WORLD CUP 2018 DRAW: WINNERS AND LOSERS #Russia2018

The draw for World Cup 2018 was completed on Friday in Moscow, with the 32 qualified teams having learned their fates.

There are big guns who will be worried about their progress in the competition, those concerned that they might not be stretched enough early on, and, of course, sides delighted by the prospects the draw has thrown up.

WINNERS

ENGLAND

Having been seeded second, there were fears that Gareth Southgate’s side could be landed in a tricky group, but instead they have a pool that they should feel is very manageable. 

They open up against a Tunisia side that they will be favoured to beat, while a fixture against Belgium means that they will be up against a group of players that they will be familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of.

But it is not on the group stage that the Three Lions should feel good about – their path to the quarter-finals looks relatively serene, with a potential knockout round match against Poland, Senegal, Japan or Colombia. 

Southgate has refused to write off England’s chances in this competition, and they have improved after this draw.

SPAIN

Another second seed who will be breathing something of a sigh of relief. When they were initially paired with Portugal in Group B, there were the makings of a ‘Group of Death’, yet subsequently Morocco and Iran were also placed in that pool.

While the North Africans will be no pushovers, they are more favourable opponents than others they could have faced.

Iran, meanwhile, come into the competition as dark horses, despite being ranked as high as 32 in the FIFA Ranking, but they are opponents that Julen Lopetegui’s side will feel confident of having enough to see off. They were the weakest of the third seeded sides.  

In the last 16, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay lie in wait, so their chances of going deep in the competition appear good.

BRAZIL

Drawn in Group E, the five-time world champions begin their quest for a sixth title with a relatively clement group. After their stunning 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-finals of 2014, there will be a great deal of pressure upon the Selecao to make up for that loss with some style.

The South Americans have been handed Switzerland as their second seeds, with that clash taking place at Rostov-on-Don in their opening match of the competition. Even if they were to spill points in that, which Neymar et al. are not expected to do, they follow that up with fixtures against Costa Rica and Serbia.

With so much talent in their ranks, there should be few fears about a surprise early exit, although if there were to be any surprises, Germany are a potential last-16 opponent for Tite’s men.

LOSERS

ARGENTINA

Although they boast a plethora of world-class players, they struggled to avoid elimination in the qualifying phase to reach Russia. Indeed, only a Lionel Messi masterclass against Ecuador in their final match guided them to the finals.

Jorge Sampaoli’s side have been drawn in one of the toughest groups on paper, with three tricky ties to negotiate before the knockout stage.

Messi & Co will face the unique challenge of Iceland, who were Euro 2016 quarter-finalists after dumping out England, plus fixtures against Nigeria and Croatia – two sides who will fancy their chances against opponents currently lacking in confidence.

If Argentina are to progress through to the last 16, they will have to improve dramatically in the months ahead. 

FRANCE

While it may seem strange to say it, but the apparently kind draw on paper will do little for France’s hopes of winning the World Cup. 

Les Bleus have been there before, with memories of South Africa in 2010 still fresh. On that occasion, they were paired with the hosts, Uruguay and Mexico, and were expected to cruise through. Instead, they found themselves on the first plane home, having approached the competition with a poor attitude.

Didier Deschamps has not yet effectively channelled the supreme talents of a great pool of players and France could have really used a strong competitive test before the last 16. If they are pushed in a group that contains Peru, Australia and Denmark, again, then it will likely be because they have not been at 100 per cent.

France could really have used a push before a potential last-16 encounter with Argentina, Croatia, Iceland or Nigeria.

RUSSIA

The host nation could have wished for a far kinder drawn than they have been handed, particularly as their form has been wholly unspectacular in recent months. Indeed, despite playing every match at home during 2017, they have lost more fixtures than they have won.

Now they have been pitted in a really awkward group that includes an Egypt side expected to be dangerous and a Uruguay team bristling with the offensive talents of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. 

Consequently, they will have to perform on the opening night of the competition, when the pressure was going to be on them in any case. In that fixture, they will tackle Saudi Arabia in a game that they really cannot afford to lose now. 

