World Cup Group Stage Guide: Part II

     The FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014 is less than two weeks away. Two weeks!! Across the footballing globe, excitement is growing, teams are being announced and are playing their final games before the big occasion in June. So who will progress, how will your team do? Sit back and enjoy the Total Football World Cup Group Stage Guide: Part II.

Group E

1) France
2) Switzerland
3) Ecuador
4) Honduras

This group pretty much speaks for itself, with France expected to top Group E with ease. However, team moral could be standing in their way. Remember the huge dressing room bust up that destroyed their tournament last time round? A repeat could hinder their chances very heavily indeed. Honduras have never won a World Cup match and that record isn't expected to change and Ecuador only have the attacking talent of Manchester United's Antonio Valencia, leaving the Swiss to progress as second.

Group F

1) Argentina
2) Nigeria
3) Bosnia and Herzegovina
4) Iran

Argentina's dynamic attacking style is tipped to take them further in this year's World Cup than in previous tournaments. Messi, Lavezzi, Aguero and Higuain are all expected to blow Group F away with expert support play from players like Angel Di Maria. Alejandro Sabella, the Argentina deserves huge credit for the way he has helped to replicate Lionel Messi's Barcelona form for his country. Iran are not really a footballing nation and should finish bottom, while it will be a real dogfight for second. Although Bosnia have the superb attacking talents of Edin Dzeko, I feel it will be the Nigerians that will progress because their squad is littered with seasoned Premier League players such as John Obi Mikel and Peter Odemwingie.

Group G

1) Germany
2) Portugal
3) Ghana
4) United States

Many regard Bayern Munich as the best club team around and most of their big name players are part of a Germany side hoping to be challenging for honours this time around. With players such as: Neuer, Ozil and Reus who can blame people for predicting they'll finish on maximum points in Group G. Their toughest test will come in the form of a Portugeuse side boasting the holder of the Ballon d'Or, Cristiano Ronaldo. His Real Madrid counterpart Pepe will ensure there are no defensive frailties. The United States and Ghana, who did so well last time out, will be left to scrap it out over 3rd.

Group H

1) Belgium
2) Russia
3) South Korea
4) Algeria

Belgium are in a Golden Generation at the moment. Hazard, Benteke, Lukaku, Vertonghen, Kompany, Witsel, I could go on for hours talking about the strength in depth this group-topping side have. Some are even picking them as their dark horse's - the surprise package of the tournament in Brazil. Russia, I feel, have more goals than South Korea - whose main man upfront is Arsenal's Chu-Young Park. And, Algeria are just the unattractive, boring side from England 2010 group.

Where did I predict your country? Should you finish higher? Do you have a chance of winning? Comments are welcomed below and also on Twitter: @TotalFootyBlogs

World Cup Group Stage Guide

     The FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014 is less than one month away. Across the footballing globe, excitement is growing, teams are being announced and are playing their final games before the big occasion in June. So who will progress, how will your team do? Sit back and enjoy the Total Football World Cup Group Stage Guide.

Group A

1) Brazil
2) Croatia
3) Cameroon
4) Mexico

The hosts should get through to the knockout stages relatively easily in one of the weaker groups in the tournament. Although Mexico have a quality strike force in Manchester United Javier Hernandez and Villarreal's Giovani dos Santos, I feel that they lack in other areas of the field to provide them with chances. This is why Group A will be close battle for 2nd. A shaky defence is what could cost Cameroon, with Benoit Asoou-Ekotto their only real solidarity. Therefore world class players such as Mario Mandzukic and Luka Modric could hurt them in the crucial game on 18th June.

Group B

1) Spain
2) Netherlands
3) Chile
4) Australia

Any other group and Chile might have stood a chance of progressing, but unfortunately for them they have been thrown into a group with the finalists from last time out. Players such as Aturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez deserve a chance to shine in the biggest tournament of all. Australia aren't expected to produce with League 1 and A-League players in their squad. In Group B, it's just fingers crossed that we don't see the same, dirty game of football we did in the 2010 World Cup Final.

