Germany received a challenging group stage, drawn with USA, Portugal and Ghana in Group G.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/australia-in-nightmare-group-of-death-for-brazil-world-cup-20131207-2yxjw.html#ixzz2mj2tdD3C

Edited by Joffa: 17/5/2014 09:51:43 PM

Edited by Joffa: 17/6/2014 10:26:57 PM

Sure a semi-Group of Death, or is for Ghana and the US, but it's also a bloody BORING group tbh, in so far as USA, Ghana and Germany are all teams who've faced each other a number of times before, especially at recent World Cups? Very familiar teams to each other, very familiar Group opponents!

Yeap, 2010 WC, Germany and Ghana progressed from Group D, our group ofcourse, and Ghana and the US were paired in Group E at the 06 WC, Ghana progressing. The US and Germany have played each other in atleast a couple friendlies this decade, with a number of American players based or having played at one time, in Germany (Some even came up through the system, German born).

So, strong familiarity between those 3 sides. Familiar styles and all these sides can cope with each other's styles well, while not being greatly superior to it. Though depending on the day, Germany could break out big time, like they did against us, but we were quite poor that infamous evening, ofcourse.

Portugal really mix things up here though and with Germany they form a potential duopoly this group. It's Cristiano Ronaldo's time to shine, once more, but whether he will, we will have to wait and see. But no greater stage and no better teams to shine against, than the likes of Ghana and the US - both who he could run rings around.

Jurgen Klinnsman being the USMNT coach could be interesting for the Germany fixture too. Both the US and Ghana will be quite competitive for Germany, compared to some other sides of similar ilk and physicality wise, they size up well to the Germans, so that's why I think that, aswell with their prior records.

Ghana and the US won't just lay down, but same time it was only back in 2006 that the US finished bottom of their group, after Rosicky's Czech Republic taught them a lesson and Ghana also defeated them, in their final Group Game.

So in that regard, Ghana and the US could cancel each other out too.

I guess, COULD Ghana upset the apple cart here, defeating the US and scraping or surprising with results against the two favourites? Or it's just Germany and Portugal, straight passage, to the Round of 16?

I fancy Portugal here, they've shown often in the past they can match it with Germany

Set up nicely for Germany to win through, with Portugal a close second....

U.S. gets tough draw in World Cup's opening round
Alan Black
Updated 5:52 pm, Friday, December 6, 2013

Call it a "group of death." The U.S. will play Ghana, Portugal and Germany in the first round of the 2014 World Cup after Friday's draw in Brazil.

"I think the team's mentality is that we can go and play with anybody," American defender Matt Besler told the Associated Press. "Now we're going to have to prove it."

The draw also produced difficulties for some of soccer's powerhouses. Defending champion Spain opens against the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2010 final and also must play an impressive Chile team. England faces a tough road with Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica awaiting it. Mexico is matched with host Brazil, Croatia and Cameroon.

The 32-nation tournament begins June 12 in Sao Paulo, where Brazil will meet Croatia.

Tough describes the challenge for the Americans. Two teams qualify from each group to progress to the single-elimination Round of 16. The U.S. opens its schedule June 16 against Ghana, the team that knocked the Americans out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The U.S. defense also will face Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and a German team teeming with attacking talent.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said his team aims to "surprise some people."

Strikers Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey will be key to energizing the attack with Landon Donovan on the wing. Michael Bradley, currently with Roma in Italy, must command the midfield. Between the sticks, the big hands of Tim Howard will be called upon to save the day.

The U.S. will go to Brazil as an underdog, but it's a role in which it has excelled. In the 2002 World Cup, the U.S. was considered likely to be eliminated in the first round. But it beat Portugal 3-2 in the first round and dismissed Mexico 2-0 in the second round, losing to Germany in the quarterfinals.

A younger Donovan thrived at the time. Now 31Donovan gets the chance to repeat his performance next summer. Adding to the U.S. test of character will be the travel schedule: count it at 9,000 miles upon conclusion of the final game against Germany on June 26.

Still, beating the best is the only way to grow. This World Cup offers that pivotal moment for U.S. soccer. Qualifying from the group will send a strong message: The U.S. can beat anyone on any given day.

Reports indicate that 375,000 Americans have made requests for tickets for the event, the largest contingent outside of Brazil.

Alan Black is a freelance writer.

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/U-S-gets-tough-draw-in-World-Cup-s-opening-round-5042729.php?

The Group of Opportunity

It could have been boring, mundane, even uneventful. It could have been straightforward, unexciting, deserving of a shrug of the shoulders and a “meh.” A second consecutive kind World Cup draw for the U.S. Men’s national team, this time perhaps in the “Group of Life” with Switzerland, Ecuador and France, may have provided more room for comfort and confidence for American fans ahead of June, but may as well have offered less to truly capture the imagination of the neutral.

What the United States - as well as Germany, Portugal, and Ghana - have gotten instead, if not the toughest group in Brazil 2014, is the most drama-filled pairing of them all. For a spectacle that comes just once every four years, Friday’s draw at the Costa do Sauípe Resort in Bahia provided three match-ups that are truly worth the wait.

As Jozy Altidore said after the draw, "this isn’t the Group of Death, but a Group of Opportunity."

The leads for the journalists to latch onto couldn’t be any clearer: an opener that provides a third consecutive World Cup meeting with Ghana in a rivalry that has been entirely molded by fate, a match against Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo (a player who, on form, is currently the best in the world), and a finale that pits U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann up against Germany, the very nation with which he conquered the World and Europe, in 1990 and 1996 respectively.

As Alexi Lalas said on the American telecast of the draw, “the storylines write themselves.” For a network that has been criticized for a tendency to be overzealous in hyping up certain stories, even ESPN might have their work cut out for them in providing an adequate build-up to a spectacle that will certainly deserve one.

What group G presents to the U.S. is the precise task for which Jurgen Klinsmann was hired, a challenge that gives the stars and stripes the chance to prove that they’ve reached another level. It will be a group that is sure to grab the attention of casual fans, a category in which the majority of those born in the states fall under by default. What it will not be, however, is a group for excuses. You might as well throw them out now.

Match-ups too difficult, even for the World Cup’s standards? Nope. “If you want to get one day in the top ten or top twelve, you have to start beating them,” Klinsmann told ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap with a bemused smile.

Worst travel schedule amongst all 32 teams? Take that somewhere else. “I think that makes the story even better.” said analyst and former American international Taylor Twellman, while holding back a laugh. “I’m sorry, I’m not a big excuses guy.”

For three games that offer so much color, excitement and fun (which, ultimately, the game of football is all about), providing a large amount of focus on the “negatives” would be a true waste of the imagination. But even for the pessimists there are reasons to look on the bright side in trying to map out the U.S.’ route into the round of 16.

According to the Soccer Power Index, a concoction created by sports super-geek Nate Silver, the Americans chances of advancing rest at 39%, finishing by just the smallest of margins behind Portugal (40%) and ten point higher than Ghana (29%). Germany, unsurprisingly, boast the largest chance of advancing at 92%. And should the U.S. find their way in the knockout stages after three matches, they’ll be paired against the winner of Group H, which features Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea, none of whom are likely to propose a tougher task than what the Americans will have already gone through by then.

As for the travel, that might be much more of an issue for a nation like England, a geographically smaller country with a league that features few lengthy trips between teams. But with a squad that boasts players who’ve grown accustomed to moving and shifting between Seattle, Chicago and New York regularly, mileage should very much be the least of the Americans’ worries.

http://afootballreport.com/post/69206850086/the-group-of-opportunity-it-could-have-been

Group G: Preview and predictions
December 6, 2013
RECOMMEND27TWEET3EMAILPRINT
By James Horncastle
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group H
The Video is not authorized for your location
US draw Group of Death
Overview

It’s Jurgen against Jogi: U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann, the former manager of Germany, faces his old assistant and successor, Joachim "Jogi" Loew. What an emotional encounter that will be. Klinsmann led the U.S. to a thrilling 4-3 win over a second-string Germany in a June friendly. Now it’s for real. While that grabs the headlines, don’t let it escape your attention that Ghana and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are also in this group. It promises to be tough and things could get steamy in Group G. No one wants to play in the Amazonian city of Manaus, but that’s just what the U.S. and Portugal will have to do in their second group game. It’ll get them and their fans hot under the collar.

