Bodø/Glimt and Rosenborg

Last years surprise package were definitely Bodø/Glimt, ending their joint best ever season in 2nd place. With their qualification to the Europa League confirmed, it will be the first time they have played European football since being beaten by Besiktas in 2004.

Now the only Eliteserien team in the North of Norway, they will be hoping to use other teams travelling to their advantage, and make Aspmyra Stadion a fortress.

Unfortunately with last years success comes the inevitable loss of their star players. This winter has seen the leagues best player in 2019, and Glimt's top scorer, Håkon Evjen, leaving for AZ Alkmaar.

Also leaving Aspmyra Stadion is their number 1 goalkeeper, Brazilian Ricardo Friedrich, who has moved to Turkey to play for Ankaragucu. Midfielder Vegard Molberg has left to join Silkeborg in Denmark, and first choice right back Erlend Dahl Reitan has returned to Rosenborg after a successful loan spell.

They weren't quite as strong towards the end of the season, after leading Eliteserien at the summer break, they lost striker Amor Layouni, who had scored 10 goals in 21 games, before he left to go t Pyramids FC in Egypt in September.

All these first team starters leaving means that coach of the year from 2019, Kjetil Knudsen will be in for a tough job to repeat second place.


Key Players

Left back Fredrik Andre Bjørkan played every game but one last season, the 21 year old making a big impression as an attacking outlet in his first full season as a Bodø starter. He is quick, comfortable going inside and outside, and was a big part of Glimt's attacking moves.

He contributed 5 assists and 3 goals, which is a nice return for his first season, and now with experience of that I expect him to push on this year and become potentially the best left back in the division.

Jens Petter Hauge

With the two top scorers leaving, it means the goals will have to come from elsewhere of course. They scored 64 last season, seven of them were from Jens Petter Hauge. The 20 year old can play on either wing, and also in an advanced midfield role. 

This season he should be looking to reach double figures in goals, and I think he could be a really crucial player for Glimt. He is comfortable on both feet, so can go inside and outside on both sides, but does most of his best work cutting in. He assists and scores goals, but this season he could well be the main attacking threat, and he is one of the young players who could be looking to earn a move by the end of 2020.

The two other goal threats could come from young Nigerian Victor Boniface, but more likely it will be Danish striker Kasper Junker. He scored 6 in 12 for Stabæk last season, helping to move them safely to mid table after he joined in August. Glimt will be hoping he can continue that form.

Also arriving after a successful loan at Stabæk, is Sammy Skytte. Along with new signing Morten Konradsen from Rosenborg, who is back at the club after two years in Trondheim, these two have added good depth to the midfield, and Bodø/Glimt should be strong in that department

Philip Zinckernagel

The main creative force for Glimt is still at the club, it's 25 year old Dane, Philip Zinckernagel. He usually plays as an advanced midfielder from the right hand side, has very quick feet and can beat players with ease. His delivery from the right hand side, and general unselfishness mean he is a very important part in creating goals and opportunities for others.

No doubt last year they outperformed expectations, and this year will be tougher. But they have made some decent signings, and some of their young stars could well improve again, so they should be looking to finish in the top 4 again, although 2nd place might be tougher this year.

Prediction - 3rd

If Glimt were a positive surprise last season, Rosenborg were completely the opposite. They started the season in awful form, failing to win any of their first eight games and finding themselves in the relegation zone. 

New manager Eirik Horneland struggled early on after arriving in January from Haugesund, but after week eight they found some rhythm, and lost only twice more in the remaining 22 games.

The main problem was a consistent goalscorer, with Alexander Søderlund, now moved on to Hacken in Sweden, top scorer with eight goals.

Other regulars to leave the club are midfielder Mike Jensen, winger David Akintola, and striker Bjørn Maars Johnsen, who Hearts fans might remember from a pretty unimpressive spell in the 2016/2017 season.

Jensen will be a big miss, the main man in midfield, a ball winner but also energetic and a good passer, they will need to replace his importance to the team.

The biggest and most successful club in Norway, from Trondheim in the middle of the country, will be hoping for a far better start to 2020 than 2019.

Samuel Adegbenro

Key Players - The longer the season went on the more Samuel Adegbenro seemed to be the go to player to create on the left wing. It was the 24 year old Nigerians second full season in Trondheim and by far his most impressive.

Short in stature, but strong on the ball and quick off the mark, his direct running usually causes problems for defenders. Although his final ball and finishing is sometimes wayward, and he can be a little selfish, he is a real threat that defenders struggle to deal with on his day.

The man that has been signed to hopefully score goals for Rosenborg is Montenegrin, Dino Islamovic. Although he has 1 cap for Sweden, he recently declared allegiance to Montenegro, and the 26 year old will be hoping to have a big year with RBK. 

