2010 World Cup: Group B Preview
June 8th 2010 22:16
Unlike Group A which is pretty much wide open, Group B is more a question of will accompany Argentina to the knock-out stages. Nigeria, South Korea and Greece all seem to be on the same level and it looks like it will be a fight to the end for those three teams.
Overview
When Maradona announced his provisional roster for the World Cup, I was perplexed. I hadn't heard of several players on his list and was convinced that the old superstar didn't know what he was doing. But from those 30 players emerged a coherent squad of 23 whose individual roles have been revealed during pre-tournament friendlies.
In goal, expect to see the young Sergio Romero over Pozo and Andujar. In defense, the flat back-four will be composed of either Otamendi or Gutierrez at right-back, Samuel and Demichelis at center-back, and the veteran Heinze at left-back. In midfield, Mascherano will play alone in front of the defense while Di Maria, Veron and Maxi Rodriguez/Gutierrez will provide support to the strikers who are all lethal. As I pointed out in my article on the 30-player roster, there's no doubt that Argentina has plenty of firepower in front. The sole question mark on this squad is Veron's level of fitness and stamina as he is 35 years old, but fortunately the young Pastore can be more than adequate as his replacement.
Pre-tournament friendlies have been promising in terms of results but the quality of the opposition (Costa Rica, Jamaica, Haiti, Canada, and Germany) still leaves a lingering doubt as to their true capabilities. Still, it'll be a huge shock if the Albiceleste don't make it past this group. The real question lies in how far they will go after that.
Full squad list
GK: Diego Pozo (Atletico Colon), Mariano Andujar (Catania [Italy]), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar [Netherlands])
DEF: Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich [England]), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes La Plata), Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma [Italy]), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille [France]), Ariel Garce (Atletico Colon), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan [Italy]), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield)
MID: Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina [Italy]), Angel Di Maria (Benfica [Portugal]), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes La Plata), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool [England]), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United [England]), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool [England]), Javier Pastore (Palermo [Italy])
FW: Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid [Spain]), Lionel Messi (Barcelona [Spain]), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City [England]), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid [Spain]), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Diego Milito (Inter Milan [Italy])
Keep an eye on: Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore
Yes, Messi is currently the world's best player and Milito isn't too shabby either scoring all the goals Inter needed in their quest for the treble but I like to draw people's eyes towards the up-and-comers and/or lesser-known players hence my double-pick of Di Maria and Pastore.
The talented winger has already left a mark on the soccer landscape with numerous spectacular goals (check out this jewel against Canada), and rumors are growing quite insistent over a transfer to Real Madrid. If the move does pan out, I hope he doesn't go the way of Quaresma and fade into obscurity.
Pastore is already sort of a household name among hardcore Serie A fans. Expect him to come in as a substitute for Veron and maybe get a start in the final game if Argentina's qualification is secured.
Overview
Perennial contenders at the U-17 level, Nigeria have never been able to translate that success onto the main stage. Once again this year, the Super Eagles look like they have a squad good enough to overcome their group but they won't go much further than that.
Full squad list
GK: Vincent Eneyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv [Israel]), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva [Israel]), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda [Israel])
DEF: Joseph Yobo (Everton [England]), Taye Taiwo (Marseille [France]), Rabiu Afolabi (Red Bull Salzburg [Austria]), Danny Shittu (Bolton [England]), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow [Russia]), Uwa Echiejile (Rennes [France]), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam [Netherlands])
MID: Nwanko Kanu (Porstmouth [England]), Brown Ideye (FC Sochaux [France]), Kalu Uche (Almeria [Spain]), Yussuf Ayila (Dynamo Kyiv [Ukraine]), Sani Kaita (Alania Vladikavkaz [Russia]), Lukman Haruna (Monaco [France]), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham [England])
FW: John Utaka (Portsmouth [England]), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton [England]), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg [Germany]), Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow [Russia]), Victor Obinna (Malaga [Spain]), Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi (Hoffenheim [Germany])
Keep an eye on: Taye Taiwo and Dickson Etuhu
One is menacing left-back with a mean strike from distance while the other will step in John Obi Mikel's shoes during the tournament. They are both virtually unknown but Etuhu was part of the incredible Fulham team which narrowly lost the Europa league final against Atletico Madrid.
Overview
A regular fixture of the World Cup since the 90's, Korea will count on the experience of Park Ji-Sung, Lee Won Jae, Ki Sung Yeng and Park Chu Yong to lead them past the group stage. Preparation games - and previous World Cups - have shown that they can beat some good teams but are still one step behind the really good teams. One thing's for sure, they won't stop fighting until the final whistle is blown.
