World Cup 2014: Who will get beyond the group stages?

Following last week’s draw for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Will Cafferky looks at each of the eight groups that were announced and offers his predictions as to which teams will progress.

Will Bayern Munich’s Mario Mandzukic make an impression on the world stage? Photo: sloanecroatia.com

Group A 

It’s hard to see anyone other than the hosts triumphing in this one, with Croatia probably presenting the toughest challenge. Mexico will be hoping their current transition phase is before the tournament starts, whilst Cameroon need to ensure that they correct the divisions starting to form within the squad if either hope to challenge for the second spot up for grabs.

Prediction: Brazil and Croatia to progress

Key Players: Neymar, Thiago Silva, Kaka, David Luiz, Oscar (Brazil), Mario Mandzukic, Luka Modric (Croatia), Javier Hernandez (Mexico), Samuel Eto’o, Alexander Song (Cameroon)

Group B

This proves much less straight forward than Group A; without wishing to use the label “group of death”, there’s no doubting this is a strong group. 2010’s finalists Spain and the Netherlands speak for themselves. However, as I recently discussed for Exeposé, Chile go into the tournament looking very strong and could upset the Dutch. Meanwhile, spare a thought for Australia.

Prediction: Spain and Chile to progress

Key Players: Jordi Alba, Xavi, Iniesta, David Silva, Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Gary Medel, Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez (Chile), Wesley Snjeider, Robin Van Persie (Netherlands), Miles Jedinak, Tim Cahill (Australia)

Group C

One of the weaker groups of the cup, Group C is without any of the main big hitters. Columbia undoubtedly boast the strongest squad and will look to capitalise on a favourable draw. Ivory Coast will be thankful to finally get a bit of luck with a World Cup group, and this arguably presents their best opportunity to progress to the next round with Japan and Greece likely to prove little more than cannon fodder.

Prediction: Colombia and Ivory Coast to progress

Key Players: Rademel Falcao, Jackson Martinez, James Rodriguez, Fredy Guarin (Colombia) Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Wilfried Bony, Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Kesuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa (Japan), Sokratis, Kostas Mitroglou (Greece)

Could Southampton star Adam Lallana ruffle a few feathers against Italy and Uruguay? Photo: telegraph.co.uk

Group D

There were few draws that could have been harsher to England – whilst they did avoid Spain and Germany, they did manage to get the next best thing. Italy are a team in the ascendency under manager Cesare Prandelli, whilst few teams in world football can claim to have two better strikers than Uruguay. It’s hard to see England escaping alive, with the only respite coming in the quivering shape of Costa Rica.

Prediction: Italy and Uruguay to progress

Key Players: Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli (Italy) Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart (England), Bryan Ruiz (Costa Rica)

Group E

The unseeded France will be rather happy with the result of the draw, as they look favourites to redeem their disastrous 2010 campaign. Honduras will likely prove to be the proverbial doormat, whilst Ecuador and Switzerland will battle for second place, with the latter coming out on top.

Prediction: France and Switzerland to progress

Key Players: Hugo Lloris, Mamadou Sakho, Frank Ribery, Paul Pogba, Samir Nasri (France), Stephan Liechtensteiner, Valon Behrami, Xerdan Shaqiri (Switzerland), Antonio Valencia, Felipe Caicedo (Ecuador), Wilson Palacios (Honduras)

It’s time Leo Messi made an international tournament his own. Photo: empireofsoccer.com

Group F

This group seems fairly straightforward; Argentina’s overwhelming attacking talent will probably send shivers down the spines of Iranian defenders. Meanwhile, Bosnia-Herzegovina will likely be satisfied with the draw, especially following Nigeria’s fairly woeful display at the Confederations Cup earlier this year.

Prediction: Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina to progress

Key Players: Javier Mascherano, Pablo Zabaleta, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi (Argentina), Asmir Begovic, Miralem Pjanic, Zvjezdan Misimovic, Edin Dzeko (Bosnia-Herzegovina), John Obi-Mikel, Victor Moses, Obafemi Martins (Nigeria), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Iran)

Group G

Germany are the favourites of many a pundit for Brazil 2014. Whilst Portugal, Ghana and USA present tough opposition, it’s hard to imagine anything other than an efficient group stage from the Germans. Portugal endured a hairy play-off tie with Sweden to earn their place, and whilst USA and Ghana enjoyed more relaxed campaigns, it’s hard to picture either coping with the superhuman ability of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Prediction: Germany and Portugal to progress

Key Players: Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Mats Hummels, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Mario Gotze (Germany), Pepe, Joao Moutinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani (Portugal), Sulli Muntari, Kwandwo Assamoah, Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana), Tim Howard, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan (United States)

Group H

Belgium couldn’t have wished for a better group as they look to capitalise upon their impressive qualifying campaign. Labelled a “golden generation,” the team is littered with Premier League superstars. Meanwhile, Fabio Capello’s Russia will face stiff competition from a promising Algeria side for the second spot in the round of 16, with South Korea also destined for an early exit.