The tall, left footed striker has the look of a top striker, but he has never really scored enough goals, so NOK 5 million(£400k) looks like a lot of money for someone who has never been in double figures in a league season.

He is strong, has a decent touch and a very powerful left foot, so he should score more, maybe with more quality around him he can beat the nine he scored for Ostersunds in 2018.

An interesting addition to the team is 20 year old winger Carlo Holse. Coming from FC København, the left footed youngster will be looking to make a big impression.

He loves cutting in on to his left foot and curling shots and crosses towards the far post. He has a good burst of pace too, so can go down the outside if shown too much space.

Used mostly as a substitute this season, he has decided to move to RBK, and the Danish youth international will compete with the extremely talented, but often unfit looking, Pål Andre Helland. 

The players are similar in style, although Helland is stronger and usually shoots with more power. It will be interesting to see who can make the right wing position their own in the first weeks of the season.

Kristoffer Zachariassen

In midfield, regular at Sarpsborg for the last three seasons, Kristoffer Zachariassen has also been signed and looks a good piece of business. 

He likes arriving late into the box, and although he doesn't have the same all round game as Jensen had, he offers energy and attacking intent from the middle of the park.

Defensively they have to be looking to keep more clean sheets than the six in 2019. Gustav Valsvik didn't impress last year, and indeed it was Tore Reginiussen, the 33 year old veteran that was the crucial defender. 

Maybe Valsvik will have a better second season after his move from Eintracht Braunschweig in Germany. Otherwise Reginiussen and Even Hovland, 31 years old, will have to have another year as the main partnership. Both lack pace, and it is a real issue for the defensive unit.

There will be some interest in the young talent at Lerkendal Stadion this year, and one of the interesting positions will be in goals. 

Andre Hansen has been number one choice now for five seasons, but there is a youngster that is being touted as a potential Norwegian goalkeeper of the future, waiting in the wings.

Julian Faye Lund played on loan at Mjøndalen last season and impressed most people, now only 20 years old he has played 3 full seasons, two with Levanger in OBOS-ligaen, and one in the top division with Mjøndalen.

He is likely to start as second choice, but could well be used if Hansen goes through a bad spell, or in cup games in 2020.

Other potential players to keep an eye on for having breakthrough years, are Erik Botheim, Emil Ceide, and Mikael Johnsen.

Of the three, Botheim looks most ready, and the 20 year old will be looking to push Islamovic for a start in the central striker position. He is more of a poacher than the Montenegrin, and looks like he could score goals if given a run in the team.

Rosenborg know they can't have the slow start that they did last year, and their form towards the end of the season suggests they should be challenging Molde this year.

I think they will run the champions close, and this could be a 2 way title race than can go all the way to November. They have the biggest budget in Norway, and the biggest crowd, but I have RBK down to just miss out to Molde in the end.

Prediction - 2nd
First Fixture - Brann (h) 5/4/2020

Molde and Viking

The Eliteserie, the top level of Norwegian football, begins again for 2020 on 4th April. Aalesund, Sandefjord and Start have been promoted from OBOS-ligaen to join the other 13 teams, replacing Tromsø, Lillestrøm and Ranheim.

I start my preview by looking at defending champions Molde, who ended Rosenborg's four year grip on the league with a convincing title win last season.

Aker Stadion

Champions Molde play their games at Aker Stadion in Molde. A beautiful 11'249 seater stadium right on the waterfront in Molde. 

Before the start of the 2019 season, Molde had their plans interrupted when Ole Gunnar Solskjær was given the Manchester United job. This meant a change of manager, as Erling Moe was promoted from first team coach to take charge of the team as caretaker, before being given the role permanently as the season got under way.

The success of the team was immediate, as they took the league by storm, winning eventually by 14 points, going the whole season unbeaten at home. It was their first title since 2015, and their fourth in total, all coming since 2011. 

Historically Molde have been the nearly men in Norway, consistently finishing in second place behind Rosenborg throughout the 80's and 90's, but now they are showing themselves to be a real challenger to the Trondheim club, thanks mainly to the backing of Norwegian billionaire, and club owner, Kjell Inge Røkke.

They finished last season with the best attack and defense in the league, scoring 72 goals and conceding 31 in the 30 game season. Goals and assists came from all over the park, and with the squad looking largely the same as last season, they will go in as favourites to retain their title.

Key Players - Molde have quality all over the park, and particularly in attacking areas. 