Full squad list
GK: Lee Won Jae (Suwon Bluewings), Jung Sung Ryung (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma), Kim Young Kwang (Ulsan Hyundai)
DEF: Oh Beom Seok (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Hyung Il (Pohang Steelers), Cho Yong Hyung (Jeju United), Lee Young Pyo (Al Hilal [KSA]), Lee Jung Soo (Kashima Antlers [Japan]), Kim Dong Jin (Ulsan Hyundai), Cha Du Ri (SC Freiburg [Germany]), Kang Min Soo (Suwon Bluewings)
MID: Kim Nam Il (Tom Tomsk [Russia]), Kim Bo Kyung (Oita Trinita [Japan]), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United [England]), Kim Jung Woo (Gwangju Sangmu), Kim Jae Sung (Pohang Steelers), Ki Sung Yueng (Celtic [Scotland]), Lee Chung Yong (Bolton [England]), Yeom Ki Hun (Suwon Bluewings)
FW: Ahn Jung Hwan (Dalian Shide [China]), Park Chu Yong (Monaco [France]), Lee Seung Yeoul (FC Seoul), Lee Dong Gook (Jeonbuk Motors)
Keep an eye on: Park Ji-Sung and Park Chu Yong
The Manchester United winger has become the captain of the Taegeuk Warriors and they'll look to him to lead the squad past the group stage and beyond. The young Park Chu-Young will look to erase his poor showing in the last World Cup by providing plenty of tricks and thrills (and goals) to his team.
Overview
After Greece's dismal showing in Euro 2008, you would expect Greece to rethink their defense-first mentality. Instead, Otto Rehagel stuck to his guns, rejuvenating his squad with fresh new faces. Basically, what you'll be seeing in 2010 is the 2004 system with younger legs and – Rehagel hopes – better stamina than 2008. The Greeks don't score many goals but don't concede many either. It'll be interesting to see how they'll fare against Argentina.
Full squad
GK: Kostantinos Chalkias (PAOK), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Michail Sifakis (Aris Thessaloniki)
DEF: Giourkas Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia [Cyprus]), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Vangelis Moras (Bologna [Italy]), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiacos), Loukas Vyntra (Panathinaikos), Vasileios Tosoridis (Olympiacos), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Liverpool [England]), Sokratis Papasthathopoulos (Genoa [Italy]), Stelios Malezas (PAOK)
MID: Alexandros Tziolis (Siena [Italy]), Georgios Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Sotiris Nini (Panathinaikos), Konstantinos Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Athanasios Prittas (Aris Thessaloniki)
FW: Georgios Samaras (Celtic [Scotland]), Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg [Germany]), Dimitrios Salpingidis (Panathinaikos), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin [Germany]), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua [Romania])
Keep an eye on: Otto Rehagel
Yes, you read it right. The coach is my pick for “player to watch.” Mostly because he is a tactician who adapts his team's gameplay to stifle the opposition and exploit their weaknesses.
ARGENTINA
Overview
When Maradona announced his provisional roster for the World Cup, I was perplexed. I hadn't heard of several players on his list and was convinced that the old superstar didn't know what he was doing. But from those 30 players emerged a coherent squad of 23 whose individual roles have been revealed during pre-tournament friendlies.
In goal, expect to see the young Sergio Romero over Pozo and Andujar. In defense, the flat back-four will be composed of either Otamendi or Gutierrez at right-back, Samuel and Demichelis at center-back, and the veteran Heinze at left-back. In midfield, Mascherano will play alone in front of the defense while Di Maria, Veron and Maxi Rodriguez/Gutierrez will provide support to the strikers who are all lethal. As I pointed out in my article on the 30-player roster, there's no doubt that Argentina has plenty of firepower in front. The sole question mark on this squad is Veron's level of fitness and stamina as he is 35 years old, but fortunately the young Pastore can be more than adequate as his replacement.
Pre-tournament friendlies have been promising in terms of results but the quality of the opposition (Costa Rica, Jamaica, Haiti, Canada, and Germany) still leaves a lingering doubt as to their true capabilities. Still, it'll be a huge shock if the Albiceleste don't make it past this group. The real question lies in how far they will go after that.
Full squad list
GK: Diego Pozo (Atletico Colon), Mariano Andujar (Catania [Italy]), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar [Netherlands])
DEF: Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich [England]), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes La Plata), Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma [Italy]), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille [France]), Ariel Garce (Atletico Colon), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan [Italy]), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield)
MID: Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina [Italy]), Angel Di Maria (Benfica [Portugal]), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes La Plata), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool [England]), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United [England]), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool [England]), Javier Pastore (Palermo [Italy])
FW: Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid [Spain]), Lionel Messi (Barcelona [Spain]), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City [England]), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid [Spain]), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Diego Milito (Inter Milan [Italy])
Keep an eye on: Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore
Yes, Messi is currently the world's best player and Milito isn't too shabby either scoring all the goals Inter needed in their quest for the treble but I like to draw people's eyes towards the up-and-comers and/or lesser-known players hence my double-pick of Di Maria and Pastore.
The talented winger has already left a mark on the soccer landscape with numerous spectacular goals (check out this jewel against Canada), and rumors are growing quite insistent over a transfer to Real Madrid. If the move does pan out, I hope he doesn't go the way of Quaresma and fade into obscurity.