Projected finish

Germany should have enough to top the group. A goal from Mesut Ozil helped them overcome Ghana in the 2010 group stage and one from Mario Gomez saw off Portugal at Euro 2012. Portugal finished behind Germany as runner-up in the Euro '12 group, edging Denmark and coming from behind to beat the Netherlands. That experience, you feel, will stand both the Germans and Portuguese in good stead. The U.S. seem more likely than Ghana to make things difficult.

More from ESPNFC
Highlighting Italy, Bosnia, Croatia and the dreaded group of death, Mark Lomas brings us five things that we learned from the World Cup draw. Read
All the latest news and info from the 32 teams. Read
What to do, where to go from all 12 World Cup venues. Read
Brazil-Croatia in Sao Paulo heads up five matches this summer that will get us excited. Bennett
• Relive the draw | History
• Fixture schedule | Predictor Bracket
• SPI projections
• Rank all 32 teams | Rank top players

Team-by-team

Germany: They should have enough to top the group. A goal from Mesut Ozil helped them overcome Ghana in the 2010 group stage and one from Mario Gomez saw off Portugal at Euro 2012. Portugal finished as runners-up to Brazil in the 2010 group stage. That experience, you feel, will stand both the Germans and Portuguese in good stead. The U.S. seem more likely than Ghana to make things difficult.

Portugal: They have made a habit of making life difficult on themselves in qualifying -- often reaching major tournaments through playoffs -- and there’s a tendency to wonder where they’d be without Cristiano Ronaldo. Though dependent on him, they’re more than a one-man team and tend to perform better than expectation once they qualify. A robust back line and a skillful Joao Moutinho-orchestrated midfield, plus pace and trickery on the wings -- with the favourite for the 2013 Ballon d’Or on one of them or up front -- mean encounters with Portugal can get uncomfortable.

Ghana: The Ghanaian FA has set coach Kwesi Appiah a target of reaching the semifinals, but that seems unrealistic. No African nation has ever reached the last four of a World Cup, and while Ghana deserved to get that far in South Africa four years ago -- remember the Luis Suarez handball, the subsequent penalty miss and shootout despair -- it’s unlikely they’ll go as far. Their midfield -- comprising the unretired Kevin-Prince Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah, Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien -- is a powerful one, and their attack has pace and skill in the Ayew brothers, Christian Atsu and Asamoah Gyan. However, one fears the back line won’t hold up to much scrutiny.

United States: They have come a long way since the last World Cup in Brazil in 1950, when they finished bottom of their group but famously shocked England 1-0. Qualifiers for every tournament from 1990 onward, they are an established World Cup nation now. Under Jurgen Klinsmann, their play has become more expansive; there’s greater depth, and mentally they seem prepared. Question marks remain, though: Has Klinsmann really transformed them? And how much can really be expected of a team that lost to Jamaica, Costa Rica and Honduras in recent memory, not to mention a near defeat to Panama?

Best individual battle: Mesut Ozil vs. Cristiano Ronaldo

There’s a temptation to say the best individual battle will be between the Boateng brothers, Kevin-Prince (Ghana) against Jerome (Germany) -- an encounter that has already played out in the Bundesliga when Schalke met Bayern. However, it has to be Ozil against his former Real Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo. The German used to set up the Portuguese, whose disappointment at Ozil’s departure for Arsenal in the summer spoke of how much respect Ronaldo has for Ozil.
Best game: U.S. vs. Germany

Look no further than the final group game in Recife. If it’s anything as entertaining as the ding-dong friendly they played earlier this year, then we’re in for a treat. Klinsmann’s men will have learned a lot from that encounter, first and foremost just how much depth Germany have. Max Kruse and Julian Draxler were on the score sheet that day; they’re unlikely to start in Brazil. Good heavens.

X factor: Striker-less front-runners

Germany have experimented with a "false nine" throughout this year, mainly because Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose have been unavailable through injury and Loew still refuses to pick Stefan Kiessling. Not since Pauleta have Portugal produced an orthodox centre-forward. Will Ronaldo fill the void? We all know he’s more than capable of doing so.

Group G: Preview and predictions
December 6, 2013
RECOMMEND27TWEET3EMAILPRINT
By James Horncastle

US draw Group of Death
Overview

It’s Jurgen against Jogi: U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann, the former manager of Germany, faces his old assistant and successor, Joachim "Jogi" Loew. What an emotional encounter that will be. Klinsmann led the U.S. to a thrilling 4-3 win over a second-string Germany in a June friendly. Now it’s for real. While that grabs the headlines, don’t let it escape your attention that Ghana and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are also in this group. It promises to be tough and things could get steamy in Group G. No one wants to play in the Amazonian city of Manaus, but that’s just what the U.S. and Portugal will have to do in their second group game. It’ll get them and their fans hot under the collar.

Projected finish

Germany should have enough to top the group. A goal from Mesut Ozil helped them overcome Ghana in the 2010 group stage and one from Mario Gomez saw off Portugal at Euro 2012. Portugal finished behind Germany as runner-up in the Euro '12 group, edging Denmark and coming from behind to beat the Netherlands. That experience, you feel, will stand both the Germans and Portuguese in good stead. The U.S. seem more likely than Ghana to make things difficult.



Team-by-team

Germany: They should have enough to top the group. A goal from Mesut Ozil helped them overcome Ghana in the 2010 group stage and one from Mario Gomez saw off Portugal at Euro 2012. Portugal finished as runners-up to Brazil in the 2010 group stage. That experience, you feel, will stand both the Germans and Portuguese in good stead. The U.S. seem more likely than Ghana to make things difficult.

Portugal: They have made a habit of making life difficult on themselves in qualifying -- often reaching major tournaments through playoffs -- and there’s a tendency to wonder where they’d be without Cristiano Ronaldo. Though dependent on him, they’re more than a one-man team and tend to perform better than expectation once they qualify. A robust back line and a skillful Joao Moutinho-orchestrated midfield, plus pace and trickery on the wings -- with the favourite for the 2013 Ballon d’Or on one of them or up front -- mean encounters with Portugal can get uncomfortable.

Ghana: The Ghanaian FA has set coach Kwesi Appiah a target of reaching the semifinals, but that seems unrealistic. No African nation has ever reached the last four of a World Cup, and while Ghana deserved to get that far in South Africa four years ago -- remember the Luis Suarez handball, the subsequent penalty miss and shootout despair -- it’s unlikely they’ll go as far. Their midfield -- comprising the unretired Kevin-Prince Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah, Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien -- is a powerful one, and their attack has pace and skill in the Ayew brothers, Christian Atsu and Asamoah Gyan. However, one fears the back line won’t hold up to much scrutiny.

United States: They have come a long way since the last World Cup in Brazil in 1950, when they finished bottom of their group but famously shocked England 1-0. Qualifiers for every tournament from 1990 onward, they are an established World Cup nation now. Under Jurgen Klinsmann, their play has become more expansive; there’s greater depth, and mentally they seem prepared. Question marks remain, though: Has Klinsmann really transformed them? And how much can really be expected of a team that lost to Jamaica, Costa Rica and Honduras in recent memory, not to mention a near defeat to Panama?

Best individual battle: Mesut Ozil vs. Cristiano Ronaldo

There’s a temptation to say the best individual battle will be between the Boateng brothers, Kevin-Prince (Ghana) against Jerome (Germany) -- an encounter that has already played out in the Bundesliga when Schalke met Bayern. However, it has to be Ozil against his former Real Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo. The German used to set up the Portuguese, whose disappointment at Ozil’s departure for Arsenal in the summer spoke of how much respect Ronaldo has for Ozil

Best game: U.S. vs. Germany

Look no further than the final group game in Recife. If it’s anything as entertaining as the ding-dong friendly they played earlier this year, then we’re in for a treat. Klinsmann’s men will have learned a lot from that encounter, first and foremost just how much depth Germany have. Max Kruse and Julian Draxler were on the score sheet that day; they’re unlikely to start in Brazil. Good heavens.

X factor: Striker-less front-runners

Germany have experimented with a "false nine" throughout this year, mainly because Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose have been unavailable through injury and Loew still refuses to pick Stefan Kiessling. Not since Pauleta have Portugal produced an orthodox centre-forward. Will Ronaldo fill the void? We all know he’s more than capable of doing so.

Portugal and Germany to make it but not without a fight.

Tough group for us, we have 2 of the WC favourites and Ghana have been our bogey team in the last 2 World cups. It'll be a close battle for 2nd with Germany taking the group imo.

Germany to top group with USA in second.

Portugal can be very good and then very bad.

not sure what to make of Ghana

World Cup 2014: Can German teamwork beat Ronaldo individuality?

