NFL
By: Randall Slifer
The World Cup is finally here, and the new format is an interesting difference-maker in advancing through the group stage. Being able to advance as a 3rd place team makes Group H very intriguing.
Group H consists of Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay. Spain is the front-runner of this group and the entire World Cup, in my opinion. Uruguay remains in the mix but will be missing Luis Suarez at this World Cup. Saudi Arabia had some exciting moments in the 2022 World Cup, but it looks shaky to start the group stage. Cape Verde may be entering the World Cup as a world fan favorite, looking to get into the knockout stage to keep that momentum going this tournament. Spain has a chance to win the whole thing.
It is possible that three teams could advance from this group to the knockout stage. Let’s take a look at each team and their outlook heading into the World Cup:
Cape Verde – Ranked 68th in the world
Manager: Pedro Leitão Brito (Bubista)
A Cabo Verde native, Bubista willed their national team to their first World Cup. Bubista was a center-back who played notably in the Spanish leagues. He began his coaching career as the assistant manager for the national team and has now become the first manager in Cape Verde to take the country to the World Cup.
Style: 4-2-3-1
Bubista, being a previous center-back, keeps his defensive line compact to limit gaps between players for breakaways. As a severe underdog in this World Cup, Bubista will look to play very deep defensively to avoid breakdowns and quickly transition into scoring chances. Cape Verde will need to work together as a team, as they don’t have an individual who can set goals independently.
Stars to watch:
Dailon Livramento
If Cape Verde wants to make any noise in this World Cup, they will need hot players to stay hot. The center-forward made a splash in the qualifying games, leading Cape Verde with 4 goals. Cape Verde will play deep in their defensive zone, and it will be up to Livramento to create as many scoring chances as possible with the strikers in front of him.
Ryan Mendez
The Captain, Ryan Mendez, will look to build with Livramento to create scoring chances and score. The 36-year-old has played in the Premier League and around the world and will look to use his experience to control the offensive 1/3 to take advantage of any mismatches.
Biggest Question Mark: 1st half and goalie play
It is no secret that Cape Verde will look for 1-0 or 2-1 wins and a tie against Spain. Can Bubista get the defense ready to stay strong and compact in the back to limit the scoring chances the other teams can create? Playing with a defensive mindset allows the opposing teams to create double to triple the shot attempts. Cape Verde’s goalie, Vozinha, is 39 years old. He has shaky moments, and he will need to do his best to ensure that no game in the group stage is decided by more than 1 goal. If the 1st half gets out of hand, there will be no fireworks for Cape Verde at this World Cup.
Saudi Arabia – Ranked 61st in the world
Manager: Georgio Donis
Donis became the manager of Saudi Arabia back in April after they relieved Herve Renard. It has been shaky since, not having won a game under Donis yet. It takes a while to get a new manager’s strategy, goals, and objectives in line. As long as Donis has the team ready for the World Cup, they have the resume and experience to make a splash.
Style: 4-2-3-1
Saudi Arabia may decide to change their style on a game-by-game or half-by-half basis. They have the roster to press, but they typically like to compress their defensive line to protect the interior and control the wingers. Saudi Arabia’s claim to recent fame was its upset win over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. They pressed Argentina and moved their defensive line up, giving them an advantage and upsetting the world. Look for Donis to adjust based on the team’s 1st-half analysis and on flipping the playbook on its head.
Stars to watch:
Salem Al-Dawsari
The left-winger has his own claim to fame, as he scored the game-leading goal against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. For Al-Hilal, Al-Dawsari scored 8 goals and tallied 8 assists in 26 matches. If Saudi Arabia wants to advance to the knockout stage, Al-Dawsari will need to lead the offense and ensure they are efficient in the final 1/3 of the pitch. His experience and knowledge can lead the Saudi’s to the knockout stage.
