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Goal.com Know Your Rivals Special: Dream And Nightmare Draws – Europe Pot 2
The World Cup draw is only days away, and fans of the 32 teams will be hoping for a favourable draw, or at least to avoid some of the favourites…
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Dec 2, 2009 11:40:00 AM
In Goal.com’s new dedicated World Cup feature called Know Your Rivals, experts from the 32 teams involved in the tournament give their take on various issues regarding the World Cup.
With the Final Draw fast approaching, we asked them about the ideal draw for their respective teams, and of course the sides they are hoping to avoid when the groups are decided in Cape Town on Friday. With that in mind, we posed three questions to each of them, and this is what the contributors from the predicted pot two of UEFA teams had to say…
1. Who would you want to avoid in the draw?
2. Who do you want to get in the draw?
3. If you get a bad draw, how will your fans drown their sorrows?
France - Alexandre Walraevens
1) On paper the French team do not fear anyone, but on everyone's mind is our controversial qualification. In a bright world France would avoid the Netherlands, who made our life very diificult at the European Championships in 2008. Brazil is another team to steer clear of, even after '98. Cameroon and other French-speaking countries (such as Algeria and the Ivory Coast) are to be avoided: Senegal's extreme motivation in 2002 cost us dearly.
2) For France the ideal draw would be South Africa, New Zealand, Algeria or Chile. But some other teams seem suitable as well, such as Honduras and North Korea. To get revenge on Italy might be nice, but we already got revenge in Paris.
3) We are happy to have qualified, with respect to the Irish issue. A bad draw would, I believe, be considered a punishment for the Henry incident. As such, no sorrows.
Portugal - Luis Mira
1) In my opinion, from the teams Portugal can be paired with, the worst would be Spain, who have great players in attack who can move past the Portuguese defence, and also experienced players in the backline to counter Portugal's lonely striker. At the same time we need to look out for any team who will take the game to us. Paraguay are one of those sides, and they're sorely underrated.
2) From the lower pots, any team but Paraguay, who I think can be one of the big surprises, and Uruguay. And from the Asia/CONCACAF pot, North Korea, New Zealand or Honduras as none of them possess that much experience in international competitions. Needless to say, we want South Africa from the top seeds. Portugal are not in a great run of form right now and as much as we'd like to be able to test ourselves against the bigger countries, what is really important is a secure path to qualification.
3) Well, come to think of it, I think we would be thrilled in some way. At Euro 2000, Portugal beat England and Germany, at Euro 2004 we beat Spain and Russia. At World Cup 2002, we were out early in the competition with South Korea, the USA and Poland in the group. Maybe we need a nightmare draw to do something, who knows.
Switzerland - Stefan Bokor
1) Of course Brazil, although on the plus side we'd lose in style. Their whole team is equipped with superstars. Ivory Coast and Nigeria would also be unlucky for us, with fast players that could give us problems in the defence. At the World Cup of 1994 in the USA, Switzerland drew 1-1 with the hosts, who are tough opponents.
2) Italy are one of best teams in the world, but Switzerland have a good balance against them. We could do a lot worse than meet the Azzurri. Of the weaker teams, we have our eye on Honduras and Algeria as a lucky draw, although in addition, must may not underestimate these teams. Japan and South Korea would be also an interesting draw.
3) Switzerland don’t have anything to lose. Hopes are high, and all fans believe in their team, but they are also realistic.
Greece - Mike Paterakis
1) Spain and Brazil. Clearly the two top national teams in the world at the moment. Greece have shown in the past that can actually find the answers to Spain's game, but it's better avoid the Iberians.
2) From the first group, we would love to see Germany. Otto Rehhagel on the bench of Greece ensures that we know these opponents perfectly well, and they are not in their best shape ever. From the third pot, I'd prefer a South American team. African teams are playing 'at home' and it's better to avoid them. From the fourth, Honduras or New Zealand would be the ideal draw. Both seem exceptionally weak, although they should never be underestimated.
3) Playing in the World Cup is big enough success for Greece in itself. So, a bad draw won't damage any chances that we have to win the tournament; actually there might be a lot of people who would say it's better to be drawn with bigger opponents in order to show what we're capable of.
Serbia - Alex Milic
1) The Netherlands are a team we can do without as they have beaten us at the last three big tournaments we have played in. At the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000 and the last World Cup. Argentina are another team we will try and avoid - the last World Cup says it all.
2) A group that has a big mix of continents. We are happy to get Italy, a teams we have not lost against in the past few years, and been unlucky to not have beaten. Preferably a team from the Asian and CONCACAF region will help make things easier. New Zealand are a team that a lot of the countries would love to have in their group and it’s the same for us.
3) Like every other time we will complain how it’s all rigged and that we are not wanted in the World Cup. A great example came at the last tournament when we ended up being in the group of death alongside Argentina, The Netherlands and the Ivory Coast.
Denmark - Michael Hansen
1) We would prefer to avoid Spain, a team we normally don’t do well against. We have played against Spain 17 times and only won twice. The worst defeat was when Spain ended our first ever World Cup finals participation in 1986 with a 1-5 defeat in the Round of 16.
2) France's current form has dropped considerably since the last World Cup finals, but now that they're in Pot 2, I have to say that other than South Africa there is nobody that jumps out as being especially weak. USA would be nice as we have just beaten them 3-1 and another team we would like to draw is Uruguay; we have beaten them the two times we have met them before in the WC finals (1986 and 2002).
3) We are Danes and we like beer so the answer to this question is obvious.
Slovakia - Matej Szejer
1) All teams in the first pot are strong, but for Slovakia the most dangerous opponents are those who play short and quick passes. Brazil and Spain, from that pot, and Chile, in the third, are the teams we want to avoid. We struggled when we played Chile and they kept the ball so well - the Slovak players were just running around, chasing shadows; it was very frustrating. From the fourth group, Mexico seems to be the most dangerous opponent.
2) I would love to see us draw South Africa and two smaller teams, such as Algeria and New Zealand. South Africa might well be supported by the whole stadium, but the players they have aren’t as strong as the other teams from the first pot. There is not an easy opponent for Slovakia in the World Cup and each point will be worth its weight in gold, even in the games against small teams.
3) The fans in pubs will be definitely theorizing about a conspiracy of the big against small. The Slovakian experts will be talking about bad luck and at the same time emphasizing that it’s possible to play against each team and even to win.
Slovenia - Tine Zupan
1) Slovenia would be happy to avoid Ivory Coast from the third pot. Mexico seems like the most difficult opponent from pot four though we would not underestimate the United States after their impressive showing in the Confederations Cup. They are just as undesirable as the Mexicans.
2) We have played all the top European sides from pot one so we would prefer Brazil or Argentina from there. From pot three, North Korea seems appealing as does Honduras. We have terrible memories of Honduras though, as they thrashed us 5-1 in the build-up for the 2002 World Cup. We are looking for a bit of sweet revenge. My dream group is Brazil, Slovenia, North Korea and Algeria.
3) There will be no problem for our fans. Slovenia is a true wine country and each region has a distinctive brand. All will do for a good night out for drowning sorrows.
Steve Michaels, Goal.com
With the Final Draw fast approaching, we asked them about the ideal draw for their respective teams, and of course the sides they are hoping to avoid when the groups are decided in Cape Town on Friday. With that in mind, we posed three questions to each of them, and this is what the contributors from the predicted pot two of UEFA teams had to say…
1. Who would you want to avoid in the draw?
2. Who do you want to get in the draw?
3. If you get a bad draw, how will your fans drown their sorrows?
France - Alexandre Walraevens
1) On paper the French team do not fear anyone, but on everyone's mind is our controversial qualification. In a bright world France would avoid the Netherlands, who made our life very diificult at the European Championships in 2008. Brazil is another team to steer clear of, even after '98. Cameroon and other French-speaking countries (such as Algeria and the Ivory Coast) are to be avoided: Senegal's extreme motivation in 2002 cost us dearly.
2) For France the ideal draw would be South Africa, New Zealand, Algeria or Chile. But some other teams seem suitable as well, such as Honduras and North Korea. To get revenge on Italy might be nice, but we already got revenge in Paris.
3) We are happy to have qualified, with respect to the Irish issue. A bad draw would, I believe, be considered a punishment for the Henry incident. As such, no sorrows.
Portugal - Luis Mira
1) In my opinion, from the teams Portugal can be paired with, the worst would be Spain, who have great players in attack who can move past the Portuguese defence, and also experienced players in the backline to counter Portugal's lonely striker. At the same time we need to look out for any team who will take the game to us. Paraguay are one of those sides, and they're sorely underrated.
2) From the lower pots, any team but Paraguay, who I think can be one of the big surprises, and Uruguay. And from the Asia/CONCACAF pot, North Korea, New Zealand or Honduras as none of them possess that much experience in international competitions. Needless to say, we want South Africa from the top seeds. Portugal are not in a great run of form right now and as much as we'd like to be able to test ourselves against the bigger countries, what is really important is a secure path to qualification.
3) Well, come to think of it, I think we would be thrilled in some way. At Euro 2000, Portugal beat England and Germany, at Euro 2004 we beat Spain and Russia. At World Cup 2002, we were out early in the competition with South Korea, the USA and Poland in the group. Maybe we need a nightmare draw to do something, who knows.
