Soccer

2006 WORLD CUP
GROUP A

By Jim Allen
Outsports.com
 

SUMMARY

Hosts Germany must have been somewhat pleased when they saw the draw for Group A.  Poland and Costa Rica are playing poorly and Ecuador seems to be at a lower level than the other three group members to start with.  Look for Germany and Costa Rica to advance.

COSTA RICA

Hot Player: Gabriel Badilla FIFA Ranking: 26 Manager (nationality): Alexandre Guimaraes (Costa Rica) Key Players: Paulo Wanchope, Victor Nunez (forwards); Christian Bolanos, Walter Centeno (midfielders); Michael Rodriguez, Gilberto Martinez (defenders); Jose Francisco Porras (goalkeeper) Overview: There is a term that I hear used a lot in English discussions of football: minnow.  This refers to a team that is far down the pecking order in terms of quality and chances to win (such as: White Sox > Royals). "Minnows" is a perfect description of Costa Rica as they seem poised to be the team that everyone beats for three points in group play.  Although "friendly" matches used as warmups to the tournament should be treated with the same level of importance as baseball spring training games, Costa Rica has lost three straight friendlies, including a 4-0 pasting at the hands of Ukraine. A lot of the pressure will be on the shoulders of Paulo Wanchope.  The veteran striker will be playing his last World Cup competition and Costa Rica desperately need him to be effective up front.  In reading about Costa Rica, hopes were high until their recent run of bad results, wherein doom and gloom have settled in among supporters and the press. There's simply too much talent for Costa Rica to stink, but they're going to need to find their form soon or risk being embarrassed.

ECUADOR

Hot Player: Ivan Hurtado FIFA Ranking: 39 Manager (nationality): Luis Suarez (Columbia) Key Players: Agustin Delgado, Ivan Kaviedes (forwards); Marlon Ayovi, Edison Mendez (midfielders); Ivan Hurtado, Geovanny Espinoza (defenders); Edwin Villafuerte (goalkeeper) Overview: By the end of their stay in Germany, players and coaches associated with Ecuador will be sick of talking about one thing: altitude.  Ecuador has been sneered at for its participation in this World Cup because, according to the critics, they only got there because they play their home qualifying matches in the second highest capital, Quito, which is at 9,300 feet.  This, naturally, gives Ecuador a huge advantage in home matches.  However, as a fan on a blog sneered, "Then why isn't Nepal playing in Germany?"  Fair enough.  Ecuador didn't make it out of the group stages in 2002's World Cup, but they seem to have a good blend of rising stars (Christian Lara, Luis Valencia) and experience (Ivan Hurtado, Augistin Delgado).  Getting off to a good start in their first match against Poland will be crucial, because a good result will inspire confidence that they really can compete in the lowlands of Germany.

GERMANY

Hot Players: Thomas Hitzlsperger, left, and Michael Ballack FIFA Ranking: 19 Manager (nationality): Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany) Key Players: Miroslav Klose, Oliver Neuville (forwards); Michael Ballack, Thomas Hitzlsperger (midfielders), Philipp Lahm, Robert Huth (defenders); Jens Lehmann (goalkeeper) Overview: Germany has won the World Cup three times: 1954, 1974 (in Germany) and 1990.  This is a fine pedigree, but it's going to be a young and relatively inexperienced team that tries to win it all again on home soil. "Relatively inexperienced" also applies to the manager, Jurgen Klinsmann, who will be participating in his first World Cup as a manager.  Although the Germans made the final in 2002, losing to an irresistible Brazil, 2-0, it was felt that game represented a last gasp for that particular group of players.  One, lion-maned goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, will be starting on the bench, having lost the starting job to Jens Lehmann, who had a great season for Arsenal in England and Europe.  The key to Germany is how well gorgeous Michael Ballack plays.  He's the engine of the German team and it must be disconcerting to German supporters to see him feuding with Klinsmann over tactics: Klinsmann, a former striker, prefers an aggressive offensive style, while Ballack has questioned his commitment to building a strong defensive side.  With all the history that Germany offers -- both good and very bad -- it's going to be fascinating watching the team, the country and how the media in various countries react.

POLAND

Hot Player:  Artur Boruc FIFA Ranking: 29 Manager (nationality): Pawel Janas (Poland) Key Players: Maciej Zurawski, Grzegorz Rasiak (forwards); Jacek Krzynowek, Sebastian Mila (midfielders); Mariusz Jop, Michal Zewlakow (defenders); Artur Boruc (goalkeeper) Overview: It's not a great sign for a team going in to a World Cup that they have goalkeeping issues.  Yet that's exactly what Poland face after a very poor showing in a friendly against Colombia recently.  Jerzy Dudek had been the choice for the No. 1 shirt previously, but he wasn't even asked along to Germany, perhaps due to the fact that he warmed the bench for Liverpool this season.  Against Colombia, his replacements didn't exactly inspire confidence. Tomasz Kuszczak allowed a kick from Colombia's goalkeeper Luis Enrique Martinez to bounce over his head for a humiliating goal and his competition, Artur Boruc, handsome as he is, didn't play well either.  Manager Pawal Janas' assertion that both "are in good form" at an apparently hostile press conference after the match seems bizarre.  For one game at least, against Germany, the Poles will play their socks off but the lack of firepower up front and lack of confidence in their goalkeepers will probably mean that Poland doesn't get out of the group stages.