Saud Abdulhamid
Abdulhamid is a right-back in Ligue 1 with some offensive power for a defender. As Lens’ right back, Abdulhamid scored 2 goals and tallied 4 assists in 25 matches. If the Saudis want to pull another upset in this group stage, they will need to flip some offensive chances by either sending the ball from the back or sending a backup to create an odd-number rush. Can Abdulhamid be the two-way player they expect him to be this World Cup?
Biggest Question Mark: Defensive breakdown
Donis will send his midfielders up at the right time to be efficient in the scoring chances they can get. Can the Saudi defensive line hold their own when fast-paced teams transition quickly and head up into their offensive zone? The middle of the defense will need to stay compact and congealed to prevent fast-break transition opportunities from leading to breakaway goals.
Uruguay
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Bielsa is one of the most influential managers in this World Cup. Nicknamed “El Loco”, he once confronted angry fans with a hand grenade! Another reason is that he is very meticulous in prep and watching opponents’ tape, which also corresponds with obsession.
Style: 4-3-3
Bielsa will take chances with this roster. He emphasizes endurance and late substitutions because he requires his players to cover large areas of the field to be aggressive in scoring chances. Bielsa will use high-pressing tactics and use his experienced midfielders to control the ball on the offensive side, sending it to the wingers and back into the box.
Stars to watch:
Frederico Valverde
Valverde will be Uruguay’s most important player. The Real Madrid midfielder scored 11 goals and tallied 12 assists over the past two years. Bielsa will give him the most responsibility in the middle to ensure that his defense is structured and that he keeps the pressure on by staying in the offensive 1/3rd to create as many shots as possible.
Darwin Nunez
Nunez and Valverde will be key to how far Uruguay can advance in this group stage. The 26-year-old striker won a championship with Liverpool and once had a 26-goal season. Valverde will be seeking out Nunez while he presses high, and Nunez will stretch the defensive line to create gaps between defenders for breakaways.
Biggest Question Mark: Can they limit defensive breakdowns?
Bielsa’s game plan is a high-risk, high-reward system. Can the defensive line behind Valverde and the midfielders stay intact and compressed enough to limit goals? Uruguay could get into some precarious situations if teams can exploit the defense early, and enter the 2nd half down 1-0. This will give teams the ability to play very deep in the 2nd half and hang on to win tight games.
Spain
Manager: Luis De La Fuente
Luis De La Fuente became the manager of Spain in 2022 and made an immediate impact. He secured the 2024 Euro Title and has a roster ready to win the whole World Cup. The natives from Haro will look to win another World Cup, which they have not done since 2010.
Style: 4-3-3
Spain is one of the most fun teams to watch, with a top-notch roster. Their midfielders and attackers are of such high quality that defenses struggle to defend the interior and exterior of their defensive 1/3. Spain will look to control the ball in midfield at half, and spread the defensive line by attacking through their dynamic wingers on the outside.
Stars to watch
Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal may come out of this World Cup with the Golden Ball as the MVP of the tournament. At only 18 years old, Yamal won back-to-back La Liga trophies with Barcelona. He scored 25 goals and tallied 24 assists in those two years. His vision, combined with his footwork, will make him the best player in the world after this World Cup is done (if he is not already).
Rodri
Rodri is one of the top midfielders in the world. He led Manchester City to 4 Premier League titles in a row. Winning the Ballon D’Or in 2024, Rodri can command the defensive line and a defensive midfield while still tacking on goals and assists. Rodri will control the team’s structure from the back when they are in their own offensive zone, looking to send balls into the box to create scoring opportunities.
Biggest Question Mark: Getting to the final
Spain’s only goal in this World Cup is to win the whole thing. In the past three World Cups, Spain has not made it past the Round of 16. If they get 2nd in the group stage, their round of 32 matchup is most likely against Argentina. If they get 1st in the group stage, they will have an easier path of potentially Austria, Portugal, and then England. I personally would take that path instead of Argentina right out of the group stage.
