qualifiers ADLENE Livorno (Ita)
the finals. Has had run-ins
MIDFIELD
DJAMEL GUEDIOURA Getafe (Spa)
1 app/1 min/0 goals in
with the Algerian FA but
MIDFIELD qualifiers
MESBAH 5 apps/365 mins/0 looks to be holding onto
Crystal Palace (Eng) goals in qualifiers his post until Brazil. A
DEFENCE 6 apps/382 mins/0 NABIL GHILAS member of Yugoslavia’s
Liverno (Ita) goals in qualifiers HASSAN FORWARD side at the 1982 World
6 apps/536 mins/0 Porto (Por)
goals in qualifiers
YEBDA Cup, he was born in
2 apps/106 mins/1 Bosnia but is a long-time
MIDFIELD goal in qualifiers French citizen.
WORLD CUP 2014 65

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS force of Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero gelled,
KEY MEN and between them they made up half of the qualifying
GROUP F SCHEDULE Lionel Messi group’s top six goalscorers.
June 15 v Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Goalscorer, provider and captain, the
Rio de Janeiro
June 21 v Iran, Belo Horizonte
Barcelona superstar instils fear in the Strengths
June 25 v Nigeria, Porto Alegre opposition. A brilliant attack led by Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and
Gonzalo Higuain. Carlos Tevez probably won’t even make
BETTING Angel Di Maria the squad.
William Hill One of Sabella’s favourite pupils, the
9/2 to win World Cup Real Madrid wide man is just as Weaknesses
10/1 to be eliminated at group stage important in attack as he is in defence. Keeper Sergio Romero made
a number of blunders in
WORLD CUP HISTORY
Ezequiel Garay qualifiers and the defence is
1930 Runners-up, 4-3 Final defeat
by Uruguay
In the centre of a defence that is still settling down, he still a work in progress.
1934 First round leads with strength and know-how.
1958 First round World Soccer Prediction
1962 First round ONE TO WATCH Finalists and, if Messi is on song, winners.
1966 Quarter-finals, defeat Ezequiel Lavezzi
by England The Paris Saint-Germain forward WHAT THEY SAY
1974 Second round can’t get a place in the starting THE COACH
1978 WINNERS, 3-1 Final victory line-up but will be a useful weapon Alejandro Sabella:
over Holland
on the bench. “I have about 80 to 90 per cent of the list for the World
1982 Second round
1986 WINNERS, 3-2 Final victory
Cup and it’s going to be difficult for there to be any
over West Germany ENGLISH CONNECTION surprises, but not impossible. We’re always scouting; I’m
1990 Runners-up, 1-0 Final Alejando Sabella very happy with the players we have from midfield and up.”
defeat by West Germany Argentina’s coach was one of the first foreign stars to play
1994 Second round in England, first for Leeds and then for Sheffield United. THE PUNDIT
1998 Quarter-finals, Joel Richards, World Soccer Argentina
defeat by Holland ANALYSIS correspondent
2002 First round How they qualified “Messi, Aguero and Higuain make up arguably the most
2006
Alejandro Sabella took over as Argentina coach after a formidable forward line in the world… and steer attention
Quarter-finals,
defeat on pens
poor Copa America performance in 2011. He appointed away from question marks over the defence. Victories in
by Germany Lionel Messi as captain and built the team around him. friendlies against top European sides have also confirmed
2010 There were setbacks along the way. They suffered a the side’s prospects for Brazil. At the last tournament held
Quarter-finals, first-ever loss to Venezuela and drew at home to Bolivia, in Brazil, in 1950, Uruguay ruined the hosts’ plans to lift
4-0 defeat before a run of results that qualified them comfortably for the trophy. Doing likewise and winning in Brazil this
by Germany the 2014 finals. They were unbeaten in 12 matches and summer would eclipse Argentina’s two previous titles –
scored three or more goals on five occasions. The strike something that is not lost on captain Messi and co.”
66 WORLD CUP 2014

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LINE-UP: 4-3-1-2
Romero
SERGIO PABLO
ROMERO ZABALETA Fernandez Garay
Zabaleta Rojo
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK
Club: Monaco (Fra) Club: Man City (Eng) Mascherano
Born: 22.02.87 Born: 16.01.85 Gago Di Maria
(aged 27) (aged 29)
Apps in qualifiers: 12 Apps in qualifiers: 10
Mins in qualifiers: 1080 Mins in qualifiers: 875 Messi
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Goals in qualifiers: Aguero Higuain
FEDERICO EZEQUIEL MARCOS ROJO

FERNANDEZ GARAY LEFT-BACK
CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Sporting Lisbon
Club: Napoli (Ita) Club: Benfica (Por) (Por)
Born: 21.02.89 Born: 10.10.86 Born: 20.03.90
JAVIER FERNANDO ANGEL DI

MASCHERANO GAGO MARIA
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD MIDFIELD MIDFIELD
Club: Barcelona (Spa) Club: Boca Juniors (Arg) Club: Real Madrid (Spa)
Born: 08.06.84 Born: 10.04.86 Born: 14.02.88
LIONEL MESSI SERGIO GONZALO

FORWARD AGUERO HIGUAIN
Club: Barcelona (Spa) FORWARD FORWARD
Born: 24.06.87 Club: Man City (Eng) Club: Napoli (Ita)
(aged 26) Born: 02.06.88 Born: 10.12.87
Apps in qualifiers: 14 (aged 25) (aged 26)
Mins in qualifiers: 1143 Apps in qualifiers: 7 Apps in qualifiers: 11
Goals in qualifiers: 10 Mins in qualifiers: 488 Mins in qualifiers: 859
OTHER PLAYERS Newell’s Old Boys THE COACH

NICOLAS RODRIGO
OTAMENDI 4 apps/19 mins/1 goal
HUGO in qualifiers
PALACIO ALEJANDRO
CAMPAGNARO DEFENCE FORWARD ‘ALEX’ SABELLA
Atletico Mineiro (Bra) EVER BANEGA Internazionale (Ita) 05.11.54 (age 59)
DEFENCE
2 apps/180 mins/0 6 apps/288 mins/0 Won eight caps as a
Internazionale (Ita) MIDFIELD
goals in qualifiers goals in qualifiers player. Coached
6 apps/473 mins/0 Newell’s Old Boys
goals in qualifiers Estudiantes to success in
LUCAS BIGLIA 6 apps/275 mins/1 EZEQUIEL the 2009 Libertadores
goal in qualifiers
JOSE MIDFIELD LAVEZZI Cup before taking charge
Lazio (Ita) of the national side two
BASANTA 4 apps/197 mins/0 JOSE SOSA FORWARD
Paris Saint-Germain years later. Previously
DEFENCE MIDFIELD
goals in qualifiers (Fra) worked with Argentina as
Monterrey (Mex) Atletico Madrid (Spa) 7 apps/305 mins/1 assistant to Daniel
3 apps/270 mins/0 MAXI 6 apps/293 mins/0 goal in qualifiers Passarella, and also had
goals in qualifiers RODRIGUEZ goals in qualifiers a spell in the same
MIDFIELD capacity with Uruguay.
WORLD CUP 2014 67

KEY INFORMATION
GROUP B SCHEDULE
June 13 v Chile, Cuiaba
June 18 v Holland, Porto Alegre
June 23 v Spain, Curitiba
BETTING
William Hill
1/20 to be eliminated at group stage
WORLD CUP HISTORY

1974 First round exit
2006 Second round, defeat by Italy
THE PLAYERS one of Australian football’s new stars and will be a Strengths
KEY MEN key creative force in Postecoglu’s new-look side. Coach Postecoglou has reinvigorated the squad
Tim Cahill with youngsters who will play without fear because
Though the former Everton midfielder is now at ENGLISH of the lack of expectations in Brazil.
New York Red Bulls in the USA, he still has a CONNECTION
fabulous scoring rate. He became Australia’s Young defender Weaknesses
all-time top goalscorer in March with two goals Curtis Good (right) Injuries to key men Tim Kruse and Rhys Williams.
against Ecuador. who made his Socceroo Their inexperience could prove costly in a tough
debut in March, is first-round group.
Mark Bresciano currently on loan at
The former Parma, Dundee United after World Soccer Prediction
Palermo and Lazio finding opportunities Bottom of the group, but with invaluable
midfielder (right) is limited at Newcastle. experience gained for Russia in 2018.
now a veteran playing
out his days in Qatar. WHAT THEY SAY
But he was Australia’s ANALYSIS THE COACH
most creative player How they qualified Ange Postecoglou
in the qualifiers and The Socceroos rode their luck in the Asian “I have absolute belief in what we can do, in what
could be called upon qualifiers, struggling against low-tier opponents our young players can do.”
to help the such as Jordan, Oman and Thailand. They secured
youngsters in Brazil. their place in Brazil with a 1-0 win over Iraq but THE PUNDIT
German coach Holger Osieck was criticised for Simon Hill, World Soccer Australia
Mile Jedinak sticking with old guard players such as Harry correspondent
The Crystal Palace midfielder was appointed Kewell, Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer. He paid “Expectations aren’t high, which is understandable
captain after coach Ange Postecoglu dropped the price for not blooding a new generation of given the almost impossible nature of Australia’s
long-time skipper Lucas Neill. younger players when he was sacked following a group. Hopes rest more on performances than
6-0 friendly defeat to France last October. results. If the Socceroos can give a good account
ONE TO WATCH New man Ange Postecoglou immediately against heavyweights such as Spain and Holland,
Midfielder Tom Rogic, who is on loan at set about introducing some young blood into the football fraternity will be in forgiving mood of
Melbourne Victory from Celtic, has been hailed as the squad. Ange Postecoglou and his recalibrated squad.”
68 WORLD CUP 2014

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LINE-UP: 4-2-3-1
Ryan
MAT RYAN LUKE
GOALKEEPER WILKSHIRE Good Spiranovic
Club: Club Brugge (Blg) RIGHT-BACK Wilkshire Davidson
Born: 08.04.92 Club: Dinamo Moscow
(aged 22) (Rus)
Jedinak Milligan
Apps in qualifiers: 0 Born: 01.10.81 (aged 32)
Apps in qualifiers: 13 Leckie Rogic Oar
Mins in qualifiers: 1162
Goals in qualifiers: 2 Cahill
MATTHEW CURTIS GOOD JASON

SPIRANOVIC CENTRAL DEFENCE DAVIDSON
CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Dundee United LEFT-BACK
Club: Western Sydney (Sco) Club: Heracles (Hol)
Wanderers Born: 23.03.93 Born: 29.06.91
Born: 27.06.88 (aged 25) (aged 21) (aged 22)
MILE JEDINAK MARK TOMMY OAR

CENTRAL DEFENCE MILLIGAN LEFT MIDFIELD
Club: Crystal Palace CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Utrecht (Hol)
(Eng) Club: Melbourne Victory Born: 10.12.91
Born: 03.08.84 Born: 04.08.85 (aged 22)
(ages 29) (aged 28) Apps in qualifiers: 5
Apps in qualifiers: 7 Apps in qualifiers: 6 Mins in qualifiers: 264
Mins in qualifiers: 584 Mins in qualifiers: 404 Goals in qualifiers: 1
TOM ROGIC MATHEW TIM CAHILL

ATTACKING MIDFIELD LECKIE CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Melbourne Victory RIGHT MIDFIELD Club: New York Red
Born: 16.12.92 Club: FSV Frankfurt Bulls (USA)
(aged 21) (Ger) Born: 06.12.79
Mins in qualifiers: 40 (aged 23) Apps in qualifiers: 9
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Apps in qualifiers: 0 Mins in qualifiers: 691
OTHER PLAYERS 2 apps/21 mins/0 goals THE COACH

RYAN JOSH
MCGOWAN in qualifiers KENNEDY
IVAN ANGE
FRANJIC DEFENCE OLIVER FORWARD POSTECOGLOU
Shandong (Chn) Nagoya Grampus
DEFENCE 0 apps in qualifiers
BOZANIC Eight (Jap)
27.08.65 (age 48)
Brisbane Roar MIDFIELD Replaced German
6 apps/457 mins/0 Holger Osieck at the
0 apps in qualifiers MATT MCKAY Luzern (Swi) goals in qualifiers
0 apps in qualifiers end of last year. The
MIDFIELD
ALEX Brisbane Roar ADAM most successful coach
WILKINSON 13 apps/1144 mins/0
MARK TAGGART
in domestic Australian
BRESCIANO football, with four
DEFENCE goals in qualifiers FORWARD league titles. Has
Jeonbok Hyundai MIDFIELD Newcastle Jets already ditched many
(SKo) DARIO Al-Gharafa (Qat) 0 apps in qualifiers of the old guard.
0 apps in qualifiers VIDOSIC 8 apps/531 mins/1
Coached Australia’s
MIDFIELD goal in qualifiers
Under-20 side at four
Sion (Swi) FIFA tournaments.
WORLD CUP 2014 69

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS qualify for their first major tournament since 2002. After
KEY MEN opening with a comfortable win over Wales, there followed
GROUP H SCHEDULE Axel Witsel crucial results against Croatia (1-1 draw at home) and
June 17 v Algeria, Belo Horizonte
Russia-based midfield general who was ever present in the Serbia (a 3-0 victory). Five further straight wins followed
June 22 v Russia, Rio de Janeiro
June 26 v South Korea, Sao Paulo
qualifiers. His disciplined approach was a major factor in and then it was on to Zagreb, where qualification was
the successful campaign. ensured with a game to spare.
BETTING Under Marc Wilmots, the team were unbeaten and the
William Hill Eden Hazard coach was never afraid to leave players of the calibre of
14/1 to win World Cup The Chelsea star (left) has put his Hazard, Fellaini and Dembele on the bench.
33/1 Lukaku tournament top scorer past differences with the national
team behind him and will play a Strengths
WORLD CUP HISTORY crucial role in Brazil. Belgium have players performing on a regular basis at
1930 First-round defeat
some of Europe’s top clubs. They have plenty of attacking
Vincent Kompany talent, but conceded only four goals in their 10 qualifying
1950 Group stage exit Although he missed the last three games, with keeper Thibaut Courtois making a major
1970 Group stage exit qualifiers through injury, the contribution. The group draw in Brazil has been kind.
1982 Second-round defeat Manchester City defender is a key
1986 Semi-finalists, fourth place player. A natural leader, he is the Weaknesses
1990 Round of 16, defeat by England team’s captain on and off the pitch. The current team has not yet beaten any of the world’s top
1994 Round of 16, defeat by Germany sides, Full-back is a problem position, with both Toby
1998 Group stage exit ONE TO WATCH Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen happier in central defence.
2002 Round of 16, 2-0 defeat
Kevin De Bruyne
by Brazil
Although he failed to shine at Chelsea, the midfielder is World Soccer Prediction
likely to be given a crucial creative role for Belgium in Quarter-finals.
Brazil.
WHAT THEY SAY
ENGLISH CONNECTION THE COACH
As well as Hazard and Kompany, Belgium Marc Wilmots
could field an entire team of Premier “We’re in an interesting group. There are no world-class
League players: Simon Mignolet, players within our opponents. I’m not saying it will be easy,
Marouane Fellaini, Mousa Dembele, but our first aim, to reach the round of 16, is still the same.”
Kevin Mirallas, Christian Benteke (right),
Nacer Chadli, Romelu Lukaku, Jan THE PUNDIT
Vertonghen and Thomas Vermaelen. John Chapman, World Soccer Belgium correspondent
“Belgium have a group of talented players with sufficient
ANALYSIS experience to become a real force in world football, having
How they qualified gone from 71st in the FIFA rankings in July 2007 to a
Belgium beat Croatia 2-1 on a rainy night in Zagreb to current position of fifth.”
70 WORLD CUP 2014

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Courtois
THIBAUT TOBY Kompany Vermaelen
COURTOIS ALDERWEIRELD
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Alderweireld Vertonghen
Club: Atletico Madrid Club: Atletico Madrid
(Spa) (Spa) Witsel Fellaini
Born: 11.05.92 (aged 22) Born: 02.03.89 (aged 25)
Apps in qualifiers: 10 Apps in qualifiers: 8 De Bruyne
Mertens Hazard
Mins in qualifiers: 900 Mins in qualifiers: 720
Lukaku
VINCENT THOMAS JAN

KOMPANY VERMAELEN VERTONGHEN
CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE LEFT-BACK
Club: Manchester City Club: Arsenal (Eng) Club: Tottenham (Eng)
(Eng) Born: 14.11.85 (aged 28) Born: 24.04.87 (aged 27)
Born: 10.04.86 (aged 28) Apps in qualifiers: 7 Apps in qualifiers: 10
Apps in qualifiers: 6 Mins in qualifiers: 630 Mins in qualifiers: 828
Mins in qualifiers: 540 Goals in qualifiers: 0 Goals in qualifiers: 1
AXEL WITSEL MAROUANE DRIES

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD FELLAINI MERTENS
Club: Zenit St CENTRAL MIDFIELD RIGHT MIDFIELD
Petersburg (Rus) Club: Manchester Club: Napoli (Ita)
Born: 12.01.89 (aged 25) United (Eng) Born: 06.05.87 (aged 27)
Apps in qualifiers: 10 Born: 22.11.87 (aged 26) Apps in qualifiers: 4
Mins in qualifiers: 900 Apps in qualifiers: 7 Mins in qualifiers: 352
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Mins in qualifiers: 455 Goals in qualifiers: 0
KEVIN DE EDEN HAZARD ROMELU

BRUYNE LEFT MIDFIELD LUKAKU
ATTACKING MIDFIELD Club: Chelsea (Eng) CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Wolfsburg (Ger) Born: 07.01.91 (aged 23) Club: Everton (Eng)
Born: 28.06.91 (aged 22) Apps in qualifiers: 9 Born: 13.05.93 (aged 21)
OTHER PLAYERS THE COACH

NICOLAS MOUSA DEMBELE KEVIN
SIMON LOMBAERTS MIDFIELD MIRALLAS MARC
DEFENCE Tottenham (Eng) FORWARD WILMOTS
MIGNOLET Zenit St Petersburg 10 apps/535 mins/0 Everton (Eng) Born 22.02.69
GOALKEEPER (Rus) goals in qualifiers 9 apps/324 mins/2 (aged 45)
Liverpool (Eng) 2 apps/166 mins/0 goals in qualifiers Former national
0 apps in qualifiers goals in qualifiers NACER CHADLI team striker
MIDFIELD MICHY who had modest
DANIEL STEVEN Tottenham (Eng) BATSHUAYI success as
VAN BUYTEN DEFOUR 8 apps/479 mins/0 FORWARD coach of Schalke
DEFENCE MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers Standard Liege and St Truiden
Bayern Munich (Ger) Porto (Por) 0 apps in qualifiers but has been a
5 apps/432 mins/0 3 apps/238 mins/1 TIMMY SIMONS popular choice
goals in qualifiers goal in qualifiers MIDFIELD as national
Club Brugge coach with
0 apps in qualifiers players and fans.
WORLD CUP 2014 71

THE PLAYERS ONE TO WATCH game during qualifying. They have an exceptional
KEY MEN Young defender Sead Kolasinac has impressed keeper in Begovic. Expectations will be extremely
Edin Dzeko for Schalke in the Bundesliga. The former low, but the players will still be hugely motivated.
The Manchester City Germany Under-21
striker (left) is paired up international switched Weaknesses
front with Vedad Ibisevic nationality last year. An inexperienced squad that lacks depth, so an
and, between them, injury or suspension could be disastrous. They are
they contributed 18 ENGLISH CONNECTION weak at the back, with no defensive midfielder to
goals in 10 matches Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic protect the backline.
during qualification. He is the vital component in (right) was born in Canada
Susic’s attacking philosophy. but opted to play for Bosnia. World Soccer Prediction
Group stage exit.
Emir Spahic ANALYSIS
The captain is a true leader and Bosnia’s strength How they qualified WHAT THEY SAY
at the back. At 33, the Bayer Leverkusen defender A close-range shot from striker Ibisevic against THE COACH
has huge experience but the World Cup will be Lithuania sealed Bosnia’s place in the finals of a Safet Susic
the highlight of his playing career. major tournament for the first time and sent “Argentina are the favourites in our group. For us, it
hundreds of thousands of delirious supporters out will be a great occasion to open up the World Cup
Miralem Pjanic on to the streets to celebrate. against them, especially at a stadium such as
The team’s most creative player is destined to be a Victory over Lithuania confirmed qualification Maracana. We should compete with Nigeria for the
future leader. Only 24, he has already been after Bosnia had gone mightily close in two second place in the group, and hopefully survive
capped 46 times and is the key supply line to the previous campaigns – for the 2010 World Cup and to the next round. However, we should not
strikers. Euro 2012 – only to lose play-offs to Portugal on underestimate Iran. In any case, our chances
both occasions. are good.”
With attacking tactics, Bosnia secured key
KEY INFORMATION results against group favourites Greece, a 0-0 THE PUNDIT
away draw followed by a 3-1 victory in Zenica. Sasa Ibrulj, World Soccer Bosnia
GROUP F SCHEDULE
A 1-0 loss at home to Slovakia put them on the correspondent
June 15 v Argentina, Rio de Janeiro
June 21 v Nigeria, Cuiaba
verge of blowing everything but they recovered “Can they compete with the big boys? Since Susic
June 25 v Iran, Salvador four days later to beat the same opponents away took over in March 2010, Bosnia have played 10
from home. teams that will be in Brazil and won against only
BETTING A home victory over Liechtenstein then set up three (Algeria, Ghana and Greece), losing easily to
William Hill the Lithuania game in Kaunas, in which Bosnia Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico,
150/1 to win World Cup struggled to score until the 68th minute and Portugal and USA.
13/2 to win Group F Ibisevic’s goal. “With no previous experience of playing such
important matches in such a short period of time,
WORLD CUP HISTORY
Strengths the narrow selection of quality players and limited
No previous participation
Bosnia will score goals: they averaged three per alternatives could be a huge problem.”
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Begovic
ASMIR MENSUR
BEGOVIC MUJDZA Spahic Bicakcic
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Mujdza Kolasinac
Club: Stoke City (Eng) Club: Freiburg (Ger) Salihovic
Born: 10.06.87 Born: 28.03.84
(aged 26) (aged 30) Pjanic Lulic
Mins in qualifiers: 900 Mins in qualifiers: 463 Misimovic
Ibisevic Dzeko
EMIR SPAHIC ERMIN SEAD

