Germany 7 World Cup Finals
The World Cup kicks off in Brazil tomorrow when we can enjoy a football fest on BBC and ITV.
1st Korea logo, 2nd Brazil, 3rd Argentina - what's yours?
I have been looking at all the groups and seeing where there may be a shock or two along the way. We are down to the final two groups now, G and H. The winners of Group G will play the runners-up from Group H in the next round and the runners-up of Group G will play the winners of Group H.
Group G
Group G consists of Germany, Portugal, USA and Ghana. They kickoff on Monday 16th June with Germany taking on Portugal and Ghana meeting the USA. Then on Saturday 21st June Germany play Ghana followed by Sunday 22nd June USA against Portugal. The group games conclude on Thursday 26th June with Portugal against Ghana and USA taking on Germany.
Germany
The Germans have made an amazing seven World Cup finals winning three of them, only Italy (4) and Brazil (5) have won more. Only Brazil can match Germany's seven World Cup finals. The pair met in 2002 the last time either side made it that far. In addition they have made the semi-finals more than any other nation (12). Suffice to say we can expect them to go far.
They have one of the stronger squads in the tournament and in manager Joachim Löw they have a master tactician. They won 9 out of 10 qualifying games, the draw was a 4-4 affair against Sweden after being 4-0 up!
There are plenty of names one could trip off the tongue so I'll content myself with suggesting Miroslav Klose as leading tournament goalscorer at a best price of 50/1. I see Germany making at least the final and losing to Argentina.
Portugal
Portugal are captained by currently the best player in the world Cristiano Ronaldo who has a worrying injury for them. They usually struggle in qualifying and this time was no different, a playoff win against Sweden booking their ticket to Brazil.
They should have too much for the USA and Ghana as they usually perform well at actual tournaments. They will then probably have to face the talented Belgium side before going home.
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USA
This group is tough on the USA who simply have to get off to a flier in their opening game. Anything other than a win and their World Cup would probably be over as it will be difficult for them to get anything out of Germany and Portugal.
The Jürgen Klinsmann managed Clint Dempsey captained side is not as good as in previous years. They made qualification a bit of a struggle and there has been in fighting, never a good sign, but they have overcome that for the present.
Their squad lacks quality in depth and in the final game against Germany they may have to get a draw just to have a chance of qualifying, if they can grab a draw against Portugal. They are up against it, it looks like three games and home for the States.
Ghana
This is Ghana's third World Cup but this side isn't a match for the previous two. In addition they have been handed a tough group and I give them no chance of making any progress.
Like the USA they have to win that opening game, a draw will probably be no good, and hope to battle out draws against Germany and Portugal. With a lack of fire power the task looks beyond then to me.
Group G Final Standings
1. Germany
2. Portugal
3. Ghana
4. USA
1st Korea logo, 2nd Brazil, 3rd Argentina - what's yours?
I have been looking at all the groups and seeing where there may be a shock or two along the way. We are down to the final two groups now, G and H. The winners of Group G will play the runners-up from Group H in the next round and the runners-up of Group G will play the winners of Group H.
Group G
Group G consists of Germany, Portugal, USA and Ghana. They kickoff on Monday 16th June with Germany taking on Portugal and Ghana meeting the USA. Then on Saturday 21st June Germany play Ghana followed by Sunday 22nd June USA against Portugal. The group games conclude on Thursday 26th June with Portugal against Ghana and USA taking on Germany.
Germany
The Germans have made an amazing seven World Cup finals winning three of them, only Italy (4) and Brazil (5) have won more. Only Brazil can match Germany's seven World Cup finals. The pair met in 2002 the last time either side made it that far. In addition they have made the semi-finals more than any other nation (12). Suffice to say we can expect them to go far.
They have one of the stronger squads in the tournament and in manager Joachim Löw they have a master tactician. They won 9 out of 10 qualifying games, the draw was a 4-4 affair against Sweden after being 4-0 up!
There are plenty of names one could trip off the tongue so I'll content myself with suggesting Miroslav Klose as leading tournament goalscorer at a best price of 50/1. I see Germany making at least the final and losing to Argentina.
Portugal
Portugal are captained by currently the best player in the world Cristiano Ronaldo who has a worrying injury for them. They usually struggle in qualifying and this time was no different, a playoff win against Sweden booking their ticket to Brazil.
They should have too much for the USA and Ghana as they usually perform well at actual tournaments. They will then probably have to face the talented Belgium side before going home.
Recent Stories:
Dembele
Should Spurs learn from Belgium?
Lamela is going nowhere
A make or break season for Danny Rose
Group F easy for Argentina [VIDEO 1978]
Why France will not win Group E
Belief can win you anything
USA
This group is tough on the USA who simply have to get off to a flier in their opening game. Anything other than a win and their World Cup would probably be over as it will be difficult for them to get anything out of Germany and Portugal.
The Jürgen Klinsmann managed Clint Dempsey captained side is not as good as in previous years. They made qualification a bit of a struggle and there has been in fighting, never a good sign, but they have overcome that for the present.
Their squad lacks quality in depth and in the final game against Germany they may have to get a draw just to have a chance of qualifying, if they can grab a draw against Portugal. They are up against it, it looks like three games and home for the States.
Ghana
This is Ghana's third World Cup but this side isn't a match for the previous two. In addition they have been handed a tough group and I give them no chance of making any progress.
Like the USA they have to win that opening game, a draw will probably be no good, and hope to battle out draws against Germany and Portugal. With a lack of fire power the task looks beyond then to me.
Group G Final Standings
1. Germany
2. Portugal
3. Ghana
4. USA
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