All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC -4)
June 17th, 12:00 p.m., Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte
Belgium vs. Algeria
June 17th, 6:00 p.m., Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba
Russia vs. South Korea
June 22nd, 12:00 p.m., Maracana - Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, Rio de Janeiro
Belgium vs. Russia
June 22nd, 3:00 p.m., Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
South Korea vs. Algeria
June 26th, 4:00 p.m., Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
South Korea vs. Belgium
June 26th, 4:00 p.m., Arena da Baixada, Curitiba
Algeria vs. Russia
Teams
Algeria
Bullets
- World Ranking: 22nd
- World Cup Appearances: 4 (Last in 2010)
- Best World Cup Finish: Group Stage (1982, 1986, 2010)
- Received a bye for Africa Round 1. Finished 1st in Africa Round 2:Group H, 7 points ahead of Mali to advance to Round 3. Tied Burkina Faso 3-3 in Africa Round 3:Pairing 5. Qualified on Away Goals Rule tiebreaker.
- 6-2-0, 16 Goals For and 7 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Islam Slimani (5)
- 8-1-1, 19 Goals For and 8 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Vahid Halilhodzic (BIH). Halilhodzic has managed Algeria since June 2011. He also previously coached Ivory Coast during 2010 World Cup qualifying.
- Captain: Madjid Bougherra. Defender, Lekhwiya (QAT)
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 1000/1
Goalkeepers: Rais M'Bolhi (#23, CSKA Sofia, BUL), Cedric Si Mohamed (#1, CS Constantine), Mohamed Zemmamouche (#16, USM Alger)
Defenders: Essaid Belkalem (#4, Watford, ENG), Madjid Bougherra (#2, Lekhwiya, QAT), Liassine Cadamuro-Bentaiba (#17, Mallorca, ESP), Faouzi Ghoulam (#3, Napoli, ITA), Rafik Halliche (#5, Academica, POR), Aissa Mandi (#20, Reims, FRA), Carl Medjani (#7, Valenciennes, FRA), Djamel Mesbah (#6, Livorno, ITA)
Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (#14, Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Yacine Brahimi (#11, Granada, ESP), Abdelmoumene Djabou (#18, Club Africain, TUN), Sofiane Feghouli (#10, Valencia, ESP), Medhi Lacen (#12, Getafe, ESP), Riyad Mahrez (#21, Leicester City, ENG), Mehdi Mostefa (#22, Ajaccio, FRA), Saphir Taider (#19, Inter Milan, ITA), Hassan Yebda (#8, Udinese, ITA)
Forwards: Nabil Ghilas (#9, FC Porto, POR), Islam Slimani (#13, Sporting Lisbon, POR), El Arbi Hillel Soudani (#15, Dinamo Zagreb, CRO)
Possible Starting XI
Offence
Algeria showed little in the way of offensive spark in 2010, but have a number of talented young players that have made this a much better team than the one people will remember from South Africa. Not a team designed to hold on to possession for an extended period of time. Algeria are at their most dangerous off of turnovers, and will funnel the ball up to their talented wingers to get up field quickly. Algeria does not hesitate when they have a scoring opportunity. They will look to get the ball towards the goal as frequently as possible and take their chances with goalkeeping errors or rebounds.
The wings that will be called on to drive this offence are a pair of 24 year olds who have had breakout years for their clubs in Spain this year. Yacine Brahimi and Sofiane Feghouli both have speed to spare and can create offence via crosses or by making their own runs in to the penalty area. The target man up front will be Islam Slimani who has developed a penchant for clutch goals in his time at Sporting Lisbon. The rest of the team will contribute on the counter, but Algeria counts heavily on these three for an offensive spark.
Defence
As improved as this Algerian offence is, they still have struggles in the defensive end of the field. Part of this is a personnel issue, Algeria has that influx of talent up front but has been unable to develop their defenders to the same calibre. There is also the issue of experience both as a whole and together. This is especially evident at the full back positions as the starters have less then 10 caps between them internationally.
