Road To Russia - World Cup Team-By-Team Preview - GROUP F
Germany
Manager:
Joachim Löw
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel
Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris
St-Germain)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng
(Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector
(Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin
Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Julian Brandt
(Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St-Germain), Leon Goretska (Schalke),
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real
Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich)
Strikers: Mario Gomez
(Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund),
Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
Key
player:
Toni
Kroos: dictates the tempo of matches with his passing and control.
One-to-watch:
Mesut Özil: the
creative mastermind can pick a killer ball out of nowhere and will be looking
to assist his nation to back-to-back World Cups.
Young
gun:
Timo Werner: the
prolific young striker has scored 20+ goals in back-to-back seasons, and netted
7 goals for his country in 2017.
Team
overview/style of play:
The
reigning world champions are a team to be feared. With a perfect balance
between youth an experience, Die Mannschaft posses an air of confidence in each
match they play, where they are seemingly never fazed by their opposition.
Having breezed through qualifying, and dominated the 2017 Confederations Cup
with their second string team, Löw’s side will be looking to go back-to-back in
Russia. Germany will set up in their usual 4-2-3-1. Without blistering pace, Germany
will rely on efficient passing and quick transitions from defence to attack. Once
the ball is received by Özil in attacking midfield, he usually has two options.
The first of these is to hit a killer ball through the opposition backline to
hit the wingers in wide channels, or Werner up front. His second option, and
most common, is to play the ball to the fullbacks in advanced positions. From
here, the wide midfielders, who are comfortable in central areas, as well as
Özil, then tend to move in and around the box, where Germany are at their most
dangerous.
Strengths:
·
Set piece threat
·
World class central defenders and
goalkeeper
·
Much vision in the midfielder and attack
Weaknesses:
·
A lack of depth up front
·
Not as much pace as the other contenders
Predicted
line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
The
reining champions are a strong chance of going back-to-back.
Mexico
Manager:
Juan Carlos Osorio
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa
(Standard Liege), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul)
Defenders: Carlos Salcedo
(Eintracht Frankfurt), Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), Hugo
Ayala (Tigres), Edson Alvarez (America), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Miguel
Layun (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Rafael Marquez
(Atlas), Hector Herrera (Porto), Jonathan Dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Giovani Dos
Santos (LA Galaxy), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Marco Fabian (Eintracht
Frankfurt)
Forwards: Javier Hernandez
(West Ham), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (America), Jesus Manuel
Corona (Porto), Carlos Vela (Los Angeles FC), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Hirving
Lozano (PSV Eindhoven).
Key
player:
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández: Mexico’s all-time leading
scorer will have a chance to score a goal in three consecutive World Cups.
One-to-watch:
Miguel Layún: a very well round player who is accomplished in
attack and defence.
Young
gun:
Hirving Lozano: the
winger really burst onto the scene in the 2017/18 season, with 17 goals and 11
assists in 29 Eredivisie appearances. He possesses everything needed to be a
world football star.
Team
overview/style of play:
El
Tri have been consistent performers at World Cups in the past, and arrive in
Russia with a competitive team who mostly play for well known European clubs.
They performed well at the Confederations Cup last year, and seem to have
sacrificed needless flair and individual play to focus on getting results.
Having utilised a five man defence at times in qualifying, a 4-3-3 is most
likely to be their go to formation at the World Cup. With three classy central
midfielders, Mexico like to play a possession game. In doing this, the ball is
worked around the middle of the field until there is space for their pacey and
tricky wingers to run onto the ball and frighten defenders. They also have a
tendency to play long balls from deep in their own half to wide areas where
Lozano and Jesus Corona will be able to do most of their damage. Chicharito again be the focal point of their attack,
and he will receive much ball in attacking areas, particularly from crosses out
wide.
Strengths:
·
A solid core of players with vast
experience
·
Accomplished passers in midfield
Weaknesses:
·
Ability to handle pressure in
high-stakes games
·
Apart from Lozano and Herrera, most of
Mexico’s key players will arrive at the World Cup after sub-par seasons at club
level
Predicted
line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
Many
expect Mexico to finish second in Group F, but their run of six consecutive
round of 16 appearances could very well come to an end in Russia.
Korea Republic
Manager:
Shin Tae-yong
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu
(Vissel Kobe), Kim Jin-hyeon (Cerezo Osaka), Cho Hyun-woo (Daegu FC).
Defenders:
Kim Young-gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Jang Hyun-soo (FC Tokyo), Jung
Seung-hyun (Sagan Tosu), Yun Yong-sun (Seongnam FC), Oh Ban-suk (Jeju United),
Kim Min-woo (Sangju Sangmu), Park Joo-ho (Ulsan Hyundai), Hong Chul (Sangju
Sangmu), Go Yo-han (FC Seoul), Lee Yong (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors).
