Ballack Out of the World Cup

Michael Ballack suffered ligament damage to his right ankle after this weekend after a vicious tackle from Kevin-Prince Boateng. Germany's captain will be out at least two months after an MRI confirmed that there was a tear in his MCL. More can be read here.

World Cup Preview: Slovakia

In Group F with Paraguay, New Zealand, and Italy

Appearances: This will be their first appearance

Current FIFA Ranking (As of April 28): 38

Captain: Marek Hamsik (Midfielder)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying:  Stanislav Sestak (Striker/Winger) - 6 goals


Key Injuries:

Martin Skrtel (Center back): Broken right foot - Should return in time for the World Cup.
Flilip Holosko (Striker): Broken leg - Should return in time for the World Cup.
Robert Vittek (Striker): Knee injury - Should return in time for the World Cup.

Key retirements since 2006:

No significant retirements to note.

Team Overview:

Slovakia makes history this year with their first World Cup appearance as an independent country. The team is short on star players but made up for it in qualifying with solid team play. They shocked everyone by qualifying first in a group that included Poland, Slovenia and a perennial soccer power in the Czech Republic. They are in a group where they could easily get second place so Slovakia could be able to make a small run this year.

Slovakia is a young and inexperienced squad and they had trouble on the defensive side of the ball during qualifying. They managed to make it through due to their efficiency on offense.

Starting in goal is Jan Mucha, an inexperienced player who will soon sign with Everton, where he will back up United States goalie Tim Howard. He struggled some during qualifying and may not be used to the ability of the players that he may see in the World Cup. He spent the last five years playing in the Polish League.

The backline is a solid group that is led by Martin Skrtel. However, Skrtel is currently recovering from a broken foot and has not played since February so his fitness may come into question. If he is not up to par, Slovakia will be in a lot of trouble.

Slovakia's best player and captain roams the midfield. Marek Hamsik is one of the best players in the world that no one knows about. Despite being only 22-years-old, he is the captain of his national team and is easily the most important player on the team. Another player to watch is winger Miroslav Stoch, a diminutive 5'6" speedster who has a great ability to cross the ball. 3 of the starters in midfield are 22-years-old or younger. The one who is not is the oldest player on the team, 33-year-old Zdeno Strba.



The forwards for Slovakia are an unproven group. How much of an impact can they actually make during the games. Stanislav Sestak is probably the one where most of the scoring duties will fall, however, he may find difficulty getting through difficult defenses like Italy and Paraguay. He will need to count on the midfield to get him the ball in order for him and his fellow forwards to succeed.

Player to Watch: Marek Hamsik

There's no question that the only player that defenses are seriously worried about is Hamsik. In two seasons with his club team, Napoli, he has been their leading scorer. He is a strong player that is tough to work off the ball and has the ability to pick and choose his passes. Slovakia's flow of play will go through Hamsik. He is the two time winner of the Slovakian Player of the Year award. However, he is still quite young so the big stage and pressure could be overwhelming for him. He also struggles mightily on the defensive side of the ball so the opposition can exploit that weakness.



Prediction: Second round loss to Netherlands.

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but the provisional World Cup squad can be found here.

Match Schedule

World Cup Preview: Italy

In Group F with Paraguay, New Zealand, and Slovakia

Appearances: 16 appearances. Last appearance in 2006. Champions in 1934, '38, '82 and 2006.

Current FIFA Ranking (As of April 28): 5

Captain: Fabio Cannavaro (Center back)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Alberto Gilardino (Striker) - 4 goals scored.

Key Injuries: No significant injuries to note.

Key retirements since 2006: 

Alessandro Del Piero (Striker)
Alessandro Nesta (Center Back)
Filippo Inzaghi (Striker)
Marco Materazzi (Center Back)


Team Overview:

What can you say about the Azzurri except for the fact that they are historically one of the best soccer teams of all time. As the defending champions, the Italians will have a large target on their backs. 2006 World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi returns as the head coach after Roberto Donadoni failed in his two years as the coach.

There will be changes in this squad however, as Lippi decided to pick players for his provisional squad that are healthy and played in the qualifying matches. That means Luca Toni and Francesco Totti will not be in South Africa this year as part of the squad.

In goal is Gianluigi Buffon, who is possibly the number one goalkeeper in the world right now. The Italian legend has been named the top goalkeeper in Serie A (The Italian soccer league) a record nine times and has spectacular reflexes. Expect a lot low scoring games when going up against Italy. Buffon has over 100 caps for the national squad and sits behind only Cannavaro, Paolo Maldini and Dino Zoff on the all-time list.

Cannavaro will probably get most of the headlines among the defenders, but little known Giorgio Chiellini is the best in the group. During the 2008 EuroCup, he filled in for the injured Cannavaro and shut down Spaniards Fernando Torres and David Villa. He's a tough defender and has some ability in the air but has been known to be a dirty player. In a friendly game against Netherlands, he broke Robin van Persie's leg with a vicious tackle. He'll pair with Cannavaro to form a solid central defense. The sidebacks for the team are the very experienced Gianluca Zambrotta and 2006 World Cup hero Fabio Grosso.

The midfield for the Azzurri is one one of the top groups in the world. Each starter has his own specialty. Gennaro Gattuso is one of the hardest working players in the game. He will hound the opposition and work to keep the ball for his squad. Andrea Pirlo is the team's facilitator and much of the game will be played through him. He is also the dead ball specialist on the team and will take every free kick and corner kick.



The other two players that will see a lot of time in midfield are Mauro Camoranesi and Daniele De Rossi. De Rossi is the attacking midfielder and will be expected to provide lots of support for the fowards.

The forwards for Italy will most likely stay a 3 or 4 man rotation. With the absence of Luca Toni on this year's team, the starters will be Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta. Both are similar players that scavenge around the net to pick up goals. They are not prolific goalscorers but they get the job done.



