World Cup 2014: Can Japan surprise in Group C?

By Steven Oldham

After Colombia's impressive win over Greece today their status as group favourites seems well earned, and a victory for either team in the upcoming game between Japan and Cote D'Ivoire could be key in deciding who makes the last 16.

Greece did themselves no favours today and look too limited going forwards to make the knockout rounds. Japan could take advantage of this and make the round of sixteen.

Ivory Coast's much-mentioned golden generation are now aging and their time to shine looks to have passed. They still have immense individual talent, but on too many occasions now at continental and global level they have failed to deliver. If they can finally get it together, they can qualify from what is a very open group.

Japan were the first Asian nation to qualify for Brazil, immediately gaining an advantage over continental rivals South Korea and Australia.

Last year in the Confederations Cup, Japan finished bottom of their group with no points.  However, that only tells half the story. Well beaten by Brazil, they came very close to upsetting Italy and gained much praise for their attacking style of play before going down 4-3. Not many teams put 3 past the Italians and they were unlucky to lose.

In Shinji Okazaki they have an in form striker who topped the scoring charts in the Asian qualifying section. He also hit 15 goals for Mainz this season in the Bundesliga. He has the potential to be the breakout star of this World Cup.

Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kawaga meanwhile will benefit from playing both regularly and in the right position.  A player gifted with great vision, pace and accuracy, frustrated by his lack of progress at club level he will be determined to shine at this World Cup.  

Can Shinji Kagawa take Japan to the last 16? (@ManUtdGram)

Defensively, they do still have room for improvement, but with the likes of Okazaki, Kagawa and AC Milan striker Keisuke Honda in their ranks there is always the potential for goals, notice the plural.

They come into the tournament in form, having won four friendlies in a row, including a 3-1 win over Costa Rica who impressively defeated Uruguay earlier tonight. They have also defeated 2012 African Cup of Nations champions Zambia, New Zealand and Cyprus this year.

If Japan can defeat or hold a physical Ivory Coast side, they give themselves every chance of making the knockout stages for a third time. 

More World Cup content:

World Cup match report: Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica

World Cup 2014: Chile looking to put the heat on Spain and The Netherlands

World Cup 2014: Could Croatia be a dark horse?

World Cup: Spain 1-5 Netherlands: Robben and RVP run riot as Spanish capitulate

World Cup match report: Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica

Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica

                                      Cavani, 24 (p)             Campbell (54)
                                                                        Duarte (57)
                                                                        Urena (84) 



 

By Steven Oldham

Marcos Urena scored with his first touch as Costa Rica sealed a famous surprise victory over Uruguay in Fortaleza.

The Central Americans dominated the second half and grew in confidence despite going in at the break a goal behind.

Edinson Cavani converted a first half penalty for Uruguay, but that was as good as it got for Oscar Tabarez's team.

Arsenal striker Joel Campbell scored the equaliser from a sublime Cristian Gamboa cross, and within three minutes they were ahead.

Oscar Duarte's brave header put them in the lead despite the real chance of getting kicked in the head by Christian Stuani's desperate attempt to clear the ball.


Oscar Duarte risked injury to score for Costa Rica (@Futbol_RVTE)


Urena had only been on the pitch for a minute before scoring the goal that cemented Costa Rica's grip on the game after replacing Bryan Ruiz.

Maxi Pereira saw red - the first of this World Cup - for a vicious kick at Campbell in extra time and is now suspended for their next match against England on Thursday.  The referee had no hesitation in showing the Benfica man a straight red card.

Maxi Pereira kicks out at Joel Campbell (@Tholal)

 

It all looked much different before the break. Uruguay were in control without ever stepping out of third gear. They were awarded a penalty after Diego Lugano was hauled down in the box by Junior Diaz.  Paris Saint Germain forward Cavani converted the spot kick strongly to the bottom right corner. Keylor Navas went the right way but the shot had too much pace for him to reach it in time.

 

The Uruguayans also had the ball in the net on 16 minutes, but Diego Godin's conversion of a Lugano cross was disallowed due to the Atletico Madrid centre back being marginally offside.

 

Costa Rica wanted a penalty of their own earlier in the half after Lugano handled the ball in his area, but the referee had already blown for a foul on the defender by Oscar Duarte.

Navas kept his side in the game a minute before half time, saving a dipping Diego Forlan shot one handed.

 
Costa Rica had never beaten Uruguay before tonight, but have now stirred up Group D and handed a first defeat to a South American nation on the continent at this World Cup.

