Welcome ladies and gentlemen to our fourth installment of World Cup previews here on FA Daily, as today, we get you ready for Group D. This group may not have the star power of some of the previous groups we’ve discussed, but it does contain some intriguing teams that could possibly make some noise once they reach the knockout stage. Saying that this is a difficult group would probably be an understatement here. So let’s take a look at what we can expect from this group!
GROUP SCHEDULE
June 13, 2010
Serbia vs. Ghana – 10 AM ET, ESPN
Germany vs. Australia – 2:30 PM ET, ABC
June 18, 2010
Germany vs. Serbia – 7:30 AM ET, ESPN
June 19, 2010
Ghana vs. Australia – 10 AM ET, ESPN
June 23, 2010
Ghana vs. Germany – 2:30 PM ET, ESPN
Australia vs. Serbia – 2:30 PM ET, ESPN2
*Times indicate actual game start times. 30 minute preview show before most games, so the actual coverage will begin a half hour earlier.
THE TEAMS
Germany
Germany’s goal is clear heading into the 2010 World Cup: they want to win the whole thing. So of course, that makes them the favorites to win this group, though it certainly won’t be a cakewalk. Germany is ranked sixth in FIFA’s rankings, and is already being hyped as a team that could very well walk out of South Africa with the trophy. Though they may be an even bigger favorite had they not lost captain Michael Ballack several weeks ago, when he was injured in the FA Cup final for Chelsea. Ballack’s absence will definitely be felt, but the Germans still have the talent to contend. Things should be pretty intriguing when Germany matches up with Ghana on June 23, since Ghana features Portsmouth player Kevin Prince-Boateng, who was the one that made the questionable tackle that left Ballack with the ankle injury. It wouldn’t be surprising to see things get a little testy there, but with it being the final match of the group stage for both teams, there could be placement at stake, so I doubt both teams will lose sight of the task at hand. Anything less than a first-place finish for Germany in this group might be a disappointment, as I think from top to bottom, they are clearly the best team of the four.
Australia
If you’re wanting to get a glimpse of how Australia operates, then just check out their friendly against the United States on June 5. But we don’t really know what to expect from that game, and you probably won’t see Australia at their best. However, when we do see Australia at their best, will it be enough to get out of this tough group? That’s certainly debatable, and it’s probably going to take a huge effort for them to find themselves in the knockout stage. Right now, I would give the other three teams the edge in terms of advancing, and see Australia as the odd-man out, as I just don’t think they have the depth to gain significant points in this group. The Socceroos have gotten better in terms of world recognition in recent years, but this is probably the worst draw they could have received. Tim Cahill will have to engineer a fantastic attack if this team is to score goals against the tough defenders of the other three, and should they be able to do that, they could a point via a draw vs. Ghana. But that could be the highlight of their trip to the 2010 World Cup, as it’s hard to see them being any type of serious threat in this group or beyond.
Serbia
Serbia isn’t necessarily flying under the radar, but they may not be getting enough respect either. This is a very good team, and will likely be the one that challenges Germany for the top spot in Group D. Nemanja Vidic, Dejan Stankovic, and Nikola Zigic are all great players, and just a sampling of the plethora of exciting talent on this squad. Followers of the English Premier League will see a lot of familiar faces on this team, as they feature players from several different teams. When the draw was announced back in December, Serbia may have been a team that was overlooked, since Ghana was at full strength then. I happen to like Serbia’s chances much better now, and think that the second spot is theirs for the taking. Not gaining three points vs. Australia in the final group match would be a huge blow, but if they’re able to do that, they should have already accumulated enough points to advance.
Ghana
This team is missing a Chelsea player of their own, as midfielder Michael Essien was unable to get back from a knee injury that he suffered back in January. This is really a big loss for this team, since most expected them to fair very well in this year’s event. Essien has all the intangibles that this team needs to advance into the knockout stage, but without him, they’re going to have struggles in several key areas. The most important game for them will be the opener against Serbia, because it’s going to be hard to see Ghana gaining victories over either Germany or Australia. They could possibly force the Australians into a draw, which would be a key result if they are able to defeat Serbia. But these are going to be difficult tasks, and it may be asking too much to expect them to finish in the top two. But with this being the “anything can happen” group, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will wrap up that second spot behind the Germans. Boateng is going to have to create some offense for this team, as they need him to step up big team in Essien’s absence. If he’s unable to do that, then I think it’s safe to say that we can expect an early exit from Ghana in South Africa.
PREDICTIONS
*Winner in bold
Serbia vs. Ghana
Germany vs. Australia
Germany vs. Serbia
Ghana vs. Australia
Germany vs. Ghana
Serbia vs. Australia
1. Germany (9 points)
2. Serbia (6 points)
3. Ghana (3 points)
4. Australia (0 points)
Well that’s all for the Group D Preview here on FA Daily! As you can see, I don’t expect many draws from this group, as I think Germany and Serbia will set themselves apart from the rest of the group, and be two teams capable of a deep run in the tournament. If Ghana had Essien, they would certainly change the entire complexion of this group. But without him, I think it gives Serbia a clear edge for the second spot.
What are your predictions for the group? Be sure to vote on our poll to the right, and let us know who you think will win Group D!