Thursday, June 5, 2014
WORLD
CUP2014
Your guide to the
carnival in Brazil
Inside: Teams under the microscope, fixtures,
TV times, how the Socceroos will fare
2 WORLD CUP 2014
Contents
Group B: Spain
2
Group B: Australia
3
Group B: Netherlands, Chile 4
Brazil ready to party
5
Group A
6
Match schedule
8-9
Meet Ange Postecoglou
10
Group C
11
Group D
12
Groups E & F
13
Group G
14
Group H
15
The Team
Editor
Paul Barry
Designer
Andrew Richardson
Contributors
Shayne Hope
Australian Associated Press
Agence France-Presse
Associated Press
Betting markets
TAB
Diego Costa
Picture: Claudio
Villa/Getty Images
GROUP
B
Formidable machine sets its
sights on fourth major trophy
Madrid
Spain aim to extend an historic run
at the World Cup in Brazil as they
target a fourth successive major
tournament triumph.
Vicente del Bosque has created
a formidable machine that won the
European Championship in 2008, the
World Cup in 2010 in South Africa
and a second European title two
years ago.
Should Spain retain the World
Cup, it would be the first time a
country has sealed consecutive
triumphs since Brazil in 1958 and
1962. They start in a tricky Group B,
however, against the Netherlands,
Chile and Australia.
And there is scepticism as to
how long a squad of players that
have won almost everything at club
as well as international level can
dominate.
Those fears
were realised
when a young
and highlymotivated
Brazil side
destroyed
Spain 3-0 in the
final of the Confederations Cup
last year.
“Brazil are the big favourites
for me,” goalkeeper Pepe Reina
admitted recently.
Yet, Spain can point to their
own experience in South Africa
to prove that the dress rehearsal
of the Confederations Cup isn’t
always the best indicator of how
the World Cup will develop.
None of the winners in each of
the previous four Confederations
Cups held the year before a World
Cup was able to repeat its success
when the stakes were raised 12
months on.
Indeed, Spain suffered a shock
2-0 defeat to the United States in
2009 before returning to conquer
the world in 2010.
A slow drip of fresh faces into a
highly experienced squad has also
sparked optimism that this Spain
side will have the requisite hunger
to drive them to success once more.
The most noteworthy addition
is that of La Liga-winning Atletico
Madrid striker Diego Costa,
who completed his controversial
conversion from Brazilian
international to Spain’s fi rst-choice
centre forward in under 12 months.
Costa was allowed to switch
allegiance as he had previously
represented Brazil only in friendly
matches and could prove to be a
huge asset for del Bosque in one of
the few positions where Spain are
lacking in depth.
But he is under an injury cloud
after limping off nine minutes into
the Champions League final last
month with a hamstring problem.
The emergence of Cesar
Azpilicueta at Chelsea this season
has made him the favourite to
cover another problem position at
right-back. Meanwhile, the Bayern
Munich duo of Thiago Alcantara
and Javi Martinez offer high
quality reserve options in central
midfield and defence respectively.
Given the draining conditions
that all sides will encounter in
Brazil, though, fatigue remains the
biggest worry for the champions.
On top of their commitments
at international level, most of the
Spanish squad have been involved
in the fi nal stages of European
competitions for several years
without a break.
This season is no different
as Real Madrid triumphed over
Atletico Madrid in the Champions
League final, and Barcelona made
the quarterfi nals.
“The competitions are very
intense, there are games every
three days. All the games are hard
and we have to be prepared in case
we lose someone to injury,” del
Bosque warned.
However, with their tournament
know-how and depth of the squad,
Spain remain one of the most feared
sides on show in Brazil.
SPAIN
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Winners:
TAB odds:
\
1
Vicente del Bosque
Iker Casillas
Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
2010
$7.50
NETHERLANDS
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
15
Louis van Gaal
Robin van Persie
Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Finalist 1974, 1978, 2010
$21
CHILE
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
13
Jorge Sampaoli ARG
Claudio Bravo
Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona)
Third place 1962
$41
AUSTRALIA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
59
Ange Postecoglou
Mile Jedinak
Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls)
Last 16 2006
$301
WORLD CUP 2014
3
Green today,
gold tomorrow
Shayne Hope
Mile Jedinak
Picture: Charlie Crowhurst/
Getty Images
Australian expectations for the World
Cup finals are understandably low,
given the quality of opponent the
Socceroos are due to face in Brazil.
But the outlook is lined with
excitement and a hint of green-andgold optimism.
The Socceroos are under no
illusions as to how difficult the task is.
Spain are the world and European
champions, the Netherlands a
renowned powerhouse and Chile seen
as a dark horse in the tournament.
The Socceroos are ranked No.59
in the world, below all the other 31
nations that qualified for the finals.
Simply reaching Brazil is an
achievement worth celebrating.
Anything else – an upset win or
advancing to the knockout rounds –
would be a bonus.
But fearless coach Ange
Postecoglou and his men will not shy
away from the challenge.
The golden generation that peaked
at Germany 2006 is gone and there
is no doubt this is Australia’s least
accomplished squad of recent times.
However, there are bright spots.
Mat Ryan was goalkeeper of the
year in Belgium, Tommy Oar is
progressing well in Holland and new
Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak has
been a midfield rock in England.
But there is still an over-reliance
on veteran forward Tim Cahill for
goals as Postecoglou looks for the
next wave of attacking weapons.
Tom Rogic is an exciting talent but
is yet to take the next step. This could
be his time to shine.
