Group D preview

Although the Ivory Coast’s ability to get drawn in an absolute sod of a group for the second finals running may have seen Group D lose out in the battle to claim the traditional ‘group of death’ mantle, it wouldn’t be too contentious to say that the Germany/Serbia/Ghana/Australia match-up may just prove to be the most hard and bitterly fought in this summer’s tournament.

The draw was very kind to some of the world’s more established powers (Argentina and Spain may as well have been left out of the draw for the groups and fast-tracked to the second round) and it’s only really down to France’s recent poor form that Group A doesn’t look like it has a clear-cut winner. It’s the strengths, rather than the weaknesses (which isn’t to say there aren’t any), of the sides involved that make Group D such an interesting prospect. Below are my summaries of each side and some predictions for your post-World Cup ridiculing pleasure …

Germany
No Englishman needs much of an introduction to Germany. Although they lack the superstar names of yesteryear, the Germans remain strong competitors, losing the final of Euro 2008 and having flown through their qualification group unbeaten.

While the cliché that Germany will be efficient and machine-like rather than creative and inspired may be true (the only real flair player in the German 23 is Werder Bremen youngster Mesut Ozil), the heart of the team are likely to be buoyed by club successes over the last year. Phillip Lahm, scorer of the opening goal at the last World Cup, has stepped in to the captain vacancy following an injury to the talismanic Michael Ballack and a superb season with German double winners Bayern Munich.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, a reported target for Chelsea, was also pivotal to Bayern’s success and enjoyed the best spell of his career since moving to a more central midfield position and while neither Miroslav Klose or Mario Gomez had vintage seasons at the Allianz Arena, both should be full of confidence going into Germany’s opening group game against Australia. Questions will be asked of Germany’s defence given the loss of first choice keeper Rene Adler in the build-up to the tournament but they’re pedigree should at very least see them through.

Serbia
Although some of Serbia’s squad have previous experience of the World Cup in a disappointing showing as Serbia & Montenegro in 2006, South Africa will be the first time the country fields a side as an independent country. The Balkan region has produced many fantastic players over the last two decades and many football pundits have pondered on just how successful the young Yugoslavia side of the early 1990s could have been if the state had remained unified, but since Croatia’s run to third place in 1998, teams from the region have largely failed to make a big impact on the world stage.

With a team full of players plying their trade at the highest level in European football, that looks set to change. Premier League fans will already be familiar with Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic, Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, Wolverhampton Wanderer’s Nenad Millijas and will soon be getting to know the team’s attacking partnership, the 6’7” new Birmingham striker Nikola Zigic and Liverpool signing Milan Jovanovic. Serbian players have also been making their mark elsewhere on the continent, most notably Borussia Dortmund’s Neven Subotic and CSKA Moscow’s Milos Krasic.

Like Germany, Serbia may find themselves looking quite weak in the goalkeeping department, with Wigan’s Vladimir Stojkovic hardly cutting a commanding figure. Nonetheless, their defensive record during qualifying was exceptional and it certainly won’t be easy to beat them.

Ghana
African teams have a slightly more circuitous route to the finals than their European counterparts, but Ghana managed to make it through both of CAF’s group stages, the first of which ended with a surprising three-way tie. Ghana pulled away as clear winners in their second group, and as this one was made up of CAF’s stronger performers it could bode well for their ability to cope with stronger sides in South Africa.

The Black Stars may well see playing in Africa and at an altitude many of their players will have a great deal of experience of as a distinct advantage over their group opponents, but it is fair to say they aren’t in as strong a position as they were during the last World Cup. Star player Michael Essien will be absent through injury, while other big-hitters in the side, such as Kevin Prince Boateng, were not in the best of form during the close season.

That said, there is enough to the Ghana side for them to not be roll-overs and they could spring a surprise on Germany or Serbia if taken too lightly. Sulley Muntari may have been reduced to a peripheral figure at Inter Milan in recent months, but anyone to have featured for the treble-winning European champions must have quality and Stephen Appiah has a wealth of experience to call on when the going gets tough.

Australia
Australia is a nation very used to having things its own way when it comes to sport but success in the world of football continues to elude them. There’s no doubt that the Australian national team has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, nor that the country has produced some very good players. The best example is Tim Cahill, who continues to terrorise defences in the Premier League, proving incredibly potent from set-pieces despite his relatively diminutive height. Former Leeds attacker Harry Kewell has struggled with injuries throughout most of his career but is still capable of lighting up the Turkish Super League at Galatasaray, and his club team-mate Lucas Neil has won many admirers, if not for his loyalty or integrity then for his tough-tackling displays in defence.

The Socceroos cruised through their qualification campaign, albeit against very poor opposition, but their recent performances in friendly games have drawn criticism from their own manager Pim Verbeek. Sporting confidence is seemingly an inherent part of the Australian psyche and could provide them with a mental advantage over their opponents but it seems unlikely they’ll make much of an impression this time round.

Prediction:

A tough one to call, although I’d imagine most people would have Germany down as Group D winners. But with their strikers somewhat misfiring over the domestic season and Serbia’s defence looking rock solid, I struggle to see them beating the Serbs to first place, who I’d expect to earn solid 1-0 wins against Ghana and Australia at least, and wouldn’t be surprised to see them take a point from the Germans.

Ghana aren't a bad side at all but I can’t see them making it through here. It’s unfortunate as there are a few other groups that, other than the seed, lack quality and will see sides lesser than Ghana make it through the next stage, but that’s football. Given that Australia are twelve places above Ghana in the FIFA rankings, it may seem unwise to plump for them to finish bottom of the group. However, I see them really struggling for goals as Tim Cahill is likely to find is aerial ability curtailed by the physicality of all of their Group D opponents. It could turn out I’m laughably wrong and the Aussies end up giving England a scare in the second round, but I’m going to say they'll finish bottom here.

Daniel Kelly