(Please feel free to comment or provide your own opinions/analysis.)
Group F
-Brazil (FIFA - 1st)
-Japan (FIFA - 18th)
-Croatia (FIFA - T23rd)
-Australia (FIFA - T42nd)
Game to Watch: Japan vs. Brazil. June 22nd in Dortmund. Brazil long provided the model for Japanese football (especially with Zico as Japan's coach).
David vs. Goliath: Brazil vs. Australia. June 18th in Munich. The two teams may share their love for gold and green, but the similarities end there. (This is only Australia's 2nd WC appearance.)
-Brazil will be the team to beat in Germany. Ronaldhino alone can pick up Brazil on demand. Winners of Copa America, the FIFA Confederations Cup and leading South America in WC qualification, Brazil is full of confidence. This squad is labeled "favorite" every time they play. (Note: Brazil is the only country in the world to qualify for every WC.) If the Chile thrashing during qualification wasn't enough to prove themselves, their performance in this group will. During qualification, Brazil had the top scorer, did not lose at home, scored the most goals and conceded the second least. Brazil has appeared in the last three finals and have won five in its history. Expect a new look to your ordinary Brazil; the modern era Brazil loves defense. Also, this roster is stacked. Dida in goal, Cafu, Cicinho, Roque Junior, Juan, Lucio and Roberto Carlos all on D...Emerson and Alex in the midfield...and let's not forget about the amazing attack (Juninho, Baptista, Robinho, Ronaldhino, Kaka, Adriano and Ronaldo).
-Croatia is stronger than most think. (This team tied Brazil 1-1 last summer.) The squad went undefeated in qualification and reached their 3rd straight WC. Most impressive was Croatia's 1-0 win at Sweden (besides another win against Sweden at home). Led by Kranjcar in the midfield, Tudor and the Kovac brothers, this team is strong. Also, wing-backs Srna and Babic provide a genuine attacking threat to feed forward Prso.
-Japan also tied Brazil 2-2 at the FIFA Confederations Cup last June. This team will look to build on 2002's performance when they reached the final 16. Japan was noted as the first team to qualify for WC Germany (other than the hosts). The team gained 15 points out of a possible 18 from qualification to reach their 3rd straight WC. This team has Asia's best lineup, featuring the midfield of Nakata, Nakamura and Ono as well as the specialist Ogasawara. Although many criticize the team's attack, Oguro does have talent.
-Australia has an amazing coach, Hiddink, as proven by beating Uruguay in a playoff to qualify for WC Germany. England is the preferred destination for the vast majority of Australia's stars, including Schwarzer, Neill, Cahill, Viduka, Moore, Kewell and Emerton. Aloisi and Bresciano are in Spain and Italy, respectively. Although Australians won't forget their country's lone WC appearance (no goals scored) as well as the recent FIFA Confederations Cup (failing to win a match), another dream is in the making.
Prediction:
1. Brazil
2. Croatia
3. Japan
4. Australia
Cappo
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Group F
-Brazil (FIFA - 1st)
-Japan (FIFA - 18th)
-Croatia (FIFA - T23rd)
-Australia (FIFA - T42nd)
Game to Watch: Japan vs. Brazil. June 22nd in Dortmund. Brazil long provided the model for Japanese football (especially with Zico as Japan's coach).
David vs. Goliath: Brazil vs. Australia. June 18th in Munich. The two teams may share their love for gold and green, but the similarities end there. (This is only Australia's 2nd WC appearance.)
-Brazil will be the team to beat in Germany. Ronaldhino alone can pick up Brazil on demand. Winners of Copa America, the FIFA Confederations Cup and leading South America in WC qualification, Brazil is full of confidence. This squad is labeled "favorite" every time they play. (Note: Brazil is the only country in the world to qualify for every WC.) If the Chile thrashing during qualification wasn't enough to prove themselves, their performance in this group will. During qualification, Brazil had the top scorer, did not lose at home, scored the most goals and conceded the second least. Brazil has appeared in the last three finals and have won five in its history. Expect a new look to your ordinary Brazil; the modern era Brazil loves defense. Also, this roster is stacked. Dida in goal, Cafu, Cicinho, Roque Junior, Juan, Lucio and Roberto Carlos all on D...Emerson and Alex in the midfield...and let's not forget about the amazing attack (Juninho, Baptista, Robinho, Ronaldhino, Kaka, Adriano and Ronaldo).
-Croatia is stronger than most think. (This team tied Brazil 1-1 last summer.) The squad went undefeated in qualification and reached their 3rd straight WC. Most impressive was Croatia's 1-0 win at Sweden (besides another win against Sweden at home). Led by Kranjcar in the midfield, Tudor and the Kovac brothers, this team is strong. Also, wing-backs Srna and Babic provide a genuine attacking threat to feed forward Prso.
-Japan also tied Brazil 2-2 at the FIFA Confederations Cup last June. This team will look to build on 2002's performance when they reached the final 16. Japan was noted as the first team to qualify for WC Germany (other than the hosts). The team gained 15 points out of a possible 18 from qualification to reach their 3rd straight WC. This team has Asia's best lineup, featuring the midfield of Nakata, Nakamura and Ono as well as the specialist Ogasawara. Although many criticize the team's attack, Oguro does have talent.
-Australia has an amazing coach, Hiddink, as proven by beating Uruguay in a playoff to qualify for WC Germany. England is the preferred destination for the vast majority of Australia's stars, including Schwarzer, Neill, Cahill, Viduka, Moore, Kewell and Emerton. Aloisi and Bresciano are in Spain and Italy, respectively. Although Australians won't forget their country's lone WC appearance (no goals scored) as well as the recent FIFA Confederations Cup (failing to win a match), another dream is in the making.
Prediction:
1. Brazil
2. Croatia
3. Japan
4. Australia
Cappo
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