Australia had a barren 32 years
after the Socceroos’ first World Cup
finals appearance in 1974. The pain
of defeats to Argentina (1993), Iran
(1997) and Uruguary (2001) will live
long in the memory.
Australia is still developing as a
soccer nation.
An achievable target for
Postecoglou’s men is to prove there
is hope for the future, with the 2015
Asian Cup on home soil just around
the corner.
Regeneration is crucial, and our
younger players must learn from the
experience they will gain against the
world’s best.
To Win World Cup
Top Goalscorer
Brazil
$3.80
Lionel Messi Argentina
Argentina
$5.50
Neymar Brazil
$12
Germany
$6.50
Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal
$13
Spain
$7.50
Sergio Aguero Argentina
$15
Belgium
$16
Luis Suarez Uruguay
$18
Uruguay
$20
Diego Costa Spain
$21
England
$21
Gonzalo Higuain Argentina
$23
France
$23
Fred Brazil
$23
Colombia
$26
Karim Benzema France
$26
Portugal
$26
Robin van Persie Netherlands $26
Netherlands
$26
Thomas Muller Germany
$29
Italy
$26
Romelu Lukaku Belgium
$29
Chile
$41
Edinson Cavani Uruguay
$34
$81
Russia
+ Live
Betting
Every Minute
Every Match
$9.00
Fernando Torres Spain
$34
Switzerland
$101
Hulk Brazil
$34
USA
$126
Radamel Falcao Colombia
$34
Croatia
$126
Alvaro Negredo Spain
$34
Ecuador
$126
Mario Balotelli Italy
$34
Ivory Coast
$126
David Villa Spain
$41
Mexico
$126
Marco Reus Germany
$41
Japan
$126
Eden Hazard Belgium
$41
Bosnia-Herzegovina
$126
Wayne Rooney England
$41
Ghana
$126
Arjen Robben Netherlands
$51
Greece
$201
Andre Schurrle Germany
$51
Nigeria
$201
Alexis Sanchez Chile
$51
South Korea
$251
Odds available other players
Australia
$351
Odds available all countries
Odds correct as at 11am, 30/05/14, subject to change.
TAB supports responsible wagering. Call 1800 858 858
or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au for support.
4 WORLD CUP 2014
Van Gaal has united
a squabbling squad
Amsterdam
Louis van Gaal goes to the World
Cup finals “sick” of being the coach
of a Dutch team that would test the
patience of a saint.
And after the World Cup he takes
on an even bigger job as manager of
Manchester United.
Van Gaal’s mantra for footballing
success has always been “discipline
is the basis for creativity”.
But he will have his work cut out
in Brazil. The 62-year-old has at least
got the Dutch to the finals, a feat he
failed to achieve in 2002 when he was
last in charge.
Asked earlier this year why he
had decided to leave, van Gaal gave a
characteristically blunt response.
“Because after two years I’m sick
of being the national coach,” he said.
“I’ve invested the last year and a
half to do what I like doing best at the
World Cup. I couldn’t stay there for
another two years (to Euro 2016).”
Van Gaal, who has won
Dutch titles with Ajax and AZ
Alkmaar, a Bundesliga crown with
Bayern Munich and two Spanish
championships with Barcelona, does
not suffer fools gladly
and does not put up
with disruptive
influences in his
squads.
He also has an unceasing belief in
himself. “I am the best,” he declared
after he guided unfashionable AZ to
the Dutch title in 2009.
He raised eyebrows when he
returned for a second spell in charge
of a Dutch national squad notorious
for petty disputes destroying their
chances of success.
Van Gaal inherited a divided and
demoralised squad from the sacked
Bert van Marwijk after Euro 2012.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar threw a
tantrum when the out-of-form Robin
van Persie was picked ahead of him
in the starting XI and it was reported
Wesley Sneijder refused to pass to the
then Arsenal striker.
The Oranje went out in the group
stage just two years after reaching
the World Cup final.
It is an indication of the authority
van Gaal brings that Huntelaar
appears to have accepted the same
pecking order, with the coach saying
openly last year that van Persie,
Arjen Robben and Kevin Strootman
were the only three players he
regarded as indispensable.
Strootman misses the finals
because of injury.
However, despite his reputation
as a disciplinarian, midfielder Mark
van Bommel, who was captain under
van Gaal at Bayern Munich, has
insisted his players don’t mind it.
Alexis Sanchez
Picture: Jamie McDonald/
Getty Images
“You don’t find a player with
anything negative to say about him,”
said van Bommel, who captained a
largely unloved Dutch side to the 2010
World Cup final.
Van Gaal, who prefers a more
stylish way of playing than the
one imposed by van Marwijk, has
conceded that being drawn in Group
B with Spain, Chile and Australia,
who the Dutch have not beaten in
two meetings, means his side faces a
tough task qualifying for the last 16.
“We consider ourselves as
outsiders. I arrived as coach (after
Euro 2012) with certain targets:
qualify for the finals and then reach
the semifinals,” he said in March.
“However, the semifinals will be a
really hard goal to achieve.”
The sparkling form of Alexis
Sanchez and some fine recent
form have left Chile dreaming of
progressing beyond the last 16 for
the first time in more than half a
century.
Four years ago, Chile tumbled
out of the tournament in their first
knockout game, beaten by Brazil.
The hosts could well be waiting for
Chile in the last 16 once more if they
finish as Group B runners-up.
