Group C contains Colombia, Greece, Cote D'Ivoire and Japan

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/australia-in-nightmare-group-of-death-for-brazil-world-cup-20131207-2yxjw.html#ixzz2mj3p6klE

Edited by Joffa: 17/5/2014 09:53:10 PM

Edited by Joffa: 17/6/2014 10:30:23 PM

Like South Korea, in their Group, I think Japan have a better chance than some presume. No greatly intimidating or even superior teams, to them, in this group? And they certainly DIDN'T draw the kind of teams from Pots 1 and 4 that we drew - Colombia and Greece, not bad, not bad at all - literally - compared to Spain and Netherlands or even Germany and Portugal!

Like SK's group, no team seems greatly superior to any others. Colombia may be fancied a bit more than others, but again, reputation, experience etc. wise, things may even out. Japan have experience and progressed beyond the group stage before, including last WC. Ivory Coat have flattered to deceive before and their team even older now. Greece aren't a superior team, even if their team form decent.

Again, underestimate Japan at your peril! Go our fellow AFC sides! They could well qualify as the second placed side in this group. Honda, Kagawa, Nagatomo and co, they could easily rise to this challenge!

Pretty good draw for Japan I think they will make it out of this one

Was a thread for each group neccessary Joffa?

2014 World Cup draw
Group C: Predictions and Preview
December 6
By Miguel Delaney

Group C: Colombia in tricky group
Group C

Overview

Yes, the group lacks a true marquee name in terms of the teams, but there is also an absence of any obvious whipping boy. The baseline quality of this group is quite high, and all of the games will be relatively even. What's more, there's an intriguing rock-paper-scissors aspect to many of the matchups, with Colombia's attack facing Greece's defence, and Japan's technique having to deal with the tenacity of the Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure.

That variety of qualities could create a variety of results and one of those rare groups where there are only two or three points -- or even none -- between first and second.

Projected finish

It is, however, difficult not to think there is that slight split in overall quality, with both Colombia and Ivory Coast having that bit more than Japan and Greece. In fact, the greatest challenges for the South American and African sides could be psychological. The previous occasion Colombia were so fancied was in that fateful World Cup 1994 in the United States, which ended in misery, and then tragedy with the post-tournament murder of defender Andres Escobar. Ivory Coast, meanwhile, have never got through a World Cup group. Both, however, should ultimately get through this one.

Team-by-team

Colombia: A hugely formidable side that combines physicality with awesome forward power, most conspicuously in the rampaging Radamel Falcao. Most eyes will be on him, but that in itself creates other avenues for the Colombian attack. If opposition sides can weather that, however, Jose Pekerman's side does have flaws that ensures they were just seeds but not quite favourites. Issues at centre-back remain. Colombia will just have to try and outscore teams.

Ivory Coast: They may have moved on from the perceived golden generation of 2006 and lost some of that squad's stars, but they have at least -- and at last -- also lost their capacity to be drawn in the Group of Death. This is a much more inviting pool for the Ivorians than either 2006 or 2010. With a player like Toure at the absolute peak of his career, and Didier Drogba still so dangerous, they should finally feel confident of the end of an unfortunate run.

Japan: At first glance, they are not one of the two sides you would expect to get through this pool, but a deeper look also reveals some real substance to their squad. In the respected Alberto Zaccheroni, they have a manager well capable of tactical flexibility and who also has already won an Asian Cup. In the likes of Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda, they have a fine technical team. The main flaw is up front, but there is enough about Japan to suggest they won't finish at the back of the group all too easily.

Greece: Fernando Santos's team remain as resilient and resolute as ever, but have added one quality they have lacked since 2004: a prolific forward. Konstantinos Mitroglou has been in free-scoring form for both Olympiakos and through qualifying. It ensures that teams who have generally dominated play against the Greeks now have to be a little more cautious not to leave an abundance of space behind. That has possibly further played into their excellent defensive record in qualifying, where they only conceded only four goals. It gives them a fighting chance.

Best individual battle: Falcao vs. Sokratis Papastathopoulos

This pits the finest forward of the group's most awesome attack against the highest-quality defender in the best backline. This could be both the group's defining and decisive individual battle, bringing to a head their many disparate traits.

The players' own qualities are reflected by their statuses, with Falcao one of the most expensive players in the world at Monaco and Sokratis a fixture in one of Europe's most exciting club sides in Borussia Dortmund. This is likely to be an exacting faceoff.

Best game: Colombia vs. Ivory Coast

Although the contrasting qualities of all sides in this group mean each should be genuinely enthralling in its own way, that actually only adds to the fascination of this most stellar fixture in Brasilia on June 19.

In normal circumstances, you would have it as the battle for the top spot. In a group that looks so much more volatile than normal, one of these could be fighting for their future. The fact that it comes in the second round of games, right when they're all still in the mix, makes it all the more momentous.