CENTRAL DEFENCE BICAKCIC KOLASINAC
Club: Bayer Leverkusen CENTRAL DEFENCE LEFT-BACK
(Ger) Club: Eintracht Club: Schalke (Ger)
Born: 18.08.80 Braunschweig (Ger) Born: 20.06.93
(aged 33) Born: 24.01.90 (aged 20)
Apps in qualifiers: 10 (aged 24) Apps in qualifiers: 0
SEJAD MIRALEM SENAD LULIC

SALIHOVIC PJANIC MIDFIELD
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD MIDFIELD Club: Lazio (Ita)
Club: Hoffenheim (Ger) Club: Roma (Ita) Born: 18.01.86
Born: 08.10.84 Born: 02.04.90 (aged 28)
(aged 29) (aged 24) Apps in qualifiers: 9
ZVJEZDAN VEDAD EDIN DZEKO

MISIMOVIC IBISEVIC CENTRE-FORWARD
ATTACKING MIDFIELD CENTRE-FORWARD Club: Manchester City
Club: Guizhou Renhe Club: Stuttgart (Ger) (Eng)
(Chn) Born: 06.08.84 Born: 17.03.86
Born: 05.06.82 (aged 29) (aged 28)
(aged 31) Apps in qualifiers: 10 Apps in qualifiers: 10
OTHER PLAYERS HARIS MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers THE COACH

MEDUNJANIN Galatasaray (Tur)
AVDIJA MIDFIELD 3 apps/49 mins/1 goal MIROSLAV SAFET SUSIC
VRSAJEVIC Gaziantepspor (Tur) in qualifiers STEVANOVIC 13.04.55
DEFENCE 8 apps/551 mins/1 MIDFIELD (aged 59)
Hajduk Split (Cro) goal in qualifiers EDIN VISCA Alaves (Spa) Taking Bosnia to
7 apps/412 mins/0 MIDFIELD 5 apps/75 mins/0 goals their first major
goals in qualifiers ERVIN Istanbul BB (Tur) in qualifiers tournament is the
ZUKANOVIC 3 apps/66 mins/0 biggest
OGNJEN MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers SENIJAD achievement of his
VRANJES Gent (Blg)
IBRICIC career for the man
DEFENCE 3 apps/95 mins/0 ADNAN MIDFIELD once voted the
Elazigspor (Tur) goals in qualifiers ZAHIROVIC Kayseri Erciyesspor country’s best-ever
5 apps/450 mins/0 MIDFIELD (Tur) player. Has
goals in qualifiers IZET Bochum (Ger) 4 apps/66 mins/0 previously worked in France and Turkey but he
HAJROVIC 7 apps/498 mins/0 goals in qualifiers lacks real coaching experience and summer
2014 will be a huge test of his abilities.
WORLD CUP 2014 73

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS play more in keeping with Brazil’s status as World Cup hosts.
KEY MEN Menezes succeeded in making the changes, building a
GROUP A SCHEDULE Thiago Silva team around star forward Neymar. But friendly results were
June 12 v Croatia, Sao Paulo
Team captain and immaculate centre-back who, alongside disappointing, especially against the big nations, and in
June 17 v Mexico, Fortaleza
June 23 v Cameroon, Brasilia
David Luiz and two attacking full-backs, will need to November 2012 Brazil turned to former coach Luiz Felipe
impose calm discipline on the defensive line. Scolari, boss of the victorious 2002 World Cup winning side.
BETTING Scolari kept faith with the players introduced by Menezes,
William Hill Luiz Gustavo and steered Brazil to success in last summer’s
3/1 to win World Cup Tall holding midfielder whose inclusion did much to tighten Confederations Cup.
13/8 to reach the Final up the team. The fact that he is left footed makes it easier
for him to protect the weaker side of the defence. Strengths
WORLD CUP HISTORY A settled squad in tip-top physical condition will be backed
Oscar by a vociferous home crowd.
1938 Semi-finals, defeat by Italy
Midfielder (left) who belies a frail,
1950 Runners-up sloping shoulders appearance with Weaknesses
1954 Quarter-finals, defeat by Hungary a versatility that is of great use to Brazilian football is still haunted by the ghost of 1950,
1958 WINNERS, 5-2 Final the team. Can work back and when they lost on home soil to Uruguay. Brazil face a tricky
victory over Sweden mark, organise from deep, create second-round tie against either reigning champions Spain,
1962 WINNERS, 3-1 Final higher up the field and get beyond Holland or Chile.
victory over Czechoslovakia the attacking line to score.
1966 First round exit World Soccer Prediction
1970 WINNERS, 4-1 Final
Neymar Finalists.
victory over Italy
1974 Fourth place
The poster boy of the tournament and his team’s great
1978 Third place attacking hope. Has pace, unpredictability, dazzling skill WHAT THEY SAY
1982 Second round and already 30 international goals to his name. The World THE COACH
1986 Quarter-finals, defeat Cup, though, will be his big test. Luiz Felipe Scolari
on penalties by France “If I feared challenges, I wouldn’t have achieved anything in
1990 Second round, defeat ENGLISH CONNECTION my career. Winning or losing in 2014 will not erase the title
by Argentina David Luiz I helped Brazil win in 2002. The players know they will
1994 WINNERS, Final victory The defender is one of a number of have to win the World Cup. We can’t play a tournament in
on penalties over Italy
Chelsea players in the squad, alongside Brazil and think that second place will do.”
1998 Runners-up, 3-0 Final
defeat by France
Oscar, Ramires and probably Willian.
2002 WINNERS, 2-0 THE PUNDIT
Final victory over ANALYSIS Tim Vickery, World Soccer Brazil correspondent
Germany After the last World Cup, when an ageing Brazil side were “Almost everything Scolari has done has worked. He is full of
2006 Quarter-finals, knocked out by Holland in the quarter-finals, Mano options which he will have to whittle down to a squad of 23.
defeat by France Menezes was appointed coach with instructions to The players have already received Brazil’s planning schedule
2010 Quarter-finals, introduce new blood and a more attack-minded style of for the World Cup – it goes all the way to the Final.”
defeat by Holland
74 WORLD CUP 2014

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Julio Cesar
JULIO DANI Thiago Silva David Luiz
CESAR ALVES
Club: Toronto Club: Barcelona
Dani Alves Marcelo
(USA) (Spa)
Born: 03.09.79 Born: 06.05.83 Ramires Luiz Gustavo Oscar
(aged 34) (aged 31)
Caps: 78 Caps: 74
Goals: 0 Goals: 5 Hulk Fred Neymar
THIAGO DAVID LUIZ MARCELO

SILVA CENTRAL LEFT-BACK
CENTRAL DEFENCE DEFENCE Club: Real Madrid
Club: Paris Club: Chelsea (Spa)
Saint-Germain (Fra) (Eng) Born: 12.05.88
Born: 22.09.84 Born: 22.04.87 (aged 26)
(aged 29) (aged 27) Caps: 30
Caps: 45 Caps: 34 Goals: 4
Goals: 2 Goals: 0
LUIZ RAMIRES OSCAR

GUSTAVO RIGHT LEFT MIDFIELD
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER Club: Chelsea
MIDFIELD Club: Chelsea (Eng)
Club: Wolfsburg (Ger) (Eng) Born: 09.09.91
Born: 23.07.87 Born: 24.03.87 (aged 22)
(aged 26) (aged 27) Caps: 29
Caps: 17 Caps: 41 Goals: 9
Goals: 1 Goals: 4
HULK NEYMAR FRED

FORWARD FORWARD CENTRE-
Club: Zenit St Club: Barcelona FORWARD
Petersburg (Rus) (Spa) Club: Fluminense
Born: 25.07.86 Born: 05.02.92 Born: 03.10.83
Caps: 33 Caps: 47 Caps: 32
Goals: 8 Goals: 30 Goals: 16
OTHER PLAYERS Paris Saint-Germain Caps: 25 THE COACH

HERNANES
(Fra) Goals: 5
DANTE Caps: 7
MIDFIELD LUIZ FELIPE
Goals: 0 FERNANDINHO Internazionale (Ita) SCOLARI
DEFENCE Caps: 23 Goals: 2 Born 09.11.48
Bayern Munich (Ger) MIDFIELD
Caps: 11 MARQUINHOS Manchester City JO
(aged 45)
Led Brazil to triumph
Goals: 2 DEFENCE (Eng)
FORWARD in the 2002 World
Paris Saint-Germain Caps: 6
Atletico Mineiro Cup. The haste of his
RAFINHA (Fra) Goals: 1
Caps: 15 Goals: 5 appointment in late
DEFENCE Caps: 1
2012 was to kill off a
Bayern Munich (Ger) Goals: 0 WILLIAN ROBINHO campaign for Pep
Caps: 2 MIDFIELD Guardiola – which has
Goals: 0 PAULINHO Chelsea (Eng)
FORWARD
since been forgotten
Milan (Ita)
MIDFIELDER Caps: 5 as Scolari’s work has
Caps: 89 Goals: 28
MAXWELL Tottenham Hotspur Goals: 1 restored Brazil’s
DEFENCE (Eng) self-confidence.
WORLD CUP 2014 75

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS ANALYSIS
KEY MEN How they qualified
GROUP A SCHEDULE Samuel Eto’o The Indomitable Lions qualified for an African record
June 13 v Mexico, Natal
Maybe on the wrong side of 30 but he seventh World Cup appearance when they beat Tunisia in
June 18 v Croatia, Manaus
June 23 v Brazil, Brasilia
remains extremely important and gives the African play-offs. But for most of the campaign they
Cameroon an edge up front. Eto’o (right) were riven by internal intrigue and infighting, had three
BETTING has won more than 100 caps and different coaches and saw their football association
William Hill competed at three previous World Cups, president jailed for fraud. They played poorly on the road
750/1 to win World Cup and with three UEFA Champions League and were only gifted a place in the play-offs by an
13/5 to beat Mexico in opening game winners medals he is among Africa’s administrative error by one of their opponents, Togo.
greatest sporting exports. They had lost to Togo but were awarded all three points
WORLD CUP HISTORY after their opponents fielded a suspended player.
1982 First round
Alex Song
1990 Quarter-finals
1994 First round
Eto’o’s great rival in the team, he has regularly clashed with Strengths
1998 First round his captain in the past and even boycotted the team at one Under Finke, Cameroon will be more disciplined than they
2002 First round point. Performs a sturdy midfield role for his country, but a have been in the past, with a more attacking outlook.
2010 Group stage exit lack of playing time at club level has been evident in
recent performances for the national side. Weaknesses
A ponderous defence is a particular worry. Cameroon’s
Jean Makoun camp remains subject to internal and external interference.
Had a brief sojourn in England with Aston Villa, but is
much appreciated in Ligue 1, where he returned to play for World Soccer Prediction
Rennes. He has been in the Cameroon side for a decade Group stage exit.
and has proven most useful of late in an attacking
right-sided midfield role. WHAT THEY SAY
THE COACH
ONE TO WATCH Volke Finke
An old-fashioned dribbling left-winger, Benjamin “As a coach you don’t need to deliver any motivation
Moukandjo is highly effective cutting in from the touchline because for any player to get a chance to play against
and taking on defenders. Currently with Nancy in Ligue 1, Brazil is a real highlight in their career. It is a really good
he is seen as a pretender to Eto’o in adventure, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
his homeland.
THE PUNDIT
ENGLISH CONNECTION Mark Gleeson, World Soccer Africa correspondent
Full-back Benoit Asso-Ekotto (left) “The influence of new coach Finke proved decisive in the
is now a regular in the Championship play-offs. Group rivals Croatia and Mexico did not have the
for QPR after joining on loan from most inspirational qualifying campaigns, so Cameroon are
Tottenham. capable of finishing second to Brazil.”
76 WORLD CUP 2014

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Itandje
CHARLES ALLAN NYOM N’Koulou Chedjou
ITANDJE RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER Club: Granada (Spa) Nyom Asso-Ekotto
Club: Konaspor (Tur) Born: 10.05.88
Born: 01.11.82 (aged 25) Song Enoh
(aged 31) Apps in qualifiers: 1
Apps in qualifiers: 6 Mins in qualifiers: 68
Choupo-Mating Makoun Moukandjo
Mins in qualifiers: 540 Goals in qualifiers: 0
Eto’o
NICOLAS AURELIEN BENOIT ASSO-

N’KOULOU CHEDJOU EKOTTO
Club: Marseille (Fra) Club: Galatasaray (Tur) Club: QPR (Eng)
Born: 27.03.90 Born: 20.06.85 Born: 24.03.84
ALEX SONG EYONG ENOH JEAN MAKOUN

CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Club: Barcelona (Spa) Club: Antalyaspor (Tur) Club: Rennes (Fra)
Born: 09.09.87 Born: 23.03.86 Born: 29.05.83
BENJAMIN MAXIM CHOUPO- SAMUEL ETO’O

MOUKANDJO MATING CENTRE-FORWARD
FORWARD FORWARD Club: Chelsea (Eng)
Club: Nancy (Fra) Club: Mainz (Ger) Born: 10.03.81
Born: 12.11.88 Born: 23.03.89 (aged 33)
OTHER PLAYERS Lorient (Fra) THE COACH

JEAN-ARMEL JOEL MATIP
KANA-BIYIK 3 apps/197 mins/0
HENRI MIDFIELD
VOLKER
BEDIMO DEFENCE Schalke (Ger) FINKE
Rennes (Fra) 5 apps/405 mins/0
DEFENCE goals in qualifiers
MOHAMADOU Born 24.03.48
2 apps/112 mins/0
Lyon (Fra) goals in qualifiers
IDRISSOU (aged 66)
The German took
4 apps/360 mins/0 LANDRY FORWARD
goals in qualifiers Kaiserslautern (Ger) over last year from
STEPHANE NGUEMO Jean-Paul Akono,
MBIA MIDFIELD 1 app/14 mins/0 goals
GAETEN BONG Bordeaux (Fra) in qualifiers but has an array of
DEFENCE forces lined up
DEFENCE 4 apps/196 mins/0
Sevilla (Spa) ACHILLE WEBO against him as he
Olympiakos (Gre) goals in qualifiers
7 apps/420 mins/0 tries gamely to do
1 apps/90 mins/0 FORWARD
goals in qualifiers a difficult job, not least the influential Roger
goals in qualifiers VINCENT Fenerbahce (Tur)
2 apps/151 mins/1 goal Milla, who does not want a foreigner in charge
ABOUBACAR of the national side. He spent 16 years as
in qualifiers
FORWARD coach of Bundesliga side Freiburg.
WORLD CUP 2014 77

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS three successive defeats later, they were sixth, outside
KEY MEN even the play-off spot, and Borghi was replaced by
GROUP B SCHEDULE
Marcelo Diaz compatriot Jorge Sampaoli.
June 13 v Australia, Cuiaba
Deep-lying playmaker who was the brains of Sampaoli’s Sampaoli re-introduced the tactics of 2010 World Cup
June 18 v Spain, Rio de Janeiro
June 23 v Holland, Sao Paulo Universidad de Chile side. He now organises possession coach Marcelo Bielsa – an attacking, high-tempo pressing
with the national team. game – and Chile closed the campaign as South America’s
BETTING form side with five wins and a draw.
William Hill Arturo Vidal
40/1 to win World Cup Strong, versatile and talented, Vidal Strengths
9/2 to top Group B (right) was often used at the back but is Chile have a clear way of playing with a group of players
now the team’s powerhouse in midfield. who have been together since they were semi-finalists at
WORLD CUP HISTORY
the 2007 World Youth Cup and are now reaching their
Alexis Sanchez peak years.
1962 Semi-finals, Once a winger with tight dribbling skills,
4-2 defeat by Brazil he has blossomed into an all-round attacking talent, Weaknesses
1966 First round exit often popping up in the centre-forward position. With the balance of the team tipped towards attack, the
1974 First round exit defence will be vulnerable against pace and height. The
1982 First round exit ONE TO WATCH side has had disciplinary problems.
1998 Second round, Mauricio Isla
4-1 defeat by Brazil Rampaging right-back or wingback who is typically the World Soccer Prediction
2010 Second round,
team’s “out ball”, forever looking to burst beyond the Second round.
3-0 defeat by Brazil
opposition’s defensive line.
WHAT THEY SAY
Gary Medel Jorge Sampaoli
The combative midfielder (left) has had a “I believe that the only way to succeed is by uniting players
tough season battling relegation with with a love of playing. You try to inspire in them a love of
Cardiff but will probably feature in the shirt derived of enjoyment, not obligation. That allows
defence for Chile in Brazil. everybody to come together; the social or cultural
background of the people involved doesn’t matter.”
ANALYSIS
How they qualified THE PUNDIT
This is the first time Chile have qualified for back-to-back Tim Vickery, World Soccer South America
World Cup tournaments. They played some wonderful correspondent
attacking football, but there were some bumps along the way. “Chile’s form over the past year has created the
Under Argentinian coach Claudio Borghi, they made a expectation that 2014 could be their finest hour, perhaps
reasonable start and after a third of the campaign they even matching 1962 when, with home advantage, they
were top of the South American qualifying group. But reached the semi-finals. ”
78 WORLD CUP 2014

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Bravo
CLAUDIO MAURICIO ISLA Medel M Gonzalez
BRAVO RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER Club: Juventus (Ita) Isla Mena
Club: Real Sociedad (Spa) Born: 12.06.88
Born: 13.04.83 (aged 25) Vidal Diaz Aranguiz
Mins in qualifiers: 1260 Goals in qualifiers: 0 Valdivia
Sanchez Vargas
GARY MEDEL MARCOS EUGENIO MENA

CENTRAL DEFENCE GONZALEZ LEFT-BACK
Club: Cardiff City (Eng) CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Santos (Bra)
Born: 03.08.87 Club: Flamengo (Bra) Born: 18.07.88
(aged 26) Born: 09.06.80 (aged 25)
MARCELO DIAZ CHARLES ARTURO VIDAL

CENTRAL MIDFIELD ARANGUIZ CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Club: Basle (Swi) CENTRAL MIDFIELD Club: Juventus (Ita)
Born: 30.12.86 Club: Internacional (Bra) Born: 22.05.87
(aged 27) Born: 17.04.89 (aged 25)
JORGE ALEXIS EDUARDO

VALDIVIA SANCHEZ VARGAS
ATTACKING FORWARD FORWARD
MIDFIELDER Club: Barcelona (Spa) Club: Valencia (Spa)
Club: Palmeiras (Bra) Born: 19.12.88 Born: 20.11.89
Born: 19.10.83 (aged 30) (aged 25) (aged 24)
OTHER PLAYERS Osasuna (Spa) in qualifiers THE COACH

2 apps/59 mins/0 goals MATIAS
JOHNNY in qualifiers FABIAN FERNANDEZ JORGE
HERRERA ORELLANA MIDFIELD SAMPAOLI
GOALKEEPER JEAN MIDFIELD Fiorentina (Ita) Born 13.03.60
Universidad de Chile BEAUSEJOUR Celta Vigo (Spa) 11 apps/729 mins/3 (aged 54)
0 apps in qualifiers MIDFIELD 0 apps in qualifiers goals in qualifiers An Argentinian who
Wigan Athletic (Eng) made his name at
GONZALO JARA 10 apps/518 mins/0 CARLOS MAURICIO Universidad de Chile,
DEFENCE goals in qualifiers CARMONA PINILLA having also worked in
Nottm Forest (Eng) MIDFIELD FORWARD Peru and Ecuador. He
8 apps/666 mins/0 FELIPE Atalanta (Ita) Cagliari (Ita) once famously reacted
goals in qualifiers GUTIERREZ 5 apps/267 mins/0 3 apps/63 mins/0 to being sent off by
MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers goals in qualifiers watching the rest of
FRANCISCO Twente (Hol) his team’s game
SILVA 2 apps/21 mins/1 goal perched in a tree
DEFENCE outside the stadium.
WORLD CUP 2014 79

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS home games of the qualifying campaign. He immediately
KEY MEN imposed an iron discipline on the squad. The new-look
GROUP C SCHEDULE
June 14 v Greece, Belo Horizonte Radamel Falcao side took time to gel but then embarked on an astonishing
June 19 v Ivory Coast, Brasilia The Monaco striker (right), top run of victories. Colombia racked up convincing back-to-
June 24 v Japan, Cuiaba scorer in qualifying with nine back wins against Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia,
goals, is facing a race against and managed a goalless draw away in Argentina.
BETTING time to be fit for the World Cup Against Chile, Colombia trailed 3-0 with 20 minutes to
William Hill after suffering a knee injury in go but came back to steal the point they needed.
24/1 to win World Cup January.
4/5 to win Group C
Strengths
James Rodriguez Even without Falcao, Colombia have an abundance of
WORLD CUP HISTORY
1962 Group stage exit The revelation of the qualifying campaign and the rightful attacking talent. They qualified with the best away record in
1990 Round of 16, heir to Carlos Valderrama’s number 10 shirt. Provides the South America and should have little trouble adapting to
beaten by Cameroon creative thrust that is central to Colombia’s attacking play. Brazil’s different meteorological challenges.
1994 Group stage exit
1998 Group stage exit David Ospina Weaknesses
The Nice goalkeeper kept seven clean sheets on the road Colombia’s centre-backs Mario Yepes and Luis Perea will
to Brazil and provided a steadying influence on what was have a combined age of 73 at the World Cup. Key players
at times a very wobbly back line. are not regulars at their clubs.
ONE TO WATCH World Soccer Prediction

The 21-year-old Porto playmaker Quarter-finals.
Juan Quintero (left) is one of the
most coveted young players in the WHAT THEY SAY
European game. THE COACH
Jose Pekerman
ENGLISH CONNECTION “We have managed to become one of the best countries
Full-back Pablo Armero joined West Ham on loan from in the world because we have competitive and hard-
Napoli in January but has found opportunities limited. working players who understand international football.”
ANALYSIS THE PUNDIT

How they qualified Carl Worswick, World Soccer Colombia correspondent
Colombia are back at the World Cup for the first time in 16 “Eight years ago, Pekerman’s Argentina were just 10
years after a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes was minutes away from knocking out Germany in the
engineered by coach Jose Pekerman. quarter-finals before being turfed out on penalties. This
The Argentinian took over after Hernan Dario Gomez time around, if the Argentinian can sort out Colombia’s
and Leonel Alvarez were sacked within the space of three creaking defence, his adopted country could be a good
months and with just one point from the opening two outside bet to go even further in the finals.”
80 WORLD CUP 2014