Player to Watch: Gianluigi Buffon

I think that the fortunes for the Azzurri rests in the hands of Buffon. Not only is he one of the best keepers in the world, he is also one of the best leaders. When his club squad, Juventus, was in trouble due to the match fixing scandal, he decided to stay loyal to the team and not try to demand a trade like many of his teammates. He stayed with them despite the fact that they were being relegated to a inferior league.



He has amazing reflexes and his height (6'3") helps him a lot in reaching the ball when it is fired toward him. 




Prediction: Quarterfinal loss to Spain

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but the provisional World Cup squad can be found here.

Match Schedule

Updates and Squad Exclusions

England suffered another major blow today when they learned that John Terry has suffered a foot injury that could keep him out of the World Cup. More information can be read here.

UPDATE: Team doctors are saying Terry has minor ligament damage in his foot and he should be alright. More can be read here.

Serbia will be missing one of their defenders after Ivica Dragutinovic tore his Achilles tendon. More can be read here.

Also, preliminary World Cup rosters were released for all of the countries in the past couple of days. Here are some of the big name players that will not be playing in the World Cup this year because they were not included in the preliminary roster.

France - Karim Benzema (Possibly as a result of his sex scandal) and Patrick Viera.

Spain - Bojan Krkic, Sergio Canales and Raul.

Argentina - Javier Zanetti, Fernando Gago, Gabriel Milito and Esteban Cambiasso.

Netherlands - Ruud van Nistelrooy and Clarence Seedorf.

Italy - Francesco Totti and Luca Toni.

Germany - Thomas Hitzlsperger

Brazil - Roaldinho, Adriano, Neymar, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos.

United States - Charlie Davies

Uruguay - Cristian Rodriguez

World Cup Preview: Denmark

In Group E with Netherlands, Japan, and Cameroon

Appearances: 3 appearances (Last appearance in 2002)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of April 28): 35

Captain:  Jon Dahl Tomasson (Striker)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Soren Larson (Striker) - 5 goals

Key Injuries: Thomas Sorenson (Goalkeeper) - Dislocated elbow,    
                                                     expected to be back for the World Cup

Key retirements since 2006: 

Thomas Helveg (Defender)
Martin Laursen (Defender)
Niclas Jensen (Left back)

Team Overview:

Denmark surprised many people by placing first place in their qualifying group, beating the likes of Sweden and Portugal. Under the watchful eye of head coach Morten Olsen, Denmark has experienced its most successful run of soccer in its history. They've reached two of the last three World Cups and with this appearance, makes it three out of four. However, they face a tough task trying to qualify in one of the toughest groups in the World Cup so don't be surprised if they don't make it very far.

Thomas Sorenson, the goalkeeper, recently dislocated his elbow in a game against Chelsea. Doctors determined that no surgery was needed so he should be back in time to play during the World Cup. He is one of the most experienced players on the team and has an amazing ability to make big saves during penalty shootouts.

Helping out Sorenson will be a rough and tough group of players that includes English based players Daniel Agger and Lars Jacobson. The two play, respectively, for Liverpool and Blackburn and are both very physical players. However, the defensive are not an offensive threat so don't look for them to do a lot, if any, overlapping.

Roaming the midfield is a bulldog of a player, Christian Poulsen. The defensive midfielder is one of the most aggravating players in the game. He has been known to absolutely piss off his opponents, leading to fist fights and illegal tackles. During the 2004 Euro Cup, his actions led to Francesco Totti spitting on him. He once kicked Kaka while Kaka while down on the ground and the refs weren't looking and he punched a Swedish player during 2008 Euro Cup qualifying. This consequently led a fan to charge the field, the game being called off and Denmark disqualified with a 3-0 loss.



Around Poulsen are a couple of offensively talented midfielders, Martin Jorgensen and Dennis Rommedahl. Both are in the twilight of their careers and and this will most likely be their last World Cup. Both are threats to score and will be counted on to facilitate the scoring opportunities for the team.

The forwards for the team are the captain, Jon Dahl Tomasson, and talented youngster Nicklas Bendtner while super-sub Soren Larson will be a major player off of the bench. All three are efficient goalscorers, with Tomasson as one of the greatest in Danish history. With Netherlands and Cameroon in their group, the forwards will have to score early and often if Denmark hopes to make it to the second round.

Player to Watch: Nicklas Bendtner

The 6'3" Bendtner will be one of the most important players for the Danish squad. His height poses the perfect compliment to Tomasson's craftiness and instincts. Bendtner is a strong player who can hold the ball and is the best aerial player on the team. However, he has really struggled to finish off goals during high profile games, as his recent showing in the Champions League can attest. He will need to shake off the jitters early or he'll find his way to the bench.



Prediction: Knocked out in the group stages.

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

World Cup Update: Germany

News came out this past week that starting goalkeeper Rene Adler will undergo surgery on a fractured rib and will miss the World Cup. Midfielder Simon Rolfes also confirmed that he will miss the World Cup due to knee injuries.

Germany's goalkeeper position is now up for grabs with Hans-Jorg Butt, Tim Wiese and Manuel Neuer all in contention. Butt is the current favorite to take over the position.

World Cup Preview: Japan

In Group E with Netherlands, Denmark, and Cameroon

Appearances: 3 appearances (Last appearance in 2006)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of April 28): 45

Captain: Yuji Nakazawa (Center back)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: 4 players tied with 3 goals.
Yuji Nakazawa
Yasuhito Endo (Defensive midfielder)
                                                Shunsuke Nakamura (Midfielder/Winger)
                                                Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Sweeper)

Key Injuries: No significant injuries to note.

Key retirements since 2006: 
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (Center back)
Hidetoshi Nakata (Midfielder)
Naohiro Takahara (Striker)
Alex (Midfielder)
Akira Kaji (Right back)
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Goalkeeper)

Team Overview:

Samurai Blue have had a recent run of success in getting to the World Cup. After failing to qualify for the first 15 tournaments, Japan has now qualified to participate in four straight World Cups and enters this year with lofty hopes of reaching the semifinals.