Failure to beat the side 63 in the latest FIFA Ranking – the lowest in the competition – will leave them with no room for error and two tough opponents. Can Stanislav Cherchesov’s side line up to that pressure?

Via : Goal.com

France - Team Profile - World Cup 2014

France 60 Second Team Profile | Brazil 2014 World Cup

5 Biggest Nations Who Might Miss Out - Brazil 2014

The 2014 World Cup is now just 18 months away, with 31 places remaining to join host nation Brazil at world football's biggest and most prestigious competition.

In some continents' qualifying competitions, it is simply too early to cast judgement on the possible winners and losers. However, in Europe and South America we are reaching the halfway stage and starting to gain an idea of which countries are set to qualify.

While I must stress that this is still guesswork, to some extent, let's take a look at five well-respected footballing nations who face challenges to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

1.Uruguay 

The South American qualifying section is a long, drawn-out affair with all the continent's sides playing out what is effectively a nine-team league campaign.

Now, with nine of 16 rounds already completed, we are starting to get an idea of how the competition is finally shaping up, with Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador currently flying high.

However, for Copa America champions Uruguay, the picture is not so bright.

La Celeste currently lie fifth, in a playoff position, level on points with both Chile and Venezuela. In their next four games, Uruguay face difficult away trips to both their major rivals for qualification, as well as a visit to Lima to face Peru.

First up for Uruguay is a fixture at home to Paraguay which is now a must-win encounter ahead of the three long journeys.

Fail to win the game in Montevideo, or lose to both their major rivals, and Uruguay could be cast adrift in the race for Brazil 2014 with games to spare.

2.Portugal 

Portugal are already facing a massive challenge to qualify for Brazil 2014, finding themselves lying in third place in their group with four of 10 fixtures already played.

Five points behind leaders Russia, it already looks a major challenge for the Iberians to qualify automatically. However, level with Israel on seven points, it will be far from straightforward to even ensure a playoff spot.

Portugal have recent history of qualifying for major tournaments through the playoff process, but they face six gruelling matches, including visits to some of Europe's more distant outposts, before they even reach that stage.

Should they reach that point, there are always risks attached with relying on a knockout tie to progress to the finals.

3.France 

It seems very harsh to describe a side who are currently unbeaten in their qualification campaign as candidates to miss out on the World Cup.

Unfortunately for France, though, they are in the same group as reigning champions Spain, with only one side progressing automatically to the finals.

France may have drawn away to their major rivals. However, in spite of that result, recent years would suggest that the Spaniards remain favourite for progression.

Should that be the case, then France will have to deal with the potentially difficult process of the playoffs and whatever opposition that entails.

Didier Deschamps appears to have got a decent balance to his side and is moving in the right direction. Their second seed status, though, could come back to haunt them if they fail in the playoff stages.

4.Paraguay 

To date, Paraguay have qualified for four consecutive World Cup tournaments. However, with the country languishing at the bottom of the pile in qualifying for 2014, they look unlikely to make a fifth. 

After nine games Paraguay lie five points off qualification, while their upcoming trips to Uruguay and Ecuador are not promising in terms of gathering a fruitful points return.

Paraguay's qualification hopes currently look bleak at best. 

Scoring goals has been the Albirroja's biggest downfall, with just six in nine matches a sure recipe for disaster.

To stand any chance, new coach Gerardo Pelusso must get them scoring and look to improve a record of no points from five away games.

5.Serbia 

Serbia were handed a tough task to qualify for Brazil 2014, with strong Croatia and Belgium sides also within their group. The two favourites have justified their status and currently lead the group by a six-point margin.

In four group stage games so far, the Serbian side have managed just one win—a 6-1 victory at home to Wales. However, that triumph was followed by disappointing defeats at home to Belgium and away to Macedonia.

In their remaining fixtures, Serbia must navigate difficult away fixtures against both favourites for the group, as well as a trip to Cardiff to face Wales.

