Cheeky Chip

Group C & D: Will the favourites triumph?

By Gordon Fleetwood, writing from New York City

Group C 

1. Slovenia (P: 4 GF: 3 GA: 2 GD: 1)

2. USA (P: 2 GF: 3 GA: 3 GD: 0)

3. England (P: 2 GF: 1 GA: 1 GD: 0)

4. Algeria (P: 1 GF: 0 GA: 1 GD: -1)

The games

USA - Algeria

England - Slovenia

The situation

Mathematicians must be licking their lips when analyzing the possible permutations in this group. Qualification is balanced on a knife’s edge with all four teams equally poised to grab a spot into the next round. In the first game, top of the table Slovenia take on stuttering England. A point is enough for Slovenia to ensure their passage to the knockout rounds. Given their opponents unimpressive showing so far, they will be fancying their chances. They are a well organized side with defensive discipline who have enough talent in midfield and up front to create and take their chances.  England after being touted to qualify without breaking a sweat are facing elimination. As the saying goes, they are less than the sum of their parts, with their talent ridden team looking short of cohesion and intelligent play in particular down the wings. England have been especially poor with regard to ball retention and passing, something the Slovenians seem largely at ease with. With the English public already calling for their heads, the impetus will be on them to come out and perform.

After a poor showing in their first game, Algeria put on a spirited performance in their match against England. They were largely untroubled in that game and kept the ball well while showing some interest in attacking. The US on the other hand, have come through two very emotional opening matches. They came within a post’s width of winning the opening game against England after being gifted an equalizer. Then in the second game against Slovenia, an incredible comeback saw them denied a win at the end by a horrendous refereeing error. A show of incredible heart and grit is being offset a propensity to concede early goals. Algeria will be confident given the fact that the US has not kept a clean-sheet in the World Cup for sometime. Both teams come into the game knowing that regardless of the result of the other match, a win will see them into the next round. It’s set up to be a breathtaking encounter.

The tactical perspective

So far Slovenia have played a straight 4-4-2 but will probably go to a 4-4-1-1 against England given the minimum requirement for their progression.  As already stated they’re comfortable nature on the ball will give them a slight advantage over the possession shy English. Without the ball, expect Slovenia to sit back and then look for the impressive Robert Koren to slide passes in behind for Novakovic and Dedic to run unto given the slow center-back partnership of England. From the English perspective, much has been made of how England should play. Not with regard to their system but the players who inhabit said system. The prediction formation will be a 4-2-2/4-2-3-1 hybrid. The general consensus has been though that England miss that spark of genius and a person with the ability to stimulate ball possession. They do have two players who can do both jobs in Joe Cole and Michael Carrick respectively, both of who have been warming the bench so far. One thing is for certain, whatever Fabio Capello chooses to do, keeping things as they are will probably result in a early flight home.

An interesting clash in styles will occur in the USA-Algeria game. Algeria will stick to their 3-4-2-1 and the USA to their 4-4-2/4-2-2-2. With Algeria’s formation they are expected to dominate ball possession. Caution should be the name of the game for the Americans at the start, especially with their tendency to let in early goals. Tracking back from the two forwards will be crucial given the for attacking talent of Algeria’s wingbacks. The best way forward would be compactness with little spaces in between the lines. With Algeria’s ball retention skills, chances will be at a premium the Americans. They need to be clinical. 

Algeria will flood the midfield. Their lone forward isn’t mush of a threats so their penetration will come from, especially from Bel-Hadj. Flooding the box with forward runs after getting the ball down the wing will be key to their success. 

Group D

1. Ghana (P: 4 GF: 2 GA: 2 GD: 0)

2. Germany (P: 3 GF: 4 GA: 1 GD: 3)

3. Serbia (P: 3 GF: 2 GA: 1 GD: 1)

4. Australia (P: 1 GF: 1 GA: 5 GD: -4)

The games

Ghana - Germany

Serbia - Australia

The situation

Another group, another situation where there is little margin for error. Ghana and Germany will duel in a top of the table clash (just barely)  where a point would be enough to see the Ghanaians progress.  That’s suits them as scoring goals hasn’t been a strength of theirs. Two goals in total -  both of which were from penalties - doesn’t say much for the Ghanaian offense. Ghana will happily bunker down and play out a stalemate. With this in mind, the Germans will have to go on the attack to ensure that they don’t have an early flight home. The Germans have been very  impressive. Even in their 1-0 defeat to Serbia, only Lukas Podolski’s wastefulness contrived to see them walk away empty-handed. With Klose suspended, Cacau will probably start as the lone striker. Although Loew’s reluctance to play Stephan Kiessling is strange,  given that he scored more goals this past season than Klose and Gomez combined. This will be a very tight game. 

The match-up between Australia and Serbia goes beyond the pitch given the sizable Serbian Diaspora in Australia. Serbia seem to have woken up after their lukewarm opening game against Ghana. They were energetic against Germany lead by the exciting winger Milos Krasic. With the knowledge that win would see them advance regardless of the other match’s result, the Serbs have their fate in their own hands. Unfortunately for Australia it isn’t that straight forward after the thumping they received from Germany in their first game. They must win and hope Ghana do as well to qualify.  

The tactical perspective

Ghana and Germany will see a repeat of the battle from Germany’s game with Serbia. Ghana’s 4-1-4-1 is ideal to restrict the German’s 4-2-3-1. As against Serbia, Germany’s mercurial playmaker Mesut Oezil will find himself being shadowed, this time by Anthony Annan. With  Ghana’s packed midfield, wing play will be essential for the Germans to break down Ghana. Ghana on the other hand will have to find a way to counter when they come of their defensive shell. In this Prince Tagoe on the right will be crucial. He will have to exploit the weak link of the German team in Holger Badstuber at left back, who has not looked comfortable dealing with against pace down that flank. 

After playing a 4-1-4-1 to stifle the Germans, Serbia will likely return to the 4-4-2 they played against Ghana. This may give Australia a slight advantage since they play a 4-2-3-1. Serbia’s usage of their two wide midfielders and their delivery into Nikola Zigic will be crucial. Australia on the other hand will have to look to control the midfield given their numerical advantage and target the space between Serbia’s center-backs and full backs.