In goal will be Seigo Narazaki, the new keeper now that Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi has retired. The 34-year-old is very experienced, as he played in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well.

The defense for Samurai Blue is a very versatile group. The anchor is captain Yuji Nakazawa, a tough defender who is an excellent aerial player. He is one of three players in Japanese history to reach 100 caps and scored 17 goals from his center back position. He has found a solid partner in Marcus Tulio Tanaka, a Brazilian born player who moved to Japan when he was 15 years old. Tanaka plays the sweeper position, which is a center back who brings the ball up often. The position was developed and played most famously by Franz Beckenbauer. The two will be flanked by Yuto Nagatomo and Atsuto Uchida.

The midfield for Japan is the most steady section of their team. Leading the group is national hero Shunsuke Nakamura, one of their best attackers on the team. He is also the best free kick taker on the team and expect him to be the main distributor when Samurai Blue takes the field. An up-and-comer in the group Kengo Nakamura (unrelated to Shunsuke). His style of play is similar to Shunsuke with the passing ability but he has a more powerful shot. The two Nakamuras have the ability to make or break the fortunes for Japan.






Rounding out the foursome is Makoto Hasebe and defensive midfielder Yasuhito Endo. Endo is a box-to-box player and is the reigning Asian Footballer of the Year. Another player that can make a huge difference for the team will be Keisuke Honda. The 23-year-old is having an excellent year with CSKA Moscow and will be an integral part of the team, whether he starts or comes off the bench.

The forwards for Japan have been an erratic group for the past four years and will be so once again this year. Over the past two years, coach Takeshi Okada has started over 21 strikers in an attempt to find the right combination, but he may have finally found his man. He could use one or two strikers like Yoshito Okubo and Sota Hirayama but there is probably only one that he can count on. That would be youngster Shinji Ozaki.


Player to Watch: Shinji Ozaki

Ozaki is definitely the player to watch in for Japan. In his 24 international games, he has already become one of the most prolific scorers in Japanese history with his 16 goals. 15 of those international goals were scored in 2009 and he was named the World's Top Goalscorer for that year by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. He's always around the ball when there is a goalscoring opportunity and has a powerful shot.



Prediction: Knocked out in the group stages.

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

Rankings Update

New rankings were released on April 28. Here are the updated rankings on teams that I have already covered.

Group A
France - Down 2 spots from 8 to 10
Uruguay - Stayed at 18
Mexico - Stayed at 17
South Africa - Down 2 spots from 88 to 90

Group B
Argentina - Up 2 spots from 9 to 7
Greece - Down 1 spot from 11 to 12
South Korea - Up 2 spots from 49 to 47
Nigeria - Up 2 spots from 22 to 20 (Tied with Australia)

Group C
England - Down 1 spot from 7 to 8
United States - Up 2 spots from 16 to 14
Algeria - Down 4 spots from 27 to 31
Slovenia - Up 6 spots from 29 to 23

Group D
Germany - Stayed at 6
Australia - Down 1 spot from 19 to 20 (tied with Nigeria)
Serbia - Down 1 spot from 15 to 16
Ghana - Down 1 spot from 31 to 32

Group E
Netherlands - Down 1 spot from 3 to 4
Cameroon - Up 1 spot from 20 to 19

World Cup Preview: Cameroon

In Group E with Netherlands, Denmark, and Japan

Appearances: 5 appearances (Last appearance in 2002)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 31): 20

Captain: Samuel Eto'o (Striker)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Eto'o (9 goals scored)

Key Injuries: No significant injuries to note.

Key retirements since 2006: No significant retirements.

Team Overview:

The Indomitable Lions have been a notoriously underachieving World Cup squad. In their 8 appearances, they have only reached the second round only once. Their team is changed this time because of the addition of new coach Paul Le Guen. Under Le Guen, the Indomitable Lions have turned to a 4-3-3 formation that favors a heavy attacking style that has led to a growth in scoring. Eto'o was one of the leading scorers in all of World Cup qualifying with his 9 goals.

Cameroon cruised through qualifying by scoring 23 goals while only allowing 4 goals in their 12 games. They are one of the healthiest teams and have also not experienced a lot of change in their starting line-up since 2006.

Idriss Carlos Kameni is the man between the posts for the Indomitable Lions. The 26-year-old is a former African Goalkeeper of the Year and currently plays in the top flight of La Liga where he goes up against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid every year. He's a solid keeper and won't be the weak point in the team.

Helping out Kameni will be his defensemen, led by 33-year-old center back Rigobert Song. Song is the most experienced player for the Indomitable Lions and was a former captain. Around him will Geremi Njitap and talented youngsters Nicolas N'Koulou and Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Cameroon will be counting on N'Koulou and Ekotto to stop the fast opponents because Song and Njitap are easily burned by the quicker players.

The midfield for Cameroon is a solid group although they are not going to wow anybody. The creative force for the Indomitable Lions is Alex Song. The 22-year-old was the only Cameroon player to be named on the team of the tournament for the 2010 African Cup of Nations. Jean Makoun is another player to watch in the midfield. He is a tough player and will tackle without mercy.

In the forward position, it's all about Eto'o, who I will get to a little bit later. Achille Emana and Pierre Webo will be the other two forwards, but they will not be relied on to do a whole lot. Webo is a promising player, but he needs Eto'o to draw the defense toward him so that he can succeed.

Player to Watch: Samuel Eto'o

There really is no question that Eto'o is the most important player for Cameroon. You could make the argument that he means more to his team than any other player does for his respective team. He is one of the best strikers in the world and is the all-time leading goalscorer for Cameroon. He's one of the fastest players on the team and is easily the best shooter. When he gets the ball, the opposing defense collapses toward him which opens up holes for the other two forwards, Emana and Webo.



