Our Group, Your Group, The Groups. My Take on the Draw.

December 5th, 2009 | by: Anthony | Comments (20)

Now without jinxing anything, I for one believe we have the easiest group in the whole tournament. Switzerland, Honduras nor Chile are pushovers by any means, but you have to expect that considering we’re competing for the largest prize in world football.

Now it would be very closed minded of me to say that these other teams have no chance what so ever, because in fact, they are very strong. Chile finished only a point behind Brazil who topped the South American qualifying group, so of course they have the capacity to do well. Switzerland had a bit of a resurgence in qualifying as they went from a struggling team to one who finished top of their group on 21 points, albeit with little competition. Honduras is probably a team not many football fans know about and I would be lying if I said I knew any more than any readers here. I know they have Wilson Palacios who is an absolute rock in the midfield – similar to Marcos Senna bar the shooting ability. I also know that they handed México a 3-1 defeat in CONCACAF qualifying, so quite obviously they have some decent talent in their squad. They will probably be the typical Central American team; lots of skill and hard working players who try and boss the midfield.

Overall, looking at the draw, saying we got lucky is an understatement. I take a look at groups like D and G and thank God we weren’t drawn into them.

We are probably by many hailed as favourites to win this tournament but here are the teams that in my opinion, need to be watched:

Germany – Anyone who knows anything about football knows the Germans (like their cars) are very efficient. They go in, aren’t pretty, but always seem to get the job done. They don’t play “beautiful football” like the Brazil’s and Spain’s of the world but they are undeniably a footballing powerhouse. They don’t have three stars on their jersey for nothing, after all.

Brazil – Well just me naming the South American giants should be enough. Every glory hunter’s dream team as well as probably the neutrals favour them so much, it’s quite funny. Undeniably invented the term “Joga Bonito” however even the most successful team in history had a few blips in qualifying making them just as vulnerable as any other team in the tournament.

Argentina – We outclassed them when they came to Madrid but Maradona seems to have a horse shoe up his ass. I can’t stand the diving and theatrics that the Argentinians bring to football but I’d be wrong to say that they’re not a team to look out for. They have a solid squad and provided they had a half-sane man as a coach, I think they would do quite well. Under Diego… well, we’ll see.

Italy – Last but not least, everyone’s favourite team to hate, good ol’ Italia. The diving, cheating Italians have always been a solid squad. I think those two horrible traits aside, they have a decent squad. Lippi seems to favour age and experience over youth and potential but so be it. In my opinion he is opting for the wrong players but who am I really? The Italians are a threat not because they have a solid squad (although it is partially true), but rather because they have the luck of the Gods.

Take a look at the groups:

Everyone will go on and on about Portugal and Brazil being in the same group and call it the group of death. Yes, the Ivory Coast are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in world football these days but no way in my opinion is this the hardest group!

Dare to prove me wrong if you want but I believe Group D is the “Group of Death” in this upcoming tournament. Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana. Four teams I would not want to be playing; I can’t imagine how they feel having to play each other! Germany is the obvious strong team in the group but the other three have just as much of a chance to progress into the latter stages of the tournament. Serbia topped their group as did Australia and Ghana. We have four more than strong sides all together – please tell me it isn’t the most difficult! Everyone knows about Germany and what they bring to football, as well as Australia after the World Cup in 2006. Serbia physically bring a total different aspect to football, one which will give the Germans a run for their money as a matter of fact. Last but not least is the tiny African nation of Ghana who just happens to be the home of some of the greatest midfielders in the modern game. Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah are three of the strongest and well rounded midfielders in the world who all happen to be born in the same place. The key to break down Ghana will quite clearly be to try and get past their midfield.

Like I said, we have it good. Our group isn’t “easy” by any means, but we’re more than capable of easily coming out on top.

On a final good note, as per last month’s FIFA World Rankings, we have leapfrogged Brazil to finally re-gain that deserved number one rank in the world. We slipped to second when we lost to the United States but Brazil losing somewhat embarrassingly to Bolivia has sent them back below us, the mighty La Furia Roja.