Yet even with the possibility
of another encounter with the
Brazilians looming, Chile, who
finished third as hosts back in 1962,
will head to the tournament fearing
no one.
They won five of their last
six games in qualifying under
Argentinian coach Jorge Sampaoli
and have been impressive in recent
friendly matches against Spain,
Brazil, England and Germany.
La Roja served notice of their
emergence last September, when
they led twice against Spain in a
friendly before the world champions
scrambled a late equaliser.
They then outclassed England at
Wembley, winning 2-0 courtesy of
goals in each half from Barcelona
forward Sanchez.
Only a 90th-minute Robinho goal
denied Chile a draw with Brazil in
another friendly in November, when
they lost 2-1.
The Chileans were also unlucky to
lose 1-0 to Germany in March, when
they dominated the game to such an
extent that German fans booed their
own team.
Under Sampaoli, Chile have
resurrected the high-tempo pressing
game they adopted to great effect
under another Argentine, Marcelo
Bielsa, who coached them in 2010.
Sampaoli has also benefited from
the blossoming of Sanchez into a
genuine world-class talent, and the
25-year-old forward is in the best
form of his career.
Louis van Gaal
Picture: Scott Heavey/
Getty Images
WORLD CUP 2014
5
Soccer enriches a
land of contrasts
Rio de Janeiro
About 300,000 visitors from around
the world are expected to attend
World Cup matches across Brazil,
from the steamy Amazon region
in the north to the chillier pampa
climes in the south to Rio de Janeiro,
where the Christ the Redeemer
statue spreads its arms high above
the showpiece Maracana Stadium.
The month-long event starts on
June 13, when Brazil’s largest city,
Sao Paulo, hosts the opening game.
Last-minute preparations are still
being completed for the onslaught of
fans, with finishing touches on
stadiums where
the games will be played and at
airports where visitors will arrive.
Vendors are arranging World Cup
merchandise from key chains to
T-shirts. Some merchandise features
a cartoon of the tournament’s official
mascot, Brazil’s three-banded
armadillo, which can roll up into a
soccer-like ball when startled.
Security is being beefed up, with
157,000 soldiers and police assigned
to keep order. More protests are
expected against the billions shelled
out by the Government.
Some police officers have used
World Cup security worries to push
for pay rises, staging strikes that
brought looting and chaos.
The World Cup seems to be on
everyone’s mind as residents of
cities around Brazil paint walls with
soccer-inspired graffiti — some of it
welcoming the tournament, some of
it complaining about the cost.
One mural by renowned street
artist Paulo Ito has gone viral,
showing a weeping, starving boy,
knife and fork in hand, being served
a soccer ball on a plate.
While adults debate World Cup
politics, children across South
America play street soccer. They are
inspired by their heroes, and some
dream of one day scoring the goal
that brings the World Cup to their
homeland.
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E 2014
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6 WORLD CUP 2014
GROUP
A
Young stars carry
hopes of a nation
Shayne Hope
It’s hard to imagine higher
expectations than those resting on
Brazil as they head into a World Cup
on home soil for the first time in 64
years.
Whether Neymar, Fred and
company meet those expectations
will be one of the most intriguing
aspects of the tournament.
The Selecao should have no
trouble reaching the second round
from Group A, which sees them
matched against three teams who
scraped through their respective
qualifying campaigns.
But the knockout stages are never
a breeze.
Brazil’s lead-in to the tournament
under Luiz Felipe Scolari has been
mixed.
Defeat to England at Wembley
in February 2013 was followed by
victories over Italy, Uruguay and
Spain in their Confederations Cup
triumph.
The 6-0 thrashing of the Socceroos
last September showed a ruthless
streak in a squad that is immensely
Neymar
Picture: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
talented, but also young and
inexperienced.
At just 22 years of age, Neymar is
the key, shaping as the link between
the midfield and Fred.
The Barcelona star’s
performances could determine
whether Brazil can overcome the
ghosts of the “Maracanazo” – the
traumatic defeat to Uruguay in the
final the last time Brazil hosted the
World Cup, in 1950.
Group A offers an intriguing
mix as one of only three groups
containing four teams from different
confederations.
Mexico, Croatia and Cameroon
will all fancy their chances of
following the hosts into the second
round.
Mexico have had a tumultuous
year, changing coaches four times
in six months before qualifying via
a crucial intercontinental playoff against New Zealand (9-3 on
aggregate).
Chicarito and Giovani dos
Santos are potential stars of a team
aiming for a sixth straight
appearance in the World
BRAZIL
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Winners:
TAB odds:
4
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Thiago Silva
Neymar (Barcelona)
1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
$3.30
CROATIA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
20
Nico Kovac
Darijo Srna
Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich)
Third place 1998
$151
MEXICO
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
19
Miguel Herrera
Rafael Marquez
Oribe Peralta (Club Santos Laguna)
Quarterfinal 1970, 1986
$101
CAMEROON
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
50
Volker Finke GER
Samuel Eto’o
Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea)
Quarterfinal 1990
$501
Cup quarterfinals. Croatia limped
through qualifying but have three
genuine stars in Luka Modric, Ivan
Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic who
could steer their side through to the
knockout rounds.
The outside perception of
Cameroon is that they are a one-man
band, with Samuel Eto’o leading the
charge.
Whether the firepower of Eto’o is
enough to see the Indomitable Lions
through to the next round remains
to be seen.