X factor: Offensive flair

If this group is lacking that grand historic name in terms of World Cup history, it has plenty of box-office brilliance in regards the Champions League modern stars. Even more alluringly, many of them are particularly bombastic or creative attackers: Falcao, Toure, Kagawa. It will not want for a sense of wonder.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1640367?cc=3436

Japan should be able to handle Ivory Coast, not sure about Greece though. If they make it through they'll have a date with Italy. Lookin forward to that.

Very open. I say Colombia to win it, Japan 2nd, Ivory Coast 3rd, Greece last.

That post count doesn't increase on its own.

:lol:

Japan defeated Cameroon 1-0 and Denmark 3-1 to progress from their Group E with the Netherlands (Who they lost 0-1 to), at the last, 2010 World Cup.

The core of that team still about and arguably getting only better? But no guarantees ofcourse, Greece impressed in qualifying and Drogba's Ivory Coast I wouldn't write off either. It's a stronger challenge than 2010 for Japan, no doubt, but IF they can overcome these sides they will be a VERY competitive/worthy side come Round of 16! :o :cool:

World Cup Team Guides: Ivory Coast
Posted by Keith Satuku - May 2, 2014 - Africa, All News, International, World Cup

IVORY COAST, Group C


15 June vs Japan – 2am* (Arena Pernambuco, Recife) [moved from original 11pm kick off on June 14] 19 June vs Ivory Coast – 5pm (Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha, Brasilia)
24 June vs Greece – 9pm (Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza)
*All times BST

How they qualified?
Les Éléphants were one of the five teams who directly qualified from Africa after beating Senegal in a two-legged play off.

World Cup history
They have been at the last two World Cups (2006 and 2010) but they have never managed to get out of the stages.

FIFA world ranking: 21

Star man: Yaya Toure
There are some who make a case that he is the best player on the planet, but Toure is certainly at least one of the best.

He is surprisingly too technically gifted for such a giant; he is deceptively quick, a dead ball specialist, powerful, comfortable on the ball anywhere on the pitch and has an impressive passing and shooting range. He has virtually everything that a world class central midfielder should have.

His weakness maybe his defensive contribution but Sabri Lamouchi, the Ivory Coast coach, carefully sets his team up to exploit Toure’s strengths. He usually plays with two holding midfielders behind him in a 4-3-3 formation in which he is the link between midfield and attack. On his day, he is simply unstoppable.

Captain: Didier Drogba

Manager: Sabri Lamouchi

Strengths
- They are quick starters, scoring a quarter of their goals in the first 15 minutes.
- They have got character. They are one of seven qualifiers to recover more than half of the available points from losing positions.
- They have technicians in midfield to express themselves while they also have powerful centre-forwards like Didier Drogba and Wilfred Bony who can be equally effective should they need to play direct football.

Weaknesses
- Poor late on. Nearly half of the goals they conceded in their qualifying campaign came in the final quarter of an hour of games.
- They can be narrow. They largely attack through the middle which makes them easier to defend against for teams like Greece, who can crowd central areas.

Did you know?
Ivory Coast is one of the world’s top cocoa producing countries.

Odds: 150-1

Verdict
They are in a group with opponents who employ different styles to their own and they will have to tactically prepare for each game as it comes, but they have enough to get out of their group. In the knockout stages, they could be affected by their lack of experience.

http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2014/05/world-cup-team-guides-ivory-coast/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+offthepost%2FTLAa+%28Off+The+Post%29

Alberto Zaccheroni names Japan’s 23-man squad for World Cup 2014


STV
12 May 2014 10:52 BST

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has named his final 23-man Japan squad for the World Cup finals in Brazil.

The Italian has named a squad with 12 European-based players with Milan midfielder Keisuke Honda and Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa the biggest names boarding the flight to Brazil.

Japan face Ivory Coast, Greece and Colombia in the group stages with Zaccheroni hoping to take his side further than the last 16 finish they managed in 2010.

“The basic thing I looked for was quality, and we have a lot of players with that,” Zaccheroni told the Japan Times. “The next thing was the harmony of the team, because that will be important.

“I went for players with a high level of tactical intelligence and versatility. As much as possible, I wanted players who could play in two or more positions.”

The biggest surprise in Japan’s squad was the inclusion of Kawasaki Frontale forward Yoshito Okubo, who had not been called up to the squad in two years.

Zaccheroni’s side will play Cyprus in a friendly before heading to a pre-tournament training camp in the USA. They will play warm-up matches against Costa Rica and Zambia before heading to Brazil.

