Vukasin Micunovic
17-05-06, 14:52
CROATIA
This team surprised a lot of people by winning their qualifying group ahead of Sweden (whom they beat twice), and now the Croatians are looking for a repeat performance of France '98 when they surprisingly finished third.
Ever since taking over, manager Zlatko Kranjcar has this team playing to at their peak and many feel they have a great chance of getting through to the knockout stages from Group F which features Brazil.
Their defense was impeccable, keeping a clean sheet in six of their qualifying games and they allowed just five in total. Led by captain Robert Kovac, the back four of Croatia will need to be at the top of their game to ensure good results.
Both Darijo Srna and Dado Prso came into their own on the international stage by leading Croatia with five goals apeice. Srna scored the only goals in both wins over Sweden. They also have strikers Bosko Balaban and Ivan Klasnic that can light up the nets when on fire
It will be important for Croatia to keep their opponents out of the net and they should be able to do that against Japan and Australia, but keeping Brazil off the scoreboard will be a true test for the Croatian team.
If they are to get past the group stage, they will most likely get the winner of Group E, which could be a tough matchup if any of the four teams win there. Will be tough for Croatia to get deep, but they'll ride their defense to get there.
BRASIL
These guys are the true underdogs of this year's World Cup. It is a miracle that they even got into the tournament. Don't expect them to do much this year.
OK, obviously that was all in jest. It would have been boring to come right out and say that Brazil are the odds-on favorite to repeat as world champions and take home their sixth championship.
But while we're at it, Brazil had a great qualifying campaign. They finished top of the South American table ahead of Argentina and have gotten a decent draw for their opening three games, facing Croatia, Japan and Australia.
It seemed Brazil struggled for goals toward the end of their campaign, but Ronaldo led the way with 10 and we all know that he, Adriano, two-time defending World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, Kaká, and just about anyone else on the pitch is capable of putting the ball in the back of the net.
They have the ultimate captain in right-back Cafú, who is the only player to play in three World Cup finals games, winning two titles. The man has been around seemingly forever, winning trophies at both the club and country level.
Manager Carlos Alberto Parreira, who managed Brazil to the title at USA '94, has unlimited talent available at every position, although if their had to be any depth problems it might be in defense, although that group is very good in their own right with Juan, Lucio, Roberto Carlos and others available to stand guard.
Goalkeeping, for the first time in a while, is not a liability for Brazil as AC Milan goalkeeper Dida has finally cemented his position as the number one man.
This team is so loaded with so much talent, it's hard to fathom someone coming in and beating this side at their best. They will have to be caught on an off-day to be had. Brazil is in prime position to claim world title number six.
AUSTRALIA
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oy! Oy! Oy!
Get used to it, as it will be heard loud and clear when Australia plays in their second-ever World Cup finals in Germany this summer.
After losing in two straight qualifying playoffs, the Aussies and new manager Guus Hiddink finally broke through and defeated two-time world champions Uruguay on penalties.
The Aussies seemingly will have three tough matches against Japan, Brazil and Croatia, but not many are wanting to say they won't advance as a Hiddink-coached team always has the ability of putting it all togetehr to spring a surprise.
Hiddink took over the Socceroos in July from Frank Farina and he was seemingly their biggest star. However, on the pitch, Mark Schwarzer was brilliant in goal while his teammate at Middlesbrough Mark Viduka will be crucial to keeping the team chemistry good.
Defending could potentially be the Aussies downfall, but some solid play in midfield, led by Everton's Tim Cahill, could keep the back four from being on their heels for 90 minutes.
The view of many is this. If the Aussies want to make a splash in international football, this will be their best chance. Look out for the Aussies to potentially be the surprise of the tournament.
JAPAN
Japan comfortably got through their Asian qualifying stages, but many wonder how they will perform now that they will not be the World Cup hosts.
In 2002, they rode their enthusiastic home supporters to the Round of 16 before being eliminated, and while the game in Japan has grown exponentially, only a handful of their stars are playing in the top European leagues.
Most of those players are in Japan's midfield, consisting of Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura, Bolton Wanderers Hidetoshi Nakata, West Brom's Junichi Inamoto and former Feyenoord player Shinji Ono. Their midfield will rip people apart with their passing skills and their pace.
Up front, Japan are sometimes lacking for quality, although Hamburg's Naohiro Takahara has flashes of brilliance, but the team only scored nine goals in their final six qualifying matches and the goals were only spread among three players.
Defensively Japan were very solid, allowing just five goals in 12 total matches, but they weren't tested with the offensive power that they will see in the Brazilians and it will be difficult for them to break the defense of Croatia. Australia is also sure to give them more than they want to handle.
