World Cup Preview - Group D

Germany

Coach: Joachim Loew

Goalkeepers: Hans-Joerg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Schalke), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)

Defenders: Dennis Aogo (Hamburger SV), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Jerome Boateng (Hamburger SV), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart)

Midfielders: Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)

Strikers: Cacau (Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)

The loss of Michael Ballack is a huge blow for German hopes. His performance in the 2006 quarter-final against Argentina, whilst hardly being able to run was superb. Ballack showed great desire, and a brilliant reading of the game to make sure he was always involved, and popped up with some vital interceptions as the Argentinians were pouring forward in extra-time.

At a time when Germany needed someone, Ballack was the man they could rely on, and so without him they hope someone else will step forward. For me this is a big tournament for the talented, yet often enigmatic Bastien Schweinsteiger. A few years ago he was billed as Germany's next big hope, and despite having some fantastic games for the Germans, he often flatters to deceive. Schweinsteiger needs to grab this squad by the neck as one of the senior figures and drag them through if they are struggling.

Germany went through all their qualifiers without defeat, and seasled qualification with a 1-0 win in Moscow, thanks to a goal from Miroslaw Klose, who will no doubt have his sights set on becoming the top goal scorer in world cup history (Currently held by Ronaldo with 15, Klose has 10) and if Germany go far, it would be a brave man to bet against Klose reaching it.

Key Man

Mesut Ozil - The new sensation of German football has earned himself the nickname "Der Neue Diego" (the new Diego) not because of his likeness to Diego Maradona, but the fact he has taken on the mantle of Werder Bremen's fans favourite.

At just 21, Ozil seems to have it all, pace, power, size, and great technical ability. Capable of playing central or on the left flank. He was man of the match in last years under 21 European Championship final as Germany beat England 4-0.





Australia

Coach: Pim Verbeek


Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough).

Defenders: Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel), David Carney (FC Twente), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray,captain), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira), Craig Moore (no contract), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow).

Midfielders: Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Tim Cahill (Everton), Jason Culina (Gold Coast Utd), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Richard Garcia (Hull City), Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu), Carl Valeri (US Sassuolo Calcio), Dario Vidosic (FC Nurnberg).

Strikers: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente).

The Australians will no doubt be dreaming of a potential second-round date with England, and it is a very plausible outcome.
 
The Socceroo's qualified for South Africa without losing a game, and only conceding one goal (in a 2-1 win over Japan), but I feel there aren't enough goals in the squad, and this could prevent them qualifying for the second round.
 
A lot of pressure will be on Tim Cahill to continue his goal-scoring exploits from midfield, and Harry Kewell is a talented performer, but once again comes into the tournament with a few fitness doubts.
 
Australia have warmed up for the tournament with two wins, one over neighbours New Zealand, and then beating Denmark 1-0 earlier in the week thanks to a goal from Josh Kennedy, and take on the Americans in their final friendly later this afternoon.
 
Key Man
 

Tim Cahill - A goalscoring ratio of 19 goals in 39 games, would see most strikers, happy, but for a midfielder it is superb. Cahill has an uncanny knack of finding himself in the right place at the right time, and is a big threat from set pieces.
 
The Aussies need Cahill to continue this sort of form if they are to have any chances of progressing.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Serbia
 
Coach: Raddy Antic


Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Sporting Lisbon), Bojan Isailovic (Zaglebie Lubin), Andjelko Djuricic (Uniao Leiria)

Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Antonio Rukavina (1860 Munich), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese), Ivan Obradovic (Real Zaragoza), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio)

Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin), Nenad Milijas (Wolves), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (Stuttgart), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade), MilosKrasic (CSKA Moscow), Zoran Tosic (Manchester United) , Milos Ninkovic (Dynamo Kiev), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege)

Strikers: Nikola Zigic (Birmingham), Marko Pantelic (Ajax), Danko Lazovic (Zenit St Petersburg), Dragan Mrdja (Vojvodina Novi Sad)

Serbia finished first in its first ever qualifying campaign as an independent nation, winning their group ahead of favorites France. They sealed their place in 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa with a 5 – 0 win against Romania on 11 October 2009.

Standard Liege star Milan Jovanovic was the star of their qualifiers, weighing in with 5 goals, and is set to join Liverpool on a bosman free after the tournament. Jovanovic is assured a warm welcome to Anfield after scoring the penalty that knocked Everton out of the Europa cup in 2008.

Serbia's warm up games for the tournament have not gone well. in their two games they have failed to score a goal, and lost 1-0 to New Zealand, before drawing 0-0 with Poland.

Key Man

Nikola Zigic - Birmingham fans will be keeping a keen eye on the tall striker after he signed for the Blues a few weeks ago from Valencia.

Standing at a giant 6ft 8inches, Zigic uses his physique to his advantage, and whilst on loan at Racing Santander he scored 13 goals in 19 appearances.

Zigic compares himself to Peter Crouch, but claims to be better than the England hitman.





Ghana

Coach: Milovan Rajevac


Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions)

Defenders: John Pantsil (Fulham), John Mensah (Lyon), Samuel Inkoom (Basle), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim), Jonathan Mensah (Granada);

Midfielders: Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd), Stephen Appiah (Bologna), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Derek Boateng (Getafe)

Strikers: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan)

Ghana has fallen victim of the "Chelsea Curse" with Micheal Essien joining Michael Ballack, John-Obi Mikel and Didier Drogba all leaving their respective countries without their star-man for the tournament.

The Black Stars were very impressive in 2006, until facing Brazil in the second round, and boast a goalkeeper who has scored for them in Wigans Richard Kingson.

Earlier in the week Ghana played their second warm-up game, where quite frankly they were torn to pieces by a very impressive Dutch side, this followed a 2-0 win over Slovenia with goals from Asamoah Gyan, and Sulley Muntari.

Key Man

Kevin-Prince Boateng - Having Represented Germany at every level upto and including their under 21's, Boateng recently changed nationality, a move that finally was approved by FIFA on May 12th.

Boateng was one of the star's of Portsmouths run to the cup final and ironically it was his tackle that put Michael Ballack out of the tournament, and, if both are selected, will line up against his half-brother Jerome when Ghana play against Germany.




Prediction

1. Germany
2. Australia
3. Serbia
4. Ghana