One of the reasons for the counter-attacking offence is this lack of talent at the back and a defence-oriented formation that results from that. Algeria will deploy two central midfielders to focus on bolstering their weak defence. Their central defence pairing of Bougherra and Medjani work reasonably well together, but a pair of young players (Mandi and Ghoulam) will line up on the wings and Algeria should be vulnerable on the edges to attack.
3 Key Players
Sofiane Feghouli. Just 24, Feghouli has established himself as the top player in this Algerian squad and a catalyst in what can be an explosive offence. Expected to play on the right wing, Feghouli can also step up in to a second striker role. Feghouli is dangerous as both a play-maker and a goalscorer and takes a lot of the pressure off of Slimani up front. Feghouli plays high up the field and if he can get the ball at a full run on a counter-attack then odds are Algeria will end up with a scoring chance.
Islam Slimani. Primarily used as a substitute for his club, but can be a prolific goalscorer when on a role. Algeria are loaded with wingers and attacking midfielders but Slimani provides the best finishing threat up front. Moves well off the ball to get in to scoring positions and led Algeria in goals throughout qualifying. Slimani will be looked to by his teammates to finish off their counter-attacks and is crucial if Algeria look to get out of this group.
Nabil Bentaleb. Has only broken out for Tottenham and Algeria this past season but the 19 year old midfielder is yet another of the promising youngsters that will lead Algeria for years to come. Will play in a holding midfield role and has the size and strength to harass opponents in the defensive end of the field. His passing and creativity are his greatest asset though, and look for Bentaleb to be the trailer operating in space on the Algerian counter-attack.
Other Name to Know
Madjid Bougherra. One of the remaining veterans on this squad from the 2010 World Cup, the captain will be the anchor of an inexperienced defensive back line. Was also the unlikely source of Algeria's qualification, scoring in the 2nd half of their last qualifying match to secure advancement over Burkina Faso via the away goals tiebreaker.
Overall Impression
If their defensive line can hold up then I actually think Algeria can get out of this group. Written off by many (myself included), they have been impressive in pre-tournament play and looking closely at their players, I think this is a far better team then has been given credit for. Won't look very impressive without the ball but when they get going upfield, big things are going to happen. Don't think they'll get out of the group but wouldn't be a huge shock if they do.
Belgium
Bullets
- World Ranking: 11th
- World Cup Appearances: 12 (Last in 2002)
- Best World Cup Finish: Fourth Place (1986)
- Finished 1st in Europe Round 1:Group A, 9 points ahead of Croatia to qualify.
- 8-0-2, 18 Goals For and 4 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Kevin De Bruyne (4)
- 5-2-3, 14 Goals For and 10 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Marc Wilmots. Wilmots took over as manager in May 2012, having served as an assistant for the prior 3 years.