Pastore is already sort of a household name among hardcore Serie A fans. Expect him to come in as a substitute for Veron and maybe get a start in the final game if Argentina's qualification is secured.
NIGERIA
Overview
Perennial contenders at the U-17 level, Nigeria have never been able to translate that success onto the main stage. Once again this year, the Super Eagles look like they have a squad good enough to overcome their group but they won't go much further than that.
Full squad list
GK: Vincent Eneyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv [Israel]), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva [Israel]), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda [Israel])
DEF: Joseph Yobo (Everton [England]), Taye Taiwo (Marseille [France]), Rabiu Afolabi (Red Bull Salzburg [Austria]), Danny Shittu (Bolton [England]), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow [Russia]), Uwa Echiejile (Rennes [France]), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam [Netherlands])
MID: Nwanko Kanu (Porstmouth [England]), Brown Ideye (FC Sochaux [France]), Kalu Uche (Almeria [Spain]), Yussuf Ayila (Dynamo Kyiv [Ukraine]), Sani Kaita (Alania Vladikavkaz [Russia]), Lukman Haruna (Monaco [France]), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham [England])
FW: John Utaka (Portsmouth [England]), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton [England]), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg [Germany]), Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow [Russia]), Victor Obinna (Malaga [Spain]), Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi (Hoffenheim [Germany])
Keep an eye on: Taye Taiwo and Dickson Etuhu
One is menacing left-back with a mean strike from distance while the other will step in John Obi Mikel's shoes during the tournament. They are both virtually unknown but Etuhu was part of the incredible Fulham team which narrowly lost the Europa league final against Atletico Madrid.
KOREA REPUBLIC
Overview
A regular fixture of the World Cup since the 90's, Korea will count on the experience of Park Ji-Sung, Lee Won Jae, Ki Sung Yeng and Park Chu Yong to lead them past the group stage. Preparation games - and previous World Cups - have shown that they can beat some good teams but are still one step behind the really good teams. One thing's for sure, they won't stop fighting until the final whistle is blown.
Full squad list
GK: Lee Won Jae (Suwon Bluewings), Jung Sung Ryung (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma), Kim Young Kwang (Ulsan Hyundai)
DEF: Oh Beom Seok (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Hyung Il (Pohang Steelers), Cho Yong Hyung (Jeju United), Lee Young Pyo (Al Hilal [KSA]), Lee Jung Soo (Kashima Antlers [Japan]), Kim Dong Jin (Ulsan Hyundai), Cha Du Ri (SC Freiburg [Germany]), Kang Min Soo (Suwon Bluewings)
MID: Kim Nam Il (Tom Tomsk [Russia]), Kim Bo Kyung (Oita Trinita [Japan]), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United [England]), Kim Jung Woo (Gwangju Sangmu), Kim Jae Sung (Pohang Steelers), Ki Sung Yueng (Celtic [Scotland]), Lee Chung Yong (Bolton [England]), Yeom Ki Hun (Suwon Bluewings)
FW: Ahn Jung Hwan (Dalian Shide [China]), Park Chu Yong (Monaco [France]), Lee Seung Yeoul (FC Seoul), Lee Dong Gook (Jeonbuk Motors)
Keep an eye on: Park Ji-Sung and Park Chu Yong
The Manchester United winger has become the captain of the Taegeuk Warriors and they'll look to him to lead the squad past the group stage and beyond. The young Park Chu-Young will look to erase his poor showing in the last World Cup by providing plenty of tricks and thrills (and goals) to his team.
GREECE
Overview
After Greece's dismal showing in Euro 2008, you would expect Greece to rethink their defense-first mentality. Instead, Otto Rehagel stuck to his guns, rejuvenating his squad with fresh new faces. Basically, what you'll be seeing in 2010 is the 2004 system with younger legs and – Rehagel hopes – better stamina than 2008. The Greeks don't score many goals but don't concede many either. It'll be interesting to see how they'll fare against Argentina.
Full squad
GK: Kostantinos Chalkias (PAOK), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Michail Sifakis (Aris Thessaloniki)
DEF: Giourkas Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia [Cyprus]), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Vangelis Moras (Bologna [Italy]), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiacos), Loukas Vyntra (Panathinaikos), Vasileios Tosoridis (Olympiacos), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Liverpool [England]), Sokratis Papasthathopoulos (Genoa [Italy]), Stelios Malezas (PAOK)
MID: Alexandros Tziolis (Siena [Italy]), Georgios Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Sotiris Nini (Panathinaikos), Konstantinos Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Athanasios Prittas (Aris Thessaloniki)
FW: Georgios Samaras (Celtic [Scotland]), Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg [Germany]), Dimitrios Salpingidis (Panathinaikos), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin [Germany]), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua [Romania])
Keep an eye on: Otto Rehagel
Yes, you read it right. The coach is my pick for “player to watch.” Mostly because he is a tactician who adapts his team's gameplay to stifle the opposition and exploit their weaknesses.
| 96 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
