World Cup Preview - Group H
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
We hope you've enjoyed our group-by-group previews of the World Cup. We do it because we love you, our readers. We'll wrap up our previews today with a look at Group H.
Saudi Arabia
The Saudis have impressively qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup. In their first Cup in 1994, they made the world take notice with an impressive run to the Round of 16. While they've yet to duplicate that accomplishment, the Sons of the Desert are usually mentioned among the best in Asia. However, much like the Japanese, a feeling of malaise has surrounded the national team of late. Saudi Arabia's 2002 World Cup experience included an 8-0 loss to Germany. None of the current squad is playing outside of Saudi Arabia, let alone getting opportunities in Europe. And the Saudis haven't won the Asian Cup since 1996.
But there are some positive signs coming from the Saudi camp. The defense, under new coach Marcos Paqueta, has been superb. The Saudis surrendered only two goals in qualifying and did not lose a game. Veteran keeper Mohammed Al-Deayea was rock solid after being recalled to the national team. True, they were playing against the likes of Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, but it's a solid accomplishment nonetheless. Up front, Sami Al-Jaber leads the attack. "Super Sami" will be playing in his fourth World Cup and has scored 42 goals wearing the white and green. It's hard to guess what this domestic-based lineup will come up with in Germany, but popular opinion is that the Saudis might have a rough go of it.
Key Player - Hamad Al-Montashari
After his stellar performances in qualifying, the 24-year old Al-Montashari was named 2005 Asian Player of the Year. The fullback, who also has lead his club team Jeddah to the 2004 and 2005 Asian Champions League titles, is perhaps the only Saudi prospect with a real chance of moving on to European football. Known for his fearlessness, the Saudis will need Al-Montashari at his best both in defense and in supporting the attack down the wing if they are going to have any success at this World Cup.
What to Watch For
Let's not mince words here - Saudi Arabia will be among three or four teams hoping to avoid finishing 32nd out of the 32 teams competing at this World Cup. While the defense was solid in qualifying, it will have a tough time slowing down the likes of Raul and Shevchenko. Goalscoring is the bigger problem. Only Al-Jaber has World Cup experience. The midfield, while full of fight, lacks creativity. The good news is that many of Saudi players are quite young and will only improve between now and 2010.
Spain
Earlier we called the Dutch the "bridesmaid" of football for their history of always coming up short on the big stage. So, what do we call Spain? The ugly step-sister? No nation has done less with more than Spain. It's really quite shocking that this team not only hasn't won a major trophy (we don't count the European Championship on home soil in a tournament that Generalisimo Franco openly manipulated), but has rarely even made it to the late stages of a tournament. Spain crashed out in the quarterfinals at World Cup 2002 without even facing a quality opponent. At Euro 2004, Spain didn't even make it out of the group stage.
So, should we feel any better about Spain's chances this time around? At the risk of getting Spanish hopes up again, our answer is a resounding "yes." Say what you want about coach Luis Aragones, but the Spanish have yet to lose a game since he took control in 2004. While Raul's form has been poor, Spain has two exciting options up front with Fernando Torres and David Villa. The midfield has a wealth of options, including Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, Jose Antonio Reyes, David Albeda, Joaquin, and Cesc Fabregas. Goalie Iker Casillas is still one of the five best keepers in the world. So, the pieces are very much in place. Now it's time for this young generation of Spanish stars to do what their predecessors couldn't do.
Key Player - Fernando Torres
Admittedly, Torres is a favorite of ours here at Bookable Offense. At 22, "El Nino" is just entering his peak. He flies a bit under the radar by playing for Madrid's other team, but he has all the things you look for in a forward - speed, ball skills, vision, and deadly finishing abilities. In the past he has not linked up well with Raul. But look for Torres to take a more assertive role in leading the Spanish attack this time around. Don't be surprised if "El Nino" is in the running for the Golden Boot when all is said and done.
What to Watch For
All eyes will be on Leipzig on June 14 when Spain opens its campaign against Ukraine. If Spain wins that game, they'll be on their way to taking the group. Should they come up short, it could be a case of "here we go again" and the doubts and negativity could once again resurface. Aragones, for all his personal faults, has made all of the right moves so far. Players like Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, and Carles Puyol bring a winning attitude to the squad. Expect Spain to at least make the quarters, and probably go further.