Euro 2012 semi-finalists will rely on integrated system to triumph in Brazil

MIGUEL DELANEY Sunday 08 December 2013

It was in the middle of Euro 2012, as Germany were on another of their magnificent runs, that Joachim Löw felt assured enough to offer what may become a defining statement. His team, the manager effectively declared, were the future.

At that point, it was difficult to disagree. With the side in scintillating form going into the semi-finals, Löw gushed about the strength of the player their structure was producing, the way so many youngsters were being introduced to the team and how the country "benefited from the 'scientification' of football".

The only problem was that the formula was incomplete, as Italy's 2-1 semi-final win showed. The future was delayed.

One of the questions regarding what is undeniably the most alluring group of the 2014 World Cup is whether this pool will also cause Germany problems, or whether it will prove a stepping stone towards fulfilling what Löw clearly sees as their destiny.

Group G, comprising Germany, Portugal, Ghana and the United States, does appear to distil one of the grand divisions in modern international football.

On one side is that Germany team. Like Spain and to a lesser extent Holland, they have revolutionised their football infrastructure to the point where their fundamental principle is to build an international squad with the cohesion of a club team.

On the other side is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is one of a number of individuals who want to make this World Cup his own and effectively personifies the other defining trait of the international game.

Because of the growth of club football, and the all-consuming demands of the Champions' League, national commitments have become secondary for many players. At the very least, it is hugely difficult for international managers to develop anything like an integrated system. The best they can do is try and fit something together quickly and hope for individual magic to have an effect. An under-achieving and disjointed Portugal are perhaps the ultimate example of this. As Roy Keane put it at the 2002 World Cup, the majority of top international squads are "collections of stars" rather than true teams.

The curiosity, however, is that it is many years since single players have defined tournaments. Whereas Zinedine Zidane dominated Euro 2000, Roberto Baggio USA 94 and obviously Diego Maradona 1986, it is more difficult to so readily associate any of the last decade's competitions with one player.

Individuals have tended to be engulfed by teams, as was illustrated by the fact that Spain have eliminated Ronaldo's Portugal in the last two tournaments and Germany eviscerated Leo Messi's Argentina in the 2010 quarter-finals. But there are signs that this is starting to change, and it is probably no surprise that this has coincided with the rise of the Ballon D'Or as such a media event. Messi has started to show his Barcelona form for Argentina, Luis Suarez has remained ridiculously consistent for Uruguay, Radamel Falcao has been decisive for Colombia and Ronaldo offered a real statement performance in the play-off against Sweden. Anything close to a similar display from the Real Madrid No 7 in the opening game in Salvador could badly trouble a suspect German defence which has already been undone by the individual class of Balotelli.

The one big question surrounding Löw's side is not whether they have the quality to win a tournament, but the character to handle the later-stage pressure. This group will provide a variety of early anxieties. Aside from the extensive demands of the travel schedule, there is a different challenge posed by each match. With Portugal, it's the extraordinary individual class of Ronaldo. With Ghana, it's a team that have also grown together. With USA, it's a tight, technical outfit – but which also has the insider knowledge of a former manager and hero.

Not even someone as detached as Löw could disguise his enthusiasm about greeting Jürgen Klinsmann again in that final group game. "Meeting old acquaintances with USA in the group is very special," he said. "We know [Klinsmann] has raised football in the United States recently to a new level." He has helped do the same for Germany, as Per Mertesacker gushed. "Klinsmann is the person who has inspired a generation," said the defender.

That 2006 World Cup, in which the former striker managed Germany with Löw's assistance, was essential for the new national team in striking out from the past. This group could bring it all full circle – unless Ronaldo strikes out for a defining statement of his own.,

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/world-cup-2014-can-german-teamwork-beat-ronaldo-individuality-8990906.html

A tough group for us (Portugal), we lost to USA in Japan/Korea 2002, Germany are one of the favourites and Ghana can cause hassles as shown in the last World Cup. Hopefully the weather may suit us over the Germans and with a couple of younger good players coming through we could go far in this tournament especially considering our half of the draw is easier the the other. Força Portugal.

Germany will destroy this group.

When you look up the definition for "Group of Death" this group is what you'd find.

Got to have a laugh how the Americans whinge about their so-called 'Group of Death', they're avin a laugh, surely...

That's NOT a Group of Death...

THIS,

Spain, Netherlands and Chile

, is a Group of Death! :p




That Group C at the 2006 World Cup, Argentina, Netherlands, Ivory Coast and Serbia was pretty strong, though Serbia didn't really show up that tournament. Our Group D was as almost as tough as this, at the 2010 World Cup. Group B of Argentina, SK, Greece and Nigeria was tough too - Our two Groups were perhaps the toughest Groups in 2010, on paper and in practice too?

Yeah, this group is technically strong, but there's still a clear duopoly with the two European powerhouses, with USA and Ghana bringing up the rear. Though yes, Portugal can flatter to deceive and the USA and Ghana are competitive enough, even have records, that could upset the Germany-Portugal apple-cart. But IF Cristiano Ronaldo takes the bull by the horns - I won't be envying the US and Ghana too much! This is Ronaldo's last chance to really make an impact at the WC, in the prime of his football career - so he REALLY should feel a sense of urgency!

Actually, looking back, just about every group Argentina has been in = Group of Death, ironically? lol As too whichever group Ivory Coast has been in - their 2010 WC Group was considered tough too, with whipping boys NK aside. Ivory Coast were wonderfully competitive with Portugal and Brazil - to the degree we and the Americans could only admire!

Really considering things, I may have bias, but our Group B is seriously the 'most competitive', because Chile is a genuine chance, more than the US or Ghana, of upsetting the Spain-Netherlands apple-cart. And we=barely the US and Ghana, but we ALWAYS, rightly or wrong, 'fancy ourselves' - so let's see what we bring to the mix against our own, more fancied, opponents.

Group C even - IF we use the parameters of the kinds of teams who may miss the Round of 16, due to their group - In Group C it's soo even that any two of Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast (IC factor, AGAIN) and Japan will miss the Round of 16 and that's a group of, arguably, ALL 'Round of 16' quality?!

Edited by gloryperth: 9/12/2013 07:27:27 PM

This is definitely a group of death, all 4 of these teams made it out of the group last world cup and Portugal and Germany only got kicked out from the eventual champions.

LOL about group C being a group of death, one of the easiest groups out there imo, no potential champions in there. But its very even, so it still could be interesting.

Ghana FA to announce comprehensive preparatory plans for the World Cup next week

Posted On Thursday, 12th December 2013


Ghana to begin camping on May 25
By Ameenu Shardow, follow on Twitter @alooameenu

The Ghana FA will be rolling out a comprehensive program to prepare the Black Stars for the 2014 World Cup by next week.

Ghana FA officials in consultations with the sports ministry and coach Akwesi Appiah will be going through several recommendations following a fact-finding mission in Brazil.

A joint delegation from the Ghana FA and Sports Ministry arrived in Ghana on Wednesday night after witnessing the World Cup draw on December 6.

The delegation took the opportunity while in Brazil to inspect several facilities earmarked to be used by the Black Star team during their stay in Brazil for the tournament.

Ghana intends giving the Black Stars the best of preparations towards next year’s competition in order to meet the preferred target of at least a semi final berth.

The GFA will by next week announce plans on the team’s training camp, number of players to be called and even settle on opponents for friendly matches as the Black Stars begin intensive preparations for the World Cup on May 25.

“We will be drawing in consultation with the coach a comprehensive program for the team’s preparations which is most likely to start on the 25th of May because after 18th of May, all national team players are supposed to take a mandatory rest for one week,” GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi said.

“So no team can do any camping earlier than 25th of May.

“We will also be telling you where we will be camping, the number, the nature and opponents for our friendly matches that we will be playing and other related matters.”

http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/ghana-fa-to-announce-comprehensive-preparatory-plans-for-the-world-cup-next-week/?

Germans confident ahead of 2014 Football World Cup

Thursday 12 Dec 2013 5:43p.m.

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By Chris Wright

European football giants Germany have not won an international trophy since Euro 1996, but a carefully crafted strategy to develop young stars is paying dividends says respected coach Frank Wormuth.

The German game is enjoying a purple patch at club level with the re-emergence of a strong Bayern Munich, who defeated compatriots Borussia Dortmund to win the Champions League last May.

With the 2014 World Cup looming, Wormuth says Germany is preparing to reap a rich harvest after a decade of planning involving the bottom-up revamping of the national game.

Wormuth, who is the under-20s coach with the German Football Federation (DFB), suggested that some of Germany's rivals, such as England, are by contrast losing ground.

