Daves On Soccer14 June 2006
WC: Group F, G, H Overview
OK... I'm getting behind so I'll finish these in one orgy of overview.
Group F is Brazil, and three other teams with hopes of reaching the knockout stage. The fight for second place here could be very tight indeed.
Australia
In their second-ever trip to the WC Finals, Australia will be looking first to establish themseleves as a legitimate participant. But with a roster heavy in EPL standouts, they have hopes of doing more than that.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: Reached the WC Finals in 1974, finishing fourth in Group 1 with a record of 0-1-2.
2002: Failed to qualify, losing the COMNEBOL/Oceania playoffs to Uruguay.
Brazil
They've already retired one trophy and given it to Brazil. When will it be time for the second one?
Success: Winning the championship again.
Disappointment: Anything else.
Previous Best: Five-time champions: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.
2002: Won it all, defeating Germany 2-0 in the final.
Croatia
Croatia get a lot of stick for their eye-breaking kit, but they're a stylish side in the ways that matter, playing an attractive and effective style of soccer. Their fans will expect much, after the fine run to the semifinals in 1998.
Success: Reaching the quarterfinals.
Disappointment: Missing the knockout stage.
Previous Best: Third place in 1998.
2002: Finished third in Group G, behind Mexico and Italy, on a 1-0-2 record.
Japan
The overachieving co-hosts of 2002 will be eager to prove their success was no fluke, but that will be difficult in this group.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: Round of 16 in 2002.
2002: Lost 1-0 to Turkey.
This is a group that wil present some intriguing matchups. The biggest team is France, of course, but their abysmal performance in 2002 won't intimidate the other three teams. Anyone could advance from Group G.
France
Are they the champions of 1998? Or the goats of 2002? They'll need to score some goals if they want to reclaim their reputation.
Success: Reaching the semifinals
Disappointment: Missing the quarterfinals.
Previous Best: Champions in 1998.
2002: Finished last in Group A, behind Denmark, Senegal, and Uruguay, with a record of 0-1-2.
South Korea
As with Japan, they want to prove their 2002 run was no home-field fluke. Their boundless energy makes them a challenging opponent for anyone.
Success: Reaching the quarterfinals.
Disappointment: Failing to reach the knockout stage.
Previous Best: Semifinals in 2002.
2002: Finished fourth, losing 1-0 to Germany in the semifinals and 3-2 to Turkey in the third-place match.
Switzerland
A young, disciplined side who will be another tough opponent for other teams. Emotion could play a huge role due to their inexperience. Only qualified by the thinnest of margins.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: Quarterfinals in 1934, 1938, and 1954.
2002: Failed to qualify, finishing fourth in UEFA Group 1.
Togo
Another of the four African debutants. Togo have created all sorts of challenges for themselves, most notably with a coach who quit just three days before their first match.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: First-time qualifiers.
2002: Failed to qualify, finishng fourth in CAF Group 1.
Similar to Group G, in that the top team faces question marks. But Spain look more solid than France, while there's more of a spread in capabilities among the other three teams. Fortunately Ukraine and Spain face each other to begin, or this would appear a boring group.
Saudi Arabia
Seem to show up in quite a few World Cups, generally going home early. Their main problem is a wealthy but weak domestic league; their players receive little overseas experience.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: Round of sixteen in 1994.
2002: Last in Group E with a record of 0-0-3. Scored 0 goals and gave up 12, including a 0-8 humiliation from Germany.
Spain
The other leading candidate (with Holland) for the best team never to win the World Cup. Once again they have a very strong team, and should easily reach the knockout stage.
Success: Reaching the semifinals.
Disappointment: Missing the quarterfinals.
Previous Best: 4th place in 1950.
2002: Lost on penalties to South Korea in the semifinals, after a 0-0 draw.
Tunisia
Tunisia are the most experienced team in the WC Finals, but their lack of success makes that experience no comfort. This team will have reasonable hopes of advancing to the knockout stage, given a relatively weak group and a favorable first match.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Failing to win a game.
Previous Best: Three trips to the WC Finals, but have never advanced to the knockout stage.
2002: Finished fourth in Group H, behind Japan, Belgium, and Russia.
Ukraine
Part of the Soviet Union until 1991, the Ukraine has never before qualified for the WC Finals. However, they're a strong team, featuring the world-class striker Andriy Shevchenko, and are the clear #2 team in the group.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: First-time qualifiers.
2002: Finished second in UEFA Group 5, but lost to Germany in the playoff match.
