NFL
By: Randall Slifer
The World Cup is coming up fast, and we are here talking about Group E. Group E is set to feature Germany, Ecuador, Curacao, and Ivory Coast. The overall view of Group E is that it seems lop-sided on the outside looking in. However, there are teams here with enough upside to disrupt the group.
Curacao is the smallest country to reach the World Cup, with a population of only 158,000. Ivory Coast has had elite players in the past, like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. They may have some players ready to break out. Ecuador is looking good in qualifying and friendlies. They are aiming to return to the round of 16, as in the 2006 World Cup.
Germany is always considered a powerhouse. However, they have been knocked out of the group stage in the past two World Cups. Let’s break down each team in Group E and what they can bring to the World Cup stage:
Ecuador – Ranked 24th in the world
Manager: Sebastian Beccacece
Sebastian Beccacece has coached since 2003 and has been a part of the Chile and Argentina national teams. He is making his Ecuador debut at the World Cup. At the World Cup, he is looking to get through the group stage for the first time since 2006.
Style: Fast-Paced 4-3-3
Ecuador will look to use an experienced defense to control the game. They will rely on their young, fast wingers to convert chances at a high pace. Ecuador builds its foundation from defense through midfielders to strikers, in a controlled manner. Their fastball is sending the ball from the defense to their quick strikers. Consequently, getting an odd-number offensive attack.
Stars to watch:
Midfielder: Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo is a top right-footed midfielder who will be in control and command of the other 9 guys running on the pitch. A Chelsea star for the last 3 years, he has started 103 games, playing the majority of them for the full 90 minutes. A possession-and-structure player, he has only racked up a career 12 goals and 10 assists, but he is one of the most important foundational players for Ecuador.
Striker: Enner Valencia
Enner Valencia will be a pivotal piece for Ecuador. Ecuador can typically be a low-scoring team, and low-scoring games will not get you out of the group stage in this World Cup. Valencia has scored 107 goals and 30 goals in 229 starts and will need to contribute every game in this group.
Biggest Question Mark: Efficiency
Ecuador may try to control the ball heavily to determine their destiny in this group, but they need to be efficient in their scoring chances. In their last 5 international matches, they have only scored 6 goals. They had impressive ties against Morocco and the Netherlands, but both ended in 1-1 draws. If they want to be feared in the World Cup, they will need to start scoring more and be more efficient with their scoring chances.
Curacao – Ranked 82nd in the world.
Manager: Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat is debuting Curacao at the ripe age of 78. However, he has coached many international teams, including Iraq, the Netherlands, Serbia, Russia, Belgium, South Korea, and the UAE. His experience is very important for you, as the smallest country ever to reach the World Cup.
Style: 4-2-3-1 possession style
Curacao will look to win the time-of-possession battle to avoid giving the other three teams many scoring chances. They like to hold possession against the defense, wear down the team, and attack aggressively through the midfield, sending the ball in from the outside to create limited scoring chances.
Stars to watch:
Back/Mid-Fielder Leandro Bacuna
Expect Bacuna to command the pace and control from either the center back spot or the midfielder spot. His experience in the Premier League and local Dutch teams will give him the most command, with everyone listening to him. In the last two years, Bacuna has had 5 goals and 9 assists in 64 starts and is looking to continue the high assist numbers from the back.
Right Back: Livano Comenencia
Another defender, Comenencia, is a young defensive back who can use his speed to his advantage when switching fields. Holding strong on defense and switching the field to create a mismatch with Comenencia will allow Curacao to be aggressive when they see a gap or an uneven advantage. Curacao can attack quickly and hope to score in the limited chances they will get in this group.
Biggest Question Mark: Experience
Curacao will have a tough time this World Cup as they are expected to finish 4th in this group. It is difficult coming in as the smallest country to make it, and being in a group with Ecuador and Germany. Curacao will need a stroke of luck and to be efficient with their scoring chances. Curacao will look to send long balls into the box in hopes of a good bounce and take advantage where they can.
Ivory Coast – Ranked 34th in the world
Manager: Emerse Fae
An Ivory Coast citizen, Fae is making his international debut. Coaching for the past 12 years, Fae will look to show that Ivory Coast can compete on the international stage as a threat, as it did when it had players like Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba.
Style: 4-3-3 aggressive attack
Ivory Coast likes to play fast and aggressively, getting to their offensive 1/3 and taking quantity-over-quality chances. They use experienced midfielders to control and create the plays, and send young, fast wingers after the ball to create scoring chances. In their past 5 international games, they have scored 13 goals.
Stars to watch:
Striker: Yan Diomande
At only 19, Yan Diomande is making his international debut and looking to show off his skills after scoring 12 goals and 8 assists in the Bundesliga this year for RB Leipzig. He earned rookie of the year in the league and is ready to take the World Cup by storm.
Striker: Amad Diallo
The name of the game for Ivory Coast is goals, right? Two Strikers will be needed to highlight, but Amad may start on the bench and come in later in the game. Suffering a brutal ankle ligament injury, Diallo is getting back to 100% while he trains with the Ivory Coast. Playing for Manchester United, he recorded 26 shots on goal, 2 goals, and 3 assists. Expect a potential breakout for Diallo in this group stage.
Biggest Question Mark: Ecuador
Ivory Coast will be competing to take the 2nd spot in the group or be one of the 8 to advance in 3rd place for the round of 32. How Ivory Coast plays against Ecuador will be crucial in determining their destiny. Ivory Coast can score a lot of goals against Curacao, but what can they do against Ecuador and Germany?
Germany – Ranked 10th in the world.
Manager: Julian Nagelsmann
At only 38 years old, Nagelsmann is making his Germany debut as a native of Germany. After becoming a manager at Hoffenheim in 2016, he rose through the ranks at Bayern Munich over 5 years and eventually became the German Manager. The young, fiery coach will bring a different perspective to a praised program that has been knocked out in the group stage in the past two World Cups.
Style: 3-4-2-1 free play
Nagelsmann preached positionless football and appears more hands-off, letting the team play freely. He emphasizes that strategy and tactics account for only 30% of the game, while players impact the majority of the 90 minutes. His players and their styles dictate his coaching style, which adjusts on a game-by-game basis.
Stars to watch:
Mid-Fielder/Striker: Lennart Karl
Lennart Karl is a rising star who has been compared to Messi for his ability to dribble in tight corridors and create open space. Playing for Bayern Munich under Nagelsmann, he tallied an impressive 9 goals and 7 assists, and the Premier League has been highlighting Karl.
Mid-Fielder/Striker: Jamal Musiala
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
Also playing under Nagelsmann at Bayern Munich, Musiala is another midfielder who can play aggressively in the final 1/3 to create more goal-scoring opportunities. In only 28 matches, he has scored 8 goals and tallied 6 assists, while playing 13 full 90-minute games. One thing to watch out for is that Musiala has tallied 14 career yellow cards and will need to be careful to avoid a potential game suspension by not racking up more.
Biggest Question Mark: Post Group Stage
Germany has not made it to the knockout stage in the past two World Cups. Finishing first in Group E is a big advantage in the round of 32, with the opponent likely to be a 3rd-place team from Group A, B, C, D, or F. Germany should be expected to finish 1st in Group E. Still, their eyes should be on the Quarterfinals. If they reach the round of 16, their path could look something like Netherlands/Sweden, then Brazil. Can Germany become the threat that it used to be?
Comments 1