World Cup Preview - Group F

Group F

Germany (1)
Mexico (15)
Sweden (23)
South Korea (61)

Germany - The number one ranked team in the world and defending champions will fancy their chances again in Russia. Their squad is as strong as four years ago with many of them returning to defend the title, but also an exciting group of young players who are making their mark in top European leagues.
I love watching Leroy Sane play for Manchester City. His pace is outstanding, but he is so direct running with the ball, makes good runs without the ball and has the composure in the final third. Fellow 22 year old winger Julian Brandt has been a regular for Leverkusen for four years now, providing goals and assists from right wing. They can both have a huge impact this summer with their pace and quality in the final third.
Joshua Kimmich has proved at Bayern Munich that he is one of the best right backs in the world this season, a replacement for club and country for Philipp Lahm who retired after the last World Cup. He is only 23 years old, and will have Leon Goretzka, also 23, joining him at Bayern next season. Goretzka has been a regular at Schalke for five years, and he has developed into a strong central midfielder with an eye for goal and great ability with the ball. The future for Germany looks very strong, and the young players in the squad keep the more experienced players on their toes and battling for their positions in the starting 11.
One issue Germany might have is with their star keeper Manuel Neuer. He last played a game in September, when he fractured his foot for the second time, and his recovery has been longer than expected. He was the best keeper in the world at the last World Cup, but now he is out of game practice it could affect him. Marc Andre ter Stegen is an able replacement, but he doesn't have the same presence in goals as Neuer.
The spine from the squad four years ago is still in place, with Hummels, Kroos, Khedira, Mesut Özil and Thomas Muller all very much part of a team that looks as strong as anyone else in the competition. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Germany defending their title, but they have to get through the group first unlike Spain last time out, when they failed to defend their title.
In qualifying they won every game, scoring 43 goals and conceding only four. This team looks strong and ready to go in Russia.

One to Watch - Another 22 year old that has become the most likely starting striker for Germany, and on the back of another 21 goals season, is Timo Werner. He perhaps isn't the most recognisable name in the squad but he won the golden boot at last years Confederations Cup and has scored seven goals in 12 caps for Germany. His form for RB Leipzig means he is the main striker for his country now, and with the quality they have in midfield and in wide positions he could be in with a chance of scoring many goals at this tournament and following in the footsteps of previous Golden Boot winner and World Cup legend, Miroslav Klose.


Mexico - As the strongest team in the CONCACAF region it is no surprise Mexico qualified easily topping the final group stage, now going to their 7th tournament in a row. Every time in that run they have been knocked out in the last 16 stage, which they will be looking to better this time around. They have an experienced squad with 14 players having more than 50 caps, including 39 year old Rafael Marquez, who if he plays, will be playing in his fifth World Cup, becoming only the third player to do so after Lothar Mattheus(Germany) and fellow Mexican Antonio Carbajal.
Marquez might not be a guaranteed starter, but other players with over 100 caps, Andres Guardado, Javier Hernandez and Giovani dos Santos certainly will be. Guardado has had a good first season at Real Betis after his move from PSV, and despite not featuring regularly, Hernandez did score eight goals for a defensive West Ham team. He is a poacher so is their main goal threat. Dos Santos, along with his brother Jonathan, plays for LA Galaxy now and are both regulars which will give them confidence as they head to Russia. Giovani is an excellent dribbler and although his career didn't quite take off as expected he still possesses the ability to create and score important goals.
Strong defender Diego Reyes hasn't been a regular this year with Porto, starting only nine league games. He is crucial to the defense with his height and strength needed in a defense lacking real presence.
Teammate at Porto, Hector Herrera is a dynamic midfielder that likes to get forward and help the attack, but can also put his foot in at the other end. He has been a regular for Porto since they signed him in 2013. He is the best central midfielder in the squad and gives strength and energy to a midfield allowing the creative players ahead to create chances.
Since moving to the new Los Angeles team this year, Carlos Vela has scored goals that will give him the confidence he needs to showcase his talents on the world stage. He is another Mexican that hasn't quite lived up to potential throughout their career, but if they play to the best of their ability Mexico could get themselves to the last 16 again, then try and go further.

One to Watch - Top scorer in qualifying, and for PSV this season in the Eredivisie, Hirving Lozano helped his club to the title with some sparkling displays. At only 22 he has a big future, and the pacey winger is a big goal threat from the left hand side for Mexico. He likes to cut in on his right foot and with a great first season at PSV behind him, we can expect him to be an important player in Russia.



Sweden - Since finishing third in 1994 Sweden haven't been past the last 16, failing to qualify for the previous two tournaments. This time around they managed to get the better of The Netherlands in group A, losing out to France as they went to the playoffs. They were handed a tough draw against Italy, but got the better of the Italians with a 1-0 home win proving good enough as they held out in Milan. With Zlatan retired from international football Sweden has been left without a star name in the squad, perhaps helping them become a more solid team all working with each other.
Marcus Berg has been the main beneficiary. Now playing in Abu Dhabi at Al Ain, Berg was the top scorer for Sweden in qualifying with eight goals. He is 31 years old and now a regular starter for his country since Zlatan stopped.
Victor Lindelof was a big summer signing for Manchester United last year after some impressive performances in Europe with Benfica. He has however fallen out of favour and been publicly criticised by Mourinho during his first season. He is a good defender, especially in the system that Sweden will play. He can be exposed playing in a team who dominate the ball, but Sweden are likely to sit deep and counter attack, so he will be crucial with his physical presence defending the box.
Long time Swedish goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson retiring has left an open position that three have the opportunity to fill. The three 28 year olds, Olsen, Johnsson and Nordfeldt have 29 caps between them, and this is clearly a position that Sweden are weak.
55 year old manager Janne Andersson will be going to his first major tournament with Sweden with a squad that doesn't look good enough to compete. They will be relying on a strong base and hoping to grab a goal on the break.

Star Man - The undoubted star of this team, and a player who has been in outstanding form in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig the last two seasons, is Emil Forsberg. The 26 year old is a target for Arsenal this summer after four years in Germany. The winger was voted in the Bundesliga team of the season last year, and was top of the assist charts in the league. The right footer generally plays on the left hand side, and as well as an eye for a pass likes to cut in and shoot, and also arrive in the box to get on the end of crosses. He is comfortable running with the ball and a player that Sweden will need to be at his energetic best to give them a chance of progressing.


