World Cup Group Preview - Group A

The Team – Brazil

The Squad – Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC, on loan from QPR), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro). Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell, Thiago Silva (both Paris St-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli). Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires, Willian, Oscar (all Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City). Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg).

The Manager – Luiz Felipe Scolari – ‘Big Phil’ is one of the most experienced International managers in the game, having won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and managed Portugal at three major tournaments. He will be assisted by the 1994 World Cup winning manager Carlos Alberto Parreira.

The Preparation – Having played many high profile friendlies over the past two years, Brazil’s warm up games have had something of a low key feel to them. They beat Panama 4-0 with the highlight being a superb free kick from Neymar, they then laboured to a 1-0 win over Serbia. Despite a momentary scare when Neymar went down with a knock in training, Brazil have a clean bill of health going into the opener on the 12^th.

Neymar will be vital for Brazil

The Definitive Opinion - Ask any player, pundit or fan about the Brazilian squad and the name that will continuously come up is Neymar. The 22 year old has the weight of a nation on his shoulders, but following an indifferent debut season in La Liga with Barcelona, he will need the other stars in the squad to be at the peak of their powers. In terms of ability, potential and general hype surrounding him, Hulk is the next ‘best’ forward in the squad, both he and Neymar will hope to prove themselves on the main stage this summer. It is very easy to argue that the assortment of midfielders is as weak a group that has ever graced a World Cup, the likes of Oscar, Paulinho, Ramires, Fernandinho, Hernanes and Luis Gustavo are nowhere near the level of players such as Socrates, Zico, Dunga, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho or Kaka. In defence however it’s a different story, a starting back four of Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Dante and Marcelo would rival defences from any era. This Brazilian squad has several world class players, but they are perhaps lacking the quality in defensive midfield and crucially in attack that is needed as they progress deeper into the tournament. That’s not to undermine the job Fred and Jo do for the team, but against the world’s best, their individual limitations could count against Brazil. For me it’s the semi-finals at best.  

The Team – Croatia

The Squad - Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Dinamo Zagreb). Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa). Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka), Sammir (Getafe). Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina)

The Manager – Niko Kovac – Kovac is a legendary figure in Croatian football having captained his country for many years, and most significantly at the 2006 World Cup. A classy defensive midfielder in his day, Kovac will want his team to mirror his style of play in Brazil.

The Preparation – Wolfsburg’s Ivan Perisic staked his claim for a place in Croatia’s starting eleven with a brace in the win over Mali. A much changed eleven went onto defeat Australia through a single Nikica Jelavic strike. Like Brazil, Croatia have yet to pick up any major injuries prior to the tournament.

Perisic on target against Mali

The Definitive Opinion – Despite their infancy as a nation, Croatia have built a reputation over past tournaments and are not to be underestimated. They have a very talented squad of players with the key individuals being Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic. The latter is something of an unknown quantity in this country, whereas in Spain he is highly valued, with both Madrid teams and Barcelona interested in securing his signature. They have an experienced keeper in Stipe Pletikosa (formerly of Spurs), with even more experience in the form of captain and marauding right back Darijo Srna who can also deliver a deadly set piece. The likes of Corluka, Lovren, Pranjic, Vukojevic, Perisic, Olic and Eduardo are well known, with each having Champions League experience, which at this level is extremely valuable.  Mario Mandzukic is the man the Croatians will turn to for goals, and the two time Croatian footballer of the year has been in rampant form since joining Bayern in 2012. Questions have been raised about his technical ability and the fact he’s only scored 13 goals in 50 games for Croatia, however his record at club level speaks for itself and he has scored goals at every level. At the age of 28, a World Cup in Brazil could be the stage for Mandzukic to cement his place as one of the world’s best strikers. The Croatian’s should at the very least get out of the group and I wouldn’t be surprised if they upset the hosts on opening night. If they proceed through the group, they have the talent to go as far as they want, perhaps even a repeat of the 1998 semi-final appearance. 

The Team – Mexico

The Squad - Goalkeepers: Jose de Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca). Defenders: Miguel Layun (America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres), Paul Aguilar (America), Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America), Diego Reyes (Porto), Rafael Marquez (Leon). Midfielders: Miguel Angel Ponce (Toluca), Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon), Luis Montes (Leon), Hector Herrera (Porto), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Carlos Pena (Leon). Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal), Raul Jimenez (America), Alan Pulido (Tigres).