Goalkeepers

Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege) Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Red Diamonds) Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders

Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan) Maya Yoshida (Southampton) Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka) Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata) Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo) Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04) Hiroki Sakai (Hannover 96) Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart)

Midfielders

Makoto Hasebe (Nuremberg) Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka) Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka) Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nuremberg) Keisuke Honda (AC Milan)

Forwards

Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United) Shinji Okazaki (Mainz 05) Yuya Osako (1860 Munich) Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka) Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale) Manabu Saito (Yokohama Marinos)

http://sport.stv.tv/football/274947-alberto-zaccheroni-names-japans-23-man-squad-for-world-cup-2014/

Ivory Coast just have too much quality over the park. They'll win all 3 games IMO.

Group C Winner

Colombia 1.83
Ivory Coast 4.50
Japan 5.50
Greece 6.50

http://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/international-soccer/world-cup-2014/outrights

Assessing Japan’s World Cup chances

Posted on May 19, 2014   

A very warm welcome will be exchanged to the Japanese team this summer in Brazil as their showing at the Confederations Cup last summer was one to be excited about. Despite losing all three of their games at the tournament, Japan put up a brave and entertaining fight as they impressed the Brazilian crowd with their slick passing and fast movement.

The Japanese had a big part to play in the best game of the tournament against Italy, as despite letting a two goal lead slip and eventually losing 4-3, they still managed to attempt over 300 passes in the opposition half, a stat only bettered by world champions Spain. The side, managed by Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, will again be hoping to impress the millions watching with their attractive brand of football.

How they got there

Japan were the first to team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup meaning it was the third successive time that they have been the first nation in the world to qualify for the tournament. A last minute Keisuke Honda penalty to level the match up against Australia meant that Japan finished on top of the group ahead of the Soceroos. Japan scored 16 goals and conceded 5 whilst topping AFC group B which also included Oman, Jordan & Iraq.

Who to look out for

You wouldn’t usually associate a nations star players with sitting on the bench at club level but that is certainly the case with Japan. AC Milan’s Keisuke Honda and Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa are the stars of the Japanese team but haven’t been given much of a look in at their clubs this year. Honda has only competed 90 minutes three times in his 12 games at AC Milan after his publicised move from CSKA Moscow whereas Kagawa has only started 13 times for United. Both however will be relied on heavily at the World Cup as Japan will hope their stars lack of game time during the year won’t affect them too much. Japan’s other stars, however, haven’t found it as difficult to get games under their belt this season with FSV Mainz’ 05 Shinji Okazaki & Cerezo Osaka’s Yoichiro Kakitani finding themselves as regular starters at their clubs.

Keisuke Honda

Honda will be hoping to bring the form he showed at the last World Cup in 2010 to Brazil this summer. He was named man of the match in two group games, scoring twice including a special free kick against Denmark. The 27 year old attacking midfielder recently scored in friendly matches against Belgium, Holland, Ghana & Uruguay and also scored five goals in qualifying. He is very assured and calm in possession which is something is team mates will be relying on to progress from their group.

Shinji Kagawa

Despite being somewhat of an outcast at Manchester United this season, Kagawa never fails to impress when called upon by his national side. His recent two goal haul against New Zealand meant that he brought his tally up to 17 in 54 appearances which isn’t bad for an out and out playmaker. The two goals showed that his lack of game time hasn’t slowed him down and the 25 year old is looking to continue to provide a goal scoring threat at the tournament. His omission at United is seen as a huge surprise in Asia, especially considering his performances for Borussia Dortmund and the fact that in March of last year, Kagawa became the first Asian player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League.

Yoichiro Kakitani

With 21 goals in 34 games for Cerezo Osaka last season, Kakitani seemed certain for a place at the World Cup in Brazil but his recent showings haven’t lived up to the expectations that were attached to him after some fine performances in the J-League. Kakitani only has 1 goal in 10 outings this season in the league but has managed to chip in with four goals in six Asian Champions League games. His four goals for the national team last year should see him picked for the tournament and he will be hoping to show the talent that had the likes of Arsenal interested in him.

Shinji Okazaki

Record breaker Okazaki will be leading the line for Japan in Brazil. The FSV 05 Mainz striker who joined from Stuttgart in the summer, recently notched his 14th goal of the season meaning he became the highest scoring Japanese player in a Bundesliga season taking over Shinji Kagawa who scored 13 goals for Dortmund in the 2011-2012 season. Mainz are looking to reach a European competition, in the shape of the Europa League, for only the second time in their history and it is Okazaki’s goals that are leading them in that direction. Impressively, Okazaki is only four goals away from top scorers Robert Lewandowski and Mario Mandzukic which is good news for Japan who will be hoping he can lead them in the direction they want to go in Brazil.

Defensive frailties and mistakes haven’t been too far away from Japan recently but they will be looking to Hertha Berlin’s Hajime Hosogai, FC Tokyo’s Masato Morishige & Inter Milan’s Yuto Nagatomo to clear things up at the back against some dangerous opposition in Brazil.