Switzerland - Stefan Bokor
1) Of course Brazil, although on the plus side we'd lose in style. Their whole team is equipped with superstars. Ivory Coast and Nigeria would also be unlucky for us, with fast players that could give us problems in the defence. At the World Cup of 1994 in the USA, Switzerland drew 1-1 with the hosts, who are tough opponents.
2) Italy are one of best teams in the world, but Switzerland have a good balance against them. We could do a lot worse than meet the Azzurri. Of the weaker teams, we have our eye on Honduras and Algeria as a lucky draw, although in addition, must may not underestimate these teams. Japan and South Korea would be also an interesting draw.
3) Switzerland don’t have anything to lose. Hopes are high, and all fans believe in their team, but they are also realistic.
Greece - Mike Paterakis
1) Spain and Brazil. Clearly the two top national teams in the world at the moment. Greece have shown in the past that can actually find the answers to Spain's game, but it's better avoid the Iberians.
2) From the first group, we would love to see Germany. Otto Rehhagel on the bench of Greece ensures that we know these opponents perfectly well, and they are not in their best shape ever. From the third pot, I'd prefer a South American team. African teams are playing 'at home' and it's better to avoid them. From the fourth, Honduras or New Zealand would be the ideal draw. Both seem exceptionally weak, although they should never be underestimated.
3) Playing in the World Cup is big enough success for Greece in itself. So, a bad draw won't damage any chances that we have to win the tournament; actually there might be a lot of people who would say it's better to be drawn with bigger opponents in order to show what we're capable of.
Serbia - Alex Milic
1) The Netherlands are a team we can do without as they have beaten us at the last three big tournaments we have played in. At the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000 and the last World Cup. Argentina are another team we will try and avoid - the last World Cup says it all.
2) A group that has a big mix of continents. We are happy to get Italy, a teams we have not lost against in the past few years, and been unlucky to not have beaten. Preferably a team from the Asian and CONCACAF region will help make things easier. New Zealand are a team that a lot of the countries would love to have in their group and it’s the same for us.
3) Like every other time we will complain how it’s all rigged and that we are not wanted in the World Cup. A great example came at the last tournament when we ended up being in the group of death alongside Argentina, The Netherlands and the Ivory Coast.
Denmark - Michael Hansen
1) We would prefer to avoid Spain, a team we normally don’t do well against. We have played against Spain 17 times and only won twice. The worst defeat was when Spain ended our first ever World Cup finals participation in 1986 with a 1-5 defeat in the Round of 16.
2) France's current form has dropped considerably since the last World Cup finals, but now that they're in Pot 2, I have to say that other than South Africa there is nobody that jumps out as being especially weak. USA would be nice as we have just beaten them 3-1 and another team we would like to draw is Uruguay; we have beaten them the two times we have met them before in the WC finals (1986 and 2002).
3) We are Danes and we like beer so the answer to this question is obvious.
Slovakia - Matej Szejer
1) All teams in the first pot are strong, but for Slovakia the most dangerous opponents are those who play short and quick passes. Brazil and Spain, from that pot, and Chile, in the third, are the teams we want to avoid. We struggled when we played Chile and they kept the ball so well - the Slovak players were just running around, chasing shadows; it was very frustrating. From the fourth group, Mexico seems to be the most dangerous opponent.
2) I would love to see us draw South Africa and two smaller teams, such as Algeria and New Zealand. South Africa might well be supported by the whole stadium, but the players they have aren’t as strong as the other teams from the first pot. There is not an easy opponent for Slovakia in the World Cup and each point will be worth its weight in gold, even in the games against small teams.
3) The fans in pubs will be definitely theorizing about a conspiracy of the big against small. The Slovakian experts will be talking about bad luck and at the same time emphasizing that it’s possible to play against each team and even to win.
Slovenia - Tine Zupan
1) Slovenia would be happy to avoid Ivory Coast from the third pot. Mexico seems like the most difficult opponent from pot four though we would not underestimate the United States after their impressive showing in the Confederations Cup. They are just as undesirable as the Mexicans.
2) We have played all the top European sides from pot one so we would prefer Brazil or Argentina from there. From pot three, North Korea seems appealing as does Honduras. We have terrible memories of Honduras though, as they thrashed us 5-1 in the build-up for the 2002 World Cup. We are looking for a bit of sweet revenge. My dream group is Brazil, Slovenia, North Korea and Algeria.
3) There will be no problem for our fans. Slovenia is a true wine country and each region has a distinctive brand. All will do for a good night out for drowning sorrows.
Steve Michaels, Goal.com
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