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A
Match
Schedule
Your World Cup Viewing Guide
B
C
M
C
Group Stage
Friday
June 13
Saturday
June 14
Sunday
June 15
Monday
June 16
Tuesday
June 17
Wednesday
June 18
Thursday
June 19
Friday
June 20
Opening Ceremony
Arena de Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
2.15am
GROUP B
Spain
Netherlands
Arena Fonte Nova
Salvador
3am
GROUP D
Uruguay
Costa Rica
Estadio Castelao
Fortaleza
3am
GROUP E
France
Honduras
Estadio Beira-Rio
Porto Alegre
3am
GROUP F
Iran
Nigeria
Arena de Baixada
Curitiba
3am
GROUP A
Brazil
Mexico
Estadio Castelao
Fortaleza
3am
GROUP B
Spain
Chile
Estadio do Maracana
Rio de Janeiro
3am
GROUP D
Uruguay
England
Arena de Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
3am
GROUP B
Chile
Australia
Arena Pantanal
Cuiaba
6am
GROUP D
England
Italy
Arena Amazonia
Manaus
6am
GROUP F
Argentina
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Estadio do Maracana
Rio de Janeiro
6am
GROUP G
Ghana
USA
Arena das Dunas
Natal
6am
GROUP H
Russia
South Korea
Arena Pantanal
Cuiaba
6am
GROUP A
Cameroon
Croatia
Arena Amazonia
Manaus
6am
GROUP C
Japan
Greece
Arena das Dunas
Natal
6am
GROUP C
Colombia
Greece
Estadio Mineirao
Belo Horizonte
Midnight
GROUP C
Ivory Coast
Japan
Arena Pernambuco
Recife
9am
GROUP G
Germany
Portugal
Arena Fonte Nova
Salvador
Midnight
GROUP H
Belgium
Algeria
Estadio Mineirao
Belo Horizonte
Midnight
GROUP B
Australia
Netherlands
Estadio Beira-Rio
Porto Alegre
Midnight
GROUP C
Colombia
Ivory Coast
Estadio Nacional
Brasilia
Midnight
GROUP D
Italy
Costa Rica
Arena Pernambuco
Recife
Midnight
GROUP A
Brazil
Croatia
Arena de Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
4am
GROUP A
Mexico
Cameroon
Arena das Dunas
Natal
Midnight
All matches WA times
All matches live on SBS One,
SBS HD or SBS 2.
Streamed online at
theworldgame.sbs.com.au
GROUP E
Switzerland
Ecuador
Estadio Nacional
Brasilia
Midnight
Group Stage
Quarterfinals
Saturday
June 28
Sunday
June 29
Monday
June 30
Tuesday
July 1
Wednesday
July 2
Friday
July 4
Saturday
July 5
Sunday
July 6
MATCH 1
Winner A
MATCH 2
Winner C
MATCH 4
Winner D
MATCH 6
Winner G
MATCH 8
Winner H
QF 2
Winner 5
QF 1
Winner 1
QF 3
Winner 3
Runner-up B
Runner-up D
Runner-up C
Runner-up H
Runner-up G
Winner 6
Winner 2
Winner 4
Estadio Mineirao
Belo Horizonte
Midnight
Estadio do Maracana
Rio de Janeiro
4am
Arena Pernambuco
Recife
4am
Estadio Beira-Rio
Porto Alegre
4am
Arena Fonte Nova
Salvador
4am
Estadio do Maracana
Rio de Janeiro
Midnight
Estadio Castelao
Fortaleza
4am
Arena Fonte Nova
Salvador
4am
MATCH 3
Winner B
MATCH 5
Winner E
MATCH 7
Winner F
QF 4
Winner 7
Runner-up A
Runner-up F
Runner-up E
Winner 8
Estadio Castelao
Fortaleza
Midnight
Estadio Nacional
Brasilia
Midnight
Arena de Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
Midnight
Estadio Nacional
Brasilia
Midnight
A
Brazil
Croatia
Mexico
Cameroon
B
Spain
Netherlands
Chile
Australia
C
Colombia
Greece
Ivory Coast
Japan
D
Uruguay
Costa Rica
England
Italy
E
Switzerland
Ecuador
France
Honduras
F
G
Argentina
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Iran
Nigeria
Germany
Portugal
Ghana
USA
H
Belgium
Algeria
Russia
South Korea
iday
ne 20
Saturday
June 21
Sunday
June 22
Monday
June 23
Tuesday
June 24
Wednesday
June 25
Thursday
June 26
Friday
June 27
ROUP D
uguay
gland
ena de Sao Paulo
o Paulo
m
GROUP E
Switzerland
France
Arena Fonte Nova
Salvador
3am
GROUP G
Germany
Ghana
Estadio Castelao
Fortaleza
3am
GROUP H
South Korea
Algeria
Estadio Beira-Rio
Porto Alegre
3am
GROUP A
Cameroon
Brazil
Estadio Nacional
Brasilia
4am
GROUP C
Japan
Colombia
Arena Pantanal
Cuiaba
4am
GROUP E
Honduras
Switzerland
Arena Amazonia
Manaus
4am
GROUP H
South Korea
Belgium
Arena de Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
4am
ROUP C
pan
eece
ena das Dunas
tal
m
GROUP E
Honduras
Ecuador
Arena de Baixada
Curitiba
6am
GROUP F
Nigeria
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Arena Pantanal
Cuiaba
6am
GROUP G
USA
Portugal
Arena Amazonia
Manaus
6am
GROUP A
Croatia
Mexico
Arena Pernambuco
Recife
4am
GROUP C
Greece
Ivory Coast
Estadio Castelao
Fortaleza
4am
GROUP E
Ecuador
France
Estadio do Maracana
Rio de Janeiro
4am
GROUP H
Algeria
Russia
Arena de Baixada
Curitiba
4am
ROUP D
ly
sta Rica
ena Pernambuco
cife
dnight
GROUP F
Argentina
Iran
Estadio Mineirao
Belo Horizonte
Midnight
GROUP H
Belgium
Russia
Estadio do Maracana
Rio de Janeiro
Midnight
GROUP B
Netherlands
Chile
Arena de Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
Midnight
GROUP D
Italy
Uruguay
Arena das Dunas
Natal
Midnight
GROUP F
Nigeria
Argentina
Estadio Beira-Rio
Porto Alegre
Midnight
GROUP G
Portugal
Ghana
Estadio Nacional
Brasilia
Midnight
Group B
Australia