Magnus Wolff Eikrem

Former Manchester United youngster, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, re-signed for Molde after five years away, back in July 2018. Last season he was nominated for the team of the season as he contributed 11 goals and 8 assists in the league. He plays behind the striker in a '4231' system, and has license to roam around the park, often appearing in and around the edge of the box where he scored with some excellent finishes last season.

Molde tend to play with inverted wingers, the left footed Eirik Hestad on the right, and the right footed Ohi Omoijuanfo on the left. 

Hestad was the joint top assister in Norway last season with 11, he also contributed four goals, but there is no doubt he is the more creative of the front three. At 24 years old he has been a big player for Molde the last two years, and he will again play an important role in 2020. 

Omoijunafro was signed from Stabæk last winter, and he had an excellent debut season with 15 goals. He first broke on to the scene as a 17 year old with Lillestrøm in 2011. But it wasn't really until he came back to the Eliteserie with Stabæk that he found his feet at this level. 

A 17 goal season with them in 2017 put him on the radar for bigger clubs, and Molde took a chance a year later and it paid off handsomely last year. The tall Norwegian is quick once he gets going and causes trouble in behind the defenders as well as being a big aerial threat at the back post.

Leke James

Top scorer for Molde last season, in his first full season at the club was Nigerian Leke James. His 17 league goals (24 in total) fired his team to the top of the table, and he benefits greatly from players like Hestad and Eikrem always looking for him running off the shoulder of defenders. 

He is strong and relatively quick, and at 27, this was his best ever goal scoring season. Before a short stint in Beijing, James had been at Aalesund, where he had reached double figures in goals in his three full seasons at this level. So it was no surprise to see him being successful with better players around him at Molde.

One big loss for the club was Ruben Gabrielsen joining Toulouse over the winter. The club captain and central defender ended a six year spell at the club, which leaves a gap in central defense. Eikrem has taken over the captaincy, but it will be interesting to see who takes over in defense. 

Martin Bjørnbak is still there, he played nearly every game in 2019, and they have signed young defender John Kitolano on loan from Wolves. Kitolano is more of a left back, but it is possible he can play left centre back.

There is no doubt Molde go in as favorites for the 2020 season, and with the same attacking foursome that they had last season, they will be good to watch and will score plenty goals.

Prediction - 1st
First Fixture - Vålerenga (a) 4/4/2020

2019 was an excellent year for Viking, as they won the Norwegian Cup for the first time since 2001, the 6th time in their history. 

From the city of Stavanger in the West of Norway, Viking are historically one of the biggest clubs in the country. They have only ever played outside the top flight in three previous seasons, and have won it on eight occasions.

Home games are played at the 15'900 seater, Viking Stadion, which was built in 2004. 

Last season cup success, along with a 5th placed league finish was their best season in many years, and given they haven't won the league since 1982, it is clear a cup success is their best chance of a trophy.

Unfortunately for Viking, their two best players last season have both moved on this winter, and they will have to find new players to get them goals and create chances. 

As mentioned in the previous edition, Kristian Thorstvedt has moved on to Genk, meanwhile Croatian born Norwegian youth international, Zlatko Tripic has earned himself a move to Turkey with Goztepe. 

Tripic was the match winner in the cup final, the winger winning and scoring the penalty in December against Haugesund, while Thorstvedt was the top scorer for the club from midfield.

Replacements have been signed, thanks to the €2m brought in in transfer fees for Tripic and Thorstvedt, but they will be hard to replace.

De Lanlay re-signs for Viking

Key Players - Making his return to the club after five years at Rosenborg, is Yann Erik de Lanlay. The 27 year old Norwegian was a real star of the youth setup at Viking, playing 142 games for the club after breaking through at 17 years old. 

His spell at Rosenborg was mostlry frustrating, seeing him on the bench regularly, throughout his five years in Trondheim. The five time capped international has a point to prove going back to Viking, and he will be one of a number of players that they will look to score the goals they have lost in the winter.

De Lanlay can play on either wing, and will likely be used on the left to replace Tripic. 

On the other side, Kosovan international(capped once), Zymer Bytyqi, will be entering his 6th season with the club. The winger has never been prolific, only 13 goals in 153 appearances, so he will need to step up his output this year. 

Tommy Høiland was the main striker last year for the club, scoring 10 goals, eight of them in the league. He was prolific in the tier below, but has never scored double figures in all his years in the top division. 

Veton Berisha

Høiland is a poacher and gets scrappy goals, but they will be looking to new signing Veton Berisha to be a more consistent scorer. Berisha, brother to Valon, started his top flight career at Viking, playing a total of 107 games. In 2015 he had scored 11 in 14 games, before a summer move to Greuther Feurth in Germany.