Hajime Hosogai

Arguably, one of Hertha Berlin’s best players this season, Hosogai usually operates in a defensive midfield role but may be asked to fill in at centre back for his national team this summer. Southampton’s Maya Yoshida hasn’t got much game time this season due to an injury meaning Hosagai may have to help in sewing up the Japanese defence.

Masato Morishige

The 26 year old has gone from strength to strength recently and will be hoping that his performances can repay Alberto Zaccheroni who called up the defender to the national side for the first time in 4 and a half years last July. With 32 goals conceded in 17 games, Morishige will be playing a big part in trying to stop the goals flying in against Japan.

Yugo Nagatomo

The pacey 27 year old signed for Italian giants Inter Milan in 2011 and has been a regular in the side ever since. This season he has made 18 appearances in the league and has chipped in with five goals. He likes to get up and down the wing at quick pace and Japan will be relying on that experience he has gained from 66 international caps to help his wingers and fellow defenders to create and block chances.

Who they will face

Greece

This is only the third World Cup that Greece will be involved in and after falling at the first hurdle in 2010, manager Fernando Santos, who is leaving after the tournament, will be hoping to go at least one step further this time around. At one end, Greece are solid as a rock at the back conceding only four goals in ten games in qualifying but are weak at the other end of the pitch scoring only 12 goals. They will be hoping that the most expensive player to come from their country, Celtics Georgios Samaras will lead them out of the group stages and give the country a much needed lift after the recent financial crisis.

Colombia

Although the papers have been filled with Radamel Falcao’s race for fitness, many would have forgotten that Colombia have a €45 million euro man leading their midfield in the shape of Falcao’s Monaco team-mate James Rodriguez. His performances in Ligue 1 this year have got everybody in France talking which is music to Colombia manager Jose Pekerman’s ears. In line to replace Falcao, however, if he fails to regain full fitness, is Porto’s Jackson Martinez who scored 19 goals in 35 appearances in Portugal. Also in the frame is Sevilla’s Carlos Bacca who has had an enjoyable season in Spain scoring 16 goals in 38 appearances.

Ivory Coast

Yaya Toure. That is all.

How will they do?

Japan should provide some entertaining football and will be involved in some interesting games but on paper they should also be looking at a group stage exit. Paired with 2004 European Cup winners Greece, tournament dark horses Colombia & Yaya Toure led Ivory Coast, this group may prove too tough for the Japanese to advance from.

However, Brazil is home to a large population of Japanese people and after their style of play was lapped up by the locals at the Confederations Cup last summer, Japan will have a lot of vocal support at the tournament. Also having Pikachu as their mascot has to be seen as a possibility that anything could happen this summer in Brazil!

By Andy Harte - Arsenal fan - @andyharte_
http://natterfootball.co.uk/2014/05/assessing-japans-world-cup-chances/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=assessing-japans-world-cup-chances

Samaras headlines Greece World Cup squad

By Stefan Coerts

19 May 2014 11:42:00 AM

The Euro 2004 winners have announced their final squad for this summer's tournament in Brazil, with most-capped player Giorgos Karagounis also making the cut

Greece coach Fernando Santos has included Celtic attacker Georgios Samaras and Fulham forward Kostas Mitroglou in his final 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup.

Furthermore, Santos has also called up veteran midfielder Giorgos Karagounis, Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Roma's Vasilis Torosidis.

Alexandros Tzorvas (Apollon Smyrnis), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos) and Kostas Fortounis (Kaiserslautern) are among the players to have been dropped after initially making the provisional squad.

Greece have upcoming friendlies against Portugal, Nigeria and Bolivia before their opening Group C clash with Colombia in Belo Horizonte on June 14.

They also meet Cote d'Ivoire and Japan at this summer's showpiece in Brazi.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Panaglotis Glykos (PAOK), Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos), Orestis Karnezis (Granada)

Defenders: Jose Holebas, Giannis Maniatis, Kostas Manolas (Olympiakos), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund), Vasilis Torosidis (Roma), Giorgios Tzavellas (PAOK), Loukas Vyntra (Levante), Vangelis Moras (Verona)

Midfielders: Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Bologna), Ioannis Fetfatzidis (Genoa), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham), Kostas Katsouranis (PAOK), Panagiotis Kone (Bologna), Andreas Samaris (Olympiakos), Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Torino), Alexandros Tziolis (Kayserispor)

Forwards: Theofanis Gekas (Konyaspor), Kostas Mitroglou (Fulham), Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK), Georgios Samaras (Celtic)

http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4684/world-cup-2014/2014/05/19/4827486/-

What a shame Falcao is out, this is the group that interests me the most. Japan have the ability to step up to the next level, even if they are a bit short on strikers their midfield and defence is probably the best in the group. Colombia still have Rodriquez, Jackson Martinez, Ospina, Cuadrado and Quintero who are all quality.