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Ospina
DAVID OSPINA SANTIAGO
ARIAS Perea Yepes
GOALKEEPER
Club: Nice (Fra) RIGHT-BACK Arias Armero
Born: 31.08.88 Club: PSV (Hol)
(aged 25) Born: 13.01.92
Apps in qualifiers: 16 (aged 22) Guarin Torres
Mins in qualifiers: 1440 Apps in qualifiers: 1 Valencia Rodriguez
Falcao Bacca
LUIS PEREA MARIO YEPES PABLO

CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE ARMERO
Club: Cruz Azul (Mex) Club: Atalanta (Ita) LEFT-BACK
Born: 30.01.79 Born: 13.01.76 Club: West Ham (Eng)
(aged 35) (aged 38) Born: 02.11.86
Apps in qualifiers: 12 Apps in qualifiers: 12 (aged 27)
Mins in qualifiers: 972 Mins in qualifiers: 1035 Apps in qualifiers: 15
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Goals in qualifiers: 2 Mins in qualifiers: 1273
EDWIN FREDY GUARIN MACNELLY

VALENCIA MIDFIELDER TORRES
MIDFIELDER Club: Internazionale MIDFIELDER
Club: Fluminense (Bra) (Ita) Club: Al Shabab (Sau)
Born: 29.03.85 Born: 30.06.86 Born: 01.11.84
JAMES RADAMEL CARLOS BACCA

RODRIGUEZ FALCAO CENTRE-FORWARD
MIDFIELDER CENTRE-FORWARD Club: Sevilla (Spa)
Club: Monaco (Fra) Club: Monaco (Fra) Born: 08.09.86
Born: 12.07.91 Born: 10.02.86 (aged 27)
OTHER PLAYERS CARLOS VALDES 12 apps/844 mins/0 JACKSON THE COACH

DEFENCE goals in qualifiers MARTINEZ
CRISTIAN San Lorenzo (Arg)
JOSE
JUAN FORWARD PEKERMAN
ZAPATA 5 apps/424 mins/1 Porto (Por)
DEFENCE goal in qualifiers CUADRADO 7 apps/314 mins/0
Born 03.09.49
Milan (Ita) MIDFIELD (aged 64)
Fastidious in his
2 apps/117 mins/0 ABEL AGUILAR Fiorentina (Ita)
goals in qualifiers MIDFIELD 11 apps/642 mins/0 VICTOR IBARBO preparation, the
goals in qualifiers FORWARD Argentinian has
Toulouse (Fra)
JUAN CAMILO 11 apps/820 mins/0 Cagliari (Ita) rejuvenated
ZUNIGA goals in qualifiers TEOFILO 0 apps in qualifiers Colombia since
GUTIERREZ 2012. He will be
DEFENCE
Napoli (Ita) CARLOS FORWARD JUAN QUINTERO hoping to add to
FORWARD the three world
12 apps/1046 mins/1 SANCHEZ River Plate (Arg)
youth titles he won
goal in qualifiers 11 apps/859 mins/6 Porto (Por)
MIDFIELD 1 app/24mins/0 goals when boss of his
Elche (Spa) goals in qualifiers
in qualifiers native Argentina.
WORLD CUP 2014 81

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS heavyweights Mexico. They punched above their weight for
KEY MEN most of the qualifying campaign, but their success was not
GROUP D SCHEDULE Bryan Ruiz really a surprise. For the first time, Costa Rica have had
June 14 v Uruguay, Fortaleza
Despite a disappointing stint at established players in major European leagues.
June 20 v Italy, Recife
June 24 v England, Belo Horizonte
Fulham, he is still considered Costa From playmaker Bryan Ruiz and striker Joel Campbell,
Rica’s star turn. His playmaking to Everton left-back Bryan Oviedo and goalkeeper Keylor
BETTING ability and knack for important goals Navas, who has been key for Levante’s progress in La Liga,
William Hill have been instrumental for the national team, although Costa Ricans are making waves in European club football.
2500/1 to win World Cup injuries have hampered his career in recent years.
12/1 to qualify from Group D Strengths
Joel Campbell A core of experienced, foreign-based players. Coach Pinto
WORLD CUP HISTORY A quick striker, in the mould of former Costa Rican front has brought stability to the squad. They will be under no
1990 Round of 16, 4-1 defeat by
man Paulo Wanchope, he was signed by Arsenal after a pressure in Brazil.
Czechoslovakia
scintillating performance in the 2011 Under-20 World Cup
2006 Group stage exit but has spent this season on loan at Olympiakos. Weaknesses
They’re in a tough group, where their rivals are all former
Keylor Navas world champions. The squad has little big-match
The best Costa Rican goalkeeper since Luis Gabelo Conejo, experience. Pinto has few options on the bench.
he has been in great form for Levante in La Liga after
becoming first choice near the end of last term. World Soccer Prediction
Group stage exit.
ONE TO WATCH
Striker Alvaro Saborio, who once had WHAT THEY SAY
a loan spell at Bristol City, has been a THE COACH
revelation for Real Salt Lake in Major Jorge Luis Pinto
League Soccer. “We’ll have to find ways to mark Rooney, Balotelli, Suarez.
That will be one of Costa Rica’s weapons, our tactical order,
ENGLISH CONNECTION efficient marking of those players, and I think that’s how
Everton midfielder Bryan Oviedo (left) we can get something.”
is facing a race to be fit in time for the
finals after breaking a leg in January. THE PUNDIT
Martin del Palacio Langer, World Soccer Central
ANALYSIS America correspondent
How they qualified “Pinto’s side are a team that favours defensive order –
The Ticos qualified for the World Cup finals for only the they conceded only seven goals in 10 qualifying games –
third time after finishing second in the final CONCACAF and despite a lack of international experience they won’t
qualifying section. They finished behind leaders United be pushovers. In addition, their fast counter-attacking style
States, but ahead of Honduras and traditional continental might cause problems for teams with slow defenders.”
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Navas
KEYLOR NAVAS CRISTIAN
GAMBOA Gonzalez
GOALKEEPER
Club: Levante (Spa) RIGHT-BACK Acosta Umana
Born: 15.12.86 Club: Rosenborg (Nor)
(aged 27) Born: 24.10.89 Gamboa Diaz
Mins in qualifiers: 1260 Apps in qualifiers: 12 Borges Tejeda
Ruiz Bolanos
Campbell
JOHNNY GIANCARLO MICHAEL

ACOSTA GONZALEZ UMANA
CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE
Club: Alajuelense Club: Columbus Crew Club: Saprissa
Born: 21.07.83 (USA) Born: 16.07.82
(aged 30) Born: 08.02.88 (aged 31)
JUNIOR DIAZ BRYAN RUIZ CELSO BORGES

LEFT-BACK RIGHT MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Club: Mainz (Ger) Club: PSV Eindhoven Club: AIK (Swe)
Born: 12.09.83 (Hol) Born: 27.05.88
(aged 20) Born: 18.08.85 (aged 25)
YELTSIN CHRISTIAN JOEL

TEJEDA BOLANOS CAMPBELL
CENTRAL MIDFIELD LEFT MIDFIELD CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Saprissa Club: Copenhagen Club: Olympiakos (Gre)
Born: 17.03.92 (Den) Born: 26.06.92
(aged 22) Born: 17.05.84 (aged 21)
OTHER PLAYERS BRYAN OVIEDO 6 apps/189 mins/1 MARCO THE COACH

goal in qualifiers URENA
ROY MILLER MIDFIELD JORGE LUIS
Everton (Eng) MICHAEL FORWARD PINTO
BARRANTES Kuban Krasnador
New York Red Bulls Born 16.12.52
goals in qualifiers (Rus)
(USA) MIDFIELD (aged 61)
0 apps in qualifiers
7 apps/544 mins/1 JOSE MIGUEL Aalesund (Nor) Having failed in his first
goal in qualifiers 10 apps/645 mins/0 spell in charge of Costa
CUBERO RANDALL
goals in qualifiers Rica, from 2004 to
OSCAR MIDFIELD BRENES 2005, the Colombian
DUARTE Herediano ALVARO FORWARD – who also coached his
9 apps/608 mins/1 Cartagines
DEFENCE goal in qualifiers
SABORIO homeland’s national
8 apps/367 mins/3 side – returned in 2011
Club Brugge (Blg) FORWARD goals in qualifiers and oversaw
0 apps in qualifiers DIEGO CALVO Real Salt Lake (USA)
qualification for Brazil
15 apps/982 mins/8
MIDFIELD 2014. He has extensive
Valerenga (Nor) tactical knowledge.
WORLD CUP 2014 83

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS Fortunately, normal service was resumed in the
KEY MEN play-offs and, after a potentially tricky away leg ended
GROUP A SCHEDULE Dario Srna goalless, Iceland were dispatched 2-0 in the return.
June 12 v Brazil, Sao Paulo
Midfielder and captain who leads But the victory was soured by the actions of defender
June 18 v Cameroon, Manaus
June 23 v Mexico, Recife
by example. He is very reliable in Josip Simunic, who shouted a fascist slogan at the crowd
his defensive duties while offering after the game. He was punished with a 10-match ban by
BETTING a threat when going forward. FIFA and will miss the World Cup. Mandzukic, sent off
William Hill during against Iceland, was handed a one-match ban.
200/1 to win World Cup Luka Modric
5/6 to qualify from Group A The team’s playmaker, he inspires confidence in his Strengths
team-mates and Croatia are greatly weakened without the Croatia feel confident they can qualify for the knockout
WORLD CUP HISTORY Real Madrid star’s creativity. stage, behind hosts Brazil. The side are well drilled and
1998 Semi-finals, 2-1 defeat by
have plenty of experience playing together.
France/Third place,
2-1 win over Holland
Stipe Pletikosa
2002 Group stage exit Experienced goalkeeper who, along with Srna, is the Weaknesses
2006 Group stage exit player whose opinion coach Kovac values most. Kovac is very much a coaching novice. The suspension of
left-back Simunic is a worry and Croatia lack quality in
ONE TO WATCH both full-back positions. Croatian players will not be used
Youngster Mateo Kovacic pulls the strings in midfield. to the heat and excessive humidity in Brazil.
Inter Milan were so sure of his talent,
they let Philippe Coutinho join Liverpool. World Soccer Prediction
Group stage exit.
ENGLISH CONNECTION
Hull City striker Nikica Jelavic (left) WHAT THEY SAY
could step into the starting line-up for THE COACH
the opening match because first-choice Niko Kovac
striker Mario Mandzukic is suspended. “We are the only team in our group not used to such
conditions. Brazil are the hosts, Mexico are from Latin
ANALYSIS America, Cameroon often play in the same conditions. But
How they qualified we can not change the situation, we cannot use climatic
Croatia have only failed to reach a major finals tournament conditions as an excuse for any poor performances.”
twice since independence in 1995 – for Euro 2000 and
the 2010 World Cup – so confidence was high when THE PUNDIT
coach Igor Stimac’s side began with 16 points from a Zdravko Reic, World Soccer Croatia correspondent
possible 18 in their first six games on the road to Brazil. “With Pletikosa and Olic over 34, and Srna, Eduardo,
However, three losses and a draw in the remaining four Vukojevic and Kranjcar all in their 30s, Brazil 2014
fixtures saw Croatia condemned to the play-offs and presents one final opportunity for many of the side to
Stimac replaced by under-21s boss Niko Kovac. perform on the big stage.”
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Pletikosa
STIPE DARIO SRNA Corluka Lovren
PLETIKOSA RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER Club: Shakhtar Donetsk Srna Pranjic
Club: Rostov (Rus) (Ukr)
Born: 08.01.79 Born: 01.05.82 Rakitic Modric
(aged 35) (aged 32)
Apps in qualifiers: 12 Apps in qualifiers: 11 Perisic Kovacic Olic
Mandzukic
VEDRAN DEJAN LOVREN DANIJEL

CORLUKA CENTRAL DEFENCE PRANJIC
CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Southampton LEFT-BACK
Club: Lokomotiv (Eng) Club: Panathinaikos
Moscow (Rus) Born: 05.07.89 (Gre)
Born: 05.02.86 (aged 24) Born: 02.12.81
IVAN RAKITIC LUKA MODRIC IVAN PERISIC

CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD RIGHT MIDFIELD
Club: Sevilla (Spa) Club: Real Madrid (Spa) Club: Wolfsburg (Ger)
Born: 10.03.88 Born: 09.09.85 Born: 02.02.89
MATEO IVICA OLIC MARIO

KOVACIC LEFT MIDFIELD MANDZUKIC
CENTRAL MIDFIELD Club: Wolfsburg (Ger) CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Internazionale Born: 14.09.79 Club: Bayern Munich
(Ita) (aged 34) (Ger)
Born: 06.05.94 (aged 19) Apps in qualifiers: 7 Born: 21.05.86
Apps in qualifiers: 6 Mins in qualifiers: 436 (aged 27)
Mins in qualifiers: 376 Goals in qualifiers: 1 Apps in qualifiers: 12
OTHER PLAYERS DEFENCE 7 apps/403 mins/0 THE COACH

Panathinaikos (Gre) goals in qualifiers NIKICA
DANIJEL 4 apps/270 mins/0 JELAVIC NIKO KOVAC
SUBASIC goals in qualifiers NIKO Born 15.10.71 (aged 42)
FORWARD
GOALKEEPER
KRANJCAR Hull City (Eng) Born and raised in Germany, he was captain of
Monaco (Fra)
DOMAGOJ MIDFIELD 6 apps/184 mins/1 Croatia’s national side until his retirement in
0 apps in qualifiers VIDA Queens Park Rangers goal in qualifiers January 2009. He stepped up from coaching
DEFENCE (Eng) the national under-21s to take charge of the
SIME VRSALJKO Dynamo Kiev (Ukr) 6 apps/203 mins/1 EDUARDO seniors in October last year and is assisted by
DEFENCE 6 apps/314 mins/0 goal in qualifiers his younger brother, Robert.
FORWARD
Genoa (Ita) goals in qualifiers Shakhtar Donetsk
1 app/90 mins/0 goals
ALEN
(Ukr)
in qualifiers OGNJEN HALILHOVIC 7 apps/431 mins/2
VUKOJEVIC MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers
GORDON MIDFIELD Dinamo Zagreb
SCHILDENFELD Dynamo Kiev (Ukr) 0 apps in qualifiers
WORLD CUP 2014 85

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS campaign. Rueda made a host of changes, including a
KEY MEN recall for striker Felipe Caicedo, which kickstarted a run of
GROUP E SCHEDULE Antonio Valencia four wins and two draws that carried the team from sixth
June 15 v Switzerland, Brasilia
The Manchester United winger place in the table to second.
June 20 v Honduras, Curitiba
June 25 v France, Rio de Janeiro
(right) provides pace, power The visit of Uruguay in the penultimate round proved
and composure down the right crucial. Ecuador won by a single goal – but that was
BETTING flank. The 28-year-old is also a enough to go through on goal difference, condemning
William Hill key figure in the side’s rapid Uruguay to the play-offs.
150/1 to win World Cup transitions between attack and
10/11 to qualify from Group E defence. Strengths
Ecuador stretch defences when they attack down the
WORLD CUP HISTORY Jefferson Montero flanks and can do serious damage on the counter-attack.
Plays wide on the left, where, on his day, he can undress The group draw gives them a decent chance of progress.
2006 Round of 16,
1-0 defeat by England
the opposing defence with his capacity to glide past the
full-back on either side. Inconsistent, but has it in him to Weaknesses
become a global star. They’ve not found a replacement for classy centre-back
Ivan Hurtado. Goalkeeper is also a problem position.
Christian Noboa Ecuador struggled to convert chances in qualifying.
Based in Russia with Dynamo Moscow, the midfielder knits
the team together and his range of passing from the World Soccer Prediction
centre brings Ecuador’s talented wingers into play. Second round.
ONE TO WATCH WHAT THEY SAY

Young winger turned striker Enner Valencia has impressed THE COACH
for Mexican club Pachuca and the national team recently. Reinaldo Rueda
“The young players have good skills but there’s been a
ENGLISH CONNECTION generational gap and we only have [Segundo] Castillo and
Striker Felipe Caicedo was on [Antonio] Valencia left from the 2006 World Cup because
Manchester City’s books for three years, the players who reached the finals in Germany were above
between 2008 and 2011, spending time the average age and have fallen out of contention.”
on loan at Sporting Lisbon, Malaga and
Levante. THE PUNDIT
Tim Vickery, World Soccer South America
ANALYSIS correspondent
How they qualified “The tragic death last July of Christian Benitez robbed the
After a disappointing 2011 Copa America coach Reinaldo squad of one of its most popular members. He was a
Rueda came under renewed pressure when his team were striker of class and versatility, who could also drop back to
thrashed 4-0 by Argentina early in the qualifying balance out a team that can look very open.”
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Dominguez
ALEXANDER JUAN CARLOS
DOMINGUEZ PAREDES Guagua Erazo
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Paredes Ayovi
Club: LDU Quito Club: Emelec
Born: 05.06.87 Born: 08.07.87
(aged 26) (aged 26) Castillo Noboa
Apps in qualifiers: 12 Apps in qualifiers: 14 A Valencia Montero
Caicedo E Valencia
JORGE FRICKSON WALTER AYOVI

GUAGUA ERAZO LEFT-BACK
CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Pachuca (Mex)
Club: Emelec Club: Flamengo (Bra) Born: 11.08.79
Born: 28.09.81 Born: 05.05.88 (aged 34)
ANTONIO SEGUNDO CHRISTIAN

VALENCIA CASTILLO NOBOA
RIGHT MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Club: Manchester Club: Al Hilal (Sau) Club: Dynamo Moscow
United (Eng) Born: 15.05.82 (Rus)
Born: 04.08.85 (aged 32) Born: 09.04.85
JEFFERSON FELIPE ENNER

MONTERO CAICEDO VALENCIA
WINGER CENTRE-FORWARD CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Morelia (Mex) Club: Al Jazira (UAE) Club: Pachuca (Mex)
Born: 01.09.89 Born: 05.09.88 Born: 11.04.89
OTHER PLAYERS Emelec EDISON Independiente del THE COACH

7 apps/523 mins/0 MENDEZ Valle
JOHN goals in qualifiers 0 apps in qualifiers REINALDO
NARVAEZ MIDFIELD RUEDA
LUIS Santa Fe (Col)
DEFENCE JOAO ROJAS Born 16.04.57
Emelec
FERNANDO 5 apps/136 mins/1 (aged 57)
FORWARD
SARITAMA goal in qualifiers A serious, methodical
Cruz Azul (Mex)
MIDFIELD figure who made his
RENATO 10 apps/446 mins/1
name in his native
OSCAR BAGUI Barcelona IBARRA goal in qualifiers
11 apps/693 mins/0 Colombia, taking the
DEFENCE MIDFIELD under-20 team to
Emelec
Vitesse (Hol)
FIDEL
MARTINEZ third place in the 2003 World Youth
FERNANDO 10 apps/196 mins/0 Championship. Promoted to the senior side, he
FORWARD
GABRIEL GAIBOR goals in qualifiers narrowly failed to make Germany 2006, but
Tijuana (Mex) qualified for the finals four years later with
ACHILIER MIDFIELD HENRY LEON 1 app/7 mins/0 goals
Emelec Honduras. He took charge of Ecuador after the
DEFENCE FORWARD in qualifiers 2010 finals.
WORLD CUP 2014 87

GROUP D SCHEDULE
Wayne Rooney After a bright start (a 5-0 win in Moldova), Hodgson’s side
June 14 v Italy, Manaus
England’s only genuine world-class performer but yet to ran up a series of draws (home to Ukraine, away in Poland,
June 19 v Uruguay, Sao Paulo
June 24 v Costa Rica, Belo Horizonte repeat the outstanding form he showed as a teenager at Montenegro and Ukraine) that left them needing wins over
Euro 2004. Poland and Montenegro in their final matches at Wembley
BETTING to guarantee automatic qualification.
William Hill Steven Gerrard Ultimately, they were helped by their rivals taking points
33/1 to win World Cup Appointed captain by Hodgson ahead of Euro 2012 and off each other. But England can take heart from the fact
11/10 to be eliminated at group stage now plays a more settled role in deep midfield, having they ended the qualifying campaign unbeaten.
reigned in his more cavalier instincts.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
Strengths
Joe Hart England will travel to Brazil with no pressure, and with an
1954 Quarter-finals,
defeat by Uruguay First-choice goalkeeper despite a brief lapse in form that experienced manager who will get the best from the squad.
1958 First round exit resulted in him being dropped as Manchester City’s first
1962 Quarter-finals, defeat by Brazil choice earlier this season. Weaknesses
1966 WINNERS, Other than Rooney and Gerrard, there is little quality in the
4-2 Final victory over West Germany Daniel Sturridge squad. The extra games played in England and the lack of a
1970 Quarter-finals, The former Chelsea and Man City striker has enjoyed an winter break could take their toll as players stagger into
defeat by West Germany exceptional season with Liverpool. June. Theo Walcott is already been out with a knee injury.
1982 Second group phase
1986 Quarter-finals, defeat
World Soccer Prediction
by Argentina
1990 Semi-finals, defeat on Group stage exit.
penalties by West Germany
1998 Second round, defeat on WHAT THEY SAY
penalties by Argentina THE COACH
2002 Quarter-finals, defeat by Brazil Roy Hodgson
2006 Quarter-finals, defeat on “Everyone’s excited by this tournament. I would be
penalties by Portugal expecting every player who is selected to be viewing this
2010 Last 16, defeat by Germany
as the most exciting period in his life so far. This is an
England team in transition.”
ONE TO WATCH THE PUNDIT

The left-sided attacking midfielder Adam Lallana Gavin Hamilton, World Soccer Editor
(above) has starred for Southampton throughout their rise “Hodgson has rung the changes since taking over from
from League One to the Premier League. Made his senior Fabio Capello, with plenty of new faces. He must now
England debut in November 2013 and has been linked decide whether to risk the youngsters in Brazil in a bid to
with a move to a bigger Premier League club this summer. gain experience for the real target: Euro 2016 in France.”
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Hart
JOE HART GLEN JOHNSON Cahill Jagielka
Club: Manchester City Club: Liverpool Johnson Baines
Born: 19.04.87 Born: 23.08.84
(aged 27) (aged 29) Carrick
Apps in qualifiers: 10 Apps in qualifiers: 4 Gerrard Lallana
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Goals in qualifiers: 0 Sturridge Oxlade-
Rooney Chamberlain
GARY CAHILL PHIL JAGIELKA LEIGHTON

CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE BAINES
Club: Chelsea Club: Everton LEFT-BACK
Born: 19.12.85 Born: 17.08.82 Club: Everton
(aged 28) (aged 31) Born: 11.12.84
STEVEN MICHAEL ADAM

GERRARD CARRICK LALLANA
MIDFIELDER MIDFIELDER MIDFIELDER
Club: Liverpool Club: Manchester Utd Club: Southampton
Born: 30.05.80 Born: 28.07.81 Born: 10.05.88
DANIEL WAYNE ALEX OXLADE-

STURRIDGE ROONEY CHAMBERLAIN
FORWARD CENTRE-FORWARD FORWARD
Club: Liverpool Club: Manchester Utd Club: Arsenal
Born: 01.09.89 Born: 24.10.85 Born: 15.08.93
OTHER PLAYERS Liverpool THE COACH

JAMES MILNER RICKIE
0 apps in qualifiers LAMBERT
CHRIS MIDFIELD ROY
Manchester City JACK FORWARD HODGSON
SMALLING 8 apps/453 mins/1
WILSHERE Southampton Born 09.08.47
DEFENCE goal in qualifiers 2 apps/160 mins/1 (aged 66)
Manchester United MIDFIELD goal in qualifiers The former
3 apps/270 mins/0 RAHEEM Arsenal
Switzerland and
goals in qualifiers STERLING 4 apps/168 mins/0 DANNY Internazionale coach
goals in qualifiers WELBECK
MIDFIELD has brought
PHIL JONES Liverpool organisation and a
DEFENCE
ROSS FORWARD
0 apps in qualifiers Manchester United quiet self-confidence
Manchester United BARKLEY to a job that was in
8 apps/523 mins/4
0 apps in qualifiers JORDAN MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers danger of becoming
HENDERSON Everton impossible. Under
1 app/30 mins/0 goals contract until 2016.
MIDFIELD in qualifiers
WORLD CUP 2014 89

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS After seeing off Georgia at home, the return against
KEY MEN Spain proved to be a disappointment. Pedro scored the
GROUP E SCHEDULE Franck Ribery only goal of the game for the visitors, which put them top
June 15 v Honduras, Porto Alegre
At 31, he is at the absolute height of the group. France dropped further points in a goalless
June 20 v Switzerland, Salvador
June 25 v Ecuador, Rio de Janeiro
of his powers. His box of tricks draw in Georgia, before finishing the campaign with two
seems to get bigger; his wins: 4-2 away to Belarus and 3-0 at home to Finland.
BETTING enthusiasm and workrate never France finished in second place, three behind Spain, to
William Hill wane. His country’s most potent threat. tee up a double-header play-off with Ukraine. They
21/1 to win World Cup suffered a 2-0 defeat, in Kiev, in the first leg and needed a
4/5 to win Group E Hugo Lloris miracle in the return in Paris. With a passionate crowd
The country’s goalkeeper and captain, he is a commanding behind them in the Stade de France, the home side turned
WORLD CUP HISTORY presence between the sticks. Never flashy, the Tottenham on the style and cruised to a 3-0 win.
stopper has the ability to make even difficult saves look easy.
Strengths
defeat by Italy Karim Benzema An abundance of naturally gifted players throughout the
1954 First round exit His form for France has been patchy but the Real Madrid side, led by Ribery, Pogba and Varane. An interesting mix
1958 Semi-finals, 5-2 defeat by Brazil striker remains France’s most effective attacking weapon. of youth and experience. A decent group draw.
1978 First round exit ONE TO WATCH Weaknesses
1982 Semi-finals, defeat on Paul Pogba (right) only made Lack of a real goal machine in attack.
penalties by West Germany his international debut in March
1986 Semi-finals, 2-0 defeat
of last year, but the 21-year-old World Soccer Prediction
by West Germany
Juventus midfielder has already Quarter-finals.
over Brazil shown that he’s an exceptional
2002 First round exit talent. He could easily be one of WHAT THEY SAY
2006 Runners-up, Final defeat the stars of Brazil 2014. THE COACH
on penalties by Italy Didier Deschamps
2010 Group stage exit ENGLISH CONNECTION “We can’t pretend to be among the World Cup favourites
Full-back Mathieu Debuchy was one of a number of because there are teams who have been posting results
Newcastle players who played a key role in the qualifiers. that are way better than France’s for four or five years now.”
ANALYSIS THE PUNDIT

How they qualified Howard Johnson, World Soccer France correspondent
Following an opening 1-0 away win against Finland in “In the play-off against Ukraine, France played the kind of
Helsinki and a comfortable 3-1 victory at home to Belarus, football that made people sit up and take notice. Drawn in
France travelled to Madrid to take on Spain. An excellent a group with Ecuador, Honduras and Switzerland, France
performance resulted in a deserved 1-1 draw that saw will fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout
France level on points with Spain after three games. stage of the World Cup.”
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Lloris
HUGO LLORIS MATHIEU Varane Koscielny
GOALKEEPER DEBUCHY
Club: Tottenham RIGHT-BACK Debuchy Evra
Hotspur (Eng) Club: Newcastle (Eng)
Born: 26.12.86 Born: 28.07.85 Pogba Matuidi
(aged 27) (aged 28)
Apps in qualifiers: 10 Apps in qualifiers: 4 Nasri Cabaye Ribery
Benzema
RAPHAEL LAURENT PATRICE EVRA

VARANE KOSCIELNY LEFT-BACK
CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Manchester
Club: Real Madrid (Fra) Club: Arsenal (Eng) United (Eng)
Born: 25.04.93 Born: 10.09.85 Born: 15.05.81
PAUL POGBA BLAISE SAMIR NASRI

CENTRAL MIDFIELD MATUIDI ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Club: Juventus (Ita) CENTRAL MIDFIELD Club: Manchester City
Born: 15.03.93 Club: Paris Saint- (Eng)
(aged 21) Germain Born: 26.06.87
Goals in qualifiers: 1 Apps in qualifiers: 9 Mins in qualifiers: 182
YOHAN FRANCK KARIM

CABAYE RIBERY BENZEMA
ATTACKING MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Paris Saint- Club: Bayern Munich Club: Real Madrid (Eng)
Germain (Ger) Born: 19.12.87
Born: 14.01.86 Born: 07.04.83 (aged 26)
OTHER PLAYERS ELIAQUIM 6 apps/185 mins/0 LOIC REMY THE COACH

MANGALA goals in qualifiers
BACARY FORWARD DIDIER
SAGNA DEFENCE MATHIEU Newcastle (Eng) DESCHAMPS
Porto (Por) VALBUENA 3 apps/105 mins/0
DEFENCE 0 apps in qualifiers goals in qualifiers A World Cup winner as
Arsenal (Eng) ATTACKING MIDFIELD a midfielder with France
3 apps/192 mins/0 GAEL CLICHY Marseille OLIVIER in 1998, the former
goals in qualifiers 10 apps/615 mins/1 GIROUD Monaco, Juventus and
DEFENCE goal in qualifiers Marseille boss took on
MAMADOU Manchester City (Eng) FORWARD
the France job in July
SAKHO 2 apps/180 mins/0 ANTOINE Arsenal (Eng)
2012, just before the
goals in qualifiers GRIEZMANN 9 apps/491 mins/2
DEFENCE World Cup qualifying
Liverpool (Eng) ATTACKING MIDFIELD campaign began. His
MOUSSA reward for getting the
5 apps/450 mins/2 SISSOKO Real Sociedad (Spa)
goals in qualifiers 0 apps in qualifiers team over the line was a
MIDFIELD contract extension that
Newcastle (Eng) takes him up to 2016.
WORLD CUP 2014 91

GROUP G SCHEDULE Philipp Lahm Germany had few problems getting through the qualifiers,
June 16 v Portugal, Salvador
Excellent for Bayern Munich this winning their group ahead of Sweden, Austria and the
June 21 v Ghana, Fortaleza
June 26 v United States, Recife
season in a new deep-midfield role, Republic of Ireland.
the 30-year-old (right) is likely to The phenomenal attacking-third talent of Thomas
BETTING remain at right-back for the national Muller, Marco Reus, Mario Gotze, Mesut Ozil and Julian
William Hill team, who rely enormously on his wonderful overlapping, Draxler, and the utter reliability of goalkeeper Manuel
11/2 to win World Cup intelligence and leadership qualities. Grittier than his Neuer, midfield controller Bastian Schweinsteiger and
4/7 to win Group G choirboy looks suggest. striker Miroslav Klose all combined to produce an easy
qualification, which was achieved without losing a
WORLD CUP HISTORY Marco Reus single game.
In the post-mortems that followed Germany’s semi-final They was the odd scare: defensive frailties were exposed
1954 WINNERS,
3-2 Final victory over Hungary
elimination at Euro 2012, a popular school of thought was in a 4-4 World Cup draw with Sweden in Berlin. And there
1958 Semi-finals, 3-1 defeat that the Nationalmannschaft would have gone further if were some poor results in friendlies: a 4-3 loss to the USA
by Sweden Low had shown more faith in this “wizard of the dribble”. on tour last summer and a 3-3 draw at home to Ecuador
1962 Quarter-finals, defeat He has been even more effective since he joined Borussia in August.
by Yugoslavia Dortmund from Borussia Monchengladbach a year ago.
1966 Runners-up, 4-2 Final defeat World Soccer Prediction
by England Thomas Muller Quarter-finals.
1970 Semi-finals, 4-3 defeat by Italy Brilliant attacking all-rounder from Bayern Munich who
1974 WINNERS, WHAT THEY SAY
won the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup thanks to five
2-1 Final victory over Holland
1978 Second round exit
goals and three assists. Pacy, incisive and blessed with an THE COACH
1982 Runners-up, 3-1 Final defeat uncanny ability to find space, he will run all day for his Joachim Low
by Italy team but never haphazardly. “On paper, we have a top team, but reality sees it
1986 Runners-up, differently. We have some players who have been injured
3-2 Final defeat by Argentina ONE TO WATCH for months. We have some players who are not playing
1990 WINNERS, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil regularly for their clubs. We have some players who are
1-0 Final victory over Argentina (left) suffered a dip in form this struggling for form and others who are fighting little
1994 Quarter-finals, spring after a bright start to his injury concerns.”
defeat by Bulgaria
club career in England and was
1998 Quarter-finals, defeat by Croatia
2002 Runners-up, 2-0 Final defeat
also booed by Germany fans at a THE PUNDIT
by Brazil home friendly. But he remains a Nick Bidwell, World Soccer Germany
2006 Semis, gifted playmaker. correspondent
2-0 defeat “Low still has to contend with those who see him as a
by Italy ENGLISH CONNECTION perennial faller at the last hurdle. He will only be truly
2010 Semis, Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker is Germany’s first accepted into Germany’s leadership pantheon if he
1-0 defeat choice in central defence. can strike gold next summer.”
by Spain
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Neuer
MANUEL PHILIPP LAHM Boateng Mertesacker
NEUER RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER Club: Bayern Munich Lahm Schmelzer
Club: Bayern Munich Born: 11.11.83
Born: 27.03.86 (aged 30) Schweinsteiger Kroos
Apps in qualifiers: 10 Mins in qualifiers: 810 Muller Ozil Reus
Klose
JEROME PER MARCEL

BOATENG MERTESACKER SCHMELZER
Club: Bayern Munich Club: Arsenal (Eng) Club: Borussia
Born: 03.09.88 Born: 29.09.84 Dortmund
(aged 25) (aged 29) Born: 22.01.88
BASTIAN TONI KROOS THOMAS

SCHWEINSTEIGER CENTRAL MIDFIELD MULLER
CENTRAL MIDFIELD Club: Bayern Munich ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Club: Bayern Munich Born: 04.01.90 Club: Bayern Munich
Born: 01.08.84 (aged 24) Born: 13.09.89
MESUT OZIL MARCO REUS MIROSLAV

CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD KLOSE
Club: Arsenal (Eng) Club: Borussia CENTRE-FORWARD
Born: 15.10.88 Dortmund Club: Lazio (Ita)
(aged 25) Born: 31.05.89 Born: 09.06.78
OTHER PLAYERS Arsenal (Eng) THE COACH

KEVIN 5 apps/128 mins/0 JULIAN
ROMAN GROSSKREUTZ goals in qualifiers DRAXLER JOACHIM
WEIDENFELLER DEFENCE ATTACKING MIDFIELD LOW
GOALKEEPER Borussia Dortmund ANDRE Schalke Born 03.02.50
Borussia Dortmund 0 apps in qualifiers SCHURRLE 5 apps/109 mins/0 (aged 54)
0 apps in qualifiers ATTACKING MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers Throughout the
SAMI KHEDIRA Chelsea (Eng) Nationalmannschaft’s
MATS MIDFIELD 6 apps/240 mins/4 MARIO GOMEZ 105-year history,
HUMMELS Real Madrid (Spa) goals in qualifiers FORWARD no Bundestrainer
DEFENCE 8 apps/658 mins/1 Fiorentina (Ita) has a better win
Borussia Dortmund goal in qualifiers MARIO GOTZE 0 apps in qualifiers percentage than
3 apps/270 mins/0 ATTACKING MIDFIELD “Jogi”, who can
goals in qualifiers LUKAS Bayern Munich boast a 69 per cent
PODOLSKI 7 apps/385 mins/4 success rate.
ATTACKING MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers However, after a hat-trick of big tournament
near misses, he has to deliver this summer.
WORLD CUP 2014 93

THE PLAYERS ANALYSIS
Michael Essien Despite a disappointing performance at last year’s African Nations Cup,
Came under some scrutiny when he returned to the fold late last year. Ghana kept faith with coach Kwesi Appiah, who has a low profile and has had
However, he delivered a colossal performance in the win over Egypt. to battle to prove his worth in a country where there remains a strident
debate over the merits of a foreign coach against the strengths of a local.
Asamoah Gyan Ashanti-born Appiah has been strengthened by the recent decisions of
The striker (right) might have swapped the competitiveness of Michael Essien and Kevin-Prince Boateng to return from their self-imposed
the English Premier League for easy petrodollars in the periods of exile. Essien made a remarkable return in a driving midfield role in
United Arab Emirates, but he still has great finishing ability. the play-off against Egypt, allowing Sulley Muntari and Kwadwo Asamoah to
adopt more creative roles out wide. The Black Stars ran out 8-2 winners on
Kevin-Prince Boateng aggregate, leaving Appiah to talk of leading the Ghanaians into history as the
Seen as opportunistic, the jury is out. Played at the last World Cup then first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final.
“retired” from international football to avoid going to the 2012 and 2013
African Nations Cups. Suddenly, now that the World Cup beckons, he is back. Strengths
High on self-confidence after an impressive qualifying campaign. They beat
ONE TO WATCH USA in both the 2006 and 2010 tournaments.
The presence of Kwadwo Asamoah on the left-hand side is a vital
component of Ghana’s attack. He remains much underrated. Weaknesses
Drawn in arguably the toughest first-round group. Attacking prowess contrasts
ENGLISH CONNECTION starkly with worries at the back and the lack of a top-class goalkeeper.
Middlesbrough winger Albert Adomah is a likely squad member.
Group stage exit.
KEY INFORMATION
WHAT THEY SAY
GROUP G SCHEDULE THE COACH
June 16 v United States, Natal Kwesi Appiah
June 21 v Germany, Fortaleza
“Looking at the players we’ve got, I believe they can go far and that’s why I
June 26 v Portugal, Brasilia
keep saying that we may surprise the world.”
BETTING
William Hill THE PUNDIT
200/1 to win World Cup Mark Gleeson, World Soccer Africa correspondent
10/1 to win Group G “One driving force for the team will be the residual anger at being denied that
semi-final spot at the last World Cup, when Luis Suarez’s cynical handball
WORLD CUP HISTORY kept out Dominic Adiyiah’s goal-bound header. That whole episode created a
2006 Second round, defeat by Brazil deep wound and for a while hindered Ghana’s progress. Now it could become
2010 Quarter-finals, defeat by Uruguay
a motivating spur for the west Africans.”
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Kwarasey
ADAM DANIEL OPARE Akaminko Mensah
KWARASEY RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER
Opare Addy
Club: Standard Liege
Club: Stromsgodset (Blg)
(Nor) Born: 19.10.90 Essien Muntari
Born: 12.12.87 (aged 23) A Ayew Asamoah
(aged 26) Apps in qualifiers: 4 Boateng
Mins in qualifiers: 180 Goals in qualifiers: 0 Gyan
JERRY JONATHAN DAVID ADDY

AKAMINKO MENSAH LEFT-BACK
CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Vitoria Guimaraes
Club: Eskisehirspor (Tur) Club: Evian (Fra) (Por)
Born: 02.05.88 Born: 13.07.90 Born: 21.02.90
ANDRE AYEW MICHAEL SULLEY

RIGHT MIDFIELD ESSIEN MUNTARI
Club: Marseille (Fra) CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Born: 17.12.89 Club: Milan (Ita) Club: Milan (Ita)
(aged 24) Born: 03.12.82 Born: 27.08.84
KWADWO KEVIN-PRINCE ASAMOAH

ASAMOAH BOATENG GYAN
LEFT MIDFIELD FORWARD CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Juventus (Ita) Club: Schalke (Ger) Club: Al Ain (UAE)
Born: 09.12.88 Born: 06.03.87 Born: 22.11.85
OTHER PLAYERS ALBERT CHRISTIAN ATSU Without club THE COACH

ADOMAH MIDFIELD 3 apps/209 mins/2
HARRISON Vitesse Arnhem (Hol) goals in qualifiers KWESI APPIAH
AFFUL MIDFIELD
5 apps/199 mins/2 Born 30.06.60
Middlesbrough (Eng)
DEFENCE 1 app/79 mins/0 goals goals in qualifiers JORDAN AYEW (aged 53)
Esperance (Tun) FORWARD He was promoted from
in qualifiers
7 apps/630 mins/0 MUBARAK Sochaux (Fra) his position as assistant
goals in qualifiers EMMANUEL WAKASO 2 apps/180 mins/2 after Serbian coach
AGYEMANG MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers Goran Stepanovic was
SAMUEL BADU Rubin Kazan (Rus) fired in March 2012,
INKOOM MIDFIELD 5 apps/231 mins/1 ABDUL having already served as
DEFENCE Udinese (Ita) goal in qualifiers MAJEED WARIS caretaker for several games after the 2010
Platanias (Gre) FORWARD World Cup. An international defender in his
8 apps/307 mins/1
5 apps/374 mins/0 goal in qualifiers DOMINIC Valenciennes (Fra) playing days with Asante Kotoko, he came
goals in qualifiers ADIYIAH 4 apps/348 mins/3 through the Ghanaian FA’s coaching structures
goals in qualifiers and led the under-23s to the gold medal at
FORWARD
the 2011 All-Africa Games.
WORLD CUP 2014 95

THE PLAYERS Giorgos Karagounis secured with another Mitroglou goal in a draw in
KEY MEN When the national team’s engine starts to fail, Bucharest.
Kostas Mitroglou Santos calls on his spark plug, the 37-year-old Greece only missed out on automatic
The multi-talented veteran, who now plays for Fulham. He has been qualification on goal difference; the advantage
26-year-old striker the inspiration for the team since his debut in swung Bosnia’s way when they beat Greece 3-1 in
(right) scored three of 1999 and has now made a record number of Zenica following a goalless draw in Athens five
the four goals against appearances. He is known for his excellent ball months earlier. Those were the only points Greece
Romania in the control, deadly free-kicks from distance and for dropped all campaign.
qualification play-off drawing fouls.
and notched up
four hat-tricks for Olympiakos this season, three in Jose Holebas Strengths
the domestic Super League and one at Anderlecht The German-born defender performed well during The likes of Mitroglou, Gekas, Samaras and
in the Champions League. Joined Fulham in qualification, making numerous attacking runs Salpingidis are all capable of goals. Tight defence.
January but injuries have restricted his impact. down the left flank and providing useful crosses for Great team spirit generated by Santos.
his team-mates.
Weaknesses
KEY INFORMATION ONE TO WATCH Defence can switch off at vital moments. Tendency
Olympiakos defender Kostas Manolas was one of to take things easy against lesser opponents. One
GROUP C SCHEDULE
the stars of his club side’s run in this season’s or two players are prone to losing their cool.
June 14 v Colombia, Belo Horizonte
June 19 v Japan, Natal
Champions League.
June 24 v Ivory Coast, Fortaleza World Soccer Prediction
ENGLISH CONNECTION Group stage exit.
BETTING Former Manchester City striker
William Hill Giorgos Samaras (right), who has WHAT THEY SAY
250/1 to win World Cup been at Celtic since leaving City in THE COACH
6/4 to finish bottom of Group C 2008, plays out wide as part of Fernando Santos
Greece’s five-man midfield. “I have a target which is for the team to make it
WORLD CUP HISTORY
past the group stage. We have three strong
ANALYSIS opponents, but everything is possible. At Euro 2012,
How they qualified no one thought we could get through the group
After finishing second to Bosnia in one of the stage, especially, after the first games. Who would
weaker qualifying groups, Greece secured their have thought that we could knock out Russia?”
third appearance at a World Cup with a 4-2
aggregate victory over Romania in the play-offs. THE PUNDIT
Two goals from Kostas Mitroglou, plus one from Lou Economopoulos, World Soccer Greece
Dimitris Salpingidis, set them on their way with a correspondent
3-1 victory in the home leg, and Greece’s place at “Kostas Mitroglou turned a once very defensive
a fifth major tournament in the last 10 years was side into an attacking threat at the end of 2013,
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Karnezis
ORESTIS VASILIS Manolas Papastathopoulos
KARNEZIS TOROSIDIS
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Torosidis Holebas
Club: Granada (Spa) Club: Roma (Ita)
Born: 11.07.85 Born: 10.06.85 Tziolis Maniatis
(aged 28) (aged 28)
Apps in qualifiers: 12 Apps in qualifiers: 11 Salpingidis Karagounis Samaras
Mitroglu
KOSTAS SOKRATIS JOSE HOLEBAS