South Korea - Since a high ranking of 17 in 1998 and a fourth place finish in their home World Cup in 2002, South Korea have now dropped to 61 in the world and have only got six players in the squad playing outside of Asia. They qualified through their AFC group in second place, well behind group winners Iran. Failing to win away from home was their big problem, which included defeats to footballing minnows Qatar and China. They only just stayed ahead of Syria on the final day thanks to Iran drawing with the Syrians while South Korea played out a goalless draw with Uzbekistan.
The Koreans defensively are relying on mostly home based players, with a few playing in China and Japan. Park Joo-ho(Dortmund) and Kim Jin-Su(Hoffenheim) were recently on the books and played a handful of games in Germany with their respective clubs, but both have now found themselves back playing in Korea. Defense is certainly a weak area in this team.
It s midfield that Korea have more recognisable names to choose from. Ki Sung-Yeung since he arrived at Celtic and subsequently moved to Swansea, has always looked an accomplished player. He is both footed, very calm in possession and can score goals from outside of the box. He doesn't get around the pitch as much as others, but he is an important player and will earn his 100th cap on his next appearance.
Followers of Bundesliga football will know of Augsburg midfielder Koo Ja-cheol. Although not a regular, he has an eye for goal and is a hard working attacking midfielder. He was the scorer of Augsburg's first ever Bundesliga hattrick, and has 19 goals for his country in 65 games.
Manager Shin Tae-yong has certainly favoured the Asian based players, and also going to his first World Cup he has an almost impossible job to take the Koreans past the group.

Star Man - The only star name in the Korean squad is Son Heung-min. Four years ago I said I would like to see him playing in the Premier League, and since he signed for Spurs in 2015 he has improved every year. He is very direct running with the ball, makes good runs off the ball and has great energy. But his big strength is his ability to hit shots with both feet equally powerfully. He can sometimes lack composure with his shots, but on his day he is a lethal finisher and the 25 year old will be looking to add to his total of 21 goals in Russia.



Predictions - Germany look nailed on to win this group. They will likely beat Mexico and Sweden then go on to rest players against South Korea. Even with a weakened team I expect them to win all three games. Mexico versus Sweden in the final game could well be the decider for second place. For me Mexico have more quality and are a bigger goal threat. It will be a tight game but I think they can win it and progress in second place.

What to Bet on - Germany will win this group, but Mexico are 6/4 to finish second. Worth a bet.

World Klutz - In 1974, Zaire(now DR Congo) qualified for their one and only World Cup. In their final game against Brazil, Mwepu Ilunga did something that nobody had seen before on the world stage...

Zaire went on to lose 3-0, giving themselves a record of 3 games, 3 defeats, no goals scored and 14 against. Although it was perceived at the time to be an example of African football's naivety and indiscipline, Ilunga has claimed that he was quite aware of the rules and was hoping to convince the referee to send him off. The intended red card would have been a protest against his country's authorities, who were alleged to be depriving the players of their earnings in an era when Zaire was run by the Mobutu regime.
Not so funny in reality, but when taken in the context of the game, quite amusing to watch.

World Cup Preview - Group E

Group E

Brazil (2)
Switzerland (6)
Costa Rica (25)
Serbia (35)


Brazil - The favourites for the World Cup with the bookmakers, Brazil come in on the back of an excellent qualifying campaign in which they lost only one game, away at Chile. The five time champions last won the tournament in 2002, when Ronaldo inspired them to a win over Germany in the final. Four years ago it was Germany who embarrassed Brazil in the semi final, with that 7-1 defeat being the worst in their history. Redemption is on the mind of the nation, and they have a squad capable of achieving that.
The goalkeeping position had long been an issue for Brazil, since Taffarel retired they have struggled to replace him, but now there are two keepers more than capable of starting. Ederson has been outstanding for Man City this season, he is likely to be on the bench behind Roma stopper Alisson. Alisson is a great shot stopper, and a huge presence in goals. He doesn't sweep or use his feet as well as Ederson, but he is as good at saving shots as anyone.
Defensively, the PSG duo of Marquinhos and Thiago Silva are both solid defenders with pace, and that gives license for Marcelo and Danilo to push on from fullback to help the attack. Fred, Fernandinho and Casemiro are all options in the sitting midfield role, while they have a huge amount of talent and pace in the forward five positions.
Roberto Firmino has been outstanding for Liverpool as the central striker, and he will be battling Gabriel Jesus for a starting place. Meanwhile Douglas Costa, Coutinho, Willian, Paulinho and the second Shakhtar player in the squad, Taison can all provide pace, goals, quality on the ball and directness to the attack.
This squad is far stronger than the one that made it to the semi finals four years ago. They conceded only 11 goals in 18 qualifying games, scoring 41, with 13 different players getting on the scoresheet. Goals can come from anywhere on the pitch, and no doubt this year they are favourites and are out to prove they are the best in the world.

Star Man - It is a massive relief I'm sure for manager Tite to see Neymar back training after his dreaded metatarsal injury. He is the star for Brazil in a team of world class players. His dribbling skills are as good as anyone, but also he is a leader for the country. His back injury four years ago was crucial in their demise when he had to sit out the Germany game. He has 53 goals in 83 caps, well on his way to beating the 77 goal record Pele has for Brazil. Lets hope he is fit for Russia, because he could light up the World Cup and take Brazil to title number six.


Switzerland - They might be the 6th ranked team in the world, but Switzerland would still be deemed a dark horse as they prepare for Russia. They were unlucky not to qualify automatically, given they lost their only points of the group stage with a defeat on the final day in Portugal. They had to play Northern Ireland in the playoffs, and a dubious penalty in the first leg in Belfast proved crucial, as it was the only goal scored over two legs.
Since the World Cup expanded from 16 teams in 1982 the Swiss have never made it past the last 16, but recently the team has found a decent formula under coach Vladimir Petkovic. With two sitting midfielders protecting the defense, they only conceded seven goals in 12 qualifying games, thanks also to in form goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The Monchengladbach stopper is reportedly being tracked by Manchester City as back up for Ederson after a fine season.
Captain Stephan Lichsteiner is two caps away from 100, and the full back was still an important part of the Juventus title winning squad this season. On the opposite side, Ricardo Rodriguez has been seen as a top class left back for years now, and still only 25 years old. Defensively sound he also has a great left foot for crossing and set pieces.
Although Granit Xhaka has been seen as a poor signing for Arsenal, he plays an important role linking defense and attack alongside a 21 year old future star, Denis Zakaria. The tall holding midfielder has been a regular in the Bundesliga this season at Monchengladbach, and he looks like a real talented central midfielder.
Upfront is an area that Switzerland don't lack numbers, but do lack a real goalscorer. In qualifying, 14 different players scored goals, with Haris Seferovic the top marksman with four. He has 11 goals for his country but wasn't a regular starter for Benfica this term, managing just four league goals. When looking at the other four strikers who are potential starters, Derdiyok, Mehmedi, Drmic and Embolo, none have been regulars for their teams this season. It is perhaps why Swiss Super league top scorer, Albia Ajeti, has been called up to the preliminary squad. He could be in line for his first cap after 17 goals this season.
Brazil are obviously group favourites, but Switzerland are well organised, and could be tough to beat in the first group game.

Star Man - Of all the Stoke players this season perhaps only Xherdan Shaqiri can hold his head up at the end of it. He always looked their most dangerous player and most likely scorer and is the one Swiss player with real quality in the final third. He has 20 goals for his country from 68 caps, and he is capable of being a game winner all by himself. Sometimes he can be guilty of holding on to the ball too long, but it can be forgiven when he puts it in the top corner from 25 yards, as he seems to do more often than other players when he cuts in on that left foot.





