WORLD CUP 2014 / THE TEAMS
THE BERMUDA SUN
JUNE 6, 2014 n 5
group c Key player
James Rodriguez Superb season with Monaco — extra burden with Falcao missing.
Key player
Didier Drogba Yaya Toure is the star now but Drogba remains team’s talisman.
Colombia Manager: José Pékerman Keepers: David Ospina, Faryd Mondragon, Camilo Vargas. Defenders: Mario Yepes, Cristian Zapata, Pablo Armero, Camilo Zuniga, Santiago Arias, Eder Alvarez Balanta, C.Valdes. Midfielders: Fredy Guarin, Juan Cuadrado, James Rodriguez, Abel Aguilar, Juan Fernando Quintero, Carlos Sanchez, Aldo Leao Ramirez, Alexander Mejia. Forwards: Victor Ibarbo, Jackson Martinez, Carlos Bacca, Adrian Ramos, Teofilo Gutierrez. Prediction: Quarters
Key player
Pop: 47.4 million Best World Cup: Round of 16 — 1990 They said: “With Falcao, we will wait until the last minute of the last day.” — Jose Pekerman
Ivory Coast Manager: Sabri Lamouchi Keepers: Boubacar Barry, Sylvain Gbohouo, Sayouba Sande. Defenders: Kolo Toure, Sol Bamba, Didier Zokora, Serge Aurier, Arthur Boka, Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba, Constant Djakpa, Jean-Daniel AkpaAkpro. Midfielders: Yaya Toure, Cheik Tiote, Serey Die, Max Gradel, Diomande Ismael, Didier Ya Konan, Mathis Bolly. Forwards: Gervinho, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Wilfried Bony, Giovanni Sio. Prediction: Second round
Kostas Mitroglou Struggled at Fulham but potentially a big player for his country.
Key player
Pop: 22.4 million Best World Cup: Group stage — 2006, 2010 They said: “We have a very interesting group so we know it will be difficult.” — Yaya Toure
Shinji Kagawa Has real star quality — despite struggling to make an impact at United.
Greece Manager: Fernando Santos Keepers: Orestis Karnezis, Panagiotis Glykos, S. Kapino. Defenders: Kostas Manolas, Giannis Maniatis, Jose Holebas, S. Papastathopoulos, Giorgios Tzavellas, Loukas Vyntra, Vasilis Torosidis, V. Moras. Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis, Andreas Samaris, K. Katsouranis, Giorgos Karagounis, P. Tachtsidis, Ioannis Fetfatzidis, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, P. Kone. Forwards: Dimitris Salpingidis, Giorgios Samaras, K. Mitroglou, Theofanis Gekas. Prediction: Group stages
Pop: 10.8 million Best World Cup: Group stages — 1994, 2010 They said: “It is important to make Greeks proud, and for them to enjoy watching us.” — Karagounis
Japan Manager: Alberto Zaccheroni Keepers: Eiji Kawashima, Shusaku Nishikawa, S.Gonda. Defenders: M. Morishige, Y. Konno, Yuto Nagatomo, Maya Yoshida, Masahiko Inoha, Atsuto Uchida, Hiroki Sakai, Gotoku Sakai. Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo, Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa, Makoto Hasebe, Hiroshi Kiyotake, Hotaru Yamaguchi, Toshihiro Aoyama, Manabu Saito. Forwards: Shinji Okazaki, Yoichiro Kakitani, Yuya Osako, Yoshito Okubo. Prediction: Group stages
Pop: 126.65 million Best World Cup: Round of 16 — 2002, 2010 They said: “I have a strong will for this championship and I should be the one to lead the team.” — Kagawa
group d Key player
Luis Suarez Injury threatens his impact but one of the best in the world at present.
Key player
Wayne Rooney Last chance to shine at a major tournament. Knows it as well.
Uruguay Manager: Óscar Tabárez Keepers: Fernando Muslera, Martin Silva, Rodrigo Munoz. Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira, Diego Lugano, Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez, Sebastian Coates, Martin Caceres, Jorge Fucile. Midfielders: Alvaro Gonzalez, Alvaro Pereira, Walter Gargano, Egidio Arevalo Rios, Diego Perez, Cristian Rodriguez, Gaston Ramirez, Nicolas Lodeiro. Forwards: Luis Suarez, E. Cavani, Abel Hernandez, Diego Forlan,Christian Stuani. Prediction: Group stages
Key player
Pop: 3.3 million Best World Cup: Winners — 1930, 1950 They said: “Luis is confident and we are moving towards positive expectations.” — Dr Alberto Pan
England Manager: Roy Hodgson Keepers: Fraser Forster, Ben Foster, Joe Hart. Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling. Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex OxladeChamberlain, Raheem Sterling, Jack Wilshere. Forwards: Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck. Prediction: Second round
Joel Campbell Lively striker will be eager to make a name for himself — as he did in Europe.
Key player
Pop: 53 million Best World Cup: Winners — 1966 They said: “We don’t want to make the numbers up, we are winners.” — Roy Hodgson
Andrea Pirlo Ageless playmaker will once again be the fulcrum for dangerous Italy.
Costa Rica Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto Keepers: Keylor Navas, Patrick Pemberton, Daniel Cambronero. Defenders: Johnny Acosta, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Michael Umana, Oscar Duarte, Waylon Francis, Heiner Mora, Junior Diaz, Christian Gamboa, Roy Miller. Midfielders: Celso Borges, Christian Bolanos, Esteban Granados, Michael Barrantes, Yeltsin Tejeda, Diego Calvo, Jose Miguel Cubero. Forwards: Bryan Ruiz, Joel Campbell, Randall Brenes, Marco Urena. Prediction: Group stages
Pop: 4.58 million Best World Cup: Round of 16 — 1990 They said: “The fact we’re playing against good teams will help everyone be alert.” — Paulo Wanchope (asst. manager)
Italy Manager: Cesare Prandelli Keepers: Gianluigi Buffon, Salvatore Sirigu, M. Perin. Defenders: Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorigo Chiellini, Gabriel Paletta, Ignazio Abate, Mattia De Sciglio, Matteo Darmian. Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti, Daniele De Rossi, Antonio Candreva, Marco Parolo, A. Aquilani. Forwards: Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano, Alessio Cerci, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne. Prediction: Quarters
Pop: 59.9 million Best World Cup: Winners — 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 They said: “I am not saying we are favourites, but we have the mentality to surprise people.” — Mario Balotelli