Le Sac Postal (That Means "Mailbag")

Hi boys and girls, Brian here. I'm just back from French lessons and très excité about diving into the old mailbag. Speaking of French, check out the picture here of the France team from their recent friendly against Mexico. The team sure looks really...umm...French!

Bryce and I send our apologies for the lack of updates in recent days. We were both traveling to see friends make that fateful mistake...errr...decision to walk down the ailse with the ladies they love. But we're back and will have a lot to talk about this week. Plus, Bryce leaves for Berlin on Saturday to set up shop at our very own Bookable Offense World Cup headquarters. Exciting times, friends. Let's get to the mailbag - as always, these are actual letters from actual readers. Enjoy.

Donnie in parts unknown: Why is Bruce Arena so in love with Brian McAwful? He is terrible and the USA has so many other options. If he starts McAwful I hope USA plays three and goes home. I am fully disgusted with some of Arena's decisions.

Brian: Hi Donnie. Some harsh criticism for our pal Brian McBride, wouldn't you say? I think I can see where you are coming from. McBride is limited in what he can do. He isn't all that great on the ball, isn't a great passer, and isn't a great scorer with his feet. Like a lot of strikers, he can disappear from matches at times. But with that said, I think Arena must start him. While you say Arena has options, I don't think the US really has that much depth up front. McBride is a steady veteran and was very good at the 2002 World Cup. For all his faults, he's deadly in the air and the US scores a lot of goals off of set pieces and crosses. He's also smart and a big game player who has a lot of fight in him. On Sunday against Latvia in a friendly, how did he respond to picking up a welt on his forehead the size of a golf ball? He got back out there and scored the winning goal. And while he's no Ruud van Nistelrooy, McBride has been relatively productive. He scored 10 goals for Fulham this season and was voted the team's player of the season by the Fulham supporters club. Besides, who would you want to go to war with? Someone who will play hurt and give every ounce of energy in his body like McBride, or someone who runs home to mommy when the chips are down like our buddy Landycakes? Until he lets me down or someone else clearly surpasses him, I'll stick with McBride.

Matthew in San Jose, CA: I wanted to understand your position on African players in European leagues. Are you an equal-opportunity supporter?

Brian: The best football in the world is played in Europe. If a player is good enough, that's where he should be playing, regardless if he's from England or Nigeria or Japan or Brazil. With that said, I am in favor of quotas stipulating that teams have a minimum amount of home-grown players. I think it's important for teams to develop their youth programs and develop home-grown talent. In England, for example, the influx of foreign players has hurt the development of young English talent and impacted the quality and depth of the national team, in my opinion. Having the home-grown quota would help solve that problem. Thanks for writing, Matthew.

Pete in Dayton, OH: Hey guys, love the website. My question is about the Group E opener on the 12th. Will the recent injuries in the Czech squad be enough for the US to take advantage of?

Brian: Hey Pete. Good question. I've been saying all along that the Czech Republic is not as good as they were at Euro 2004. At Euro 2004, everything was going right for the Czechs. The team was in perfect health and even Milan Baros was scoring. How often do we see that happen? This time around, things have changed. The injury list is long, including the likes of Smicer, Galasek, Rosicky, and Koller. Pavel Nedved is pretty fragile these days, and we saw him break down eventually at Euro 2004. The Czech Republic is beatable, and if the US is going to make the Round of 16, it really must take points off the Czechs in the opening game. But as depleted as the Czechs are, they still have Petr Cech in goal, who very well may have passed up Buffon this season as the best keeper in the world. I'm not ready to call this one, but stay tuned for Bryce's Group E preview and our prediction spectacular in the coming days.

JP in Ottawa, Ontario: While we have no national team to speak of, we're still excited about the World Cup up here in Canada. In your opinion, which group offers the most compelling two opening matches?

Brian: Greetings, JP. This World Cup actually has two candidates for the dreaded "Group of Death" - Group C (Argentina, Côte d'Ivoire, Netherlands, Serbia) and Group E (Czech Rep, Ghana, Italy, USA). Since I wrote the Group C preview (I'm sure you didn't miss that), I'll go with the first two matches from that group: Argentina vs. Côte d'Ivoire and Serbia vs. Netherlands. Côte d'Ivoire is a complete wild card and no one knows what to expect out of them. And the Serbian defense was scary-good in qualifying. The favored Argentinians and Dutch very well could drop points in those matches. If either does, the group will be wide open.

Tony in White Plains, NY: Why is the MLS playing during the World Cup?

Brian: Because it's a league run by idiots who know nothing about football, that's why. How can this league be taken seriously by anyone? Club football is supposed to be played from August to May, people. Besides, it's not like these games will matter that much. Since MLS wants to be an American sport more than it wants to play real football, 75% of the league's teams will make the ridiculous playoff tournament anyways, and by then everyone will have been home from Germany for quite some time. So these regular season games mean a whole lot of nothing since only the months of October and November really count. Can this league get anything right? We gave up on MLS the day they ran the Earthquakes - a team with a loyal fanbase in a soccer-loving community and had won two of the previous five championships - out of San Jose. I suggest you stop caring as well, Tony.

Carlos in Manhattan, KS: Which US players impressed you guys most during the three friendlies. Will anyone sneak into the starting 11?

Brian: Hi Carlos. Lots of questions today about the US team! Bobby Convey stood out to me. The guy is a stud. He'll take anyone on and is a great crosser of the ball. I can't wait to see him play Premiership football next season. Dare I say, he's better than Beasley right now. But with that said, Beasley still has to start since I can't bench a skillful winger with blistering speed. Dempsey is another good option on the wing. He doesn't seem to have a bad game for the US when given a chance. You also have to like how Brian Ching performed against Venezuela. But if everyone is healthy, I can't see Arena starting anyone but Beasley, Donovan, Reyna, and O'Brien in midfield. That's still the best combination of skill and experience. But given Reyna and O'Brien's injury and fitness issues, guys like Convey, Dempsey, and Pablo Mastroeni will see plenty of action.

Photos courtesy yahoo.com and fifaworldcup.yahoo.com. Don't be shy - get in on the mailbag fun. Send us un courrier électronique at bookableoffense@gmail.com. Don't forget to tell us where you're writing from. The best letter next week will receive a German postcard from Bryce.

World Cup Preview - Group D

Today Bookable Offense continues its look at the field of 32 headed to Germany with Group D.