He returned to Norway with Brann last season, but a disappointing return of three league goals was not what the side from Bergen were looking for. However, Viking have decided to spend NOK 6.5m (about £500k) to bring him back to Stavanger. 

Ever since 2015 he has never really been in the goals, but I am backing him to find his feet again at Viking and score double figures in the league this season.

The final player to look at is another one time capped Kosovan, Ylldren Ibrahimaj. The 24 year old midfielder played his first full season last year, after a summer 2018 move from Mjøndalen. 
A creative central midfielder, he was joint top of the assist charts last year, and will be the one they look to in midfield to make things happen.

It is a huge blow for Viking to lose their two best players from last season, and the players they have brought in probably don't quite have the same quality. Another cup run, plus Europa League later in the year will be a welcome distraction for the club, but they want to be pushing to get in to the top 4, but I think they will just miss out again.

Prediction - 4th
First Fixture - Strømsgodset (a) 4/4/2020

Eliteserien Preview - Norway's Potential Golden Generation

Eliteserien Preview – Taking a look at Norway

Erling Braut Haaland

With the emergence on to the world stage of Erling Braut Haaland in the last six months, and Martin Ødegaard beginning to fulfil his promise with Real Sociedad, there has been an increase in interest for Norwegian football lately. Added to that the possibility of meeting Scotland to qualify for the European Championships, this seemed like as good a time as any to start writing about the Eliteserien, Norway’s top tier football league.

First however, a quick look at Norway’s emerging talent, before the preview for the 2020 season begins next week.


It seems like Norway are on the verge of something, on the brink of confirming a golden generation. Not since 2000 have they qualified for a major tournament, but with a stellar crop of 18-21 year olds, it seems like this is about to change.

Haaland and Ødegaard have both already made their debuts, indeed Ødegaard has played over 20 times already. Kristoffer Ajer is a regular at Celtic and Sander Berge has just signed for Sheffield United after a successful three year spell at Genk, both are 22 this year.

Add in to that some familiar, experienced faces and players playing all over Europe, it is clear to see why they are favourites in the Euro playoffs to make it to the tournament proper. Defensively there definitely are issues, but the midfield and forward divisions they are improving quickly. Really they should be looking to qualify for the next three or four tournaments, based on the age and potential of the squad.

They have plenty firepower to add to Haaland, with Josh King and Alexander Sørloth both options in attack. Sørloth in particular has found form this year in Turkey, scoring 16 in 19 with Trabzonspor.

Håkon Evjen

A young player to keep an eye on that hasn’t quite broken in to the national team reckoning yet is Håkon Evjen. The under 21 international was recently signed up by AZ in the Eredivisie where he will join up with fellow Norwegian’s Jonas Svensson and Fredrik Midtsjø. Evjen was the player of the season in Norway last season at only 19 years old, scoring 13 goals from 29 games from midfield as he led Bodø/Glimt to an impressive second placed finish. 

Another couple of under 21 internationals that have shown promise the last season and earned a move to bigger clubs are Kritoffer Askildsen and Kristian Thorsvedt. Askildsen made 16 appearances at Stabæk last season, and the tall midfielder has earned a move to Sampdoria on the back his breakthrough campaign. Thorsvedt meanwhile was a real standout for Viking, one of the top attacking midfielders in the league, and the 20 year old has signed a deal at Genk, replacing Sander Berge. The left footer has a real eye for goal with his late runs in to the box, and his goal-scoring  prowess should translate well to the Belgian league.

At Genk he will be joining Mats Møller Dæhli who has recently moved after a good spell at St. Pauli in Bundesliga 2. He was at Cardiff City under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, but still only 24 he has taken some time to fulfil his obvious talent, and will now be hoping Genk is the ideal place to continue to rebuild his reputation after a wasted two years at Freiburg.

Since Norway met Scotland in World Cup ’98, neither have made it to a World Cup(Euro 2000 the last tournament for Norway). A one off game at Ullevaal Stadion, in front of a capacity 28’000 would be an incredible night for both teams. First Scotland need to beat Israel at home, and Norway have the tough task of beating Serbia in Oslo, five days before the final to see who qualifies for the Euros.

The Eliteserien threw up some surprises last year, and my preview of the season will begin next week with a look at the runaway champions from 2019, Molde, and also the surprise winners of the Norwegian Cup, Viking Stavanger.

World Cup Preview - Group H

Group H

Poland (10)
Senegal (28)
Colombia (16)
Japan (60)

Poland - Going to their first World Cup since 2006, Poland will be glad they have been drawn in a group that gives them a strong chance of qualifying for the Last 16 for the first time since the 80's. In a group with Denmark, Romania and Montenegro, they qualified with ease, losing only one game away in Montenegro.

