GROUP E:
France:
Qualified: Via the UEFA Playoffs against Ukraine (3-2 on aggregate), after finishing ass runners-up in group I to group winners Spain.
Previous Best: Winners (1998, as hosts)
2010 World Cup Result: Group Stages (LAST)
Odds to Win: 22/1
Fan Mindset:
It's the French, they're either pissed off or asleep. All jokes aside, they were pissed back in 2010, they had every right to be. The team that made the final at 2 of the last three World Cups (1998, 2006) flamed out in the groups against (Uruguay, Mexico, and South Africa). The team mutinied on their coach and refused to practice and went out of the tournament scoring only one goal. Whenever a team loses focus and infighting begins during a tournament, it is a sign of disaster and France was no exception. With the days of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry in the past, it is up to a new generation of Frenchman to show up in Brazil. The fans back in Paris will riot if they don't make it out of the groups; then again, they'll probably riot if they do, or if it's Wednesday.
The Team:
France's back line is both youthful and experienced at the same time, a rare but invaluable asset. They are led by goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris of Tottenham, and by Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane. They also have veterans present in Patrice Evra. Midfielder Paul Pogba and striker Karim Benzema round of Coach Didier Deschamps squad. Notably missing is the injured Franck "I'm scary as hell" Ribery. Off the bench are notable EPL players such as Moussa Sissoko and Oliver Giroud, showcasing France's depth. Also, no one on the expected starting eleven outside of Evra is over the age of 30; this is a young, talented squad to say the least. Due to the fact that they had such a flameout last time, expectations are low media-wise for the French, but many should consider them a dark horse.
X-Factor:
Raphael Varane. The defender has received many accolades at Real Madrid and will be needed to ensure France finishes atop their group. The French are always unpredictable in the World Cup, so whether Deschamps uses a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation, Varane will need to show his valuable La Liga skill-set if France hope to go far in Brazil.
Prediction: First in Group E, but then a quarterfinals loss in good ol' fashioned blitzkrieg style to the even more talented Germans.
Relevant Gif: The only French i knew as a child.
Ecuador:
Qualified: 4th in CONMEBOL Round Robin Qualifying, over Uruguay for the final automatic spot.
Previous Best: Round of 16 (2006)
2010 World Cup Result: Did not Qualify (missed by 1 point)
Odds to Win: 125/1
Fan Mindset:
After making the Round of 16 for the first time ever in 2006, many Ecuadorian fans expected their tiny nation to suddenly jump to prominence in South America. 8 years later, Ecuador bowed out in the first round of two Copa Americas (the South American championship tournament) and fell just short of qualifying in 2010. Still, the current team enacted some revenge on Uruguay by knocking them into the playoff round, so Ecuador could qualify automatically. That, combined with the prospect of the first South American World Cup since 1978, gives Ecuador a golden opportunity to recapture glory they thought they could grasp 4 years ago. Anything other than the knockout rounds would be a disappointment.
The Team:
Home-field advantage has new meaning when it comes to Ecuador as their home stadium in Quito is at nearly 10,000 feet and allowed the team to go an incredible 7-1-0 in qualifying. On the other hand, Ecuador did not win a single road game during this period. This fact highlights that their team is full of talent that either shows up or does not. Ecuador's defense only allowed 16 goals in 16 matches in qualifying, again with only 3 allowed at home. The side that travels best for them is their midfield headlined by vice-captain Walter Ayovi and captain Antonio Valencia of Manchester United. The Ecuadorian midfield and Coach Reinaldo Rueda's favorite target is goalscoring threat Felipe Caicedo who scored 7 goals in 9 games for the team in qualifying.
X Factor:
Playing on the road or at home? The team has been one of the most egregious offenders of playing awful on the road, but invincible at home. The question is, will they feel on the road, or right at home in Brazil? They will not be in Ecuador's elevation or environment, but they are the sole South Americans in Group E, a rather weak group. They need to feel comfortable playing in Brazil and not show any signs of inexperience in their matches, especially against seeded team Switzerland.
Prediction: 2nd in Group E. One of the more unexpected members of the knockout rounds, but certainly not past the Round of 16 where they would likely face Argentina.
Relevant Gif: Opponents when told that Ecuador's home stadium is at 10,000 feet.
Switzerland:
Qualified: As group E winners in UEFA qualifying. This was by far the weakest group in UEFA. The only other teams of note in their group were Slovenia and Iceland (who actually made the playoffs, that's how weak it was).
