World Cup Preview - Group B

Argentina

Coach: Diego Maradona

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon)

Defenders: Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon)

Midfielders: Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Liverpool), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)

A lot was made about how Argentina struggled to qualify. A squad with such talent should have coasted through the qualifiers surely? And whilst it's hard to argue with that, Argentina are unbeaten this year, and showed their undoubted talent with a confident and assured victory over Germany back in March at the Allianz Arena, ending the hosts year-long unbeaten run.

Maradona seems to grow in stature during World Cups, and I expect that Argentina will go far. A lot of his reign has been clouded by the Messi debate, and how Maradona should utilise him, but to suggest that Messi is their only hope would be a huge dis-service to the likes of Higuain, Aguero, Milito and Tevez who have all proven themselves to be top-class performers.

Key Player

Juan Sebastian Veron - Maradona recalled Veron wehen Argentina were at their lowest, and it improved to be an inspired choice. Veron is the link between the midfield and the strikers, when he plays Messi usually performs.

Nigeria

Coach: Lars Lagerback

Goalkeepers: Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikvah), Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv)

Defenders: Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Rabiu Afolabi (Red Bull Salzburg), Elderson Echiejile (Stade Rennes), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Danny Shittu (Bolton Wanderers), Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille), Joseph Yobo (Everton)

Midfielders: Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), Sani Kaita (Alania Vladikavhaz), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth), Haruna Lukman (Monaco), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Kalu Uche (Almeria), John Utaka (Portsmouth)

Strikers: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton), Obafemi Martins (VfL Wolfsburg), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim), Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Came 3rd in this years African Cup of Nations, only defeated by Ghana and eventual champions Egypt. Their warm up games have both been draws, and have only produced 1 goal between them, scored by Monaco midfield Lukman in Milton Keynes against Colombia. 

In such a weak group, failure to reach the second round would be very disappointing for the Nigerian Public, but I just can't see them advancing.

Key Player

Taye Taiwo - An attacking left back who has a thunderous shot on him. In January Taiwo made a few noises about wanting a move to England to play for one of "the Big 4" and this tournament will give him the perfect showcase to show whether he deserves it or not.

South Korea

Coach: Huh Jung-Moo

Goalkeepers: Kim Young-kwang (Ulsan), Lee Woon-jae (Suwon), Jung Sung-ryong (Seongnam)

Defenders: Kim Dong-jin (Ulsan), Kim Hyung-il (Pohang), Oh Beom-seok (Ulsan), Lee Young-pyo (Al Hilal), Lee Jung-soo (Kashima), Cha Doo-ri (Freiburg) Cho Yong-hyung (Jeju), Kang Min-soo (Suwon)

Midfielders: Ki Sung-yong (Celtic), Kim Bo-kyung (Oita, Japan), Kim Nam-il (Tomsk), Kim Jae-sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-woo (Gwangju), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton, England), Ji-sung Park (Manchester United)

Forwards: Park Chu-young (Monaco), Ahn Jung-hwan (Dalian, China), Lee Seung-ryul

(Seoul), Yeom Ki-hun (Suwon), Lee Dong-gook (Jeonbuk).

The 2002 semi-finalists are another team that will fancy there chance of grabbing second place in this group. They were unlucky not to qualify from the group stages in Germany, and I expect them to go one better this time around. 

Before losing their last match, the South Koreans had won 4 straight games, including beating Japan twice, and winning against a highly-rated Ivory Coast.

Key Player

Lee Chung-Yong - Has the potential to become a big star. I'm sure bolton fans would've been quite happy for Lee to have missed the world cup as he has been impressing all season for them under the radar, and if he continues to play like he has been then the world cup will raise his profile.

A very tricky player, he has the ability to run past people, and depsite his slender frame Lee is also a tireless worker for the team.

Greece

Coach: Otto Rehhagel

Goalkeepers: Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Kostas Chalkias (PAOK Salonika)

Defenders: Giorgos Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos), Evangelos Moras (Bologna), Socrates Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Liverpool), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiakos), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Stelios Malezas (PAOK Salonika)

Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Siena), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia), Sakis Prittas (Aris Salonika)

Strikers: Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua Bucharest), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic)

Having yet to live-up to the hype that surrounded them  since winning Euro 2004 in their home country, Greece have qualified for their first world cup sine USA 94.

Greek hopes have been raised by recent emergence of exciting Panathinaikos teenager Sotiris Ninis, who has already been dubbed ‘the Greek Kaka’. He will look to provide some flair in an otherwise very defensive minded team.

Key Player

Sotiris Ninis - The youngest player in the squad at 20. Panathinaikos Team-mate Djibril Cisse christened him the "future of Greek Football" after Ninis scored one and set up Cisse's two goals against Roma in a Europa League game back in Febraury

Group B Prediction

1. Argentina

2. South Korea

3. Nigeria

4. Greece