Group C

1) Ivory Coast
2) Greece
3) Columbia
4) Japan

This is one of the tighter groups in this year's competition. Stars such as Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Didier Drogba should see Cote D'Ivoire top Group C. So the dogfight in this group will be for second. Japan don't particularly have strength in depth when it comes to quality of leagues their players come from, so will most likely finish bottom. Greece are littered with big name players (in more ways than one) from the world's top leagues with Theofanis Gekas always finding his form when he plays for his country. However, Radamel Falcao and Jackson Martinez cannot do everything themselves, so a lack of creativity in behind may put a dent in Columbian hopes.

Group D

1) Italy
2) Uruguay
3) England
4) Costa Rica

My prediction will come as a shock to many Englishmen, but I do not feel they have the quality or big tournament knowhow. Italy are by far the best team in the group, they are used to the climate and have many international class players, thus seeing them top the group. Uruguay too are used to the conditions and have a devastating forward line which could tear the inexperienced Lions apart. They will almost certainly pick up three points off Costa Rica, but a lack of experience could be costly for Roy Hodgson and England.



Where did I predict your country? Should you finish higher? Do you have a chance of winning? Comments are welcomed below!!

Premier League Awards

     Hopefully the excitement of 2013-14 Premier League season has sunk in now and we've all had time to reflect on one of the greatest seasons the country has ever seen. Many people had their opinions on the big issues during the season, nut now it's time to settle it - it's the Total Football Premier League Awards.

Player of the Year
This was the hardest award to pick in more ways than one. Consistency, defence, attack, goals, blocks and the player I feel has all of this in his locker is Yaya Toure. I was so, so close to picking Luis Suarez for the quality of goals and turning his reputation on his head but it had to go to the City man. 20 Premier League goals from midfield is phenomenal and the range of them too - right foot, left foot, free kick, penalty, Toure has it all. Take nothing away from Suarez though as he could easily have won it, but you could play Yaya anywhere on the pitch and he would perform (Suarez could go in goal though!)

Team of the Season
The team I have chosen almost picked itself this year:

Goalkeeper: David Marshall (Cardiff City)

Defence: Seamus Coleman (Everton, RB), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal, CB), Gary Cahill (Chelsea, CB), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea, CB)

Midfield: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, CDM), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool, RM), Adam Lallana (Southampton, RM), Yaya Toure (Manchester City, CAM)

Attack: Luis Suarez (Liverpool, CF), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool, CF)

 

 

Manager of the Season

There were a few candidates for this award. Brendan Rodgers can't be praised highly enough for the work he has put into Liverpool Football Club over the past two years. Keeping hold of Suarez and regaining Champions League football are just two of a long list of highlights for him. Mark Hughes completely transformed the way that Stoke City play their football and no longer do they just lump the ball upfield. Many people tipped Hull City as the first team to go down this year, but Steve Bruce proved all the doubters wrong and lead the club to their first ever FA Cup final. But Manger of the Year has to go to Tony Pulis for the job he did at Crystal Palace. He arrived at Selhurst Park with the club rock bottom of the Premier League. Determined to keep up his record of never being relegated from the Premier League, Pulis guided the Eagles out of the bottom three by boxing day. Pulis also masterminded victories at home against Chelsea and away to Everton as well as the stunning end of season draw against Liverpool.


Flop of the Season
No surprises for this one as Manchester United scoop the award hands down. Some may say it was all David Moyes' fault, but even Ryan Giggs failed to beat Southampton and Sunderland. The players were mostly to blame for lacklustre performances against City,  Everton, West Brom and Sunderland, amongst others. They conceded 7 goals in total against their city rivals and 3 at home to Liverpool. The way the club handled the sacking of the 'The Chosen One' was particularly embarrassing with the media confirming it almost a day before the club made an official statement. The Red Devils have got some clearing up to do next year.

Villain of the Year
Again there were multiple contenders for this ward. It could have been Hull owner Assem Allam for his attempted name change to Hull Tigers. Or maybe Vincent Tan for his bust up with Malky Makay. But the award eventually went to Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew. David Meyler was collecting the ball from him, eager to reduce the score line, when Pardew leant his head into the chest of the Hull man. Luckily for him, he kept his job and escaped with a 7 game touchline ban and a £100,000 fine. The Magpies weren't ahead for long either. They picked up just three points from their next 10 games...