Costa Rica - Four years ago Costa Rica surprised everyone by topping a group containing England, Italy and Uruguay. They then beat Greece on penalties in a forgettable encounter, before losing on penalties to The Netherlands. It was the first ever quarter final appearance at the World Cup and one that is unlikely to be emulated in Russia. With three automatic places up for grabs in the CONCACAF region, Costa Rica finished second behind Mexico to book their place for the 4th time out of the last five tournaments.
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas signed for Real Madrid after the last World Cup, and despite regular criticism he has been their number one ever since. An athletic goalkeeper, he is likely to be busy in the tournament and will be crucial to any success that Costa Rica will have.
Cristian Gamboa hasn't managed to break in to the Celtic team regularly, but himself and Bryan Oviedo provide good attacking options from wing back. They are both regulars for their country and will be expected to get forward and provide crosses. The squad is almost identical to the one that did so well in Brazil with the midfielders Bolanos, Borges and Tejeda, who formed a three in midfield still involved. Bolanos is 34 now so it is possible that Rodney Wallace or David Guzman, both based in Major League Soccer, could take his place in the starting lineup at least for one of the games. Former Fulham man, now with Sporting Lisbon, the 32 year old captain Bryan Ruiz is the link between midfield and attack. He is an extremely talented footballer and although he sometimes plays at a slower tempo than you would like, he has the ability to pick out a pass on his left foot, and also produce a bit of magic. He has 23 goals for his country, the top scorer in the current squad. He hasn't been a regular in Portugal this season so he will need to up his game to try and take Costa Rica beyond the groups again.

Star Man - The season before the last World Cup Joel Campbell burst on to the scene with some impressive performances for Olympiakos in the Champions League. He hasn't really kicked on since then, with Arsenal loaning him out every season it must be hard to find form. This year at Real Betis he hasn't played much but he seems to rise to the occasion of playing for his country and big tournaments. He is quick, has a good left foot and is very direct. If he can perform the way he did four years ago again, then his country has a chance of coming through the groups.


Serbia - Group D in qualification contained Ireland, Wales and Austria, but it was Serbia who came through it on top thanks mainly to some attacking football that saw them score 20 goals over the ten games. Top scorer in the group was on loan Fulham man Aleksander Mitrovic with six. Falling out of favour at Newcastle he has gone to Fulham and taken them to the brink of promotion, with the playoff final. Strong and aggressive, he has also shown an eye for goal with 12 since joining in February. He is a real threat from cross balls which can be useful for his country as one of the best crossers of a ball in world football, Aleksander Kolarov plays left back. They are likely to link up at some point in this tournament.
Still playing at 34 is Branislav Ivanovic. He has always been a strong defender and is a leader for his country as he was for many years at Chelsea. Now playing at Zenit he has played 38 games this season which shows his fitness is still great.
The big strength for Serbia is midfield however. They have a group of players all under 30 who have experience, but also quality. Nemanja Matic is a world class central midfielder, and alongside him, Luka Milivojevic has had an outstanding season at Crystal Palace. They form a strong base to allow more attacking players like Dusan Tadic, Filip Kostic, Adem Llajic to create opportunities for Mitrovic.
The future looks very exciting for Serbia as their squad contains many young players playing across the major leagues of Europe. Winners of the under 20 World Cup in 2015, they now look like they could be starting to show signs of being ready to advance in a World Cup for the first time since the break up of Yugoslavia.

Star Man - The star of that under 20 team that won the World Cup, and a player many are touting for a huge money move this summer, is Sergei Milinkovic-Savic. He has been a regular in the Lazio team for the last three seasons, and this year was the star man alongside Ciro Immobile. He is a classic all-round midfielder with the strength and height to hold off any opponent, but also the quick feet and passing ability to unlock defenses. He has been compared to Zidane and it is easy to see why. He is a goal threat with feet and head, and this tournament can be a chance for him to showcase his talents.

Predictions - Pre tournament favourites Brazil have been given a relatively tough group, but I expect them to progress without too many problems. It will depend on Neymar being fully fit whether they go all the way. Before reading up on the teams I would have thought Switzerland were slightly stronger, but having seen what Serbia have in their squad I think they will be too strong for the Swiss and could be a dark horse this year. Costa Rica performed miracles in Brazil, but I can't see them doing it again in Russia.

What to Bet on - Serbia are 11/8 to qualify, I like those odds.

World Klutz - Everybody remembers Rene Higuita for his scorpion kick against England but he was regularly messing about while playing goalkeeper. He was an entertainer that loved coming out from his box with the ball. Rewind to the 1990 World Cup in Italy, and against Cameroon and a 38 year old (maybe 42) Roger Milla...

The goal made it 2-0 in extra time, effectively knocking Colombia out of the World Cup.

This wasn't his finest moment, but do take a few minutes to look at some of his other videos. A true character of the game and the likes of which we will never see again.

World Cup Preview - Group D

Group D

Argentina (5)
Iceland (22)
Croatia (18)
Nigeria (47)

Argentina - The qualifying campaign for Argentina was a real struggle. After matchday 14 out of 18, manager Edgardo Bauza was replaced by Jorge Sampaoli with the team sitting 5th in the table. They had just been beaten 2-0 in Bolivia and needed to improve if they were to qualify. Three consecutive draws were not ideal, but they were saved by a final game hat-trick in Ecuador by Leo Messi and go to Russia as fifth favourites despite their troubles.
Despite having a number of attacking stars, only Messi scored more than 2 goals in the whole of qualifying. There is a real issue with fitting players in to the system that will also work as a defensive unit. It has become obvious that Sampaoli doesn't like to have Dybala, Messi, Higuain and Aguero all playing in the same team, it is impossible to keep everyone happy and playing where they want to. Mauro Icardi who has scored 28 goals in Serie A this year for Inter might make the squad at the expense of Dybala. It's even possible both won't be going, as Angel Di Maria can play a more advanced role.
Defensively the form of Nicolas Otamendi is a real boost who alongside Javier Mascherano have nearly 200 caps between them. They should form an experienced back four with Marcos Rojo and Gabriel Mercado.
They always go to the tournament as a contender, but this year they look vulnerable. Sampaoli has tried to strengthen them defensively and play more solid, hoping that their attacking flair can give them wins. It will be interesting to see how they lineup when they meet a well organised Iceland in game one in Moscow.

Star Man - The reliance on Lionel Messi is more evident than ever this year. Four years ago he nearly took them to World Cup glory, but just fell short in the final. The greatest player of all time now has probably his last chance to win a World Cup. He has had another season of over 40 goals, his ninth consecutive season doing so, and it will be up to him to score the goals, create the chances and be the leader for his country as they try and go one step further than they managed in Brazil.


