World Cup Countdown (Part Six)

Group F is the one of the murkier to decide once you get past the favourites.

Brazil have an illustrious past, making them favourites for the winners podium in Berlin. Oh, and the fact that they are the best team in the world at present. A fluent playing style makes them a joy at times to watch unless you are supporting the team on the receiving end. They are really only suspect in goal, Dida is prone to the odd lapse in concentration but cannot be that bad as Milan would have dumped him a long time ago if that were the case. In defence, they are strong in the centre, Lucio is one of the best in that position in the world. Yet on the flanks, the ageing Cafu still propels himself forwards with much gusto but equally a fast winger is likely to catch him out. Cicinho is equally adept at going forward yet weak defensively, as Madrid know. On the left, Roberto Carlos is apparently Chelsea bound after this summer but he is no longer a shoo-in as best Left Back in the world. Midfield and Attack are where the Brazilians have real strength. Gilberto and Emerson are proven shields for the defence, in my opinion the Arsenal man has pushed ahead this season. On the flanks, Ze Roberto and Juninho Pernambucano wreak havoc with most full backs whilst Kaka and Ronaldinho are amply talented from open and dead ball plays. Up front Adriano and Ronaldo have misfired over the season for their clubs but the latter has always delivered (with the exception of the 1998 Final) irrespective of his club form. So they cannot be beaten then. Well, that is not true as defeats in Quito and Buenos Aires in the qualifiers proved. OK so Quito is at altitudes far higher than Berlin, Munich and Dortmund will ever be and Argentina is the local derby for them. But in both cases they were high pressure games which shows that Brazil are not the demi-gods the media would have us believe. Then again they did extract ample revenge on Argentina in the Confederations Cup with a 4 - 1 thumping. It is difficult to see beyond Brazil this time round as winners but then again they were favourites in 1982 and 1994 so it is possible that the psychological pressures may play on their minds too much. In a season when tournaments around the globe have been won by the favourites, it would be a pleasant change for an underdog to win.

Croatia are Europe's only challenge in this group and by no means certain to go through. Having finished third in 1998, they were abysmal in their first round exit. This time round though, they will expect to beat the Japanese and probably the Australians as well. They have the technique to do so with a group of players who are willing to fight for each other. Up front Prso and Baloban are capable finishers in a two man frontline. Simic and Tudor are reliable defenders but it is possible that they may struggle to get out of this Group. Much will depend on the outcome of their match with Australia.

Australia are in their first finals for thirty years, ironically as they have changed Federation to make themselves more of an easier route to regular qualification for the Finals. England reject Guus Hiddink has grafted them into a solid team with a five man midfield although this could be bereft of Harry Kewell's peachy bum (© Mrs Harry Kewell) through injury, no surprise to the Liverpool fans out there. Much will rely on Mark Viduka's finishing with Tim Cahill being a key to the midfield. Lucas Neill is red hot favourite for the first red card of the tournament or for the most cards / most fouls. They should run Croatia close for the second place spot in the Group and may be surprise qualifiers.

Having been joint hosts last time out and getting to the second round has given Japan belief that they can make themselves a bigger force in the World game. Add to that the Asian Championship and they will believe that they can achieve something in Germany. However, it appears that the Gods of the Draw were not kind to them and I believe that they can forget qualifying out of this Group. Both the Croats and the Australians will be able to outmuscle the Japanese whilst the former have far superior technique.

Predicted Results

Australia	2	-	1	Japan
Brazil	2	-	0	Croatia
Croatia	3	-	1	Japan
Australia	1	-	3	Brazil
Japan	0	-	2	Brazil
Croatia	2	-	2	Australia

Predicted Table

	Pl.	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts.
Brazil	3	3	0	0	7	1	+ 6	9
Croatia	3	1	1	1	5	5	0	4
Australia	3	1	1	1	5	6	- 1	4
Japan	3	0	0	3	2	7	- 5	0

Arsena Players in Group

Gilberto Silva (Brazil)

Players that Arsenal should sign

Lucio (Brazil)
Kaka (Brazil)
Ronaldinho (Brazil)

Todays Tunes go all rawk and roll on ya. John Mellencamp, having dropped the "Cougar" bit of his name, from 4th of July 1992 at Deer Creek. Joe at Human Wheels has more of this and other gigs.

Rain On The Scarecrow

Paper In Fire