Prediction: Second round loss to Italy

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

World Cup Preview: Netherlands

In Group E with Cameroon, Denmark, and Japan

Appearances: 8 appearances. Last appearance was in 2006.

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 31): 3

Captain: Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Defensive midfielder/Left back)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: 2 players tied with 3 goals.
Dirk Kuyt (Striker/Winger), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Striker)


Key Injuries: 

Robin van Persie (Striker) - ankle injury (Expected back in early May)

Key retirements since 2006:

Edwin van der Sar - Goalkeeper/former captain
Ruud van Nistelrooy - Striker
Phillip Cocu - Midfielder
Clarence Seedorf - Midfielder


Team Overview:

The Dutch are one of the biggest underachieving teams in recent history. Gone are the years of Total Football and the Clockwork Oranje. Since finishing in second place in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, the Dutch have gotten past the quarterfinals only once and amazingly failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. The Dutch can be tantalizingly great at times (see Euro 2008 group stages) but can just as easily be horrible.

They enter the tournament this year with a high ranking and once again, extremely high hopes. Marco van Basten is out as the manager and Bert van Marwijk takes over the reins. They have always been a great offensive team, but this year they will have to rely on their defense even more than before.

If the qualifying stages were of any indication, the Dutch have begun to change their philosophy as they allowed only two goals during the qualifying stages. However, their group was exceptionally weak so there is no real indication of how good their defense really is.

The biggest difference in this year's team (and it's a huge one) is the departure of legendary goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. Van der Sar was on the team for two decades and has been the face of the team for the past 8 years. Coming in to fill his giant shoes is Maarten Stekelenburg, a 27-year-old that lost his starting spot on his club team during the 2008-2009 season. He has since gotten his spot back though. He played in five of Netherland's eight qualifying games and allowing goals in two of them.

The backline for the Dutch is a strong group and are efficient goalscorers as well. Captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst mans the left back position, though he is able to move all around the field. He'll be joined by Joris Mathijsen, John Heitinga and Andre Ooijer. Heitinga has one of the most powerful shots on the team and will be a huge weapon from the back.

The midfield and forwards positions for the Dutch are as deep as any nation in the world. In the midfield part time captain (and son-in-law of the current coach) Mark van Bommel. He has a great shot as well, but is very temperamental and refused to play for the national team as long as Marco van Basten was the coach. Nigel de Jong is the defensive midfielder and is a viscous tackler (he did break Stuart Holden's leg earlier this year).

The big members of the midfield are Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart. Van der Vaart and Sneijder man the middle of the field and form a potent attacking trio with Robben. Sneijder is extremely quick with the ball and is a very accurate shooter. Sneijder is the set piece specialist on the team and is one of the best in the world. He is also ambidextrous which means that he is equally strong with both feet. He and Robben form one of the best pair of passing midfielders in the world.




The Dutch get a huge boost with the return of Robin van Persie. If he can get back into form, he'll be an essential player for the success of the Dutch.With the retirement of Ruud van Nistelrooy, he will be called upon to be the main striker. He can be a starter but is equally effective as a super sub. Dirk Kuyt, one of the most tireless workers in the game, will also be in a striker position but will be called upon to be more of a support player rather than a scorer. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ryan Babel are good subs that can make an impact on the game.



Player to Watch: Arjen Robben

Robben is one of the most dangerous players in the world. While usually a winger in the midfield, he can also move into a forward position and be the main striker. He is known for his ability to get near the endlines and cross the ball back toward the goal. He is a very creative player and has been Bayern Munich's MVP this year. He is a creative player and will attempt passes that only someone of his caliber could perform. He has struggled with injuries throughout his career and hopefully he will stay healthy throughout the World Cup.



Prediction: Loss to Brazil in the quarterfinal

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

World Cup Preview: Australia

In Group D with Ghana, Serbia, and Germany

Appearances: 2 appearances (Last appearance was is 2006)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 31): 19

Captain: Lucas Neill (Center Back)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: 2 players with 4 goals.
Brett Emerton (Wingback/Midfielder), Tim Cahill (Midfielder/Striker).

Key Injuries: Patrick Kisnorbo (Midfielder/Defender) - Achilles injury, out for the World Cup.


Key retirements since 2006:

Tony Popvic (Center Back)
Josip Skoko (Midfielder)
Mark Viduka (Striker/Former Captain)
Stan Lazaridis (Left Back)
John Aloisi (Striker)
Zeljko Kalac (Goalkeeper)

Team Overview:

The Socceroos are an enigma. They are currently ranked 19th in the FIFA rankings, ahead of teams like: Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana. They were one of the best defensive teams in World Cup Qualifying by only allowing 4 goals in 14 games. However, much of this can be attributed to the fact that they play in the weakest qualifying league in the world. The second highest ranked team from their qualifying group was Japan, which is ranked 45 in the world.

In the final round of qualifying, they recorded shut-outs in 7 of their 8 games. Despite their ranking and domination of their group, I don't expect Australia to make it very far.

I would expect 37-year-old Mark Schwarzer to be the starter at goalkeeper. He's been one of the best keepers in Aussie history and he has had a surprising record in being able to stop penalty kicks. He's the most experienced player on the team and the Socceroos will need him to use all of it for them to have a chance.

The defense is probably the strongest part of the Australian team. The main cog is captain Lucas Neill, a tough defender and a very good tackler. Joining Neill will be a large group of guys, which includes veterans Scott Chipperfield, Craig Moore and Luke Wilkshire. The loss of Patrick Kisnorbo is a big blow because he was one of their most versatile players. He can play any of the backline positions and the defensive midfield position. It will be tough for Australia to replace him.

Midfield is where Australia's best player does his work. Tim Cahill is one of the greatest goal scorers in Aussie history and always seems to be around the ball when it is near the net. He is usually deployed in the attacking midfield position and he outscores the forwards on the team. He's good with his feet and with his head, so the opposing team should stop Cahill before anyone else.



