En Route World Cup Group C
TEENage takes a look at Group C this week in our World Cup previews. Many view this group as an easy one for 1966 champions England to dominate, but a closer look at the teams could paint a different picture. If the unpredictable styles of Slovenia and Algeria is taken into consideration, as well as the sheer determination of a US team desperate to prove their worth, then it will be seen that any team could go through.
Algeria
Brief History: Les Fenecs (the Dessert Foxes), as the national team is known, is a strong northern African contingent who have just reaped the benefits of rebuilding their programme after 24 years in the World Cup wilderness. They were famously ousted from the 1982 World Cup in the first round when the Austrian and German teams conspired to give Germany a 1-0 victory and send both teams through over the Africans.
World Cup Appearances: 1982 and 1986
World Cup wins: Algeria have never won the World Cup. In fact, they have never made it past the first round.
How they made it: After holding off the likes of Senegal and Gambia in their final group qualifying round and trading wins with long-time rivals Egypt, a one-time play-off match was needed between them and the Pharaohs. A 1-0 win in the match played in Sudan was enough to see them through.
Key Players: Antar Yahia (Vfl Bochum), Karim Ziani (Vfl Wolfsburg), Nadir Belhadj (Porstmouth)
Coach: Rabah Saadane
Strengths: Attacking prowess is what Algeria will depend on to make their mark on the finals. With the experience of Belhadj and Yahia at the back, they will be able to be more confident up front and captain Yazid Mansouri can focus on spreading the ball and getting players like forward Karim Matmour options at goal.
Weakness: Their unpredictability will be their downfall. This team is plagued with the ability to turn up as two different teams on the given day and it could see them losing more than they wanted.
Expected Finish: Algeria’s finish depends completely upon what they do. Besides England, Algeria can realistically challenge any team in this group but they will need to turn up with the right attitude on all three match days.
Slovenia
Brief History: Slovenia has a very short history in world football. They appeared in the 2002 World Cup for the first time as an independent country and lost all three games. However, while they were still a part of Yugoslavia, they had appeared at the World Cup several times and even made it as far as the semi-finals.
World cup Appearnces: Once in 2002 (as Slovenia).
World Cup wins: As Slovenia they have never even won a match in the World Cup. However, they got to the semi-finals of the inaugural tournament in 1930 while still a part of Yugoslavia.
How They Made it: After getting past the likes of Poland and the Czech Republic in the qualifying round, they still had to get through a play-off match against Russia after being pipped by Slovakia on the final day of qualifiers. Again, facing a much more fancied opponent, the Slovenians were able to eek out a 2-2 aggregate draw and advance on away goals.
Key Players: Milivoje Novakovic (FC Koln), Robert Koren (West Brom)
Coach: Matjaz Kek
Strengths: The Slovenians had the second-best defensive statistics in all of Europe and this could be a great help in getting them through. The reliance on their backline will be key to their victory.
Weakness: Unfortunaltely, the strength of their defense is also their Achilles heel as they might break down mentally with the faster much more determined attackers from Group C. They might rely too much on their defense which will be breached by their opponents.
Expected finish: Slovenia are not expected to go past the first round but they have surprised bigger teams in the qualifying rounds so anything is possible.
World Cup 2010: England
Three Lions looking as strong as ever
Confederation: UEFA
FIFA Ranking (Nov 09): 9
Brief History: Dubbed the creators of football, England didn’t enter the World Cup until before the Second World War and thus, what was a fairly advanced England side for its time, didn’t give itself a chance to pip Uruguay or Italy to the trophy. Ever since, England has made it to 12 of the 15 World Cups, but beyond the solitary victory in 1966, has only made it past the quarter-finals once, in 1990 which to date remains their best showing on foreign soil. A team of famous players historically and present has been unable to adapt to the challenges posed by foreign countries and big-game pressure.
Overall record at finals: Played 55, Won 25, Drawn 17, Lost 13
Most goals at finals: Gary Lineker (1986, 1990) – 10
World Cup high: Geoff Hurst completing his hat-trick during England’s 4-2 win over West Germany at Wembley in 1966.