Midfielders: Ki
Sung-yueng (Swansea City), Jung Woo-young (Vissel Kobe), Ju Se-jong (Asan
Mugunghwa FC), Koo Ja-cheol (FC Augsburg), Lee Jae-sung (Jeonbuk Hyundai
Motors), Lee Seung-woo (Hellas Verona), Moon Seon-min (Incheon United).
Forwards: Kim Shin-wook
(Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Hwang Hee-chan (FC
Red Bull Salzburg).
Key
player:
Son Heung-min: one of the nicest guys in world football, Son
is an extremely hard working player with an excellent final product.
One-to-watch:
Ki Sung-yueng: a busy player who makes finds great joy in his
late runs into opposition boxes.
Young
gun:
Hwang Hee-Chan: the
young striker is a speedy customer and dangerous dribbler.
Team
overview/style of play:
At
their best, the Taeguk Warriors are a dangerous team. But, as their
qualification campaign highlighted, you can’t just be able to play well at home
if you want to be a competitive team on the world stage. In qualifying, they
only managed to pick up two points away from home, an could only net two goals
in the road (both in the same game). Their defence has also been dodgy at
times. Usually lining up in a 4-4-2, Korea play a high energy game, with high
pressing and player work rates. In midfield do they not possess many players
will high level vision, but rely on quick ball and player movement around the
field. When possession is won, they use their pace to break forward at speed.
Son Heung-Min is undoubtedly their best player, and a great load over their
attacking play will go directly through Son.
Strengths:
·
Pace on the counter attack
·
Many technically sound players
Weaknesses:
·
Vulnerable at set pieces
·
A lack of imagination and fantasy in
attack
·
Struggled to break down packed defences
Predicted
line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
May
be under the radar, but could make it out of the group stage.
Sweden
Manager:
Janne Andersson
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Robin Olsen
(Copenhagen), Karl-Johan Johnsson (Guingamp), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Swansea).
Defenders: Mikael Lustig
(Celtic), Victor Lindelof (Manchester United), Andreas Granqvist (Krasnador),
Martin Olsson (Swansea), Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen), Filip Helander,
Emil Krafth (both Bologna), Pontus Jansson (Leeds United).
Midfielders: Sebastian Larsson
(Hull), Albin Ekdal (Hamburg), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig), Gustav Svensson
(Seattle Sounders), Oscar Hiljemark (Genoa), Viktor Claesson (Krasnador),
Marcus Rohden (Crotone), Jimmy Durmaz (Toulouse).
Forwards: Marcus Berg (Al
Ain), John Guidetti (Alaves), Ola Toivonen (Toulouse), Isaac Kiese Thelin
(Waasland-Beveren).
Key
player:
Andreas Granqvist: Sweden’s rock like captain is one of the
main reasons his nation made it to Russia, and will continue to be crucial in
marshalling the defence.
One-to-watch:
Emil Forsberg: the winger is a creative powerhouse providing
22 assists in the 2016/17 season, and is highly adept at evading defenders and
holding the ball for his team.
Young
gun:
Victor Lindelöf: the young centre back is a composed presence
and has good pace enabling him to cover the field well.
Team
overview/style of play:
Sweden
dramatically qualified for the World Cup after upsetting Italy in the
play-offs. They also knocked the Netherlands out of World Cup contention,
relegating Oranje to third in their qualifying group. This shows that Sweden
definitely have great ability as a team to beat anyone they face, and from
these positive results comes much belief. Playing with a traditional 4-4-2,
Blågult play a very basic defensive minded game. Most of their success stems
from keeping their structure and staying compact at all times. In doing so,
they do not take many risks and work hard in defence to not allow their
opposition any inroads. In possession, they are not known for blistering
counter attacks. Instead, they methodically work their way up-field whilst
keeping possession. Emil Forsberg plays a significant role in this. With two
big strikers spearheading the attack, the wide midfielders find joy in whipping
balls in to the target men.
Strengths:
·
Team spirit
·
Superb structure and discipline
·
Set piece defence
·
Ability to absorb pressure from
opposition attacks
Weaknesses:
·
A lack of individually brilliant players
who are capable of breaking a game wide open
·
If they fall behind, they may struggle
Predicted
line up:
Jerseys:
Verdict:
Are
capable pulling off big wins, as seen by their qualification heroics against
Italy, but are in for a tough battle for second spot in Group F.
GROUP A - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/05/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team.html
GROUP B - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/05/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team_31.html
GROUP C - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/06/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team.html
GROUP D - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/06/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team_47.html
GROUP E - http://worldwidefantasyclub.blogspot.com/2018/06/road-to-russia-world-cup-team-by-team_6.html
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