The squad has a good blend of youth and experience, but the bulk of the starting 11 is made of up experienced players who have played in the big leagues in Europe.

Lukas Piszczek and Jakub Blaszczykowski played together on the right hand side for Dortmund for many years and have a good understanding there. At 33 and 32 respectively they are likely going to their last tournaments. They used to have serious pace and cause trouble with that, but they are good footballers and can still be creative influences.

Two midfielders that are exciting members of the squad are Arkadiusz Milik and Piotr Zielinski. Both have been at Napoli for the last two seasons, with Milik being unlucky with knee injuries. He has had operations on both knees for separate injuries and it will be interesting to see how fit he is in Russia. Two years ago he was looking like a top prospect playing with Ajax. He has a beautiful left foot and great feet, but is also a threat in the air. Hopefully the injuries haven't slowed him down.

Zielinski is smaller, quicker and a skillful player. He likes running with the ball and is more of a creater of chances.

At central defense, Monaco defender Kamil Glik is strong and aggressive and a crucial part of the team. He has picked up an injury to his shoulder in training, doing an overhead kick, so if he is missing that will be a huge lose to Poland. Behind him, if fit, will be one of two former Arsenal keepers, Szczesny or Fabianski. Fabianski has been a regular this year at Swansea and that game time could well be the deciding factor over who is number one this tournament.

Poland finished third in 1974 and 1982, but they will be surprising everyone if they make it that far again. They have a great chance to progress from the group where they will face Belgium or England most likely. They are a strong team with some exciting players, they won't be easy to beat.

Star Man - 16 goals in qualification for Robert Lewandowski was 13 more than anyone else in the team. He has been one of the best goalscorers in world football for seven seasons now in the Bundesliga, and with 52 goals is the record scorer for his country. This will be his first World Cup and a chance to do it on the biggest stage of all. He is possibly looking for a move this summer, and a Golden Boot performance from him would drive up his price.


Senegal - The Lions of Teranga are going to the World Cup for the first time since they shocked France in 2002. Their only tournament to date resulted in a Quarter Finals place, something that will be hard to replicate here. They were given an easy group in qualification to help them through, with an unbeaten six games against Burkino Faso, South Africa and Cape Verde Islands.

The team relies on a strong base, with 3 defensive minded midfielders, allowing the three upfront to try and create chances. They only scored 10 goals in the six qualifying games, with top scorers Diafra Sakho and Cheikh N'Doye getting two each. Sakho was at West Ham for four seasons, but never looked like a regular goalscorer. His best season was 12 goals in the first year he arrived. He moved to Rennes in January and only managed four games, scoring three goals. He is likely to be used from the bench for Senegal.

The likely front three of Keita Balde, Sadio Mane and M'Baye Niang is very exciting for Senegal. They are all extremely quick, and are all interchangeable in a front three. They will be hard to deal with on a counter attack. Balde in particular has impressed since his move to Monaco last Summer, and with himself and Niang both only being 23 years old, the future could be bright for Senegal.
Sadio Mane has had another great season with Liverpool, especially in their Champions League run. He sometimes looks a little out of control, but his pace and directness are a real threat.

The choice of five midfielders all playing in England shows the team has a lot of quality. However the midfield is mostly strong against the ball and lack quality on it. They won't be readily joining the attack, and they are not generally considered a goal threat in open play. Set pieces however could be a big weapon for Senegal. With at least five players in the starting team over 6ft4in, they could be tough to deal with if delivery from corners and free kicks is good enough.

Star Man - Kalidou Koulibaly has been a rock at the heart of the Napoli defense this season as they tried to wrestle the Serie A stranglehold that Juventus have away from them. His stoppage time winner from a corner in Turin looked like the catalyst for it to happen, but they ultimately fell short. The French born 26 year old stands at 6ft5, is quick and strong, but also can read the game.

Nicknamed 'The Wall' by fans, he can also come out with the ball and pick a pass. He could be a big money mover this summer, and he has a chance to show off his qualities on the world stage.




Colombia - Four years ago in Brazil, Colombia were the team everybody enjoyed watching. They played attacking football and James Rodriguez emerged as one of the best players in the world. A controversial quarter final defeat by Brazil didn't stop the fans welcoming them home as heroes. Four years on and they arrive on the back of a qualifying campaign in which they struggled to score goals, and only just qualified in fourth place, on the last game day. The South American qualifiers are difficult, but it was the lack of firepower that really worries Colombia.

