World Cup 2018 Group F Preview and Predictions
This is an intriguing group featuring the defending champions Germany, Mexico, Sweden and Korea. The Germans are supreme in major tournaments and have won the World Cup on 4 occasions. They have plenty of quality with a big match temperament that is unrivalled in sport. Only Italy and Brazil have won back-to-back titles and looking at the German squad there is every reason to believe they can achieve this feat.
Sweden return to the tournament for the first time since 2006, while South Korea will be hoping for a repeat of their 2012 heroics, however it is Mexico that appear to be a bit of a dark horse coming into the tournament and everyone needs an outsider, so why not go with them.
Germany are the team to beat and not only in this group but throughout the tournament. Let’s see how this group lines up and who will go through.
Germany
The defending champions were quite brilliant last time out and despite the retirement of players like Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and Per Mertesacker, Joachim Low’s team swept the opposition aside during qualification winning all 10. They had no problems finding the back of the net with 43 goals while their mean defence was exactly that, conceding just the 4.
Germany have quality and experience in Mats Hummels, Thomas Müller, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Jerome Boateng and Sami Khedira, while new talent like the brilliant Leipzig front man Timo Werner has showcased that the international scene is where he belongs with 7 goals in 12 international matches.
Thomas Müller has had an average season for Bayern with just the 15 goals, that said he is a player for the big stage as he proved in 2010 and 2014, both tournaments scoring 5 goals. Compatriot Miroslav Klose is the leading scorer in World Cups’ with 16 and at just 28-years-of-age Müller can certainly get close to this mark if he has his scoring boots. He also looks a decent price at 25/1 to finish as the leading scorer.
One shock omission is Manchester City’s Leroy Sane. The German was voted Premier League young player of the season contributing 14 goals and 15 assists to City’s successful campaign.
Coach Joachim Low has also agreed to an extension in his contract until 2022, giving the team some additional stability coming into the tournament.
All the above names mentioned are world class players which will sure give Low plenty of headaches in selection, however one man that will be first on the team sheet will be keeper Manuel Neuer. The German stopper has been sidelined since September with a fractured foot but you have to think he will be given every chance to be on the plane.
Germany begin their assault against a very talented Mexico who will need to find a way of unlocking the best defensive unit on the planet, this does seem unlikely. Germany should finish top of the group with a last 16 clash that could be against neighbours Switzerland.
Germany Provisional World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector (FC Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
Mexico
Mexico is a decent side and don’t forget the 2012 Olympic Champions. Getting through the group stages hasn’t been a problem for them, a feat they have achieved in the last 6 World Cup tournaments. They dominated the CONCACAF qualification finishing top of the group with just the 1 loss in their 10, with goals coming from 11 different players!
Javier Hernandez is Mexico’s most experienced player and leading goalscorer with 49 from 100 matches. He hasn’t had the best of seasons with West Ham, but on the big stage he is a big player and his form will be crucial.
Porto winger Jesús Corona was electric during the qualifiers scoring 3 goals, while the experience of Carlos Vela will be much needed up front for the Mexicans. That said this is clearly a team and not one that relies on individuals, this could work in their favour, although an opening loss to Germany will put them on the back foot and under pressure.
Mexico Provisional World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul)
Defenders: Diego Reyes (Porto), Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), Miguel Layun (Sevilla), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas), Hugo Ayala (Tigres UANL), Edson Alvarez (Club America)
Midfielders: Hector Herrera (Porto), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Rafa Marquez (Atlas), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy)
Forwards: Javier Aquino (Tigres UANL), Jesus Corona (Porto), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (Club America), Javier Hernandez (West Ham United), Carlos Vela (LAFC), Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven)
Sweden
Sweden return for the first time since 2006 in what will be there 12th World Cup. Runners-up in 1958, the Swedes booked their spot in Russia at the expense of Italy who incidentally failed to qualify for the first time since that 1958 World Cup. They were involved in a tough group with France and the Netherlands so to then back that up with a win over the Italians deserves plenty of respect.