Just noticed the insane amount of colombian talent that have come through Porto as well!

Team Focus: Colombia Still an Attacking Threat Without Falcao

Posted: 10/06/2014 17:12

With rumours circulating that Franck Ribéry may be set to miss the World Cup with injury, he could be joining a rather vast list of some of the planet's best players who will not be on show in Brazil this summer. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gareth Bale could not inspire Sweden and Wales to qualification, while Victor Valdés, Christian Benteke and Thiago Alcántara all have ailments that will keep them out of action. Falcao's anterior cruciate ligament injury in January remains for some, however, the most notable absence of them all.

The £50m Colombian striker, who crumpled to a heap under the challenge of little-known fourth tier side Monts Or Azergues' Soner Ertek in a Coupe de France game with Monaco in January, had his absence from the tournament confirmed earlier this week, citing his lack of fitness as reason enough for him to stay at home. There is no questioning his ability and the undoubted quality he would have added to the Colombia team in Brazil; his goals in qualifying fired them to the tournament in the first place. However, there is still a wealth of attacking talent in their squad who will arguably provide sufficient ammunition to replace their talismanic frontman.

Falcao was the nation's top scorer in qualifying with nine goals, but five of those goals were scored against the CONMEBOL section's worst three performing teams - Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay - while two of his four other goals came from the penalty spot. That is not to undervalue his contribution, he played an important role throughout the campaign, helping Colombia to second place behind Argentina, but after a debut season in France in which he struggled to settle, it could be a blessing in disguise that an extra attacking spot was made available in the Colombia squad.

Colombia head coach José Pékerman has named five forwards in his final 23-man squad, with Adrián Ramos, Carlos Bacca, Jackson Martinez and Victor Ibarbo set to deputise for Teofilo Gutierrez up front. Gutierrez is expected to remain Pékerman's first choice for the number 9 shirt, and with 6 goals in qualifying despite having to share the striker spot with Falcao, he will still carry a great threat this summer. Having recently scored the goals to win River Plate the title in Argentina, Gutierrez is the most experienced of the available forward options and he is likely provide the firepower in Brazil.

However, Pékerman's decision arguably shouldn't be that simple. Ramos has just completed an exemplary season at Hertha Berlin, for which his reward was a move to Borussia Dortmund as Robert Lewandowski's replacement. He was the fourth highest goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 16 goals, while the 6.2 aerial duels he won average per game was the 5th most in Europe's top five leagues.

Falcao is famed for his ability in the air - his average of one aerial duel won per game this season will largely be a result of Monaco's style of play rather than any lack of aerial prowess - but Ramos still provides a greater such threat. Falcao failed to net a single headed goal in Ligue one this season while Ramos scored five. Only six players across Europe's top five leagues scored more. With 2.6 dribbles and 1.5 key passes per game, Ramos is an all-rounder who could fill the lone striker role for the Tricolour in the summer.

Carlos Bacca helped Sevilla to Europa League glory and an impressive fifth place finish in La Liga, scoring 18 goals across the two competitions, with his 20.9% conversion rate ranking him 22nd of the 117 players to score 10+ goals in the top 5 European leagues. Put into context, that's better than the likes of Sergio Agüero, Robin van Persie and Lionel Messi could manage. However, having completed, on average, just 10.2 passes per game last season, it does seem there is a link-up aspect lacking from his game that others can offer.

Ibarbo enjoyed far from as prolific a season as the likes of Bacca or Ramos, scoring just four goals in 30 league appearances, but he is versatile, able to play through the middle or out wide. Lightning-quick and a strong, powerful runner, he will provide a different option for Pékerman and could certainly worry opposition defences with his dribbling ability; he beat an opponent every 27.7 minutes last season - eighth most often of Serie A players to make 20 or more appearances.

Jackson Martinez, meanwhile, is another quick forward at Colombia's disposal, and having top-scored in Portugal's Liga Sagres last season - with 20 goals in 30 appearances - he comes to the tournament in form. Nonetheless, just three goals from 44 shots (6.8% conversion rate) in 11 European appearances this season hints at a wastefulness that is not quite what a Falcao replacement should offer.

Aside from these forwards, Colombia too have wingers that can hurt opponents. James Rodríguez and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado are likely to flank a lone front man, both extremely dangerous running at defenders and capable of putting balls into the box for any one (or more) of the strikers to profit from. Rodríguez attained the second highest rating (7.41) of attacking players in Ligue one last season behind Ibrahimovic, picking up more assists (12) than any other player, while Cuadrado was the highest rated of all players in Serie A last term (7.69), with 11 goals, five assists and an average of 3.7 successful dribbles per game, which was by some distance the most in the Italian top tier.

