World Cup Analysis – Group G: Can Ronaldo topple the Germans?

Group G sees two of the top five ranked teams in the competition drawn together as the mighty Germany, beaten semi-finalists in South Africa, come up against a Ronaldo-inspired Portugal, the United States and African giants Ghana.

Germany: (2)

Portugal: (5)

USA: (14)

Ghana: (24)

Germany

A nation with a rich footballing history, a squad packed full of experienced internationals and youthful exuberance, plus layers upon layers of additional talent. A country where average stadium attendances, ticket prices and an envied grassroots youth development system rivals the best that Europe has to offer. It’s the ever-reliable Germans.

Germany were unbeaten in qualifying for Brazil, scoring 36 goals in the process – more than any other team – and during the last four major international tournaments Germany have consistently progressed to the semi-finals. Make no mistake about it, they’re strong favourites to lift the trophy next summer.

Best Player – Mesut Ozil

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Since joining Arsenal, Mesut Özil has revitalised and transformed the North London side, creating more key passes (27) than any other teammate this season. The 25-year-old has also laid on the greatest number of goals (six assists) for the Gunners.

Linking intelligently with the likes of Thomas Müller, Toni Kroos, Marco Reus and Miroslav Klose, plus numerous other attacking options from the bench, Arsenal’s creative force is sure to threaten the most rigid and organised of defences in the oppressive heat of Brazil.

Most Valuable Player – Bastian Schweinsteiger

Bastian Schweinsteiger is a multitalented midfielder who’s more than capable of playing throughout a number of attacking positions, making dangerous runs to the edge of the opposition’s 18-yard box, or retreating and acting as a deep-lying playmaker.

The 29-year-old recently won his 100th cap for the national team and is a key component of Joachim Löw’s side.

Best Young Player – Mario Gotze

With nine assists, 84 successful take-ons, and 10 goals last season, Mario Götze’s £31 million transfer to Bayern Munich allowed the youngster to nurture his blossoming talent and continue his development under one of Europe’s most sought after coaches, Pep Guardiola.

Manager – Joachim Low

Joachim Löw likes Germany to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, utilising a high block, counter-attacks and intricate short passing from any number of creative and clever attackers.

The weak link in their armoury can be found in central defence. However, with Manuel Neuer in fine form, it’s going to take something special for them to concede.

Portugal

Portugal could only grab a play-off spot from Group F, having failed to seize top spot from Fabio Capello’s Russia. Cristiano Ronaldo produced two superb displays against Sweden in the play-offs however, scoring all four of his nation’s goals in a 4-2 aggregate win, thus ensuring their passage to Brazil.

Best Player – Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 17 goals from 84 shots for Real Madrid this season – the league leader in both categories respectively – resulting in the former Manchester United winger being favourite to win the coveted Ballon d’Or next year.

Even though Portugal lack similar quality throughout the rest of the team, having one of the world’s best surging forward into space, firing shots at goal like a precision marksman, means that anything is possible.

Most Valuable Player – Joao Moutinho

João Moutinho is the creative epicentre of the Portuguese national side, constructing attacking moves for the likes of Ronaldo to exploit.

The former Porto man is currently enjoying life at Monaco in Ligue 1, creating a total of 28 chances this season behind Radamel Falcao. He’s got the simple task of swapping one world-class striker for another in Brazil.

Best Young Player – Bruma

Galatasaray snapped up 19-year-old Bruma for £8.3 million this summer (a figure that could rise) following the player’s goalscoring exploits at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. The tricky winger scored five times in three group games, losing 3-2 to Ghana in the last 16.

Manager – Paulo Bento

Two draws with Israel and one against Northern Ireland at home highlights a possible weakness in Paulo Bento’s strategy when facing lower-ranked sides – a rigid, defensive and disciplined coaching mentality that ultimately cost them automatic qualification. However, a strong counter-attack display away from home in Solna against Sweden, showed that there’s many facets to Bento’s tactical arsenal.

USA

Progressing from the CONCACAF Group A in first place, losing once to Jamaica, USA began proceedings in the final qualifying stage poorly, losing 2-1 to Honduras with Omar Gonzalez and Timmy Chandler featuring in a new-look central defence. However, following numerous tactical changes and formations, experimenting with a plethora of old and new players alike, Jürgen Klinsmann’s side topped the table, scoring 15 goals in 10 matches.

Best Player – Landon Donovan

Following his three goals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Landon Donovan is the highest scoring American player in the tournament’s history. With the most goals, assists and caps for the national side, Donovan is quite simply the USA’s greatest and most lethal player when firing on all cylinders.

Most Valuable Player – Clint Dempsey

Clint Dempsey’s move back to the MLS at the age of 30 took most people by surprise. He may have struggled to cement a place in Tottenham Hotspur’s side – playing 11 full games in total – but the ex-Fulham midfielder had shown that he still had an eye for goal, scoring seven league goals throughout his debut season for Spurs.