Iceland - After qualifying for their first ever European Championships, then dispatching England in the last 16, Iceland promptly went on to qualify for their first ever World Cup. This proved that they are a country on the up and have a team worthy of competing on the biggest stage. In a competitive group containing Finland, Turkey, Ukraine, and also World Cup opponents Croatia, they came out on top thanks mainly to winning all five home games. The squad has no star names but they have proven with hard work and togetherness that they are capable of beating anybody.
Familiar names playing in England include Gylfi Sigurdsson, and Aron Gunnarsson, who are part of the midfield also including Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who has been a regular for Burnley this year and a real creative presence. The defensive unit has been playing together for the best part of 8 years for Iceland and is crucial towards their success. The likely team will include four defenders and a goalkeeper all over 30, so this might be their last tournament before the younger group comes through. A hard working team who are aggressive and dangerous from set pieces, they also have enough quality in midfield to keep the ball when required. In an open group they will be in with a chance of qualifying for the last 16, and their style of play will not be nice to play against for any opponents.

Star Man - Although Gylfi was top scorer in qualifying he has had a poor season for Everton, and it is likely that the main man upfront will be Alfred Finnbogason. He has had his best season in Augsburg so far, scoring 12 goals in just 19 games in the Bundesliga. He will be the striker in a team with 3 creative players behind him and he has to take any chances that come his way.








Croatia - After finishing second to Iceland in qualification, Croatia hammered Greece in the playoffs to book their place in Russia. Only once have they made it through the group stages, when they finished third in France 98. It would be a major surprise if they were to replicate that, despite having one of the strongest midfield pairings of Rakitic and Modric. The squad is filled with players that play in the big four leagues in Europe, but on paper it is not as strong a squad as they have had previously. Goalkeeper is a problem area as they try to choose between Subasic, who has lost his place at Monaco this season, and Gent keeper Lovre Kalinic. Kalinic has impressed since becoming the record signing for Gent, and he could well be the number one for Croatia. Defensively Dejan Lovren has now returned to the international scene, after he had fallen out with the previous manager. Corluka and Lovren will form a partnership, while Atletico Madrid right back, Sime Vrsaljko provides a good defensive option.
Along with Modric and Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic provides quality in midfield, and the transformation of Mario Mandzukic in to a defensive winger means they have goalscoring threats from wide areas. Ivan Perisic has had another good season for Inter Milan, with his pace he is a constant threat on the left wing.
Upfront the two options are players who have bounced back after tough spells in England. Nikola Kalinic was a laughing stock for Blackburn, but managed to resurrect his career at Dnipro, and after a successful spell at Fiorentina now plays at AC Milan. He is not prolific, but is likely to start up front, with Andre Kramaric, now playing at Hoffenheim after a spell at Leicester, an able back up. He has scored 13 league goals this season, and will be a threat from the bench.
One other player going to the tournament full of confidence after his game winning display in the German Cup final, is Ante Rebic. He scored two goals in a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich and the winger will be hoping to have an impact in Russia.

Star Man - For many, Luka Modric is the best central midfielder in the world. The way he receives the ball, always moving it the right way with his first touch and never giving it away, he is a joy to watch. He is crucial to the possession football that Croatia try and play, and along with Rakitic and Kovacic, he is part of a midfield that can dominate any opponents. They might struggle for goals from their strikers, but they do not lack creativity, and Modric is the perfect link between defense and attack.


Nigeria - The Super Eagles were historically the most likely African team to go far in a World Cup, but they have only ever managed to reach the Last 16 twice, including in Brazil. It would be a surprise given the current squad if they were to advance this time beyond the groups. Long time goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, although not great, was reliable enough and his retirement from international football means that Nigerian based keeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the likely replacement. This could be a major problem behind a defense that will have Kenneth Omeruo playing, who has been on Chelsea's books since 2012, and never played a game. Bursaspor teammates William Troost-Ekong and Shehu Abdullahi could well be used as well, with the latter being the more regular at his club. The Dutch born defender spent his youth career in London with Fulham and Tottenham, and standing at 6ft3in is a real presence.
Topping the qualifying group with Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia in it showed that this Nigeria team does have some quality in attacking areas. Despite playing for England youth teams, Alex Iwobi decided to play for the country of his birth and is part of a new young group of players that will be important for Nigeria. Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi are teammates at Leicester, and both are 21 years old with exciting futures. Ndidi is a combative midfielder, while Iheanacho has proven himself as a goalscorer. He has found it hard to get game time this season due to the form of Jamie Vardy, but he is a calm finisher on his left foot.
Ahmed Musa is another Leicester player, although he spent last season on loan at CSKA Moscow where he only managed 16 appearances. He is inconsistent and quite poor technically. But he has a lot of speed and can cause problems on his day. Captain John Obi Mikel now plays in China, and although he isn't a creative player at all, he is an important part of the midfield as he sits deep and allows others to join the attack.

Star Man - Victor Moses has been a regular at Chelsea since the start of last season after finding himself a slot at right wing back in the Conte system. Another player that played youth for England, he decided to play for Nigeria in 2011 and has made 29 caps since, scoring 11 goals. His pace and strength from a wide area, as well as his quick feet, make him the main threat for Nigeria. He will be hugely important if they are to beat any of the other teams in the group.



Predictions - Argentina are strong favourites for the group despite not qualifying well. With their attacking players they should be able to score enough goals to win the group. It is possible they could be out fought by the others, who will likely play counter attacking football against them. For me they will just top the group, but not convincingly. Second place is up for grabs as Iceland have shown they can beat Croatia in qualifying, and Nigeria have young players who have energy for games close together. I think given the quality of midfielders, Croatia should manage to get through. It will most likely go down to the last game against Iceland on 26th June as a decider.

What to Bet on - Messi is 4/5 to score anytime in the first game against Iceland. A chance for him to get off to a good start in a game they will spend mostly attacking.

World Klutz - Time to go back to back to 2006 in Germany, a match between Croatia and Australia. Graham Poll had reached the peak of his refereeing powers with his inclusion in the World Cup refereeing team, and he was one of the potential referees for the final itself. Until...

Poll received universal ridicule that resulted in him being sent home in disgrace. He never refereed at international level again, promptly retiring after the end of the following season.

World Cup 2018 Preview - Group B

Group B

Portugal (4)
Spain (8)
Morocco (42)
Iran (36)

Portugal - Two years ago Portugal surprised everyone by claiming the European Championships despite winning only one of their games inside of 90 minutes, a semi final win over Wales. They drew every group game, beat Croatia in extra time, Poland on penalties and won the final in extra time over France. It was Eder who scored the winner, his first ever competitive goal for Portugal. It would be an even bigger surprise if Portugal managed to win the World Cup despite a very impressive qualification in which they dropped only 3 points in an away defeat to Switzerland. Four years ago they were knocked out in the group stage by USA and Germany, a very disappointing campaign, so they will be out to improve on that but it will be a surprise for me if they manage to match their best ever performance of fourth place back in 2006.
There is absolutely no doubt that Portugal's quality is mostly in attacking areas. Bernardo Silva was outstanding for Monaco last season, and this season has played his part in a Manchester City team that has strolled the Premier League. He has the ability to unlock any defense with his skill, usually from the right hand side. William Carvalho was widely tipped to become a superstar, and although he hasn't quite fulfilled his potential yet, he is a crucial part of the central midfield area. He provides a more defensive platform for more noted attacking players like Andre Gomes, Joao Moutinho and Joao Mario to join the main man in attack.
The big problem for Portugal is their ageing central defenders. Bruno Alves has hardly looked convincing since his move to Rangers, the 36 year old is likely to be involved in the squad, and decisions will have to be made regarding 35 year old Pepe, 34 year old Jose Fonte and 32 year old Rolando. It will likely be the last tournament for whoever is selected, but so many games in a short period will be tough for players of that age.