- Captain: Vincent Kompany. Defender, Manchester City (ENG)
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 18/1
Goalkeepers: Sammy Bossut (#13, Zulte Waregem), Thibaut Courtois (#1, Atletico Madrid, ESP), Simon Mignolet (#12, Liverpool, ENG)
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (#2, Atletico Madrid, ESP), Laurent Ciman (#23, Standard Liege), Vincent Kompany (#4, Manchester City, ENG), Nicolas Lombaerts (#18, Zenit St. Petersburg, RUS), Daniel Van Buyten (#15, Bayern Munich, GER), Anthony Vanden Borre (#21, Anderlecht), Thomas Vermaelen (#3, Arsenal, ENG), Jan Vertonghen (#5, Tottenham Hotspur, ENG)
Midfielders: Nacer Chadli (#22, Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Kevin De Bruyne (#7, Wolfsburg, GER), Steven Defour (#16, FC Porto, POR), Mousa Dembele (#19, Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Marouane Fellaini (#8, Manchester United, ENG), Eden Hazard (#10, Chelsea, ENG), Adnan Januzaj (#20, Manchester United, ENG), Kevin Mirallas (#11, Everton, ENG), Axel Witsel (#6, Zenit St. Petersburg, RUS)
Forwards: Romelu Lukaku (#9, Everton, ENG), Dries Mertens (#14, Napoli, ITA), Divock Origi (#17, Lille, FRA)
Possible Starting XI
Offence
Frighteningly efficient in the offensive end, their front 6 could feasibly all start in the 2018 World Cup, and they're missing their top striker Christian Benteke. You have to look no further then this group to see why Belgium is everyone's dark horse pick to win the tournament. Belgium have superb offensive organization and the personnel to fit precisely what Marc Wilmots wants to do. They have speed and play-making on the flanks, a phenomenal passer of the ball in the middle (De Bruyne) and a pair of holding midfielders that can play box-to-box and support the front four. While they will miss Benteke up front, Romelu Lukaku is more then capable as a replacement and odds are both would see the field anyway if healthy.
Chelsea continued to develop their future star Lukaku by loaning him out to Everton this season where he scored 15 Premier League goals. A large striker, Lukaku can create his own chances and finish in a variety of fashions in the penalty area. The midfield is where Belgium really shine. Eden Hazard is developing in to one of the best players in the world and Mirallas and De Bruyne bring a wealth of speed and creativity themselves. They're joined in the midfield by Fellaini and Witsel who bring a big size presence to the midfield and are excellent at getting the ball on the feet of the front four.
Defence
Not just a one-trick pony, Belgium have an experienced back line full of players for top clubs in Europe, that allowed just 4 goals in 10 qualifying matches. Not an offensive threat outside of set pieces, these four create a solid enough defence alone that allows Belgium to be as dangerous in the offensive end as possible. Can rotate six players through the defensive rotation with little difficulty and have several players capable of playing outside or in the centre.
Alderweireld and Kompany appear to be locks to start at right and centre back respectively. Both Vermaelen and Vertonghen can play inside or on the left side, and if Belgium want additional experience they can throw the 36 year old Daniel van Buyten in at centre back. Regardless of the lineup, only Alderweireld has less than 45 caps (34). This is a group that has played together for years albeit never in a major tournament. As if that weren't enough, backstopping them is Thibaut Courtois, who has developed exceptionally with Atletico Madrid in the past 3 years and is tabbed by many as the best goalkeeper of the future, if not now.
3 Key Players
Eden Hazard. Similar in style of play to Lionel Messi, Hazard is exceptionally dangerous on the ball, and his dribbling ability is second to none in the world. Possesses phenomenal speed and passing in addition to his dribbling and will give opposing left backs fits in the tournament. Doesn't fill as much of a scoring role for his country as he does for Chelsea but has enough talent around to leave him in a play-making role on the wing. Hazard can create scoring opportunities from all over the field and will be the most dangerous player in Group H.
Axel Witsel. Belgium doesn't deploy a true defensive midfielder but Witsel is the likely candidate to hang back in the centre in support of the defence. Witsel is a box-to-box midfielder and while he may provide defensive support, he is also a play-maker in the offensive third. Will be counted on to bridge the gap between the centre backs and De Bruyne and provide support all over the field as necessary.
Romelu Lukaku. Another future star, Lukaku has scored more than 30 goals the past 2 seasons in England and possesses many similar qualities to the man he replaced, Benteke. At 6'3", Lukaku moves very quickly for his size and adds an aerial threat to a team full of play-makers in the midfield. Belgium can score from a number of places but a successful Lukaku is what they'll need to make a run at the title.
Other Name to Know
Adnan Januzaj. Should see substitute time only but Januzaj is yet another star of the future for Belgium. Eligible to play for 3 other countries (Albania, Serbia, Kosovo), Januzaj's international future was only determined within the last 6 weeks and after declaring he would play for Belgium he was immediately inserted in to the squad. The Manchester United winger could provide offensive depth off the bench if they wish to rest any of their attacking players.