Brett Emerton is also an important player as the right winger in the midfield. He constantly puts pressure on the defense with his runs and has goal scoring ability as well. The two central midfielders are Vince Grella and Jason Culina. Both are underrated players because absolutely no one knows about them outside of Australia. They are solid midfielders and move the ball around effectively without giving it away. I would also have to kick myself if I didn't mention the midfielder with one of the best names, Danny Invincibile. Not quite invincible, but it's close enough. He doesn't play though, so don't expect to see him on the field.

The two strikers on the team will be Harry Kewell and Archie Thompson. Both are seasoned veterans and among the top goalscorers in Australian history.  Thompson is fifth on the list, sitting eight goals behind the leader, who has 29 career goals. Kewell is known for his exceptional dribbling ability and is one of the best shooters on the team. 

Player to Watch: Harry Kewell

I think that Kewell will be the difference maker for the Aussies this time around. A lot of the defensive pressure will be on Cahill and he might struggle to make as big a difference as he is used to. Kewell used to be the poster boy of Australian soccer before injuries and the emergence of Cahill took him away from the spotlight. As stated before, Kewell is a great dribbler and they'll need him to exhibit that dribbling ability to put pressure on the opposing teams. Because their group includes some of the best defensive squads in the world in Serbia, Germany and Ghana, the impact that Kewell has on the game will be critical.





Prediction: Knocked out during the group stages

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

World Cup Preview: Serbia

In Group D with Ghana, Australia, and Germany

Appearances: 10 appearances (Last in 2006). 9 of the appearances were as Yugoslavia. Their appearance in 2006 was as Serbia & Montenegro. This is their first appearance as Serbia.

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 31): 15

Captain: Dejan Stankovic (Midfielder)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Milan Jovanovic (Striker/Winger) - 5 goals

Key Injuries: 

Bosko Jankovic (Attacking Midfielder) - Ligament damage in his left knee. Out for the World Cup.

Branislav Ivanovic (Center Back/Right Back) - Torn knee ligaments. Possible return in May.


Key retirements since 2006: 

Savo Milosevic (Striker/Former Captain)
Dragoslav Jevric (Goalkeeper)
Mladen Krstajic (Defender)
Sasa Ilic (Attacking Midfielder)
Igor Duljaj (Defensive Midfielder)
Goran Gavrancic (Center Back)
Ognjen Koroman (Midfielder)
Mateja Kezman (Striker)
Predrag Dordevic (Midfielder/Left Winger)
Albert Nad (Defensive Midfielder)
Zvonimir Vukic (Attacking Midfielder)

Yeah, pretty much every starter and key backup player is gone.

Team Overview:

The White Eagles come into this World Cup as their own nation and with a whole bunch of new guys. They lost about half of their starters and their important backups to retirement after the previous tournament. The good news for them is that many of their current players were bench guys on that team and were able to gather some experience. They struggled at first, failing to qualify for Euro 2008, but they have made a come back and surprised many by finishing first in their World Cup qualifying group. They finished in front of the heavy favorites, France, and scored the most goals while allowing the least in their group.

26-year-old Vladimir Stojkovic takes over the reins as the keeper. The dude is a giant, standing 6'5" but he is not very experienced. He has played 30 games for the Serbians but in the last three years, he has only played 34 games for his various club teams. He has not gotten a chance to get in a groove and may be rusty if he doesn't stay focused. He is a solid keeper though and made many saves during the qualifying campaign. He'll be relying on his very dependable defense to keep him out of trouble.

That defense is led by Nemanja Vidic, one of the best center backs in the world. He's known for his tough, physical play and was instrumental in Serbia allowing only eight goals during qualifying. The defense did suffer a blow however when Branislav Ivanovic tore knee ligaments in one of his games for Chelsea. He is their most versatile player, able to play in center back, right back, or the defensive midfield positions.

Someone to keep an eye on in the defense is left back Aleksandar Kolarov. He is an excellent attacker and is able to kick start counter attacks with his ability. He's a good shooter and is very good at crossing from the left side into the penalty area. He takes most of the free kicks for the White Eagles and his kick-taking ability has been compared to that of Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos.

The midfield is led by captain Dejan Stankovic. He is the second leading scorer on the current team despite playing mostly in the defensive midfield position. He will make runs and put himself in an attacking position when the situation calls for it. He is the focal point for the team and will be the playmaker.



The rest of the midfielders are also good players but will be relied on to mostly hold the line and support the other players. Nenad Milijas partners with Stankovic in the central midfield and they form a formidable pair together. Milan Jovanovic and Milos Krasic round out the group. Jovanovic is particularly adept on offense and is a dangerous weapon. He's someone that Stankovic looks for often.

The forward position took a hit when former captain Savo Milosevic retired. He was the all-time leading goalscorer and he has the most caps in Serbian team history. Marko Pantelic and Nikola Zigic will be the men that will try to fill his shoes. Zigic is fifth all-time on the goal scoring list and is poised to move into the third spot. He's also one of the tallest players in the world, standing 6'7", which obviously makes him a great aerial target.

Player to Watch: Marko Pantelic

Pantelic has been designated as the lead striker after now that Milosevic is no longer on the team. He is one of the quicker Serbians and is an excellent passer in close quarters. He doesn't have a particularly powerful shot but he is very accurate and can pick out his spots cleanly. He needs to provide space for Zigic to be able to use his size and Pantelic is counted on to hold the ball when the time calls for it.





Prediction: Knocked out during the group stages. However, if Ghana is struggling with injuries, Serbia will move on instead of them. I still think they lose in the second round to England.

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

Rankings Update

FIFA released new rankings today. Here are the changes to teams that I have already covered.