"We have been patient, whereas in England the league do not like to be told what to do by the federation. They are not on the same wavelength," Wormuth told AFP.

After three World Cup titles -- the last in 1990 -- and three European championships "we were having no more success".

"We lacked a pool of young emerging talents, new coaches," he said.


"So we changed things around -- we have been working from the grassroots up to the top."

Wormuth says former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann made a decision ahead of the 2006 World Cup to overhaul old methods which had grown stale, building on early work instigated from 1999 by then-Bayer Leverkusen general manager Rainer Calmund and DFB Director of Youth Development Dietrich Weise.

That involved the creation of a huge network nationwide of talent centres with DFB-salaried coaches hunting down raw talent at youth level and nurturing the players as they moved up the age scale to the brink of the professional game.

"We can thank Klinsmann as he sowed some of the seeds that are now blossoming," said Wormuth, whose brief playing career at the second division level included a spell playing alongside current Germany coach Joachim Loew at Freiburg.

Wormuth proudly pointed to the emergence of several current stars from a system which now runs the rule over as many as 600,000 youngsters each year.

Bayern and Germany star Thomas Muller is one, another is Chelsea newcomer Andre Schurrle, whom the Londoners signed from Bayer Leverkusen earlier this year.

At the last World Cup in South Africa, 19 of Germany's 23-man squad had come through club youth academies.

They finished third, beating Uruguay in the third-place playoff after falling to eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.

"Now to our next goal," Wormuth said. "We want that fourth (World Cup) star on our shirts!"

AFP

Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Germans-confident-ahead-of-2014-Football-World-Cup/tabid/415/articleID/324953/Default.aspx#ixzz2nF62t8OW

Venue Guide: Check out where the USA will play at 2014 World Cup in Brazil

Joe Prince-Wright Dec 11, 2013, 1:28 PM EST

With all the excitement of the World Cup draw last Friday for Brazil 2014, now seems like a good time to take a closer look at the cities and stadiums the U.S. national team will play in next summer.

As we all know, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side were handed and incredibly tough draw In Group G with Germany, Portugal and Ghana standing in their way of making it to the knockout stages. Ahem, ‘Group of Death’…

But what many have overlooked is the fact that in the group stages the USA will play in three of the four most Northern cities hosting games in the World Cup, which means unbearable heat, incredible humidity and will put plenty of extra strain on the players bodies as they play three games in 10 days.

So, from the Amazon to the North East coastal resorts, here’s a look at what cities fans of the USMNT will be visiting if they’re lucky enough to be heading to South America to cheer on the Yanks. Plus, we take a cheeky look at the venues the USA may play at in the knockout stages, if they make it out of the dreaded ‘Group of Death.’

Warning: take plenty of sun block… and a hat.


Estadio das Dunas stadium, named after the famous sand dunes which are in the region of Natal, is a beauty.
NATAL – 16 June, 6pm ET: Ghana v USA

City: In the far North East of Brazil, a tropical climate awaits the USA (that will be a running theme here) as Natal enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year and is known as ‘Sun City’ in Brazil. Heavy European influence adorns the buildings and architecture of the city and tourism plays a big part in the local economy due to wonders such as Ponta Negra, Genipabu, Redinha, Pipa, Pirangi and the fabulous beaches along the coast. This area has struggled for any domestic soccer success for quite some time as fierce rivals America Futebol Clube and ABC Futebol Clube have both struggled since the 1980′s.

Stadium: The Estadio das Dunas has been newly constructed and it’s fantastic curving shape emulates the sand dunes Natal is famous for. A capacity of over 42,086 means it’s the smallest stadium at the World Cup. Could prove difficult to get tickets for this one.


The Arena Amazônia is the host stadium in the humid confides of the Amazon rainforest. Will the USA handle the heat?
MANAUS - 22 June, 6pm ET: USA v Portugal

City: One of the most spectacular, yet problematic, venues in World Cup history, the Amazonian capital of Manaus is host to the USA’s game against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Humidity around the 99 percent mark is likely to greet the USMNT, as well as heat in excess of 100 degrees in the heart of the Amazon rainforest but plenty of stunning sights, such as the convergence of the Negro and Amazon rivers, will make a trip to Manaus a one in a life-time experience. The most northern venue boasts quite a poor crime-record, so be on your guard.

Stadium: There are plenty of concerns over the heat and conditions deep in the world’s largest rainforest, as the kick off time has been moved backwards, but what a stadium they’ve built to welcome the world into the Amazon. Huge interwoven rafters mimics the wooden baskets this region is now far, but once again the capacity is only just over 42,000 so the USA will be playing in another of Brazil’s smallest host stadiums.


The Arena Pernambuco has already hosted Confederations Cup games and is ready to go.
RECIFE – 26 June, 12pm ET: USA v Germany

City: Just down the coast from Natal, Recife is the state capital of Pernambuco and the fourth largest metropolitan area in Brazil. The gorgeous beaches close to urban areas makes this city unique and a heavy Dutch influence from the 16th century can be found amongst the architecture. Just like Natal and Manaus, this sprawling Northern city also enjoys searing temperatures and the USA’s noon kick off time vs. Germany may actually play in their favor. Well, at least more of the USMNT’s players will be used to playing in hot conditions compared to the Germans.

Stadium: Built through public and private funding, the stadium is now home to Clube Nautico Capibaribe, one of Recife’s three professional teams. With a capacity of 46,154, again it’s not the biggest stadium in Brazil but there’s sure to be a terrific atmosphere in the ‘capital of the North-east’ when the U.S. face Germany in their pivotal last group game. The stadium itself is located outside of the city proper and close to the region known as Grande Recife where huge poverty affects the local people, but this venue has regenerated the area by offering shops, jobs and other businesses to locals.

USA’s potential venues in knockout stages

Last 16: Porto Alegre on June 30 or Salvador on July 1

Quarterfinal: Rio de Janiero on July 4 or Brasilia on July 5

Semifinal: Belo Horizonte on July 8 or Sao Paulo on July 8

3/4 place game: Brasilia on July 12

Final: Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janiero on July 13


http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/11/venue-guide-check-out-where-the-usa-will-play-at-2014-world-cup-in-brazil/

U.S. soccer team needs to have patience and calmness leading up to World Cup

Galaxy's Bruce Arena, who coached the U.S. in two World Cups, is among former members of the national team who say that getting impatient or anxious are counterproductive.

By Kevin Baxter
December 14, 2013, 7:42 p.m.

After 3 1/2 years of planning and preparation, of training and tribulation, most of the World Cup questions that once vexed the U.S. national team have been answered.

The Americans know who they're playing, when they're playing and where they're playing. They even have a pretty good idea who will be playing for them when all that happens six months from now.

So now what?

Well, turns out there's not much to do but sit and wait.

"You have to be patient," said Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena, who coached the U.S. in two World Cups.

That could be especially challenging for this U.S. team, which plays Ghana, Portugal and Germany in the first round in Brazil. And it will have to travel more than 9,000 miles in 10 days to do so.

It's the most challenging and arduous schedule of any World Cup team. But Arena says it's one the coaches have no choice but to embrace.

"You can't bring your frustrations on to the players because the players have another job," he said. "They're very busy every day. So you can't be anxious and lay it all on the team.

"But you've got to be prepared. You've got to maintain contact with the players throughout. "

Arena is speaking from experience. The U.S. had a difficult draw in 2002, Arena's first World Cup as coach, when it played tournament favorite Portugal and eventual semifinalist South Korea in its first two games. The Americans came away with four points, then beat Mexico in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals, becoming the only U.S. team to get that far in a post-war era World Cup.

And Brian McBride, who scored what proved to be the deciding goal in a victory over Portugal, credits Arena for setting a positive tone for that tournament.

"I look back to the 2002 World Cup and that six-month period leading up to it. Any time we got together, he would look at everybody and he would say 'You know what? I'm telling you we're going to beat Portugal,' " McBride remembers. "And not a person outside of that room probably believed that.

"I guarantee you Bruce did. And 99%, if not all of us, believed that was the case. That's when you get to focus on the World Cup."

McBride says he expects current U.S. Coach Juergen Klinsmann, a master motivator who won one World Cup with Germany as a player and coached the country into the semifinals in another, to provide a similar focus when the team gets together for training next month.

An effort to instill that kind of confidence is also why the U.S. will split its winter training camp between the StubHub Center in Carson and its World Cup training base in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"It's a great idea," said McBride, a three-time World Cup veteran who is a studio analyst with Fox Soccer. "You get to have the familiarity with it. Those things, if you're prepared for them and you know what's coming, it's a lot easier to make adjustments for the stuff that you don't know what's coming."

