Group F is home to the defending World Cup champions, Germany, who are once again going all out with a scary good assemblage of talent. Will Germany rule the group as expected? Or will another team shatter most predictions?
The Germans won it all in 2014. Four years later, they’re still on cloud nine, and they have absolutely no intention of coming down, as they will field an ultra-competitive unit once again in the tournament. No team has won back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil did it way back in 1958 and 1962, so history is also what Germany is after in Russia. There’s elite talent from top to bottom for Germany, but the one who stands among the rest of them may be Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos. The Germans have made it at least to the quarterfinals in each World Cup edition since 1982, so getting out of Group E is something we could all treat as a foregone conclusion. The Germans are -240 to top the group.
Can “nerdy” head coach Juan Carlos Osorio find the right equation to lead his men to a deep run in Mexico? El Tri have gotten out of the group stages in each of the last six episodes of the World Cup and in each of those, Mexico also have had the same unfortunate ending – getting eliminated in the round of 16. With the meticulous Osorio at the helm, however, Mexico (+500) are looking to get over that proverbial hump. Osorio could only do so much from the sidelines, and at the end of the day, it’ll be up to the players on the field to do the work. Forward Hirving Lozano projects as among the squad’s most dangerous assets, while Carlos Vela of Los Angeles FC Vela provides some threat on the attack.
Sweden are back to the grandest stage of the sport for the first time since 2006, thanks to a dramatic playoff victory over Italy. However, they won’t have Zlatan Ibrahimovic to help them, as the superstar has already retired from international football. Nevertheless, a solid back line and some talent up front like Emil Forsberg could pay dividends for The Blue-Yellow, who are +700 to wound up on top of the group. Also, Sweden’s team chemistry should not also be underestimated now that Ibrahimovic’s enormous ego isn’t causing any issues within the unit.
If it weren’t for a 0-0 draw with Uzbekistan in the qualifiers, South Korea (+1,000) would have missed the Russia games. Even though the Red Devils reached extended their streak of World Cup participation to nine trips, they are not seen as a team who have what it takes to make any sort of magical run in this year’s edition of the World Cup. That does not mean they don’t have elite talent, however. They have Son Heung-min, who owns the most goals for an Asian in Premier League history. Also, they have 22-year-old striker Hwang Hee-chan of FC Red Bull Salzburg, described as a lightning quick forward with a high level of football IQ.
Key Game – Germany vs Mexico (June 17)
The first match in the group is also its biggest. If there’s a team with the best chance of upsetting Germany in Group F, it’s Mexico, who’ll definitely boost their morale if they could take down the defending champions.
Writer’s Prediction
Germany finish first in the group, while Mexico goes second. Sweden ends up at the third spot, while South Korea lands expectedly in the fourth position.
