World Cup 2018: Group F Preview
Are you picking Germany to repeat as Champions? "Why not?", asks Toni Kroos.
Germany
FIFA Rank: #1
Qualified as: 1st Place in UEFA Group C
The Skinny
The old adage goes "football is a game where everyone runs around for 90 minutes, and Germany wins." It's a joke, of course, but also a nod to the reality that in any soccer competition, Germany will be among the favorites. Until recently, they had almost lost the justification for that status, coming up empty in major tournaments since 1990. However, now that they re-scaled the World Cup mountain in 2014, and have only gotten more talented and deep this time around, you can bet they'll be among the favorites for a very long time.
The Best XI
As was the case with first Spain, then France, then Brazil, Germany's personnel has an embarrassment of riches. So much so, that they can afford to leave a finalist for Premier League Player of the Year off of their squad. Thus, there are no real wrong answers here, but my offering for Die Mannschaft partners World Cup Goal Machine Thomas Müller with the ridiculously-talented-but-always-injured Marco Reus up top. Behind them sits PSG winger Julian Draxler, the attacking point of an otherwise veteran midfield: Arsenal's Mesut Özil, Real Madrid's Toni Kroos, and Man City's Ilkay Gündogan. The back 4 should be staunch no matter who rotates in and out, but for the first time in a long time, Germany may have a keeper controversy. Manuel Neuer was the best goalie in the World for the last several years, but spent most of this season injured, and in his first start back, looked extremely shaky in Germany's shock loss to Austria. If manager Joachim Löw makes selections based on quality, he'll eschew loyalty to instead pick Barcelona starter André ter Stegen.
Mexico
FIFA Rank: #15
Qualified as: 1st Place in CONCACAF
The Skinny
Mexico have carved a niche out for being the quintessential "Round of 16" team. They're seemingly always talented (and scrappy) enough to advance out of their group -- the last time they played in a World Cup and didn't reach the knockout stages was in 1978. However, they lack a little too much to progress much further. The only times they've reached the quarterfinals were in the two World Cups they've hosted; probably the closest they've come since was 4 years ago, when a controversial Netherlands penalty eliminated them in stoppage time. Expect proceedings to be very similar for El Tri this go-round. While certainly more cohesive of a unit, Mexico is arguably even thinner in talent than they were in Brazil.
The Best XI
He may have dipped in form in recent years, but I think you need to start Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, the iconic striker, up top. Especially if he is to be flanked by fellow veteran Giovani dos Santos and Porto star Jesus Manuel Corona Ruíz on the wings, Mexico's attack won't dip. Captain Andres Guardado holds the line in midfield with young talents Marco Fabián and Héctor Herrera. And who's that in the defense? It's....yes, it's Rafa Marquez, at the ripe old age of 39! He may have crossed over into "liability" territory, but are you really not going to start the man whose anchored your defense for almost 2 decades? Keep in mind, he'll be helped by Porto and Sevilla defenders Diego Reyes and Miguel Layún.
Sweden
FIFA Rank: #24
Qualified as: 2nd place in UEFA Group A, winners of playoff vs. Italy
The Skinny
Those of us here in the States that are tempted to think that USA's failure to qualify for the World Cup was the most shocking exclusion would be mistaken: it was Italy's. And the team that knocked them out? Stingy, disciplined Sweden. The 2018 edition of The Blue-Yellow is not as deep as many teams of yore, but may just have the organization and spirit to surprise more teams in the manner they did Italy.
The Best XI
As the man himself would tell you, any Sweden starting lineup without Zlatan Ibrahimovic seems lacking. But he is officially not involved this time around, and in his stead, Sweden may want to run a 4-5-1, with leading goalscorer Ola Toivonen at the top. Seattle Sounders acquisition Gustav Svensson sits at the back of a midfield that also features talented attacker Emil Forsberg, from Red Bull Leipzig. Young Manchester United defender Victor Lindelöf is joined by veterans Andreas Granqvist (the team's captain), Mikael Lustig (of Celtic), and Martin Olsson (Swansea City).
South Korea
FIFA Rank: #57
Qualified as: 2nd Place in AFC Group A
The Skinny
South Korea is one of the most consistent World Cup teams we have. They've qualified for every tournament since 1986, and of course exploded onto the scene with a (controversial) semifinal run as co-hosts in 2002. Since that breakout, though, they've almost always been eliminated in the group stages. That norm will likely hold here, as, despite some serious talented individual players, this is not South Korea's strongest squad by any stretch of the imagination.
The Best XI
Often times, Korea's teams have multiple names to highlight. This time around, it's all about Tottenham star Son Heung-min, who became one of Hotspur's most important players down the stretch. He'll likely be joined in attack by Red Bull Salzburg striker Hwang Hee-chan. Elsewhere, Swansea's Ki Sung-yeung and Augsburg's Koo Ja-cheol form a nice midfield pairing, and Kim Young-gwon brings some experience to an otherwise green back line.
Group Prediction
Germany's the clear winner, and South Korea the clear weak link in Group F. Apart from those, it's a race for 2nd between Sweden and Mexico. Though I think the Swedes will be tough enough to snag a point off of Germany in the latter's notorious 2nd-match letdown, I do believe Mexico will just be too good for them on the last matchday.