It might take a lucky break or two for Japan to squeak through, but second place in the group is in reality open for the taking and Zico will make sure his side are prepared to go for the throat in Germany.
http://www.soccerway.com/news/2006/january/18/world-cup-group-f-preview-japan
This team surprised a lot of people by winning their qualifying group ahead of Sweden (whom they beat twice), and now the Croatians are looking for a repeat performance of France '98 when they surprisingly finished third.
Ever since taking over, manager Zlatko Kranjcar has this team playing to at their peak and many feel they have a great chance of getting through to the knockout stages from Group F which features Brazil.
Their defense was impeccable, keeping a clean sheet in six of their qualifying games and they allowed just five in total. Led by captain Robert Kovac, the back four of Croatia will need to be at the top of their game to ensure good results.
Both Darijo Srna and Dado Prso came into their own on the international stage by leading Croatia with five goals apeice. Srna scored the only goals in both wins over Sweden. They also have strikers Bosko Balaban and Ivan Klasnic that can light up the nets when on fire
It will be important for Croatia to keep their opponents out of the net and they should be able to do that against Japan and Australia, but keeping Brazil off the scoreboard will be a true test for the Croatian team.
If they are to get past the group stage, they will most likely get the winner of Group E, which could be a tough matchup if any of the four teams win there. Will be tough for Croatia to get deep, but they'll ride their defense to get there.
BRASIL
These guys are the true underdogs of this year's World Cup. It is a miracle that they even got into the tournament. Don't expect them to do much this year.
OK, obviously that was all in jest. It would have been boring to come right out and say that Brazil are the odds-on favorite to repeat as world champions and take home their sixth championship.
But while we're at it, Brazil had a great qualifying campaign. They finished top of the South American table ahead of Argentina and have gotten a decent draw for their opening three games, facing Croatia, Japan and Australia.
It seemed Brazil struggled for goals toward the end of their campaign, but Ronaldo led the way with 10 and we all know that he, Adriano, two-time defending World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, Kaká, and just about anyone else on the pitch is capable of putting the ball in the back of the net.
They have the ultimate captain in right-back Cafú, who is the only player to play in three World Cup finals games, winning two titles. The man has been around seemingly forever, winning trophies at both the club and country level.
Manager Carlos Alberto Parreira, who managed Brazil to the title at USA '94, has unlimited talent available at every position, although if their had to be any depth problems it might be in defense, although that group is very good in their own right with Juan, Lucio, Roberto Carlos and others available to stand guard.
Goalkeeping, for the first time in a while, is not a liability for Brazil as AC Milan goalkeeper Dida has finally cemented his position as the number one man.
This team is so loaded with so much talent, it's hard to fathom someone coming in and beating this side at their best. They will have to be caught on an off-day to be had. Brazil is in prime position to claim world title number six.
AUSTRALIA
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oy! Oy! Oy!
Get used to it, as it will be heard loud and clear when Australia plays in their second-ever World Cup finals in Germany this summer.
After losing in two straight qualifying playoffs, the Aussies and new manager Guus Hiddink finally broke through and defeated two-time world champions Uruguay on penalties.
The Aussies seemingly will have three tough matches against Japan, Brazil and Croatia, but not many are wanting to say they won't advance as a Hiddink-coached team always has the ability of putting it all togetehr to spring a surprise.
Hiddink took over the Socceroos in July from Frank Farina and he was seemingly their biggest star. However, on the pitch, Mark Schwarzer was brilliant in goal while his teammate at Middlesbrough Mark Viduka will be crucial to keeping the team chemistry good.
Defending could potentially be the Aussies downfall, but some solid play in midfield, led by Everton's Tim Cahill, could keep the back four from being on their heels for 90 minutes.
The view of many is this. If the Aussies want to make a splash in international football, this will be their best chance. Look out for the Aussies to potentially be the surprise of the tournament.
JAPAN
Japan comfortably got through their Asian qualifying stages, but many wonder how they will perform now that they will not be the World Cup hosts.
In 2002, they rode their enthusiastic home supporters to the Round of 16 before being eliminated, and while the game in Japan has grown exponentially, only a handful of their stars are playing in the top European leagues.
Most of those players are in Japan's midfield, consisting of Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura, Bolton Wanderers Hidetoshi Nakata, West Brom's Junichi Inamoto and former Feyenoord player Shinji Ono. Their midfield will rip people apart with their passing skills and their pace.
Up front, Japan are sometimes lacking for quality, although Hamburg's Naohiro Takahara has flashes of brilliance, but the team only scored nine goals in their final six qualifying matches and the goals were only spread among three players.
Defensively Japan were very solid, allowing just five goals in 12 total matches, but they weren't tested with the offensive power that they will see in the Brazilians and it will be difficult for them to break the defense of Croatia. Australia is also sure to give them more than they want to handle.
It might take a lucky break or two for Japan to squeak through, but second place in the group is in reality open for the taking and Zico will make sure his side are prepared to go for the throat in Germany.
http://www.soccerway.com/news/2006/january/18/world-cup-group-f-preview-japan