WC 2018 Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

For the Colombian fans, how do you think Pekerman would approach Germany? Would he play a high line and try to dominate possession, be more conservative and rely mainly on counters, or do something in between?

 

Hehe ye i got you!

The word ”dark horse”, i have never seen it be used so much as now.
(Iam one of them too)

 

I guess you wouldn't be the only person to be surprised. Colombia never reached the semis but I believe they have a decent chance to do so this time around if they don't have major absentees. They will also be one of the most supported teams in Russia. Many Colombians purchased tickets and if Colombia play their best they could thrill the crowd and take maybe even some neutrals to their side. The key will be to play their game and to stay confident without getting over-confident. I guess Colombia suffered from that before as I heard they were everybody's pick to surprise in 1994 but bowed out early in the group stage. I don't know if it was because of overconfidence or sonething different. Maybe you Colombians know it better.
My first World Cup I watched was Japan/ South Korea 2002. So I can't say much about prior World Cups.
And nobody should get excited now as the World Cup is still almost two months away. Much can still change. Maybe German players can regain that confidence and strong desire in their camp before the World Cup. I will finally portray the situation and give my feelings a few days before the start of the tournament.

 

"The Two Escobars" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2700330/

The infamous own-goal by Andres Escobar and a wild 2-1 win by the USA in front of 93,000 fans in the Rose Bowl.

Escobar's murder upon returning to Colombia shortly afterwards shed light on the futbol atmosphere in Colombia (Narco-subsidized teams) and the intense pressure the '94 team was subjected to upon the start of '94 WC.

Remarkable result for the USA (first WC victory since 1950) considering the quality of the Colombian side.

 

I have no idea.
I assume Pekerman would approach it with more of a defensive type of match to keep it at 0-0 and send it to penalties or something like the '15 Copa America match against Argentina but I really don't know. It depends on how each team progresses during the the tournament and which players are hot and which players are suspended/injured etc.
It would be cool if Pekerman could get a chance at Germany before he retires though. Many remember he was criticized for his biggest mistake in the 2006 World Cup when he took out Riquelme and was eliminated by Germany on penalties. It would be his dream to redeem himself in the World Cup against the Germans. (But easier said than done of course.)

 

Great post. Agree that Germany underperforms as WC holders. Should be no different this time.

By the way, it was 3-2 against Belgium st WC94.

 

Colombia also has history against Germany, who can forget that beautiful drive in the last minute to tie at Italy 90.

 

Winning the World Cup is about defying the odds. No team on its own will enjoy even a 50% chance of winning the title as there are several favorites and contenders. And there are dark horses and possible surprise teams that can further complicate the picture. When you take into account the fact that title holders haven't repeated in a long time (many not called Germany or Brazil have even failed to advance from the group stage), betting on Germany not repeating would certainly be a safe bet.

Therefore, while Germany are certainly one of the top favorites, I would not bet on them lifting the trophy either. I see them crashing sooner or later, although I do hope it will be later.

 

I heard a rumour that Mexico will bench their starters against Germany, is that true? That sounds like a big mistake in the case the group is decided by goal difference.

 

Where you have heard that? Source? No coach would rest his players in the first game. Would be an abnormal and very dumb move.

 

Maybe you mean the swedish team!
The swedish manager said he maybe bench the starters against Germany

 

I heard Jogi Löw will bench the starters against Germany

 

100% wrong.

Mexican journalist proposed it ... Osorio said it's an idea and shrugged it off ... couple of media outlets made it their headline..."Osorio to use subs against Germany!". Even linked interview where he clearly and 100% does not say that thatbis his plan.

Spazzi anti-Osorio Mex fans regurgitate lie...even after seeing the ********ing interview with their own eyes.


People are stupid is what I'm trying to say.

 

My guess is people thought he would do that since he pulled that stunt last Confederations cup. The thing is that it happened against New Zealand and that he not only got a scare against the Kiwis, it also cost them the first place in the group and thus, ended up being massacred by the Germans. Let's hope he learnt his lesson there, since the team already has enough problems as it is.

 

Does Mexico even have a starting eleven that is certain? With all the rotations he has done this cycle it is not clear who is a starter and who is a benches right?

 

My guess is that he does have a few players set as starters (Ochoa, Moreno, Guardado, Herrera and Araujo, if healthy, come to mind). The problem is one is not a 100% sure where he'll play them and what he'll think from day to day.

 

Mexico I really don't understand surely with 130 million people a similar gdp to brazil and Argentina.They should have won at least 2 world cups by now .What is honestly stopping mexico from being good as brazil they played in the first world cup since 1930 .Surely they should be an elite team by now.

 

I really don't know if mexico can ever win world cup. I mean surely they should have been in at least one semi final or final by now they have participated in more world cups than the Netherlands who have been to 3 finals and Portugal who have been to two semi finals.What makes matters worse mexico has participated in the world cup since 1930 unlike Netherlands 1970s and Portugal 1966.

 

No I think a powerhouse team will win it.

 

Germany or France will reach the wc final 100 percent guaranteed.Do you know why in uefa champions league Liverpool will probably lose to real Madrid in uefa cl final in wc year.klopp is a German manager so Germany will reach wc final or zideane of France 100 percent guaranteed.

 

CONCACAF may be holding Mexico back. They don't have any top teams to face outside of the World Cup.

 

WTF do GDP have to do with anything?
Or population.

The US has even greater GDP than MEX, bigger population... older federation... they use foreign born players at will, 'better athletes' and a boat load of excuses.

And they didn't even made it to the WC.
Panama, yes...Panama did. LOL...even Iceland did.


If MEX we in SA they might be somewhat better. MEX have been content to be the big fish in a small, shitty pond.

 

A corrupt federation, a local league that doesn't give chances to youngsters and barely sales their best guys to Europe, pacto de caballeros, too much foreigners in the league, mediocre coaches...

 

This is why an African or Asian nation will likely win wc before mexico not that they are any better but mexico for me is too slow at improving in the game of football i would expect them to be a quarter semi final team by know maybe englands level at least.African nations only started in 1980s Asians started from about 1970.Mexico has played since the first world cup in 1930 this leaves me worried.It would have been better if they were in conmebol and missed a couple of world cups here and there but then when qualified got to quater/semi final it would look much on their record as less of an underachiver.I really don't see what the difference is between mexico brazil and Argentina. I think they should swallow their pride and join conmebol to improve their chances of ever winning the world cup.Maybe if brazil and Argentina where in concacaf they would not have as many world cups if any.