World Cup low: England’s first finals appearance, losing 1-0 to the USA’s part-timers in Belo Horizonte Brazil.
World Cup wins: England’s solitary win came in 1966 at home and has made it to six quarter-finals and a semi-final since.
How they made it: Progress to South Africa was in stark contrast to the Euro 2008 qualification campaign. Under Steve McLaren, Croatia were England’s nemesis, with defeats suffered home and away. Fabio Capello’s team, largely made up of the same players, destroyed the Croatians 4-1 in Zagreb and 5-1 at Wembley. Granting Wayne Rooney the central role and providing a big striker in Emile Heskey to play off paid dividends as England won nine out of ten qualifiers.
Key players: Defender John Terry (Chelsea), Midfielder Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Striker Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) and Midfielder Frank Lampard (Chelsea).
Coach: Fabio Capello. He will be remembered as one of the greatest coaches of all time. His record is practically second to none. Every project he has under taken has resulted in major silverware.
Strengths: Tactics. England has got a wealth of outstanding players in almost every single department and an impressive tactical approach built around key players such as Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney. The likes of Milner, Bent, Defoe, and Lennon have all been outstanding this season. They will not be a team short of goals either as Bent, Defoe, Rooney, and Lampard have all scored over twenty goals this season and as such the team is very all rounded. This is not a team that will get caught on the counter-attack very often, or fail to make their pressure pay when they are on the front foot. Capello gets the best out of his players, which is why they are always a threat.
Weakness: England has minor weaknesses in every area, however, the concern is that against better teams, albeit in friendlies, England has struggled to create and control. France, Spain and Brazil in particular all stifled England and produced shaky moments at the back leaving question marks over the defence and goalkeeper. The only consistently disappointing and costly element of England’s team so far has been the failure to produce moments of magic when they are needed, or at the very least control the opposition.
Expected finish: Considering Capello’s impressive resume and this probably being the last chance for most of England’s superstars, the objective is to win.
World Cup 2010: USA
Confederation: CONCACAF
FIFA Ranking (Dec 09): 14
Brief History: The tournament in South Africa will be the sixth consecutive appearance for the American squad despite a 40-year absence after 1950 finals. Their best result came in the first World Cup as they finished third, losing 6-1 in the semi-finals to eventual runners-up Argentina. It is still the best showing for any team outside the European and South African confederations. However, they were unable to repeat the feat in 1934, exiting after a 7-1 defeat against hosts Italy in the first round.
Overall record at finals: Played 25, Won 6, Drawn 3, Lost 16
Most goals at finals: Bert Patenaude (1930) – 4
World Cup high: Beating England 1-0 in the first round of the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. USA went into the match on a seven-game losing streak and it is said that readers in England assumed the score was 10-1 and had been misprinted. The match has been labelled the ‘Miracle on Grass’.
World Cup low: Failing to qualify for the finals for 40 years after their 1950 appearance. Upon their return in 1990, they crashed out in the first round being thrashed 5-1 by Czechoslovakia and losing 1-0 to Italy and Austria.
World Cup wins: The US has never won the World Cup but has managed a third place and quarter-final finish.
How they made it: USA finished first in the final-round standings in CONCACAF posting a 6-2-2 record, one point ahead of Mexico.
Key players: Goalkeeper Tim Howard (Everton), Striker Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Defender Carlos Bocanegra (Stade Rennes), Striker Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Midfielder Clint Dempsey (Fulham)
Coach: Bob Bradley
Strengths: As shown in their run to the finals of last summer’s Confederations Cup, when the team stays compact coupled with a high work rate they can beat compete with any team.
Weakness: The team lacks a genuine playmaker and will struggle to generate offensive chances. They will rely heavily on Donovan and Clint Dempsey but it remains to be seen whether they can successfully carry the brunt of the burden. Also, Jay DeMreit and Oguchi Onyewu are recovering from injuries, therefore causing problems for the defense.
Expected finish: Given their 2006 first-round exit, they will be looking to correct that mistake by at least making it to the second round.