Spain
Arena de Baixada
Curitiba
Midnight
GROUP D
Costa Rica
England
Estadio Mineirao
Belo Horizonte
Midnight
GROUP F
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Iran
Arena Fonte Nova
Salvador
Midnight
GROUP G
USA
Germany
Arena Pernambuco
Recife
Midnight
Semifinals 3/4
Final
nday
y6
Wednesday
July 9
Sunday
July 13
Monday
July 14
F3
nner 3
SF 1
Winner QF 1
3/4 PLACE
Runner-up SF 1
FINAL
Winner SF 1
nner 4
Winner QF 2
Runner-up SF 2
Winner SF 2
ena Fonte Nova
vador
m
Estadio Mineirao
Belo Horizonte
4am
Estadio Nacional
Brasilia
4am
Estadio do Maracana
Rio de Janeiro
3am
SF 2
Winner QF 3
Winner QF 4
Arena de Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
4am
10 WORLD CUP 2014
Mr Success faces
toughest task yet
Angela Habashy
An eight-year-old boy sits transfixed
in his Melbourne lounge room
watching Australia on a black and
white TV as they make the country’s
first World Cup appearance.
Forty years on, that boy is the
Socceroos coach who is determined
to captivate the hearts and minds of
Australians when he guides his side
in soccer’s showpiece in Brazil this
month.
Born in Greece, Ange Postecoglou
and his family had been in Australia
not quite four years when Australia
made that historic appearance in
West Germany.
That 1974 squad, he says, shaped
who he became, igniting his lifelong
obsession with soccer — the sport
which became the main bond in his
relationship with his father.
Watching Australia in the middle
of the night with his dad as they
“took on the world”, Postecoglou was
hooked.
“I love the game and it’s more
than just something I was passionate
about,” he said.
“For me it was the glue in our
family in terms of my father’s
relationship with me.
“Living in this country it has
sometimes been hard to love the
game.
“We’ve had many times where it
wasn’t in great shape and it wasn’t
run well and people weren’t interested
at all in it.
“But ultimately that’s what drives
me.
“Hopefully now we get people
falling in love with it more than ever.”
Just scraping through World Cup
qualifying last year before slipping
to successive 6-0 humiliations to
Brazil and France under former coach
Holger Osieck in September, that was
one of those times it could be hard to
love the game.
Football Federation Australia
decided the German had done enough
and the time was right to end an
eight-year era of foreign coaches and
appoint an Australian.
But as well as being home-grown,
Postecoglou’s appointment had more to
do with the reputation he earned over
17 years in coaching for rebuilding
teams and getting them to play in an
adventurous, attacking style.
Even as a player Postecoglou says
he always wanted to be a coach.
He won two National Soccer League
titles in his nine years as a defender
with South Melbourne before guiding
the club to another two as coach. He’s
the only person to be involved in all
four of the side’s titles.
With A-League club Brisbane
Roar, he won two premierships, four
championships and a continental title.
“Australia’s most successful
domestic coach” is a tag Postecoglou
is proud of.
He’s open about his competitive
nature and his intolerance for failure.
“I love success, I love winning,” he
said.
“All my career while I’ve
been pretty strong
on how I want
teams to play and
the kind of players
I select. I like
winning as well.
“That’s been my
trademark.”
All that aside,
Postecoglou has never
been to a World Cup, even as
a spectator.
The enormity of the job is not lost
on him.
He says the biggest lesson he
learned was during his time
as Australian under-20 coach
between 2000 and 2007 when
he admits he made too many
compromises, listened to too many
voices.
Now he’s making all the calls.
In his five months as Socceroos
coach, his influence on the side is
already clear.
The rebuilding process is well
under way as Postecoglou attempts to
unearth the next golden generation.
And while he has ensured he’s got
the support staff he wanted, he knows
ultimately he’s on his own.
“At times it can be a really lonely
existence,” he said.
“I know that sounds bizarre,
because you’re surrounded by people
all the time.
“But you get to understand pretty
quickly that your No.1 task in life is
to make decisions and the focus is
squarely upon you whether you get
them wrong or right.”
There’ll be no bigger test of his
decision making when his hand-
picked, new-look Socceroos face Chile,
the Netherlands and Spain in Group
B.
He hit the ground running in his
job and hasn’t stopped.
“People ask me how I feel every day
and I don’t have time to figure out
how I feel, there’s just too much to do,”
Postecoglou said.
“I’m sure once we get there and
when that first game comes along the
realisation will hit me.”