Star Man - Although aged 33 Cristiano Ronaldo is still an incredible athlete is still scoring goals at about an average of a goal a game. His next cap for Portugal will be his 150th, and so far he is on 81 goals. In my opinion he is the best ever goalscorer to grace a football pitch, and his drive to be the best he can be is as strong as anyone to have played the game. He has regularly produced the goods in big games, and there is no doubt he could drag Portugal to the final stages of the competition. He has lost a bit of his pace, and is a completely different player now to the one we were watching 5 years ago. But now that he is playing as a central striker he could be in with a great chance of the Golden Boot.


Spain - Four years ago Spain were defending their title and failed miserably, being hammered by Netherlands in the first game, and following it up by a defeat to Chile. By the time they beat Australia it was too late. It was the end on an era as legends like Xavi, David Villa, Xabi Alonso and Iker Casillas decided it would be their last World Cup. This time around they come with a younger squad after a comfortable qualifying campaign, beating Italy in their group and only dropping two points in total with a 1-1 draw in Turin. The type of football that Spain play is always easy on the eye, and they are well set up in midfield to play possession football, but also have players with the ability to create chances in tight areas. Thiago, Isco and Koke are all small in stature and are very comfortable on the ball, and along with Andres Iniesta can all play anywhere across the midfield. Spain usually play quite narrow in midfield and these players all have the ability to take the ball in tight areas, create space between the lines and are always rotating and available for passes. Marco Asensio offers something a little different with more direct running and pace. He has been excellent for Real Madrid this season, often coming off the bench and changing games.
The striking options including Morata, Diego Costa and Iago Aspas are all reliable goalscorers for their clubs, even if Morata is struggling a little the second half of the season. It will be up to the manager who he selects, but for me Diego Costa would be the perfect option with the quality of midfielders that can play in behind him.
Dani Carvajal and Jordi Alba are both world class full backs offensively, or they have Cesar Azpilicueta as a more defensive option, and they can rely on the experienced defensive partnership of Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos. This is a squad that are serious contenders yet again to replicate the success of 2010 and they have every chance of going all the way.

Star Man - David De Gea has been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League for the last six years and is probably the best shot stopper in the world. He makes this Spain team even better and gives confidence to everyone in front of him. He has had to wait on his chance, with Iker Casillas(167caps) and Pepe Reina(36) being regular first and second choice since 2000 and 2005 respectively. Now that De Gea is number 1, he could well win his first senior international trophy after successful European campaigns with the under 21's in 2011 and 2013. At 27 he is the perfect age to be goalkeeper for at least the next 6 years and to get many more caps than his current 27.


Morocco - Managed by Herve Renard, twice winner of the African Nations(Zambia 2012, Ivory Coast 2015), the Atlas Lions come to the WC on the back of a convincing unbeaten qualifying, in a group with Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mali. The squad has somewhat of an overhaul the last 4 years which has resulted in their first world cup appearance since 1998. Only two players in the likely squad have over 50 caps, but recent friendly wins over South Korea and Serbia show that they are on the right track as they head to Russia. In a tough group with Portugal and Spain, it will be so important to beat Iran in game 1 to give themselves a platform for advancing out of the groups for only the second time in their history, the only time being in 1986. The Morocco squad is seriously lacking in star quality and will be relying heavily on the guile of their manager and team spirit to get themselves out of the group. Amine Harit at 20 years old is one of the young group of players hoping to make an impression this summer. He has had a solid season for Schalke after moving there from Nantes where he broke through in to the first team in 2016. He is a midfielder with some promise, and having broken into the national setup, could be set for a big role in Russia. Scoring goals could be the big issue for Morocco, Khalid Boutaib was top scorer in qualifying with 4, and he has 12 in the Turkish Super Lig for Yeni Malatyaspor this season. He will likely be the main striker, but it will be far more important for Morocco to be tight at the back, and will be crucial that Juventus central defender Mehdi Benatia is controlling the defense and leading by example as captain. It didn't quite work at Bayern Munich for him, but since returning to Italy, and especially this season, he has looked far more like the strong and athletic defender he was when playing with Roma.

One to Watch - At 25 years old Hakim Ziyech has become an important player for Ajax since his move after a successful spell at Twente. Playing as an attacking midfielder, he is the likely creative spark for Morocco, and also a goal threat. He has 8 goals in 14 appearances for his country, and is a real threat from free kicks. A former Dutch youth international at all levels, he decided to play for Morocco senior team in 2015, and now can look forward to his first World Cup.



Iran - Although Iran regularly appear at World Cups, this is the first time that they will be competing in successive competitions in their history. They have yet to progress through the group stages, but as the highest ranked team from Asia perhaps they have underachieved in previous tournaments. They topped their qualifying group, beating South Korea in the process and conceding only 2 goals in 10 games. Former Real Madrid manager Carlos Queiroz has been in charge since 2011 and he has built the team on a solid foundation, who rely on clean sheets and counter attack goals. They should in theory be built for tournament play as underdogs, and will be hoping, like Morocco, that a win in game 1 can give them real hope of beating Spain or Portugal to second place in the group. They only scored 10 goals in qualifying, and top scorer Sardar Azmoun, who plays his football at Rubin Kazan in Russia, got 4 of them. He is the main threat up front having scored 23 goals in his 31 appearances so far for Iran, and despite only 4 goals in Russia this season he will be a starter for his country. He is only 23 years old, so has a big future for his country, but has a long way to go to catch the target of 109 goals scored by the legendry, Ali Daei.

One to Watch - Nicknamed the Persian Pogba, 21 year old Saeid Ezatolahi was once regarded as a huge talent. After a year in the youth team at Atletico Madrid he decided to move to FC Rostov in Russia instead of playing B team football in Madrid. He is currently on loan at fellow Russian Premier League side, Amkar Perm where he is enjoying a more regular game. At 6ft3inches, he is a central midfielder of some promise for Iran, and will be hoping to have an impact at the tournament this summer.


Predictions - Obviously Spain and Portugal are firm favourites to qualify from Group B, but with them playing each other first it puts a lot of pressure on whoever loses that game to get results in the other two games. Spain are looking for a far better display after 4 years ago in Brazil, and I expect them to have a good tournament. I think they will be too good for Portugal, and go on to top the group with three wins. Portugal will be under pressure, but the lack of scoring power for Morocco and Iran should mean Ronaldo can drag Portugal through to the last 16 and join Spain.

