MTA: Now for Group B, or the Group of Death to end all Groups of Death. Three of the teams in this group featured in the knock-out rounds of Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010. The gladiators in this group are The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Portugal.
The Netherlands finished as runners up in South Africa and are looking to get the taste of a late Iniesta winner out of their mouth. This team has it all in the attacking half. Robin Van Persie showed that he literally cannot be stopped from scoring. He'll also have Dirk Kuyt and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar looking to remind the world, and suitors, who they are. Barcelona youngling Ibrahim Afellay can also be brought on to spark offense as he showed earlier this season before a knee injury sidelined him. The midfield is also an embarrassment of riches. Arjen Robben will be looking to show the world he is not haunted by his Champions League final performance, and Rafael van der Vaart will be squarely in the shop window as Tottenham didn't make the Champions League again. Wesley Sneijder is the forgotten man of European football, once a must have, now, after an average season at Inter he will be looking to find some form. The one weakness is the defense which will be led by the pedestrian Johnny Heitinga, but the midfielders Mark von Bommel and Nigel de Jong can provide enough cover, provided they refrain from karate practice and stay on the pitch. I pip them to move on if not win the group outright.
Denmark seems to be the also ran of this group, which is saying something since put them in another group and they would probably move on. Rommedahl and Bendter are the two big names up front, but both are streaky at best. Christian Poulsen will be the anchor in midfield, and while he had a decent season with the French club Evian, he's hardly the same man he used to be, but he will have the benefit of pairing up with club mate Thomas Kahlenberg. Never under estimate the power of playing club football together in international tournaments. The Danish D will be organized by Man U's Anders Lindegaard, who many thought should have been the Red Devils' starter over David de Gea, and Liverpool stalwart Daniel Agger. This is a talented side, unfortunately for them they were thrown to the lions.
Next up is Germany. The Germans are my favorites to win it all (more on why my beloved Spain won't later). Like the Dutch, there is no dearth of all-world ability in the front half of the field. The front line will be led by the ageless Miroslav Klose (second all-time World Cup goals scored). But if he fails to impress the Germans have Thomas Muller, who opened the scoring in the Champions League final for Bayern Munich, or his Munich mate Mario Gomez. I expect Lukas Podolski, fresh of his Arsenal deal, to wreak havoc on the flanks. Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze will look to fire in from the midfield as serious attacking options, while Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, and the team's lynchpin Bastain Schweinsteiger will do all of the dirty work getting the ball from box to box. As Schweinsteiger goes this German team will go. The German defense is stronger than the Dutch, but not by much. Captain Philip Lahm will bomb forward from his fullback position like a German Dani Alves, which could leave some holes for Jerome Boateng and Per Mertesacker to fill, but that's where Khedira and Schweinsteiger will be invaluable. Manuel Neuer is a very good keeper, but the question is going to be has his head recovered from the devastating loss in the Champions League final. Germany may be in for a slow start with Bayern players coming of a disappointing Champions League final and both the Bayern and Dortmund players battled hard in the German Cup final over Memorial Day weekend. I expect them to make it second but they will paired against the winner of Group A so it is no penalty.
Finally, there is Portugal. Portugal barely qualified for the tournament, needing to beat a very good Bosnian side in the playoffs to get in. That being said they have a lot of dangerous parts, most notably Oscar nominee and world class petulant Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite his pretty boy arrogance, Cristiano Ronaldo is the second best player in the world. He has just never done it on the national stage. Too much has he tried to do it all himself, then switched off when it didn't go his way. But he does have a decent supporting cast this time. Postiga can score, Meireles just played an integral role in Chelsea's Champions League win, and Nani is always dangerous. The back has a strong threesome of Bruno Alves, Pepe, and Fabio Coentrao. The last two run the Real Madrid defense together so there is plenty of familiarity, a huge advantage not only in international ball, but for defenders. But like Denmark, I think there is just too much from Germany and the Netherlands for even Cristiano Ronaldo to pull this bunch over the hump.
MJ:Group B or the Group of Death or the Group Where We Wish Three Teams Could Play In The Knockout Round is fascinating yet unfair.
Ian Darke, or god help us Eric Wynalda, will remind us before kickoff that plenty of German players are battling that Champions League second place medal hangover. Malarkey. There is nothing wrong with Silver and for all hypothetical coefficient points it just shows how strong of a side the German NT is. From top to bottom Germany can beat you with pace, power, and skill. Sounds a bit like the Dutch "total football," and it should. The Germans are ready to cash in on success, their current squad arguably in its prime. Euro '12 and 2014 WC may be the last time all of these fantastic players and household names have to make their mark together. This team will be playing with its heart on its sleeve at the very least but expect much much more even in this difficult group.
The Dutch threw a fantastic party for their second place finish in the most recent World Cup. It was the epitome of, "You may lose the game but you can never lose a party." I would not assign this to complacency either, more a celebration of effort, talent, and pride. So often today it is propagandized that only the winners matter. That making a final and losing is terrible. If you're not on the record books you might as well have never showed up. Again, malarkey. The beautiful game is such because of the heartbreak, because you aim to return stronger and correct your mistakes. The Dutch are not a team of jaded runners up. They are a team led by English Premiere League Player of the Year Robin van Persie. His international tally or highlight reel barely holds a candle to club level with Arsenal but teams will be attempting to mark him out of the game for good reason. Van der Vaart, Robben, Kuyt, Sneijder tucked and spread behind RVP make this top half of a formation simply irresistible.
Portugal has always been a bridesmaid to European football. Their domestic league, although akin to La Liga and electric to watch, is back burner compared to other leagues. Their national team squad exceptional in talent and pace but underachieving in nature. Ronaldo and his fellow Portuguese compatriots from Real Madrid though have finally wrestled the La liga title away from Barcelona. A huge feat, massive. This would be the tournament one would have higher expectations for Portugal but alas they landed in a group with two powerhouses and Denmark.
Poor Denmark? Ol' whipping post Denmark? Any group but this one Denmark. Ironically or foolishly I like the Danes stealing a result or two. At the least they will be influential in who does progress at some capacity. The heavy hitters that make up the rest of the group will be in a knock down drag out slugfest. Even if they play each other conservatively it will be an exhausting 90 minutes of focused containment. So perhaps the Danes really can nick a win and a draw and hang on by the skin of their teeth. Nicklaus Bentdner although extremely pretentious and egotistical is still a threat. He wears hot pink boots and smacks chewing gum all game a la Sir Alex Ferguson, but the tall able bodied Dane although out of favor with Arsenal fans still boasted a 1/3 goal per appearance ratio. Not a bad strike rate for a squad player in a tough league. The Danes crashing out a bit early in South Africa still showed streaks of their worthiness to the big stage. Even at his north of 30 age, Rommedahl still has loads of pace, quite amazing in fact , a truly underrated veteran winger. Lastly a new string puller is on the rise and on the eye of all top club suitors. Christian Eriksen barely 20 is going to have a real opportunity to prove his worth and help Ajax with their transfer kitty when a bigger European club inevitably wins his signature.
Next up we have Group C, which features cup holders Spain, and lastly Group D.
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