Prediction: Belgium and Russia to progress

Key Players: Jan Vertonghen, Vincent Kompany, Alex Witsel, Moussa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku (Belgium), Igor Akinfeev, Aleksandr Kerzhakov, Yuri Zhirkov, Alan Dzagoev (Russia), Ryad Boudebouz, Sofiane Ferghouli (Algeria), Ki Sueng-Yueng, Kim Bo-Kyung, Lee Chung-Yong, Ji Dong-Wong, Park Chu-Young (South Korea)

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Who are the favourites for the 2014 World Cup?

Neymar reels away after scoring against Spain in the 2013 Confederations Cup. Photo: sambafoot.com

With 10 places still to be decided and almost nine months still to go before the 2014 World Cup kicks off in Rio, it may seem too early to start thinking of potential winners, as the beautiful game heads to arguably its rightful home.

Certainly, you would be hard pushed to find one amongst the 73,500 fanatic and passionate Brazil fans inside the Maracana who would tell you otherwise. Never mind the debates about the rights and wrongs of hosting the World Cup – make no mistake, in Brazil, already, the fever pitch is paramount.

What better reason then to talk about the chances of Brazil’s team to add to their world record World Cup haul? On paper, they look a decent side, with a defence marshalled by Tiago Silva and flanked by Dani Alves and Marcelo, two of the best wingbacks in world football.

Throw in the attacking flair of Neymar, and it would be a dangerous bet to write them off, especially when you consider their emphatic 3-0 victory over hot-favourites Spain in the final of the Confederations Cup.

However, this victory has merely served to paper over the many deficiencies in their team that were masked by a fanatic home support against travel-weary and seemingly demotivated opponents. They still seem unsure of a central striker, with Fred a good goal-scorer but contributing nothing in general play, whilst Hulk on the right flatters to deceive, cutting inside time after time before blazing wastefully over the bar.

As a defensive unit too they appear yet to live up to their potential – they may possess two of the best centre-backs in the world in Dante and Tiago Silva, but they often left isolated by the marauding runs of Dani Alves and Marcelo and inadequate protection in front by Hulk and Neymar. As such, many cracks remain in the host’s armour, arguably too much for them to be seen as the front runners for their home event.

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Read also:

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The underachievers of World Cup qualifying

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Elsewhere, Spain as always look the team to beat. They possess a strength in depth unparalleled by their rivals, while their first eleven is so strong that only two or three of the players from the other leading contenders would get into their team.

It is very hard to find any weaknesses in their eleven, but a chink can be found in the shape of right back Alvaro Arbeloa, surely one of the worst players to consistently play for Real Madrid and Spain simultaneously. Furthermore, the central striker position is another minor area of weakness, though they still possess players the envy of most, with Fernando Torres, David Villa, Roberto Soldado, Alvaro Negredo and Michu all in contention for an attacking birth.

One country who doesn’t have to worry about the central striker position is Argentina, who possess an embarrassment of riches in the shape of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria. Throw in Javier Pastore and Eric Lamela playing in behind and you have a potent attacking mix.

The worry, as one might expect, is in defence. Whilst in theory defenders like Pablo Zabaleta and Fabricio Colloccini, with Javier Mascherano to protect them, should be more than capable of holding their own, the problem is that all their front players are constantly racing forward.

Marco Reus, part of the young German generation of attacking flair. Photo: 1000goals.com

This is a fact that makes Coach Alejandro Sabella’s decision not to select Tevez for recent matches somewhat mystifying, given that he offers not only a world class strike-threat, but also immense defensive work rate.  However, Argentina possess more than enough attacking riches to mask their defensive deficiencies, with quality in the final third ultimately what counts in international football.

Managers have a fraction of the time to drill their teams into watertight defensive operations as they do in club football, meaning Argentina arguably have enough to be established as second favourites.

The rest of the contenders almost all come from Europe, with Germany and Belgium the frontrunners. Germany possess no small amount of flair with the likes of Mario Gotze and Mesut Ozil, though their typical efficiency may be hampered by their centre backs, who seem to lack pace.

