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

Asian Mourinho will dominate this group. STY will lead S.Korea to semi final one more time.

 

Tough group in my opinion.

 

Nothing is guaranteed besides Ger winning this group. Korea ain't no pushovers, and Sweden are solid.

I would accept no bets for Ger to win group.

As far as 2nd place, I'd handicap it like this:

Mexico 0.7-1

Sweden 1-1

Korea 1.8-1

That's how even this group is. Will go down to the wire, expect all to suffer except the world champs

 

One of the most difficult group.Never underestimate Sweden and South Korea.

 

We will come in fighing,that´s for sure.
The emotions in country of ole Sweden is that we could have had a lot of worse of lady luck.Do not take this the wrong way,we know our position in this peeking order is three...so all the pressure will be on Julio Cesar Chavez.

We are comfortably confident we´ll beat Korea and we are wondering if MEX is confident of beating us?

We would love for you to be...you´re lot ain´t Salvador Sanchez in 2018.

VIVA SVERIGE!

 

Well the team finished ahead of Holland and Italy to get here so to make a prediction that they're gonna lose to Mexico would be....off?. Anything can happen of course and the strangest things have happened in previous world cups so who knows. However, If I would bet with my heart...I say Germany and Sweden and if I would bet with my wallet, I say Germany and Sweden

 

So basically you are trying to say that your wallet is your heart.
Got it.

 

Well, Germany will win this group, no doubt in my mind.

Of the other three teams, Mexico is the most talented on paper, but have a coach with a tendency of undermining his team in the most ridiculous of ways. Sweden doesn't have as much talent as Mexico, but are resilient and better coached. South Korea isn't bad, but they don't seem to have the defense nor firepower to survive all other three teams.
Germany and Sweden.

 

Osorio is a mad scientist. He can create some of the coolest things from his experiments But he can also create explosions that have horrible residual effects.

I blame much of that on him still learning on the job as to how to be an International Manager. Prior to Mexico he was only a Club team type of guy which is very different in approach.

 

His experiments usually work ok with minnows and when not, the talent at his disposal bails him out. That's why he did so well in WCQ (well, that and because this is the weakest CONCACAF in years). Unfortunately those experiments have blown up horribly in all three major tournaments he has been in (a 0–7 against Chile in Copa America Centenario, a 1–4 against Germany with the Germans pretty much toying with them the whole game and 0–1 loss to a bad Jamaican team in the last Gold Cup).

 

Technically he was not the official manager for the Jamaica match but who am I kidding we was pulling the strings from the press box.
Whatever the case may be he still had a long unbeaten streak and has Mexico playing a lot better than they were 4 years ago for the most part.
We shall see what happens in the World Cup.

 

Mexico is playing better offensively that at this point 4 years ago (you know, right after winning the playoff against New Zealand), but they leak goals like crazy and have not yet reached the level they had at the actual WC.

 

I don't think there is any manager who could solve that problem.
You know it is bad when they are feeling the pain of a 40 year old Defender being left off the team due to (alleged) drug trafficking connections.
When Rafa is the heart and soul of your defense there is not much any manager can do about that.

 

Rafa's absence is not THAT big of a deal. Mexico has enough talent and depth at the CB position to get by. Problem is his insistence of playing guys like Carlos Salcedo (a natural CB) and Jesús Gallardo (a more natural winger who can't defend nor cross properly) as fullbacks instead of, you know, trying players who do play there and on either playing someone out of position at defensive midfielder or not having defensive midfielders at all.

 

Well, I don't see his training camps so I can't speak on what he he tried and what he feels is best.
I can only go by what I have been hearing in the media and the presence of Rafa was huge in the locker room and not having him impacts the back line and what he can do.
The Fullback situation I have no opinion on. I am sure others do.

 

At this point, Rafa wasn't starting material, anyway. He's smart, a great passer and a leader, but lacks the speed to cover younger, faster attackers and the stamina to play full speed against elite opponents. He would've been a nice option from the bench, I guess, but I don't think he would've been THAAAAT determinant there. Héctor Moreno's inactivity and injuries have been bad, though. He's level has not been good.

 

The main point though is what manager would come in and do better than Osorio?
Realistic options I mean.
I don't think the list is that long. And the list of alternatives would do other things...
... they may not be experiments per say, but still detrimental tactically.

 

Nobody in Mexico, admittedly, but a better manager by this point would've discarded the things that definitely do not work by now. And would've stopped playing Giovani dos Santos (has been shit since moving to MLS).

 

Maybe a more experienced manager.
Which goes back to my learning on the job premise. He does need to improve and I think getting experience like a World Cup will be crucial to him and his future. (Which more than likely will not be with Mexico.)

 

I don't think this has to do all that much with experience. He's had enough time at the helm and seen enough signs to tell him what works and what doesn't. He's too stubborn at times.

 

Speaking of the fullback position, is it time to bring back Paul Aguilar on the RB? I have not seen America play much this season so I don't know how his level compares to four years ago when he was clearly the only competent right back in the national team.

 

He should, but Osorio doesn't want him.

 

Have you seen Mexico play against Italy and Holland?

It's always a dog fight, down to the wire. Going back to the 90's Mexico vs Holland and Italy are close matches.

Sweden beating Italy off a deflection, while playing defensive tactics isn't keeping Mexicans up at night.

 

Osorio is a bit of a mad scientist.

His coaching mind produced a solid qualification...

...but it also produced epic disasters against Chile and Germany. Besides those two matches, I can't remember Mexico ever losing that badly, against anyone, anywhere....EVER.

You would have to go back to the 70's or 60's or who knows to see disasters of that magnitude.

In the end, as unpredictable as he may be, I hope he does a solid coaching job.