When the players are with their club teams, however, it's important they focus on anything but the World Cup, says Eric Wynalda, who played in the tournament three times. That's why Wynalda agrees with Klinsmann that national team players would be better served playing on loan in Europe, where the season runs into May, rather than in Major League Soccer, which doesn't begin play until March.

"I can tell you that going through it, I remember how many guys were just playing not to get hurt," Wynalda, another Fox Soccer analyst, said as he watched a UEFA Champions League game from a lounge next to his West Los Angeles studio last week. "Now guys playing in Europe don't have that option. They have competitive games.

"The problem is that guys that go through it from MLS, it's too much to ask them to go from sleep to sprint like that. That's why we haven't been as competitive as we could have been in World Cups in the past. ... Playing competitive games at 100 mph in May is going to help you."

As for other worries, such as matchups and travel, Wynalda said "it's way too early for that stuff."

Maybe so. But last week, U.S. Soccer showed it's already thinking ahead to the 2018 World Cup, signing Klinsmann to a four-year contract extension that also makes him the technical director for everything from the youth and academy teams to preparations for the World Cup. Bob Bradley, the man Klinsmann replaced as coach, did not have that luxury when he entered the 2010 World Cup as a lame duck with only weeks left on his contract.

"It really helps us to look a little beyond this upcoming World Cup," Klinsmann said. "We want to do well there, and we will do well. But for the type of work that we have begun there, we want to show the players, we want to show everybody involved in the game here that there is a plan in place, or there are ideas in place.

"It gives us all of that sense that we are thinking through certain periods and not just now counting down the days until Game 1 starts in Natal in Brazil."

kevin.baxter@latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-baxter-soccer-20131215,0,7290684.story#ixzz2nX4oOCh6

How can Ghana stop Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal at the World Cup?

Posted On Tuesday, 31st December 2013

In the third game of their “group of death” at the World Cup next summer in Brazil, Ghana’s national team will face Portugal and their megastar Cristiano Ronaldo.

As points in this group—which also includes USA and Germany—will be scarce, Ghana will need to head into the game looking for at least a draw, even if Ghana happens to beat USA and draw with Germany in their opening two games.

Portugal is ranked fifth in the world and led by likely 2013 Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. So, is there any way the Black Stars can stop them?

Please make your views known in the box below.


http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/how-can-ghana-stop-cristiano-ronaldo-and-portugal-at-the-world-cup/?

Ghana leader Mahama confident Black Stars to excel at the 2014 World Cup

Posted On Wednesday, 1st January 2014

John Mahama is confident the Black Stars will excel at the 2014 World Cup

Ghana leader John Dramani Mahama is confident that the Black Stars will overcome the ‘Group of Death’ at the 2014 World Cup and excel in the global tournament in Brazil in June.

President Mahama, who is a die hard Black Stars supporter, hailed the Black Stars for overcoming several difficulties to make a third-straight qualification to the 2014 World Cup in November.

The country’s leader made these observations in his New Year message to the nation on Tuesday night in Accra.

H.E. Mahama, who is a die hard Black Stars supporter, congratulated the senior men’s national team for making it a third-straight qualification to the 2014 World Cup.

“I congratulate our Black Stars for qualifying for Brazil 2014,” President Mahama said.

“Our gallant [Black] Stars have risen to the occasion, again and again even in times when we have doubted their ability to overcome the odds.”

Ghana are placed in one of the toughest groups for the tournament in Brazil where they are paired with Germany, the United States and Portugal.

President Mahama said the Ghana team do not lack the quality to advance past the group stage despite the presence of world class players in the German and Portuguese teams.

“We are in a formidable group but the Black Stars are a formidable team too and remember the adage, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going,” he said.

“I believe that once again the [Black] Stars will shine in Brazil and make us proud.”

Ghana will open their campaign against the United States before playing Germany and Portugal.

http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/ghana-leader-mahama-confident-black-stars-to-excel-at-the-2014-world-cup/?

Ghana's World Cup opponents United States to start training camp in Brazil today
Posted On Monday, 13th January 2014


Jurgen Klinsmann
Ghana’s World Cup opponents USA will arrive in Brazil on Monday to begin a two-week training camp in preparation for the tournament in the South American country in June.

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann will take all 26 players from the team’s training camp in southern California on the two-week World Cup ‘dry run’ trip to Brazil.

The former star for Germany was only planning to take 23 players to South America for the continuation of the development workouts that conclude with a February 1 friendly at Los Angeles against South Korea.

Instead, Klinsmann will avoid trimming the line-up so more players can become accustomed to the hotel and training facility the Americans will use in June in Sao Paulo.

“We have been extremely pleased with the performance of the group in the first week,” Klinsmann said.

“The players came in very fit and have done really well in training.

“Therefore, we believe they have all earned a chance to go to Brazil for these next 12 days.

“We are excited about getting down to Sao Paulo and continuing the work. This is a huge opportunity to get to know our environment for the World Cup.”

The Americans will be based at the training site of Sao Paulo FC, where they will operate their World Cup base camp later this year.

The team will conduct daily workouts and two private sessions during their South American stay.

The camp roster features only one player — Rosenborg midfielder Mix Diskerud — not from Major League Soccer, the North American league that does not start the new season until March.

Top players in European sides remain with their clubs but will certainly figure in the final US squad to be named in May.

Among those in the Brazil-bound group are US all-time scoring leader Landon Donovan, veteran striker Eddie Johnson and Sporting Kansas City midfielders Benny Feilhaber and Graham Zusi.

http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/ghanas-world-cup-opponents-united-states-to-start-training-camp-in-brazil-today/?

World Cup 2014: German ace Schweinsteiger to be ready to face Ghana
Posted On Thursday, 27th February 2014

Schweinsteiger will be fit for World Cup, says Sammer
By Patrick Akoto

German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be fit in time to face Ghana at the 2014 World Cup in June, Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer has revealed.

The Bayern Munich ace has been knocked down with persistent injuries this season but returned to action in November last year.

The 29-year-old is now racing against time to be fully fit for the global piece which starts in June.

However, Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer, insists the impressive midfielder will be ready for the World Cup.

“For God’s sake, he will be fine for then!” he told Bild.

“He’s a leader, regardless of his fitness. He is the leader along with Philipp Lahm and Manuel Neuer. I count Dante among them too.

“Bastian directs the group. He needs to be properly fit, use each training session and every minute to come back. This may take a week, it may take four.”

Ghana will face Germany in their second group game in Fortaleza on June 21.

http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/world-cup-2014-german-ace-schweinsteiger-ready-face-ghana/?

Cameroon legend Biyik: Ghana can't reach World Cup semi-finals

Posted On Thursday, 27th February 2014

Ex-Cameroon international striker François Omam-Biyik says Ghana will not reach the semi-finals at 2014 Brazil World Cup because the Black Stars are not at the same level at the European countries at the tournament.

Many Africans are rooting for the Black Stars to reach the last four of the competition having reached the quarter-final at the previous event in South Africa in 2010.

Biyik, a veteran of three World Cups in 1990, 94 and 98, says the Black Stars will struggle claiming they are not at the same level at the Europeans.

“It is not possible for Ghana to reach the semi-finals because they are not on the same level with European teams but football is unpredictable if we have them or Nigeria its good, but it’s very difficult.”

The Black Stars of Ghana could have become the first African team to reach World Cup semifinal but were eliminated by Uruguay 4-2 on post-match penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regulation in South Africa four years ago.

Asamoah Gyan, had the chance to send his side to the last four after they were awarded a penalty in added time courtesy of Luis Suarez’s, handball but the former Sunderland striker hit the bar.

Ghana are in the proverbial Group of Death with three-time champions Germany, Portugal and USA.

http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/cameroon-legend-biyik-ghana-cant-reach-world-cup-semi-finals/?

Germany to top it. Ronaldo to do enough to get wins against the US and Ghana. :lol:

2014 World Cup: Ghana aim for final as clash with USA draws near

Posted: Sunday, 11th May 2014 1 comment so far - add yours!

The World Cup in Brazil is looming ever closer, and the coaches of each of the 32 nations taking part are beginning to talk up their side’s chances.

No pressure on Ghana, then; their manager James Kwesi Appiah says they’ve got the potential to win the entire competition.

Speaking to journalist Mark Gleeson, the experienced 53-year-old former international believes his country are well prepared and could go even further than they did in 2010.