Previous Best: Quarterfinals (1934, 1938, 1954)
2010 World Cup Result: Group Stages (3rd)
Odds to Win: 100/1
Fan Mindset:
The Swiss are a calm people, but you can bet they were excited after the first match of their 2010 World Cup experience. Tournament favorites Spain looked lost as Switzerland won 1-0. Unfortunately for the Swiss, a loss and a draw, left them with four points at out at the group stages. Meanwhile, Spain never looked back and won every remaining match to win the World Cup. Still, the result was impressive for an unheralded Swiss side which has had its share of good fortune. First, it was placed in the easiest qualifying group, then due to its inflated FIFA ranking it was seeded. That's right, Switzerland was one of the top 7 FIFA ranked teams. Not Italy, not England, not the Netherlands, and not Portugal. When you have some luck on your side, why not just roll with it. The Swiss fans are hoping their luck will stay with them through three group matches this time around.
The Team:
Though they were a surprising seeded team, the Swiss certainly do not lack talent or youthfulness. Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has his hands full picking a starting XI. This squad is almost entirely European based in clubs. 9 of the 23 Swiss squad members are in the Bundesliga. The most notable of these is the 22-year-old Xherdan Shaqiri who plays for Bayern Munich. Although his playing time has been limited, he is a great talent that should easily be starting. Meanwhile, another Bundesliga player Erin Derdiyok was left off the squad entirely due to his extremely poor form this year at Bayer Leverkusen. Clearly, Hitzfeld is looking for in-form talent, not just potential. Josip Drmic, the Nurnberg striker rounds out the front level talent for the confident Swiss.
The X-Factor:
The Swiss midfield. Midfield may be the most important position in soccer. It controls both sides of the ball and determines possession, and if their win over Spain in 2010 proved something, it is that possession is key in such close knit matches. The Swiss midfield is led by captain Gokhan Inler and Valon Behrami both of the Italian club Napoli. Their play, if successful, will allow players like Shaqiri to push further up the field in assistance of Drmic, the lone striker in Hitzfeld's system. Whenever you play a system with only one striker, midfield is critical to supporting that striker with quality balls in the box, and maintaining possession. Both of these actions need to be done well for Switzerland to make it out of the group.
Prediction: 3rd in Group E. The opening match against Ecuador will not be a repeat of Spain last year. I think they have the unfortunate distinction of being the only seeded team to fall in the group stages.
Relevant Gif: Swiss Bankers when they see Switzerland lose in the group stages.
Honduras:
Qualified: By finishing 3rd in CONCACAF's Hexagonal, above Mexico by beating the Mexicans 2-1 in Mexico City.
Previous Best: Group Stages (1982, 2010)
2010 World Cup Result: Group Stages (Last)
Odds to Win: 1500/1
Fan Mindset:
The Central American nation had not made a World CUp since 1982, when they surprisingly qualified for the 2010 World Cup. The news prompted celebrations all throughout Honduras that were not dampened even by a group stage loss and last place finish. Now that they have qualified for the World Cup again, Honduras is glad to be here and hoping they can improve on the one point they came away with in South Africa four years ago.
The Team:
The team is very streaky, they managed good results against the USA and Mexico, but dropped a few games to Panama. They also, do not have a notable defense or a reputable midfield. They also struggle to find a regular striker, which......isn't good news for them. As always, any team that is comprised of mostly local league talent (like Honduras), will rarely has problems in chemistry, but problems in rotations and talent abound. Coach Luis Fernando Suarez (not who you think), who took Ecuador took the last 16 in 2006, has tried to work his magic in Honduras since arriving. Honduras mainly runs a fairly listless 4-4-2 system that focuses on their midfielders. In midfield their few bright spots of European (mostly EPL) talent shows itself. There is midfielder Wilson Palacios of Stoke City and Roger Espinoza of Wigan Athletic. Emilio Izaguirre is a defener from Celtic who has shown some promise for club and country when not injured. These individuals offer Honduras's best bet for at least making some noise in Brazil.
The X-Factor:
Placement. Often, a squad's formation and their ability to run the system of thier choosing determines how they play and for Honduras it is no different. With so many holes in their roster, a thin squad at the back, and a team lacking youth, Honduras will need to be crafty to face up against 3 teams much better than them in the group stages. Coach Suarez will need to confirm the 4-4-2 is the best formation for the Hondurans, or work quickly to find something better. Lack of a plan will only result in an even worse Cup for the squad.
Prediction: Last in Group E, but they may repeat their 2010 performance of 1 point if they can scrape a draw with Switzerland.
Relevant Gif: How Honduras feels about making back-to-back World Cups for the first time ever.
GROUP F:
Argentina:
Qualified: Winners and top team in the CONMEBOL Round Robin.