MANOLAS PAPASTATHOPOULOS LEFT-BACK
CENTRAL DEFENCE POSITION Club: Olympiakos (Gre)
Club: Olympiakos Club: Borussia Born: 27.06.84
Born: 14.06.91 Dortmund (Ger) (aged 29)
(aged 22) Born: 09.06.88 Apps in qualifiers: 9
Apps in qualifiers: 3 (aged 25) Mins in qualifiers: 585
Mins in qualifiers: 190 Apps in qualifiers: 11 Goals in qualifiers: 0
ALEXANDROS GIORGOS GIANNIS

TZIOLIS KARAGOUNIS MANIATIS
CENTRAL MIDFIELD MIDFIELD MIDFIELD
Club: Kayserispor (Tur) Club: Fulham (Eng) Club: Olympiakos
Born: 13.02.85 Born: 06.03.77 Born: 12.01.86
GIORGOS KOSTAS DIMITRIS

SAMARAS MITROGLOU SALPINGIDIS
ATTACKING MIDFIELD CENTRE-FORWARD ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Club: Celtic (Sco) Club: Fulham (Eng) Club: PAOK
Born: 21.02.85 Born: 12.03.88 Born: 18.08.81
OTHER PLAYERS DIMITRIS Bologna (Ita) goals in qualifiers THE COACH

SIOVAS 6 apps/296 mins/1
GIORGOS goal in qualifiers SOTIRIS NINIS FERNANDO
TZAVELLAS DEFENCE SANTOS
Olympiakos FORWARD
DEFENCE ANDREAS PAOK Born 10.10.54
0 apps in qualifiers SAMARIS
PAOK 6 apps/346 mins/1 (aged 59)
3 apps/164 mins/0 PANAGIOTIS MIDFIELD goal in qualifiers He has overseen an
goals in qualifiers KONE Olympiakos exceptional run of
MIDFIELD
3 apps/65 mins/0 FANIS GEKAS form since joining in
AVRAAM goals in qualifiers the summer of
Bologna (Ita) FORWARD
PAPADOPOULOS 2010 and led the
2 apps/90 mins/0 Konyaspor (Tur)
DEFENCE KOSTAS side to the
goals in qualifiers 7 apps/405 mins/2
Olympiakos KATSOURANIS quarter-finals of
1 app/90 mins/0 goals LAZAROS MIDFIELD Euro 2012. The
in qualifiers CHRISTODOULOPOULOS PAOK Greek federation wanted to keep him after the
10 apps/895 mins/0 World Cup in Brazil but he has decided not to
MIDFIELD renew his contract.
WORLD CUP 2014 97

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS However, the opener against Turkey proved vital. A 2-0
KEY MEN win gave the team and the charismatic Van Gaal a major
GROUP B SCHEDULE Rafael Van der Vaart confidence boost, and wins away against Hungary and
June 13 v Spain, Salvador
For years he was Wesley Sneijder’s understudy, but he has Romania, plus a home victory over minnows Andorra, put
June 18 v Australia, Porto Alegre
June 23 v Chile, Sao Paulo
now surpassed his former Ajax team-mate as the national Holland in pole position.
team’s midfield creator. Chips in with important goals. They suffered a hiccup in Estonia, where they were lucky
BETTING to clinch a 2-2 draw, but a 2-0 win in Andorra was enough
William Hill Arjen Robben to qualify unbeaten, with two games to spare.
28/1 to win World Cup The only player Van Gaal will make an exception for when
2/1 to win Group B it comes to his dogmas on fitness and match practice. The Strengths
30-year-old can still create havoc among opposing Van Gaal is the ideal man to get the best out of a young
WORLD CUP HISTORY defences. squad, with a new generation of players emerging.
1974 Runners-up, 2-1 Final
Robin Van Persie Weaknesses
defeat by West Germany The absolute leader of the pack. One of the few regulars The defence lacks a leader. The majority of the squad is
1978 Runners-up, 3-1 Final left in the national team, he was decisive in qualifying on made up of inexperienced Eredivisie players. Key
defeat by Argentina more than one occasion. midfielder Kevin Strootman will miss the World Cup
1990 Second round defeat because of injury.
by West Germany ONE TO WATCH
1994 Quarter-final defeat by Brazil Born in Portugal to parents from World Soccer Prediction
1998 Semi-final defeat on Guinea Bissau, Bruno Martins Indi Group stage exit.
penalties by Brazil
(left) arrived in Holland as a toddler.
2006 Second round defeat
by Portugal
A physically strong WHAT THEY SAY
2010 Runners-up, defender who has THE COACH
beaten 1-0 in Final by Spain never let Van Gaal Louis Van Gaal
down and has even scored a few goals. “We will go to the World Cup with mainly young players.
Our goal will be to survive the group phase. There are at
ENGLISH CONNECTION least eight teams better than us.”
Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar (right)
will play a crucial role in the back four. THE PUNDIT
Klaas-Jan Droppert, World Soccer Holland
ANALYSIS correspondent
How they qualified “The big question is who will be in the team. Up until now,
Expectations were not exactly high when the qualifiers Van Gaal has selected his side on fitness and form, using a
started. Holland had experienced a disastrous Euro 2012 crop of inexperienced Eredivisie players and often
– three group-game defeats and an early exit – and new changing the team from one game to the next. A star like
coach Louis Van Gaal had to virtually build a new team Wesley Sneijder, who was stripped of the captaincy during
from scratch. the qualification campaign, is not guaranteed a place.”
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Cillessen
JASPER DARYL
CILLESSEN JANMAAT
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Janmaat Vlaar Martins Indi Blind
Club: Ajax Club: Feyenoord
Born: 22.04.89 Born: 22.07.89
(aged 25) (aged 24)
Fer De Jong Van der Vaart
Lens Van Persie Robben
RON VLAAR BRUNO DALEY BLIND

CENTRAL DEFENCE MARTINS INDI LEFT-BACK
Club: Aston Villa (Eng) CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Ajax
Born: 16.02.85 Club: Feyenoord Born: 09.03.90
(aged 29) Born: 08.02.92 (aged 24)
LEROY FER NIGEL DE JONG RAFAEL VAN

MIDFIELDER MIDFIELDER DER VAART
Club: Norwich City Club: Milan (Ita) MIDFIELDER
(Eng) Born: 30.11.89 Club: Hamburg (Ger)
Born: 05.01.90 (aged 24) Born: 11.02.83
JEREMAIN ROBIN VAN ARJEN

LENS PERSIE ROBBEN
FORWARD CENTRE-FORWARD FORWARD
Club: Dynamo Kiev Club: Manchester Club: Bayern Munich
(Ukr) United (Eng) (Ger)
Born: 24.11.87 Born: 06.08.83 Born: 23.01.84
OTHER PLAYERS Paris Saint Germain JORDY CLASIE PSV Eindhoven THE COACH
(Fra) 1 apps/1 min/0 goals
MIDFIELD LOUIS VAN
JOEL VELTMAN 0 apps in qualifiers
Feyenoord
in qualifiers
DEFENCE GAAL
DAVY 5 apps/245 mins/0
Ajax goals in qualifiers
DIRK KUYT Born 08.08.51
0 apps in qualifiers KLAESSEN FORWARD (aged 62)
MIDFIELD STIJN Fenerbahce (Tur) One of the world’s most
TERENCE Ajax SCHAARS 5 apps/128 mins/0 successful coaches, he
KONGOLO 0 apps in qualifiers
MIDFIELD
goals in qualifiers has won league titles
DEFENCE with Ajax, Barcelona, AZ
Feyenoord WESLEY PSV KLAAS-JAN and Bayern Munich. He
SNEIJDER 2 apps/180 mins/0
HUNTELAAR was in charge of Holland
MIDFIELD FORWARD once before but stepped
GREGORY Galatasaray (Tur)
MEMPHIS Schalke (Ger) down after failing to
VAN DER WIEL 6 apps/474 mins/1
DEPAY 2 apps/135 mins/2 qualify for the 2002
DEFENCE goal in qualifiers goals in qualifiers World Cup. He leaves
FORWARD after the World Cup.
WORLD CUP 2014 99

THE PLAYERS Carlo Costly Strengths
KEY MEN Underwhelming with almost A reasonable group draw. The core of the side
Maynor Figueroa every club he has played for played at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and
The team’s best player at the moment and the outside of Honduras, but every will not be star-struck in Brazil. Valladares is a very
only one who has had a good season in England. time he puts on the national consistent goalkeeper, while Bernardez and
At 30, he seems to be at his best, while his stability shirt he exceeds expectations. Figueroa have played together for years at the
and calm at the heart of the defence will be He has scored 30 goals in 68 heart of the defence.
essential in Brazil. internationals, including the winning goal against
Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. Weaknesses
Roger Espinoza Few attacking options if Costly or Bengtson is
The Wigan Athletic midfielder’s positional ONE TO WATCH unavailable. No true match-winner. An ageing
awareness and never-say-die attitude make him Jonathan Mejia, a Spanish-born striker who has squad with few first-team players under the
irreplaceable for the national team. been outstanding with second-tier Spanish side age of 28.
Real Jaen this season.
KEY INFORMATION ENGLISH CONNECTION Group stage exit
Stoke City midfielder Wilson
GROUP E SCHEDULE Palacios (left) was a regular WHAT THEY SAY
June 15 v France, Porto Alegre during the qualifying campaign THE COACH
June 20 v Ecuador, Curitiba but his lack of playing time in Luis Fernando Suarez
June 25 v Switzerland, Manaus this season’s Premier League “Honduras has for five or six years, maybe a little
could jeopardise his World bit more, been showing progress in its football and
BETTING
William Hill
Cup place. is logically well regarded for that in Central
2500/1 to win World Cup America. But I realise that in the world as a whole
16/1 to win Group E ANALYSIS few know about Honduras as a football team so it
How they qualified would be good for what has already been seen in
WORLD CUP HISTORY Honduras defied all expectations during the Central America to be seen at the World Cup.”
1982 First round exit qualifying campaign. With a squad that lacked star
2010 First round exit names and made up of many players who seemed THE PUNDIT
to be past their prime, the best hope had been to Martin Del Palacio Langer, World Soccer
pip Panama to fourth place in the qualifying Central America correspondent
CONCACAF section, and a play-off with the “Honduras are a modest team, inferior in quality to
champions of Oceania. the one that played in the 2010 World Cup in
But Colombian coach Luis Fernando Suarez South Africa, but one that is much more united
crafted a team that punched above their weight. and with a better spirit. Looking at the quality at
They qualified directly for their second World Cup Suarez’s disposal, they should consider themselves
in a row, beating Mexico in the Estadio Azteca – a lucky if they manage to improve on their one-point
first in the history of “La H” – along the way. tally from four years ago.”
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Valladares
NOEL ARNOLD
VALLADARES PERALTA Bernardez Figueroa
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Peralta Izaguirre
Club: Olimpia Club: Rangers (Sco)
Born: 03.05.77 Born: 29.03.89
(aged 37) (aged 25) Garrido Espinoza
Apps in qualifiers: 14 Apps in qualifiers: 12 Claros Garcia
Costly Bengtson
VICTOR MAYNOR EMILIO

BERNARDEZ FIGUEROA IZAGUIRRE
Club: San Jose Club: Hull City (Eng) Club: Celtic (Sco)
Earthquakes (USA) Born: 02.05.83 Born: 10.05.86
Born: 24.05.82 (aged 30) (aged 27)
JORGE CLAROS LUIS GARRIDO OSCAR GARCIA

Club: Motagua Club: Olimpia Club: Houston Dynamo
Born: 08.01.86 Born: 05.11.90 (USA)
(aged 28) (aged 23) Born: 04.09.84
ROGER CARLO COSTLY JERRY

ESPINOZA CENTRE-FORWARD BENGTSON
LEFT MIDFIELD Club: Real Espana CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Wigan Athletic Born: 18.07.82 Club: New England
(Eng) (aged 31) Revolution (USA)
Born: 25.10.86 Apps in qualifiers: 13 Born: 08.04.87
(aged 27) Mins in qualifiers: (aged 27)
Apps in qualifiers: 12 1095 Apps in qualifiers: 12
OTHER PLAYERS WILSON Real Espana goal in qualifiers THE COACH

PALACIOS 9 apps/689 mins/2
BRAYAN goals in qualifiers JONATHAN LUIS FERNANDO
BECKELES MIDFIELDER MEJIA SUAREZ
DEFENDER
Stoke City (Eng) EDDER FORWARD Born 23.12.59
11 apps/839 mins/1 DELGADO
Olimpia Real Jaen (Spa) (aged 54)
goal in qualifiers
3 apps/270 mins/0 MIDFIELDER 0 apps in qualifiers Colombian who sprang
goals in qualifiers Real Espana to fame when he took
ANDY NAJAR GEORGIE Ecuador to the round of
2 apps/180 mins/0
JUAN CARLOS MIDFIELDER goals in qualifiers WELCOME 16 at the 2006 World
GARCIA Anderlecht (Blg) Cup, where they
FORWARD
DEFENDER
5 apps/263 mins/0 MARVIN BEC Tero Sasana
narrowly lost to England.
goals in qualifiers CHAVEZ He’s better known for his
Wigan Athletic (Eng) (Tha)
effective motivational
8 apps/386 mins/1 MARIO MIDFIELDER 4 apps/142 mins/0
skills than his tactical
goal in qualifiers MARTINEZ Colorado Rapids (USA) goals in qualifiers
acumen. Led Atletico Nacional to the
6 apps/177 mins/1
MIDFIELDER Colombian championship.
WORLD CUP 2014 101

THE PLAYERS ONE TO WATCH parents and now known as “Gucci” by an adoring
KEY MEN American-born right-back Steven Beitashour nation. He scored in all three games, crucially in
Javad Nekounam recently accepted an invitation to play for Iran after both of the 1-0 wins in Qatar and South Korea.
An inspirational leader and captain with a knack giving up on a call-up from the USA. Known in Iran
of scoring crucial goals. The former Osasuna by his Persian name, Mehrdad. Strengths
midfielder’s know-how is vital to a team not used Hosseini and Montazeri are a solid central
to the big stage. ENGLISH CONNECTION defensive partnership. Queiroz has introduced
Midfielder Andranik Teimurian tactical discipline. As underdogs, they will be under
Ashkan Dejagah (right) is now back playing club no pressure in Brazil.
The ex-Germany Under-23 football in Iran after spells with
(left) was badly missed in the Premier League clubs Bolton Weaknesses
final three qualifiers. After a Wanderers and Fulham. Only a handful of the first team are playing abroad.
fruitful debut season with Goal-shy in the qualifiers. An ageing team, with an
Fulham, he was a vital factor ANALYSIS average age of 29.7.
in Iran’s qualifying campaign How they qualified
with his flair and stamina. Iran’s road to Brazil started with a two-legged World Soccer Prediction
victory over the Maldives and then followed with a Group stage exit.
Reza Ghoochannejad 6-0 thrashing of 10-man Bahrain as they topped
The unexpected hero whose sharp finishes in each their first group stage. WHAT THEY SAY
of the last three games gave the perfect reply to The next hurdle was a group with Lebanon, THE COACH
his local critics. Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan. A late win in Carlos Queiroz
Uzbekistan was followed by a home draw with “Iran is not a fake country in terms of football. Iran is
Qatar and an embarrassing defeat in Lebanon. The one of those countries where football is in the DNA,
KEY INFORMATION pressure was mounting on coach Carlos Queiroz the blood of the people, like in Brazil, Argentina or
before the crucial home game against South Korea Portugal. The people live the game. It is one of the
GROUP F SCHEDULE
but, as is so often with Iran, the need to get a few counties in the world where you still see a
June 16 v Nigeria, Curitiba
June 21 v Argentina, Belo Horizonte
result brought out the best in them. Despite going stadium with more than 100,000 crammed in to
June 25 v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Salvador down to 10 men, a goal from captain Javad watch a game. The night we qualified for the World
Nekounam secured a vital win in front of 100,000 Cup, we had 65million on the streets celebrating.”
BETTING fans. However, a home defeat by Uzbekistan in the
William Hill next game drastically reduced their chances of THE PUNDIT
automatic qualification. Adel Ferdowispour, World Soccer Iran
1/10 to be eliminated at
It all came down to the final three qualifiers in correspondent
group stage
June 2013: at home to Lebanon, and away to “Sixteen years after Iran beat Australia to qualify
WORLD CUP HISTORY Qatar and South Korea. Against all the odds, Iran for France 98 history has repeated itself. But do
1978 First round exit won all three games to top their group. The hero Iran have enough flair? With Ali Karimi having
1998 First round exit of the hour was Reza Ghoochannejad, a retired, and Masoud Shojaei’s inconsistency, a lack
2006 First round exit 25-year-old forward raised in Holland by Iranian of creativity in midfield is a worry.”
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Davari
DANIEL DAVARI KHOSRO Hosseini Montazeri
GOALKEEPER HEIDARI
Club: Eintracht RIGHT-BACK Heidari Beikzade
Braunschweig (Ger) Club: Esteghlal
Born: 06.01.88 Born: 14.09.83 Nekounam Teimurian
(aged 26) (aged 30)
Apps in qualifiers: 0 Apps in qualifiers: 13 Dejagah Shojaei Jahanbakhsh
Ghoochannejad
JALAL PEJMAN HASHEM

HOSSEINI MONTAZERI BEIKZADE
Club: Persepolis Club: Umm Salal (Qat) Club: Esteghlal
Born: 03.02.82 Born: 06.09.83 Born: 22.01.84
JAVAD ANDRANIK ASHKAN

NEKOUNAM TEIMURIAN DEJAGAH
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Club: Al Kuwait (Kuw) Club: Esteghlal Club: Fulham (Eng)
Born: 07.09.80 Born: 06.03.83 Born: 05.06.86
MASOUD ALIREZA REZA

SHOJAEI JAHANBAKHSH GHOOCHANNEJAD
ATTACKING MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Las Palmas (Spa) Club: NEC (Hol) Club: Charlton Athletic
Born: 09.06.84 Born: 08.10.93 (Eng)
(aged 29) (aged 20) Born: 20.09.87
OTHER PLAYERS EHSAN DEFENCE 15 apps/844 mins/3 THE COACH

HAJSAFI Vancouver goals in qualifiers
RAHMAN Whitecaps (USA) CARLOS
AHMADI DEFENCE KARIM QUEIROZ
Sepahan ANSARIFAR Born 01.03.53
GOALKEEPER 8 apps/312 mins/0
Sepahan GHASEM FORWARD (aged 61)
goals in qualifiers HADADIFAR Portuguese, former
3 apps/270 mins/0 Tractor Sazi
goals in qualifiers MIDFIELD 10 apps/566 mins/3 assistant to Alex
MEHRDAD Ferguson and
PULADI Zob Ahan goals in qualifiers
AMIRHOSEIN 3 apps/250 mins/0 one-time boss of
SADEGHI DEFENCE SARDAR Real Madrid. Missed
Sepahan AZMOON the 2002 World
Esteghlal MOHAMADREZA FORWARD Cup after falling out
goals in qualifiers KHALATBARI with the South
2 apps/180 mins/0 Rubin Kazan (Rus)
goals in qualifiers MIDFIELD 0 apps in qualifiers African FA, then led
STEVEN unconvincing
Persepolis
BEITASHOUR Portugal in 2010.
WORLD CUP 2014 103

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS it took the team to equalise after going 2-0 down in their
KEY MEN opening 2-2 draw away to Bulgaria.
GROUP D SCHEDULE Gigi Buffon That draw set up a highly successful autumn 2012,
June 14 v England, Manaus
As national team captain, he is not shy of standing up to climaxed by a 3-1 win at Milan’s San Siro against Denmark.
June 20 v Costa Rica, Recife
June 24 v Uruguay, Natal
be counted at key moments. As goalkeeper, he remains Against the Czechs in Turin, the Azzurri conceded a
the very rock on which Cesare Prandelli’s team is founded. counter-attacking goal to the Czechs, but stuck to their
BETTING task, equalised through Giorgio Chiellini and then wrapped
William Hill Giorgio Chiellini it all up through, appropriately, Balotelli. Mission
28/1 to win World Cup Another foundation stone of the side, accomplished, well ahead of time.
7/4 to be eliminated at group stage he brings true central-defensive grit,
left-back versatility and a huge Strengths
WORLD CUP HISTORY understanding with his Juventus Coach Prandelli is a clever tactician and motivator. Italy are
team-mate Buffon. a tournament team. Their positive showing at last
victory over Czechoslovakia
summer’s tournament in Brazil was a huge morale boost.
victory over Hungary Daniele De Rossi
1950 First round exit Prandelli converted the midfielder into a central defender Weaknesses
1954 First round exit at Euro 2012. In either position, he provides vision as well Striker Giuseppe Rossi is unlikely to be fully recovered
1962 First round exit as ball-winning and distribution skills. from a knee injury. Balotelli’s temperament. Some younger
1966 First round exit squad members may not get enough club football.
1970 Runners-up, ONE TO WATCH
4-1 Final defeat by Brazil Alessio Cerci is the closest thing to a genuine winger in World Soccer Prediction
today’s Italian football. Outstanding for mid-table Torino, Quarter-finals.
1978 Semi-finals, defeat
he has pace as well as dribbling and shooting skills.
over West Germany
WHAT THEY SAY
1986 Second round, defeat by France ENGLISH CONNECTION THE COACH
1990 Semi-finals, Former Man City striker Mario Balotelli Cesare Prandelli
defeat by Argentina is the ace in Prandelli’s pack. The coach “This is a tough first-round group with three former World
1994 Runners-up, Final defeat on will now be hoping that he plays every Cup winners [England, Italy & Uruguay] but our tradition is
penalties by Brazil game “as he did in the semi-final in that, if we’re in a difficult group, then we go to the
1998 Quarter-finals, defeat by France Poland”. So does the whole of Italy. tournament in the right frame of mind, mentally prepared.”
2002 Second round,
defeat by
South Korea
ANALYSIS THE PUNDIT
2006 WINNERS, How they qualified Paddy Agnew, World Soccer Italy correspondent
Final victory on By beating the Czech Republic 2-1 in Turin last September, “Under Prandelli Italians have enjoyed anxiety-free
penalties over Italy qualified for the 2014 World Cup with two matches qualifying groups but also quality football. Performances at
France still to play. Cesare Prandelli’s side did it in style, dominating the 2013 Confederations Cup – a penalty shoot-out defeat
2010 Group stage their group from start to finish. Arguably, their only real by Spain in an epic semi-final – was proof that this is, in
exit moment of worry lasted just six minutes: the length of time the words of Prandelli, ‘a serious team’. ”
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Buffon
GIANLUIGI CHRISTIAN
BUFFON MAGGIO Barzagli Chiellini
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Maggio Criscito
Club: Juventus Club: Napoli
Born: 28.01.78 Born: 11.02.82
(aged 36) (aged 32) Montolivo Pirlo De Rossi
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Goals in qualifiers: 0 Cerci Balotelli Insigne
ANDREA GIORGIO DOMENICO

