World Cup Group D

Time is running out for me to get all of these previews done before the start of the World Cup Final on June 11th. So let's soldier on and talk about Group D.

A few words on the group as a whole. Each team finished first in their respective qualifiers and each team has some of the famous World Cup mojo and history working for them. Also, this group should be of particular interest because the winner of this group will play the runner-up of Group C, which could be the Americans.

Group D
Australia
Germany
Ghana
Serbia

Who will win?
Germany, but it will be close.

Who could win?
Any team in the group.

Who has no chance?
No one. This group is wide open.

How they'll finish:

4. Australia - It's a shame for the Socceroos to be placed in this group. Soccer has long been an also-ran sport in the minds of the Aussies. That changed in '06 in Germany when they marched into the second round and then got jobbed in a match against Italy. They were locked in a scoreless time in stoppage time when Italy was awarded a penalty kick on questionable dive that was later shown to be blatant. This year the 'Roos have a few players with premiership talent, but rely on athleticism more than skill. And like I said before, it's a shame because they are in a group loaded with skill. Then again this group is a crap shoot. I am putting the Aussies fourth because I have to rank them, but I will not be surprised if they finish in the top two of the group and advance.


3. Serbia - The Serbians are competing on their own (as in, without Montenegro, or as part of Yugoslavia) for the first time. Along with some premiership talent, they will be given a boost from the addition of American Neven Subotic, playing for his birth nation. He is a big physical player he has cut his teeth as a part of top-tier Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund. Two other things they have going for them are their tough defensive style of play and coach Radomir Antic. Antic has turned a team with a history of infighting to a cohesive unit that plays like a "family." I just don't think it will be enough to catch Ghana or Germany.


2. Ghana - I'm putting the Black Stars second, but with reservations. I am counting on superstar Michael Essien being fit to play. He announced last week that he expects to be healthy in time for the Cup, and may even be ready for a June 5th friendly against Latvia. Essien and a healthy Sulley Muntari will provide a huge boost for a team that is loaded with youthful experience. In Germany in '06 they had the youngest team in the field. In 2009 their U20 team beat Brazil to win the U20 World Cup. Like I said, youthful experience. These characteristics are most evident in forward Asamoah Gyan. He was only 20 when he competed on the Cup in team in '06 and all he did was score three-quarters of the team's goals. Lastly, do not discount the benefit of playing on their home continent. With all due respect to the Ivory Coast, Ghana might have the best team in Africa and should look forward to getting to the round of 16, if not further.


1. Germany - I wish I had the onions to pick a different team, but I don't. Injuries and all, I am still going with the Germans to win the group. The Germans have major issues with their midfield. They have lost Christian Trasch and captain Michael Ballack to injury. The Germans don't seem to have a lot of top tier talent, but they do have some talented youngsters. It might sound funny to call them a team of upstarts, but that might be an apt description. Chief among the young players in midfielder Mesut Ozil. He is only 21 and has already cracked into the starting line-up. He was also voted by his peers as the top player of the first half of the season in the Bundesliga. The Germans are the historical power and even with their injuries are talented. I expect them to finish at the top, but would not at all be surprised if they were knocked off.