In January 2014, an ACL tear to star striker Radamel Falcao was a bitter blow to the squad. He wouldn't be back in time for the World Cup, and now it is great to see him back scoring goals and getting his opportunity to come to his first tournament. He didn't look fit at Manchester United or Chelsea, but since his return to Monaco he has almost looked back to his best. His 24 goals this season have helped Monaco to second place in Ligue 1, and I hope he can go on to have a big World Cup.
Two defenders that have come on to the international scene recently are Yerry Mina, who plays at Barcelona, and Davinson Sanchez at Spurs. Both are tall and quick, but definitely have mistakes in them. It will be interesting to see how they fair if Colombia are playing against stronger opposition.

Winger Juan Cuadrado is another player who didn't quite break in to the Chelsea team, but has been an excellent signing for Juventus. His pace running with the ball is a real threat, and he will be hoping to replicate his form of four years ago when he was the top of the assist charts at the tournament.
The squad has a nice blend of youth and experience, and they will be looking for inspiration from their star players to qualify from what is a tough group.

Star Man - Top scorer in Brazil 2014, and in qualifying for this tournament, James Rodriguez is the countries key player. He wasn't a regular at Real Madrid, but has been looking back to his best at Bayern Munich. He plays the role he loves for Colombia, behind the striker and with a free role, which gives him the chance to show his skills and eye for goal. He regularly scores important goals for his country, with five out of six of his goals in qualifying being the first goal of the game, and the other being an equaliser, against Chile. He could be set for another big tournament.


Japan - Normally regarded as the strongest team in Asia, Japan are definitely not expected to be such a threat this year. They just edged out Australia and Saudi Arabia by one point in the qualifiers, but arrive in Russia on the back of friendly defeats against Ukraine, Ghana and Switzerland. The Bosnian manager, Vahid Halihodzic led The Samurai to the tournament, but he was recently sacked, and the role given to Akira Nishino.

The Japanese Football Association technical director was given the job after Halihodzic was criticised for his direct and aggressive style of play. Now with a more attractive looking 3-4-3 in operation, they will try to return to the short passing and high pressing that made the team a danger in previous tournaments.

It will be difficult to change things in such short notice, but with the return to the squad of experienced players, Kagawa, Honda and Okazaki, the team looks stronger than it did 12 months ago.
The Bundesliga is where six of the current squad play, and they will be an important part of the managers plans. Hamburg have just been relegated, but captain and right wing back Goteku Sakai is a crucial player for his country. His energy on the right hand side is a good outlet, and he also helps out when required to defend.

Strikers Yoshinori Muto(Mainz) and Yuya Osako(just signed for Werder Bremen) will share central striker responsibilities. Muto has had a better season with Mainz, scoring ten goals, but Osako has been more prolific when playing for his country.
In qualifying, it was Genki Haraguchi that top scored. The winger played a key role in helping Fortuna Dusseldorf achieve promotion to the Bundesliga this season after going on loan there in January.

Japan are outsiders for the group, but with a new manager and some optimism back in the team, they could cause a surprise.

Star Man - Southampton defender Maya Yoshida was a regular in the Premier League again this season and he is the most important defender for Japan. He reads the game well and is aggressive, also providing a goal threat for his country with ten goals. He now has 80 caps for his country, and the 29 year old is hoping to be part of a back three that can keep clean sheets in Russia, against quality attacking opposition. He is likely to be busy and will have to lead the defense well for Japan to qualify.



Predictions - Group H is probably the hardest to predict given their is no clear favourite and no rank outsider. Colombia did so well four years ago, and they have James Rodriguez and Falcao to link up. They play Japan in game one, and a win would put them on their way to qualifying. I think they will top the group eventually, and be joined by Poland. The injury to Glik for Poland will be an issue, but with Milik, Zielinski and Lewandowski they are such a threat in attack, and I think they will be just too good for Senegal over the three games, maybe on goal difference.
Japan will finish 4th, I think, but Senegal could easily sneak in to the top two.

What to Bet on - Poland scored 28 goals in qualifying, dominating a tough group. I think they will beat Japan in the final game to qualify. They are 5/6 to beat Japan in that game.

World Klutz - It wouldn't be World Klutz without the most famous of them all in 2006. The last game of an illustrious career, the final of the World Cup, what a way to end it all on the biggest stage.

France went on to lose the shootout and Zidane retired in disgrace. I'll forever remember him for his goal at Hampden when I stood behind it on the track as a 15 year old. But this moment possibly cost his team, as they saw Italy lift the trophy.

People too young to remember 2002 will forever remember this as his most famous moment.

He went on to management and is doing not bad.

World Cup Preview - Group G

Group G

England (13)
Belgium (3)
Tunisia (14)
Panama (55)

England - Qualification was relatively straightforward for England as they only dropped points away at Scotland and Slovenia, drawing both. They didn't convincingly win all their games, with a 4-0 win in Malta and 3-0 at home to Scotland their only wins by more than two goals but topping the group was never really in doubt.