This is despite being paired with the USMNT, as well as the heavyweights of Portugal and Germany (again).

It would be a shock if the Ghanaians progressed from the group, but as seen four years ago, the African nation have a very strong side and are a match for anyone.

Appiah said: “I believe we’ve got quality players and the most important thing is how you prepare yourself and how you psyche up the boys for the tournament. I personally believe we can do much, much better than we did the last time.”

In South Africa, Ghana were denied a place in the semi-finals of the competition by Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez’s handball on the line, stopping a certain goal.

Asamoah Gyan then cracked the resultant spot-kick off the bar, and the Uruguayans pipped the Africans to the last-four place in the penalty shoot-out.

No African side has ever reached the last four of the World Cup – Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and the Ghanaians in South Africa have all only reached the quarters.

So is a semi-final place possible this time round?

Appiah responded: “You never know! I believe that we’ve got the players. A good team is a team that has got a good bench, and at the moment we’ve also got a very good bench. That is the reason I think we can go very far, even taking the cup!”

That final comment may be merely a dream at the moment, but write Ghana off at your peril.

“I keep saying that I believe that African football has come of age and that many of the African countries are dong well at the moment,” said Appiah. “Although personally I believe in Ghana, I think the other African countries can also perform very well in the World Cup.”

The Black Stars, as they’re known, play the United States on June 16th in Natal in both sides’ first game at Brazil 2014.

Ghana boss Appiah is happy that big-name players Michael Essien and Kevin-Prince Boateng are back in the squad.

“It is always good to have some experienced players in your team and the most important thing is making sure they are fully fit for the tournament. As everyone knows they both have a lot of experience and with them – and the youth around them – I believe we have a very good team.”

Appiah’s words paint a picture of an uber-confident Ghana team – and although this may just be a front to strike fear into their World Cup opponents, the USMNT will need to prepare well if they’re to avoid another defeat to Ghana, like the one they suffered in the last 16 of the 2010 tournament.
http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/2014-world-cup-ghana-aim-final-clash-usa-draws-near/

2014 World Cup: Ghana boss Appiah faces injury D-Day as plans could be wrecked

Posted: Sunday, 11th May 2014
2014 World Cup: Ghana boss Appiah faces injury D-Day as plans could be wrecked
Kwesi Appiah is anxious over ,atches to played on Sunday as there could be injuries

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah will be a keen onlooker as he waits to discover if Sunday’s matches for Ghanaian players in Europe will add to his growing fitness concerns ahead of the naming of the Black Stars squad for the World Cup.

The Black Stars manager faces an anxious few hours on Sunday when his World Cup plans could be wrecked if any of his players in action in Europe are injured.

The Ghana manager will unveil his 30-man provisional squad in Accra on Monday with most of the squad expected to be dominated by Europe-based players.

But first Appiah will be an impotent onlooker as he waits to discover if the European League fixtures adds to his growing injury concerns.

Appiah, who already expects to be without John Mensah, also has injury doubts over Isaac Vorsah, and a few others who are just recovering from injury.

Several Ghanaian players in the purview of the squad are in action on Sunday with Derek Boateng’s Fulham taking on Crystal Palace in England.

Players like Sulley Muntari, Michael Essien, Kwadwo Asamoah, Afriyie Acquah in the Italian top-flight on Sunday while dark horse Fatau Moahmmed will play in the Spanish top-flight match for Gradana.

Daniel Opare could be action for Standard Liege in their match against Club Brugge in Belgium while Frank Acheampong could play for Anderlecht in their Belgian top flight league.

Baba Raham is in action for Greuther Fürth in their German second tier match against Sandhausen while Adama Kwarasey will be in action for Stromsgodset in their match against Molde in Norway. Several other are in action in Switzerland, Portugal and Norway.

If Appiah loses any more, it will leave him struggling to fill the 30-man roster.

He plans to stay up late in the night to go through his medical reports on all the injured and doubtful players before making up his mind on his 30 players for Brazil.

It will only be then, when he has studied the latest updates, that the Ghana boss will confirm the names that will be unveiled at 12:30pm at a press conference.

But before he heads for the GFA headquarters on Monday morning, Appiah will begin the most difficult task of calling those left out to give them the bad news.
http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/2014-world-cup-ghana-boss-appiah-faces-injury-d-day-plans-wrecked/

USA World Cup 2014 squad

Full list of USA's Fifa World Cup squad as head coach Jürgen Klinsmann names his players for Brazil 2014

By Telegraph Sport

9:30AM BST 13 May 2014

USA coach Jürgen Klinsmann's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup finals:


Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG), Tim Howard (Everton/ENG), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)


Defenders (11): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla/MEX), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG), Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg/GER), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim/GER), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)


Midfielders (10): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/FRA), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana/MEX), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg/NOR), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich/GER), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas/TUR), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)


Forwards (6): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland/ENG), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna/AUT), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/usa/10810466/USA-World-Cup-2014-squad.html

Group G Winner

Germany 1.53
Portugal 3.75
USA 12.00
Ghana 13.00

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

I like those odds

2014 World Cup: Ghana will not be intimidated by Group of Death - Stephen Appiah

Posted: Monday, 19th May 2014

Ghana will not be overawed by playing in the Group of Death at the 2014 World Cup, says former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah.

Ghana will play Germany and Portugal in the Group of Death

Ghana will not be overawed by playing in the Group of Death at the 2014 World Cup, says former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah.

In Brazil, the four-time African champions are drawn against Germany, Portugal and USA in Group G.

Ghana reached the round of 16 on their debut at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and four years ago in South Africa, they equalled the best African performance by getting to the quarter-finals.

Appiah, a offensive midfielder, who captained Ghana during his five-year stint with the national team, said his team will not suffer any inferiority complex against his fancied rivals.

“We play Germany, USA and Portugal in our group, but we did get this far and we can’t underrate or overrate any team, the game has come of age and it’s any man’s game,” Appiah said.

“All teams in our group are strong, but we can’t fear them because our qualification demonstrates our ability and potential.

“If you have qualified for the World Cup and you fear your opponents, then you might as well not go for the competition,” he said.
http://www.ghanasoccernet.com/2014-world-cup-ghana-will-intimidated-group-death-stephen-appiah/

Soccer: Donovan cut from US squad

10:13 AM Friday May 23, 2014

American career scoring leader Landon Donovan is among seven players cut as the U.S. announced its 23-man World Cup roster.

The 32-year-old attacker, bidding to make his fourth World Cup, was bypassed today by U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann in favour of Aron Johannsson and Chris Wondolowski, who joined Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey as the forwards.

Also cut were defenders Brad Evans, Clarence Goodson and Michael Parkhurst; midfielders Joe Corona and Maurice Edu; and forward Terrence Boyd.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11260385

Donovan: I deserved to be going

© AFP

24 May 2014

All-time USA scoring leader Landon Donovan answered questions for the first time about his snub from the FIFA World Cup™ squad, saying he "absolutely deserved" to be going to Brazil.

Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann announced his 23-man roster for next month's global football showdown and said Donovan, 32, was a step behind the other strikers in training camp.

"I'm disappointed. I'm sad," Donovan said. "I'm human and I wanted to go. I really wanted to go. I respect the decision, but I just feel in my heart that I deserve to be there and that's the pill that's hardest to swallow."

Donovan, speaking after a Los Angeles Galaxy practice session, told USA Today and the Los Angeles Times he disagreed with Klinsmann's assessment of his performance and overall level.

"I think if I'm being judged based solely on what happened in camp, then I absolutely deserved to be going to Brazil," Donovan said.

That was his repsonse when asked if he thought the snub was due to personal differences between himself and Klinsmann, fueling speculation the move had more to do with strained relations than camp performance.

"I think I was one of the better players in camp," Donovan said. "If I had gone in and didn't think I deserved it then I can live with that, but that is not the case here. Based on my performances leading up to camp, based on my preparation for the camp, based on my fitness, based on my workload, based on the way I trained and played in camp, I not only thought I was a part of the 23, I thought I was in contention to be starting. So that's why all this has been pretty disappointing."

Donovan took four months off before the start of last year's Major League Soccer (MLS) season, a break that saw him miss some World Cup qualifying matches. He played a starring role for the US squad in a run to the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer and returned to the national team for later qualifying matches.
“

I respect the decision, but I just feel in my heart that I deserve to be there and that's the pill that's hardest to swallow.

USA forward Landon Donovan

Donovan, a three-time World Cup player for USA, has 57 goals in 156 caps and an American record five goals in World Cup matches. But he has not scored for the Galaxy in seven MLS matches this season.