Then, he says, he’ll be reminded of
that eight-year-old boy who watched
history in the making 40 years ago as
he attempts to contribute a bright new
chapter.
AUSTRALIA
SQUAD 2014
Goalkeepers:
Mark Birighitti (age 23, Newcastle Jets)
Eugene Galekovic (32, Adelaide Utd)
Mitch Langerak
(25, Borussia Dortmund)
Mat Ryan (22, Club Brugge)
Defenders:
Jason Davidson (22, Heracles Almelo)
Ivan Franjic (26, Brisbane Roar)
Ryan McGowan
(24, Shandong Luneng Taishan)
Matthew Spiranovic
(25, Western Sydney Wanderers)
Luke Wilkshire (32, Dynamo Moscow)
Alex Wilkinson
(29, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
Bailey Wright (21, Preston)
Midfielders:
Oliver Bozanic (25, FC Luzern)
Mark Bresciano (34, Al Gharafa)
James Holland (25, Austria Vienna)
Mile Jedinak (29, Crystal Palace)
Massimo Luongo (21, Swindon)
Mark Milligan (28, Melbourne Victory)
Matt McKay (31, Brisbane Roar)
Tommy Oar (22, FC Utrecht)
Tommy Rogic (21, Melbourne Victory)
James Troisi (25, Melbourne Victory)
Dario Vidosic (27, FC Sion)
Forwards:
Tim Cahill (34, New York Red Bulls)
Ben Halloran (21, Fortuna Dusseldorf)
Josh Kennedy (31, Nagoya Grampus)
Mathew Leckie (23, Frankfurt)
Adam Taggart (21, Newcastle Jets)
Four players to be cut before first game
Ange Postecoglou
Picture: Matt King/Getty Images
WORLD CUP 2014
GROUP C
COLOMBIA
Rookie under the pump
Rio de Janeiro
Ivory Coast’s galaxy of stars includes
Didier Drogba, brothers Yaya and Kolo
Toure, Gervinho and Didier Zokora.
But they take instructions from a
French TV pundit who had not coached
before taking up his post two years ago.
Former France midfielder Sabri
Lamouchi admits it was a bold decision
to appoint him, considering Sven-Goran
Eriksson was among his predecessors.
“It was a decision that took everyone
prise, including me,” Lamouchi
by surprise,
said.
The Ivorians have lost only
one of 12 competitive games
under Lamouchi, but failed
ar to lift the Africa
last year
Cup of Nations.
mouchi knows he
Lamouchi
each the last 16 in
must reach
Brazil or face the axe.
ke his
Unlike
essors,
precedessors,
r-old
42-year-old
Lamouchi cannot moan about the draw.
This in the most open of the eight
groups, with all four teams realistic
contenders for a last-16 place.
“Ivory Coast have never reached the
second round so it would be a wonderful
achievement,” Lamouchi said.
The contract of Greek coach Fernando
Santos runs out after the group stage,
but he wants it extended because his side
is bound for the knockout phase. Santos
is supremely confident in his players.
They will give their
th
“They
all in the World
par
Cup so that our parting
will be the best
possible,” he said.
Greece let in only four goals in 10
games but found the net
qualifying games,
just 12 times.
ho striker Radamel
Colombia hope
Falcao can re
recover from a serious
s
injury after scoring
nine goals in
13 qualifying games.
Japan star K
Keisuke Honda says
re
“there is no reason
we can’t win
the World Cup” but the draw says
otherwise.
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
5
Jose Pekerman ARG
Mario Yepes
Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
Last 16 1990
$21
GREECE
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
10
Fernando Santos POR
Georgios Karagounis
Kostas Mitroglou (Fulham)
Group stage 1994, 2010
$126
IVORY COAST
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
21
Sabri Lamouchi FRA
Didier Drogba
Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
Group stage 2006, 2010
$101
JAPAN
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
47
Albert Zaccheroni ITA
Makoto Hasebe
Keisuke Honda (AC Milan)
Last 16 2002, 2010
$126
Yaya Toure Picture: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
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11
12 WORLD CUP 2014
GROUP
D
Heavyweights bite their nails
as Suarez fights for fitness
Paul Barry
Of all the World Cup cliches, the
phrase “group of death” is probably
the most overused.
Australians say it is the
Socceroos’ Group B. FIFA
statisticians say it is Germany’s
Group G.
But few groups will be more cutthroat than this one, where at least
one of heavyweights Uruguay, Italy
and England will be eliminated.
Luis Suarez was the most feared
striker in England last season,
top-scoring with 31 goals in a
Liverpool side which fell just short of
winning the Premier League.
And England supporters are right
to be wary of the Uruguay star,
who is his country’s most prolific
forward with 39 goals from 76 caps.
The 27-year-old equalled the
Premier League’s goalscoring record despite
being banned for the
first five games of
the season after biting an opponent.
Suarez had keyhole surgery on his
left knee last month but hopes to face
the England side led by his
club teammate Steven Gerrard
on June 19.
Uruguay’s tactics are based
almost entirely on getting the ball to
Suarez and strike partner Edinson
Cavani, although the evergreen
Diego Forlan provides useful back-up
in a side which is creaking with age.
If Suarez misses out, no one will
be happier than England manager
Roy Hodgson, whose youthful squad
lacks strength in depth.
The English FA moved to hose
down fans’ expectations last month
when it released a major report on
the faults in the national game even
before the tournament began.
Wayne Rooney arrives at his third
World Cup having flopped at the
last two, and Brazil could be the last
tournament for Gerrard and fellow
midfield veteran Frank Lampard.