Previous Best: Winners (1978, 1986)
2010 World Cup Result: Quarterfinals
Odds to Win: 4/1
Fan Mindset:
Win. Simple as that. This squad is supremely talented, well managed(now that Maradona is gone), nearly on home soil, have both youth and experience, and have arguably the world's best player on arguably the world's deepest team. Put it this way, a quarterfinals berth and a loss to Germany (an impressive team) in 2010 still was not enough to win former Coach Diego Maradona a new contract with the squad he once led to World Cup glory. Argentine's are in the same boat as Brazil. Champions or failure. They have Messi and all the pieces as well as a history of excellence (2 titles, 4 finals). Everyone is ready to crown Messi the next Maradona, the next all-time great. With 3 Champions League titles, hundreds of goals, and 4 Ballon d'ors (the soccer equivalent of the MVP), all Messi is lacking is some home country success to cement his legacy.
The Team:
To say the team is all Messi would be unfair, buuuuut let's make it clear. They have Messi, no other team does. That means they are instantly a nearly unstoppable goal scoring threat from anywhere on the pitch. And as if Messi wasn't enough, Coach Alejandro Sabella also has the secondary and tertiary threats of Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuaín(who by the way has the best home crowd when he scores at Napoli). At midfielder, Javier Mascherano and Angel di Maria, drop their El Clasico rivalry to join forces and form a more than solid midfield. And on the defense Manchester City teammates Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis hold up a backline that wants to keep the ball at Messi, Agüro, or Higuaín's feet at all times. Good things happen when those guys get the ball. Very good things for Argentina's title hopes.
The X-Factor:
Messi's health and performance. If the world's best players performs like it at the world's biggest tournament, it could be the greatest performance in Argentine history. If he and the team flops, it could be their greatest embarrassment ever. Clearly, a lot of pressure is on the shoulders of the little man from Barcelona. However, Messi's health and play have been concerning in the past year for Barcelona. Without Pep Guardiola and with players like Xavi and Puyol heading out of their prime, Messi "struggled" this year. I say """"struggled"""" because he still scored 41 goals in 46 games. This is the question? Was Messi taking it easy in a World Cup year and saving energy, or is this a serious downturn in his game. Either way, he is still #1 or #2 in the world and has a better backing squad than Cristiano Ronaldo has at Portugal. If Messi is even a 7 on his scale of 1-10, Argentina makes the semis easily, if he shows up at a 10, they could win the whole thing. Winning the Cup in Brazil may just surpass winning as hosts in 1978 or Maradona's run in 1986 as the best win ever by Argentina especially if they........
Prediction: Win the final against Brazil. That's right. First in Group F and my pick as world Champions. Can you imagine if they also beat Spain on this run as well? It would be incredible and the Messi GOAT conversation would swing into full gear a couple of years earlier than expected.
Relevant Gif: Argentina's reaction if my prediction comes true.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qualified: By winning their UEFA group by goal differential over Greece and going an impressive 8-1-1 with an undefeated road record.
Previous Best: NEVER QUALIFIED
2010 World Cup Result: NEVER QUALIFIED
Odds to Win: 150/1
Fan Mindset:
The nation of Yugoslavia fractured in the early 1990s, but it certainly was not a friendly fairwell. Ethnics Serbs in Bosnia led Serbia to invade and start Europe's bloodiest war since World War II. This war led to infrastructural collapse, genocide claims, and a generation born in war. For Bosnia, this generation is one born in blood, but blessed with talent as well. Nations often go through periods of good times collectively referred to as "golden generations." This is certainly Bosnia's golden generation and their chance in the spotlight. They are the only debut nation at this year's World Cup and they carry with them the hopes of their tiny nation and other small nations hoping or their day in the spotlight. If all goes well, it may not be a short run for these newcomers.
The Team:
This team truly has once in a lifetime talent and is built quite well for a World Cup run. The defense is led by goalkeeper Asmir Begovic of Stoke City who only allowed 6 goals in 10 qualifying matches. Captain Emir Spahić and Sead Kolašinac back up a Bundesliga-led defense to support Begović. In midfield, Bosnia is equally gifted with talent as Coach Safet Susic has stacked the squad with offensive minded talent. There may be no other team in Brazil that is so quick to press the ball forward, even against teams with good counterattacks. Susic will have to make sure Bosnia are not caught off guard and exploited at the back. While the defense stars Bundesliga players, two Serie A players sure up the midfield in Senad Lulić and Miralem Pjanić. Strikers Edin Džeko and Vedad Ibišević shined in qualifying with backup from the midfield, but it is unknown if Susic will play them together or separately.
The X-Factor:
Midfield play and possession. Without possession, this team quickly becomes frazzled as seen in some high-energy friendlies earlier this year. However, with possession they become one of the most aggressive and crafty teams at the tournament. The key will be to not stray out of their positions or panic even when dispossessed by the better teams at the tournament. If they can avoid too much damage and focus on utilizing their great strengths in midfield and at striker, then they may look like the seasoned veterans in Brazil after all.