The Manager – Miguel Herrera – Herrera’s managerial career has a somewhat underwhelming tone to it, having failed to win anything at two of Mexico’s biggest club sides, Atlante and Monterrey. However, having been appointed Club America manager in 2011, he led Las Águilas to a league title in 2013. The only competitive fixtures he has overseen as manager of Mexico, were both legs of the 9-3 play-off victory over New Zealand, consequently his capabilities as an international manager have yet to be tested.

The Preparation – Mexico can count themselves unlucky to have lost both their warm up games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Portugal respectively. The Mexicans went down to a Izet Hajrovic goal just before half time against the Bosnians, then having seemingly secured a respectable draw against Portugal, Bruno Alves struck in the 93^rd minute to leave Herrera’s side winless going into the World Cup.

Will Hernandez find his form in time for Brazil? 

The Definitive Opinion – Having appointed three different managers in the month before Herrera took the job and qualifying through a play-off, many Mexicans will just be happy to be at the World Cup this summer. It is easy to forget that many of this squad were part of the side that won Gold at the 2012 Olympic Games, defeating a Brazil team that included Thiago Silva, Hulk and Neymar. The man that fired the Mexicans to glory that day, Oribe Peralta, is joined in the squad by Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez and former Spurs and current Villarreal playmaker Giovanni Dos Santos. The latter has had a superb season in La Liga, earning rave reviews and helping Villarreal to sixth place in their first season back at that level. The squad also includes two vastly experienced centre halves in Rafael Marquez and Francisco Rodriguez formerly of Barcelona and Stuttgart respectively, despite both being in the latter stages of their careers they have vital roles to play in Mexico’s 5-3-2 system, most significantly in terms of organisation. The Mexican’s will be vying with Croatia and Cameroon for second place in the group, anything more would be an unprecedented success. Due to the amount of players plying their trade in the Mexican League and Javier Hernandez not looking anything like the player that burst onto the international scene at the 2010 World Cup, I can’t foresee El Tri getting out of the group; they may even struggle to get a point. 

Team – Cameroon

The Squad - Goalkeepers: Loic Feudjou (Coton Sport), Charles Itandje (Konyaspor), Sammy Ndjock (Fethiyespor). Defenders: Benoit Assou-Ekotto (QPR, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Henri Bedimo (Lyon), Aurelien Chedjou (Galatasaray), Cedric Djeugou (Coton Sport), Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille), Dany Nounkeu (Besiktas), Allan Nyom (Granada). Midfielders: Enoh Eyong (Antalyaspor), Jean Makoun (Rennes), Joel Matip (Schalke), Stephane Mbia (Sevilla, on loan from QPR), Benjamin Moukandjo (Nancy), Landry Nguemo (Bordeaux), Edgar Salli (Lens), Alex Song (Barcelona). Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient), Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting (Mainz), Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea), Fabrice Olinga (Malaga), Achille Webo (Fenerbahce).

The Manager – For a man that has spent the majority of his managerial career at Freiburg in Germany, it was something of a surprise that Volker Finke decided to delve into International management at the age of 65 and even more suprising that it was with Cameroon. His 16 years with Freiburg will stand him in good stead having used more African players than any German team during his reign. He doesn’t have the support of one of Cameroon’s greatest ever players however, with Roger Milla wanting Finke replaced by a local manager. 

The Preparation – A draw against a strong German side will have given the Indomitable Lions considerable hope for a strong campaign in Brazil, this was followed up by a tight 1-0 win over Moldova. A pay dispute had disrupted their preparation, but with this now resolved Finke’s men can concentrate on their opener with Mexico.

Eto'o finds the net against Germany

The Definitive Opinion – The Indomitable Lions will once again be led by one of the torchbearers of African football, Samuel Eto’o. At 33 he perhaps hasn’t got many years left at the top of the game, but he showed glimpses of his unerring talent at Chelsea this season and it could be argued that a year in the Premier League is the perfect warm up for a World Cup campaign. What this squad does contain is an array of strong central defenders and central midfielders, including Nicolas N’Koulou and Alex Song. They usually line up in a defensive 4-3-3 system with N’Koulou and Schalke’s Joel Matip at centre half with the defensive trio of Stephane M’Bia, Eyong Enoh and Alex Song in midfield. This defensive base should take pressure off the likes of Eto’o and prevent another poor showing at a World Cup, having lost all of their group games in South Africa four years ago. I’m positive that Cameroon will improve on the disappointment of 2010, whether they’ll have enough to take second place I’m not so convinced.