What to Bet on - Portugal to finish second in the group at 11/10

World Klutz - This time it's back to 2010 in South Africa, to the fixture between Nigeria and South Korea. With a win taking either team through to the last 16 and South Korea leading 2-1, Yakubu was given a guilt edged chance to pull Nigeria back in to the game which they needed to win...

One of the worst misses in World Cup history no doubt. Yakubu went on to score a penalty later in the game, but it was too little too late for Nigeria who were dumped out.

The Not Very Alternative, World Cup Review

So it has been 6 weeks since I last blogged as I let the World Cup take place, and have a rest from imparting my knowledge and predictions. So lets have a look back on how the tournament panned out, and also a wee look at how bad my predictions were.

It has been 4 days since the tournament finished and I am sure every football fan is missing it already. What a fantastic tournament we were treated too in the spiritual home of football in Brazil. A record equalling amount of goals, comebacks, incidents, controversy and some fantastic individual performances, but at the end of a magic month, it was the best team, Germany, that came out on top and deservedly so. The final perhaps wasn't the best game of the tournament, but it was intriguing and there was chances for either team in normal time to win it before a great chest and finish from substitute Mario Götze won it for Germany. 

I really enjoyed looking forward to the World cup by way of blogging and predicting, so lets have a look at how well I did. My pick to win the tournament was Argentina, so to lose out with 3 minutes to go in extra time in the final I feel like I was unlucky. The problem Argentina had was a lack of goals in the tournament, only 8 goals in total, and that finally hurt them in the final, when Lionel Messi couldn't pull them out of a hole. His 4 goals in the group stages had made it look like he was going to go on and lead his nation to glory, but he never looked in top form and up to full fitness, and he couldn't score any more for the rest of the tournament. this meant my prediction for Golden Boot was wrong, as James Rodriguez was 2 ahead of Messi after a fantastic tournament with Colombia. Messi did however pick up the Golden Ball for best player, however that is up for serious debate, as he did not look like the best player to me.

France was another team that I had predicted to do well, along with Karim Benzema, however after a fantastic start they lost out to a stubborn Germany defense in the Quarter Finals, and Benzema, despite having more shots than anyone at the tournament, only managed 3 goals, all scored in the first 2 games. Paul Pogba was the shining light for the French however as he took the Young Player award after some great performances in central midfield. He looks like he is going to be a big star for years to come and Man United fans must be absolutely gutted they lost out on him.

The biggest failure I had in predicting came in group B, where I predicted an early departure for The Netherlands at the hands of Spain and Chile. My prediction that Chile would be strong proved correct, but it was Spain that looked a shadow of themselves, and The Netherlands that looked very strong and were unlucky to miss out on the final.

I did say that every tournament has a surprise package, this year it was Costa Rica who negotiated their group by beating Italy and Uruguay and also sent England home. There performance in the Quarter Final was excellent, and they were unlucky to lose out in a penalty shootout to The Netherlands.


The Weatherston World Cup Awards 

Best Player - James Rodriguez - 6 goals and a string of good performances means that James Rodriguez was the best player at the tournament for me. He is so comfortable on the ball and scored some memorable goals, notably his volley against Uruguay in the last 16. He should have won the Golden Ball, but the Golden Boot is a nice substitute.

Best Young Player - Paul Pogba - He deserved to win the official award, he is strong, good on the ball and can tackle too. He will definitely be a top midfielder for the next 10 years. A mention for Memphis Depay(Holland) who looks like he will be a good winger with his pace and directness. He has an eye for a goal too, scoring 2 in the tournament.

Best Goal - Tim Cahill v The Netherlands - James Rodriguez is a close second, but Cahill's volley on his weaker foot from a ball coming over his shoulder and in the air for a long time is the best goal and the hardest skill to perform. He could try that 100 times and never do it again, it is a one off goal and absolutely quality.

The El Hadji Diouf Award -This award goes to the player who had a good tournament and will earn themselves a good move, only to never recreate that form in their life. Winner - Enner Valencia, just earned a £12m move to West Ham after scoring 3 goals in the World cup for Ecuador. The former Pachuca striker looked a real handful with his pace and strength, but so did Diouf in 2002, so it remains to be seen whether he can recreate it on a consistent basis.

World Cups Biggest Idiot - It would be easy to give this one to Luis Suarez, but he clearly has problems, plus he scored 2 against England which saves him, so the award goes to Pepe. We all know he likes to think of himself as a hard man on the pitch, but his terrible headbutt on Thomas Muller earned him a red card. His team went on to lose 4-0, and they never recovered from that goal difference losing out to USA in the groups by 3 goals after being equal on 4 points.

Funniest Moment - England going out in the groups? Well, it was pretty funny, but this linesman was the highlight for me.

 

Best Training Moment - Thomas Muller had a great World Cup, but this shot in training was 100% deliberate, absolutely no doubt about it...

Team of the Tournament - My team will be a 4-3-2-1 formation as seems to be the fashion these days, probably with a false 9.

 

Special Edition World Cuts - Best Haircut of 2014 - Kyle Beckerman had an impressive World cup in midfield for the USA, but the most noticeable thing is definitely his dreads.










Next edition will be back to the normal style of blogging for me, this was a bit different just to summarise my tips, so back to my own football in the next edition, and also maybe go into some other sports, since the season hasn't properly started. See you then

Who will Win the World Cup?

This week I have gone off to Norway for 2 weeks to visit Karen Anna's family and it is really warm, so that is a bonus. I brought my computer though so I could blog at some point and the point is now. It was a good week for me last week with my move to Alloa being completed. Although I enjoyed my time at Stirling with promotion in the end, the chance to go in play in The Championship next season was impossible to turn down. Getting to play in front of bigger crowds and at better stadiums will be good to get back to after a year away from it. Added to that there is no doubt that playing Rangers, Hibs and Hearts will attract bigger crowds and add some extra interest to the league. Personally it is great for me as I haven't played at Tynecastle or Easter Road before, so I am looking forward to that. Hopefully I am allowed to walk down to Tynecastle on game day as it is about a two minute walk. It should be a very competitive league, and it is great for fans as well without any long journeys up north, the longest being down to my old club Queen of the South.
Although my injury in the last game of the season isn't ideal I am hoping it is sorted and I am ready to train on the first day of pre season. I have been out on my bike and will hope to start running next week. I haven't had a full pre season for the last 2 years, so I really want to do everything and although it is hard work, it is strangely enjoyable getting fit and getting closer to your teammates who are suffering with you. 

The Weatherston World Cup Preview

So I have gone through all the groups, now it is time to preview what I think are the likely winners, losers, surprise packages and best players.