Having been the standout player for the US squad in the past two World Cups, Donovan had been the face for the growing audience of American fans.

"I'm not angry. I'm disappointed," Donovan said. "I've spent most of my adult life and the majority of my life in general dedicating myself to this sport in this country and representing my country.

"I was really looking forward to the opportunity of playing in another World Cup and helping this team. Having been in camp for ten days, I really thought I was going to contribute in a real big way, probably bigger than I expected to at first.

"From that standpoint, I think it's disappointing. I think every one of my team-mates would probably echo the same words."

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=5/news=donovan-i-deserved-to-be-going-2343801.html

World Cup 2014: Germany have problems at either end of the pitch
Coach Joachim Loew has work to do if nation is to end World Cup title drought

By Martin Downer, Deputy Sports EditorPublished: 06:00 June 4, 2014Gulf News

Dubai: A team boasting attacking talents such as Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil, Mario Goetze, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos, among many others, should be looking forward to this summer’s World Cup with confidence.

Yet this Germany squad bears an uncharacteristically fragile look, with the pressure of not having won a Fifa showpiece since 1990 starting to weigh heavy on a gifted squad.


As if playing so far away from home in Brazil wasn’t worrying enough, coach Joachim Loew also has to find a way around a trio of concerns that could prove costly — the centre of defence, the disappointing form of playmaker Ozil and the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer.

In defence, contenders Mats Hummels, Per Mertesacker and Jerome Boateng have all displayed weaknesses this season, while at least in midfield Loew has plenty of potential replacements for Ozil. Up front, however, it will either be Miroslav Klose — who has 14 World Cup goals to his name but turns 36 next week and will surely only be a backup in Brazil — or talented youngster Goetze, who is brilliant as an attacking midfielder but will be somewhat wasted as the attacking spearhead.



At least Loew can count on top-class keeper Manuel Neuer and ultra-reliable captain Philipp Lahm at the back, plus Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira — if fully fit — and Bayern Munich’s Schweinsteiger as a formidable central barrier, while Mueller enters the tournament as reigning Golden Boot winner following his exploits in South Africa in 2010.

The Germans have been placed in a tricky Group G alongside Portugal, USA and Ghana, but they should have enough to top the pool and earn a favourable second round draw, meaning the quarter-finals is a minimum objective. Whether or not they can go on and reach the business end of the tournament depends on whether Loew can find solutions to the pressing problems at either end of the pitch.

Germany
Group G
Fifa ranking: 2

Top man
Thomas Mueller
Date of birth: September 13, 1989 (age 24)
Place of birth: Weilheim
Height: 1.86m
Weight: 74kg
Playing position: Forward
International caps: 48. Goals: 17
Club: Bayern Munich
Germany Thomas Mueller

Coach
SPO_140602 Joachim Loew Joachim Loew
Date of birth: February 3, 1960 (age 54)
Place of birth: Schonau
Manager since: July 2006
Record: P104 W70 D19 L15 – 67% win ratio


Best 11 (4-2-3-1)
Neuer; Lahm, Hummels, Mertesacker, Boateng; Khedira, Schweinsteiger; Kroos, Ozil, Mueller; Goetze

Squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover 96)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio)

Group opponents
USA
Ghana|
Portugal

Qualifying campaign
Topped Uefa Group C with 28 points from a possible 30 — their only blip being a 4-4 draw at home to runners-up Sweden.

World Cup history
First tournament: 1934 (in Italy)
Appearances (before 2014): 17
Best finish: Winners (1954, 74, 1990)

Pros
•Boast an enviable crop of attacking midfielders, with classy performers such as Marco Reus and Andre Shuerrle struggling to make it into Joachim Loew’s starting XI.
•Squad has the perfect blend of youth and experience, with many stars at their peak for this tournament.
•Backbone of the team built around Bayern Munich players, who have enjoyed huge success in last two seasons.
Cons
•The centre of defensive has looked vulnerable at times, with all candidates for that position possessing flaws that could be exploited.
•Asides from joint-record goalscorer Miroslav Klose, who will be 36 when the tournament starts, Germany lack an out-and-out striker and may have to play attcking midfielder Mario Goetze up front.
•The fact they have not won the World Cup since 1990 is starting to hang heavy on the German players and coach.

http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/brazil-2014/group-g/world-cup-2014-germany-have-problems-at-either-end-of-the-pitch-1.1342679

World Cup 2014: Ghana out to avenge cruel 2010 exit
Defensive problems leave Black Stars vulnerable despite star-studded midfield

By Ashley Hammond, Staff ReporterPublished: 06:00 June 6, 2014Gulf News

Dubai: Ghana narrowly missed out on becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup in 2010, when they lost 4-2 on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-finals in South Africa.

But they were only denied victory in extra time by a Luis Suarez handball on the line. The striker was red-carded, but Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting spot-kick and the cruel defeat — and Suarez’s reaction to Gyan’s miss — sparked anarchy in Africa, with the entire continent behind the team’s memorable run.


The Black Stars will be out to avenge that cruel defeat in Brazil and, in midfielders Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari, they remain well equipped to do just that.

With Gyan still up front and 2010 assistant coach Kwesi Appiah now the manager, the mission to overturn the injustice is particularly personal.


But Africa’s brightest hope have ironically drawn the hardest group of all participating African nations, with the USA, Germany and Portugal their rivals in Group G.

While offensively astute, defensively Ghana leave much to be desired. Centre-back Jerry Akaminko’s ankle injury in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Holland last week has further weakened the back-line and, while Samuel Inkoom is a worthy replacement, the questionable omission of experienced former captain John Mensah could now come under further scrutiny. The fact he has been ignored adds to the problematic situation Ghana face, in that they lack quality beyond and behind their star midfield.

Gyan’s 2012 move to the UAE’s Al Ain from English Premier League side Sunderland bemused many and, while it doesn’t seem to have affected his national team performances, playing in a developing league over one of the best in Europe must affect his ability on the world stage.

With that in mind, although motivated by their unjust 2010 exit, Ghana probably lack the credentials to get out of a very difficult group this time around.

Ghana
Group G
Fifa ranking: 38

Top man
Asamoah Gyan
Date of birth: November 22, 1985 (age 28)
Place of birth: Accra
Height: 1.80m
Weight: 77kg
Playing position: Striker
International caps: 77. Goals 39
Club: Al Ain (UAE)
FIFA World Cup

Coach
Kwesi Appiah Kwesi Appiah
Date of birth: June 30, 1960 (age 53)
Place of birth: Kumasi
Manager since: April 2012
Record: P34 W20 D5 L9 — 59% win ratio


Best 11 (4-5-1)
Adam Kwarasey; Kwadwo Asamoah, Samuel Inkoom, John Boye, Daniel Opare; Andre Ayew, Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Sully Muntari, Asamoah Gyan; Abdul Majeed Waris

Squad
Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset/NOR), Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates/RSA), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias/GRE), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege/BEL), Harrison Afful (Esperance/TUN), John Boye (Rennes/FRA), Jonathan Mensah (Evian-Thonon-Gaillard/FRA), Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns/RSA)

Midfielders: Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari (both AC Milan/ITA), Rabiu Mohammad (Kuban Krasnodar/RUS), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus/ITA), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese/ITA), Afriyie Acquah (Parma/ITA), Andre Ayew (Marseille/FRA), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Christian Atsu Twasam (Vitesse Arnhem/NED), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough/ENG)

Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain/UAE), Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan/ITA), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes/FRA, on loan from Spartak Moscow/RUS), Jordan Ayew (Marseille/FRA)

Group opponents
Germany
Portugal
USA

Qualifying campaign
Beat Egypt 7-3 on aggregate in the final round of CAF qualification after topping their second round pool ahead of Zambia, Lesotho and Sudan.

World Cup history
First tournament: 2006 (in Germany)
Appearances (before 2014): 2
Best finish: Quarter-finalists (2010)

Pros
•Ghana will be confident after coming within a whisker of being the first African side to make a World Cup semi-final in 2010.
•Coach Kwesi Appiah was the assistant to Milovan Rajevac at the last World Cup and can build the same team spirit.
•In Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng, Ghana have one of the most internationally acclaimed midfields in all of Africa.
Cons
•Centre-back Jerry Akaminko was ruled out of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in last week’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Holland.
•Leaving experienced defender John Mensah out of the squad may come back to haunt Appiah, whose defence was weak even before Akaminko’s injury.
•Ghana have been drawn in a tough group alongside the USA, Germany and Portugal.

http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/brazil-2014/group-g/world-cup-2014-ghana-out-to-avenge-cruel-2010-exit-1.1343609

World Cup 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo claims Portugal face strongest group

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo may have won the Champions League and Ballon d'Or this year but he craves international success with Portugal.

