World Cup Analysis – Group F: Can Messi cement his greatness in Brazil?

World Cup’s Group F promises to be an exciting group, here’s an in-depth analysis of the four teams involved.

1. Argentina (3)
2. Bosnia-Herzegovina (21)
3. Iran (45)
4. Nigeria (36)

Argentina

The 1986 champions topped the South American qualifying table this time around, with 35 goals in 16 games as they beat Colombia to first place by two points. They lost only one of their first 15 qualifiers before losing 3-2 to Uruguay in Montevideo, with qualification confirmed, but their best result came as they were the only team to win in Colombia, coming from behind to win 2-1.

Best player - Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is not only the best player in the Argentina squad, but is hailed by many as the best in the world. His goal return is nothing short of spectacular as he constantly performs at the highest level for Barcelona, but now he needs to translate it to the world stage if Argentina are to challenge for the World Cup.

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Best Young Player - Erik Lamela

Erik Lamela’s big-money move to Tottenham saw him mooted as an ideal replacement for Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane. While he hasn’t reached the level of quality he consistently showed at Roma, Lamela has started to show signs of how good a player he can be. The 21-year-old only has six caps for Argentina but is guaranteed to be part of the squad for many years to come.

Manager – Alejandro Sabella

Former Sheffield United and Leeds United midfielder Alejandro Sabella will be the man in charge of Argentina next summer, and will have quite the weight of expectation on top of him. Sabella won the Copa Libertadores with Estudiantes before taking over his national side in 2011. He is unafraid to set out his stall to attack and – with the likes of Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain at his disposal – it’s understandable why. This makes for some real open games, so expect goals whenever they’re playing.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Having lost to Portugal in a play-off in their last two qualifying campaigns, Bosnia-Herzegovina will make their debut at an international finals after just sneaking top spot in Group G ahead of Greece thanks to a vastly superior goal difference.

Best Player - Miralem Pjanic

Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic is the playmaker who drives everything in the heart of the pitch for Bosnia. The 23-year-old’s assist record is extremely impressive, and the likes of Edin Dzeko will be forever grateful for the chances he sets up.

Best Young Player - Sead Kolasinac

Schalke defender Sead Kolasinac only made his debut for Bosnia in November, but the strong left-back looks a real prospect and if he continues to impress in the Bundesliga he is likely to feature strongly in Brazil next summer.

Manager – Safet Susic

Safet Susic has been in charge of the national side since 2009 but didn’t enjoy the greatest start to his reign, winning only two of his first six matches. But things are much rosier now and he has introduced a progressive style of play which is exciting to watch. Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic registered 18 goals between them as Bosnia scored 30 goals in qualifying; the fourth-highest tally in Europe.

Iran

Having failed to make it through the groups stages in their three World Cup appearances (in 1978, 1998 and 2006) Iran will be desperate to rectify that this time. They made hard work of the final group stage but eventually confirmed their qualification with a 1-0 win in South Korea in the last fixture.

Best player – Reza Ghoochannejhad

Reza Ghoochannejhad was eligible to play for the Netherlands but, after representing the Dutch at Under-19 level, the Standard Liege forward made his Iran debut in October 2012 and has already established himself as the best player in the squad, bagging eight goals in just 10 appearances.

Best Young player - Alireza Jahanbakhsh

NEC winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh is one of the players based outside Iran after the 20-year-old moved to the Dutch side in the summer. Before leaving Damash Gilan in his home country he was voted 2012 IPL Player of the Year and has already got among the goals for Iran, scoring in the win over Thailand in the second of his three caps.

Manager – Carlos Quieroz

Carlos Quieroz is a very familiar name to football fans in Europe. The Portuguese spent years as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, while he also had a spell in charge of Real Madrid and the Portugal national side. Having only conceded two in eight in the final qualifying stage, it’s clear his mission as Iran boss is to build a solid foundation in defence and look to sneak single-goal victories.

Nigeria

Perennial underachievers, but write them off at your peril. The Super Eagles have transformed in recent times and look ready to reach the next level after cruising through qualifying without tasting defeat, and beating Ethiopia 4-1 on aggregate to reach their second finals in a row.

Best player - John Obi Mikel

It is often the view that African sides tend to lose discipline and often go chasing the ball, but John Obi Mikel’s presence in Nigeria’s midfield is a rock around which the team can work. An important part of Chelsea’s squad, the 26-year-old has to be on top of his game to help the Super Eagles get out of a fairly open group.

Best Young Player - Victor Moses

Victor Moses is another Nigerian plying his trade in the Premier League and, although he hasn’t quite established himself at Liverpool, the 22-year-old was key in his country’s Africa Cup of Nations victory earlier this year and his absence was all too clear at the Confederations Cup in the summer.

Manager – Stephen Keshi

Stephen Keshi has a good record in qualifying after leading Togo to the finals in 2006, but was sacked just a few months before the tournament in Germany began. The former Anderlecht defender resigned the day after guiding the Super Eagles to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations but soon changed his mind and will surely be desperate to stay in charge for next summer’s tournament.

Best Potential Duels

Lionel Messi v Asmir Begovic

One of the world’s best players will come up against one of the Premier League’s top goalkeepers in the form of Begovic, who was long touted for a move to Manchester United in the summer, but ended up staying with Stoke. Messi is so deadly in front of goal and will inevitably get several shots in at goal, so Begovic will have to be on top form to keep out the Barcelona wizard.

Javier Mascherano v John Obi Mikel

It may not be the glamour match-up, but it could prove a key battle in the middle of the park. Both battling defensive midfielders are not shy to go in for a full-blooded challenge, and there’s every chance one of them won’t last the full 90 minutes when these two sides match up

Combined XI

Prediction

This really is Argentina’s group to lose. After that, though, it’s much more open. Bosnia-Herzegovina are the highest-ranked of the remaining three sides and will be favourites to take second spot, but a resurgent Nigeria side could just make it through in their stead. The two sides clash in the second round of matches and it will be the key fixture as they both look to get through. Sadly for Iran, it may prove too much once again and they look set to go out at the group stage for the fourth time as the other sides will have too much for them.

1. Argentina

2. Bosnia-Herzegovina

3. Nigeria

4. Iran