 Who will win?
According to the bookies there are only 4 teams with a good chance of winning the tournament, with Brazil as the favourites. The other 3 not surprisingly are Argentina, Germany and Spain, in that order.There is no doubt that these 4 teams are the best on paper, but there is some real value in every other team if you want to have a bet(I'm not allowed).
I personally think that Argentina and Brazil will be in the final, which would be rather interesting, but if I was betting outside the top 4 my pick is France. They have a great squad all the way from back to front, they seem to have left behind their problems from 2010, and they have goals in the team. They have a nice group to qualify from with Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras, so they should win that and could face Bosnia, Iran or Nigeria in round 2. There first real challenge would potentially be Germany in the Quarter Final, but you never know when you get to that stage, and I fancy them to be really strong. At 25/1 it has to be worth some money in my opinion.

Colombia is the other team that could spring a surprise having qualified very well just behind Argentina they have showed that they have the quality. Although Falcao is missing out they still have some good goalscorers in Ramos and Martinez, so that shouldn't be a problem. It would be a major surprise if they were the best of the South Americans, but in their own continent and not with the same levels of pressure as the 2 favourites, you never know.

Biggest disappointment?
There are a number of big nations that could struggle to get out their groups, but my surprise of the tournament will be The Netherlands going out in the group stages. I think Spain will be too good for them in the first game which will put pressure on them to beat Chile in the final game, and I don't think they will be good enough to do it. They are 13/10 not to reach the second round, and I like that as a bet.

Surprise Package?

For a team to be a proper surprise package they have to make it to the quarter finals at least, and every tournament seems to have one. It was Ghana in 2010, Ukraine in 2006 and South Korea at home in 2002. So who could it be this year? There are a few lesser teams that will fancy there chances of getting through the groups, like Bosnia, Ivory Coast and Switzerland, but it is the second round where they are likely to find themselves against one of the favourites. It will be very difficult for either of those 3 to come through a second round tie, but don't be too surprised if a strong Bosnia defense manages to sneak through in round 2.

Golden Boot?
Between 1978 and 1998, 6 goals was enough to earn the title of Golden Boot. Since then Ronaldo scored 8 in 2002, but it was 5 for Klose and Muller in 2006 and 2010 respectively that earned them that title. So with Germany winning it the last two World Cups, who are the favourites this time around? Not surprisingly it is Lionel Messi who is favourite, but surely the best bet has to be for Cristiano Ronaldo who can be found as high as 20/1. For the best player in the world this year that is surely worth a pound. Since I fancy France to do well, and because they should score a few goals in the groups, I like the odds of 33/1 for Karim Benzema. He has found his form this year and should get plenty of chances created for him.
If you are looking for a couple of outside each way bets, it is hard to look beyond Alexis Sanchez (66/1). If Chile can get through their tough group then he will be the main man scoring goals for them. He plays through the middle unlike his wider position at Barcelona, so he will get plenty of chances.
Also Mesut Özil (100/1) could be worth another pound. He was top scorer with 8 in Germany's qualifying campaign and he seems to play a more advanced role for them. If he finds his top form and Germany go far, he could be in the goals.

Best Player?
The stage is set in Brazil for Neymar to lead his team to glory in the home World Cup, but at just 22 this might be a lot of weight to carry on his shoulders. There is no doubt the way he plays is great to watch and the Brazil fans love him for this, so in a hard working team that is strong defensively, can the flair of Neymar shine through. Lionel Messi however will be the main man, he hasn't played too many games this season and he is desperate to show himself on the biggest stage. He should be fresh and raring to go, and in his own continent I think he will take control of games and win the World Cup for his country.


Best Young Player?
The Best Young Player award was brought in in 2006 and has been won by 2 Germans. Lukas Podolski won it in 2006 and Thomas Müller followed him by winning it last time out in South Africa. The award is given to the best player in the tournament who is at most 21 years old.
There are a few candidates who should be regular starter for their country, and in my opinion the man with the best chance of winning it is Romelu Lukaku. He will be the main goal threat for Belgium and should play every game. Belgium should comfortably get through the groups and if he can score goals it will give him a great chance to win the Young Player of the Tournament.

World Cuts

What would World Cuts be without one of, if not the most famous World Cup hair cut of all time. A classic hair cut that was only done specifically for the World Cup in 2002. It was successful as well as this man became the top scorer with 8 goals as he took his country on to the title. My all time favourite player and the best striker I have ever seen, Ronaldo. when he produced the triangle at the front of his hair it might not have been met with a lot of love, but kids copied it all over the world, and it became iconic so it had to make an appearance in World Cuts.

The Summer Silly Season

It is that time of year again when contracts are up, players are looking for new clubs and hoping that the phone rings. It is never an easy time, with pre season only a few weeks away and clubs dropping wage bills it means that a lot of players will be left with nothing on the table. Last year after leaving Falkirk I was left with no full time options, so ended up spending all summer waiting before signing for Stirling around the start of August. It turned out to be a good option for me with the chance to play regularly up front, meeting a really good bunch of boys and winning promotion with them. At times it was frustrating, but at the end of the season it was all worthwhile. Now it is up to me to make sure I am not sitting about in July waiting for a contract from someone, and hopefully my form in the last 3 months will help me with that. It certainly doesn't help picking up an injury in the last game of the season, but hopefully potential managers can see passed that and know I'll be fit come pre season.

The Summer Transfer Window 

It is always an exciting part of the football calendar, the Summer window always attracts the biggest signings to the Premier League and the papers are full of rumours. Today I am looking at the 5 rumours that excite me the most for players who might be coming to England for us to watch every week.

5th - Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid - Arsenal). The young striker has shown he could be a real star of the future at Real Madrid, but there are persistent rumours of him moving to Arsenal as he is unlikely to play regularly at the Bernabeu. He was top scorer at the U19 Euros in 2011 and the 2013 U21 Euros with Spain and he would be a great option up front for Arsenal.

4th - Yevhen Konoplyanka (Dnipro- Man Utd/Liverpool/Spurs) The Ukrainian winger seems desperate to move to the Premier League and it would be good to see him. He is a quick creative player with excellent dribbling ability. He would be excellent on the left in the system that those 3 clubs play, and at 24 years old he can only improve.

3rd - Emre Can (Leverkusen - Liverpool) The young German midfielder has been in great form this year in the Bundesliga and he would fit into Liverpool's midfield and be an important player. He is only 20 years old, but he has great composure on the ball, can pass with both feet and is strong in the tackle too. He would be an excellent signing.

2nd - Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid - Chelsea) It is probably just a matter of time before Costa signs for Chelsea, he is the ideal man to lead their attack under Mourinho. He is quick, strong, hard working and a good finisher and will lead the line in the Drogba mould that Mourinho likes. He won't be cheap, but it will be worth it.

1st - Pedro (Barcelona - Arsenal/Liverpool) Pedro is 26 now and should be in the prime of his career, and with his involvement at Barcelona not as much as he would like, he could potentially move the the Premier League. His record at Barcelona is excellent, 52 goals in 169 league appearances, and he has been an important part of a team that has won 4 league titles, 2 Champions League, 2 Spanish Cups and also a World Cup and Euro Championships with Spain. His pace and skill would be great to watch in the Premier League, I hope he comes to Arsenal, he would be a star.