The 29-year-old heads to Brazil with doubts over his fitness and question marks still remaining about his ability to influence the biggest tournaments.

And while the national team captain admits Portugal are not favourites for the World Cup - they have been drawn in a group with Germany, Ghana and the United States - he would like to win a title with the national team "one day".

"We aren't favourites but we will try to perform our best as always. We know we have a difficult group stage," he told sportlobster.com.

"In my opinion, we have the strongest group of the World Cup, but we should take it one step at a time.

"We have an important opener against Germany, before we face Ghana and finally the United States.

"Our goal is obviously to pass the group stage and then we'll see.

"We arrived in Brazil with hope, but we will also make sure our feet stay firmly on the ground.

"We have ambition, but with the awareness we have to set ourselves some goals step by step, game by game. We will take it calmly, but also confidently.

"It fills me with pride, satisfaction, pleasure and honour to represent and captain the Portuguese national team but it is also a big responsibility.

"I hope I win a title with the national team one day."

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/world-cup-2014-cristiano-ronaldo-claims-portugal-face-strongest-group-9501290.html

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 G: Germany, Ghana, Portugal, United States

Germany and Ronaldo — sorry, Portugal — are clearly the better teams, but this could turn into an interesting group anyway. The Germans have an 88.9 per cent chance of making it through, while the US (34.5 per cent) is Portugal’s biggest threat.

“Germany? Well, they’re really good. But as an offence-minded squad, the team might be ever so slightly prone towards letting in a soft goal and drawing (although probably not losing) a game that it shouldn’t,” Silver says.


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 10:00:56 PM

Germany v Portugal promises to be a cracker

I'm so nervous for this game, don't know what to expect.

Germany's golden youth are now their golden men.

This is the Cup they are expected to go beyond the semi's.

Will they buckle under the pressure? Nein!

Maybe Goebbels was on to something

He had Charles Benedict Davenport and Charles Darwin to thank

USA!
USA!!
USA!!!
USA!!!!



the team played like they defended their honour of being the "True Native Americans"! - Daniel Day Lewis

Edited by condemned666: 17/6/2014 09:59:04 AM

Rofl at Hacksaw :lol:

Promising to be an interesting group!

Cristiano Ronaldo (yes hes playing in this tournament) refused to talk to any interviewers after playing on the 'a token team to get smashed by Germany'

Sookie sookie la la

Perfect day for us. Wasn't sure if it was Portugal or Belgium cause germany just went straight through them.

Wasn't a good performance by us but I think we deserve the win. Defended admirable covering each other very well limiting Ghana to shitty crosses and long outside shots that were mostly off target. But Howard looked like he had the close ones covered anyway.

A draw against Portugal should do us now to get to theft round, I don't see us getting smashed by germany on the final day but I think we'll still go for the win.

Jozy is a big loss, we went downhill from there. Hopefully he can come back soon.

USA!
USA!
USA!

I really don't understand how anyone can see this as a group of death. If anything, it's a relatively simple group for Germany. The other three sides should provide a good contest, but I would hardly say a play-off for second spot is a group of death.

Yepp. Group B and D are both better candidates for the GOD tag.

I'd give you Group D if Uruguay weren't shit.

3 top quality teams> 2 top quality teams and 2 average teams.

Edited by jlm8695: 17/6/2014 03:17:59 PM

Who are the 3 top quality teams in Group D? I only see two in England and Italy, Uruguay a couple of years ago yes, but not anymore imo. B is the only group with 3 real top quality teams.

Uruguay are still an above average team and comfortably > USA and Ghana,

Only group where all teams made it out of the group last WC.

Group d is still my GoD though. 3 of those teams have somewhat realistic chances of winning the whole thing.

This is a tough group though for the fight for 2nd spot since imo all are good enough for top 16.

Edited by tbitm: 17/6/2014 03:41:20 PM

Thought Ghana were the better side and deserved to win against the USA.




Edited by Decentric: 17/6/2014 04:08:30 PM

x2.

The US are plucky, but are lacking genuine quality just like the current Australian team.

Credit to them though - they utilise their abilities to the fullest.

They'll get out of the group stage though. Portugal have a massive hill to climb.

I think they have a bit more firepower, even though Altidore stunk it up with Sunderland last season he is still a beast when he plays for the NT as is Dempsey. Not taking Donovan will probably bite Klinsmann on the back side with Jozy going down...pretty sure in general they have higher tier players compared to our lads...a fair few in the epl and bundesliga.

The Americans always play with balls though, gutsy team.

Edited by southmelb: 17/6/2014 10:14:30 PM

Altidore is out for the Portugal game but he might be able to play down the line so that's not bad news. Dempsey is gonna be wearing a mask too, that'll look interesting haha

Portugal will be eager to get revenge on the USA for 2002

66min 2-1 Ghana after going one down. Germany has had most of the control but has fallen asleep.

Almost 3 for Ghana. Germany all over the shop. Typical once they get too hyped up, they lose concentration.

2-2. Klose equals Ronaldo's record with 15.

Both teams with good chances to win. Minutes left.

Should have buried that

2-2 in the end. What an enjoyable game. Muller bleeding like crazy after his head hit an opponent's shoulder. Speed hump for Germany. I'd like to see the USA beat Portugal.

Hopefully that's not Muller's world cup done. Broken nose minmum, it looks bad.

Edited by jlm8695: 22/6/2014 06:57:28 AM

lol Klose almost breaks his ankles with that fucking stupid flip.

-PB

Raul Meireles's beard is so hipster I heard its going to open a microbrewery in a Melbourne warehouse.

USA playing quite well imo.

-PB

Just saw Nani's haircut, what a wanker rofl.

-PB

Did well after the 15 minute mark but I'd say the play has been about 50/50. Thier first goal was a completion of fuckups but they were all over us at the time so I don't want to use that as an excuse, they deserve to be up.

Bradley is having a much better game, can go forward, can slow down the game and can switch the play. Hasn't been putting in these through balls though.

Jones is also having a cracker, hope he isn't too injured, we will need him this half.

One of the saves of the tournament from Howard there to prevent us going 2 down.
I see more goals in the second half, I just hope they're for us.

Edited by tbitm: 23/6/2014 08:53:33 AM

Love the Americans. Good on them for progressing again.

This Clint Dempsey bloke is a hard man and there's quite a few others too.

Great 1st goal by them. Go you Seppo's.

Or not. Great equaliser.

Dempsey has always been a sound player - great effort by the yanks but also great effort by a wounded Port.
Jones's strike was superb - followed by Ports equiliser in the dying seconds.

Ronaldo made Del Piero look like a ball winning midfielder, and Del Piero did more dribbling with the ball. Even 2m away from his man on a turnover he just stood and looked.
I think the Portugal coach would struggle to get the wooden spoon in the A-league.
Even Farina has more idea than him in regards what to do with a passenger like that.

What are the chances of Germany - USA being a very boring draw, which will allow both teams to progress?

Fairly high imo, prolly save themselves for R16.

-PB

It would take a minor miracle for Germany not to make it through.

Ok so the USA v Germany game is a chance of not going ahead due to major flooding in recife. I assume this would mean there's a chance Portugal v Ghana would be postponed until Saturday as well so both are still played at the same time.

Game is going ahead. Stadium is fine but the city is flooded :/

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/us-vs-germany-flooding-recife-brazil-world-cup-group-g-twitter-062614

Prediction, 1-1. Germany to go ahead early and US to press till we get a goal then both teams will be too timid to do anything more.

Edited by tbitm: 26/6/2014 11:56:14 PM

I'm going Germany 2-1. USA get a late consolation from a set piece.

Ghana are going to struggle with Boateng and Muntari being sent home.

Could someone pm me a stream for the Portugal Ghana game?

Edited by tbitm: 27/6/2014 02:10:50 AM

It's free on the SBS site :lol:. And the world cup site :lol:

probably explains why my usually stream site didn't have it :lol:

Bradley has been shit all game

Minutes remaining and it's similar to 2010. Australia beat Serbia 2:1 and Portugal up 2:1 vs Ghana needing a much bigger win and Germany 1:0 over USA like Germany vs Ghana four years ago.

Weeeee USA!

-PB

Adios Portugal Y Ronaldo!

what the hell happened to SBS? Game just...ended at like 65 mins.

Funding cuts kicked in.



-PB