Angola

Qualifying for its first ever World Cup finals, it is safe to say that Angola isn't a hot favorite to advance out of Group D. Little is expected from the former Portuguese colony except for a good showing in those eye-catching kits. Fans of Angola will be hoping that the low expectations for the team will enable them to catch opposing sides off guard.

The Palancas Negras, or Black Impalas, came out on top of a qualifying group in Africa which featured perennial challengers Nigeria, despite tying Jay Jay Okocha and company on points and having a poorer goal differential (Angola won the head-to-head match-up, the first tie-breaker). They did not however, display the same grit and successful form from qualifying at the recent African Cup of Nations, in which they failed to advance out of the first round.

Five new faces have been added to the 23-man roster heading for Germany. It should also be noted that many of the men comprising the Angolan side actually play their club football in Portugal, former colonial ruler and Group D opponent. The Angolans' familiarity with many of the faces playing for Big Phil's Portuguese side, combined with the two nations' colonial history should make for some major fireworks when they face each other on the opening date of Group D play, June 11th.

Key Player - Fabrice Akwa
Fabrice Akwa, or "Akwaman" as I like to call him, was the single most decisive factor in Angola's qualification for Germany. The captain led the team in scoring along the way and will be playing this summer with extra motivation: he is currently out of contract and will be playing his heart out for his country and his wallet, which Angolans hope will prove to be a recipe for success.

What to Watch For
It is fairly safe to assume that Angola will no longer top the Group D standings when the table reflects results, not just alphabetical order. But, those unies are smooth, so just focus on that.


Iran

This will be the Iranians third World Cup, and some might consider this the first time they have a legitimate shot at advancing out of the Group Stages. As is the case with most nontraditional footballing powers, they will be dependent on results in the rest of the group going their way to make it happen, but Branko Ivancovic and his men must feel confident heading for Germany.

Unfortunately, most of the news surrounding Iran's participation has been marred, as usual, by politics. News that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would not be allowed into Germany (because he is a Holocaust denier) should he desire to watch the team play put a damper on the festive spirit of some Iranian fans.

If this experienced team can focus on the task at hand on the field and forget about what is being said or done off the field, they'll have a real chance to advance. On opening day of Group D play, if Portugal stumbles in what amounts to a fierce local derby with Angola, and Team Melli can split the points with Mexico, the group will be wide open. Whether or not Iran can pounce on the opportunity, should it present itself, remains to be seen.

Key Player - Ali Karimi
All-time leader in caps and goals, Ali Daei is rightfully revered as a hero in his native Iran. His leadership and experience could prove vital, but his fellow striker, Ali Karimi of Bayern Munich (pictured here demonstrating the German side's famous jumprope routine) must assume the leading role in attack for Iran to advance. At 37, Daei simply can't keep up with the younger legs of his opponents for three 90-minute matches. If Karimi, already capped a staggering 89 times himself, can take the lead on the tally sheet, Iran will be a serious challenger for advancing to the Round of 16.

What to Watch For
Group D could be decided early if the two favorites, Portugal and Mexico, take care of business in the first two group games (they face each other last). Any slips, and Iran must be poised to take advantage. If the Angola match takes its toll on the Portuguese, Iran will have to raise their intensity and level of play to push for an early knock-out blow against the heavily-favored European side. Six days between matches however, seems to favor Portugal, so it looks like a tough road ahead for Iran.


Mexico

The Tricolores are the seeded team in Group D, which would presumably make them the favorites to top the table. They have made 13 World Cup appearances, including the inaugural tournament in 1930 (hosted and of course won by Uruguay) and enter the tournament with high expectations. As a two-time World Cup finals host country, Mexico is often considered a true football power.

Looking back on history, however, one finds a very different message. "What is the closest Mexico has come to winning the World Cup?" you ask. They've never made the final or the semis, and only made the quarterfinals twice - both times as the host nation. Yikes.

Since the last World Cup, in which they lost to their northern rivals, Mexico has been second best in CONCACAF behind the United States. Furthermore, looking back at the impressive qualification record, how could they have ever failed to qualify for a single World Cup given their weak confederation? Losing out to Haiti for a spot in 1974 is hard to fathom - not only because Haiti is the least developed nation in the Western Hemisphere, but also because thirty years ago things couldn't have been that much better for the team now graciously ranked 106th in the World.

For their sake, let's hope Mexico manages to play up to their reputation as a world-class team.

Key Player - Guillermo Franco
Jared Borgetti is coming off of a forgettable first season in England with Bolton. While productive when given the chance to play, the all-time leading scorer for his native Mexico was not given many Premiership starts. With his lack of first-team play, the scoring load might just fall to Guillermo Franco, the Argentina-born Villarreal striker. Despite some criticism of the inclusion of foreign born players, Mexico fans will forget their complaints if Franco can lead them out of Group D.

What to Watch For
Despite Mexico's less than impressive World Cup record, they'll hope last summer's display at the Confederations Cup will carry over into a good run beginning on June 11th. Ricardo Lavolpe should have enough talent at his disposal to advance El Tri into a difficult match against the winner or runners up of Group C- some reward.


Portugal

The question surrounding this team inevitably seems to be which Portuguese team will show up this summer? Will it be the overconfident, sloppy side which was bounced from Korea and Japan after three matches four years ago? Or will it be the stylish, hard-nosed defending side which so nearly won Euro 2004 on their home soil? If their qualifying record suggests anything, it is that the team fielded by Portugal under the watchful eye of Luis Felipe Scolari will be anything but unprepared.

Undefeated in European qualifiers, Portugal amassed an astounding +30 goal differential in just 12 games. While no one expects them to continue averaging almost three goals a game, this team should come out hungry and determined to prove that their form under Scolari is far from a fluke. This may well be their last tournament with Big Phil at the helm, but expect them to play their hearts out for him.

If the Portuguese can avoid a bloodbath in their first match against Angola, they should be well-positioned to advance. There will also be plenty of time between games to rest veteran players like Figo and Pauleta, who are both coming off of long seasons with their club teams.

Key Player - Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal will be dependent on their mercurial young winger, Cristiano Ronaldo to make a serious run into the late stages of the tournament. He has repeatedly demonstrated for both club and country that when effective, he is deadly. However, his tendency to slip into less than picturesque form constantly keeps naysayers on the prowl. A big tournament from Ronaldo and a solid defensive performance from the back four, and this team will be a serious threat to anyone.

What to Watch For
This team is vastly experienced and features players from top clubs across Europe, along with a World Cup winning coach. Everything points to a great tournament for this team, so look for them to come out on top of Group D.

Think our football experts missed something? Send us an email.

Pictures borrowed without asking from www.dr.dk, Bayern's website, Iransportpress, and la-prensa.com. Cheers, mate.

Free Kicks - 23 May 2006

O Captain! My Captain!
United States captain Claudio Reyna limped off with a hamstring injury in the first half of the USA-Morocco friendly match on Tuesday evening. US coach Bruce Arena recently commented on the good fortune the American team has had in avoiding the injury bug, and sure enough, Reyna promptly picked up a knock. Reyna commented after the game that the injury doesn't appear to be serious, but he was in obvious discomfort and will go through medical tests tomorrow. To add insult to injury, the US lost the game 1-0. While we are quick to gloss over scorelines in friendlies, any loss against a hand-picked opponent leading up to a World Cup is cause for mild concern. The US dominated the first half with its full compliment of starters on the field. However, the Americans were guilty time and time again of over-passing and delivering a poor final ball on their attacks. But the major concern now is getting Reyna healthy. In the 15 minutes or so they were both on the park, oft-injured midfielders John O'Brien and Reyna looked mighty good playing next to each other.

Rooneywatch, Day 25
A great little "cat and mouse" game is unfolding in Jolly Old England, where the England team doctors continue to sound optimistic about Wayne Rooney's chances of recovering from a broken foot in time to play at the World Cup, while Manchester United officials downplay the young forward's chances. Rooney will undergo a scan on Thursday which should give doctors an idea of precisely when Rooney will be fully healed. The player himself believes he'll be ready, and England coach Sven Goran Eriksson (pictured looking longingly at David Beckham) reiterated his hopes that Rooney will be ready by the final Group B game against Sweden. In a strange twist, Manchester Utd fired the doctor in charge of Rooney's recovery this week. Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson has repeatedly stated his desire that Rooney not play at the World Cup at all so he can be fully recovered in time for the 2006/2007 English Premier League season in August. Could something sinister be going on with the firing of the doctor who has so far rehabilitated Rooney ahead of schedule? We wouldn't put it past Fergie.

Transfer Madness
Ah, the summertime - the sun is out, the days are long, the flowers are in bloom, and the ladies are out in various levels of undress. And the best part of summer? Transfer time! Here's some transfer news that's got our attention:

• Arsenal swooped in to sign Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky from Borussia Dortmund for an estimated £7 million. Rosicky is a fabulous addition for the Gunners. He can play out wide or in the middle and is an excellent passer who will fit in well with Arsene Wenger's system. He'll also give Alex Hleb a run for his money with his shaggy haircut that screams "I am Eastern European, notice me!"
  
  
• Champions League semifinalist Villarreal is on the verge of locking up French winger Robert Pires on a free transfer from Arsenal. This is a good move for the player and for both his new and former clubs. Pires, who incidentally once flew on the same airplane as Bookable Offense Italian expert Jon Cook, gets the two year contract he wanted. Villarreal needed a veteran goalscoring midfielder. With the arrival of Rosicky and the development of Hleb and Jose Antonio Reyes, it was time for Pires to leave North London. However, he shouldn't be forgotten for his remarkable six years at Highbury, particularly in 2002 when he was perhaps the best player in the entire Premiership.
  
  
• Andriy Shevchenko said he will decide his future in the next week. It's expected that he'll be choosing between staying at AC Milan or moving on to Chelsea. A more pressing concern for the Ukrainian is overcoming a knee injury in time to captain his country at the World Cup.
  
  
• Dutch star Dirk Kuyt will be a hot commodity this summer. The Feyenoord striker, who scored 22 goals this season, looks set to move abroad, with England being is most likely destinationn. Tottenham and Newcastle are his biggest fans, but Liverpool and possibly Arsenal and Manchester Utd are rumored to be interested. Just to get Bryce happy and set him up for a big letdown, Kuyt was recently quoted as saying "It would be a dream to play for them" in regards to Newcastle.
  

Girls Gone Wild
The United States is home to many of the finest, most distinguished institutions of higher learning in the world, one of which is Northwestern University in near Chicago, IL. Northwestern is notable for producing the likes of actor Warren Beatty, former US presidential candidate George McGovern, and US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. And now, Northwestern is famous for producing something we really respect: drunken girls soccer players in their underwear! It seems as though an illegal little hazing exercise, all in the name of team bonding, has been brought to the public's attention via our friend the Internet. Thanks to the folks at badjocks.com, we get to witness the beauty that is "Freshman Initiation." It's all a little too much for us to handle, but it involves college girls in their underwear, binge drinking, blindfolds, and lap dancing. Good times. Well done, ladies. Don't let all of the bad press keep you from continuing this tradition next season! And thanks for doing your part to spread the beauty and joy of the world's game to American soil.

And Finally...
A crisis nearly unfolded today at Spain's training camp when team captain Raul showed up to practice wearing a yellow t-shirt. Apparently yellow is deemed unlucky by Spain's racist, kabbalah-practicing coach Luis Aragones, who has gone as far to replace all of the yellow practice cones with red cones. Aragones immediately ordered Raul to take off the forbidden color. The World Cup may be too much for the Spanish coach to stomach. Spain plays yellow-wearing Ukraine in the group stage, and Brazil is among the potential quarterfinal opponents.

Photos courtesy yahoo.com and badjocks.com. Send us your hazing stories and mailbag questions at bookableoffense@gmail.com.

World Cup Preview - Group C

Our previews of each World Cup group continue today with one of the two candidates for the "Group of Death," Group C.

Argentina

In 2002, Argentina boasted perhaps its best squad since the Maradona-led cup winning 1986 team. In fact, it was the Argentinians, not the Brazilians, who received much of the pre-tournament buzz. But World Cup 2002's "Group of Death" proved to be too much (thanks mostly to a David Beckham penalty - remember when he used to convert those?), and Argentina crashed out in the group stage. This time around, Argentina has been flying under the radar. But the draw was unkind once again. They'll need to be at their best from the very start to avoid another early exit and quiet the growing grumbles among their fans that they're joining the "underachievers" club alongside Holland and Spain.

As usual, Argentina's strength will be in attack. Hernan Crespo looks to be a certain starter. Either Barcelona's young prodigy Lionel Messi or Chelsea target Carlos Tevez will partner Crespo up front. The man supplying them will be Juan Roman Riquelme, the talismanic attacking midfielder from Villarreal. He's perhaps the best "hole" player in the world. But he's also picking up a reputation, which we saw during his time in Barcelona and in this year's Champions League, of disappearing in big games. Another concern for the Argentinians is a lack of world class wing players, and the inconsistency of goalie Roberto Abbondanzieri. Despite the question marks, make no mistake, this team is one of the best in the world and very capable of winning it all.

Key Player - Javier Mascherano
He's known as the Makelele of Argentina and the likes of Real Madrid, Deportivo la Coruna, and Manchester Utd reportedly have been queuing up to snap him up (at an estimated £25 million, no less). And perhaps no player is more important to Argentina's chances than the 21-year old Mascherano. Lots of attention is given to the Argentinian attack, and rightly so. But it'll be Mascherano's job to win the ball in midfield, shut down the opposition's top scorers, and protect the back four. If he wants his big money move to Europe, this will be the time to prove it.

What to Watch For
Argentina gets to work its way up, starting with newbies Cote d'Ivoire before taking on Serbia and Montenegro and finishing with Holland. They will want to avoid dropping any points in the first two games to take some of the pressure off for the big game with the Dutch. Depth could be a problem, as Argentina does not feature many known internationals outside the starting eleven. But should they qualify for the knockout stages, Argentina is a favorite to reach the semifinals.

Cote d'Ivoire

Africa has brought us four first-timers to this World Cup, and Cote d'Ivoire - we're francofiles and will stick with the proper French spelling - is potentially the most exciting and dangerous of them all. Les Elephants feature a talented young squad, many of which are familiar names to fans of European football. But the draw couldn't have been any more unkind - any other group and many would be picking Cote d'Ivoire as a dark horse team to reach the quarterfinals. Still, expect this confident team - they've tied Italy and beat Spain in friendlies in the past year - to proudly represent their nation as it recovers from years of civil war.

This is one of the hottest teams in the world. They overcame the likes of Cameroon and Egypt in the winner-take-all African qualification. This past winter, the Elephants finished a respectable second at the African Cup of Nations. Cote d'Ivoire is strong in defense, with Arsenal stars Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue both in the starting eleven. Chelsea forward Didier Drogba starts up front and captains the team. The glaring weakness in this team is its lack of quality in midfield. Most of the Elephants' attacks are the result of long balls out of the defense.

Key Player - Didier Drogba
Drogba gets a lot of heat for his inconsistency and his tendency to go to ground far too easily in England. But the Chelsea man must be wearing Superman's "S" underneath his orange Cote d'Ivoire kit, because he is nearly unstoppable when representing his country. He scored nine goals in eight qualifying games. With a lack of creativity in midfield, Drogba will be relied upon heavily for goalscoring. He won't be getting much service, so he'll have to take advantage of the few opportunities he gets each game.

What to Watch For
It isn't going to be easy for Cote d'Ivoire. The Elephants start with Argentina and then play Holland. With Kolo Toure in the back, they've got one of the best centerbacks in the world. But he can't shut down the likes of Crespo and van Nistelrooy all by himself. The best way to take some heat off the defense is for the midfield to pick up its play and try to dictate some of the tempo. If Cote d'Ivoire can keep the ball some, they can put up a good fight. Still, it would be a major achievement if the Elephants can take any points off of either the Argentinians or the Dutch. Most likely it'll be a quick exit.

Holland

And then there's the Dutch - always a bridesmaid, never the bride. Four years ago, Holland wasn't even invited to the wedding. But Marco van Basten has done a superb job of ridding the team of its complacent millionaires (stand up, Patrick Kluivert) and finding young, talented, homegrown players who fit into the traditional Dutch 4-3-3 system of attacking football. Holland learned the hard way that it's often better to stick with your system than it is to stick with your stars. Holland quietly has rebounded to assume its role among Europe's footballing elite. The Dutch were unbeaten in qualifying (including two wins over the Czech Republic), conceding only three goals and keeping 10 clean sheets.

Holland prides itself on playing football that's pleasing to the eye and certainly this group of players can do just that. Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will be hungry after an unhappy end to his season at Manchester Utd, will lead the attack up front. Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt most likely will flank him on either side. Phillip Cocu, steady as ever, will pull the strings in midfield. The Dutch defense, young and untested, could be the weak link. But with Edwin van der Sar in goal, the defense can make a mistake or two and get away with it. The Dutch have a lot to prove and won't let a difficult group get in their way.

Key Player - Arjen Robben
Frequent readers of Bookable Offense will know how much value we place on fast, skillful wing players, and Robben certainly fits the bill. The Chelsea man can make any right back look bad. Not only can he run at opponents, but his final ball is excellent and he's proven to be clinical with his scoring touch. The knock on him, of course, is his durability. But Robben appears ready to unleash his talent on Group C. The Dutch will need him - save his habit of diving and pretending to be hurt to draw cards - at his best to make it deep into the tournament.

What to Watch For
It will be interesting to see if this young team can handle the pressure, particularly in defense. Fortunately, they have veteran leadership down the spine with van der Sar, Cocu, and van Nistelrooy. Plus their track record in qualifying would indicate that they can shut anyone down. The third group game against Argentina should be a classic. At World Cup 1998, these two teams played an epic quarterfinal that was won in the dying minutes with a memorable Dennis Bergkamp strike. This team lacks a true creative genius in the Bergkamp or Cruyff mold, but they make up for it in other areas. Expect the Dutch to make it out of this group. Like the Argentinians, the semifinals are a reasonable expectation.

Serbia and Montenegro

The Serbians fit the role of the underdog team no one wants to play. They navigated their way through one of the trickiest groups in European qualifying, winning a group that included Spain, Bosnia, and Belgium. Not only did Serbia and Montenegro qualify, but they were dominant defensively, conceding only one goal in an undefeated capaign. While they may no longer be the "Brazil of the Balkans," the workmanlike team plays effective but not pretty football and is exceedinly difficult to break down. Their performance in qualification has done wonders in rebuilding the reputation of the war-torn Balkan country.

While Serbia and Montenegro struggled at times to score in qualification, they do feature two solid forwards up top. Mateja Kezman is gifted on the ground while 6'7" Nikola Zigic is deadly in the air. The two combine much like Michael Owen and Emile Heskey did years ago for Liverpool, with the taller player knocking down balls for the more skillful smaller player. In the back, the "Famous Four," as they are known following their impressive record in qualification, will look to continue their stingy form. Among the four are Schalke 04's Mladen Krstajic and Manchester Utd's Nemanja Vidic. Internazionale's Dejan Stankovic is the team's creative spark in midfield. The Serbians lack world class wing players, and as we mentioned before, goalscoring will be their biggest struggle.

Key Player - Dejan Stankovic
Already a mainstay in Italian football after spells at Lazio and his current club, Internazionale, Stankovic will now get the opportunity to show his skills on the world stage. Serbia and Montenegro played rather dull football at times during qualification. Stankovic has the quality to help the Serbians shed that reputation. He will be tasked with breaking down opposing defenses and feeding Zigic and Kezman with passes. He'll also need to score a goal or two himself if Serbia and Montenegro are going to make it out of this group.

What to Watch For
They've already got a chip on their shoulder, as Serbia and Montenegro felt the way they were handled by FIFA regarding the World Cup draw was punishment for their role in the Balkan conflict. Chip or no chip, this is a team that will cause problems for Holland and Argentina. It's not out of the question that the Serbians can take points off either of the Group C powers. But it's unlikely that they'll be able to find enough scoring to progress to the knockout stages. Whilst they'll probably be going home early this time, we can expect to see Serbia and Montenegro as a frequent participant at future World Cups to come.

Photos courtesy football.co.uk, revistanueva.com, uefa.com, psv.nl, and blic.co.yu. Who's going to win the "Group of Death?" Let us know at bookableoffense@gmail.com.

Weekend Mailbag

We here at Bookable Offense have been working hard to keep up with our readers' questions. Here's the latest installment of the Weekend Mailbag.

Eugene in Newport, RI: Hey guys, love the website. There's been a lot of buzz coming out of the US camp in North Carolina this week. The team's looking good and has a lot of confidence. But realistically, can we expect the US to reach the Round of 16?

Bryce: Four years ago, popular opinion said the United States would torn apart by the highly-touted Portuguese side in their group's opening day of play. Much to the world's surprise, the US jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on for dear life in the second half to earn three huge points. This year, the buzzsaw awaiting them in their first game is the Czech Republic. Avoiding a loss will again be paramount to the team's hopes of survival.

At the end of the day, the unknown factors in this group include what effects, if any, the ongoing scandal in Italy will have on the Italian side, how World Cup newbies Ghana will respond to playing on the world stage, and what kind of crowd support the two European teams will muster playing so close to home soil.

The dust won't settle until the final whistle on June 22nd, but in the end I think the US might sneak in if they can beat Ghana and get a favorable result from the Italy-Czech Republic game.

In the meantime, check out the US Soccer site's video compilation from training and keep your eyes out for my full run down on Group E.

Rico in Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Glad to hear you are going to Germany this summer. It seems like you guys have traveled to a lot of places to watch football. What are some of your favorite places you've been to watch football? And which country has the hottest girls?

Bryce: Talk about asking the tough questions....

On US soil, the best I've experienced is at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. I haven't yet been to the other new stadiums housing MLS teams, but I'll show up for a Chivas USA homematch anyday.

As for more exotic locales, Brian would insist on a blurb about Highbury, but since that eyesore is finally being torn down, I'll gloss over it.

Witnessing a World Cup qualifier at the Centenario in Uruguay against Brazil was pretty intense. It was my first moated and barb-wired football match experience. In Portugal we both enjoyed Boavista's grounds in Porto a great deal and regretted not getting to see a game in Braga where the stadium is built into the side of a mountain.

As for your second query, I have long contested that the loveliest ladies in the world are found in Argentina. Brazil certainly is deserving of some votes, especially after a caipirinha or three. Of all the places I've traveled I would warn against high expectations for Ecuador and George Washington University.

Michael in Banff, Alberta: Should we really be getting excited about the World Cup? I mean, Brazil is a lock to win it again, right? The World Cup is getting as predictable as all of the European leagues!

Bryce: I would hesitate to call this a done deal. Yes, Brazil has been placed in a favorable group, but they could be facing the likes Italy or the Czech Republic as early as the Round of 16. That would make for a nice Final, let alone the first game after group play.

While I don't hold out much hope for the likes of Germany or Spain, Argentina, Holland, England, or France could be serious challengers to the throne. If the tournament holds truer to form than four years ago, the quality of games beginning in first knockout games will be exceptional.

Is it June 9th yet?

Christian in Bucharest, Romania: Hello! Who are some of your favourite players of all time? And who are your favourites from today? My favourite was Gheorghe Hagi!

Bryce: That's a good pick, Christian.

I've decided to name my Bryce+10 in honor of Brian's recent posting.

For obvious reasons, partnering me in attack would be Alan Shearer. Linking us to the midfield would be Uruguayan playmaker Alvaro Recoba. Streaking down the left side would be one of my current favorites, Shunuske Nakamura-san. Keeping with the attack-minded nature of the club, former San Jose Earthquakes great George Best would be on the right side. Orchestrating from the middle of the pitch would be (a somewhat sober) Gazza. Holding down the fort in midfield would be Dunga, mostly because his name means "Dopey." The back three would feature the somewhat predictable Roberto Carlos on the left, Cafu on the right, and would be anchored in the middle by Jean Alain Boumsong. OK, not really. The man in the middle would have to be Uncle Sol, but he would definitely play in an England or Tottenham shirt. Between the pipes, it would be tempting to have the extra attacker in Chilavert, I think I would opt for Shay Given or Kasey Keller. Coin toss says Kasey is the 'keeper, no pun intended.

Sandra in Johannesberg, South Africa: I love your website! I was reading an interview about Bryce Campbell on the internet, and I saw he had a Japanese girlfriend in 2002, and now has a German girlfriend in 2006. Do I have a chance in 2010, Bryce? I'd love to show you my country.

Bryce: While I am flattered that people are still reading that interview- really, the cure was going to be discovered by someone eventually. I was just at the right lab performing the right experiments and clinical trials at the right time- I think its only fair that Brian takes over responsibility for finding us free housing in Capetown by 2010. That's right ladies, we'll start the bidding as soon as this World Cup is completed. Stay tuned for the first-ever online Bookable Offense World Cup Date Auction.

That's all for this week. Keep those emails coming.

Pictures courtesy of ussoccer.com, sport.ard.de, abcnews.au, and the always reputable fodbold-fantastic.dk.

World Cup Preview - Group B

Our World Cup group-by-group previews continue today with Group B.

England

The pressure is always on for England, and this World Cup is no different. The 1966 champs are a bit of an enigma. The talent and the pedigree are always there. But seldom are the Three Lions thought of in the same class as the Brazilians, Argentines, or Italians. England gets a lot of credit for its heart and determination, but doesn't seem to get the same respect for its skill and technical abilities. But make no mistake, this generation of England players is one of the best in decades.

England has the names we all know - Beckham, Owen, Lampard, and Gerrard. But the best of them all, the electric 20-year old Wayne Rooney, is a serious injury doubt with a broken foot. It's hard to imagine England going far without Rooney making a serious contribution. Rooney's usual partner up front, Michael Owen, has had injury problems all year, but is expected to play. Still, England should make some serious noise in this tournament. Rooney or no Rooney, they are the clear favourites to win Group B. While it doesn't get much attention, the England defense is perhaps the best in the world. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in midfield are clutch players and winners. However, the Three Lions aren't without their weaknesses. We've outlined the injury concerns. And despite having a bevy of stars, the England midfield has struggled to play as a cohesive unit and has trouble gaining ball possession. Another concern is the tactics and substitution patterns employed by coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

Key Player - Steven Gerrard
Stevie G. was absolutely immense at Liverpool this season. His FA Cup final performance alone is the stuff of legends, and his place among the world's best midfielders is unquestioned. Still, there are doubts about his play for England. After missing out at World Cup 2002 due to injury, Gerrard was largely ineffective at Euro 2004. With the injury problems up front, England will need Gerrard to spearhead the attack and score goals now more than ever.

What to Watch For
England is expected to win this group. Can it handle the pressure? England cannot drop points to Paraguay or Trinidad and Tobago, or the pressure may be too much if they are in a must-win situation against Sweden. Also, teams have figured out Eriksson. Can he adjust? He's made some interesting squad selections, bringing in a true holding midfielder and three very young but very fast and skilled wing players. Perhaps the outgoing Swede has some tricks up his sleeve. Anything less than the quarterfinals would be a disappointment. But anything beyond that might be a bit unrealistic. Regardless, England will be fun to watch and will garner a lot of attention.

Paraguay

Paraguay overcame a rough start in qualifying to reach its seventh World Cup. Nestled between Brazil and Argentina, Paraguay is often forgotten in world football. But recent history suggests that the Paraguayans are the third strongest team in South America, and their performances in World Cup 2002, including a notable battle with the Germans that the Paraguayans were two minutes from sending the game into extra time, indicate that they have the bottle to take on anyone in the World. The English and Swedes will not be able to walk over the Guaranies.

This time around the Paraguayans are an interesting mix of youth and experience. Gone is attention-grabbing goalie Jose Luis Chilavert. But quietly the Guaranies have produced a solid defensive team, lead by team captain and former Internazionale centerback Carlos Gamarra. Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz surprised many by naming 18-year old prodigy Jose Montiel in the squad. The teenager caught the attention of the world at last summer's Under-17 World Championships. In the past, Paraguay was content to sit back and play for draws. Ruiz has assured us that won't be the case this time around. This team is solid up the middle, but there are concerns out wide and goalscoring might be a problem.

Key Player - Roque Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz has had his share of injuries over the years, but he recovered from an October knee injury in time to help Bayern Munich win the double in Germany this term. With over seven years now at Bayern, including a Champions League medal, it's easy to forget that Santa Cruz is only 24 years old. Still, he's never had the pressure of being the lead striker at Bayern. He will have the responsibility for Paraguay. Goals may be hard to come by, so his play will be key.

What to Watch For
The very first Group B contest between Paraguay and England will tell us a lot about how the group with play out. If the Guaranies can take points off the English, this group may be wide open. But it is tough to imagine Paraguay challenging England and Sweden for a spot in the final 16. This World Cup may have come four years too soon for the young generation of future stars that Paraguay is producing.

Sweden

Sweden is one of those teams that can beat anyone in the world, yet never seems to go really deep into tournaments. At World Cup 2002, the Swedes won the "group of death" that included Argentina, England, and Nigeria. But true to form, they got knocked out in the Round of 16 by Senegal. At Euro 2004, it was the same story, with the Swedes topping a group that included Italy, yet losing to Holland on penalties in the quarterfinals. If they want to be considered among the footballing elite, it's time that Sweden to start winning some games in the knockout rounds.

Sweden returns much of the same team that featured in Euro 2004. Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Henrik Larsson, two of the world's best, will spearhead a dangerous attack. Freddie Ljungberg and Anders Svensson once again will pull the strings in midfield. The weak link is the defense. Captain Olof Mellberg is about two years past his best football. He's probably the only name among the back four that the casual fan will know. Still, the Swedes can compete with anyone in the world. They love to use the speed and combativeness of Ljungberg and the mullet-wearing blonde, Christian Wilhelmsson, down the wings.

Key Player - Henrik Larsson
In the span of about four minutes during this year's Champions League final, Larsson reminded everyone who may have forgotten that he's still world class. "Henke" will be vital for Sweden this summer. With Ibrahimovich coming off a lacklustre year at Juventus, a fresh Larsson will be counted on to spearhead the Swedish attack. This certainly looks to be the last hurrah for Larsson in international football and he will want to go out in style.

What to Look For
The Swedes will get to work their way from the bottom-up, starting with Trinidad and Tobago, then playing Paraguay, and finishing with England. The favourable schedule should set the Swedes up to qualify for the Round of 16. The final game with England likely will determine the group winner. Both teams will want to avoid Germany in the Round of 16, so it will be interesting to see how that shakes out. Unfortunately for the Swedes, their two main problems - defense and lack of depth - will likely once again prevent them from making a serious challenge deep into the tournament. But one thing we can count on is that they will not go down without a fight.

Trinidad and Tobago

Welcome to the Germany, Trinidad and Tobago! Don't get too comfortable - your stay won't last very long. While TnT likely will be the Group B whipping boys, the fact that the small island nation even qualified from CONCACAF against the likes of Canada, Jamaica, and the Central American countries is a remarkable accomplishment. In Leo Beenhakker, they have a solid Dutch coach who is capable of really building a competitive team for years to come.

TnT does feature a handful of known internationals. The most famous is former Manchester Utd star Dwight Yorke. The 34-year old, now playing club football in Australia, plays an attacking midfield role for his country. Goalscoring responsibilities fall largely on the shoulders of Stern John, the former Birmingham and current Coventry City forward. West Ham's Shaka Hislop starts in goal. TnT plays a patient Dutch system that places a premium on possession. However, the high level of competition they will be facing will probably mean they won't be seeing the ball much.

