Welcome to the opening day of 2014 Fifa World Cup! The plan for today is a marathon, with all the remaining 4 group previews today. Enjoy!
SWITZERLAND
Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Team Overview: The surprise top seeds of this group, the Swiss have a very balanced mix of youth and experience. The youth movement is lead by Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Zhaka, who both play for Bundesliga clubs, and the experienced players, like captain Gokhan Inler and back line leader Stephan Lichsteiner.
X-Factor: A true goalscorer. La Nati lack a true goalscorer up top, as centerback Fabian Schaer lead the team in scoring during qualifying. Forwards Mario Gavranovic and Haris Seferovic will have to step up, though they will recieve help from their superb midfielders, Xhaka, Shaqiri, and Inler.
Where they'll finish: Getting top seed in this group will largely mean nothing for La Nati, as it will be all about their play in Brasil that will determine their finish. At the same time, it's hard to imagine the Swiss not getting out of this group.
ECUADOR
Manager: Reinaldo Rueda
Team Overview: La Tricolor will have to fight through some of the greatest adversary of any nation in the World Cup following the tragic passing of star striker Christian Benitez during qualifying. Rueda will have to use his expertise that he used to take Honduras to the 2010 World Cup to get his men through Benitez's death, and will be asssisted by midfielder Antonio Valencia.'
X-Factor: Forward play. Without Benitez, La Tricolor definitely lack a leading man up top, and Felipe Caicedo will hope to fix that. If Caicedo steps up, the Ecudorians should play well and captain Valencia will prove himself worthwhile with his superb play down the wings
.
Where they'll finish: Even during their greatest tragedy, La Tricolor have proven that they will be no slouches in Brasil, and will push hard to qualify for the knockout stadges.
FRANCE
Manager: Didier Deschamps
Team Overview: On paper, Les Blues have one of the strongest sides in the world, but there's a reason paper doesn't play football matches. After one of the rockiest qualifications in their history, Les Blues have to count themselves lucky just to be in Brasil, but the French media won't let Deschamps down easy if they don't get out of the group stage.
X-Factor: Potential play versus actual play. This team is stacked, from attackers Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema, to midfielders Paul Pogba and Florian Thauvin, and defense men Laurent Koscielny and Mamadou Sakho. How well everyone meshes will be up to Deschamps, with advancement on the line.
Where they'll finish: Les Blues are the consensus to top Group E. At the same time, they were also considered safe against Ukraine in qualifying, and look how well that went. However, it's hard to look past their attacking prowess and strong back line.
HONDURAS
Manager: Luis Fernando Suarez
Team Overview: Easily the dormat of a fairly strong group, Los Catrachos still are not a good side to overlook. Wilson Palacios and Jerry Bengston lead a young, pacey attack, while Emilio Izaguirre leads the back line and captain Noel Valladares will be solid in net.
X-Factor: There really isn't an x-factor that I can spot with Los Catrachos. Maybe lack of experience up front? Stronger midfield play? It will be left to see in Brasil.
Where they'll finish: Honduras are not a side to overlook, as they will make you pay should you choose to do so. If Palacios and Bengston keep in good form up top, and skipper Valladares can play well and keep some clean sheets, Los Catrachos will have a shot in Brasil.
LIKELY TO ADVANCE: France, Switzerland
SWITZERLAND
Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Team Overview: The surprise top seeds of this group, the Swiss have a very balanced mix of youth and experience. The youth movement is lead by Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Zhaka, who both play for Bundesliga clubs, and the experienced players, like captain Gokhan Inler and back line leader Stephan Lichsteiner.
X-Factor: A true goalscorer. La Nati lack a true goalscorer up top, as centerback Fabian Schaer lead the team in scoring during qualifying. Forwards Mario Gavranovic and Haris Seferovic will have to step up, though they will recieve help from their superb midfielders, Xhaka, Shaqiri, and Inler.
Where they'll finish: Getting top seed in this group will largely mean nothing for La Nati, as it will be all about their play in Brasil that will determine their finish. At the same time, it's hard to imagine the Swiss not getting out of this group.
ECUADOR
Manager: Reinaldo Rueda
Team Overview: La Tricolor will have to fight through some of the greatest adversary of any nation in the World Cup following the tragic passing of star striker Christian Benitez during qualifying. Rueda will have to use his expertise that he used to take Honduras to the 2010 World Cup to get his men through Benitez's death, and will be asssisted by midfielder Antonio Valencia.'
X-Factor: Forward play. Without Benitez, La Tricolor definitely lack a leading man up top, and Felipe Caicedo will hope to fix that. If Caicedo steps up, the Ecudorians should play well and captain Valencia will prove himself worthwhile with his superb play down the wings
.
Where they'll finish: Even during their greatest tragedy, La Tricolor have proven that they will be no slouches in Brasil, and will push hard to qualify for the knockout stadges.
FRANCE
Manager: Didier Deschamps
Team Overview: On paper, Les Blues have one of the strongest sides in the world, but there's a reason paper doesn't play football matches. After one of the rockiest qualifications in their history, Les Blues have to count themselves lucky just to be in Brasil, but the French media won't let Deschamps down easy if they don't get out of the group stage.
X-Factor: Potential play versus actual play. This team is stacked, from attackers Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema, to midfielders Paul Pogba and Florian Thauvin, and defense men Laurent Koscielny and Mamadou Sakho. How well everyone meshes will be up to Deschamps, with advancement on the line.
Where they'll finish: Les Blues are the consensus to top Group E. At the same time, they were also considered safe against Ukraine in qualifying, and look how well that went. However, it's hard to look past their attacking prowess and strong back line.
HONDURAS
Manager: Luis Fernando Suarez
Team Overview: Easily the dormat of a fairly strong group, Los Catrachos still are not a good side to overlook. Wilson Palacios and Jerry Bengston lead a young, pacey attack, while Emilio Izaguirre leads the back line and captain Noel Valladares will be solid in net.
X-Factor: There really isn't an x-factor that I can spot with Los Catrachos. Maybe lack of experience up front? Stronger midfield play? It will be left to see in Brasil.
Where they'll finish: Honduras are not a side to overlook, as they will make you pay should you choose to do so. If Palacios and Bengston keep in good form up top, and skipper Valladares can play well and keep some clean sheets, Los Catrachos will have a shot in Brasil.
LIKELY TO ADVANCE: France, Switzerland
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