Does Group B make your heart go aflutter?
Does the thought of Lionel Messi running across the screen for Argentina make you so excited you can’t contain it?
Does the look of Nigeria and their full-speed-ahead style one that intrigues you?
Is the idea of a team full of players that give their all match in and match out like South Korea one that you can appreciate?
Do you happed to like pirates? Are you interested in as much physical contact as is allowed by law in defense? The Greeks might just tempt you then.
Have you had a vision of Diego Maradona running naked through the streets of Buenos Aries yet?
…Okay, that might be a bit much at this point.
Aside from Maradona in the buff, what’s a little talk amongst friends, then? Knowing your stuff can make you look a little bit brighter amongst your peers and this handy-dandy list of people and information will make you the go-to guru of your local World Cup group.
Here’s some things you’ll need to know before June 11th.
Argentina
If you’re looking for a team that has the ability to excite, create and dazzle, then La Albiceleste just might be your kind of squad. Of course, if you’re looking for the potential of a train wreck of historic proportions, this might also be your team of choice. That Diego Maradona is still the headline this close to the World Cup may be a good thing for the team in that most of them will be able to be anonymous to the media. In that same breath, Maradona the manager could completely blow this team up and ruin maybe one of the most insane attacking units ever assembled.
While at the front there are so many options some teams could take the non-players as starters, the keeper situation is a terrifying point of contention. The defense in front of whomever takes the starting role is solid, but it still remains to be seen whether or not that obvious weakness brings Argentina to its knees. Qualifying, needless to say, was an adventure and a misfire anywhere might be disastrous in the grand scheme of things.
Players to Know
The Skipper: Javier Mascherano
Anyone who has watched Liverpool this term knows there were three constants in the squad: Pepe Reina in goal, Jamie Carragher in defense and Mascherano in defense and midfield. The tough Argentine adds steel to the midfield that can frustrate and frighten anyone approaching him. He does get in a bit of card trouble from time to time, something that he would do well to avoid, but his demeanor and presence give Argentina the freedom to attack as they wish.
The Man: Juan Sebastian Veron
Were you expecting someone else? Messi maybe? Until he proves himself in the sky blue and white strip, Veron remains the man as he is the nerve center that propels Argentina. What Xavi is to Spain, so is Veron to La Albiceleste. The biggest concern is that he save energy in the group stages to have at it in later rounds. Now 35, he’s the second oldest member of the squad and will be the oldest constant on the pitch. His vision is still good and if his fitness holds, he can propel the squad forward into a deep run.
Others to Watch: Walter Samuel, Angel di Maria, the front line
Samuel is coming off the back of an exceptional run with Inter Milan, pairing off with Lucio to form a veritable brick wall in front of goal. He will be the rock at the back to keep whomever is playing net minder from having to face too much action. He’ll also need to make people forget his missing Inter brethren early so the calls for heads don’t start too soon. di Maria is Benfica’s left wing maestro and one of the most sought after players in Europe. His attacking forays will assist in freeing Messi up wherever he springs up and will provide continual menace down the left. With Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Diego Milito all looking to start, Maradona will be under constant pressure to pick the right duo to go on the attack. And in all fairness, unless someone is completely off the pace, there really is no wrong answer here.
Nigeria
Losing Jon Obi Mikel will not enhance the odds of the Super Eagles of getting out of the group. Though they were able to put together a respectable African Cup of Nations run, settling for third after getting nicked by Ghana, they were not as competitive as a first glance might secure. They were hammered by winners Egypt in their group, slid by Zambia in the quarterfinals on penalties and only scored more than one goal against Mozambique.
Of course, this came while not really featuring Mikel, as well as several other attacking parties. The good news is that with a host of European-seasoned talents, Nigeria is one of the more balanced sides coming from the host continent. Creativity is the one thing that is lacking, a fact that may be exasperated by new coach Lars Lagerback’s experience with Sweeden. Whether or not they can find the offensive firepower they are traditionally known for may determine their success in the group.
Players to Know
The Skipper: Nwankwo Kanu
The senior citizen of Nigeria’s national team (the only one born before 1980), Kanu is coming off what must have been a frustrating time at Portsmouth. He and fellow Pompey fighter John Utaka must be giddy at the prospect of not having to worry about cash-related non-playing days and just going out and playing. The fact that Kanu wasn’t out as frequently as many others is probably not a bad thing as he’ll need some of that unused energy to lead an attack that seems anemic compared to earlier versions of the Super Eagles.
The Man: Peter Odemwingie
With Mikel out, Odemwingie must be the guiding light that gets the midfield moving. As Nigeria flips between using either a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 setup, Odemwingie can go either up front or through the midfield to spur the attack. Linking with Kanu to hold up play and get Nigeria going forward might be just the ticket to success. If not, Odemwingie can move to the wings to try to open play or attack himself, as his scoring record with Lokomotiv Moscow will attest to.