Tunisia
Tunisia is the definite dark horse in this group and very well could force its way into the Round of 16. The Eagles of Carthage will be playing in their third consecutive World Cup (fourth overall). While their pedigree is less than spectacular, with only one World Cup win to speak of, things are looking up this time around. Tunisia is battle-tested following a fierce qualifying battle with arch-rival Morocco. Plus, Tunisians are confident that their team has the horses to compete in fairly wide open group.
The biggest addition to the Tunisian squad was perhaps the signing of Roger Lemerre. While Lemerre was made the scapegoat for France's early exit at World Cup 2002, Tunisia is more than happy to have him in charge of their team. He's brought a winning attitude and opened up the attack. Lemerre's mostly European-based team won't be in awe of Germany's big stadiums. Questions loom up front, where young star Haykel Guemamdia will miss the tournament. It remains to be seen who will fill his boots.
Key Player - Hatem Trabelsi
Often mentioned among the best right backs in the world, Trabelsi is Tunisia's best player. A player in the Roberto Carlos mold, he's much more known for his gallant runs forward than he is for his defending at Ajax in Holland. Playing for Tunisia will require Trabelsi to pick up his defensive responsibilities. Look for speedy right back to lead his team on both halves of the pitch in Germany. At age 29, this might be time for Trabelsi to make one last big money move to a new team, and a successful World Cup will go a long way towards just that.
What to Watch For
Look for the Tunisians to jump out to a good start with a win against Saudi Arabia. The key game will be the final group game against Ukraine. Both teams likely will be in a position where they'll need to win that game to make the Round of 16. For Tunisia to make some noise in this tournament, they'll have to find someone to step up and score goals. If they can find a true goalscoring threat among their attacking options, the Tunisians can be a dangerous team to play.
Ukraine
Ukraine is one of the new kids on the block at World Cup 2006, yet that doesn't seem to be the case. Ukrainians often made up the backbone of the successful Soviet teams of the late 20th Century. But World Cup 2006 does mark the first appearance in a major tournament by Ukraine, and making the field of 32 really is a remarkable achievement. Ukraine was a surprise qualifier from Europe, topping a group that included Greece, the reigning European champions, Turkey, which finished in 3rd place at World Cup 2002, and Denmark, 1992 European champions.
It's because of that strong qualifying performance that many expect big things out of Ukraine. This tournament will mark the arrival of star forward Andriy Shevchenko on the world stage. But Ukraine is far more than one man. Their lineup features a number of players who have played consistent Champions League football in the past few season. Among the most notable are goalie Oleksandr Shovkovskiy (Dynamo Kyiv), who went 636 minutes without conceding a goal in qualifying, and exciting wing player Anatoliy Timoshchuk (Shakhtar Donestk), who is rumored to be a target of Manchester United. Ukraine might be new on the scene, but they've quickly got the reputation of the team no one wants to face.
Key Player - Andriy Shevchenko
As if there was any other choice, "Sheva" is perhaps more important to his team than any other player in this tournament. He's just wrapped up his transfer to Chelsea and now will look to lead his country to World Cup success. While generally lauded as one of the best forwards of this generation around the world, Shevchenko is a polarizing figure in Ukraine. Both sides of the "Orange Revolution" claimed Shevchenko on their side, and there is some resentment over how he handled himself during the political crisis that ensued. At this World Cup, he'll look to put that behind him and unite his country behind a successful tournament in Germany.
What to Watch For
The big news surrounding the Ukrainian squad is over the health of Shevchenko. He suffered a knee injury in early May and has not participated in Ukraine's warm up schedule. His importance to his team is unquestioned, and he's expected to be out on the pitch on June 14 against Spain. But it's yet to be seen how effective he'll be. Assuming Shevchenko is even his average self, Ukraine has an excellent shot at making the Round of 16. If they lose against Spain, the tilt against Tunisia on June 23 will be a massive contest.
Photos courtesy football.co.uk, turkishpress.com, fernando9torres.com, ajax.nl, and is.lg.na. Let us know who you think will win Group H at bookableoffense@gmail.com. And keep an eye out for our World Cup Prediction Spectacular, coming Thursday!