Overall Impression
An elite team in the world with this squad that has the potential to win everything. I only wonder if it's too much, too soon for them. No player in the starting lineup is over 28, 6 players are 25 or under. None of them have ever played in a major senior level tournament. Experience is the one thing this squad is lacking. Tough to predict how this will affect them but they will surely be fun to watch as they progress through the tournament.
Russia
Bullets
- World Ranking: 19th
- World Cup Appearances: 10 (Last in 2002)
- Best World Cup Finish: Fourth Place (1966)
- Finished 1st in Europe Round 1:Group F, 1 point ahead of Portugal to qualify.
- 7-2-1, 20 Goals For and 5 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Aleksandr Kerzhakov (5)
- 7-2-3, 21 Goals For and 8 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Fabio Capello (ITA). Capello took over Russia in 2012, having previously managed England for the 2010 World Cup and thru Euro 2012 qualifying. Capello has one 7 major league titles as a club manager, as well as a UEFA Champions League with Milan.
- Captain: Sergei Ignashevich. Defender, CSKA Moscow.
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 100/1
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (#1, CSKA Moscow), Yuri Lodygin (#12, Zenit St. Petersburg), Sergey Ryzhikov (#16, Rubin Kazan)
Defenders: Vasili Berezutski (#14, CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Granat (#13, Dynamo Moscow), Sergei Ignashevich (#4, CSKA Moscow), Dmitri Kombarov (#23, Spartak Moscow), Aleksei Kozlov (#2, Dynamo Moscow), Andrei Semyonov (#5, Terek Grozny), Georgi Shchennikov (#3, CSKA Moscow), Andrey Yeshchenko (#22, Anzhi Makhachkala)
Midfielders: Igor Denisov (#7, Dynamo Moscow), Alan Dzagoev (#10, CSKA Moscow), Viktor Fayzulin (#20, Zenit St. Petersburg), Denis Glushakov (#8, Spartak Moscow), Pavel Mogilevets (#15, Rubin Kazan), Oleg Shatov (#17, Zenit St. Petersburg)
Forwards: Aleksei Ionov (#21, Dynamo Moscow), Maksim Kanunnikov (#6, Amkar Perm), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (#11, Zenit St. Petersburg), Aleksandr Kokorin (#9, Dynamo Moscow), Aleksandr Samedov (#19, Lokomotiv Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov (#18, Dynamo Moscow)
Possible Starting XI
Offence
Cautious on offensive if you're optimistic, boring if you're not. This is a Russian team that struggled at times to manufacture goals in qualifying against tougher competition, relying on their robust defence to carry them through games. This is mostly the result of a team philosophy that focuses on defence first and picks their spots to move forward offensively. When they do move forward though they are more then capable of threatening the opposing goal.
The Russian midfield is in a state of flux right now after Roman Shirokov's injury. Expected to play in the central midfield, Shirokov is capable of generating offensive chances and stifling opposing attack defensively and will be sorely missed. There's a number of supporting players outside and in the holding midfield but Kerzhakov and Dzagoev up front will be the keys to the Russian attack. Dzagoev is a creative midfielder and is the primary facilitator of chances in this squad. Kerzhakov has been a long-time striker for Russia and is the all-time leading scorer in Russian club football history.
Defence
Over 200 caps to their credit, this is a unit that has played frequently together and is led by Ignashevich and Berezutskiy in the centre. Both over 30, the 2 play their club football together with CSKA Moscow, along with goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. Less experience on the edges but expected starters Kombarov and Yeshchenko are more then capable on the flanks.
Russia's defensive philosophy is a bit bizarre in the world stage. They are very organized and defensively responsible but tend to push high up the field. This forces opponents to play in a more compact space as a result of being high up the pitch but also leaves them susceptible to breakaways if teams can beat their offside traps. They're a very tough team to break through their lines but if a team does, it can be trouble for this team.