BARZAGLI CHIELLINI CRISCITO
Club: Juventus Club: Juventus Club: Zenit St
Born: 08.05.81 Born: 14.08.84 Petersburg (Rus)
(aged 33) (aged 29) Born: 30.12.86
ANDREA PIRLO RICCARDO DANIELE DE

CENTRAL MIDFIELD MONTOLIVO ROSSI
Club: Juventus MIDFIELD MIDFIELD
Born: 19.05.79 Club: Milan Club: Roma
(aged 35) Born: 18.01.85 Born: 24.07.83
ALESSIO CERCI MARIO LORENZO

RIGHT-WINGER BALOTELLI INSIGNE
Club: Torino CENTRE-FORWARD FORWARD
Born: 23.07.87 Club: Milan Club: Napoli
(aged 26) Born: 12.08.90 Born: 04.06.91
OTHER PLAYERS GABRIEL Club: Juventus goals in qualifiers THE COACH

PALETTA 7 apps/593 mins/0
LEONARDO goals in qualifiers SEBASTIANO CESARE
BONUCCI DEFENCE GIOVINCO PRANDELLI
Club: Parma ANTONIO
DEFENCE 0 apps in qualifiers FORWARD Born 19.08.57
Club: Juventus CANDREVA Club: Juventus (aged 56)
8 apps/720 mins/0 MARCO MIDFIELD 4 apps/186 mins/0 No one seems to
goals in qualifiers VERRATTI Club: Lazio goals in qualifiers get better
7 apps/346 mins/0 performances out
IGNAZIO MIDFIELD PABLO
goals in qualifiers of Mario Balotelli
ABATE Club: Paris Saint- OSVALDO than Prandelli. That
Germain (Fra) THIAGO
DEFENCE FORWARD is a tribute not just
0 apps in qualifiers MOTTA
Club: Milan Club: Juventus to his immense
5 apps/440 mins/0 CLAUDIO MIDFIELD 7 apps/505 mins/4 coaching skills,
goals in qualifiers MARCHISIO Club: Paris Saint- goals in qualifiers but even more so
Germain (Fra) to his broad-
MIDFIELD minded vision.
3 apps/184 mins/0
WORLD CUP 2014 105

THE PLAYERS Salomon Kalou has tried to inject some new talent into a squad
KEY MEN Despite inconsistent club form for Lille, his five fast approaching its sell-by date.
Didier Drogba goals in qualifying showed his worth in the national However, there is still a big reliance on veterans
Still has a talismanic influence set-up. His pace, with Drogba’s power, remains a Didier Drogba and Didier Zokora, while the
on the side and continues to very effective combination. pressure is on Yaya Toure to help lead and develop
score regularly at international a new generation of emerging players.
level, even if he is nearing the end of his career. The ONE TO WATCH
pace and power might have diminished, but his role Disappointing during his time at Arsenal, Strengths
these days is more one of influence, encouragement Gervinho has been finding his form again at club Senior players will be heavily motivated by
and, at times, just scaring the opposition. level with Roma. For the national team he has probably their last chance at a big tournament.
been a consistently creative force Coach Lamouchi is well prepared.
Yaya Toure with his devastating runs and
Named African Footballer of the Year for a third high-tempo approach. Weaknesses
successive time in January, the Manchester City Never far from a major argument within the squad.
midfield colossus is the engine room of the ENGLISH CONNECTION Too many older legs in the first team. Weighed
Ivorian side. Liverpool’s Kolo Toure (right), Yaya’s down by expectations from Ivorian public.
older brother, is likely to feature in
the centre of defence. World Soccer Prediction
KEY INFORMATION Group stage exit.
GROUP C SCHEDULE ANALYSIS
June 14 v Japan, Recife How they qualified WHAT THEY SAY
June 19 v Colombia, Brasilia Ivory Coast may be the highest-ranked African THE COACH
June 24 v Greece, Fortaleza side in Brazil this summer, but that position reflects Sabri Lamouchi
the team’s potential rather than their “For us to get out of the group stage is an
BETTING performances. Instead of building a reputation as objective. Ivory Coast have not done this before, so
William Hill
the continent’s dominant force, they have become that would be a perfect result for us.”
better known for falling short when it really matters.
10/11 to qualify from Group C
In the preliminary qualifying round for Brazil THE PUNDIT
WORLD CUP 2014, Sabri Lamouchi’s side went about their Mark Gleeson, World Soccer Africa
HISTORY business with the usual air of efficiency. Despite a correspondent
relatively tough qualifying assignment, which saw “Ivory Coast have yet to reach the knockout stage
2006 them drawn in the same group as Morocco, they at the finals, but this year’s draw gives them their
Group stage exit went through unbeaten and then ousted fellow best chance yet. Yet here is still a feeling that this
2010
west Africa heavyweights Senegal in the play-offs. team has a penchant for snatching ‘defeat from
Group stage exit
National coach Lamouchi, who had no formal the jaws of victory’. To succeed this summer, they
experience prior to being appointed in May 2012, must overcome such thoughts.”
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BARRY
BOUBACAR SERGE AURIER K TOURE ZOKORA
BARRY RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER Club: Toulouse (Fra) AURIER BOKA
Club: Lokeren (Blg) Born: 24.12.92
Born: 30.12.79 (aged 21) ROMARIC TIOTE
Apps in qualifiers: 8 Mins in qualifiers: 394 GERVINHO Y TOURE KALOU
DROGBA
KOLO TOURE DIDIER ARTHUR BOKA

CENTRAL DEFENCE ZOKORA LEFT-BACK
Club: Liverpool (Eng) CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Stuttgart (Ger)
Born: 19.03.81 Club: Trabzonspor (Tur) Born: 02.04.81
(aged 33) Born: 14.12.80 (aged 33)
ROMARIC CHEICK TIOTE YAYA TOURE

CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Club: Bastia (Fra) Club: Newcastle United Club: Manchester City
Born: 04.06.83 (Eng) (Eng)
(aged 31) Born: 21.06.86 Born: 13.05.83
GERVINHO DIDIER SALOMON

FORWARD DROGBA KALOU
Club: Roma (Ita) CENTRE-FORWARD FORWARD
Born: 27.05.87 Club: Galatasaray (Tur) Club: Lille (Fra)
(aged 27) Born: 11.03.78 Born: 05.08.85
OTHER PLAYERS SEREY DIE 4 apps/360 mins/0 WILFRIED THE COACH

goals in qualifiers BONY
CONSTANT MIDFIELD SABRI
DJAKPA Basle (Swi) FORWARD LAMOUCHI
4 apps/319mins/0
MAX GRADEL Swansea City (Eng)
DEFENCE MIDFIELD Born 09.11.71
goals in qualifiers 5 apps/189 mins/3
Eintracht Frankfurt Saint-Etienne (Fra) (aged 42)
(Ger) ISMAEL 3 apps/50 mins/0 The former France
0 apps in qualifiers DIOMANDE goals in qualifiers SEYDOU midfielder only took
DOUMBIA control the week
MIDFIELD
SIAKA TIENE Saint-Etienne (Fra) MATHIS BOLLY FORWARD
before the qualifiers
DEFENCE began, succeeding
0 apps in qualifiers FORWARD CSKA Moscow (Rus)
Montpellier (Fra) Francois Zahoui, who
Fortuna Dusseldorf 0 apps in qualifiers led the side to the Final of the 2012 African
3 apps/236 mins/0 JEAN-JACQUES (Ger)
Nations Cup without conceding a goal. He has
goals in qualifiers GOSSO 1 app/45 mins/0 goals
since carved out his own role, dropping Drogba
MIDFIELD in qualifiers
last year and putting together an impressive
Genclerbirligi (Tur) run of results.
WORLD CUP 2014 107

THE PLAYERS ONE TO WATCH 3-0 to the hosts but then a 4-3 defeat to Italy
KEY MEN Attack-minded Shinji showed Japan’s vibrancy in attack and restored
Keisuke Honda Okazaki (right) played in some battered pride.
An inspirational player with outstanding vision and every qualifier, scoring four
physical strength. Japan are so much more goals, and could be the Strengths
dangerous when he is on the field. beneficiary of Honda’s Most of Japan’s players now play in Europe and
creative passing in Brazil. won’t be overawed. Their hard-running, short-
Yuto Nagatomo passing game can threaten most opponents.
A fine attacking full-back whose game has grown ENGLISH CONNECTION
enormously in Italy playing for Internazionale. Shinji Kagawa is still only 25 Weaknesses
and he keeps getting better. Vulnerable at set-pieces. Get hit on the counter-
Makoto Hasebe The Manchester United attack when the attacking full-backs get caught
Japan’s captain starts many of the best attacks midfielder’s ball skills, passing and upfield.
from his holding position in midfield and also fills a eye for goal are crucial to Japan’s
vital defensive role. gameplan. World Soccer Prediction
Second round.
ANALYSIS
How they qualified WHAT THEY SAY
KEY INFORMATION Japan neither waltzed through the qualifiers nor THE COACH
GROUP C SCHEDULE did they struggle. If qualification for a fifth Alberto Zaccheroni
June 14 v Ivory Coast, Recife consecutive World Cup wasn’t a foregone “I do believe the team has grown through the
June 19 v Greece, Natal conclusion, at least nobody was surprised when experience of the Confederations Cup. A child who
June 24 v Colombia, Cuiaba they became the first team to qualify from the never falls, never learns how to fall.”
Asian section for the second time in a row.
BETTING Entering from the third round, Japan started well THE PUNDIT
William Hill in qualification, but losses at the finish to North Mike Plastow, World Soccer Japan
Korea and Uzbekistan put them through in second correspondent
3/1 to win Group C
place. They may have been fortunate with the “The Asian champions have class – in veteran
fourth-round draw, but they hit the ground running Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni, in players such
WORLD CUP HISTORY
and looked set to clinch their passage with three as Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, and indeed
2002 Second round, defeat games to spare until a shock defeat in Jordan. throughout a team whose players are now mostly
by Belgium By the time they did qualify it was such a regulars in the top leagues of Europe. Japan have
2006 First round exit mathematical certainty that the 2013 the potential to either produce a major upset in
2010 Second round, defeat Confederations Cup was the only tournament Brazil or flop badly. Whichever the case may be,
on pens by Paraguay that mattered. the world is learning to respect Japan as a rather
That produced a mixed report card. They lost special opponent.”
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Kawashima
EIJI ATSUTO Yoshida Konno
KAWASHIMA UCHIDA
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Uchida Nagatomo
Club: Standard Liege (Blg) Club: Schalke (Ger)
Born: 20.03.83 Born: 27.03.88 Endo Hasebe
(aged 31) (aged 26)
Okazaki Honda Kagawa
Osako
MAYA YOSHIDA YASUYUKI YUTO

CENTRAL DEFENCE KONNO NAGATOMO
Club: Southampton CENTRAL DEFENCE LEFT-BACK
(Eng) Club: Gamba Osaka Club: Internazionale (Ita)
Born: 24.08.88 Born: 25.01.83 Born: 12.09.86
YASUHITO MAKOTO KEISUKE

ENDO HASEBE HONDA
Club: Gamba Osaka Club: Nuremberg (Ger) Club: Milan (Ita)
Born: 28.01.80 Born: 18.01.84 Born: 13.06.86 (age
(aged 34) (aged 30) 27)
SHINJI SHINJI YUYA OSAKO

KAGAWA OKAZAKI FORWARD
ATTACKING MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD Club: 1860 Munich
Club: Manchester Club: Mainz (Ger) (Ger)
United (Eng) Born: 16.04.86 Born: 18.05.90
Born: 17.03.89 (aged 28) (aged 24)
OTHER PLAYERS GOTOKU 0 apps in qualifiers YOHEI THE COACH

SAKAI TOYODA
MASATO HAJIME ALBERTO ZACCHERONI
MORISHIGE DEFENCE HOSOGAI FORWARD
Stuttgart (Ger) Sagan Tosu Born 01.01.53 (aged 61)
DEFENCE 2 apps/105 mins/0 MIDFIELD 0 apps in qualifiers The Italian managed most of the big clubs in
FC Tokyo goals in qualifiers Herth Berlin (Ger) Italy and has led Japan on a long unbeaten run.
0 apps in qualifiers 6 apps/218 mins/0 MASATO
TOSHIRO goals in qualifiers KUDO
HIROKI AOYAMA
SAKAI HIROSHI FORWARD
MIDFIELD Kashiwa Reysol
DEFENCE Sanfrecce Hiroshima
KIYOTAKE
Hanover (Ger) 0 apps in qualifiers MIDFIELD
4 apps/280 mins/0 Nuremberg (Ger)
goals in qualifiers HOTARU 11 apps/515 mins/1
YAMAGUCHI goal in qualifiers
MIDFIELD
Cerezo Osaka
WORLD CUP 2014 109

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS After their worst finish in the CONCACAF qualifying
KEY MEN group – they were fourth, just ahead of Panama and
GROUP A SCHEDULE Oribe Peralta Jamaica – “El Tri” are only travelling to Brazil because they
June 13 v Cameroon, Natal
The Santos Laguna striker is probably faced weak opposition all the way. They won a solitary
June 17 v Brazil, Fortaleza
June 23 v Croatia, Recife
the only indispensable player in game at the Estadio Azteca and changed coaches three
Herrera’s side. He has scored some key times in the process, before facing New Zealand to book
BETTING goals for the national team, including their place via the Inter-continental play-off.
William Hill two in the 2012 Olympic Final and five Coach Herrera risked a split between himself and his
150/1 to win World Cup in the play-off against New Zealand. European-based stars when he left them of the play-offs
11/10 to qualify from Group A against New Zealand. He has since stated that he wants to
Rafael Marquez re-integrate them.
WORLD CUP HISTORY He suffered a major slump of form after leaving Barcelona
for MLS, which cost him his place in the national team, but Strengths
he has been back in favour since returning to Mexico and Plenty of quality players. The return of captain Marquez
1958 First round exit playing for Leon. has brought composure to the defence and dressing room.
1966 First round exit Giovani Dos Santos Weaknesses
1970 Quarter-finals, defeat by Italy After failing to deliver at Tottenham Hotspur, he regained Still recovering from a traumatic qualifying campaign.
1978 First round exit his form in Spain, first with Mallorca and now with Ageing defence that lacks pace. Few options at right-back.
1986 Quarter-finals, Villarreal. He hasn’t been as effective with the national
defeat by West Germany team of late, but that is mostly because he is played out World Soccer Prediction
1990 Banned
of position. Second round.
1994 Second round,
defeat by Bulgaria
1998 Second round, ONE TO WATCH WHAT THEY SAY
defeat by Germany Midfielder Hector Herrera (left) was one THE COACH
2002 Second round, defeat by US of the stars of Mexico’s 2012 Olympic Miguel Herrera
2006 Second round, triumph and was also best player at last “In a World Cup, any of the 32 teams can be champions.
defeat by Argentina year’s Toulon Under-21 tournament. We are one of them. Mexico have won titles at the Under-17
2010 Second round, World Cup and Olympic Games recently. Why not us?”
defeat by Argentina ENGLISH CONNECTION
Javier Hernandez has fallen out of favour at Manchester THE PUNDIT
United and has also dropped out of Mexico’s starting line-up. Martin del Palacio Langer, World Soccer Mexico
correspondent
ANALYSIS “Mexico have enough quality to be a good international
How they qualified side. But there are many issues to be resolved after a
Olympic champions Mexico endured the worst year in disastrous qualifying campaign. With a relatively easy-
their recent footballing history in 2013 and could easily looking group, the round of 16 is not beyond them, but
have missed out on this summer’s World Cup. don’t rule out a meltdown if the problems persist.”
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Corona
JOSE DE JESUS PAUL AGUILAR
CORONA Marquez
RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER Club: America Reyes Moreno
Club: Cruz Azul Born: 06.03.86 Aguilar Layun
Born: 26.01.81 (aged 28)
Medina
Apps in qualifiers: 10 Mins in qualifiers: 450 Herrera Pena
Dos Santos Peralta
DIEGO REYES RAFAEL HECTOR

CENTRAL DEFENCE MARQUEZ MORENO
Club: Porto (Por) CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE
Born: 19.09.92 Club: Leon Club: Espanyol (Spa)
(aged 21) Born: 13.02.79 Born: 17.01.88
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Mins in qualifiers: 540 Mins in qualifiers:
Goals in qualifiers: 1 1080
MIGUEL LAYUN JUAN CARLOS HECTOR

LEFT-BACK MEDINA HERRERA
Club: America CENTRAL MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Born: 25.06.88 Club: America Club: Porto (Por)
(aged 25) Born: 22.08.83 Born: 19.04.90
CARLOS PENA GIOVANI DOS ORIBE PERALTA

ATTACKING MIDFIELD SANTOS FORWARD
Club: Leon FORWARD Club: Santos Laguna
Born: 29.03.90 Club: Villarreal (Spa) Born: 12.01.84
(aged 24) Born: 11.05.89 (aged 30)
Mins in qualifiers: 547 Apps in qualifiers: 12 Mins in qualifiers:
Goals in qualifiers: 1 Mins in qualifiers: 743 1049
OTHER PLAYERS ANDRES ISAAC Monterrey THE COACH

GUARDADO BRIZUELA 12 apps/1072 mins/2
FRANCISCO goals in qualifiers MIGUEL
JAVIER MIDFIELD MIDFIELD HERRERA
RODRÍGUEZ Bayer Leverkusen Toluca
MARCO FABIAN Born 18.03.68
(Ger) 1 app/17 mins/0 goals
DEFENCE MIDFIELD (aged 46)
14 apps/1148 mins/1 in qualifiers
America Cruz Azul A colourful
goal in qualifiers
15 apps/1350 mins/0 ALONSO 3 apps/53 mins/0 goals character who has
goals in qualifiers JAVIER ESCOBOZA in qualifiers the potential to do
JUAN CARLOS AQUINO MIDFIELD JAVIER

big things but is
often betrayed by
VALENZUELA MIDFIELD Santos Laguna HERNANDEZ his temper. He
Villarreal (Spa) 2 apps/58 mins/0
DEFENCE FORWARD masterminded
11 apps/708 mins/0 goals in qualifiers
America Manchester Utd (Eng) the return to
2 apps/180 mins/0 16 apps/1226 mins/5 prominence of America in the Mexican league,
JESUS ZAVALA goals in qualifiers taking them to a clausura title last June and
MIDFIELD reaching the apertura Final in December.
WORLD CUP 2014 111

THE PLAYERS involvement in match fixing games, against Uruguay and Spain. In the World
KEY MEN in Turkey to become his Cup qualifying campaign, Nigeria benefited from a
John Obi Mikel country’s key forward. soft draw. Kenya and Namibia provided no
Seen as one of the elder statesmen in the team Injury meant he spent opposition, and after beating Malawi in their final
even though he only turned 27 in April. Largely most of last year sidelined, game they won both home and away play-off
sidelined by Chelsea, he is once again a first choice but when he did play for games against Ethiopia – who were the weakest of
at international level after past problems with the Nigeria he scored vital the 10 group winners.
national team set-up. goals in important matches.
Strengths
Emmanuel Emenike Vincent Enyeama Attacking, high-tempo tactics make Nigeria
Has overcome arrest and accusations of Recently came close to setting a new record for exciting to watch. They demonstrated their steely
minutes unbeaten in the French top flight, keeping determination to win with victory at last year’s
KEY INFORMATION a clean sheet for Lille for 1,062 minutes. Has more African Nations Cup.
than a decade’s experience with Nigeria.
GROUP F SCHEDULE Weaknesses
June 16 v Iran, Curitiba ONE TO WATCH The defence remains short on experience and has
June 21 v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cuiaba The pace of Russian-based winger Ahmed Musa long been a liability. Disorganised pre-tournament
June 26 v Argentina, Salvador
makes him an important part of Nigeria’s attack. preparation usually impacts on the team’s
BETTING
Two formative years at VVV Venlo in the Dutch performance.
William Hill league helped add some technique to his raw
250/1 to win World Cup power and energy. World Soccer Prediction
6/1 to reach quarter-finals Second round.
ENGLISH CONNECTION
WORLD CUP HISTORY Chelsea winger Victor Moses WHAT THEY SAY
1994 Second round, defeat by Italy (left) may not be a regular for THE COACH
1998 Second round, Liverpool, where he has spent Stephen Keshi
defeat by Denmark
the 2013-14 season on loan, “I like people to come to the stadium and enjoy the
but he will be a likely stater for way my team is playing. Intelligent play, having fun.
Nigeria in Brazil. I want my players not to worry about ‘do or die’ but
to have fun with a purpose.”
ANALYSIS
Nigeria won last year’s African Nations Cup after Mark Gleeson, World Soccer Africa
coach Stephen Keshi completely overhauled the correspondent
squad, gambling on young, untested players. “Pace is a trademark of Keshi’s team, but he also
They struggled in last year’s Confederations Cup insists on a good defensive shape, with a tight,
in Brazil, starting with an easy tie against Tahiti but compact approach to both defence and midfield
proving out of their depth in their two subsequent – in stark contrast to many past Nigeria sides.”
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Enyeama
VINCENT EFE AMBROSE
ENYEAMA Omeruo Oboabona
RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER Club: Celtic (Sco) Ambrose Elderson
Club: Lille (Fra) Born: 18.10.88
Born: 29.08.82 (aged 25) Onazi Mikel
Apps in qualifiers: 8 Mins in qualifiers: 630 Musa Ideye Moses
Emenike
KENNETH GODFREY ELDERSON

OMERUO OBOABONA LEFT-BACK
CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Monaco (Fra)
Club: Middlesbrough Club: Caykur Rizespor Born: 20.01.88
(Eng) (Tur) (aged 26)
Born: 17.10.93 Born: 16.08.90 Apps in qualifiers: 6
(aged 21) (aged 23) Mins in qualifiers: 540
Apps in qualifiers: 4 Apps in qualifiers: 8 Goals in qualifiers: 0
JOHN OBI OGENYI ONAZI AHMED MUSA

