Wahoo Wire

Image courtesy of Fifa.com

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Argentina

Usually mentioned amongst the favorites for the World Cup, this year Argentina is more of a dark horse with a lot of question marks. The biggest question mark of them all is why they have allowed Diego Maradona to continue being the manager. Maradona was one of greatest soccer players of all-time, but has not shown the same style and grace as a manager. He is a lightning rod for controversy, criticizing referees and the press, as well as promising to streak Buenos Aires should Argentina win the World Cup. The World Cup qualifying results were less than impressive, at one point losing 6-1 to Bolivia (tied for the largest loss margin in Argentina soccer history) and needing a last qualifying game 1-0 victory over Uruguay to ensure a trip to South Africa.

The 2008 Olympic Gold medalists are not short on quality, with Argentina having as strong of a squad as any at the World Cup. In Lionel Messi they have arguably the best player in the world, though his phenomenal form for Barcelona has not always shown itself while playing for Argentina. How well he performs could be the difference between first knockout round exit and World Cup victory. In addition to Messi, the team has four other world class strikers in Inter Milan’s Diego Milito, Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuaín, Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez, and Atlético Madrid’s Sergio Aguero. It remains to be seen how Maradona will chose his front line with so many attacking options.

Greece

In their second ever World Cup appearance, Greece will look to do better than they did in 1994 when they lost all three games including losses to Argentina and Nigeria. Greece will also try to recreate the amazing disciplined defense that shocked the soccer world in 2004 as they won the European Championship. In the past six years, a lot has changed as their defensive scheme and risky reliance upon set pieces with no real playmaker on the team left them out of the 2006 World Cup and led to an embarrassing display at the European Championship in 2008. Though they beat Ukraine in a play-off to make it to South Africa after finishing second in their group behind Switzerland, they have not looked particularly strong in their past two friendlies, losing 2-0 to Paraguay and drawing 2-2 with North Korea.

This physical, defensively minded, and disciplined Greece team is anchored by Liverpool Defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos. The defense will be without long-time Goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis for the first time though, so it remains to be seen if his huge shoes can be filled. Though lacking in attacking options, Greece does have huge Celtic Striker Georgios Samaras who has performed well at the club level and will be needed if Greece are to have a better showing at this World Cup.

Nigeria

Of the six African nations with “continental home-field advantage” in this World Cup, it is generally accepted that Nigeria is the most likely to advance. Second place is very much up for grabs in this group and the Super Eagles, who beat Tunisia in the last qualifier to make it to South Africa, hope to improve upon what was in their opinion a poor showing at the African Nations Cup this past February (they lost in the semi-finals to Ghana). After the African Nations Cup they hired a new manager in Lars Lagerback, the former Swedish national team manager. Nigeria is more dynamic than usual with more defensive quality than usual to compliment their assortment of attacking options.

Wolfsburg’s Obafemi Martins and Everton’s Yakubu will lead Nigeria up front with the ever dangerous and timeless African soccer legend Portsmouth’s Kanu on the bench. John Obi Mikel is in support as an attacking midfielder, though injuries have sidelined him as of late. Mikel’s fitness will be key in Nigeria’s success or failure. On the defensive side, Fulham’s Dickson Etuhu and Stoke City’s Seyi Olofinjana shore up a strong midfield with both defensive midfielders allowing more space and freedom to roam for Mikel. Everton’s Joseph Yobo also leads a stronger than usual back line.

South Korea

South Korea is at the World Cup for the seventh consecutive time and eighth time overall. In 2002 as a World Cup host along with Japan, they defeated Italy and Spain in the knockout stages before losing in the semifinals to eventual runner-up Germany. Sadly, they could not recreate the magic of 2002 in 2006 as they failed to get out of the group stage. Guus Hiddink’s influence from his time as manager in 2002 is still seen though, and the team is known for their incredible stamina. They are inconsistent, beating good teams but often playing down to bad teams. They will need to dictate the pace of the game and hope their defense can hold up against and be smarter than bigger and stronger teams.

South Korea’s attack is strong, with the team’s wide spread, free flowing offense playing to the strengths of captain and Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung and AS Monaco’s Park Chu-Young. Chu-Young missed the end of season with thigh injury so his recovery is vital to the quality of attack they will have in South Africa. One thing the team will not have to worry about is the abilities and mental toughness of 37 year-old Goalkepper Lee Woon-Jae who is starting in his fourth World Cup having played in 1994, 2002, and 2006.

Overall Prediction

Regardless of how bad Maradona is as manager, even my mother who knows nothing about soccer could guide Argentina to first place in this group. With strong and experienced players in each position in addition to having the best player in the world and five of the best strikers in the world, they should not have a problem finishing first in group B. With the crowd in their favor and the quality of their side I expect Nigeria to finish second, though this group is evenly matched enough that either of the other two teams could finish in second. I believe Greece will finish in third because they will probably tie with South Korea and not get beaten as badly by Nigeria and Argentina as South Korea, as Greece play a disciplined defensive game instead of a more wide open, running all over the place game like South Korea.