Young guns like Southampton’s
Adam Lallana provide hope for
England’s future, but it is not clear
whether the next generation is ready.
Four-times winners Italy were
unseeded but are the favourites to
progress from the group.
Cesare Prandelli has set the
Azzurri up to play a possessionbased game, and larger-than-life AC
Milan star Mario Balotelli is just one
of his striking options.
His defence draws heavily on the
Juventus back line, which conceded
just 23 times in 38 games on its
way to the Serie A title, and few
midfielders can direct traffic better
than Juve’s Andrea Pirlo.
Costa Rica’s scant chances of
making the knockout phase were
not helped when Everton defender
Bryan Oviedo broke his left leg
in January, ruling him out of the
tournament.
Their man to watch is striker Joel
Campbell, who impressed in the
Champions League with Olympiakos
while on loan from Arsenal.
URUGUAY
FIFA ranking: 6
Coach: Oscar Tabarez
Captain: Diego Lugano
Star man:
Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Winners:
1930, 1950
TAB odds:
$23
COSTA RICA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
34
Jorge Luis Pinto COL
Bryan Ruiz
Keylor Navas (Levante)
Last 16 1990
$1001
ENGLAND
Luis Suarez
Picture: Friedemann
Vogel/Getty Images
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Winners:
TAB odds:
11
Roy Hodgson
Steven Gerrard
Wayne Rooney (Man United)
1966
$26
ITALY
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Winners:
TAB odds:
9
Cesare Prandelli
Gianluigi Buffon
Mario Balotelli (AC Milan)
1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
$21
Karim Benzema
Picture: Scott
Heavey/Getty
Images
Lionel Messi
Picture: Jamie
McDonald/
Getty Images
GROUP
E
Time for Benz to fire
on all cylinders
Jerome Pugmire
This is Karim Benzema’s chance to
finally shine on the world stage.
With winger Franck Ribery’s form
fading somewhat in recent weeks,
Benzema could be France’s key
attacker.
He flopped at the last European
Championship, missed out on the
2010 World Cup and failed to score at
Euro 2008.
Aged 26, the Real Madrid striker
should be approaching his peak
but his ratio of 19 goals in 65
international matches is average. He
went 15 matches without a France
goal before losing his place.
Things may have come too easily
for Benzema, who helped Real
Madrid win the Champions League
last month.
He has a deft touch and a powerful
shot, is strong, quick and decent in
the air. But he has never scored a
hat-trick for France or in 159 league
games for Real.
Benzema wants to be constantly
involved in play and sometimes
drifts about. At Euro 2012, that
unbalanced the team.
But the defences he faced at Euro
2012 — England, Ukraine, Sweden
and Spain — were tighter than the
ones he’ll encounter this month.
The resilient Swiss kept clean
sheets in seven of 10 qualifiers, but
Benzema will hope to plunder goals
against Honduras and Ecuador.
Ecuador play an attacking style
but are weak at the back and do
not fare well away from their
high-altitude capital, Quito.
The only thing going for the
Hondurans is their familiarity with
playing in hot, humid conditions.
GROUP
F
Messi out to revive
the spirit of 1986
Shayne Hope
Argentina stand head and shoulders
above their rivals as the only team
in Group F likely to mount a serious
challenge for the title.
It has been 28 long years since
Diego Maradona famously
lifted the World Cup and the
nation will be hoping
current pin-up boy
Lionel Messi can
repeat the feat.
Winning the
World Cup in enemy territory in
Brazil is as much motivation as the
Albiceleste need.
Bosnia and Herzegovina would
be forgiven for being content with
simply qualifying for the first time,
but they will not want to stop there.
They stormed through qualifying
with eight wins from 10 games,
netting 30 goals in the process, and
shape as a potential fairytale story
— a move into the second round is
not beyond their reach.
Former Real Madrid coach and
Manchester United assistant Carlos
Queiroz has achieved his target by
steering Iran – ranked seventh of
Asia’s 43 FIFA-affiliated countries –
to the World Cup.
Anything else will be a bonus for
the underdogs, whose preparations
have been far from ideal.
Queiroz and his players have
hit out at the country’s football
federation for providing shrinking
socks, boots that were too small and
not enough equipment.
Only 12 players attended their
recent training camp in Africa.
Nigeria have turned their
fortunes around, qualifying for
Brazil just two years after failing to
reach the African Cup of Nations.
WORLD CUP 2014
SWITZERLAND
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
8
Ottmar Hitzfeld GER
Gokhan Inler
Granit Xhaka (Borussia Moenchengladbach)
Quarterfinal 1934, 1938, 1954
$81
ECUADOR
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
28
Reinaldo Rueda COL
Antonio Valencia
Jefferson Montero (CA Monarcas Morelia)
Last 16 2006
$101
FRANCE
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Winners:
TAB odds:
16
Didier Deschamps
Hugo Lloris
Paul Pogba (Juventus)
1998
$19
HONDURAS
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
30
Luis F Suarez
Noel Valladares
Carlos Costly (Real Espana)
Group stage 1982, 2010
$1501
ARGENTINA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Winners:
TAB odds:
7
Alejandro Sabella
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
1978, 1986
$5
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
25
Safet Susic
Emir Spahic
Miralem Pjanic (Roma)
First finals appearance
$151
IRAN
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
37
Carlos Queiroz POR
Javad Nekounam
Reza Ghoochannejad (Charlton)
Group stage 1978, 1998, 2006
$1501
NIGERIA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
44
Stephen Keshi
Vincent Enyeama
Victor Moses (Liverpool)
Last 16 1994, 1998
$201
13
14 WORLD CUP 2014
GROUP
G
Veteran striker Klose moves closer to
Brazilian’s World Cup goals record
Berlin
Germany’s veteran striker Miroslav
Klose says he is “100 per cent” ready
for Brazil, where he hopes to break
the World Cup goal record.