Furthermore, in the central-striker position they do not seem to have a contender, with Mario Gomez criminally overrated thanks to his ability to score five yard tap-ins whilst, like Fred for Brazil, contributing nothing in open play. He may well be his team’s principal Achilles’ heel, especially given that he seems to need a large number of chances to score one goal.

Germany do, however, have the option of playing a ‘false nine’ up front, in the form of Marco Reus or Thomas Muller. With Spain winning Euro 2012 with Cesc Fabregas in this position, a more fluid approach could bring success against the South American giants. England may go in with more hope than expectation, but the thrill, as ever, will be in seeing them try and this fan intends to watch every minute of it.

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Tom Cambridge

Beyond Hollywood: Elite Squad: The Enemy Within

Ben Lewis takes us on a journey into Brazilian cinema via 2010’s Elite Squad: The Enemy Within, which enjoyed huge critical and commercial success at the time of its release.

Image credit: IMDB

With a name that, putting it politely, neither sounds foreign nor particularly inspiring, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within – similarly named in both English and Portuguese – is not only Brazilian, but also a brilliant film. Don’t believe me? Well it is the highest grossing film ever in Brazil. Not too shabby at all.

Having not seen the first Elite Squad, I assure you, that there are no niggling questions about characters’ pasts or concerns with a lack of understanding of the plot. In fact, director José Padilha once stated in an interview that he tries to make movies that are stand-alones. This gives you the option to watch them conventionally or, as is popular in Exeter, edgily (because what’s more daring and alternative than watching a film series out of sequence?). My thanks for that José.

So, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within is a fast-paced, gritty, socially and politically critical, semi-fictional action film focusing on BOPE (a special division of the Rio de Janeiro police much like the American SWAT). The film handles family relationships, organised crime and corruption all the way up to the political echelons, with protagonist and BOPE commander, Roberto Nascimento (Wagner Moura) at the heart of it all.

After a massacre at maximum security Bangu 1 prison, Nascimento is kicked out of BOPE and promoted to Undersecretary of Intelligence – because despite the massacre, he remains a very popular figure and politically, that’s all that matters.

Image credit: Cinephile

Over the course of the movie, Nascimento not only has to deal with clearing the favelas (shanty towns) of Rio de Janeiro of crime, but he must also handle the militia whose corruption eats away at Rio de Janeiro.

Along the way, he not only discovers the extent of the corruption that grips Rio, but has to juggle nemesis, Fraga, the individual responsible for him being kicked out of BOPE, one of the left-wing progressives he detests so much and coincidentally his ex-wife’s new significant other. If that wasn’t enough, he also struggles to connect with his son who is influenced by the teachings of Fraga.

What struck me most (barring witnessing one of the finest action movies in a long time that actually manages to have both action and a plot) was the acting, particularly by Moura. Nascimento is an intriguing character, loyal to his BOPE ‘brothers’ and a strong believer in the good that his job does.

However, he is also a firm believer in violence, that prisoners (at least the important cartel figures in Bangu 1) are ‘scumbags’ and is happy to let them all kill each other. He also has a strong disliking of left-wing identifying intellectuals for their leniency on criminals. Moura’s mixture of aloofness and passion really brings this to life and makes for a strong performance. What’s more, you can’t help but root for him as he seemingly single-handedly works to destroy ‘the System’ which plagues Rio de Janeiro, despite its overwhelming nature.

Image credit: BBC

The cinematography during the emptying of the favelas is such that you feel at the heart of the action which seems to be a documentary.

You’re the one pursuing and documenting the fleeing criminals as seen with an over the shoulder shot inside an armoured vehicle chasing down the gang members. If anything, the ruthlessness and efficiency of BOPE in carrying out its job is enhanced and you’re left with the impression that you’re going to need a miracle to escape an encounter with them.

I took issue with the ending, which was perhaps too optimistic and unrealistic, lying more within the realm of fantasy than reality, which was a shame after the realistic tone to the movie. I’ll leave it for you to discover what happens, but this is my only quibble.

Padilha should be on every best director list, and I’ll be one of the first to see his take on RoboCop after the success of Elite Squad: The Enemy Within. It would be an injustice to even try compare it with recent Hollywood offerings such as A Good Day to Die Hard, The Expendables 2 or Total Recall. This is definitely another example of a superior piece of World cinema.

I like that Padilha offers a political critique, which as he says, asks why the police and prisons are mismanaged and blames it largely on politics.  There is clearly an unhealthy political environment, exacerbated by police brutality, which is both glorified and condemned by Padilha in the film.

I highly recommend this movie, which is most definitely one of the best action films I have seen in a long time. In fact, I may just go and buy the first one now. See you in a week, readers.

5/5

Ben Lewis

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