Overview
It might sound mundane but this was the group many teams wanted to be
in even before the draw started. Why? Well, because it’s the last to
start, meaning there’s more time to prepare and acclimatise. It has
logistical advantages too and the conditions should benefit those who
make it up. Games will be played in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Belo
Horizonte, which are all close together in the southeast of Brazil,
where the weather is mild and the humidity low through June and July.
Overview
It’s Jurgen against Jogi: U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann, the former
manager of Germany, faces his old assistant and successor, Joachim
"Jogi" Loew. What an emotional encounter that will be. Klinsmann led the
U.S. to a thrilling 4-3 win over a second-string Germany in a June
friendly. Now it’s for real. While that grabs the headlines, don’t let
it escape your attention that Ghana and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are
also in this group. It promises to be tough and things could get steamy
in Group G. No one wants to play in the Amazonian city of Manaus, but
that’s just what the U.S. and Portugal will have to do in their second
group game. It’ll get them and their fans hot under the collar.
Argentina - Iran - Nigeria - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Overview
This may not be one of the most eye-catching groups, but it does
promise to be one of the most punishingly competitive. Argentina are the
clear favourites for the group and have already forewarned competition
debutant Bosnia of Argentinian power in a November friendly, walking all
over Safet Susic’s side despite having a significantly understrength
squad. Bosnia have plenty of attacking assets of their own -- this
promises to be a group full of goals -- and will enter their first World
Cup without any fear, having already hit the jackpot simply by
qualifying top of a group featuring Greece.