Saudi Arabia
The Saudis have impressively qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup. In their first Cup in 1994, they made the world take notice with an impressive run to the Round of 16. While they've yet to duplicate that accomplishment, the Sons of the Desert are usually mentioned among the best in Asia. However, much like the Japanese, a feeling of malaise has surrounded the national team of late. Saudi Arabia's 2002 World Cup experience included an 8-0 loss to Germany. None of the current squad is playing outside of Saudi Arabia, let alone getting opportunities in Europe. And the Saudis haven't won the Asian Cup since 1996.
But there are some positive signs coming from the Saudi camp. The defense, under new coach Marcos Paqueta, has been superb. The Saudis surrendered only two goals in qualifying and did not lose a game. Veteran keeper Mohammed Al-Deayea was rock solid after being recalled to the national team. True, they were playing against the likes of Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, but it's a solid accomplishment nonetheless. Up front, Sami Al-Jaber leads the attack. "Super Sami" will be playing in his fourth World Cup and has scored 42 goals wearing the white and green. It's hard to guess what this domestic-based lineup will come up with in Germany, but popular opinion is that the Saudis might have a rough go of it.
Key Player - Hamad Al-Montashari
After his stellar performances in qualifying, the 24-year old Al-Montashari was named 2005 Asian Player of the Year. The fullback, who also has lead his club team Jeddah to the 2004 and 2005 Asian Champions League titles, is perhaps the only Saudi prospect with a real chance of moving on to European football. Known for his fearlessness, the Saudis will need Al-Montashari at his best both in defense and in supporting the attack down the wing if they are going to have any success at this World Cup.
What to Watch For
Let's not mince words here - Saudi Arabia will be among three or four teams hoping to avoid finishing 32nd out of the 32 teams competing at this World Cup. While the defense was solid in qualifying, it will have a tough time slowing down the likes of Raul and Shevchenko. Goalscoring is the bigger problem. Only Al-Jaber has World Cup experience. The midfield, while full of fight, lacks creativity. The good news is that many of Saudi players are quite young and will only improve between now and 2010.
Spain
Earlier we called the Dutch the "bridesmaid" of football for their history of always coming up short on the big stage. So, what do we call Spain? The ugly step-sister? No nation has done less with more than Spain. It's really quite shocking that this team not only hasn't won a major trophy (we don't count the European Championship on home soil in a tournament that Generalisimo Franco openly manipulated), but has rarely even made it to the late stages of a tournament. Spain crashed out in the quarterfinals at World Cup 2002 without even facing a quality opponent. At Euro 2004, Spain didn't even make it out of the group stage.
So, should we feel any better about Spain's chances this time around? At the risk of getting Spanish hopes up again, our answer is a resounding "yes." Say what you want about coach Luis Aragones, but the Spanish have yet to lose a game since he took control in 2004. While Raul's form has been poor, Spain has two exciting options up front with Fernando Torres and David Villa. The midfield has a wealth of options, including Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, Jose Antonio Reyes, David Albeda, Joaquin, and Cesc Fabregas. Goalie Iker Casillas is still one of the five best keepers in the world. So, the pieces are very much in place. Now it's time for this young generation of Spanish stars to do what their predecessors couldn't do.
Key Player - Fernando Torres
Admittedly, Torres is a favorite of ours here at Bookable Offense. At 22, "El Nino" is just entering his peak. He flies a bit under the radar by playing for Madrid's other team, but he has all the things you look for in a forward - speed, ball skills, vision, and deadly finishing abilities. In the past he has not linked up well with Raul. But look for Torres to take a more assertive role in leading the Spanish attack this time around. Don't be surprised if "El Nino" is in the running for the Golden Boot when all is said and done.
What to Watch For
All eyes will be on Leipzig on June 14 when Spain opens its campaign against Ukraine. If Spain wins that game, they'll be on their way to taking the group. Should they come up short, it could be a case of "here we go again" and the doubts and negativity could once again resurface. Aragones, for all his personal faults, has made all of the right moves so far. Players like Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, and Carles Puyol bring a winning attitude to the squad. Expect Spain to at least make the quarters, and probably go further.