Despite continuous high expectations, England have failed to get past the quarter final of a World Cup since a 4th place finish in 1990.

Gareth Southgate will be looking forward to his first major tournament as a manager, and he has gone with a squad that has an average age of just 26.

The big talking point all season was whether Joe Hart would still be number one as he has been since 2012. However his poor form has resulted in him not even being selected, meaning Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford will battle it out for the starting role. The position has been an issue at tournaments for a while with England, and now with less than ten caps between all three goalkeepers, it could be a problem area.

Defensively they resorted to a back three, but strangely it seems to be including Kyle Walker. Walker has been outstanding for Manchester City this year as an attacking full back, but defensively he has been vulnerable at times. On the right of a back three seems to take away his strengths and force him to defend more. Beside him there is a choice of Stones, out of favour at City, Cahill who was a long time out of the team at Chelsea, Jones who is an accident waiting to happen and Maguire, who I am not convinced is a good defender. He is comfortable on the ball, but I think he could be in trouble when up against a top opposition.

In the midfield it seems that Eric Dier will be used in the holding role he plays for Spurs. He was moved there mainly because he isn't a good enough defender. For me he isn't a top level passer and isn't what England need to keep the ball when games are tight. Henderson had a strong season with Liverpool taking them to the Champions League final. He is busier and more aggressive than Dier, and tries more forward passes. He isn't world class either, but might be a better option. It is possible both are playing against stronger teams.

The strength of the England team is in the forward four players. Harry Kane has proved he is one of the best strikers in the world. He scores goals and links the play well and is always hungry to get in the box. One slight worry is it looked like he wasn't fully fit towards the end of the season, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on. Teammate Dele Alli is also a great goalscorer. He doesn't have incredible pace or skill, but he has an instinct for goals and I think his movement in the box is outstanding. He will score goals at this tournament for sure, but he has to make sure he doesn't get sent off because teams will try to wind him up.

Another weapon they have is pace from the bench from Vardy, Rashford, Lingard and Welbeck. Pace at the end of games when defenders are tiring can be a real bonus, and they could all have crucial roles to play.

Star Man - Raheem Sterling has been regularly criticised throughout his career, but since Guardiola joined Manchester City his game has gone to new levels. His confidence is sky high and he has added goals to his game, especially this season. His final product was always the issue, but now he has looked more composed in the final third and set up goals as well as scored goals all season. His pace, quick feet and change of direction make him an important player as England look to unlock defenses and advance deep into the knockout stages.


Belgium - Belgium are nearing the end of their so called golden generation and it hasn't produced what was expected. Now with Roberto Martinez in charge, it seems like nobody is expecting them to challenge for the trophy this time around. He made a strange decision not including Roma midfielder Nainngolan, despite him having a great season for the Champions League semi finalists.

Benteke was a surprise inclusion despite an awful season of just three goals with Crystal Palace in the initial squad, but he has not been included in the 23. It was perhaps as a backup given that Michy Batshuayi picked up an ankle injury late in the season after really impressing on his loan move in Dortmund. He must be fit, so they won't only be relying on Romelu Lukaku to score the goals from upfront. He is one player that has probably gained confidence under Mourinho, as he is constantly talked up in the press and starts every time he is fit. He lost his place at the 2014 World Cup to Divock Origi, but I'd be surprised if that happens again. He won't win the golden boot, but he can be the important link man to get Belgium up the pitch and help get their star players on the ball in the final third.

One of those stars is Kevin De Bruyne, probably the best passer in the Premier League. He is so clever at finding space and recognising when to pass the ball and where to pass it. He has license to roam as Axel Witsel and possibly Marouane Fellaini sit deeper and protect the defense.

Dries Mertens has had his best two seasons as a footballer the last two years at Napoli. Now 31 he has taken on a goalscoring responsibility, and has managed 56 over the last two seasons. He goes to the World Cup after a great season with Napoli and with his pace and running off the ball, will add another dimension from Lukaku, De Bruyne and Hazard.

Despite the reputation of the manager struggling with defense in the past, he is lucky to have inherited such a strong one here. It looks like Kompany might have injured himself, so it could help as Vertonghen and Alderweireld get to link up as a partnership. When they play together at Spurs they are the best partnership in the league, and should be strong for Belgium. Thomas Meunier has played a number of games at right back for PSG this season, and Vermaelen can fit in at left back, despite not being a regular at Barcelona. With Courtois behind them this is a team that shouldn't concede many goals, and is very dangerous on the attack.