MIKEL CENTRAL MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD
CENTRAL MIDFIELD Club: Lazio (Ita) Club: CSKA Moscow
Club: Chelsea (Eng) Born: 25.12.92 (Rus)
Born: 22.04.87 (aged 21) Born: 14.10.92
BROWN IDEYE VICTOR MOSES EMMANUEL

ATTACKING MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD EMENIKE
Club: Dynamo Kiev Club: Liverpool (Eng) CENTRE-FORWARD
(Ukr) Born: 12.12.90 Club: Fenerbahce (Tur)
Born: 10.10.88 (aged 23) Born: 10.05.87
OTHER PLAYERS NNAMDI Academica (Por) 2 apps/180 mins/0 THE COACH

ODUAMADI 3 apps/103 mins/0 goals in qualifiers
AZUBUIKE goals in qualifiers STEPHEN
EGWUEKWE MIDFIELD VICTOR KESHI
Varese (Ita) REUBEN OBINNA
DEFENCE Born 23.01.62
5 apps/339 mins/1 GABRIEL
Warri Wolves FORWARD (aged 52)
goal in qualifiers
5 apps/383 mins/0 MIDFIELD Chievo (Ita) A father figure to
goals in qualifiers Waasland-Beveren 1 app/12 mins/0 goals his young players,
SUNDAY MBA
(Blg) in qualifiers he captained the
JUWON MIDFIELD 2 apps/180 mins/0 first Nigeria side
OSHANIWA CA Bastia (Fra) goals in qualifiers SHOLA to go to a World
DEFENCE
4 apps/267 mins/0 AMEOBI Cup – USA 94 –
Ashdod (Isr)
goals in qualifiers EJIKE FORWARD and has since
2 apps/180 mins/0 UZOENYI Newcastle (Eng) become only the second man to win the
JOHN African Nations Cup as both player and coach.
goals in qualifiers UGOCHUKWU MIDFIELD 1 app/7 mins/0 goals
Enugu Rangers in qualifiers Coached Togo when they qualified for the 2006
MIDFIELD finals, but lost his job before the tournament.
WORLD CUP 2014 113

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS missing out on a major tournament for the first time in 16
KEY MEN years. By the time Portugal took on Russia in Lisbon, a win
GROUP G SCHEDULE Cristiano Ronaldo was imperative. A strong performance and a Helder
June 16 v Germany, Salvador
Increasingly heralded as the greatest Portuguese player of Postiga goal put the team back on track.
June 22 v United States, Manaus
June 26 v Ghana, Brasilia
all time in his homeland, if Ronaldo can emulate Eusebio’s However, a draw with Israel condemned Portugal to a
performance in 1966, the evidence will be overwhelming. third successive qualification play-off, this time against
BETTING Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden.
William Hill Pepe It was billed as a battle between Ronaldo and Zlatan but
33/1 to win World Cup The rock at the centre of Portugal’s defence, his height, Portugal’s captain came out on top, scoring with header in
5/2 to win Group G strength and physicality are crucial to a team comprised Lisbon to give Bento’s side the edge going into the return
mostly of technically adept but short-of-stature players. in Stockholm. A brilliant hat-trick settled matters and
WORLD CUP HISTORY capped an astonishing individual display by Ronaldo.
1966 Semi-finals, 2-1 defeat by
Joao Moutinho
England
The “Portuguese Xavi” remains one of Europe’s most Strengths
2002 First round exit underrated midfielders. His metronomic consistency is Portugal’s historical, cultural and linguistic ties with Brazil.
2006 Semi-finals, 1-0 defeat by France often put in the shade by Ronaldo’s brilliance, but he is Recent record (two semi-finals and a Final in the last five
2010 Second round, defeat by Spain arguably just as important to the team. major tournaments). Cristiano Ronaldo’s sparkling form.
ONE TO WATCH Weaknesses

Midfielder William Carvalho (right) has Poor record against Germany and the USA. Limited
been the revelation of the Portuguese options on the bench. Conservative tactics from Bento.
season. Linked with a move
to the Premier League. World Soccer Prediction
Second round.
ENGLISH CONNECTION
Winger Nani (left) is a first-team regular WHAT THEY SAY
for his country despite not starting for THE COACH
Manchester United. Paulo Bento
“Ronaldo is a great player, a huge name in world football,
ANALYSIS but I have to worry about the whole team. I’ll be working
How they qualified with a 23-man squad, and not just one player.”
On the back of an impressive showing at Euro 2012, hopes
were high that Portugal would make light work of a THE PUNDIT
straightforward World Cup qualifying group. However, it did Tom Kundert, World Soccer Portugal correspondent
not take long for those hopes to be dashed. “Portugal rely on the exceptional technical ability of their
After beating Luxembourg and Azerbaijan, defeat in players and a slick passing game to overcome their
Russia was followed by successive draws, at home to opponents. But against physical opponents, a lack of
Northern Ireland and in Israel, raising the spectre of physical prowess could prove costly in Brazil.”
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Patricio
RUI PATRICIO JOAO PEREIRA
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Pereira Pepe Alves
Coentrao
Club: Sporting Lisbon Club: Valencia (Spa)
Born: 15.02.88 Born: 25.02.84
(aged 26) (aged 30) Meireles Veloso
Mins in qualifiers: Mins in qualifiers: 884 Ronaldo Moutinho Nani
1080 Goals in qualifiers: 0
Postiga
PEPE BRUNO ALVES FABIO

CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE COENTRAO
Club: Real Madrid (Spa) Club: Fenerbahce (Tur) LEFT-BACK
Born: 26.02.83 Born: 27.11.81 Club: Real Madrid (Spa)
(aged 31) (aged 32) Born: 11.03.88
RAUL MEIRELES MIGUEL JOAO

CENTRAL MIDFIELD VELOSO MOUTINHO
Club: Fenerbahce (Tur) CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Born: 17.03.83 Club: Dynamo Kiev Club: Monaco (Fra)
(aged 31) (Ukr) Born: 08.09.86
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Apps in qualifiers: 12 Mins in qualifiers:
Mins in qualifiers: 942 1080
CRISTIANO NANI HELDER

RONALDO FORWARD POSTIGA
FORWARD Club: Manchester CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Real Madrid (Spa) United (Eng) Club: Lazio (Ita)
Born: 05.02.85 Born: 17.11.86 Born: 02.08.82
OTHER PLAYERS WILLIAM RUBEN 6 apps/256 mins/1 THE COACH

CARVALHO MICAEL goal in qualifiers
LUIS NETO MIDFIELD MIDFIELD
PAULO BENTO
DEFENCE
RICARDO Born 20.06.69
Sporting Lisbon Braga QUARESMA
Zenit St Petersbrg (aged 44)
1 app/17 mins/0 goals 4 apps/202 mins/0
(Rus) FORWARD The no-nonsense
in qualifiers goals in qualifiers
2 apps/180 mins/0 Porto former midfielder has
goals in qualifiers RUBEN 0 apps in qualifiers his critics, who cite a
FERNANDO series of high-profile
AMORIM MIDFIELD
RICARDO SILVESTRE bust-ups with senior
MIDFIELD Porto VARELA
COSTA Benfica
players and cautious
0 apps in qualifiers tactics as serious
DEFENCE 4 apps/76 mins/0 goals FORWARD
Valencia (Spa) Porto failings. But he can
in qualifiers HUGO point to his results
3 apps/156 mins/1 ALMEIDA 7 apps/295 mins/2
goal in qualifiers goals in qualifiers and an ability to get
FORWARD the best out of
Besiktas (Tur) Ronaldo.
WORLD CUP 2014 115

THE PLAYERS (right) may lack pace, but he is points out of nine made Russia look the most likely
KEY MEN noted for his great vision, reliability, group winner. Despite 1-0 defeats in Lisbon and
Igor Akinfeev long-range passing, shooting and Belfast, Capello’s side made good use of largely
By far the best Russian goalkeeper of recent strength in the air. unexpected flops by their closest rivals Portugal.
times, he made his debut for CSKA Moscow at the That was especially true of Portugal’s 1-1 draw
age of 16 and has been named the country’s Roman Shirokov at home to Israel in October. If it hadn’t been for
keeper of the year seven times since. Became the Took over the captaincy from Igor that result, Russia’s own draw in the last game of
youngest Russian to play for his country when Denisov during the qualifying campaign. A the campaign, against Azerbaijan in Baku, would
called up as an 18-year-old. playmaker with high technical skill and goalscoring have cost them first place in the group.
ability, he is known for his frank and controversial
Sergei Ignashevich Twitter comments. Strengths
CSKA Moscow’s 34-year-old centre-back Experienced squad. Underdogs in Brazil, so low
Alexander Kokorin public expectations. Capello’s reputation.
KEY INFORMATION The striker (left) joined
Anzhi but returned to Weaknesses
GROUP H SCHEDULE Dynamo Moscow without Overly physical approach could get punished.
June 17 v South Korea, Cuiaba playing a single game due Poor technical skills.
June 22 v Belgium, Rio de Janeiro to the Makhachkala
June 26 v Algeria, Curitiba -based club’s financial World Soccer Prediction
collapse. A rarity in the Russian league, where Group stage exit.
BETTING
most of the centre-forwards are foreigners.
William Hill
WHAT THEY SAY
7/4 to be eliminated at group stage ONE TO WATCH THE COACH
Alan Dzagoev was one of the best performers for Fabio Capello
WORLD CUP HISTORY Russia at Euro 2012, but has slipped out of the “It’s really important the physical condition that the
1994 Group stage exit first team under Fabio Capello. teams arrive in at the World Cup. England are
2002 Group stage exit always tired because they play too many games.
ANALYSIS I hope we will arrive fresh.”
How they qualified
Twelve years after their last appearance at a World THE PUNDIT
Cup finals, Russia were helped on their way to Victor Gusev, World Soccer Russia
Brazil 2014 by a strict Italian coach and an correspondent
unyielding Israeli team. “Capello has spent most of his time in Russia and
Under Fabio Capello, who replaced Dick made trips all over the country to watch games,
Advocaat as boss of the national team in the including unsafe places such as Makhachkala. He’s
summer of 2012, they started their qualification introduced younger players, which has gone down
campaign with wins against Northern Ireland at well with fans, who also have one eye on the 2018
home, Israel away and Portugal at home. Nine tournament that is being held on home soil.”
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Akinfeev
IGOR ANDREI Ignashevich V Berezutski
AKINFEEV YESCHENKO
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Yeschenko Kombarov
Club: CSKA Moscow Club: Anzhi
Glushakov
Born: 08.04.86 Born: 09.02.84
(aged 28) (aged 30) Faizulin Shirokov
Mins in qualifiers: 900 Mins in qualifiers: 155 Samedov Zhirkov
Kokorin
VASILI SERGEI DMITRI

BEREZUTSKI IGNASHEVICH KOMBAROV
Club: CSKA Moscow Club: CSKA Moscow Club: Spartak Moscow
Born: 20.06.82 Born: 14.07.79 Born: 22.01.87
DENIS ALEXANDER VICTOR

GLUSHAKOV SAMEDOV FAIZULIN
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD RIGHT MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Club: Spartak Moscow Club: Lokomotiv Club: Zenit St
Born: 27.01.87 Moscow Petersburg
(aged 27) Born: 19.07.84 Born: 22.04.86
ROMAN YURI ZHIRKOV ALEXANDER

SHIROKOV LEFT MIDFIELD KOKORIN
CENTRAL MIDFIELD Club: Dynamo Moscow CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Krasnodar Born: 20.08.83 Club: Dynamo Moscow
Born: 06.07.81 (aged 30) Born: 19.03.91
OTHER PLAYERS IGOR DENISOV 1 app/45 mins/0 goals THE COACH

GEORGI in qualifiers
ALEXANDER SCHENNIKOV MIDFIELD FABIO
ANYUKOV Dynamo Moscow ALEXANDER CAPELLO
DEFENCE CSKA Moscow KERZHAKOV Born 18.06.46
Zenit St Petersburg 1 app/5 mins/0 goals FORWARD (aged 67)
5 apps/351 mins/0 in qualifiers ALAN Zenit St Petersburg A former coach of
goals in qualifiers DZAGOEV 10 apps/819 mins/5 several top clubs and
ALEXEI goals in qualifiers national teams,
VLADIMIR KOZLOV MIDFIELD
notably England,
GRANAT CSKA Moscow ARTYOM
DEFENCE Milan, Juventus, Roma
4 apps/159 mins/0 DZUBA
DEFENCE Dynamo Moscow and Real Madrid.
Dynamo Moscow 5 apps/419 mins/0 FORWARD “Don Fabio” became
2 apps/180 mins/0 goals in qualifiers Rostov the first man to take
OLEG SHATOV Russia to the World
goals in qualifiers 1 app/45 mins/0 goals
MIDFIELD in qualifiers Cup finals since 2002.
Zenit St Petersburg
WORLD CUP 2014 117

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS 2011 cost coach Cho Kwang-rae his job, and although his
KEY MEN replacement Choi Kang-hee began well enough, with two
GROUP H SCHEDULE Koo Ja-cheol convincing wins in the final group phase, he also struggled.
June 17 v Russia, Cuiaba
The 2012 Olympic captain has struggled with injuries since Choi seemed more comfortable with domestic players
June 22 v Algeria, Porto Alegre
June 26 v Belgium, Sao Paulo
the London Games, but his aggression, hard work and and he looked unsure about how to use Son Heung-min,
ability to get forward could be crucial. who had been scoring regularly in the Bundesliga. Choi
BETTING vowed to go if South Korea lost their final qualifier against
William Hill Kim Young-gwon Iran and, sure enough, the day after the 1-0 loss, he quit.
500/1 to win World Cup Italian Marcello Lippi, his boss at
15/8 to progress from Group H China’s Guangzhou, says versatile Strengths
defender Kim (left) is good enough to The players are young but are also full of European and
WORLD CUP HISTORY
play for Manchester United. He could tournament experience. The nucleus of players won
1954 First round
be the man to finally solve the central defensive problems. bronze at the 2012 Olympics.
1986 First round
1990 First round
1994 First round Ki Sung-yeung Weaknesses
1998 First round Currently seen as a potential threat to team spirit but, at The centre of defence is weak, with set-pieces a particular
2002 Semi-finals, defeat by Germany his best, the Swansea City midfielder, who has spent problem. They lack a senior figure on the pitch, following
2006 First round 2013-14 on loan at Sunderland, makes South Korea tick. Park Ji-sung’s retirement. Scoring goals can be a problem.
2010 Second round, defeat by Uruguay
Son Heung-min joined Bayer Leverkusen from Hamburg Second round.
for 10million euros last summer and now needs Hong to
give him the chance to replicate his club WHAT THEY SAY
form for his country. THE COACH
Hong Myung-bo
ENGLISH CONNECTION “There should be no fear. In the remaining time we have
Coach Hong has kept faith with striker Park left, we have to use the time wisely and we have to help
Chu-young (right), who is on loan at Watford our young players believe in themselves. Korean football
from Arsenal, despite a run of poor form. has shown over the years that it can achieve great things.”
ANALYSIS THE PUNDIT

How they qualified John Duerden, World Soccer South Korea
The celebrations that greeted South Korea reaching an correspondent
eighth successive World Cup finals weren’t muted just “Hong inherited an unhappy team, with rumours of splits
because a 1-0 defeat at home to Iran meant the “Taegeuk within the squad. He needs to tighten the defence, restore
Warriors” had only qualified ahead of Uzbekistan on goal team spirit, introduce some creativity and find a leader and
difference; the entire road to Brazil had been, to say the a goalscorer. A tough task, but the Korean public believes
least, a bumpy one. A 2-1 defeat to Lebanon in November that if anyone can do it, Hong can.”
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Jung Sung-ryung
JUNG LEE YONG Hong Jeong-ho
SUNG-RYUNG Kim Yong-gwon
RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER Club: Ulsan Hyundai
Lee Yong Kim Jin-soo
Club: Suwon Bluewings Born: 24.12.86
Born: 04.01.85 (aged 27) Lee Chung-yung Park Jung-woo
Apps in qualifiers: 14
Mins in qualifiers: 1260 Ki Sung-yeun Kim Bo-kyoung Koo Ja-cheol
Park Chu-young
KIM HONG KIM JIN-SOO

YOUNG-GWON JEONG-HO LEFT-BACK
CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Albirex Niigata
Club: Guangzhou Club: Augsburg (Ger) (Jap)
Evergrande (Chn) Born:12.08.89 Born: 09.07.88
Born: 27.02.90 (aged 24) (aged 25)
LEE PARK KI SUNG-YEUNG

CHUNG-YUNG JUNG-WOO ATTACKING MIDFIELD
CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD Club: Sunderland (Eng)
Club: Bolton Wanderers Club: Guangzhou R&F Born: 24.01.89
(Eng) (Chn) (aged 25)
(aged 25) (aged 25)
KIM KOO JA-CHEOL PARK

BO-KYOUNG ATTACKING MIDFIELD CHU-YOUNG
ATTACKING MIDFIELD Club: Mainz (Ger) CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Cardiff City (Eng) Born: 27.02.89 Club: Watford (Eng)
Born: 06.10.89 (aged 25) Born: 10.07.85
OTHER PLAYERS KIM JI DONG-WON 8 apps/495 mins/1 THE COACH

CHANG-SOO goal in qualifiers
MIDFIELD HONG
PARK JOO-HO DEFENDER Augsburg (Ger)
DEFENDER Kashiwa Reysol (Jap) LEE KEUN-HO MYUNG-BO
11 apps/491 mins/2
Mainz (Ger) 2 apps/180 mins/0 goals in qualifiers FORWARD Born 12.02.69
3 apps/270 mins/0 goals in qualifiers Sangju Sangmu (aged 45)
goals in qualifiers HA DAE-SUNG 12 apps/773 mins/5 Played in four
HAN goals in qualifiers World Cups,
KWAK KOOK-YOUNG MIDFIELD reaching the
TAE-HWI MIDFIELD Beijing Guoan (Chn) SON semi-finals in
DEFENDER Kashiwa Reysol (Jap) 2 apps/96 mins/0 HEUNG-MIN 2002, so the
Al Hilal (Sau) 1 app/50 mins/0 goals goals in qualifiers highly-rated
FORWARD
10 apps/891 mins/1 in qualifiers Bayer Leverkusen coach is loved by
goal in qualifiers
KIM players and fans
SHIN-WOOK (Ger)
9 apps/365 mins/1 alike, but this is by
FORWARD
goal in qualifiers far his biggest
Ulsan Hyundai
challenge.
WORLD CUP 2014 119

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS Although, those two games were five months apart, Spain
KEY MEN had suffered two consecutive 1-1 draws and they trailed
GROUP B SCHEDULE Xabi Alonso France by two points.
June 13 v Holland, Salvador
People doubted whether Spain should play with two Just two wins in four games – against Georgia and
June 18 v Chile, Rio de Janeiro
June 23 v Australia, Curitiba
deep-lying midfielders, but Del Bosque’s decision to stick Belarus – left them on edge and four days after drawing
with Busquets and Alonso has been totally vindicated. Few with Finland they travelled to Paris in desperate need of a
BETTING players have the tactical awareness and range of passing. victory. In the end, Pedro’s goal clinched a 1-0 win at the
William Hill Stade de France that took Spain back to the top of their
7/1 to win World Cup Sergio Ramos group. Three more wins followed to take them to Brazil.
8/11 to win Group B Scorer of that “Panenka” penalty at Euro Spain’s qualification campaign did not always have the
2012 and a real leader within the dressing authority that supporters had got used to, but in Paris they
WORLD CUP HISTORY room. Ramos (right) has 114 caps at the had been recognisably Spain again.
1934 Quarter-finals, defeat by Italy
age of just 27 and his central defensive
1950 Fourth place
partnership with Pique will be fundamental. Strengths
1966 First round exit A solid defence. Confidence – no team has shown such an
1978 First round exit Cesc Fabregas aptitude for tournament football as Del Bosque’s side.
1982 Second round For a player who has rarely been a guaranteed starter, his
1986 Quarter-finals, defeat by Belgium impact on Spain’s history has been huge, with winning Weaknesses
1990 Second round, penalties against Italy in 2008 and Portugal in 2012, and If Spain don’t win their group, it’s likely they will face Brazil
defeat by Yugoslavia assists for Iniesta in the 2010 Final and Silva in 2012. in the next round. Casillas’ lack of games. Xavi’s fitness.
1994 Quarter-finals, defeat by Italy
Andres Iniesta World Soccer Prediction
defeat by South Korea
The man that Ramos calls “the enlightened one”, he was Second round exit to Brazil.
2006 Second round, defeat by France the scorer of the winning goal in 2010 and universally
2010 WINNERS, 1-0 in Final v Holland popular. “When he has the ball, it is like WHAT THEY SAY
everything else stops,” says Fernando Torres. THE COACH
Vicente Del Bosque
ONE TO WATCH “We don’t brag about anything. Compliments are always
Young midfielder Koke (left) has broken into dangerous. ‘Favourite’ is a word we don’t like.”
the senior national side this season and
could play an important role in Brazil. THE PUNDIT
Sid Lowe, World Soccer Spain correspondent
ANALYSIS “Possession football stands at the heart of everything
How they qualified Spain do, acting as a means of protection as well as
An injury-time goal by Olivier Giroud at the Vicente progression. It is the formula on which Spain’s historic
Calderon in Madrid and a 79th-minute strike from Teemu success has been built, and the world and double
Pukki at Estadio El Molinon in Gijon had threatened to European champions will travel to Brazil looking for a
complicate Spain’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup. unique run of four successive tournaments.”
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Casillas
IKER CASILLAS JUANFRAN Sergio Ramos Pique
Club: Real Madrid Club: Atletico Madrid Juanfran Jordi Alba
Born: 30.05.81 Born: 09.01.85
(aged 33) (aged 29) Xabi Alonso Busquets
Mins in qualifiers: 450 Mins in qualifiers: 130 Pedro Fabregas Iniesta
Diego Costa
SERGIO RAMOS GERARD PIQUE JORDI ALBA

Club: Real Madrid Club: Barcelona Club: Barcelona
Born: 30.03.86 Born: 02.02.87 Born: 21.03.89
XABI ALONSO SERGIO PEDRO

CENTRAL MIDFIELD BUSQUETS FORWARD
Club: Real Madrid CENTRAL MIDFIELD Club: Barcelona
Born: 25.11.81 Club: Barcelona Born: 28.07.87
(aged 32) Born: 16.07.88 (aged 26)
CESC ANDRES DIEGO COSTA