  

Diego Lugano is fouled (@goleadainfo)



World Cup: Spain 1-5 Netherlands: Robben and RVP run riot as Spanish capitulate

Spain 1-5 Netherlands

                                    Alonso (27)

                                                                  Van Persie (44,72)

                                                                  Robben (53,80)

                                                                  de Vrij (64)

By Steven Oldham

A five star performance from the Netherlands destroyed reigning champions Spain in the opening match of Group B in Salvador.
Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben both scored twice, with defender Stefan de Vrij scoring his first international goal amongst the rout.
Spain had taken the lead from the penalty spot through Xabi Alonso after de Vrij brought down Diego Costa in the box.
Dutch keeper Jasper Cillessen went the right way, but Alonso's coolly taken spot kick gave the champions the lead.
Van Persie started the comeback with a brilliant headed goal from a perfect left-sided Daley Blind cross just before half time, giving Iker Casillas no chance in the Spanish goal.
Robben doubled the lead on 53 minutes, controlling the ball and outmanouevring both Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique before slotting the ball home.
From that point on the Netherlands were clinical as their opponents fell apart from front to back.
De Vrij gave the Dutch their third from a free kick, despite protests from Casillas who looked to be fouled in the build up.
Van Persie netted his second after a howler from Casillas who was far to casual in dealing with a routine backpass. The striker won the ball off the Real Madrid man to hit shellshocked Spain with a fourth.
Robben completed the rout with a wonderful solo goal, running straight at Pique and Ramos, bamboozling the pair, rounding Casillas and firing home to seal a highly impressive win for the Dutch.

Robin Van Persie scores the equaliser (@ForevrUntd)

It could have been much worse for the Spanish - Van Persie's volley hit the woodwork and Wesley Sneijder had a decent attempt saved early on.
Spain did get the ball in the net at 3-1, but the David Silva's goal was disallowed due to the Manchester City man being offside.
Brazilian born Spain striker Diego Costa - who switched loyalties last year - was roundly booed throughout and made little impact in the game. He was lucky to stay on the pitch following a headbutting incident with defender Bruno Martins Indi, though the Dutchman did make the most of what was minimal contact.
Spain looked mentally and physically broken by the end of the match, and both Robben and Sneijder came close to adding to their misery. Fernando Torres summed up their night by missing an easy tap in at the end of the game.
Netherlands now move on to face Australia in buoyant mood, while Spain have a trickier looking tie against Chile to regroup for.
Questions will be asked about the long term future of this Spanish team, and it will be interesting to see how Vincente del Bosque reacts - particularly in goal.
Louis Van Gaal meanwhile couldn't have hoped for a better start - and has ripped the widely accepted belief they would struggle to get out of this group to pieces in 90 minutes.

World Cup 2014: Chile looking to put the heat on Spain and The Netherlands

By Steven Oldham

Friday's rerun of the 2010 Final between Spain and The Netherlands is the headline game in Group B but there is a real chance Chile could spoil the European nations' chances of making the knockout rounds.

Jorge Sampaoli's team head into a South American World Cup with high hopes of making the last 16, and it is not beyond them that they can do it.

Their biggest threat is Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez who racked up an impressive career best 19 goals in just 34 games this season in La Liga.  England fans will need no introduction to the in-form striker; he scored both goals in his country's 2-0 victory at Wembley last year.

He also hit four goals for Chile on the way to Brazil, including in the 2-1 victory over Ecuador in the final round of qualifying games that sealed their place at the World Cup.  Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal managed five goals and will be a threat to opposition defences.



Alexis Sanchez (Kevin Quigley)


An all or nothing approach to qualification took Chile to an impressive nine wins, the same as CONMEBOL group winners Argentina and runners up Colombia. Six defeats though meant they qualified as the third best team.

A win against Australia in their opening game is critical to Chile's chances. It is the best way for them to build momentum for the tougher games ahead.

This World Cup could bear similarities to last time in South Africa for Chile. Again drawn alongside Spain in the group stages, if they do proceed to the last 16 as runners up, they will again be likely to meet Brazil.  They lost 3-0 four years ago and avoiding a similar scoreline on Brazilian soil may prove difficult.

Their attacking style will gain them many neutral fans and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top when they meet a similarly-minded Netherlands team, who hit 34 goals in qualifying. The Dutch have laboured to friendly victories over Wales and Ghana, following a draw with Ecuador and defeat to France in their pre-tournament preparations. They blitzed their qualifying group, winning all but one of their games, but there was no teams in their group who could seriously contend with them.

Spain will rightly begin as favourites but Chile could prove a real thorn in any opponent's side on their day.

World Cup 2014: Could Croatia be a dark horse?

World Cup 2014: Could Croatia be a dark horse?

By Steven Oldham

The 2014 Fifa World Cup finally gets underway tomorrow with hosts Brazil taking on Croatia in Sao Paulo.

Brazil are one of the favourites to win the World Cup, and home advantage gives them an extra boost before a ball is kicked in search of a unrivalled sixth victory at the tournament.