Tunisia
Tunisia is the definite dark horse in this group and very well could force its way into the Round of 16. The Eagles of Carthage will be playing in their third consecutive World Cup (fourth overall). While their pedigree is less than spectacular, with only one World Cup win to speak of, things are looking up this time around. Tunisia is battle-tested following a fierce qualifying battle with arch-rival Morocco. Plus, Tunisians are confident that their team has the horses to compete in fairly wide open group.
The biggest addition to the Tunisian squad was perhaps the signing of Roger Lemerre. While Lemerre was made the scapegoat for France's early exit at World Cup 2002, Tunisia is more than happy to have him in charge of their team. He's brought a winning attitude and opened up the attack. Lemerre's mostly European-based team won't be in awe of Germany's big stadiums. Questions loom up front, where young star Haykel Guemamdia will miss the tournament. It remains to be seen who will fill his boots.
Key Player - Hatem Trabelsi
Often mentioned among the best right backs in the world, Trabelsi is Tunisia's best player. A player in the Roberto Carlos mold, he's much more known for his gallant runs forward than he is for his defending at Ajax in Holland. Playing for Tunisia will require Trabelsi to pick up his defensive responsibilities. Look for speedy right back to lead his team on both halves of the pitch in Germany. At age 29, this might be time for Trabelsi to make one last big money move to a new team, and a successful World Cup will go a long way towards just that.
What to Watch For
Look for the Tunisians to jump out to a good start with a win against Saudi Arabia. The key game will be the final group game against Ukraine. Both teams likely will be in a position where they'll need to win that game to make the Round of 16. For Tunisia to make some noise in this tournament, they'll have to find someone to step up and score goals. If they can find a true goalscoring threat among their attacking options, the Tunisians can be a dangerous team to play.
Ukraine
Ukraine is one of the new kids on the block at World Cup 2006, yet that doesn't seem to be the case. Ukrainians often made up the backbone of the successful Soviet teams of the late 20th Century. But World Cup 2006 does mark the first appearance in a major tournament by Ukraine, and making the field of 32 really is a remarkable achievement. Ukraine was a surprise qualifier from Europe, topping a group that included Greece, the reigning European champions, Turkey, which finished in 3rd place at World Cup 2002, and Denmark, 1992 European champions.
It's because of that strong qualifying performance that many expect big things out of Ukraine. This tournament will mark the arrival of star forward Andriy Shevchenko on the world stage. But Ukraine is far more than one man. Their lineup features a number of players who have played consistent Champions League football in the past few season. Among the most notable are goalie Oleksandr Shovkovskiy (Dynamo Kyiv), who went 636 minutes without conceding a goal in qualifying, and exciting wing player Anatoliy Timoshchuk (Shakhtar Donestk), who is rumored to be a target of Manchester United. Ukraine might be new on the scene, but they've quickly got the reputation of the team no one wants to face.
Key Player - Andriy Shevchenko
As if there was any other choice, "Sheva" is perhaps more important to his team than any other player in this tournament. He's just wrapped up his transfer to Chelsea and now will look to lead his country to World Cup success. While generally lauded as one of the best forwards of this generation around the world, Shevchenko is a polarizing figure in Ukraine. Both sides of the "Orange Revolution" claimed Shevchenko on their side, and there is some resentment over how he handled himself during the political crisis that ensued. At this World Cup, he'll look to put that behind him and unite his country behind a successful tournament in Germany.
What to Watch For
The big news surrounding the Ukrainian squad is over the health of Shevchenko. He suffered a knee injury in early May and has not participated in Ukraine's warm up schedule. His importance to his team is unquestioned, and he's expected to be out on the pitch on June 14 against Spain. But it's yet to be seen how effective he'll be. Assuming Shevchenko is even his average self, Ukraine has an excellent shot at making the Round of 16. If they lose against Spain, the tilt against Tunisia on June 23 will be a massive contest.
Photos courtesy football.co.uk, turkishpress.com, fernando9torres.com, ajax.nl, and is.lg.na. Let us know who you think will win Group H at bookableoffense@gmail.com. And keep an eye out for our World Cup Prediction Spectacular, coming Thursday!
posted by Brian at 6/07/2006 08:42:00 PM 
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