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WHO WILL RULE THE WORLD????
GROUP A PREVIEW THANKS TO J-MO FOR THE STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES AND STAR MAN
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MATCH SCHEDULE 9 JUNE 2006 MATCH 1: GER vs CRC, Allianz Arena, Munich, 6:00PM
MATCH 2: POL vs ECU, Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, 9:00PM 14 JUNE 2006 MATCH 17: GER vs POL, Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, 9:00PM
15 JUNE 2006
MATCH 18: ECU vs CRC, Stadion Hamburg, Hamburg, 3:00PM
20 JUNE 2006
MATCH 33: ECU vs GER, Olympiastadion, Berlin, 4:00PM
MATCH 34: CRC vs POL, Stadium Hanover, Hanover, 4:00PM
NOTE: All times local German Tiime, Matches correspond to FIFA World Cup Match Schedule
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GERMANY
FIFA WORLD RANKING: 19 (As at April 2006) QUALIFICATION: Automatic as Tournament hosts
BEST RESULT: WINNERS 1954, 1974 (As West Germany), 1990
JAPAN/KOREA 2002: Runners Up to Brazil
COACH: Jurgen KLINSMANN (German)
SQUAD: To be named May 15
PRESENT STAR MAN: Bayern Munich's Ballack is perhaps Germany's only truly world class player and almost single-handedly took an average German team to the 2002 final. Can he inspire again?
STRENGTHS: Klinsmann has started a revolution, sending out his team with instructions to play a "fast-paced, attacking and very aggressive" style of game which has significantly improved their goal tally.
WEAKNESSES: The downside of Klinsmann's strategy - along with his use of inexperienced defenders - is that Germany have recently been conceding almost as many goals as they have been scoring.
ODDS TO WIN (All prices courtesy of TAB Sportsbet Australia, current as of 2/5/2006):
TOURNAMENT: $8
GROUP: $1.25
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COSTA RICA
FIFA WORLD RANKING: 26 (As at April 2006)
QUALIFICATION: 3rd in CONCACAF Stage 3 Qualifying
BEST RESULT: 2nd Round 1990
JAPAN/KOREA 2002: Group Stage
COACH: Alexandre GUIMARES (Costa Rican)
SQUAD (Provisional, Locally Based unless stated):
GOALKEEPERS: Wardy Pizarro (Alajuelense), Jose Porras (Saprissa), Gabriel Badilla (Saprissa), Alvaro Mesen (Herediano), Adrian de Lemos (Brujas).
DEFENDERS: Gilberto Martinez (Brescia, Italy), Roy Miller (Bodo Glimt, Norway), Luis Marin (Alajuelense), Michael Rodriguez (Alajuelense), Harold Wallace (Alajuelense), Cristian Montero (Alajuelense), Jervis Drummond (Saprissa), Douglas Sequeira (Chivas USA, U.S.), Carlos Johnson (Herediano), Leonardo Gonzalez (Herediano), Michael Umana (Brujas)
MIDFIELDERS: Carlos Hernandez (Alajuelense), Walter Centeno (Saprissa), Christian Bolanos (Saprissa), Randall Azofeifa (Saprissa), Mauricio Solis (Comunicaciones, Guatemala), Danny Fonseca (Cartagines)
FORWARDS: Bryan Ruiz (Alajuelense), Ronald Gomez (Saprissa), Alvaro Saboro (Saprissa), Victor Nunez (Cartagines), Kurt Bernard (Puntarenas), Paulo Wanchope (Herediano)
PRESENT STAR MAN: Former Derby County and Manchester City striker Wanchope. The 29-year-old will retire from internationals after the finals but will be desperate to sign off in style.
STRENGTHS: Having the sound tactics of their manager and the discipline to carry them out, allied to no little flair, the Ticos could cause one or two upsets.
WEAKNESSES: Need to tighten up defensively if they are to compete with better sides in Germany.
ODDS TO WIN (All prices courtesy of TAB Sportsbet Australia, current as of 2/5/2006):
TOURNAMENT: $351
GROUP: $26
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POLAND
FIFA WORLD RANKING: 28 (As at April 2006)
QUALIFICATION: 2nd in UEFA Group 6 behind England, qualifying as one of 2 best 2nd placed finishers
BEST RESULT: 3rd Place 1974, 1982
JAPAN/KOREA 2002: Group Stage
COACH: Pawal JANAS (Polish)
SQUAD: TO BE NAMED
PRESENT STAR MAN: Midfielder Jacek Krzynowek is regarded by many as Poland's main man.
STRENGTHS: Despite the absence of star names in the team they don't lack for goals. Only three European teams scored more than them in qualifying.
WEAKNESSES: Unfortunately at the other end they are not so hot and have developed a habit of conceding sloppy goals.
ODDS TO WIN (All prices courtesy of TAB Sportsbet Australia, current as of 2/5/2006):
TOURNAMENT: $126
GROUP: $5
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ECUADOR
FIFA WORLD RANKING: 39 (As at April 2006)
QUALIFICATION: 3rd in COMNEBOL Qualifying
BEST RESULT: Group Stage 2002
JAPAN/KOREA 2002: Group Stage
COACH: Luis SUAREZ (Colombian)
SQUAD: TO BE NAMED
PRESENT STAR MAN: Edison Mendez - who scored the winner against Croatia - is a quality midfielder with a vicious shot. High hopes also surround 20-year-old midfielder Luis Antonio Valencia, though has struggled to adapt at Villarreal.
STRENGTHS: A clear tactical approach. Ecuador have moved away from the tip-tap short passing through the middle style that characterized their game. Now they keep the middle tight and look to strike quickly down the flanks.
WEAKNESSES: A lack of European experience - they've only ever played four full internationals in Europe. A defence that can be caught flat and, if Espinoza is taken out, is all over the place in the air and goalkeeping is problematic
ODDS TO WIN (All prices courtesy of TAB Sportsbet Australia, current as of 2/5/2006):
TOURNAMENT: $401
GROUP: $11
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OTHER GROUP PREVIEWS
GROUP A
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SPECIAL THANKS goes to the team at The World Flag Database (http://www.flags.net) for the national flags that help make the images. |
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