The Colombian attack retains vast quality ahead of the World Cup, even if their star, who carried much of their hopes before his injury, is going to miss the competition. FIFA's rankings are rightly much-criticised for their inaccuracy, but Colombia are not 8th in the world by mere coincidence, and they are also not there purely through the work of Falcao. They remain a significant attacking force that can still be relied upon to do serious damage in Brazil this summer.

How do you think Colombia will fare in Brazil? Let us know in the comments below.

All statistics courtesy of http://www.whoscored.com where you can find yet more stats and player ratings.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/alistair-tweedale/colombia-world-cup-team_b_5459213.html

World Cup 2014 Preview: Greece

SantosGreeceIvory CoastJapanKonstantinos ManolasKostas MitroglouWorld Cup Group C

GreeceGreece will fancy their chances of qualifying out of Group C after arriving in Brazil by handily defeating Romania 4-2 in the European playoffs against Romania.

The Ethniki will square off against Colombia, Japan, and Ivory Coast and will be hoping that strong organization and excellent set-piece play will see them advance out of the group stages of the tournament for the first time in their history.

Coach: Fernando Santos

The Greeks are coached by Fernando Santos, who replaced the venerable Otto Rehhagel. The 59 year old joined from PAOK in 2010 and has taken the team to two straight tournament finals appearances by qualifying for the 2012 European Championship along with this summer’s World Cup.

The tactician runs a tight ship like his predecessor but has shown greater trust in young talent. He has also shown a willingness to deploy more attacking formations, sometimes playing three strikers which has helped the former European champions into a side who regularly appear in the top tournaments.

Key player: Kostas Mitroglu

The fulcrum of this squad is Kostas Mitroglou though there are questions surrounding him heading into the tournament. The Fulham striker arrived in January from Olympiacos but failed to make an impact as the squad was relegated from the Premier League.

Fitness has been his issue and there are some who feel that his struggles should have kept him off the squad. Despite the worries the striker did feature during the May 31 friendly against Portugal with the 26 year old starting and playing 63 minutes, a sign that he could be improving at just the right time.

Player to watch: Konstantinos Manolas

For those looking for a young player to track defender Konstantinos Manolas is one to keep an eye on.

The 22 year old Olympiacos defender has stepped into the full national squad after an excellent season. He made 32 total appearances for the club, with seven of those being in the Champions League.

He scored five goals this season, two in the Champions League, including the winner against Benfica in the group stages.

He traditionally plays at centreback and will most likely be partnered in defence with Sokratis Papastathopoulos. If the two can play effectively together, the Greeks’ chances of advancing go up significantly.

How far can they go?

The Greeks aren’t overwhelming favorites to advance out of the group but they aren’t overmatched in what is a fairly balanced group.

They are set to face group favourites in Colombia in the first match and have every chance of getting a result as the Cafeteros are without star striker Radamel Falcao.

Japan will pose a different set of problems as they have the playmakers in midfield to create opportunities, while Ivory Coast have the ability to physically impose themselves on the Greeks and the team will have to rely on strong positioning to get a result from that match.

Within Greece expectations aren’t too high, but that could be because they only have one win in their World Cup history. To get out of the group stage would be a great achievement and bring some pride to the country.

Prediction: Round of 16

While there are many concerns surround the Greeks heading into the tournament they have shown that they play their best when expectations are low.

If the centre of their defence can remain strong, the Ethniki can challenge for top honours in the group. The opposite side of the field is where the problems exist as the side, before scoring two against Bolivia on June 6, hadn’t scored since facing Romania in the playoffs back in November.

If Mitroglou is healthy and regains the form he showed during his time at Olympiacos, then this side could reach the Round of 16.

However if he can’t play regularly and struggles to make a mark this side might not win a match and finish bottom of the group. However a second place finish in Group C looks like it is in the cards but a subsequent loss soon after would be a great success for a side that little is expected of.
http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2014/06/world-cup-2014-preview-greece/

This will be a good group all teams are pretty strong Colombia where clear favorites until Falcao got injured imo but the way it stands i think it is a bit of a group of life situation where all teams have a real shot at the knockout phase.

Greece's World Cup predictions

Fernando Santos believes Greece are peaking at just the right time for the World Cup after watching his side beat Bolivia 2-1.
After four years of waiting, the time has come. Another World Cup is here, and our bloggers across all 32 competing countries have each predicted the fate that awaits their team. The country's Outlook gives a general view of its situation ahead of the tournament, while Pitfalls takes a look at any potential problems. Each blogger will also predict the top scorer and breakout star and suggest how far that nation can go.

OUTLOOK

The positive is that there are no fresh injury concerns for head coach Fernando Santos. Kyriakos Papadopoulos was ruled out of the tournament fairly early on and since then there have been a couple of injury scares, but all 23 players appear to be fit and ready. The negative is that Greece has regressed in the goal-scoring department since qualifying. Kostas Mitroglou's form is a concern and the lack of potency up front was highlighted in successive scoreless draws with Portugal and Nigeria. Having said that, Greece were typically solid at the back against Portugal and will be difficult to break down as usual. There is form and depth in defence, and the team looks settled and organized.