Group A
South Africa: Down 7 spots from 81 to 88
Mexico: Down 2 spots from 15 to 17
Uruguay: Up 1 spot from 19 to 18
France: Down 1 spot from 7 to 8

Group B
Argentina: Stayed at 9
South Korea: Up 4 spots from 53 to 49
Greece: Down 1 spot from 10 to 11
Nigeria: Down 1 spot from 21 to 22

Group C
England: Up 1 spot from 8 to 7
United States: Up 2 spots from 18 to 16
Algeria: Up 5 spots from 32 to 27
Slovenia: Down 2 spots from 27 to 29

Group D
Germany: Down 1 spot from 5 to 6
Ghana: Down 3 spots from 28 to 31

World Cup Preview: Ghana

In Group D with Serbia, Australia, and Germany

Appearances: 1 appearance in 2006

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 28

Captain: Stephen Appiah (Midfielder)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Matthew Amoah (Striker) - 5 goals

Key Injuries: Michael Essien (Midfielder) - Torn hamstring - (Expected to return in mid-April), John Paintsil (Midfielder) - Right PCL injury - (Expected to return in mid-April), John Mensah (Center Back) - Recurring calf injury - (Playing on and off. Status for World Cup unknown)

Key retirements since 2006: Samuel Kuffour (Defender)

Team Overview:

Ghana makes their second straight World Cup appearance this year. Their only other appearance was considered a success, as they were the only African team to make the second round. They hope to build on that success this time around with a more experienced squad. Coach Milovan Rajevac, from Serbia, has done a good job since taking over the team in 2008 and made Ghana a difficult team to contend with.

His team could be in for some trouble because he has key players that are either currently injured or coming back from them. If they are missing three or four of their key guys, don't expect them to get to the second round.

Richard Kingson is the man between the posts for Ghana. He is an experienced player who is the two-time defending African Cup of Nations goalie of the tournament. He's a reliable guy and won't make many mistakes. Ghana will need to count on him in order to get to the next round.

The backline for Ghana is a very unspectacular group. They are an inconsistent group that relies of their goalkeeper to get them out of trouble. They can be exploited by teams that are aggressive.

The important man of the group, center back John Mensah, is a question mark for the World Cup. He has had recurring calf problems for the past five years and recent news is not good for him. Sunderland, Mensah's club team from England, has revealed that Mensah needs a major operation to fix his calf. The operation, which would fix a spinal problem that affects his legs, would require him to sit out an entire year of soccer. Mensah has not decided yet if he will take the surgery before or after the World Cup.

While the defense might not be good, the midfield for Ghana is one of the best in the world. Led by superstar Michael Essien, this group of guys determines the fate of the team. They are counted on heavily for both offense and defense with Essien doing pretty much everything on the field.



Sulley Muntari is the offensive wizard of the group. He is currently the second leading scorer on the squad and more of the same will be expected from him. The only problem with him is that he is a knuckle head. He's had numerous squabbles with the management and was left off of the African Cup of Nations squad due to his discipline problems. Ghana can not afford to do the same thing for the World Cup because he is too important. The other man, captain Stephen Appiah, will be the guiding force in midfield. He is a tireless player and is the heart and soul of the team. If these three play well, Ghana will be a darkhorse in the tournament.

The forward position for the Black Stars is one that could radically change. At the moment, the group consists of Asamoah Gyan, Junior Agogo, and Matthew Amoah. Gyan is the leading goalscorer on the team, but all three are very inconsistent.

To solve this problem, coach Rajevac has been trying to recruit two significant players to the squad, Mario Balotelli and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Balotelli has played his entire international career for the Italian Under-21 squad but is eligible to play for Ghana because both his parents were born in Ghana. The 19-year-old is one of the up-and-coming talents in the world and would immediately become a starter. However, Balotelli has refused to leave the Italian side and Rajevac has retaliated by saying the Balotelli will never play for Ghana as long as he is the coach.

The other man in question, Boateng, has spent his international career playing for Germany, but stated that he would now like to move to the Ghana squad. However, FIFA has stated that the Ghana Football Association has not filed the necessary documents that would allow Boateng to move sides. Ghana has insisted that they already sent the correct files, so both sides are at a standstill. Boateng now is in danger of missing the World Cup entirely because FIFA has not approved the transfer.

Player to Watch: Michael Essien

There really is no question who's the most important guy on the team. Essien is one of the best midfielders in the world and can change the outcome of a game by himself. While normally a defensive midfielder, he plays more of a central midfield role for his team. This allows him to be more of an offensive force and the game runs through him. He is a box-to-box player, which means he is solid offensively and defensively. He's such a tough defender that he has been nicknamed "The Bison".

Essien has an extremely powerful shot from distance and is able to score many spectacular goals. Injuries have plagued him throughout his career and this year is no different. He should return by mid-April from his most recent injury and should be fit in time for the World Cup. Look for Ghana to succeed if Essien plays well.



Prediction: Loss to England in the second round.

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

World Cup Preview: Germany

In Group D with Serbia, Australia, and Ghana

Appearances: 16 appearances (Last appearance in 2006. Champions in 1954, '74, '90)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 5

Captain: Michael Ballack (Midfielder)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Miroslav Klose (Striker) - 7 goals

Key Injuries: Simon Rolfes (Midfielder) - Right knee injury: Questionable for World Cup.

Key retirements since 2006: Jens Lehmann (Goalkeeper), Oliver Kahn (Goalkeeper), Torsten Frings (Midfielder), Oliver Neuville (Striker), Bernd Schneider (Midfielder)


Team Overview:

When you think World Cup, one of the teams that comes to mind is the German squad. The World Cup has been held 19 times and Germany has been in 17 of them. They withdrew from the very first World Cup in 1930 due to their concerns of traveling to Argentina (the site of that year's World Cup). They were also banned from the 1950 World Cup because the country had been split into East and West Germany after World War II.

