World Cup Preview: Group D

Group D
Germany:
Germany is by far the favorite in this group but after a year filled with misfortunes, it is unclear were they stand in comparison to the other historical powerhouses. Last November, Germany’s starting goalkeeper Robert Enke took his life. After being hit with such a terrible shock the German team began to move on with heavy hearts and appointed the young, extremely athletic Rene Adler as their starting goalkeeper. Upon completing a great season with his club team, Bayern Leverkusen, Adler got injured and it was announced that he would miss the World Cup. After these two tragedies in the goalkeeping department, misfortune came Germany’s way once again and this time it hit team captain and playmaker Michael Ballack. Ballack who is arguably Germany’s most talented player and is for sure the emotional leader will also miss the world cup. Though Germany has incredible depth at goalkeeper, a player of Ballack’s caliber is irreplaceable. This German team has many of the players it had from its third place finish in the last world cup but even since Euro 2008 (when they finished second) a lot of these players have just gone silent. Up front the two favorites to start for Joachim Lowe’s side are Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, just like four years ago. However neither of these two has been in top form recently. Miroslav Klose’s Bayern Munchen went to the Champions League Final but his contributions were limited as a substitution for most of the year. And Lukas Podolski who’s club career has been a train wreck ever since 2006 has not even been able to contribute much to the small team of FC Koln. Mario Gomez is also going to be a forward but ever since moving to Bayern Munchen last year has not seen nearly as much playing time as he did with Stuttgart. The midfield department without Michael Ballack falls from high quality to normal. Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munchen is the most talented midfielder on the roster now, however he has been in a slump simply due to the fact that he cannot get used to playing in the center because he is a natural winger. The rest of the midfield has nobody over the age of 26 and it will be interesting to see what will happen without experience but with strong legs. The defense is also very young, but as has become the norm with German teams it is very cold and tough. All of this summed up we cannot forget that since most of the players on this German team have played together for a while the chemistry is there for sure and if the midfield shows up to play then these heavy hearted Germans could make a run.
Ghana:
Ghana’s surprise run into the second round in Germany will be remembered as an upset. The Ghana team this year has yet again very good balance and many good players from elite European leagues. The best part of the team is by far the midfield were Stephen Appiah, the captain, plays alongside Inter star Sulley Ali Muntari and Michael Essien. The problem is that today news was received that Chelsea’s Michael Essien will not participate in the tournament this June due to an injury. The great thing about Essien is that he could basically do everything for Ghana, shoot, defend, dribble and pass, he will be missed. However Ghana will not hang their heads because Essien’s likely replacement will be the blooming Boateng out of Portsmouth. The forwards are not the best with their shots, however their speed and agility is incredible. Asamoah Gyan is the leading scorer of the team and his ability to work his way down the wing will be the key in setting up his partner in crime, Amoah, who is the other notorious goal scorer for Ghana. Goal-scoring will definitely not be a problem for this team especially since Muntari and Appiah also have a combined 29 goals from the midfield. The defense is very low-profile, however Pantsil, Mensah and Addo all get consistent playing times in European leagues and at the last World Cup these three formed a wall that got them to minimize the USA and Czechs chances on goal and due to having such dynamic midfielders, the Ghana counter attack is deadly. Look for Ghana to prove a challenge for favorites at this tournament.
Serbia:
On their way to their second straight world cup, Serbia is very much under the radar. What many people do not realize is that this team has a lot of talent. The forwards, Pantelic, Lazovic and Zigic all score on a consistent basis for their club teams and are above mediocre. Their mediocrity should not prove as a problem since the midfielders are guaranteed to get them the ball at all times. A midfield led by Inter player Dejan Stankovic also has a lot of young talent behind the scenes. 25-year-old Milos Krasic is the star of CSKA Moscow and is wanted by many top-tier European clubs including AC Milan. Krasic has the footwork of a Brazilian combined with the passing of a Spaniard. His speed is also excellent and he has all the tools to be the surprise player of the tournament. Other young players such as Kuzmanovic from Stuttgart have the power and defensive skills to lead this team out of the group stage. The defense is also very good and I am not over rating it. Manchester United star center back, Nemanja Vidic, sets up a solid line with Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and Lazio’s speedy left back Aleksander Kolarov. Serbia is the dark horse of this tournament and will have a tight battle for the second spot.
Australia:
Australia, much like Serbia, will be overlooked at this year’s tournament regardless of having a world class player at almost every position. The squad is an aging squad, but is basically the same one that showed up at the last world cup, the only problem is that mastermind Guss Hiddink is not coaching them anymore. The defense has players such as Chipperfield and Neill, who though old still have it in them to play at a world class level. The midfield is by far the strongest part of this roster mainly because of Tim Cahill (advanced mid/forward) who plays for Everton and is the most naturally talented player on the Socceroos. He is paired up in the midfield with Palermo’s playmaker Mark Bresciano who in the Italian league has proved a threat form long distance and the wing. Brett Emerton and Vincenzo Grella both whom play for Blackburn Rovers in England are solid tacklers and passers. The only problem for this squad is depth of which there is basically none and a perfect example is that the only decent forward is former Liverpool striker, Harry Kewell who has been on the decline basically since he was 25. The goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (37), who will probably be playing in his last World Cup, has urged the team to keep pushing and that just like in 2006 they could be able to grit their way out of this group.

First place should go to Germany unless the midfield sleeps through the tournament but second place is up for grabs with three nearly even teams and so I find it tough to make a prediction.
1. Germany
2. Serbia
3. Ghana
4. Australia

NV