PITFALLS

There is a real problem for Greece at left-back and this is an issue that stretches back to the previous World Cup in South Africa. No adequate replacement has been found for the hugely underrated Takis Fyssas since his retirement, with Jose Holebas the latest incumbent. Holebas -- who was born in Germany -- spent the early years of his career as an attacker but was converted to a fullback. Perhaps this explains his almost permanent discomfort at the international level. He was woefully out of his depth at Euro 2012 and was dropped during the tournament. Santos can't afford to start him at the World Cup. Holebas isn't a bad footballer by any means, but he is a defensive liability against quality sides. His potential replacement is Georgios Tzavellas, who is a far more solid alternative and simply needs to be first choice in Brazil.

STAR SCORER

I really do think Mitroglou will come good for Greece at this tournament. Dimitris Salpingidis and Georgios Samaras are always likely to chip in with important goals, but Mitroglou can be the talisman and really lead this attack. The Fulham striker is physically imposing, able to finish with both feet and has a natural instinct for goal. His raw qualities have convinced Santos to build the Greek attack around him. Mitroglou is Greece's most dangerous player and has the talent to fire his country into the knockout stages.


Greece will be leaning on striker Kostas Mitroglou to be in fine form in Brazil. Greece will be leaning on striker Kostas Mitroglou to be in fine form in Brazil.

WILD CARD

Ioannis Fetfatzidis, based on his club form this season and his performances in the friendly matches leading up to the tournament is Greece's wild card. The 23-year-old is a busy player who is capable of beating defenders and creating space for his teammates. He is an atypical modern Greek footballer: diminutive in size but possessing creativity and pace on the ball. There's no doubt that he deserves to start against Colombia, but the big question is whether Santos trusts him enough to replace either Samaras or Salpingidis.

PREDICTION: Last 16.

First in Group C, with a tally of 10 goals and nine points. In all seriousness, Greece are probably the favourites to finish last in this group. They don't possess the attacking firepower of any of their rivals, though they arguably boast one of the best defensive units in world football. If they can get a point off Colombia in their first match, they'll quality for the Last 16. If they lose that game, however, it's curtains.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/team/greece/455/blog/post/1865485/predictions-for-greece-at-the-world-cup-2014

NATE Silver’s powers of prediction are unparalleled.

As the brain behind statistical analysis blog FiveThirtyEight, Silver has been forecasting results in political elections and sporting contests for years. During the last US presidential election, he correctly predicted the winner in all 50 states.

Now, Silver has turned his attention to the World Cup.

He has developed a predictive model called the Soccer Power Index (SPI), which harnesses reams of data to rate every team’s chances on a match-by-match basis.

“Technically speaking, SPI is two ratings systems rolled into one,” Silver says. “One based solely on a national team’s play, and one that reflects a composite of player ratings for what SPI projects to be a team’s top line-up.”

If you want to know how the index works in excruciating detail, you can read more about it here. Otherwise, you can see its predictions for every World Cup group below.


GROUP C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

No one is particularly excited about this group. According to Silver, Colombia should finish in first position (51.4 per cent), with the Ivory Coast in second.

“This is one of the weaker groups and sets up nicely for Colombia,” he says. “It’s a flawed group of opponents, although Colombia has sometimes lost or drawn against flawed opponents.”


SO, WHO WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP?

“Argentina, Germany and Spain, like Brazil, are wonderful soccer teams. You could perhaps debate which of the four would be favoured if the World Cup were played on a hastily constructed soccer pitch somewhere in the middle of the desert,” Silver writes.

“But this World Cup is being played in Brazil. No country has beaten Brazil on its home turf in almost 12 years.”

That loss, in a friendly against Paraguay back in 2002, barely counts. Brazil didn’t take the game seriously, and substituted most of its star players well before full-time. According to Silver, Brazil’s last home defeat in a match that actually mattered was in 1975.

With home ground advantage factored in, alongside all the other data, Silver’s Soccer Power Index gives Brazil a 45.2 per cent chance of winning the World Cup, ahead of Argentina (12.8 per cent), Germany (10.9 per cent), Spain (7.6 per cent) and Chile (4.2 per cent).

http://www.news.com.au/sport/football/fifa-world-cup-2014-superstar-statistician-nate-silver-has-bad-news-for-australia/story-fnkjl6g2-1226950736040

Edited by Joffa: 11/6/2014 09:58:45 PM

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts

Colombia 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 3
Ivory Coast 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
Japan 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0
Greece 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0

From observing the teams in this group, it is very weak compared to Australia's group.

