The FIFA World Cup is just around the corner and the excitement is palpable. The group stage looks exciting with the some clashes that are irresistible. Group D is touted the Group of Death as it is the most exciting group in this tournament. With teams such as England, Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in the same group, the clash between the football giants will be a treat for all the football fans. No wonder 3 of the top 5 games in the tournament are from group D.
1. Spain Vs Netherlands
© Reuters
Group – B
Date – 13th June, 2014
Timings
• BRT – 04:00 p.m.
• IST – 12:30 a.m.
City – Salvador
Stadium – Arena Fonte Nova (Capacity - 50,000)
The way the things ended between the footballs giants in their last World Cup clash was unforgettable. The 2010 World Cup final saw a happy ending for Spain with a 1-0 win. This time, Netherlands will look to avenge that loss.
This is what the team looks like:
Spain
Manager: Vicente Del Bosque
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), David De Gea (Manchester United)
Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Xavi (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Juan Mata (Manchester United), David Silva (Manchester City)
Forwards: Pedro (Barcelona), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), David Villa (New York City F.C.), Fernando Torres (Chelsea).
Netherlands
Manager: Louis Van Gaal
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcastle), Michel Vorm (Swansea)
Defenders: Daley Blind (Ajax), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Paul Verhaegh (Augsburg), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord)
Midfielders: Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Leroy Fer (Norwich), Jonathan De Guzman (Swansea), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV Eindhoven), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Memphis Depay (PSV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
2. Germany Vs Portugal
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Group – G
Date – 16th June, 2014
Timings
• BRT – 01:00 p.m.
• IST – 09:30 p.m.
City – Salvador
Stadium – Arena Fonte Nova (Capacity - 50,000)
This particular clash of Group G is very interesting. The last time Germany and Portugal played; it was for the 3rd position of 2006 world cup. Germany outfoxed Portugal with a 3-1 win in 2006. This time both the teams are in a good shape and the match will have some big names of football on the pitch.
Let’s take a look at both the teams:
Germany
Manager: Joachim Löw
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover 96)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich),
Portugal
Manager: Paulo Bento
Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patrício (Sporting).
Defenders: Andre Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit St Petersburg), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valencia).
Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon), Rafa (Braga).
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (Braga), Helder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Nani (Manchester United), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg)
3. England Vs Italy
© Reuters
Group – D
Date – 14th June, 2014
Timings
• BRT – 06:00 p.m.
• IST – 02:30 a.m.
City – Manaus
Stadium – Arena Amazonia (Capacity – 42,000)
The last World Cup encounter between these two was in 1990. It will be really interesting to see how the three lions tackle the blues. Roy Hodgson, the English manager will have his guns lock & loaded with players like Rooney in the front and Lampard and Gerrard in the mid-field. Likewise Cesare Prandelli has ‘Super Mario’ & Immobile in front with support from the mid field from Pirlo, Motta and De Rossi. The match will be extremely interesting to watch.
Here are the two teams:
England
Manager: Roy Hodgson
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion)
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United)
ITALY
Manager: Cesare Prandelli
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Ignazio Abate (Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma)
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
4. Uruguay Vs England
© Reuters
Group – D
Date – 14th June, 2014
Timings
• BRT – 04:00 p.m.
• IST – 12:30 a.m.
City – Sao Paulo
Stadium – Arena Corinthians (Capacity – 68,000)
This game from Group D is a must watch for all. The clash between Uruguay & England in the world cup happened in the 60’s and even that game ended in a draw. Both the teams are equally matched with Cavani, Forlan & Suarez in the front for Uruguay. battling ordinary English defense. It will be interesting to see how things unfold on the pitch on 14th of June.
The teams are mentioned below:
England
English side is same as mentioned above
Uruguay
Manager: Oscar Tarabez
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Rodrigo Munoz (Libertad).
Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Lugano (West Bromwich Albion), Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez (both Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Liverpool), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto).
Midfielders: Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio), Alvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), Walter Gargano (Parma), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Morelia), Diego Perez (Bologna), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Gaston Ramirez (Southampton), Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo).
Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain), Abel Hernandez (Palermo), Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka), Christian Stuani (Espanyol).
5. Brazil Vs Mexico
© Reuters
Group – A
Date – 17th June, 2014
Timings
• BRT – 04:00 p.m.
• IST – 12:30 a.m.
City – Fortaleza
Stadium – Estadio Castelao (Capacity – 67,000)
This Group A clash between the local American rivals is much anticipated. Their last world cup clash was in 1962 with Brazil come as the better team. It will be interesting as the local rivals will not only fight for the 3 points but they will look to come off as a better team.
On paper the teams look like:
Brazil
Manager: Felipe Scolari
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro)
Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell, Thiago Silva (both Paris St Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli)
Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires, Willian, Oscar (all Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (VfL Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg)
Mexico
Manager: Miguel Herrera
Goalkeepers: Jose de Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
Defenders: Miguel Layun (America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres), Paul Aguilar (America), Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America), Diego Reyes (Porto), Rafael Marquez (Leon).
Midfielders: Miguel Angel Ponce (Toluca), Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon), Javier Aquino (Villarreal), Hector Herrera (Porto), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Carlos Pena (Leon).
Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal), Raul Jimenez (America), Alan Pulido (Tigres).