So what do you think, who would you pick and what would you change? Comments are welcomed below and on Twitter @TotalFootyBlogs  



Premier League Review

     What a season. Goals, gaffes, changing expectations, slip ups and bizarre decisions - all reasons why the Premier League is the best in the world. The early bets were placed on Manchester City and Chelsea, set to take the league by storm once again. Spurs were tipped for the title after their summer spending - how wrong were those predictions? Their North London rivals, Arsenal, were on the hunt for their first piece of silverware since 2005. However, injury to Aaron Ramsey and heavy away defeats saw the title slip out of their fingers. And who would have expected Liverpool, 7th last season, to finish 2nd just two points off the winners on 11th May. Not to forget the decline of Manchester United - after panic buying on deadline day, the Red Devils never showed faith in the new manager and saw them not qualify for Europe for the first time since 1990. All that whilst David Moyes' former team, Everton, rose to the Europa League once more.

     Not to forget the relegation scrap. Cardiff looked as though they would defy all the odds to stay up after a shock victory over Manchester City early doors. But off field issues effected the squad and cost them dearly. Fulham struggled for momentum after employing three different managers. Felix Magath turned out to be the unlucky one as the Cottagers were relegated with games to spare. It was a dogfight  all season for the final relegation place. Norwich, Villa and Sunderland were in there all season. But it was the Canaries, who sacked their manager with five games to go, that dropped a division. Sunderland also pulled off a great escape to survive the drop. Paulo Di Canio had left the club in turmoil but Gus Poyet managed to spearhead a brilliant cup run which replicated in their league results. A dip in form saw them back at the bottom, but an in form Connor Wickham helped them to survive in April.

     And then there were the gaffes. Alan Pardew, putting his head into the chest of Hull midfielder David Meyler. Completely needless, earned himself a 7 game ban and his side picked up just three points from the next ten games. What about referee Andre Marriner, who gave a penalty for handball from Oxlade-Chamberlin which would almost certainly put Chelsea three up against Arsenal. The ball looked to be going wide when it hit the Ox's hand, but to make matters worse, he sent off Kieran Gibbs instead! And who can forget (sorry it has to be said) when Steven Gerrard, the people champion, ultimately handed the title to City with his costly slip against Chelsea.

     All in all it was a great year for football. The title swayed, swayed and swayed again, Liverpool are back where they belong and the tide looks to have turned in Manchester. It may not have had the dramatic last day of 2011-12, but it has the drama on every other day of the year -whether it was on or off field controversies, goals or gaffes we can safely say the 2013-14 Premier League season will live long in the memory...

The Title Run In

     With the season drawing to a close, and the destination of the Premier League title looking certain to go to a North West team. It's all to play for at the top and with Liverpool needing a Manchester City slip up to be back in with a firm chance, some may say it's over, but remember 2013... Here's a guide to the factors that could decide the title race.

The SAS
When they're scoring they're deadly and Liverpool need goals if Man City are to get a draw out of their remaining fixtures because the Etihad club's goal difference is far superior. The Red's pair need to be firing on all cylinders when they face Newcastle at the weekend to put City under pressure. Suarez and Sturridge are also class at bringing other players into the game, Suarez's hold up play in particular is phenomenal. The SAS can win set pieces for Skrtel to attack and penalties for Gerrard to convert.

City's Injury list
Aguero being on it for tonight's game against Villa could be costly. Although injured throughout the season, the Argentine has been the source of many of City's goals this year along with midfield maestro Yaya Toure (go on sing if you want). If Villa are defeated tonight then the title race should be over, especially if Aguero is back for the game against West Ham. Big Yaya has also turned provider on a number of occasions this year, as well as the pair having title run in knowhow - remember...

Adrian
A surprise inclusion to the list is West Ham goalkeeper Adrian. In my opinion, West Ham are the team to beat City with their Spanish keeper playing a key role. A relative unknown at the start of the year, Adrian has caught the attention of many and been the Hammers' saviour many times. His long goal kicks could cause the Manchester City back four, with Andy Carroll being a bully in and around them.


Throughout the season, Liverpool have been helped massively by a lack of cup distraction while City have tremendous strength in depth. Both have world class players that I'm sure will grace the World Cup in the summer. But with Liverpool's recent form and the Citizen's run in, I think the title will be heading back to the Etihad. However, some guy once said: "It's a funny old game..."