How come they have no powerhouses in it, like we have Spain and Holland in the same group, when both easily qualified for the WC?

Also, ostensibly having the best South American team behind Argentina and Brazil seems perplexing.

I feel as if Australia could beat any of these Group C teams in 50 percent of games.

Edited by Decentric: 16/6/2014 12:03:21 PM

Japan once again highlighted the problems with Asian teams.
Lacking that killer instinct in the final third (bar Honda's goal), and frailties in the back. They conceded the exact same goal twice in 90 seconds.
Terrible defending.

And at the other end of the pitch, that final ball was lacking for the majority of the game.

fairly forgettable game so far between japan and greece

Wow it's all become interesting now. Greece take the lead at half time against Ivory Coast and Japan make it 1:1 vs Colombia. Greece going to be second as it stands. A win for Japan and Ivory Coast not winning might see Japan go through on goal difference. Wait and see.

All four teams are of relatively similar overall strength

Its a bit of a clusterfk of a group

Greece get a pen with 90 seconds to go....I've just seen that Samaras actually missed the ball and kicked his own leg. Massive controversy. Goal, Greece seconds from the next round.

You wouldnt even read about this!

Amazing, Greece go through! The penalty was not really there though for mine, he went to kick the ball and the Ivory Coast player got his leg between the Greek boot and ball, foul should have gone the other way.

Actually Sio's leg was kicked by Samaras which brought him down but Sio wasn't exactly going in for the tackle. All balance and momentum there.Very harsh decision.

What a joke!

Greece vs Costa Rice. Potentially Greece going to the quarters. So undeserving.

Best team won

clear penalty

hellas olle

Greece were honestly the only team I didn't think had a chance of making it out of this group. Japan majorly let me down and Ivory Coast just didn't do enough.

Far out, Greece do the absolute bare minimum to win, don't they? Bugger all goals in qualification, bugger all goals in the group stage. Imagine them grinding their way to the final!

you can say all you want about the penalty but Greece were clearly the better team and deserved to win. Hitting the woodwork 3 times. Bravo Hellas, bring on Costa Rica

They had 90min's to be the "better team", yet 1 all before that non-penalty.

wow.

Greece pen looked more like he tripped over...

Probably the biggest call of the Cup imo, especially considering the weight of the decision and its repercussions.

-PB

Looked pretty meh. I doubt there was much contact on Samaras

http://gfycat.com/brokeninconsequentialhairstreak

Looks like a dive!

I honestly don't understand the controversy. Clear penalty for me and well done to the referee for having the balls to give it. Defender is fucking stupid putting his leg in there.

He kicked his bloody foot :lol: :lol: :lol:
The Ivory Coast defender made zero contact

You have a strange definition of zero





Edited by sydneycroatia58: 25/6/2014 08:59:04 AM

+1 Since when can you impede someone from kick the ball by putting your leg in the road while not even being close to the ball. Its exactly the same as beaten defenders running through the back of an attackers legs so they can't get any further up the field.

To me it looked 100% a foul from any angle. The commentator just made it ridiculous by ignoring the obvious and claiming Samaras dived.

Edited by chillbilly: 25/6/2014 09:18:50 AM

Watching all replays etc, I still think it isn't a foul TBH.

Crazy that Greece have made it through to R16 off one goal and one penalty :lol:

-PB

Which part of Sio is touching Samaras?

-PB

His knee/shin to Samaras' foot.

Edited by chillbilly: 25/6/2014 09:55:05 AM

Still don't think its a pen. He tripped without any real touch

Ahh so it is! How did I miss that haha.

-PB

Was a pen, placed his foot in a place where he had no chance of getting the ball and only to impede samaras' shot
Unfortunate cause now we have to listen to the Greeks talk about the euro win AND making the last 16 at a WC till the day we die :lol:

Edited by The Maco: 25/6/2014 10:17:16 AM

the defender's left leg took out samaras's left leg, clear penalty

This picture does well to show just how much the defender is lunging in at the time contact is made

Slow motion replay https://vine.co/v/MtnO7MAx0OQ and other frame by frame pictures reveal it certainly was a penalty.

If you're a big lanky doofus about to kick a football and someone sticks their leg between you and the ball, then they have fouled you.

Nice to have some Aussies going through to last 16.

Costa Rica v Greece both teams will fancy their chances

As clear as penalties get. Just looked suspect because the impact forced Samaras to clip his own leg. Great credit to the ref for awarding it at that stage.

Even clearer from this angle...

Athens

Thessaloniki

Larissa

Sparta

Trikala

Rhodes

Kalamata

Santorini

Serres

Patra

Kavala

Heraklion

Ioannina


=d>


Edited by polemides: 26/6/2014 07:44:52 AM

Happy for Greece, poor kunts don't have much to cheer about nowdays.

-PB