3 Key Players
Igor Akinfeev. The captain and leader of this team, Akinfeev is regarded as one of the top goalkeepers in the world and is one of the few household names on this all domestic-based squad. Akinfeev doesn't see too many quality scoring chances with this defence but will face some dangerous ones when he does. Akinfeev has great positioning and field awareness and is more than capable of picking up his defence when they fall apart.
Alan Dzagoev. Still young at 23, Dzagoev is a true play-maker and creator on a team that lacks a lot of the technical skills other teams possess. Dzagoev should find himself as a central attacking midfielder and will have the luxury of plenty of space around him to operate. Teams will be looking to shut down Kerzhakov up front so Dzagoev will be in charge of finding ways to create chances through his fellow midfielders if Kerzhakov isn't an option.
Viktor Fayzulin. Naturally a winger, the loss of Shirokov may force Fayzulin in to a central midfield role. Regardless where he lines up, Fayzulin brings pace and energy to a midfield and a team that can be on the slower side at times. Fayzulin's effort brings an added boost regardless of where he lines up on the field and he will be counted on to dictate pace of play in the midfield.
Other Name to Know
Aleksei Berezutskiy. A surprising cut from the squad by Fabio Capello, Berezutskiy is the twin brother of central defender Vasili and the two play together at CSKA Moscow. Expect the media to make some kind of story out of Capello cutting just one of a set of twin brothers who happen to play together for the same club.
Overall Impression
I may be biased as an England supporter but I find this Russian team very dull (similar to England's Capello was). Too reliant on their defensive shape and limited in terms of offensive creativity, especially when you look at a Belgium. Russia hasn't been overly successful since the breakup of the Soviet Union and the Russian club football tends to very structured and rigid and on the whole not overly exciting. Naturally, the only team to bring all players from their domestic league plays the same way.
This isn't to say they aren't a quality unit. They are a very stout defence and while limited offensively, they're excellent at picking spots to push forward and advancing the right way. Won't be the best team to watch but should make a run at the Round of 16 in this group.
South Korea
Bullets
- World Ranking: 57th
- World Cup Appearances: 9 (Last in 2010)
- Best World Cup Finish: Fourth Place (2002)
- Received byes in Asia Rounds 1 and 2. Finished 1st in Round 3:Group B, 3 points ahead of Lebanon to advance to Round 4. Finished 2nd in Round 4:Group A, ahead of Uzbekistan in goal differential to qualify.
- 8-3-3, 27 Goals For and 11 Goals Against in qualifying
- Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Park Chu-Young (6)
- 6-9-4, 17 Goals For and 24 Goals Against in last 12 months
- Manager: Hong Myung-Bo. Hong has managed South Korea since 2013, having previously managed the Korean U-20 and U-23 teams.
- Captain: Lee Chung-Yong. Midfielder, Bolton Wanderers (ENG)
- Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 300/1
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-Ryong (#1, Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-Gyu (#21, Ulsan Hyundai), Lee Bum-Young (#23, Busan I'Park)
Defenders: Hong Jeong-Ho (#20, FC Augsburg, GER), Hwang Seok-Ho (#6, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, JPN), Kim Chang-Soo (#2, Kashiwa Reysol, JPN), Kim Young-Gwon (#5, Guangzhou Evergrande, CHN), Kwak Tae-Hwi (#4, Al-Hilal, KSA), Lee Yong (#12, Ulsan Hyundai), Park Joo-Ho (#22, Mainz 05, GER), Yun Suk-Young (#3, Queens Park Rangers, ENG)
Midfielders: Ha Dae-Sung (#8, Beijing Guoan, CHN), Han Kook-Young (#14, Kashiwa Reysol, JPN), Ki Sung-Yeung (#16, Sunderland, ENG), Kim Bo-Kyung (#7, Cardiff City, WAL), Koo Ja-Cheol (#13, Mainz 05, GER), Lee Chung-Yong (#17, Bolton Wanderers, ENG), Park Jong-Woo (#15, Guangzhou R&F, CHN)
Forwards: Ji Dong-Won (#19, FC Augsburg, GER), Kim Shin-Wook (#18, Ulsan Hyundai), Lee Keun-Ho (#11, Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-Young (#10, Watford, ENG), Son Heung-Min (#9, Bayer Leverkusen, GER)
Possible Starting XI
Offence
Lacking in star power and creative ability, Korea relies on it's speed, passing and off-ball movement to create offensive chances. Will be a theme throughout this preview but this is a team that's built almost entirely on heart and effort. No team will work harder then Korea in the offensive end, it's the finishing of chances part that requires better performance.
