FIFA World Cup 2014 at a Glance: Group G
Featuring four teams, group G has turned out to be one of the toughest groups of the World Cup . Germany, Portugal, USA and Ghana will be looking to get off to a flying start because the margin of error will be close to nothing. One bad result could be the end of the road for any of them. Let’s take a look at the group in a little more detail and see how the teams measure up against each other. Oh boy this will be fun!
Team: Germany
Manager: Joachim Loew
Path to Qualification (Wins, Losses, Draws):
The Germans had a near perfect qualification campaign for the World Cup, yet again. They were in qualification Group C with the likes of Sweden, Austria, Republic of Ireland, Kazakhstan and Faroe Islands. Joachim Loew’s men won nine games, drew one and lost none to put twenty eight points on the board. That was good enough to land them the top spot in the Group ahead of second placed Sweden.
The Game Changers:
Now this is interesting. For me Germany has one of the, if not, the most complete squad in the world right now. It heads into the tournament as favorites once again and it will take something really special to stop the team from going all the way.
The strength of the Germans lie in the fact that they are the best counter-attacking unit in the world. What makes them different is that they can do that by using different systems and players. The likes of Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller, Sami Khedira (if fit) and Marco Reus have got a lot of skill and pace among them. The Germans are a big tournament team and I for one will not be surprised an iota if they lift the Jules Rimet Trophy on July 13.
World Cup History:
Total Appearances: 18
Best Finish: Winners in 1954, 1974 and 1990
Prediction for the Group: 1st
Germany is my pick to top this group. It has the most flexible and talented squad in not only the group but the World Cup as well. They will be one of the teams to look out for. I can easily see them getting out of the group unbeaten, it will not be easy for sure but if any team can do that, its Germany.
Interesting Fact:
Apart from winning the World Cup three times, Germany have also finished as the runners up on four occasions.
Team: Portugal
Manager: Paulo Bento
Path to Qualification (Wins, Losses, Draws):
Portugal made hard work of qualifying for the World Cup. They were in Group F alongside Russia, Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg. The Portuguese played ten games, winning six, drawing three and lost just once. They finished with twenty one points, a point behind the Russians to go take on Sweden in the playoffs. Portugal won 1-0 at home before going to Sweden to record a 3-2 win with the captain Cristiano Ronaldo bagging a hat trick. The 4-2 aggregate win rubberstamped their appearance in the World Cup.
The Game Changers:
Cristiano Ronaldo, the current Ballon d’Or holder and the best player in the world at the moment will lead his country into the World Cup as the Portugal captain. He is a complete soccer player who can score with either foot or his head. The guy is a genius and is good enough to win games on his own. His hat trick against Sweden in the playoffs is a perfect example of his big game temperament.
World Cup History:
Total Appearances:6
Best Finish: Third place in 1966
Prediction for the Group: 2nd
Portugal are my pick to finish second behind Germany in the World Cup. Both teams open their accounts in the tournament against each other and I think Germany will win that game with the slightest of margins. Both teams should beat USA and Ghana in other games scheduled so the Portugal versus Germany game will decide who tops the group.
Interesting Fact:
Portugal has produced wonderful players but surprisingly, they have yet to win a major International trophy.
Team: USA
Manager: Jurgen Klinsmann
Path to Qualification (Wins, Losses, Draws):
The United States qualified for the World Cup without too many problems by topping their CONCACAF region. The USA played ten games and won seven out of those. They lost twice and drew one game to end up with twenty two points. That haul was good enough to put them at the top of the CONCACAF standings four points ahead of second placed Costa Rica.
The Game Changers:
It has to be Jurgen Klinsmann. The German legend has transformed the United States on the soccer pitch. The USA are in good hands coming into the tournament and a lot of that is down to the changes made by Klinsmann. He has brought some new faces into the team to compliment the big names and it has worked brilliantly.
World Cup History:
Total Appearances: 10
Best Finish: Third place in 1930
Prediction for the Group: 3rd
The United States will finish third in the group as far as I am concerned. Yes, they have been on a bit of a roll lately but I see them coming undone against Portugal and the country Klinsmann guided to the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup, Germany. The United States will more or less need to win against the two European teams in the group and I don’t see that happening.
Interesting Fact:
The United States game against Ghana will mark the third straight time, the two countries will be playing each other in the World Cup.
Team: Ghana
Manager: Akwasi Appiah
Path to Qualification (Wins, Losses, Draws):
Ghana, also known as the Black Stars made it to the World Cup at a canter. They were in a group with Zambia, Sudan and Lesotho to qualify for the tournament. The Black Stars played a total of six games. They won five, drew none and lost one game to rack up fifteen points, four more than second placed Zambia. That earned them a place in the World Cup for the third time in succession.
The Game Changers:
Their big name players like Sulley Muntari, Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Asamoah Gyan will have to step up to the mark and make their presence felt if Ghana are to do anything of note in the World Cup. These guys have played in Europe for some of the biggest clubs in the World so they know what pressure feels like. They will have to lead the way and guide the younger players if Ghana are to make it to the next round.
World Cup History:
Total Appearances: 3
Best Finish: Quarterfinals in 2010
Prediction for the Group: 4th
Ghana met the United States twice in the World Cup before and won both encounters. This time however, I think the USA will turn the tables and end that particular little jinx. Ghana’s star players haven’t been setting the world on fire for their clubs like they used to and that will be a big handicap. The Black Stars will come unstuck against both Germany and Portugal and by the looks of it, against the United States as well this time around.
Interesting Fact:
Ghana became only the third team from Africa to make it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup when they reached that stage in the 2010 edition.
So there you have it folks. I think Germany and Portugal will finish first and second respectively. The United States will be third and Ghana fourth. Yes, the group might end up throwing up a shock result or two but then, that can be said of any other group in the tournament Group G will be fascinating and let’s see which teams ends up where in what will be one of the most talked about groups in the tournament.