The experience Marcus Berg has become their main source of goals while Emil Forsberg from Leipzig has been in sensational form over the last three years for both club and country.
One thing we have come to know down the years from Sweden is that they can defend and in Manchester United’s Victor Lindelöf they have exactly that. The Swede’s conceded just the 9-goals in qualification and this side of their game could very well be the difference between them finishing second in the group or wining it.
An opening win over South Korea will be a must, but also one they will be quietly confident of achieving.
Sweden World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Robin Olsen (Copenhagen), Karl-Johan Johnsson (Guingamp), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Swansea).
Defenders: Mikael Lustig (Celtic), Victor Lindelof (Manchester United), Andreas Granqvist (Krasnador), Martin Olsson (Swansea), Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen), Filip Helander, Emil Krafth (both Bologna), Pontus Jansson (Leeds United).
Midfielders: Sebastian Larsson (Hull), Albin Ekdal (Hamburg), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig), Gustav Svensson (Seattle Sounders), Oscar Hiljemark (Genoa), Viktor Claesson (Krasnador), Marcus Rohden (Crotone), Jimmy Durmaz (Toulouse).
Forwards: Marcus Berg (Al Ain), John Guidetti (Alaves), Ola Toivonen (Toulouse), Isaac Kiese Thelin (Waasland-Beveren).
South Korea
One of the weakest teams to qualify for Russia and can’t see them getting anything out of the group stages let alone a win. Their remarkable 4th place finish in 2002 is a distant memory, although they did manage to get out of the group stages in 2010.
In qualifying they scored 11 and conceded 10, finishing second behind Iran, I simply can’t see that form being of any concern to the other three teams in the group.
That said this is a team that will work hard for the full 90 minutes and will have an outstanding level of fitness, so the opposition will have to be on their game until the final whistle.
That said it is so difficult to see them coming anywhere other than last in this group.
Sweden are their opening game with the physical presence of the Nordic country sure to be a little too much to deal with.
South Korea Provisional World Cup Squad
Defenders: Kim young-gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Jang Hyun-soo (FC Tokyo), Jung Seung-hyun (Sagan Tosu), Yun Yong-sun (Seongnam FC), Oh Ban-suk (Jeju United), Kim Min-woo (Sangju Sangmu), Park Joo-ho (Ulsan Hyundai), Hong Chul (Sangju Sangmu), Go Yo-han (FC Seoul), Lee Yong (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
Midfielders: Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea City), Jung Woo-young (Vissel Kobe), Ju Se-jong (Asan Mugunghwa FC), Koo Ja-cheol (FC Augsburg), Lee Jae-sung (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Lee Seung-woo (Hellas Verona), Moon Seon-min (Incheon United)
Forwards: Kim Shin-wook (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Hwang Hee-chan (FC Red Bull Salzburg)
SPORTSvox World Cup Group F Predictions
Germany should have no excuses for not finishing top of the group. They have an embarrassment of riches in terms of talent and experience and the added incentive of being the defending champions will be a strong tonic for Low’s team. Struggling to see which one of Mexico or Sweden will go through with them, tough call. The Mexicans will be full of flair and potentially goals, while the Swedes will most likely rely on their defensive strengths. Because of this reasoning I am going to lean towards Mexico on goal difference as they have a good defence but have more ability in front of goal.
World Cup 2018 Fixtures, Group F
SUNDAY 17TH JUNE
Germany v Mexico
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
MONDAY 18TH JUNE
Sweden v South Korea
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
SATURDAY 23RD JUNE
South Korea v Mexico
Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
SATURDAY 23RD JUNE
Germany v Sweden
Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
WEDNESDAY 27TH JUNE
South Korea v Germany
Kazan Arena, Kazan
WEDNESDAY 27TH JUNE
Mexico v Sweden
Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg
