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.