Korea will employ a 4-4-1-1 formation that relies heavily on the front 2 for offence but also counts on the midfield line to push up as a unit as necessary. Not a big team, Korea's game is predicated upon quick movement of the ball and intelligence away from the play to see where the play is going and use speed to get there. The one name to know offensively is Son Heung-Min. The teenager was a regular for Bayer Leverkusen this season and is one of the few players on this Korean side that can score from all over the attacking third.
Defence
Again, effort and intelligence are the keys. There are no individual stars in this unit. They rely on their midfield and back line to form an 8-man unit and provide quality team defence. They are excellent at closing down offensive players and providing tight marking but are easily outmatched physically and struggle to deal with opposing aerial threats.
Young and inexperienced on the wings with Kim and Yun, their central defence pair adds a bit more in the way of reliability to this back line. They still will count on Korea's midfield for support though. This is a team that will likely try to put at least 8 players behind the ball defensively at all times, to stifle their opponent and spring counter-attacks.
3 Key Players
Park Chu-Young. Has struggled to find regular playing time for a club since leaving Monaco in 2011, Park will be called upon to be Korea's primary striker in Brazil. This is an indictment on the state of Korean soccer as much as anything. Park is capable of flashes of brilliance but like the rest of the Korean squad, relies heavily on being able to get the ball in the right area to make things happen as opposed to creating chances organically.
Son Heung-Min. Far and away the top player in the Korean team, Son is one of the few on the roster with the technical ball skills to rival the world's elite. Will play between the midfield and Park and is tasked with using that creativity to make space for himself for chances on goal or to set up the midfield. Has a blistering shot from outside the penalty area that will challenge goalkeepers if he is allowed to get it off.
Ki Sung-Yeung. One of the few Korean players capable of dealing with the size of their opponents in this group, Ki is both an imposing force in the midfield and Korea's best passer. Ki will they key (hehe...) to a Korean counter-attack with his ability to get back and forth from box to box quickly and to pick out players with passes on a dead run.
Other Name to Know
Lee Chung-Yong. The captain of Korea, Lee is the heir apparent to Park Ji-Sung as both captain and the right midfielder. Similar in style of play to Park, the comparison will be evident after watching Lee for only a bit.
Overall Impression
Most people seem to have them pegged as challenging Russia for second. Honestly, I think they could end up pointless. They work harder then anyone but at some point you have to get the individual skill and technical ability to shine through and Korea have little of that. Spoiler role potential but don't foresee big things from them.
FINAL THOUGHTS & PREDICTIONS
And we're here...Group Previews are fun but would like games to start.
Belgium couldn't have asked for a better draw. Straight-forward path to first place. Elsewhere, I think Russia and Algeria have a shot at second with Korea trailing. I actually like Korea more against a slow Russian team then I do against Algeria's front which is where a potential upset can come from. Will all come down to the Russia-Algeria game in my opinion. I'll take Russia, but could go either way.
Belgium - 9 pts
Russia - 4 pts
Algeria - 3 pts
South Korea - 1 pt
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