Teams: Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, Korea Republic
Predicted Qualifier: Argentina, Korea Republic
No offence, but I certainly don’t see any chance for Greece to get through this. No doubt they have some talented youngsters such as Papastathopoulos and Ninis and also experienced key player such as Karagounis and Seitaridis, but this former European champion just lack of a cutting edge up front to spring any surprise. Nigeria is a good team with plenty of European-based players. But they never seem to gel too well together. The Korean are not particularly impressive, but I think they shall just sneak through with 4 points in this group. Lee Chung-Yung and Park Ju-Young have improved tremendously this year. Together with captain Park Ji-Sung, their midfield looked lively and sharp during counter-attacks. Argentina has one of the easy groups, no problem for them. Their challenge will start on second round, which I think they will face lots of problem to overcome Mexico, Uruguay or France. Their defence (especially full backs) doesn’t look solid, even when they try to plat conservatively, and I definitely do not think Veron can be a man of tournament. Individual brilliance would not bring you glory. I can’t see them get any further then Quarter Final.
Below are the teams’ squad lists:
ARGENTINA
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar/Netherlands), Mariano Andujar (Catania/Italy), Diego Pozo (Colon/Argentina)
Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Roma/Italy), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich/Germany), Walter Samuel (Internazionale/Italy), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille/France), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield/Argentina), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes/Argentina), Ariel Garce (Colon/Argentina)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool/England), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes/Argentina), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool/England), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina/Italy), Angel Di Maria (Benfica/Portugal), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle/England), Javier Pastore (Palermo/Italy)
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid/Spain), Diego Milito (Internazionale/Italy), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors/Argentina), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City/England), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid/Spain), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Spain)
GREECE
Goalkeepers: Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika/Greece), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos/Greece), Kostas Chalkias (PAOK Salonika/Greece)
Defenders: Giorgos Seitaridis (Panathinaikos/Greece), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos/Greece), Evangelos Moras (Bologna/Italy), Socrates Papastathopoulos (Genoa/Italy), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Liverpool/England), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos/Greece), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiakos/Greece), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos/Greece), Stelios Malezas (PAOK Salonika/Greece)
Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos/Greece), Alexandros Tziolis (Siena/Italy), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos/Greece), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos/Greece), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia/Cyprus), Sakis Prittas (Aris Salonika/Greece)
Forwards: Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg/Germany), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos/Greece), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua Bucharest/Romania), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin/Germany), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic/Scotland)
NIGERIA
Goalkeepers: Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda/Israel), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikvah/Israel), Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv/Israel)
Defenders: Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam/Netherlands), Rabiu Afolabi (Red Bull Salzburg/Austria), Elderson Echiejile (Stade Rennes/France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow/Russia), Danny Shittu (Bolton Wanderers/England), Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille/France), Joseph Yobo (Everton/England)
Midfielders: Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev/Ukraine), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham/England), Sani Kaita (Alania Vladikavhaz/Russia), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth/England), Haruna Lukman (Monaco/France), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea/England), Kalu Uche (Almeria/Spain), John Utaka (Portsmouth/England)
Forwards: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton/England), Obafemi Martins (VfL Wolfsburg/Germany), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga/Spain), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim/Germany), Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow/Russia)
KOREA REPUBLIC
Goalkeepers: Kim Young-Kwang (Ulsan/Korea Rep), Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon/Korea Rep), Jung Sung-Ryong (Seongnam/Korea Rep)
Defenders: Kang Min-Soo (Suwon/Korea Rep), Kim Dong-Jin (Ulsan/Korea Rep), Kim Hyung-Il (Pohang/Korea Rep), Oh Beom-Seok (Ulsan/Korea Rep), Lee Young-Pyo (Al Hilal/Saudi Arabia), Lee Jung-Soo (Kashima Antlers/Japan), Cha Du-Ri (SC Freiburg/Germany), Cho Yong-Hyung (Jeju/Korea Rep)
Midfielders: Ki Sung-Yong (Celtic/Scotland), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita/Japan), Kim Nam-Il (Tom Tomsk/Russia), Kim Jae-Sung (Pohang/Korea Rep), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju/Korea Rep), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton/England), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United/England)
Forwards: Park Ju-Young (AS Monaco/France), Ahn Jung-Hwan (Dalian Shide/China), Lee Seung-Ryul (Seoul/Korea Rep), Yeom Ki-Hun (Suwon/Korea Rep), Lee Dong-Guk (Jeonbuk/Korea Rep)
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