Road To Russia - World Cup Team-By-Team Preview - GROUP F


Germany

Image result for germany football logo

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:

Image result for germany world cup home jerseyImage result for germany world cup away jersey

Verdict:

The reining champions are a strong chance of going back-to-back.




Mexico

Image result for mexico football logo

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:

Image result for mexico world cup home jerseyImage result for mexico world cup away jersey

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

Image result for sweden football logo

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:

Image result for sweden world cup home jerseyImage result for sweden world cup away jersey

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. 








Make sure to follow us on twitter to read all of our 2018 FIFA World Cup articles, as well as participate in special prize giveaways!


Comments