Others to Watch: Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Obafemi Martins/Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Enyeama is the most experienced of the net minders wearing green and white and might be key to how well Nigeria fairs. While in the past defense has never exactly been a priority, the young Hapeol Tel-Aviv net minder has been named player of the year in the Israeli league before and might be the best backstop the African nation has had. Yobo should be able to provide ample cover in the back, being part of the disciplined squad at Everton. Martins and Yak, meanwhile, are perhaps not the fastest that the Super Eagles have ever had up front but the combination should be able to aid Kanu on the attack. Martins is good at being at the right place at the right time while Yak can also hold up play or attack with some decent pace. They must get the ball first, which might be the undoing of this side.
South Korea (Korean Republic)
The bundles of energy from Asia known as Taegeuk Warriors use that balance of defense and attack, coupled with literally non-stop movement, to grind down opponents. With that in mind, goals will still be at a premium. Though they have qualified now for seven straight World Cups, getting out of the group stage has been a chore that has been too difficult outside of when they were one of the host nations in 2002.
While running all day can get you far, creating scoring chances is something that tends to be a labor when the starting XI can’t get the job done. Players are moving abroad to get better experience but many are still playing in domestic leagues. While scoring against teams from Japan and Korea are tough, it’s still not the Spanish or English leagues. Unity is the biggest key to this side and determined defensive efforts will make them hard to dispose of, particularly late in matches when they just. Keep. Running.
Players to Know
The Skipper and the Man: Park Ji-Sung
A cult icon across Korea and in Manchester United circles, the Korean captain is able to work from all over the midfield in order to create opportunities for his teammates. He also has a knack for popping up at the most unexpected of times to create confusion within the opposing defenses, often leading to scrambles that set up scoring opportunities. In short, he is the fulcrum of the Korean offense and must step up to the challenge in order to move them through the group stage.
Others to Watch: Lee Young-Pyo, Lee Woon-Jae, Lee Chung-Yong
Al-Hilal defender Young-Pyo is the most capped outfield player in the Korean ranks and has had a bit of a resurgence in terms of playing in Saudi Arabia. His speed down either flank gives the Koreans a bit of extra attacking impetus when available. He will be covering one side or the other for Woon-Jae, who was given the nod to be the keeper of choice. While smaller than most, his penalty saving ability has written him into the lore of Korean football and will be needed to replicate that form again. Chung-Yong has been a revelation at Bolton and might be the next best attacker past Ji-Sung. His wing play and crossing are a big plus to a side that can be overly direct at times and might be the difference between dropping points and securing them.
Greece
Let it never be said that playing boa-constrictor tight defense can’t win you anything. Euro 2004 taught us that “docking the ship” can get you somewhere, as Greece slipped by everyone to claim a piece of silverware that no one thought would ever sit on the Pirate Ship. Since then, things haven’t exactly been quite as rosy. The 5-4-1 scheme was put to the torch throughout qualifying and in a laughable twist, it was actually the team that had the leading goal scorer during World Cup qualifying in Europe.
This will matter not a bit if they cannot make both work at the same time, something that has been very noticeable during the recent friendlies. Drawing with North Korea is not exactly the ideal way to head into a major tournament. The ship is going to have to be steadier in South Africa if they want to hang around at all in this group.
Players to Know
The Skipper: Giorgos Karagounis
He’s not the same man that propelled the Greeks to Euro 2004 glory but he still has a few tricks up his sleeve in the dead-ball department. Knowing that attacks are few and far between in this outfit, his delivery is critical for scoring goals. The free kick is often the most deadly weapon at the disposal for this side and making the 10-12 opportunities that come their way count is vital.
The Man: Theofanis Gekas
What does the man do? He scores goals. Oh yes, he scores them. For a squad that normally is a defensive unit, Gekas’ 10 goals in qualifying was the most in Europe and saved the bacon for a side that has underperformed pretty badly in recent years. Able to utilize what few chances he gets, Gekas has become a lifeline for the squad and may have to be at his frugal best in order to propel the side past Nigeria and South Korea.
Others to Watch: Georgios Samaras, Vasilis Torosidis, whoever is in goal
Samaras is going to have to break out for the national team at some point and this tournament is as good as any. Needing another scoring outlet, Samaras is used to disciplined play with Celtic and needs to compliment Gekas in case the defense falters. Torosidis will try and help shore up a defense that has been lacking some of the physicality that made it hell-bent for sides to score against. That defense will need to recapture some sort of magic in case the goalkeeping situation doesn’t improve. After the retirement of Antonios Nikopolidis, the silver haired wonder, no keeper has been able to nail down the job. If something isn’t resolved immediately, it may be irrelevant whether or not this side can be what it has recently been.
The Matches
June 12th
South Korea v. Greece
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
7:30 AM EST
Argentina v. Nigeria
Ellis Park (Coca-Cola Park), Johannesburg
10:00 AM EST
June 17th
Argentina v. South Korea
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
7:30 AM EST
Greece v. Nigeria
Free State Stadium (Vodacom Park), Bloemfontein
10:00 AM EST
June 22nd
Nigeria v. South Korea
Durban Stadium (Moses Mabhida Stadium), Durban
2:30 PM EST
Greece v. Argentina
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
2:30 PM EST
