Only one berth left for other three

With so many world-class players, defending World Cup holders should cut through Group F like a hot knife through butter. It will be the shock of all shocks if they failed to get out of their group, which consist of Croatia, Australia and Japan.

It’s a tough call as to which nation can occupy the second berth. Croatia will feel that they have the experience and pedigree to progress. They have afterall, qualify for two World Cup Finals and therefore they think, Australia and Japan should not pose any threat to them.

Australia, meanwhile, look like dark horses after years of trying. The Socceross beat Uruguay (a major football-playing nation) to qualify and on their way, defeated England in a friendly. With Aussie grit and a sprinkle of talents, they could prove a tough nut to crack.

A good start could prove crucial. Japan had impressed in their tournament four years ago and will be determined to prove that it was not just a home advantage fluke. If either Japan or Australia takes full points in the opening game, it could boils down to how that team perform against Croatia.

Clear-cut winners?

On paper, this group looks clear-cut. Two established major international sides with two clear minnows. Felipe Scolari has been winners for both the last World Cup Final and Euro 2004 so obviously he has been doing something right on the training ground for Portugal.

Mexico has played more World Cup than most with twelve appearances. Though they have only reached two quarter-finals, their defeat of Brazil in the Confederations Cup shows that they can’t be underestimated.

Iran won their first World Cup game eight years ago against the USA, but they will be striving to meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comment of making their nation the world’s best four teams by 2010.

Angola is the group’s other underdog. The country’s qualification was a cause for major celebration for a nation that has suffered a 27-year civil war. And it was only two years ago that their top league matches were played on grass.

But whoever makes it to the next round, will face the survivors from the Group of Death.

Stalemate?

Teams that come with a reputation do not reflect their chances of victory. One can’t afford to over-estimate just because of the colours and histories of their shirts. The same eleven players perform different on a different day. But that is not really applicable for the Netherlands.

Marco van Basten has the Orange playing for each other, and that is NEW for the Dutch. With Ruud van Nisterlrooy on his way out of Old Trafford, and Arjen Robbens out of favour with the Special One at Stamford Bridge, they will go all out to impress potential employers.

Yet, these two offensive players might find it hard to break down Serbia & Montenegro stubborn defence. They have only conceded one goal in 10 qualifying matches, and their coach Illja Petkovic has been unbeaten in 13 games.

Within this Group of Death, teams will be going all out to win, and this more often than not, produces a stalemate.

Der ball ist rund

“Twenty years are nothing” goes a well-known Argentine tango. But fans are beginning to think otherwise. It has been that long since they have last won the World Cup, not to mention England’s forty. These two archrivals might meet again this time, but let’s not go there yet.

While those memories of ’86 ain’t that fresh, the collections of failures that followed are. They arrived in Japan and Korea bursting with confidence, but had to suffer the humiliation of having to take an early flight back. Drawn into the Group of Death, Chelsea teammates or rather former Chelsea comrades Hernan Crespo and Didier Drogba faces each other in their opening game at Hamburg.

Both strikers will definitely give their defenders details about their weakness before the big KO. On paper, Crespo has an easier task as the Elephants’ defence can at times be shaky. Still, der ball ist rund.

No Swede Surrender

Trinidad & Tobago – a world dominated by money. Yet, football can still bestow glory upon the journeymen. Dutchman Leo Beenhakker is a firm believer in possession football. His charges will be easy on the eye with slow and patient build-up when they take to the pitch.

Though boasting Dwight Yorke and Carlos Edwards, for this team, being in Germany is already a fairy tale. And against a Swede team that has gone from strength to strength, it will take a miracle for this Trinidadian side to take something out of this David versus Goliath’s clash.

Sweden has become more and more unpredictable upfront. Comprising of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Fredrick Ljunberg and not to mention Hendrik Larsson, this Scandinavian team should put more than three goals past their South American counterparts.