World Cup Preview - Group A
Monday, May 15, 2006
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.
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.
posted by Brian at 5/15/2006 12:17:00 PM 
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