The Weatherston World Cup Preview - Group H

Group H (FIFA Rankings)
Belgium (12)
Russia (18)
South Korea (55)
Algeria (25)

The final group sees the Belgium team that everyone is talking about as a potential surprise package drawn in a group that looks like they should progress comfortably. Russia who promised so much in Euro 2012 will be hoping to improve from that performance and challenge for qualification with Algeria and South Korea both hoping to upset the odds.

Belgium -  They have been talked about so much as surprise packages that it wouldn't be a surprise now if Belgium manage to win the World Cup. It is no surprise that they are being touted when you look at their squad, this is definitely a golden generation for Belgian football, but it will most likely be a similar result to Englands supposed golden generation. They don't seem to lack anything in their squad, but big tournament experience is certainly one thing having not qualified for any of the last 4 major tournaments. They have quality throughout, starting in goals, with Thibaut Courtois looking like the future number 1 goalkeeper in the world. Their back 4 is very strong, with Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen and Vermaelen all having plenty of experience at the top level in European football. Axel Witsel and Marouane Fellaini provide the strength in midfield which is important for the number of creative players they have. Kevin de Bruyne has been in great form at Wolfsburg this year since his £18m move from Chelsea, while Moussa Dembele and Nacer Chadli both have the skill and quality to unlock a defense. Pace comes in wide areas with Kevin Mirallas and Dries Mertens both extremely direct and good options in the squad. With the injury to Christian Benteke ruling him out of action it means the main man upfront will be Romelu Lukaku who everyone knows from the Premier League as a strong player, is relatively quick and a real handful for defenders. Manager Marc Wilmots will be hoping for big things from this squad, and it should emerge from this group comfortably and be in with a shout.
Key Man - Eden Hazard might not be Mourinho's favourite player, but he is one of the best in the world in my opinion. His close control is frightening, he has an ability to get past defenders so easily, has unbelievable acceleration and can score goals. He is very difficult to keep out of a game as he always wants the ball, he could be a real star this Summer.

Russia - Russia qualified well by beating Portugal in their group, and manager Fabio Capello will be hoping to go further than the Last 16 that he managed with England in 2010. The squad is based entirely of home based players, except Denis Cheryshev of Sevilla, who is quite likely not make the final 23. The spine of the team has a lot of experience with goalkeeper Akinfeev, defenders Ignashevich and Berezutski, midfielder and captain Roman Shirokov, and striker Kerzhakov having over 350 caps between them. They played some great football in Euro 2012, but they lost games they shouldn't have due to lack of goals. They will need Kerzhakov to be on form and Aleksandr Kokorin will have to chip in alongside him. The advantage of a home based team is they all know each other well, will have a good understanding and also they are mid season, so will be as fit as any team. The conditions would have affected them more if they were playing in the North, but only the game in Cuiaba will potentially be a problem for them, which is their first game against South Korea, so the players should cope fine. They have enough quality from players in midfield like Fayzulin, Zhirkov, Shatov and Denisov to cause problems, so they will be battling it out for qualification from this group with Belgium and South Korea in my opinion.
Key Man - Alan Dzagoev is 23 now and should be making his name on the big stage. He showed at the Euros that he has great ability on the ball, can spot a pass and also has an eye for goal. His 3 goals at the tournament was enough to be joint top scorer, and he will be hoping this time his goals can take his team past the group stages.

South Korea -  The Koreans made it to the last 16 in 2010 before being beaten by Uruguay, but they struggled in qualifying this time, just edging out Uzbekistan into second place behind Iran, who they lost to twice. Their squad consists of 9 players based in Europe, and the rest playing in Asia, and their is noticeable difference in quality between their best players and weaker players. Unless you know your Korean players, not many names are recognisable, but one that has been impressive in the Premiership this season is Kim Bo-Kyung of Cardiff. The 24 year old is very comfortable on the ball in attacking midfield and can create chances with his quick feet. Up front, Sunderland reject, but new Dortmund signing, Ji Dong-Won has obviously impressed Jurgen Klopp enough to sign him this summer. His lack of bravery in going for a header led Paulo Di Canio to letting him go but he must have quality. Arsenal striker (yes he is still there) Park Chu-Young has been a top player for Korea, amassing 24 goals in 63 appearances, so he will be hoping a season spent in the reserves hasn't hindered his sharpness. In central midfield Ki Sung-Yueng of Swansea looks like a quality player at times, but perhaps lacks a little bit of work ethic. There is no doubt he has a great touch, great composure on the ball and can see a pass, so with the hard working Korean team around him, he could blossom and provide them with a really good base to start attacks.
Key Man - Son Heung-Min of Bayer Leverkusen is only 21, but he already has 24 caps, and is a star player in the Bundesliga. Anyone who watches German football will know how good this forward is. He is both footed, quick and has an eye for goal, scoring 12 goals for Leverkusen this season as a second striker behind Kiesling. I think he is a quality young player, and I am sure he will have a good tournament. He has been linked with a move to the Premiership this summer, with Liverpool a potential destination, a definite star of the future, if not already.

Algeria - Algeria beat Burkina Faso on away goals to qualify for this World Cup and will go in as big outsiders. They managed a drew with England last time out (their only point) but they will do well to get any points this time. In their previous 3 attempts they are yet to get out a group, although controversially in 1982 they lost out to Austria and West Germany as they played out a convenient 1-0 win for the Germans as the BBC reported here. They don't boast many recognisable names either, but free agent, and former Rangers man, Madjid Bougherra is the captain and main defender. Most of their players are playing around Europe, with strikers Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon) and El Arbi Hillel Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb) both boasting a goal every other game for their country. Nabil Bentaleb who broke through at Spurs this season is a recent call up, and made his debut last time out in a friendly win over Slovenia. He is tidy on the ball, but doesn't seem to go forward very often and lacks a killer pass. At 19 however he can only get better.
Key Man - Sofiane Feghouli is the one player that is a genuine star of Algeria. He is a regular for Valencia in La Liga, and he is one of their top players too. He is quick, great on the ball and is a very good creative player who will set up a lot of chances for his strikers. It will be tough for him to show how good he is in this team, but if he can get plenty of the ball he can cause trouble for opposition defences.

Teams to Progress - Belgium and Russia

As this is the final group of the preview, I will be doing one more before the tournament starts next week consisting of predictions for winners, top scorers and best young players.

Rudi Voller points out the unwelcome addition to his perm

World Cuts

The second last World Cuts isn't an easy one to decide, but I have gone back to 1990 for this one, and it is not a good one either. Rudi Voller had a terrible perm/mullet combination, but in 1990 it became even worse. When Frank Rijkaard spat in his hair he reacted and they were both sent off, then as Rijkaard ran off, he did it again. Probably the most disgusting thing you will see on a football pitch, but Rudi Voller became the first and last man to have better hair due to spit dangling out of it.