Key Player - Shaka Hislop
Don't let the scoreline fool you - the much-traveled West Ham keeper put on a great performance in the FA Cup final loss to Liverpool. But like he learned in that game, a goalie can have a great game and still give up three goals if he has no help. The English-born Hislop will have to play the tournament of his life if he wants to keep Sweden, England, and Paraguay off the score sheet. But more likely, he'll be our "Player to Watch" taking the ball out of his own net.

What to Watch For
If ever there was a team that should just be happy to be there, this is it. Trinidad and Tobago won't win a game, and just taking points off of any of their Group B opponents would be a major accomplishment. Their best chance is in the second game against Paraguay.

Photos courtesy football.co.uk, ganz-muenchen.de, imgs.idnes.cz, and guardian.co.tt. Let us know what you think about Group B at bookableoffense@gmail.com.

Final Thoughts on the Final

Some thoughts about the Champions League final:

• The red card to Arsenal goalie Jens Lehmann was a shame because it completely changed the complexion of the game. I would have loved to see what these teams would have come up with 11-on-11. Instead, Arsenal, after a fortuitous goal, were forced to hold on for dear life and simply ran out of steam in the final 15 minutes. The red card completely neutralized Henry, Fabregas, and Arsenal's wing play. The Gunners put up a brave fight and actually did very well to contain Ronaldinho, but Barca is too good and always looked likely to score after the red card.
  
  
• The red card debate is a bit pointless. Should the referee have played the advantage and awarded Barca a goal rather than whistling play dead and sending Lehmann off? Regardless of how the ref handled it, the play put Arsenal behind the proverbial 8-ball for the rest of the game. One way or another, Barca reaped the rewards of a beautiful attack by Eto'o and company on the play. It just so happens the reward came in the final 15 minutes instead of in the first 20.
  
  
• Henry MUST score on that clear chance he had in the first 3 minutes of the game. He was one-on-one with the keeper from about 12 yards out. He scores on that play nine times out of 10. If Arsenal scores that goal, it's a whole different game.
  
  
• Henry and Wenger need to shut up about the officiating. Barcelona deserved the victory. The Lehmann red card was caused by a phenomenal attacking play. Arsenal should consider themselves lucky to even have the lead in that game - the Campbell goal came from a blatant dive by Eboue.
  
  
• All things considered, it was still an excellent game. True, it's not the game we expected, and clearly my five talking points in my preview were thrown out the window once Lehmann was sent off. But the game was full of drama and both teams put on a great show. Now we get to catch our breath until June 9 rolls around...

Photo courtesy yahoo.com. What did you think of the game? Let us know at bookableoffense@gmail.com.

5 Keys to the Champions League Final

This game has already been previewed to death, but we here at Bookable Offense wouldn't be doing our jobs if we didn't have a few things to say before tomorrow's Champions League final between Barcelona and Arsenal. Here are five things to look for tomorrow:

Who Is Nervous and Who Isn't
The first 10 minutes of the game should tell us a lot. For Arsenal, being the underdog, it's imperative that they jump out to a quick, confident start. When Arsenal isn't playing well, they give up the ball far too easily, which can lead to quick counterattacks by the opposition. Barca feasts on opportunities like this. Barcelona, being a veteran team, is more likely to settle into the game quicker. Expect Thierry Henry to come back a lot to the halfway line early on to get the ball to help the Gunner's midfield settle down. Henry himself has been know to disappear in big games, but he's shed that image this year for the most part. He's playing at home in Paris and will be very much up for it. Still, Arsenal may be holding on for dear life in the first 10 until they find their rhythm.

Can Ronaldinho be Stopped?
That is the $64,000 question. Ronaldinho is a big game player who has way too much fun to be nervous. Gilberto will need to play the game of his life for Arsenal. He should know him well from their time together playing for Brazil. Ronaldinho also isn't too shabby on set pieces, so Arsenal must be careful not to foul too much within 35 yards. But remember, Barca has a lot more weapons that just Ronaldinho. Let's not forget the likes of Eto'o, Deco, and Giuly. This will be the ultimate test for the Arsenal defense, which to this point has been superb in European play.

Key Matchup: Arsenal's Wingers versus Barca's Fullbacks
Whoever wins this battle very well may win the game. Arsenal is likely to start Hleb on the right, Reyes on the left, and Ljungberg in a roving role. If Barca has one weak link, it's at fullback. Van Bronckhorst is a liability defensively on the left. The more attack minded, yet weaker defensive player Belletti is expected to get the nod over Oleguer on the right. When Arsenal's wingers are playing well, their attack is a beautiful thing to watch. When they aren't, the passing is poor, possession is given away cheaply, and Henry doesn't get the ball. Barca's wingers don't play out as wide as Arsenal's do, which means Barca's fullbacks can sometimes be left without much help on counterattacks. Keep an eye on this battle.

Penalties Favor Arsenal
Jens Lehmann is having the best season of his career. He's also one of the best penalty stoppers in the game. If you have any doubts about that, go ask Juan Roman Riquelme or Paul Scholes. Victor Valdes is extremely athletic, but is not beyond criticism. He's let in his share of questionable goals over the past three seasons. If it goes to penalties, you have to like the Gunners' chances, especially since they have so few Englishmen around to lose it for them.

Expect a Low Scoring Game
Everyone is licking their chops thinking about the potential goal-fest we may be in store for here with two attack-minded teams. But if you look at recent form for both teams in Europe, both have reached the final thanks to stellar defensive play. Both teams only managed one goal apiece in their semifinal ties. We'll still see attacking football, but don't expect the nets to be on fire. We very well could see a 1-nil game.

Photos courtesy uefa.com. Who's gonna win? Let us know at bookableoffense@gmail.com.

Special note: Bookable Offense fans in Southern California are invited to watch the game with our very own Brian Thompson at the Shakespeare Pub in San Diego! Email us with any questions. Hope to see you there.

World Cup Preview - Group A

With the World Cup just three and a half weeks away, Bookable Offense is rolling out is exclusive previews of each group. In today's article, we take a look at Group A.

Costa Rica

Los Ticos head to Germany with little fanfare after finishing third in CONCACAF qualifying. A mere two victories outside of Costa Rica in qualifying are a large reason why. Beating Canada and Panama in their home stadiums is one thing, but beating a host nation in a World Cup in a stadium of screaming fans is a different animal entirely. Compounding the Latin American nation's problems, we're talking about Germany. And in this case, it just so happens to be the opening match of the tournament. Yikes.