Group F
Group F is Brazil, and three other teams with hopes of reaching the knockout stage. The fight for second place here could be very tight indeed.
Australia
In their second-ever trip to the WC Finals, Australia will be looking first to establish themseleves as a legitimate participant. But with a roster heavy in EPL standouts, they have hopes of doing more than that.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: Reached the WC Finals in 1974, finishing fourth in Group 1 with a record of 0-1-2.
2002: Failed to qualify, losing the COMNEBOL/Oceania playoffs to Uruguay.
Brazil
They've already retired one trophy and given it to Brazil. When will it be time for the second one?
Success: Winning the championship again.
Disappointment: Anything else.
Previous Best: Five-time champions: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.
2002: Won it all, defeating Germany 2-0 in the final.
Croatia
Croatia get a lot of stick for their eye-breaking kit, but they're a stylish side in the ways that matter, playing an attractive and effective style of soccer. Their fans will expect much, after the fine run to the semifinals in 1998.
Success: Reaching the quarterfinals.
Disappointment: Missing the knockout stage.
Previous Best: Third place in 1998.
2002: Finished third in Group G, behind Mexico and Italy, on a 1-0-2 record.
Japan
The overachieving co-hosts of 2002 will be eager to prove their success was no fluke, but that will be difficult in this group.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: Round of 16 in 2002.
2002: Lost 1-0 to Turkey.
Group G
This is a group that wil present some intriguing matchups. The biggest team is France, of course, but their abysmal performance in 2002 won't intimidate the other three teams. Anyone could advance from Group G.
France
Are they the champions of 1998? Or the goats of 2002? They'll need to score some goals if they want to reclaim their reputation.
Success: Reaching the semifinals
Disappointment: Missing the quarterfinals.
Previous Best: Champions in 1998.
2002: Finished last in Group A, behind Denmark, Senegal, and Uruguay, with a record of 0-1-2.
South Korea
As with Japan, they want to prove their 2002 run was no home-field fluke. Their boundless energy makes them a challenging opponent for anyone.
Success: Reaching the quarterfinals.
Disappointment: Failing to reach the knockout stage.
Previous Best: Semifinals in 2002.
2002: Finished fourth, losing 1-0 to Germany in the semifinals and 3-2 to Turkey in the third-place match.
Switzerland
A young, disciplined side who will be another tough opponent for other teams. Emotion could play a huge role due to their inexperience. Only qualified by the thinnest of margins.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: Quarterfinals in 1934, 1938, and 1954.
2002: Failed to qualify, finishing fourth in UEFA Group 1.
Togo
Another of the four African debutants. Togo have created all sorts of challenges for themselves, most notably with a coach who quit just three days before their first match.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: First-time qualifiers.
2002: Failed to qualify, finishng fourth in CAF Group 1.
Group H
Similar to Group G, in that the top team faces question marks. But Spain look more solid than France, while there's more of a spread in capabilities among the other three teams. Fortunately Ukraine and Spain face each other to begin, or this would appear a boring group.
Saudi Arabia
Seem to show up in quite a few World Cups, generally going home early. Their main problem is a wealthy but weak domestic league; their players receive little overseas experience.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: Round of sixteen in 1994.
2002: Last in Group E with a record of 0-0-3. Scored 0 goals and gave up 12, including a 0-8 humiliation from Germany.
Spain
The other leading candidate (with Holland) for the best team never to win the World Cup. Once again they have a very strong team, and should easily reach the knockout stage.
Success: Reaching the semifinals.
Disappointment: Missing the quarterfinals.
Previous Best: 4th place in 1950.
2002: Lost on penalties to South Korea in the semifinals, after a 0-0 draw.
Tunisia
Tunisia are the most experienced team in the WC Finals, but their lack of success makes that experience no comfort. This team will have reasonable hopes of advancing to the knockout stage, given a relatively weak group and a favorable first match.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Failing to win a game.
Previous Best: Three trips to the WC Finals, but have never advanced to the knockout stage.
2002: Finished fourth in Group H, behind Japan, Belgium, and Russia.
Ukraine
Part of the Soviet Union until 1991, the Ukraine has never before qualified for the WC Finals. However, they're a strong team, featuring the world-class striker Andriy Shevchenko, and are the clear #2 team in the group.
Success: Reaching the knockout stage.
Disappointment: Finishing last in the group.
Previous Best: First-time qualifiers.
2002: Finished second in UEFA Group 5, but lost to Germany in the playoff match.
// posted by Dave Ciskowski @ 07:05 