Germany has historically been one of the most successful World Cup countries ever. They have won three times, gotten second place four times, and third place three times. They have failed to at least reach the quarterfinals only twice, with the last being in 1978. They have reached the semi-finals in five of the last seven World Cups so a deep run by the Germans will surprise no one.

However, one thing that has coach Joachim Low worried is the state of his goalkeeper position. Legendary German goalkeepers Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann both retired after the 2006 World Cup, leaving the position in the hands of Robert Enke. However, unbeknown to the team and the rest of the world, Enke had been battling depression since 2004. Following the growing pressure of leading his national team and grief due to the death of his 2-year-old daughter in 2006, Enke committed suicide in November of 2009 when he jumped in front of a moving train.

As the team and nation grieved, the question soon became who would be the new goalkeeper. The position would fall into the hands of 25-year-old Rene Adler, who has only played in 9 international games. Since being named the starter, Rene has struggled in his time as the keeper for the German squad as well as his club team. He recently made a huge mistake in Germany's friendly match against Argentina.

One of the greatest soccer players of all time, and fellow German, Franz Beckenbauer recently said that Adler has been making "one error after the other" in the past couple of months. Adler will need his backline to play at the top of their game so that he will not have to do too much.

Luckily for Adler, the German defense is one of the best in the world. Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich will play in the center back position. Both are 6-feet tall, with Mertesacker standing an imposing 6-foot 6-inches. He has been known to be a weapon in scoring headers on set pieces and consequently, it is just as difficult to have successful set pieces against the German squad.

The sideback of note for the Germans is Philipp Lahm. He is one of the best sidebacks in the world, and was nominated for the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year and the 2007 trophy as well. He constantly puts pressure on the opposition and is a great crosser. He was also the only player to play all 90 minutes in all 10 of Germany's qualifying matches. Look for him to be an integral part of the German success. He and the others helped Germany in allowing only five goals during qualifying, although Enke was the starting keeper for those games.

Captain Michael Ballack is the catalyst for the German midfield. The ever present icon stands in the top ten in both goals scored and caps for the German squad. He could conceivably move into the top five of both lists if he has a good tournament. This will, however, most likely be his final World Cup so he is itching to get to the top of the podium. As one of the greatest German players of all time, Ballack definitely wants to end his international career with a World Cup trophy. Interestingly enough, since 2006, Germany has not lost a game when Ballack has scored a goal. Maybe they can force feed him a bit to keep that record going.



Playing alongside Ballack will be veterans Thomas Hitzlsperger, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Piotr Trochowski. All are solid players and will not be intimidated when they must go against the bigger name teams. A player that could make a name for himself is Simon Rolfes. He is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, but has struggled with injuries and is currently trying to rehab from a right knee problem. His play allows Ballack to roam freely in midfield so that he can be more of a force during the game. Without Rolfes, Ballack must concentrate on defending more than he wants to, which can bog down the German attack. At the moment, it is unknown if Rolfes will be healthy enough to play. If he is, he will most likely start in place of Trochowski.

The forward position will be played by two men, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. Both are prolific goalscorers, each scoring at least one goal in every other game. They form a great partnership and are effective with their feet and in the air. They combined for 13 of Germany's 26 goals in qualifying. If either of them were to get injured or somehow fail to play well, Mario Gomez is more than ready to make a difference.

Player to Watch: Miroslav Klose

Klose has done one thing for the Germans, score goals. He has an incredible record in World Cups, scoring 10 goals in his two World Cups. This leaves him five behind the all-time record set by Brazilian forward Ronaldo. Klose stands second on his country's all time goal list, 20 goals behind the amazing Gerd Muller. Muller amazingly had more goals (68) than games played for Germany (62), one of the few players worldwide to ever have that kind of achievement. Klose scored his seven qualifying goals in only eight games so he is still on fire in international tournaments.

Klose is an effective player on the ground and in the air. He scored six of his 10 World Cup goals from headers. He is not a fast player so don't look for him to be making long runs. He'll hang around the net or penalty box area and cause havoc from those places. With the questions that have arisen in the German keeper position, Klose will have to score (and do his front flips) often to keep Germany's run of success going.



Prediction: Loss to Spain in the semi-finals. Loss to England in the third place game.

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

Just a Quick Video

For anyone who missed it. Here's the biggest plays of the Kansas State - Xavier game with the great Gus Johnson commentating.

World Cup Preview: Slovenia

In Group C with England, United States and Algeria

Appearances: 1 appearance in 2002

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 27

Captain: Robert Koren (Midfielder)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: Milivoje Novakovic (Striker) - 5 goals

Key Injuries: No significant injuries

Key retirements since 2006: Aleksander Knavs (Defender), Milenko Acimovic (Midfielder)

Team Overview:

Slovenia surprised many by making this year's World Cup. They finished second in their group during the qualifying stages, ahead of World Cup perennials Poland and the Czech Republic. They were then placed in a playoff match against a vastly superior Russian team and pulled off one of the biggest shockers of the qualifying campaign by defeating them.

Slovenia Vs Russia World Cup Qualifier (I think the commentary is in German)

The Slovenian team is one that does not really possess a star player but they work well as a team. They were one of the best defensive teams in all of qualifying, only allowing four goals in 10 matches. 


In goal will be Samir Handanovic, one of the heroes during their qualifying campaign. The 25-year-old is an experienced player, having played 38 career international games. He is also the starter for Serie A (the top Italian league) team Udinese Calcio so he is used to playing against top flight players. 


The backline for Slovenia goes six players deep. All six are solid defenders and a couple of the them are also adept offensive players. One of the leaders of the group is Bostjan Cesar, a 6-foot-5 monster of a man that is excellent at defending set pieces. Cesar and the rest of the defenders combined with Handanovic to shut out their opponents in six of the ten games they played in, as well as a shut out against Russia in the playoff game.