Prediction: 2nd in Group F to go to the knockout rounds, but a better team in the Round of 16 will send them home.
Relevant Gif: When Susic is asked what formation Bosnia will use at the World Cup.
Nigeria:
Qualified: By winning their CAF group easily (the easiest group in qualifying) and by winning their playoff home-and-away 4-1 (against Ethiopia, the easiest playoff opponent...).
Previous Best: Round of 16 (1994, 1998)
2010 World Cup Result: Group Stage (Last)
Odds to Win: 300/1
The Nigerian team was so embarrassing at the 2010 World Cup that the president of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan suspended the Nigerian team from international competition for two years (counterproductive, I know). Luckily for Nigeria, FIFA threatened to impose a World Cup ban on the team for political interference if the ban was not lifted. And good timing too. Soon after the ban was lifted, Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations in 2013, over more favored nations like Ghana and the Ivory Coast. With that in the rearview mirror, Nigeria looks to pull itself together for Brazil and god help the players if they fall in the groups again. The president may just terminate the team permanently. That'll show FIFA!
The Team:
While the squad lacks the firepower, finesse, and flashiness of the more favored African sides, they should not be left for dead in Group E, but they probably should not be favored either. Vincent Enyeama, their goalkeeper anchors a strong defense that backs up a sometimes lackluster scoring combo. 20-year-old Kenneth Omeruo was a strong defender in the African Cup and looks to have a bright future at Chelsea. John Obi Mikel is also at Chelsea and also performed strongly at the African Cup, garnering much acclaim and showing his prowess as a team leader. For a team that failed last World Cup, outspoken leaders that play as hard as they can are needed for Nigeria. Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike star for the Nigerian attack that has been intermittent at times. There is no such thing as "having a bad game or two" at the World Cup; you either show up or get out and these two need to show their full strength. No one else on the squad can reproduce their goalscoring at the moment.
The X-Factor:
Players staying power. It's hard to choose teams for a national squad. Who knows if a player who had a good year at his club is a product of his system, or genuinely good. On the other hand, maybe a player that had a bad season can return to form for a club. With very limited international matches and few chances to prove oneself, the players that stood out in the African Cup and qualifying are almost certainly in Coach Stephen Keshi's Starting XI, no questions asked. However, I will ask a question. What happens when you go from playing Kenya to Argentina with unproven talent. Bad things. I'm just not sure the Nigerians have gotten their act together just yet.
Prediction: 3rd in Group F. This is the one of only 2 groups where I'm confident enough to say that the difference between 2nd and 3rd could well be decided on goal differential. And with Nigeria's goalscoring sputters, I'll give the nod to Bosnia over them.
Relevant Gif: Nigeria's president if they lose in the group stages again.
Iran:
Qualified: Because the Grand Ayatollah said so!.....Or because they managed to finish first in AFC Group A qualifying ahead of South Korea and Qatar.
Previous Best: Group Stages (1978, 1998, 2006)
2010 World Cup Result: Did not Qualify
Odds to Win: 2500/1
Fan Mindset:
Remember how i said, previous bad World Cup teams were NOT the "glad to be here" team. Guess what? This is the "glad to be here" team. We're glad they're here, now take your 3 losses and exit stage left. To say a team has no chance is offensive and wrong. To say Iran has no realistic chance is both accurate and prudent. Their highest level European player is someone who plays for a Swiss squad called Grasshopper. I wish I could be making this up. Group Stages is as far as fans expect them to get and a point or two would be a fantastic result.
The Team:
Old. Very, very old. If Argentina-Iran finsihes better than 3-0 to Argentina, they should be commended. There may only be 1 or 2 players in Coach Carlos Queiroz's Starting XI in Brazil. They will need to rely on that experience if they have any hope of advancing. However, if that experience is outside of the world's top leagues anyway with players on their last legs, is it any help at all? This team may have won their qualifying group, but beyond that they do not look impressive at all. 33-year-old captain Javad Nekounam is Iran's veteran central midfielder....that currently plays for a team in Kuwait. Ashkan Dejagah is a winger for now Champioship side Fulham that may be employed as a winger for added firepower. Beyond that, the squad is pretty thin and 14 of the 23 members of the squad play in Iran's national league which is not all that impressive.
The X Factor:
The element of.....uranium.....I mean surprise.... Many of these players are little known and where they will be played is a mystery. While this is a bad thing for Iran's preparation, it will also make them a strange side for other nations to prepare for. However, just because a nation is hard to prepare for does not make Victor Moses, Edin Džeko, and Lionel Messi go away. I do not see Iran surviving long enough to earn a point.
Prediction: Last in Group F. No points.
Relevant Gif: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when Iran gets blown out by Argentina.
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