That being said, there is reason to believe the Central American nation may have a shot at reaching the Round of 16 for the second time in World Cup History. After surprisingly advancing out of the group stage in 1990, the squad nearly repeated the feat four years ago in Korea and Japan.

Costa Rica played well in 2002, but did not advance out of the group stages in large part due to a tough draw. Placed in a group with eventual winners Brazil and third-place finishers Turkey, there was little shame in Los Ticos failure to proceed to the knock-out stages. The team did leave the Far East with the satisfaction of being the only team to score twice against Brazil in any match that summer.

Key Player
As in 2002, this Central American side will most likely be led in attack by all-time leading scorer, Paulo Wanchope, who some readers may remember for the several years he plied his trade in the English Championship, and eventually for a short time in the Premiership. A proven big tournament performer for his country, millions of Costa Ricans will be hoping he can repeat his memorable form from the 2001 Copa America.

What to Watch For
The big test for this team will be surviving the potential disappointment of a loss in the opening match of the tournament against Germany in Munich. Moving beyond the group stages remains a possibility, but it will be a difficult task and require a huge amount of resilience.

Ecuador

Of all the teams in Group A, perhaps no team has been so quickly written off as the Ecuadorians. Like their fellow Latin American side, Costa Rica, Ecuador too, failed to impress outside the friendly confines of its borders during South American qualifying. Much has been made of the role high altitude may have played in their victories, and adding to their presumptive dismissal is their quick three-games-and-out performance four years ago in the last World Cup.

However, any team that qualifies out of CONMEBOL is doing something right, and should rightly be considered a threat to do some damage in any tournament. Yes, their one victory as a visiting side in qualifying came against relative lightweight Bolivia, but they also defeated Argentina and Brazil at home without conceding a goal. In fact, Ecuador allowed just five goals on their home turf and played to only two-draws in what may be the most difficult qualification process of all.

Qualifying for two straight World Cups has seen a rise in Ecuador's stock in South America, but that newfound respect has yet to trickle over to the rest of the world. Perhaps feeding off that lack of respect and memory of defeating a highly rated Croatia in 2002 will give them high hopes for a strong performance against European competition in the likes of Germany and Poland in Group A play. Ecuador should also feel confident going into their match with Costa Rica because they play a similar, physical brand of football.

Key Player
Agustin Delgado of Barcelona (no, not that Barcelona) will be the key to Ecuador's attack. Despite an injury heading into the last World Cup, it was Delgado that scored his country's first ever goal in the finals. Not known for blazing speed but rather for his aerial prowess and craftiness, the Ecuadorian striker is liable to lull opposing defenses to sleep before pouncing.

What to Watch For
Don't be surprised to see the Ecuadorians sneaking out of this group ahead of Poland and Costa Rica. Their big advantage might be playing likely Group A winners Germany last, when the host country's advancement may already be assured.

Germany

While some teams in this group have relatively meager expectations and ambitions, there is one side in a completely different situation. Every four years each World Cup host nation faces enormous pressure to perform in front of its home fans. The anxiety a team must endure may never have been greater however, than for this summer's host, Germany.

Being one of the few countries to have raised the Jules Rimet Cup on multiple occasions, the German national team always faces high expectations. Compounding the pressure of expectations are the team's history of success and its recent runners-up performance in 2002, not to mention the prospect of playing in front of home crowds throughout the tournament. Fairly or not, the German press and public are demanding a championship performance.

That being said, this current crop of German internationals is not quite on par with the great teams of the past. Franz Beckenbauer captained a side for hosts Germany to victory in 1974 of considerably more individual acclaim than will take the field for the Germans at the tournament he helped organize for this summer. With the exception of Michael Ballack, few would label anyone on the current German side a true world-class talent.

In fact, many would argue that the previous German World Cup side was quite fortuitous in its run to the championship match with Brazil. With that in mind, several changes have been made to bolster the team's chances of living up to the country's lofty expectations.

Rather than relying on established stars, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has assembled a team relying a great deal on young talent. The likes of youngsters Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger will be relied on to provide a spark for die Nationalelf. Whether or not this "new" German side can come together for a memorable cup run remains to be seen.

Key Player
To make another deep run into the tournament, Germany's success will ultimately depend on its strikers. Miroslav Klose led the team in scoring four years ago, and the team was successful. In Euro 2004 in Portugal, however, Germany failed to record a goal from a forward and went home early. Klose appears the most likely candidate to set the tone from the striker position, and a lot of eyes will be focused on the lanky Werder Bremen man to se if he can recapture his form of four years ago.

What to Watch For
Enormous pressure and inexperience may combine to ultimately derail the German's dreams of a fourth World Cup victory. Home crowd support however, should prove enough to see them advance atop a relatively easy group. What happens from there is anyone's guess.

Poland

The final team in Group A is the White and Red of Poland. Twice third-place finishers in World Cup competition, the Poles would seem a logical choice to advance out of the Group Stage alongside the host nation. They are also headed to their second straight World Cup Finals and lost only to group winner England during qualifying. Adding to the Polish side's optimism is undoubtedly the expected crowd support stemming from playing in neighboring Germany. In fact, Poland's two third-place finishes both came on European soil, including its first when West Germany hosted in 1974.

The knocks against Poland include a quick exit from Korea and Japan four years ago, and a failure to qualify for Portugal in 2004, which would have been the team's first ever trip to a European Championship.

That being said, this is a team that has scored consistently in qualifying and will be a serious threat to opposing backlines. Not being in the limelight in Group A may also help their chances. A lot of footballing minds will fancy the Poles chances of moving on to the Round of 16.

Key Player
In qualifying for Germany, Poland was led in the attack by Maciej Zurawski. As the leading scorer from qualifying, most opposing defenses will seek to somehow shut him down. With the extra attention he's likely to garner, the player to watch could be someone like Tomasz Frankowski or Grzegorz Rasiak either partnering Zurawski up top or coming on as a second-half substitute.

What to Watch For
Sadly, FIFA has recently mentioned its concern about combating Polish hooliganism. Recent domestic matches resulted in rioting and mass arrests, so hopefully similar displays can be avoided in Germany, especially when they meet the hosts in Dortmund on June 14th. In the end, Poland will be battling to the final day of group play to beat out Ecuador for a spot in the Round of 16.


What's your take on Group A? Email us as always our experts at Bookable Offense.

Images borrowed without asking from football.co.uk, espndeportes, the bbc, and a fan site in Poland- thanks guys, we owe you one.