Their chances of progression already look minimal, without qualifying even having reached its midway point.

By 

 

CHRISTOPHER ATKINS

Ten World Cup Teams Influenced By One Club

1950 Italy - The Tragedy Of Il Grande Torino

The most poignant and tragic inclusion on the list is that of the 1950 Italy team. The Azzurri performed well below their World Cup pedigree in Brazil, being eliminated at the first group stage, but circumstances beyond their control dictated that the side was to be weakened. Il Grande Torino had won four Serie A titles on the trot in the years preceding 1949 and were in the clear to do so again, and also provided as many as 10 national squad members. However, Torino perished in May 1949 in the Superga Air Disaster on their return home from a match in Portugal. As a result it was a depleted Nazionale that travelled to Brazil. 

1954 Hungary - Military Service

Hungary's Golden Squad of 1954 was based almost exclusively around Honved, a small club from the village of Kispest, now a suburb of the capital. The coach, Gusztav Sebes, was allegedly able to persuade the authorities that players should be allowed to play there instead of performing active military service. It proved to be the breeding ground for Sebes' idea to have a deep-lying forward - a tactical innovation that was a key contributor in their demolishing of the English. Goalkeeper Grosics, Jozsef Boszik, Sandor Kocsis, Ferenc Puskas and Zoltan Czibor all played at Honved. The Magic Magyars were ousted in the final against West Germany. 

1966 England - West Ham 4-2 West Germany

Any old school Hammers fan will tell you that West Ham, and not just England, won the 1966 World Cup. The east London side provided the captain and the goalscorers in the final against West Germany. Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and the hat-trick hero, Geoff Hurst, were all graduates of the world renowned Academy of Football between 1958 and 1959. They were key components in Sir Alf Ramsey's team, even though the latter duo were very much newcomers to the international scene, with less than 10 caps between them heading into the finals. 

1974 West Germany - Bayern Munich; The Joy Of Six

Bayern provided the backbone for West Germany's 1974 success with no fewer than six players from the club appearing in the final. Sepp Meier, Paul Breitner, Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Mueller and Uli Hoeness all started for the Germans in their home city as they beat off the Dutch challenge. It was a golden era for that set of players, who won the European Cup and Bundesliga earlier that same season. Having six players from a single club in a final is still a World Cup record.


1982 Italy - ItaloJuve I

There is a saying in Italy that "a successful Juventus team makes a successful Italy team" and that was certainly true in 1982. The Bianconeri had just won yet another Scudetto to continue their dominance under Giovanni Trapattoni and provided six of the first choice starting XI of Italy's World Cup winners in Spain. Dino Zoff captained the Azzurri, hardman Claudio Gentile famously man marked Zico and Diego Maradona, libero Gaetano Scirea oozed class, midfielder Marco Tardelli performed the most famous World Cup celebration by scoring the second goal in the final, left back Antonio Cabrini had the looks, the brilliance to erase his penalty miss at 0-0 in the final, and of course striker Paolo Rossi was the ultimate hero after finishing the Mundial as top scorer with six goals in his final three games including an unforgettable hat-trick against Brazil and the opener in the final win over West Germany.

1986 Soviet Union - The Appliance Of Science Fails Lobanovsky

Valeri Lobanovsky was in charge of both USSR and Dynamo Kyiv at the time of the Mexico tournament and brought along no fewer than 12 of his club charges. The tactician received a lot of criticism for choosing his favourites from club level and as it transpired, the Soviet Union fared pretty poorly. Lobanovsky was renowned for his complex, methodical approach and stated that the non-Dynamo members of the squad were unable to produce his desired results. Igor Belanov's competiton was notable in that he scored a hat-trick in the second round defeat to Belgium and still ended up on the losing side. His club? Yes, you guessed it. 