However,in every group there is at least one team waiting to show the favourites there are 32 countries at the tournament, all who have earned their place at the top table.

This is the first of a mini series profiling the dark horses in each group.

Group A - Croatia

The manner in which Croatia deal with their game against Brazil tomorrow could be key to their whole tournament.  They are expected to lose, but if they put in a spirited performance it should boost them ahead of winnable games against Cameroon and Mexico. 

Mexico toiled to qualification, needing a favour from the USA to eliminate lowly Panama in the last game of their section, before saving face and comfortably beating New Zealand in the intercontinental playoff. Cameroon, meanwhile, had a less troubled path to Brazil, but remain weighed down with their unenviable record at the finals, only making it out of the group stages once in six attempts to date.

While unlikely to match their brilliant third place at France 98, the Croats will be quietly confident of making the knockout stages.  Key striker Mario Mandzukic will be available for their last two group games; he is banned for the opener after being sent off in their play-off match against Iceland.  He scored four goals in the qualifiers and hit an impressive 18 goals in 30 matches for Bayern Munich this season, but coach Niko Kovac will hope his desire to leave Bayern over the summer will not distract him from the matter in hand in Brazil.

Mario Mandzukic (fifazine.com)

In theory, other household names such as Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Eduardo should be at the peak of their careers.  Modric has had one of his best ever seasons with Real Madrid and will be looking to replicate his Champions League form on the biggest stage of all.

Brazil 2014 is likely to captain Darijo Srna's international swansong and they will want to leave their mark on a tournament. Fittingly, the Shakhtar Donetsk defender scored the goal that sealed his country's qualification to Brazil against Iceland in Zagreb last November.

They will be disappointed to have finished a distant second in their qualifying group to Belgium, but heartened by pre-tournament victories over Australia and Mali.  There were worries in qualification: double defeat to Scotland, and two of their three defeats came at home, with their lengthy unbeaten home run now in danger of being forgotten.

Should they make it through to the round of sixteen, it is likely they could come up against Spain.  The World and European champions will expect to top their group, and in reality, Croatia are in a three way fight for second behind Brazil.  If their big players perform however there's no reason they can't produce a shock. Brazil and Spain are not invincible. Their attitude and application in their games against Mexico and Cameroon could prove to be the difference maker in their progress this summer.

Tahiti: The biggest underdogs in the history of world football

By Steven Oldham

Tomorrow in Belo Horizonte, amateurs Tahiti begin their first ever Confederations Cup campaign against Nigeria with the sole intention of keeping their almost inevitable group stage losses to a respectable level.

That Tahiti are even competing in Brazil is a surprise in itself.  The largest island in French Polynesia won last year's Oceania Nations Cup for the first time to qualify, beating New Caledonia 2-0 in the final.  Regional power, and four times winners,  New Zealand - expected to dominate the competition ever since Australia left the OFC in 2006 - underachieved and finished third having been knocked out in the semis by New Caledonia.

Drawn into Group B alongside Nigeria, Spain, and Uruguay, Tahiti face a daunting task and could score some unwanted records in their three group matches. Australia and Saudi Arabia have both lost by six goals to Brazil (6-0 and 8-2 respectively) in the tournament's history.  I don't feel it's disrespectful to say it would be an achievement for Tahiti to restrict their opponents to single figure victories.  This is the international equivalent of sending Havant & Waterlooville to a tournament including Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

Ranked 138th in the world, below the likes of Namibia, Moldova and Vietnam, Tahiti's team includes several graduates from the side that qualified for the Under 20 World Cup four years ago.  There is evidence that Tahiti and the others are closing the gap to New Zealand, beyond the 2012 OFC Nations Cup result .  In the final round of World Cup 2014 qualifying, which New Zealand won to progress to an intercontinental playoff in November, there wasn't as many one-sided results as is common with the Oceania qualifying process.  The All Whites were restricted two-goal margins in all three of their away fixtures. In qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, New Zealand put ten past Tahiti without reply.    

So will any of the Tahiti players cause a shock and make a name for themselves? Unlikely, but their highest profile player is arguably the AS Nancy striker Marama Vahirua, who spent last season on loan in Greece.  He has scored over 70 goals in French football and played for France at under-21 level under Raymond Domenech.  He is the only player in the 23-man squad not to play his football in Tahiti's First Division.  If reports are to believed, they will adopt a 'defence first' approach in Brazil to keep events respectable.     

While it may seem pointless for a team of Tahiti's stature to be involved with some of the world's best teams in Brazil, there is no doubt they have earned their place.  The long term future of the OFC will look a lot stronger if the island nations including Tahiti and New Caledonia continue to improve and challenge New Zealand's position as regional top dog.

Follow @spoldham on Twitter