2014 World Cup - Group D Preview

Every World Cup needs a Group of Death, and Group D would seem to be most readily suited to that particularly morbid sobriquet in the 2014 World Cup. This certainly seemed to be the verdict of English FA Chairman Greg Dyke when the draw was made. But although this is a tough group, at the same time it possibly lacks a truly outstanding team, and it seems highly unlikely that the winner of the competition will be derived from Group D. It does, though, feature four very strong teams.

There is no doubting Uruguay’s star player. Luis Suarez has just carried off the PFA and Football Writers’ Player of the Year in the Premier League, and there are few players in world football who are the equal of the mercurial forward. With the potential for Uruguay to field an extremely powerful looking forward line of Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan, there is no doubt that the South Americans will take some beating. However, they can’t boast the same quality of player in defence or midfield, and they looked pretty ordinary during last year’s Confederations Cup.

England enter this particular tournament with lower expectations than at any World Cup for many years. Manager Roy Hodgson has named an inexperienced squad which has excited some fans simply because of its emphasis on youth. However, the current England team doesn’t have some of the star names which it boasted in the past. Of course, the Premier League is the richest in the world, and consequently England will always generate a certain amount of talent. Thus, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney are heralded by football fans all over the globe, and there are plenty of other strong players in the squad. England’s meeting with Uruguay would seem to be particularly key to their chances, as is their ability to acclimatise to unfamiliar climatic conditions.

Costa Rica are a more than capable side, who came through the CONCACAF qualifying campaign with flying colours. They are not exactly over-endowed with players whose names roll of the tongue, but Álvaro Saborío and Bryan Ruiz up front certainly have goals in them. Unquestionably, they are the least likely nation to alight from Group D in the quarter-finals, but they should not be taken lightly by any of the big boys in this qualifying group.

Finally, Italy don’t have a vintage team at the moment, but it is nonetheless a strong one that can be expected to be as uncompromising as ever when the tournament gets underway. Built around a strong Juventus team which has dominated Serie A in recent seasons, the experienced names of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Pirlo will be central to its success. Perhaps there is a lack of forward power in the side, but Mario Balotelli can be more than a handful when the mood takes him. I thoroughly expect the Italians to win the group, and feel that England will just edge through in second place.

Selections: Italy and England to qualify for the last sixteen

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20/05/2014     © Frixo 2026