With 14 goals at three previous
World Cup finals, 35-year-old Klose
is just one short of Brazil striker
Ronaldo’s record for the all-time goal
scorer.
As one of only two out-and-out
strikers in Joachim Low’s squad, the
veteran says he will be ready when
Germany open their Group G
campaign against Portugal
in Salvador on June 16
after being blighted by injury at his
club Lazio from the end of March
until the start of last
month.
“For me, the
main thing is to
be fit and the most
important thing
is the team,”
Klose said.
“I am convinced that when the
team plays well, then the striker will
also get his chances.
“But anyone who knows me is
aware that the goal record is a target
of mine.”
Germany play a fluid 4-3-2-1
formation, with Arsenal playmaker
Mesut Osil pulling the strings in
midfield. They also boast great
strength in depth.
Portugal’s talisman Cristiano
Ronaldo comes in to the tournament
on a high after helping Real Madrid
to their 10th European Cup last
month.
His club teammate Pepe and
Monaco star Joao Moutinho give
the side a solid spine but they lack a
proven second striker.
USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann
has raised eyebrows by picking
a host of young players ahead of
32-year-old attacker Landon
Donovan, who thought he had done
enough to earn a spot at a fourth
World Cup.
Donovan believes he “absolutely
deserved” to go to Brazil.
“I respect the decision, but I just
feel in my heart that I deserve to
be there and that’s the pill that’s
hardest to swallow,” he said.
Ghana were the top scorers in
African qualifying with 25 goals
and have welcomed back AC Milan
midfielder Michael Essien from
international exile.
Ghana’s players arrive in Brazil
with a forthright message from their
country’s president ringing in their
ears.
John Dramani Mahama addressed
the players at a farewell dinner,
telling them: “We expect you to die
a little for your country. We respect
our opponents but we don’t fear
them.”
GERMANY
Miroslav Klose
Picture: Thomas
Niedermueller/
Getty Images
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Winners:
TAB odds:
2
Joachim Low
Philipp Lahm
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
1954, 1974, 1990
$6.50
PORTUGAL
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
3
Paulo Bento
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Third place 1966
$21
GHANA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
Cristiano
Ronaldo
Picture: Mike
Hewitt/Getty
Images
38
Akwasi Appiah
Asamoah Gyan
Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain)
Quarterfinal 2010
$201
USA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
14
Jurgen Klinsmann GER
Clint Dempsey
Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders)
Third place 1930
$201
WORLD CUP 2014
GROUP
H
Galaxy of stars could help
15
Belgians get the chocolates
Shayne Hope
Belgium enter their first major
tournament since 2002 with a
genuine belief they can match their
best finish at a World Cup.
And who’s to say Marc Wilmots’
side can’t do better than the fourthplace finish achieved by the class of
1986?
The team is stacked with
talented players who have
starred over the past
two years in some
of the world’s best
domestic leagues.
A line-up
featuring
Premier
League
winner
Vincent
Kompany
(Manchester City), Marouane
Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj (both
Manchester United), Eden Hazard
(Chelsea), Kevin Mirallas, Romelu
Lukaku (Everton) and Daniel van
Buyten (Bayern Munich) is sure to
strike fear into most sides.
But only van Buyten has previous
World Cup experience, meaning
the squad is yet to be tested under
extreme pressure.
Belgium have a strong midfield
and attacking options but could be
tested by pacy wingers out wide in
defence because of a lack of reliable
options at full-back.
A strong test could come in the
form of a second-round clash with
Portugal or Germany.
Russia expect to mount a serious
charge towards the second round
under experienced manager Fabio
Capello, who has masterminded a
dramatic change in attitude among
the squad since taking over from
Dick Advocaat.
The CSKA Moscow central
defensive pairing of Sergei
Ignashevich and Vasili Berezutski
is strong and will be well supported
by the midfield, but goals may prove
hard to come by.
A young and fast South Korea
have been widely tipped to be on an
early flight home but have the ability
to win all three of their group games.
If, that is, the team clicks under
new coach and former playing legend
Myung Bo Hong.
Their counterattacking style and
lightning-fast wingers, including
Bolton’s Lee Chung Yong, could do
some damage.
Algeria will be looking to make
up for a dismal 2010 World Cup
campaign, after which they were
one of just two teams to head home
without scoring a goal.
BELGIUM
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
12
Marc Wilmots
Vincent Kompany
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Fourth place 1986
$15
ALGERIA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
Eden Hazard
Picture: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images
25
Vahid Halilhodzic BIH
Madjid Bougherra
Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia)
Group stage 1982, 1986, 2010
$1001
RUSSIA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
18
Fabio Capello ITA
Sergei Ignashevich
Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow)
Fourth place 1966
$67
SOUTH KOREA
FIFA ranking:
Coach:
Captain:
Star man:
Best finish:
TAB odds:
55
Myung Bo Hong
Lee Chung Yong
Son Heung Min (Bayer Leverkusen)
Fourth place 2002
$201
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