1990 West Germany v Netherlands - The Milan Derby

One of the most fascinating club v club, country v country clashes in World Cup history occurred in San Siro in 1990. West Germany met Holland in the second round with a fascinating subplot. Inter's Andreas Brehme, Lothar Matthaeus and Juergen Klinsmann lined up for the Germans against Milan's Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit. Goals from Brehme and Klinsmann helped decide a bad tempered tie between two of international football's greatest rivals. Rijkaard and Rudi Voeller saw red for fighting after only 20 minutes, with Rijkaard disgracing himself by aiming two wads of spit on his opponent's perm. 

2002 Germany - The Curse Of Neverkusen

The Werkself may not have supplied many German representatives in the squad as a whole but members of the Bayer side played a vital role for the Nationalmannschaft in the far east. With a former Leverkusen striker as coach, Voeller, the Germans lined up with Carsten Ramelow, Michael Ballack, Bernd Schneider and Oliver Neuville in key positions. That quartet, along with their club-mates had just come off a hugely bittersweet season after losing out on the Bundesliga title, the DFB Pokal and the Champions League at the final hurdle. There was more anguish in store as the Nationalelf lost in the final to Brazil.

2006 Italy - ItaloJuve II

The lead-up to the 2006 World Cup provided Italian football with some of its blackest days. Calciopoli engulfed the peninsula with Juventus among those clubs hardest hit with punishments. The Old Lady was sent down to Serie B for her part in the scandal but the Turin club still played a huge role in helping the Azzurri claim the world title. Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Mauro Camoranesi and Alessandro Del Piero all appeared in the final against France and another Juventino, David Trezeguet, missed the vital penalty kick for Les Bleus.

2010 Spain - Barcelona's Tiki-Tactics

This edition of the Spain squad sees a large chunk of the current Barcelona side transplanted into the red of the national team. Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Pedro Rodriguez and David Villa have all played an integral part in getting la Furia Roja to the final. Indeed, a non-Barcelona player has yet to score for Spain in these championships. This is all the more remarkable considering that Spain do not play with a Barca blueprint; Vicente Del Bosque has his own way of doing things with the players at his disposal. That is a testament to the adaptability of the Blaugrana representatives in his panel.

Farcical France crash out

Group A, 14:00 GMT, June 22, 2010
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa



France
1 - 2
South Africa

South Africa ended their Group A campaign on a high note with a battling win over France, as the hosts were eliminated from the World Cup on goal difference.


France exited the World Cup at the first round stage with barely a whimper after this humbling defeat by the host nation at the Free State Stadium.

 France, whose only point in the group came against Uruguay.

It was a bitter sweet win for South Africa as they have become the first host nation to be eliminated at the first round stage of the finals.

Scoring Summary

France	South Africa
Florent Malouda (70')	Bongani Khumalo (20')
	Katlego Mphela (37')

Match Stats

France

South Africa

10(4)	Shots (on Goal)	21(10)
10	Fouls	12
3	Corner Kicks	5
6	Offsides	3
50%	Time of Possession	50%
1	Yellow Cards	0
1	Red Cards	0
7	Saves	3

Match Information

Stadium:	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Attendance:	39,415
Match Time:	14:00 GMT
Official(s):	Oscar Ruiz

Man of the Match: Katlego Mphela

MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: Katlego Mphela - The forward was energetic throughout the game and finally showed the form that he had produced in the warm-up games. He put himself in a great position to net the second and was a livewire throughout.

France verdict: Dismal, farcical, embarrassing, chaotic. You could never run out of words to describe France's display at this tournament. France were woeful even before they went down to ten men and didn't get any better. You have to pity Laurent Blanc.

South Africa verdict: After such a poor display in defeat to Uruguay, South Africa can exit the World Cup with pride with victory over the 'mighty' France. They may be the first host country to fail to emerge from their group, but they were never expected to go far. They only go out on goal difference and that, in a way, is a triumph.

Could do better: Franck Ribery - He may have got the assist for Florent Malouda's consolation, but yet again he offered very little for a player of such quality. You would barely think the Bayern Munich player has been in South Africa.

Stat attack: Thierry Henry has drawn level with Fabien Barthez in making the most World Cup appearances in French history (17).