Saturday, January 23, 2010

Who will survive the ‘Group Of Death’

Every tournament creates a group consisting of a few high profile teams often referred to as ‘The Group Of Death’ and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is no different.

Group G will pit 5 times winners Brazil against European big hitters Portugal, Ivory Coast and the lesser threat of North Korea. Brazil will be favourites to win the group with the history of winning the tournament and a team that would appear the best in all departments with World Class Kaka, the misely goalkeeper Julio Cesar, as well as Barcelona’ Dani Alves, Gilberto Silva, Robinho and striker Luis Fabiano. Portugal narrowly made it through the qualification stage eventually winning a play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina to make the finals, however they can still boast a team that includes Deco, Carvalho, Veleso and of course the world’s most expensive player Cristiano Ronaldo who demonstrated during his time at Manchester United and currently at Real Madrid that he can turn a game by himself. North Korea shouldn’t be too much of a problem for their group rivals with the other teams looking to gain an easy 3 points when they face North Korea.

The same however cannot be said of the Ivory Coast, with the World Cup coinciding with development of a pretty impressive team for ‘The Elephants’ who will be hoping to stamp on their competition. The Ivory Coast perhaps have the best chance of victory in the World Cup of all the African Nations with a team that boasts not only physically strong and quick players but players who currently play at the highest level. These include Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, arguably the best striker in the Premier League, with a strength, aerial ability, pace and strike rate to scare any defence and he has shown at his time at Chelsea that he is capable of occupying two centre backs which would open space for his team mates. His Chelsea team mate Soloman Kalou could be one player to benefit from Drogba’s prescence as he has good pace and is also of capable of scoring with his head or either foot. Barcelona’s Yaya Toure is a big strong player who will no doubt look to ‘boss’ the midfield as he does for his club and will be key in helping break up the oppositons attacks and dealing with players such as Kaka and Ronaldo as well as distributing the ball when attacking and he will also be a handful at set-pieces. Another ‘Elephant’ who will be important in the games against Brazil and Portugal will be Yaya’ older brother the equally athlectic and experienced centre back Kolo Toure. Currently plying his trade at Manchester City Kolo rose through the Arsenal Team and was one of ‘The Invincibles’ with his atheleticism, pace and ball control making him an important player in either box and he will be key to the Ivory Coast if they are not to allow the likes of Portugal and Brazil dominate their fixtures. The Ivory Coast also have a talented player in Emmanuel Eboue in their squad and although his temperament will be tested there is no doubt that this Arsenal graduate is a talented footballer. Capable of playing as right back or right or central midfield Eboue has good pace, tackling and can distribute the ball well in central or wide areas and with players such as Drogba and Kalou to aim at the Ivory Coast have a real source of goals and goals win games. The Ivory Coast also have solid players in Sevilla and former Spurs player Didier Zokora in midfield along with Marseille’s Bakary Kone and Stuttgart’s Arthur Boka next to Kolo at the back.

So, we have had a brief look at the teams likely to contend for the 2 spots for the next round from this group, but how might the matches go and what could be the end result. Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly stated that he sees Portugals first game against the Ivory Coast as the most improtant for Portugals progression. He has been quoted on Real Madrids official website as saying “We have a complicated group. It will be difficult but I am happy to be facing team-mates and friends. Football is always complicated. We have to play well to win and we are motivated to be facing great teams. Brazil are the strongest team, but the Ivory Coast are also a tough rival. It is a hard group. We will have to be in our best form. Winning the first match [against the Ivory Coast] is very important”. Brazil Head Coach Dunga said after the draw was made “Against Portugal, with their style of play and their players it will be like Brazil against Brazil. The big question mark is with North Korea. I will have to take a close look at them. Ivory Coast - they are very strong side.”

To see the possible outcomes we used the latest technology of a PS3 and Fifa 2010 to see how the games could pan out (we assumed that North Korea will be beaten in all 3 games)

Ivory Coast vs Portugal = Ivory Coast Win
Brazil vs Ivory Coast = Brazil Win
Portugal vs Brazil = Brazil Win

So there you have it it will be a 1,2 finish for Brazil and the Ivory Coast and if our demos prove to be right the winker Ronaldo and his team could be going out at the 1st stage.