If Dempsey can play at the top level in Brazil, alongside Donovan, then USA may have an outside chance of progressing from the group stage.

Best Young Player – Juan Agudelo

Juan Agudelo continues to impress following his transfer to New England Revolution. The 21-year-old has a hefty reputation as one of USA’s most promising talents, scoring seven goals in 16 appearances this season. Pressure and media expectation should be kept to a minimum however, due to the career collapse of previous overhyped hotshot Freddy Adu.

Manager – Jurgen Klinsmann

Old friendships will be reunited when Jürgen Klinsmann meets Löw in the opposite dugout, but can the former Tottenham striker outwit his home nation?

From the 4-2-3-1, 4-1-2-1-2, 4-4-2 diamond and 4-4-2 flat formations, Klinsmann isn’t rigid when it comes to devising what he believes is the correct approach to each fixture. Would you call that tactical flexibility, reactive tactics, or simply lacking a formation to house his best players at any one time? I guess we’ll see next summer.

Ghana

Ghana scored 18 goals and conceded three in their qualifying group – no other African team scored more. The Black Stars then trounced seven-time African champions Egypt 7-3 on aggregate.

Kwesi Appiah’s side face Portugal for the first time ever next summer, and although they’re considered underdogs to qualify for the latter stages of the tournament, one must remember that Ghana progressed to the quarter-final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at USA’s expense, winning 2-1.

A few shocks may lie in wait for those expecting an easy three points.

Best Player – Kevin Prince-Boateng

Kevin-Prince Boateng is Schalke 04’s joint-top scorer in the Bundesliga this season, picking up five goals from 11 appearances. His experience will be vital in ensuring that Ghana can keep the ball, build from the back, and deliver ammunition for the strikers.

Most Valuable Player – Asamoah Gyan

Cast your mind back to the 2010 World Cup when a certain Luis Suárez stopped Dominic Adiyiah’s injury-time winner with a deliberate handball during Ghana’s quarter-final clash with Uruguay. Up stepped Asamoah Gyan with the chance of sending Ghana through from the penalty spot. However, the former Sunderland striker missed, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Gyan is scoring for fun at club side Al Ain, having been enticed from the Premier League by the copious amounts of wealth found in the United Arab Emirates. The striker will hope to lead his nation to glory in 2014, as captain, and grasp the opportunity to correct the sour memories of four years prior.

Best Young Player – Christian Atsu

Chelsea’s loan system with current Dutch Eredivisie leaders Vitesse Arnhem is proving to be a rewarding experience for a number of their exciting youth prospects. Christian Atsu is one such player.

The 21-year-old winger scored in Ghana’s 6-1 demolition of Egypt at the Baba Yara Stadium, making sure of his country’s passage to the 2014 World Cup. With a bit of luck he may send them one step further.

Manager – Kwesi Appiah

During the qualifying rounds, Kwesi Appiah predominantly set his side up in a 4-4-2 formation with Majeed Waris partnering Gyan in attack. Veteran midfielders Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari attempt to control the central zones, while the likes of André Ayew and Kwadwo Asamoah surge forward down the right and left flank respectively.

A change to a 4-3-3 formation has also been observed, allowing Wakaso Mubarak to help out Waris and Gyan as part of a three-pronged attack. Add Boateng into the mix and Ghana’s coach has plenty of options.

“We’ve landed in the group of death,” announced Appiah following his team’s tough Group G draw. You never know, his expected 4-4-2 may just work.

Best Potential Duels

Cristiano Ronaldo v Manuel Neuer

Ronaldo and Neuer’s battle should make for an exciting spectacle, with the former bombarding Germany’s goal at any opportunity, and the latter endeavouring to stop the forward. Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper has achieved nine clean sheets this season, conceding seven goals in 15 appearances – impressive statistics that could result in a tug-of-war exhibition between the two Ballon d’Or nominees.

Bruno Alves & Pepe v Landon Donovan & Clint Dempsey

Elsewhere, Portugal’s centre-back pairing of Bruno Alves and Pepe, facing Donovan and Dempsey, could be a crucial clash for either side. If the USA are to get anything out of that game, they’ll need to bypass the midfield and try to get their most talented attackers running at the defence.

Combined XI

Prediction

The Germans are an extremely solid side, with an abundance of talented individuals. In Ronaldo, Portugal have one of the world’s best players, along with plenty of other gifted footballers. While USA and Ghana have the possibility of causing a few upsets if the opposition aren’t playing to the required level.

Having said that, it looks like a straightforward passage for Germany and Portugal, with the other two nations playing catch-up.

1. Germany

2. Portugal

3. USA

4. Ghana