FABREGAS INIESTA FORWARD
FORWARD FORWARD Club: Atletico Madrid
Club: Barcelona Club: Barcelona Born: 07.10.88
Born: 04.05.87 Born: 11.05.84 (aged 25)
OTHER PLAYERS MIDFIELD DAVID SILVA Arsenal (Eng) THE COACH

Bayern Munich (Ger) 5 apps/247 mins/0
JAVI MIDFIELD VICENTE
0 apps in qualifiers goals in qualifiers
MARTINEZ Manchester City (Eng) DEL BOSQUE
5 apps/314 mins/0
DEFENCE ISCO goals in qualifiers
JESUS NAVAS Born 23.12.50
Bayern Munich (Ger) MIDFIELD MIDFIELD (aged 63)
0 apps in qualifiers Real Madrid Manchester City (Eng) For a man who once
JUAN MATA admitted that he did
1 app/8 mins/0 goals 3 apps/154 mins/0
XAVI MIDFIELD not expect to become
in qualifiers goals in qualifiers
Manchester United a head coach, and
MIDFIELD (Eng)
KOKE ALVARO had expected to
Barcelona 3 apps/48 mins/1 goal spend his career in
7 apps/591 mins/1 MIDFIELD in qualifiers NEGREDO youth development,
goals in qualifiers Atletico Madrid FORWARD
Del Bosque has not
3 apps/120 mins/0 SANTI Manchester City (Eng)
THIAGO done too badly. Twice a European Cup winner,
goals in qualifiers CAZORLA 4 apps/167 mins/3
ALCANTARA he has led Spain to success in both the
MIDFIELD European Championship and the World Cup.
WORLD CUP 2014 121

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS Barnetta and Mario Gavranovic. That was followed by two
KEY MEN matches against Cyprus – a goalless draw away and 1-0
GROUP E SCHEDULE Xherdan Shaqiri win in Geneva. Two goals from defender Fabian Schar gave
June 15 v Ecuador, Brasilia
The 23-year-old is deadly from long them a 2-0 win in Norway, which meant victory in Albania
June 20 v France, Salvador
June 25 v Honduras, Manaus
range with his left foot and has a would secure qualification for a third successive World Cup.
wonderful ability to weave his way past Shaqiri, Xhaka and a third Kosovan, Valon Behrami, had
BETTING opponents and thread passes between to endure insults and jeering from the home crowd in
William Hill defenders. Tirana as the Swiss triumphed 2-1.
100/1 to win World Cup A 1-0 home victory over Slovenia put the icing on the
7/1 to finish bottom of Group E Stephan Lichtsteiner cake as Switzerland ended Group E unbeaten.
Never one to shy away from a confrontation, the feisty
WORLD CUP HISTORY right-back’s boundless energy and forays upfield have Strengths
made him hugely influential. A vibrant youth policy that keeps producing quality players.
defeat by Czechoslovakia
The vast majority of the squad play in Europe’s biggest
defeat by Hungary Gokhan Inler leagues. They’re not afraid to mix it, and won’t be bullied.
1950 First round exit Turned up for his presentation at Napoli wearing a lion
1954 Quarter-finals, defeat by Austria mask, but there is more to the 29-year-old than his Weaknesses
1962 First round exit fearsome tackling and never-say-die attitude. His Defence is prone to alarming lapses in concentration. They
1966 First round exit long-range passing, shooting from distance and surging often need an awful lot of chances to score a goal. They’ve
1994 Second round, runs make him the complete midfielder. not been tested against top-quality opposition.
defeat by Spain
2006 Second round,
defeat by Ukraine
Haris Seferovic is the latest Swiss youngster to make an Group stage exit.
impact, scoring an important goal in the qualifiers.
WHAT THEY SAY
Fulham midfielder Pajtim Kasami (left) has Ottmar Hitzfeld
made the step up from the Under-21s to the “Twenty per cent of the Swiss population are immigrants
senior Swiss squad this season. and over half of our team. Without immigrants, we would
not have a team.”
ANALYSIS
Switzerland made a perfect start to the qualifiers with 2-0 Brian Homewood, World Soccer Switzerland
victories away to Slovenia and at home to Albania. Ottmar correspondent
Hitzfeld’s team dropped their first points and conceded a “The Swiss have very little experience of playing outside
first goal in a 1-1 draw at home to Norway. They then Europe and have ventured further only three times in the
survived several near misses in a physical encounter in last decade: the 2010 World Cup and friendlies in Tunisia
Iceland before winning 2-0 with goals from Tranquillo and Morocco. Their last South America trip was in 1985.”
122 WORLD CUP 2014

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Benagalio
DIEGO STEPHAN Schar Von Bergen
BENAGALIO LICHTSTEINER
GOALKEEPER RIGHT-BACK Lichtsteiner Rodriguez
Club: Wolfsburg (Ger) Club: Juventus (Ita)
Born: 08.09.83 Born: 16.01.84 Inler Behrami
Apps in qualifiers: 8 Mins in qualifiers: 720 Shaqiri Xhaka Stocker
Drmic
FABIAN SCHAR STEVE VON RICARDO

CENTRAL DEFENCE BERGEN RODRIGUEZ
Club: Basle CENTRAL DEFENCE LEFT-BACK
Club: Young Boys Club: Wolfsburg (Ger)
Born: 20.12.91 Born: 10.06.83 Born: 25.08.92
GOKHAN INLER VELON XHERDAN

CENTRAL MIDFIELD BEHRAMI SHAQIRI
Club: Napoli (Ita) CENTRAL MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Born: 27.06.84 Club: Napoli (Ita) Club: Bayern Munich
(aged 29) Born: 19.04.85 (Ger)
Apps in qualifiers: 9 (aged 29) Born: 10.10.91
Mins in qualifiers: 810 Apps in qualifiers: 8 (aged 23)
Goals in qualifiers: 2 Mins in qualifiers: 755 Apps in qualifiers: 9
Goals in qualifiers: Mins in qualifiers: 746
GRANIT XHAKA VALENTIN JOSIP DRMIC

ATTACKING MIDFIELD STOCKER CENTRE-FORWARD
Club: Borussia ATTACKING MIDFIELD Club: Nuremberg (Ger)
Monchengladbach (Ger) Club: Basle Born: 08.08.92
Born: 27.09.92 Born: 12.04.89 (aged 21)
OTHER PLAYERS TRANQUILLO MIDFIELD goal in qualifiers THE COACH

BARNETTA Napoli (Ita)
PHILIPPE 9 apps/248 mins/1 EREN OTTMAR
SENDEROS MIDFIELD DERDIYOK HITZFELD
goal in qualifiers
Ein’t Frankfurt (Ger)
DEFENCE 6 apps/330 mins/1 FORWARD Born 12.01.49
Valencia (Spa) PAJTIM Bayern Leverkusen (aged 55)
goal in qualifiers KASAMI
3 apps/128 mins/0 (Ger) The German led
goals in qualifiers GELSON MIDFIELD 5 apps/303 mins/0 Switzerland
FERNANDES Fulham (Eng) goals in qualifiers to the 2010 World
JOHAN 0 apps in qualifiers Cup, where they were
DJOUROU MIDFIELD ADMIR knocked out in
Freiburg (Ger) HARIS MEHMEDI
DEFENCE the first round, and is one of Europe’s most
4 apps/46 mins/0 SEFEROVIC
Hamburg (Ger) FORWARD successful coaches, having won the Champions
7 apps/593 mins/0 FORWARD Freiburg (Ger) League with Bayern Munich and Borussia
goals in qualifiers BLERIM Real Sociedad (Spa) 4 apps/141 mins/0 Dortmund, and claiming a total of seven
DZEMAILI 6 apps/447 mins/1 goals in qualifiers Bundesliga titles. He will stand down after this
summer’s tournament.
WORLD CUP 2014 123

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS Four days earlier, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side had been
KEY MEN soundly beaten, 3-1, by Costa Rica.
GROUP G SCHEDULE Landon Donovan The USA’s campaign had a no-frills, workmanlike air to
June 16 v Ghana, Natal
This will be his fourth World Cup and the it, with the team winning games by slim margins. This was
June 22 v Portugal, Manaus
June 26 v Germany, Recife
32-year-old’s return to the squad – he a primarily defensive side, with 12 goals conceded in 14
did not play in the early qualifiers as he games and only 21 scored. In the eight games played in
BETTING took a four-month break from the game the final round before qualification, the USA never
William Hill – will give the team a huge boost. Scorer of vital goals. managed to score more than twice.
10/1 to win Group G Michael Bradley Strengths
The classy midfield anchor of the team. While hardly a Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are both top keepers.
WORLD CUP HISTORY speedster, he is quick to intercept passes and equally Growing optimism in the USA that the team is on the edge
1930 Semi-finals,
prompt at getting forward to join in attacking moves. of a breakthrough. No pressure to succeed.
6-1 defeat by Argentina
1950 First round exit Clint Dempsey Weaknesses
1990 First round exit Given the captain’s armband by Klinsmann, he was the Too reliant on the keeper to save them. Lack of a strong
1994 Second round, defeat by Brazil only player to play in all of the 14 games of the qualifying central defensive partnership. Jermaine Jones’ indiscipline.
1998 First round exit campaign. He scored eight goals, but it is his creativity and
2002 Quarter-finals, skill that rattles opposing defenders. World Soccer Prediction
defeat by Germany Group stage exit.
2006 First round exit ONE TO WATCH
2010 Second round, defeat by Ghana WHAT THEY SAY
Young striker Aron Johannsson has been a prolific scorer
in the Dutch league. He was called up to play for Iceland in THE COACH
the World Cup qualifiers but did not play because of injury Jurgen Klinsmann
and opted last year to represent the USA. “Our goal is to get out of the group, and we believe we will
do that. In the knockout phase, we hope to surprise some
ENGLISH CONNECTION of the top teams in the world.”
Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron (right)
was a regular during the qualifying campaign, THE PUNDIT
filling in across a number of positions. Paul Gardner, World Soccer USA correspondent
“There remains much work for Klinsmann to do. In
ANALYSIS qualifying, his team never turned in a dominant
How they qualified performance. Despite conceding less than a goal per
The USA clinched early World Cup qualification with two game, the defence, particularly in the centre, always had a
games to spare but they were not at all convincing in their precarious edge to it. Of the 36 players used by Klinsmann,
final key game. half played four or fewer games. The team-building that
The decisive win, a 2-0 victory over Mexico, owed more should surely have progressed during qualifying looks like
to the collapse of the opposition than anything the US did. a work in progress that has barely begun.”
124 WORLD CUP 2014

LIKELY
STARTING
LINE-UP: 4-4-2
Howard
TIM HOWARD MICHAEL Gonzalez Besler
GOALKEEPER PARKHURST
Club: Everton (Eng) RIGHT-BACK Parkhurst Beasley
Born: 06.03.79 Club: Columbus Crew
(aged 35) Born: 24.01.84 Bradley Jones
Mins in qualifiers: 1170 Apps in qualifiers: 3 Bedoya Donovan
Goals in qualifiers: 0 Dempsey Altidore
OMAR MATT BESLER DAMARCUS

GONZALEZ CENTRAL DEFENCE BEASLEY
CENTRAL DEFENCE Club: Sporting Kansas LEFT-BACK
Club: Los Angeles City Club: Puebla (Mex)
Galaxy Born: 11.02.87 Born: 24.05.82
Born: 11.10.88 (aged 27) (aged 31)
ALEJANDRO JERMAINE MICHAEL

BEDOYA JONES BRADLEY
MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Club: Nantes (Fra) Club: Besiktas (Tur) Club: Toronto
Born: 29.04.89 Born: 03.011.81 Born: 31.07.87
LANDON CLINT JOZY

DONOVAN DEMPSEY ALTIDORE
ATTACKING MIDFIELD FORWARD FORWARD
Club: Los Angeles Club: Seattle Sounders Club: Sunderland (Eng)
Galaxy Born: 09.03.83 Born: 06.11.89
Born: 04.03.82 (aged 31) (aged 24)
Apps in qualifiers: 5 Mins in qualifiers: Mins in qualifiers: 799
Mins in qualifiers: 404 1260 Goals in qualifiers: 4
OTHER PLAYERS DEFENCE 5 apps/239 mins/0 ARON THE COACH

San Jose Earthquakes goals in qualifiers JOHANNSSON
BRAD GUZAN 7 apps/585 mins/0 JURGEN
FABIAN FORWARD KLINSMANN
GOALKEEPER goals in qualifiers
JOHNSON AZ (Hol) Born 30.07.64 (aged 49)
Aston Villa (Eng) 3 apps/118 mins/1 goal
3 apps/270 mins/0
GEOFF MIDFIELD A surprisingly cautious
CAMERON in qualifiers approach to the qualifiers
goals in qualifiers Hoffenheim (Ger)
DEFENCE 9 apps/729 mins/0 should not hide the major
EDDIE achievements in
NICK Stoke City (Eng) goals in qualifiers JOHNSON
RIMANDO 13 apps/991 mins/0 friendlies: a first win over
FORWARD Mexico, a first win over
GOALKEEPER goals in qualifiers GRAHAM ZUSI DC United Italy in Italy, and a
Real Salt Lake MIDFIELD 10 apps/579 mins/4
KYLE Sporting Kansas City
stunning 4-3 win over
BECKERMAN goals in qualifiers Bosnia. His World Cup
12 apps/766 mins/2
CLARENCE MIDFIELD experience with Germany
GOODSON Real Salt Lake in 2006 will have real
value this summer.
WORLD CUP 2014 125

KEY INFORMATION THE PLAYERS won three of their opening five games and were unbeaten,
KEY MEN second in the qualifying table. They suffered a 4-0
GROUP D SCHEDULE Luis Suarez thrashing in Colombia, the first of four heavy away defeats
June 14 v Costa Rica, Fortaleza
Fiery, often controversial striker which left qualification hanging in the balance.
June 19 v England, Sao Paulo
June 24 v Italy, Natal
who is now at the peak of his But Uruguayans are often at their best with their backs
immense talents. A one-man to the wall, and so it proved again. Victories over
BETTING forward line capable of twisting the Venezuela, Peru and Colombia, followed by a last-day
William Hill blood of the opposing defence and triumph over Argentina, meant Uruguay finished behind
28/1 to win World Cup scoring any type of goal imaginable. Ecuador on goal difference and went into the play-offs.
4/9 to qualify from Group D As it turned out, they romped past Jordan winning 5-0
Edinson Cavani away followed by a goalless draw in Montevideo.
WORLD CUP HISTORY A box–to-box striker who places his capacity for work and
spirit of sacrifice at the disposition of the team, together Strengths
victory over Argentina
1950 WINNERS, 2-1 victory
with his considerable goal threat. Described by Tabarez as One of the world’s most dangerous strikeforces in Suarez
over Brazil in final game “the perfect son-in-law”. and Cavani. They will be desperate to emulate their 1950
1954 Semi-finals, 4-2 defeat predecessors. Victory over Costa Rica will allow them to
by Hungary Egidio Arevalo cover up and counter against England and Italy.
1962 First round exit Little midfield hitman who is the symbol of the side. Always
1966 Quarter-finals, defeat plays unselfishly and within his limitations, protecting the Weaknesses
by West Germany defence, winning the tackles and getting out of the way. An ageing defence. Uruguay will not be used to the
1970 Semi-finals, 3-1 defeat scorching summer heat of Fortaleza and Natal. Quite a few
by Brazil
Diego Godin players are substitutes at their clubs.
1986 Second round, defeat
Experienced, combative centre-back who has to take on
by Argentina extra responsibility to compensate for captain and World Soccer Prediction
1990 Second round, defeat by Italy defensive partner Diego Lugano’s lack of Quarter-finals.
2002 First round exit pace.
2010 Semi-finals, defeat by Holland WHAT THEY SAY
ONE TO WATCH THE COACH
Midfield playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro Oscar Tabarez
(left) had a disappointing spell in Europe “Brazil’s objective of winning at home won’t be easy. When
with Ajax but has found his feet again they meet teams that aren’t favourites, like Uruguay, the
with Botafogo in the Brazilian league. games can be tough and these teams can surprise.”
ANALYSIS THE PUNDIT

How they qualified Tim Vickery, World Soccer Uruguay correspondent
As newly crowned Copa America champions, Uruguay “This will be the international swansong for many of the
came roaring out of the blocks when South America’s team. Do they still have it in them to go all the way, or is it
World Cup qualifiers got under way in October 2011. They one tournament too many?”
126 WORLD CUP 2014

LIKELY
STARTING
LINE-UP: 4-4-2
Muslera
FERNANDO MAXI PEREIRA
MUSLERA Lugano Godin
RIGHT-BACK
GOALKEEPER Club: Benfica (Por) M Pereira Caceres
Club: Galatasaray (Tur) Born: 08.06.84
Born: 16.06.86 (aged 30) Arevalo Lodeiro
Apps in qualifiers: 16 Mins in qualifiers: Stuani Rodriguez
Mins in qualifiers: 1440 1301
Cavani Suarez
DIEGO LUGANO DIEGO GODIN MARTIN

CENTRAL DEFENCE CENTRAL DEFENCE CACERES
Club: West Brom (Eng) Club: Atletico Madrid LEFT-BACK
Born: 02.11.80 (Spa) Club: Juventus (Ita)
(aged 33) Born: 16.02.86 Born: 07.04.87
CHRISTIAN EGIDIO NICOLAS

STUANI AREVALO LODEIRO
RIGHT MIDFIELD CENTRAL MIDFIELD ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Club: Espanyol (Spa) Club: Morelia (Mex) Club: Botafogo (Bra)
Born: 12.10.86 Born: 01.01.82 Born: 21.03.89
CRISTIAN EDINSON LUIS SUAREZ

RODRIGUEZ CAVANI CENTRE-FORWARD
ATTACKING MIDFIELD CENTRE-FORWARD Club: Liverpool (Eng)
Club: Atletico Madrid Club: Paris Saint- Born: 24.01.87
(Spa) Germain (Fra) (aged 27)
(aged 28) (aged 27) Mins in qualifiers: 1416
Apps in qualifiers: 17 Apps in qualifiers: 18 Goals in qualifiers: 11
OTHER PLAYERS ALVARO Lazio (Ita) DIEGO THE COACH

PEREIRA 12 apps/633 mins/0 FORLAN
JOSE MARIA goals in qualifiers OSCAR
GIMENEZ DEFENCE FORWARD TABAREZ
Sao Paulo (Bra) WALTER Cerezo Osaka (Jap)
DEFENCE Born 03.03.47
12 apps/836 mins/0 GARGANO 15 apps/947 mins/2
Atletico Madrid (Spa) (aged 67)
goals in qualifiers goals in qualifiers
3 apps/181 mins/0 MIDFIELD Veteran who, in
goals in qualifiers Parma (Ita) ABEL his second spell in
DIEGO PEREZ
8 apps/462 mins/0 HERNANDEZ charge of the
ANDRES MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers national team, has
SCOTTI Bologna (Ita) FORWARD
overseen the
10 apps/713 mins/0 GASTON Palermo (Ita)
DEFENCE return of Uruguay
goals in qualifiers RAMIREZ 1 app/9 mins/0 goals
Nacional to world football’s
in qualifiers
3 apps/206 mins/0 MIDFIELD top table. “El Maestro” has thoughtfully guided
ALVARO his men to fourth place in South Africa 2010
goals in qualifiers GONZALEZ Southampton (Eng)
12 apps/491 mins/0 and a record 15th Copa America win a year
MIDFIELD goals in qualifiers later, as well as restructuring the youth sides.
WORLD CUP 2014 127

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THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO 100% UNOFFICIAL

for the greatest show on earth

PLUS • ROY HODGSON UNCOVERED • BRAZIL’S STADIUMS

USA page 124

SPAIN page 120

MEXICO page 110

4 WORLD CUP 2014

RUSSIA page 116

IRAN page 102

JAPAN page 108

S KOREA page 118

WORLD CUP 2014 5

WORLD CUP HISTORY

64 WORLD CUP 2014

MADJID CARL MEDJANI FAOUZI

MEHDI SAPHIR TAIDER SOFIANE

YACINE EL ARABI HILLEL ISLAM SLIMANI

OTHER PLAYERS Udinese (Ita) THE COACH

WORLD CUP 2014 65

66 WORLD CUP 2014

FEDERICO EZEQUIEL MARCOS ROJO

JAVIER FERNANDO ANGEL DI

LIONEL MESSI SERGIO GONZALO

OTHER PLAYERS Newell’s Old Boys THE COACH

WORLD CUP 2014 67

WORLD CUP HISTORY

68 WORLD CUP 2014

MATTHEW CURTIS GOOD JASON

MILE JEDINAK MARK TOMMY OAR

TOM ROGIC MATHEW TIM CAHILL

OTHER PLAYERS 2 apps/21 mins/0 goals THE COACH

WORLD CUP 2014 69

70 WORLD CUP 2014

VINCENT THOMAS JAN

AXEL WITSEL MAROUANE DRIES

KEVIN DE EDEN HAZARD ROMELU

OTHER PLAYERS THE COACH

WORLD CUP 2014 71

72 WORLD CUP 2014

EMIR SPAHIC ERMIN SEAD

SEJAD MIRALEM SENAD LULIC

ZVJEZDAN VEDAD EDIN DZEKO

OTHER PLAYERS HARIS MIDFIELD goals in qualiﬁers THE COACH

WORLD CUP 2014 73

74 WORLD CUP 2014

THIAGO DAVID LUIZ MARCELO

LUIZ RAMIRES OSCAR

HULK NEYMAR FRED

OTHER PLAYERS Paris Saint-Germain Caps: 25 THE COACH

WORLD CUP 2014 75

76 WORLD CUP 2014

NICOLAS AURELIEN BENOIT ASSO-

ALEX SONG EYONG ENOH JEAN MAKOUN

BENJAMIN MAXIM CHOUPO- SAMUEL ETO’O

OTHER PLAYERS Lorient (Fra) THE COACH

WORLD CUP 2014 77

78 WORLD CUP 2014

GARY MEDEL MARCOS EUGENIO MENA

MARCELO DIAZ CHARLES ARTURO VIDAL

JORGE ALEXIS EDUARDO

OTHER PLAYERS Osasuna (Spa) in qualiﬁers THE COACH

WORLD CUP 2014 79

ONE TO WATCH World Soccer Prediction