Captain Robert Koren is the leader of the midfielders, as well as the team. The entire group is used more on the defensive end and as facilitators rather than as attackers. Koren has scored the most goals among the group of midfielders, and he only has four career international goals. The rest of the group have yeoman like abilities and will fight for possession of the ball. A couple of players that will not start but may see a good amount of time are Nejc Pecnik and 19-year-old Rene Krhin. Krhin is a very talented player and is currently with Serie A team Internazionale (Inter Milan). Expect him to be a big part of future Slovenian teams.


Slovenia employs three forwards in the starting lineup but the only one that really makes a difference on the team is the previously mentioned Milivoje Novakovic. At 6ft 3in, he can cause damage from the air as well as with his feet. Novakovic is the fourth most goals in Slovenia team history and with two more, he will move up to second place. Slovenia will count on Novakovic to use his frame to keep possession of the ball and to open up holes for the other two strikers, Zlatko Dedic and Valter Birsa.

Player to Watch: Robert Koren


Koren is the playmaker in midfield (the only one actually) and the ball will go his way a lot. He is currently a member of West Bromwich Albion, an English club team that was relegated last year. His familiarity with the English game and their players will help when the two teams play each other. 

As the attacking midfielder, he links the field between the forwards and the rest of the team. He keeps possession of the ball very well and is an excellent passer. He is, however, a very weak player defensively so the rest of the midfield will be expected to be there to pick up the slack.

Prediction: Knocked out during the group stages

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule

World Cup Preview: Algeria

In Group C with England, United States and Slovenia

Appearances: 2 (Last appearance in 1986)

Current FIFA Ranking (As of March 3): 32

Captain: Yazid Mansouri (Midfielder)

Leading Scorer in Qualifying: 3 players tied with 3 goals. Rafik Saifi (Forward/Midfielder), Antar Yahia (Center Back), Karim Ziani (Midfielder)

Key Injuries: Mourad Meghni - Midfielder (Knee tendinitis - Expected back in late-April)

Key retirements since 2006: No key retirements

Team Overview:

The Desert Foxes make their return to the international stage with this upcoming World Cup. They qualified this by tying hated rivals Egypt for first place in their group and then beating Egypt in a playoff game. The team is solid defensively, having only allowed eight goals in their twelve matches. Algeria will need to count on their defense if they hope to make it to the next stage.

Algeria Vs Egypt World Cup Qualifying Playoff




Algeria dispelled the notion that they were a weak team by finishing fourth during the 2010 African Cup of Nations. They defeated heavy favorites Ivory Coast 3-2 along the way. They were beaten by Egypt 4-0 in the semifinal but during the match, they suffered three red cards and were down to 8 men.



At the moment, Algeria's goalie is Lounes Gaouaoui but he withdrew from the 2010 African Cup of Nations due to appendicitis. 25-year-old Faouzi Chaouchi started in his place and played well enough that coach Rabah Saadane now has a dilemma on who to start. Chaouchi  was the starting goalie during playoff against Egypt and is now considered a national hero because he denied many opportunities for Egypt and held them scoreless. Gaouaoui has the experience and was Saadane's first choice goalkeeper so expect him to return to the starting post.

The strength of the Algerian team lies in the back four. Not only do they defend well, the defenders are actually the one that start the counterattacks on the Algerian team. Antar Yahia and Rafik Halliche are the two imposing centerbacks. Despite being a central defender, Yahia is actually one of the current goal scoring leaders for the Algerian team (he has 5 career international goals). He scored the goal against Egypt that sent the Desert Foxes through to the World Cup. Both men are strong in the air and can shut down the opposition. They managed to shut down African player of the year Didier Drogba during the Cup of Nations and Algeria will look for them to do the same against the likes of Wayne Rooney and Jozy Altidore.

The two wingbacks on the team, Madjid Bougherra and Nadir Belhadj, are as effective attacking as they are defending. They both regularly overlap and help the forwards and wingers on the attack. Belhadj is a very fast player and is one of their best passers. Bougherra is a catalyst in the back and is able to start many attacks on his own.

The four midfielders for the Desert Foxes are there to just hold the line and make sure that the team doesn't break down. The two central midfielders, Karim Matmour and captain Yazid Mansouri, help out the centerbacks and make sure that opposing forwards aren't able to make runs through the center of their team. However, they don't contribute on the offensive side of the ball as they have only scored twice (both by Matmour) in 85 career games for Algeria.

The two midfield wingers are the two most talented players on the team and the fortunes of the Desert Foxes will rest on their shoulders. They are Karim Ziani (more on him later) and Mourad Meghni, thought by the French to be the next Zidane. The 25-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout his 10 year career and has only managed to play in nine games for Algeria. When healthy, he has been able to show flashes as to why he has been compared to fellow Algerian Zinedine Zidane. Zidane, of course, chose to play for France instead of Algeria. He is highly skilled and has great ball control and vision. However, he is again dealing with injuries and will have to fight in order to regain his fitness.

The Algerian strikers are not an imposing group. They do not score a lot of goals and don't have the natural abilities that would strike fear in the opposition. Abdelkader Ghezzal is the center forward and will be expected to hold the ball to help his teammates. He is a very inconsistent player and is often subbed out due to his lack of impact on the game. The other striker is Rafik Saifi, who is the 6th most prolific scorer in Algerian history (18 career goals). Saifi is 35-years-old so he no longer has the speed nor the fitness to play and make a significant impact on the game. Unless someone steps up, the forward position for the Algerians will be a rotating door of futility.


Player to Watch: Karim Ziani

Ziani is the gem of the Desert Foxes. He currently plays in the German Bundesliga and is an extremely creative player. He is the focal point for the Algerian attack and will cause headaches for the opposing midfield wingers. He was essential during their qualifying campaign by scoring three goals and kick-starting many of their goal scoring attacks. He has great passing ability and will take many of the free kicks that Algeria has.



Prediction: Knocked out during the group stages

The final squad will not be announced until June 10 but here is a small list of players in the running to make the team.

Match Schedule