Key Players
G - Robert Green
D - Jon Terry, Ashley Cole
M - Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard
F - Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch
Advantages
-Depth
-Speed Throughout Squad
-Ability to Score From All Positions
Weaknesses
-Susceptible to Counter-Attacks
-Pending Injuries
Prediction
First Place in Group C
United States
Key Players
G - Tim Howard
D - Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra
M - Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey
F - Jozy Altidore
Advantages
-Chemistry
-Great Goalkeeping
-Size
Weaknesses
-Pending Injuries
-Lack of Scoring Options
-Lack of Possession in Midfield
Prediction
Second Place in Group C
Algeria
Key Players
G - Lounès Gaouaoui
D - Nadir Belhadj
M - Yazid Mansouri, Hassan Yebda
F - Rafik Saifi
Advantages
-Speed in Defense
-Players in Major European Leagues
Weaknesses
-Lack of Scoring Options
-Inexperience
-Depth
Prediction
Fourth Place in Group C
Slovenia
Key Players
G - Samir Handanovič
D - Bojan Jokic, Bostjan Cesar
M - Robert Koren, Aleksander Radosavljevič
F - Milivoje Novakovic
Advantages
-Solid Defense
-Size
-Tough Road to World Cup
Weaknesses
-Depth
-Inexperience
-Youth
Prediction
Third Place in Group C
One more weakness for England - EXTREMELY susceptible to crumbling when it actually matters.
ReplyDeleteHaha. I couldn't think of too many for England, they seem so set.
ReplyDeleteEngland is my pick to win the WC as a whole. I think they have what it takes as long as they stay healthy and resolve their keeper situation (not sure who it is yet) but they have a very strong club and I don't see anything other than bad luck removing them from winning the group.
ReplyDeleteYeah I think they'll end up making the final. They're so deep.
ReplyDeleteI really hope they do. Out of no real reason than the pride of having picked them to make it.
ReplyDeleteCzech Republic was a huge favorite during the last WC and didn't even advance out of the group stages, And I think that's a huge reason why tournaments are so fun.
Yeah I agree. You always have a giant crumble under the pressure, and for Will's sake, I hope it's not England. They're too talented. I think that Czech Republic had a little fluff in the Fifa ranking, and really lacked depth as we saw as soon as Koller got injured.
ReplyDeleteI just hope that the US and England make it out of this group.
I think Slovenia is the biggest wild card out of this group. I think they could really mess with projections. USA is good, if not great, but depth is something I don't think the US has. You didn't mention it as a disadvantage, but even the average sports fan doesn't know a single US player with the exception of Donovan, not that the media's portrayal really has much to do with it, but superstars in soccer are still superstars. The average sports fan in the US could still rattle off 10-15 soccer players, but can't name more than 1-2 in their own country...
ReplyDeleteIf The US has any hope of holding true, I think you mentioned the triad up front of Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore, but I think Howard in the back is going to make the biggest difference when it's nearing the end game.
I agree with your analysis. I do take issue with the chosen players though. I wouldn't name Peter Crouch or Jozy Altidore. Crouch is skilled and he's great in the air but I like Walcott for his speed and ability to get the ball in the box for a goal-scoring opportunity almost without fail. Granted, he's more dangerous as a winger but still.
ReplyDeleteAs for Jozy: I feel like he was the lesser of the evils, which is painful to say but it's true. I mean you had Ching and Beasley as your other two options and I wouldn't even pick them last in a pick-up game. I think Jozy still has some growing to do but, as long as he checks his temper, he will play hard for the U.S.
Honestly I think it's a crap shoot as for who starts up front for England. I can see it being Rooney with Crouch, Rooney with Defoe, Rooney with Heskey, Rooney with Walcott, etc. I just think that Crouch gives them the best option, and I feel he's a very valuable player even on the ball. That's something that's extremely overrated just due to his awkward nature. I think that Walcott is great for his speed on the wing, but sometimes that's just not enough against great teams.
ReplyDeleteSlovenia is a big wild card. Their defense allowed only 6 goals in qualifying in 12 games, and beat Russia out in a playoff to get in. They're a tough team, but I think that they lack depth and experience even more so than the United States squad.
I was thinking about the keepers, I guess I should go back and put the good keepers under key players.
Jozy Altidore I think proved himself quite worthy of a starting role and a mention as a key player in the US roster. He's their best option up front, as I feel Donovan and Dempsey are wasted solely placed in the attack. We'll see though, hopefully someone will step up in the front with him.