Star Man - No doubt that Eden Hazard has had inconsistent form with Chelsea the last few years, but he is such an exciting player to watch. His close control is as good as anyone and when he dribbles with the ball his change of direction and acceleration from a standing start are almost impossible to defend. He can win a game on his own and also has great composure infront of goal. He is likely to be top scorer for Belgium, and with defenses likely to have to watch Mertens, De Bruyne and Lukaku as well, he should get opportunities to run 1v1 at defenders, and there will only be one winner in that scenario.


Tunisia - Surprisingly the highest ranked team in Africa now, Tunisia qualified by winning a group with DR Congo, Libya and Guinea. They were unbeaten and will compete for the first time at the World Cup since 2006. They have never advanced past the groups, and in fact only ever won one game, a 3-1 defeat of Mexico in 1978.

Top scorer in qualifying Youssef Msakni is unfortunately going to miss out on the tournament due to an injury he picked up in April. The second top scorer in the Qatari League, with 25 goals in 22 games was the main goal threat for the country. Now they will be relying on home based players, Anice Bedri and Saber Khalifa, or Saudi based Ben Youssef to find the net. Between them they have 15 goals for their country, but it will be a huge step up from the leagues the play in.

Recent friendly draws against Turkey and Portugal will have given them confidence going in to the tournament, but they are up against it in this group.

Most of the players play in Asia or African leagues, with a handful playing in France. 31 year old Leicester City defender, Yohan Benalouane has only three caps for Tunisia after rejecting call ups previously hoping to earn his way in to the France squad. Born in France he finally accepted a call up for Tunisia this year, and some will not be happy with his inclusion. He is a strong defender however, and is likely to be starting games in central defense.

Only 33 year old goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi has more than 50 caps in the squad, and having made his debut in 2007, it means that every member of the squad will be going to their first ever World Cup.

Star Man - He showed only glimpses of quality at Sunderland, but having scored 11 goals for Rennes this season Wahbi Khazri is the most likely star for Tunisia. He has 12 goals for his country, including a recent winner against Costa Rica in a friendly. His delivery from set pieces will be vital for Tunisia, and he will be relied upon to create chances in open play. This Tunisia team is lacking any real stars, and playing England and Belgium in their first two games, they could be out before they get a chance to beat Panama.


Panama - A national holiday was declared when Panama qualified for their first ever World Cup at the expense of the USA. An 88th minute winner at home to Costa Rica in the final game from 110 times capped defender, Roman Torres gave them third position and a place in Russia. He is one of five players in the squad with more than 100 caps, full of players based in Central and North America.

A lot of the defenders in the squad have struggled for game time at their clubs this season, but one regular has been Adolfo Machado at Houston Dynamo. The 33 year old defender served a two year doping ban from 2012, but with 65 caps for his country he has been a strong central defender in qualifying and in the the MLS.

Only one player in the squad plays in a top level domestic league in Europe, and that is left back Erick Davis. He plays in Slovakia with Dunajska Streda, who finished third in the league this season. With many not being regulars at their clubs, or playing in second tiers, this is for me the poorest squad at the tournament, perhaps along with Saudi Arabia.

They won three out of ten games in qualifying which was enough to see them through, scoring only nine goals, conceding ten. It's an incredibly poor record for a team that qualified automatically and shows how poor the CONCACAF qualifying is.

It will be a great party for them in Russia and their supporters, but they are nowhere near good enough and will be lucky to get a point from their three games.

Star Man - Gabriel Torres is the main striker for Panama, and has had a solid journeyman careers so far. Nine goals in 15 games so far for Huachipato in Chile this season, he has totalled 15 international goals as well. He once had a trial at Manchester United in 2007, but his career has been played on the other side of the Atlantic. He was top scorer at the Gold Cup in 2013, and will be hoping to add to his tally in Russia.



Predictions - This group is probably the easiest to predict given the strengths of England and Belgium over Tunisia and Panama. Also given England meet Belgium last, they both should already have qualified by then. Panama are likely to finish bottom as Tunisia should beat them to claim third spot.

Depending on whether players are rested in the third game, I can see Belgium just having too much for England with the attacking options they have.


What to Bet on - Panama are 15/2 to be the lowest scoring team that the tournament. I don't think they will score any.


World Klutz - In 2010 it was a big chance for Rob Green to earn himself the right to be England goalkeeper for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately in game one versus USA, it didn't quite work out...

This goal resulted in a 1-1 draw for England, who would eventually go out to Germany in the Last 16. Rob Green was subsequently dropped for the following game, and only played one more time for England, two years later. A shocking piece of goalkeeping, one that England will be hoping doesn't happen to whoever is chosen as first choice this year.

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.