Group A

Germany



As the host nation, nothing less is expected from Klinsmann’s men from the people of Germany…….come 9th July 2006, Germany will be lifting the World Cup to become champion for the 4th time. It is obviously a big pressure for a team who were knocked out from Euro 2004 in the group stages but playing in front of their own fans and also a world cup pedigree only bettered by Brazil, Germany would be one of the favorites.

With the tussle for the no 1 jersey is finally over with Lehman having the coach’s vote, Germany can now concentrate on their defence unit. Although in Lehman they have a goalkeeper who is in a wonderful form, the defence are relatively untested and the new pairing of Mertesacker and Huth, who can’t even break into Chelsea’s first team, lacks the reliability and confidence the once famous organize German had. But with Ballack operating in the midfield and Klose and the exciting new striker Podolski upfront, Germany will absolutely be a major threat to Brazil’s dream of a 6th title.

Main Man: Ballack, the new Chelsea man performance would be the major key to Germany’s success. If he can lead the team to their 4th WC title, he would justify his nickname…The Little Kaiser and also his name in Germany’s football history just like The Kaiser himself.



Player to Watch: Podolski moved to Germany from Poland at age 2. Poland’s lost is Germany’s gain. He scored 8 goals in 12 games last year and with Klose, also originally from Poland, on fire by being the top scorer in the Bundesliga this season, their partnership would certainly bring in the goals for Germany.




Costa Rica


It is Costa Rica 3rd appearance and 2nd in a row in the WC. They finished 3rd in the CONCACAF qualifying and coming to Germany with a lot more experience behind them. With Paulo Wanchope leading the country and the attack, the Ticos would want to do better and if possible to emulate or do better than the 1990 World Cup squad, who in their 1st appearance qualified into the last 16.

Their qualification round did not start well for the Ticos but they overturn their fortune to secure their place in Germany with 3 wins in the last 4 games of the qualifying round. Other than the veteran like Martinez, Solis and Wanchope in the team, new players like Saborio will be looking to make an impact in Germany. Saprissa FC which represented CONCACAF in the FIFA Club World Championship, made out more than half of the national team would also use their experience when paying in the competition to good use in Germany.

Main Man: Wanchope is the national hero and football icon. His performance is unpredictable and inconsistent but when he is in form, he just dazzle.



Player to Watch: Saborio is an exciting young striker and the Ticos will be hoping he would not succumb to pressure and get them the goals to take through.



Poland


Poland pushed England all the way in the qualifying round but the lost to England in the last game means they could only finished 2nd. But luck was on their side and they booked the ticket to Germany by being one of the best group runner-up. Poland was one of the major football force not so long ago but was not good enough to even qualify for any major competition since 1986 until their appearance in the last WC edition.

With Celtic’s Zurawski who scored 7 goals in the qualifying round and also on fire in the Scottish league, goals can be assured with Southampton’s Rasiak lurking behind him with his 191cm figure. With Smolarek providing the fire power to the front two, it does look worrying for the Polish defence marshal by the veteran Jacek Bak. Jerzy Dudek was dropped and Celtic’s Artur Boruc will be wearing the no 1 jersey. The performance of Wigan in their 1st season in the EPL had helped their custodian Tomasz Kuszczak to be included into the team. The defence looks a bit suspect and vulnerable. Poland would hope to qualify to the last 16 this time around without the controversy that seem to affect their performance in the last WC when the players protested about bonus payment and were eliminated in the group stages.

Main Man: Zurawski is the major threat in front of goal. Poland would be hoping he would bring his performance while helping Celtic winning the SPL this season to the WC.



Player to Watch: Boruc is another Celtic man but rather than getting in the goal, his job is to stop the goals going in. In outstanding performance at Celtic, he gave the manager enough confidence to not including the Liverpool European Cup hero Dudek out of the team.



Ecuador



Qualified 3rd behind the South America power houses Brazil and Argentina, Ecuador came into the tournament this time as the favorite to qualify from the group stages. Once consider one of the South America’s minnows, their 2nd straight qualification showed a major improvement in the country’s football standard. With most of the players that played in the last WC still in the team, Ecuador would want to improve on their performance. Although they did beat Brazil and Argentina at home, most would say they won because of the city’s altitude.

Delgado is their main goal poacher with his 5 goals in the qualification helped Ecuador through. The veteran Ayovi and Tenorio are the main men in midfield while the exciting new player Luis Valencia would be a major torn with his pace and overwhelming force of play. Hurtado and Espinoza are the key men at the centre of defence but fast pace attack would crack them if the overlapping full back De La Cruz forgets his defensive duty.

Main Man: Edison Mendez would trouble opponents with his passing ability and also the powerful shots will trouble goalkeepers.



Player to Watch: Nicknamed “Tsunami”, this young midfielder will be creating havoc with his pace down the left and also his no fear attitude. He scored 3 goals in 7 qualification matches for Ecuador.


Prediction

I don’t expect any surprises in this group. With home support and what seems to be an easy group, Germany would definitely top the group and qualify to the last 16. Poland and Ecuador would be fighting for the runner up spot but I believe the Polish team would have the upper hand. Costa Rica, well, the team just lacks quality players to really challenge for a spot in the last 16.