World Cup Analysis, Groups C & D

By João Salviano Carmo

This time we will visit group C and group D as we continue our countdown to the great party. Less than 100 days to go till the ball rolls again!

Group C (FIFA, 2010)
- England
- United States of America
- Algeria
- Slovenia

The 1966’s World Champions, when England hosted the tournament, have failed to repeat the feat ever since. This time around they come to the World Cup as clear favorites after an amazing qualifying phase where they won 9 out of the 10 games played. Wayne Rooney is also at his top shape ever, performing wonderfully lately and is surely looking forward to be one of the main stars this summer.

The USA will be competing in the world’s biggest tournament for the sixth time in a row. After reaching the final eight in 2002 they want to show that they can do it again, especially after their display in 2009 in the Confederations Cup. Can they go back into the quarter finalists’ elite?

Twenty four years later Algeria is once again back in the World Cup. After knocking out Egypt in a play-off (who shortly after became the African Champions) there is great expectation to see what they can do now in the grandest stage of them all.

Playing their second World Cup since becoming an independent nation, Slovenia goes to South Africa as the least experienced team in the group. Will their players overcome the lack of experience and surprise the most frequent customers of the World Cup?

England is by far the main favorite in group C. They are expected to go through to the next round with ease and lots of goals but the USA team has been improving and displaying some nice football lately and are entitled to dream about the top spot in the group. Algeria and Slovenia are hoping to use their outsider status to squeeze past the favorites and get an unexpected pass to the final 16.

Group D (FIFA, 2010)
- Germany
- Australia
- Serbia
- Ghana

“Football is a game played by 22 players. And in the end Germany wins.” (Gary Lineker) The three-time World Champions and 2006 third place finalists, besides having been in four other finals (the most recent one in 2002), can never be discounted from anyone’s top favorites in any tournament. With players like Ballack, Klose and company we can expect a strong Teutonic team once again.

Australia’s Socceroos come to this Summer’s competition in great style. After moving from Oceania to the more competitive Asia qualifying zone, Australia surprised everyone by winning it with great ease. After impressing with their beautiful football in 2006 under the guidance of the great manager Guus Hiddink, will they be able to go one step further and reach the quarter-finals this time around?

Serbia’s White Eagles made an impressive campaign in their qualifying group to South Africa. Beating France to reach the top of the group, Serbia reaches its first final phase as an independent nation and with players like Vidic and Stankovic they will surely be looking forward to impress and to qualify for the next round.

Ghana’s Black Stars, after qualifying at the top of the African zone, and after reaching the Africa Nations Cup final earlier this year, reach their second World Cup looking forward to continue their great performance in Germany 2006. In the first ever African World Cup Ghana will aim at going at least one step further and reach the final eight, cementing their impressive form of lately.

This will be a tough group. Even if Germany appear to be the main favorites nothing is guaranteed in a World Cup. All four teams have what it takes to move to the phase of 16 and will surely battle on the pitch for their right to keep their dream of winning this year’s tournament alive!