World Cup 2014 – Matchday One – Predicted Lineups

Ahead of the first set of World Cup fixtures, we’ve compiled a working community article listing each teams’ expected line-up. Based on community feedback via this Hot Topic and in the comment section below, this article will be updated with lineup changes and any points of interest with credits given to those who contribute. First up, we would like to thank community member Parmtree for his initial work on predicted lineups which, along with our own research, provided the foundation for this guide.

Group A

Brazil (4-2-3-1)

Julio Cesar; Alves, Thiago (c), Luiz, Marcelo; Gustavo, Paulinho; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.

Croatia (4-2-3-1)

Pletikosa; Srna (c), Corluka, Lovren, Vrsalijko; Rakitic, Modric; Perisic, Kovacic, Olic; Mandzuckic

Note: Mandzuckic was suspended for Matchday One but is expected to start up front thereafter

Cameroon (4-2-3-1)

Itandje; Djeugoue, N’Koulou, Chedjou, Assou-Ekotto; Song, M’bia; Moukandjo, Chouo-Moting, Enoh; Eto’o (c)

Mexico (3-4-2-1)

Ochoa; F Rodriguez, Marquez (c), Moreno; Aguilar, Layun; Vazquez, Herrera; Guadrado, Dos Santos; Peralta.

Note: On June 12 Mexico confirmed their starting XI, which included Ochoa rather than Corona in goal. Research by Demi.

Group B

Spain (4-3-2-1)

Casillas (c); Azpilicueta, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Alonso, Busquets, Xavi; Iniesta, Silva; Costa.

Netherlands (5-1-3-1)

Cillessen; de Vrij, Vlaar, Martins Indi; Janmaat, Blind; de Jong; de Guzman, Sneijder, Robben; van Persie (c).

Chile (4-4-2)

Bravo (c); Isla, Medel, Jara, Mena; Vidal, Aranguiz, Diaz, Valdivia; Sanchez, Vargas.

Australia (4-3-3)

Ryan; Franjic, Spiranovic, Wilkinson, Davidson; Jedinak (c), Milligan, Bresciano; Leckie, Oar, Cahill.

Group C

Japan (4-2-3-1)

Kawashima; Uchida, Yoshida, Konno, Nagatomo; Endo (c), Yamaguchi; Okazaki, Honda, Kagawa; Kakitani.

Greece (4-3-3)

Karnezis; Torosidis, Sokratis, Manolas, Holebas; Maniatis, Tziolis, Karagounis (c); Salpingidis, Samaras, Mitroglou.

Ivory Coast (4-3-3)

Barry; Aurier, Zokora, K Toure, Boka; Tiote, Serey Die, Y Toure; Gervinho, Drogba (c), Kalou,

Colombia (4-2-3-1)

Ospina; Zuniga, Zapata, Yepes (c), Armero; Aguilar, Ramirez; Cuadrado, Gutierrez, Rodriguez; Martinez.

Group D

England (4-4-2)

Hart, Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines; Gerrard (c), Henderson, Lallana, Welbeck; Rooney, Sturridge.

Italy (4-3-1-2)

Buffon (c); Abate, Chiellini, Bonucci, De Sciligo; De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio; Candreva; Cassano, Balotelli.

Uruguay (4-4-2)

Muslera; M Pereira, Lugano (c), Godin, Caceres; Arevalo Rios, Gargano, Stuani, Rodriguez; Cavani, Suarez.

Costa Rica (5-2-3)

Navas; Gamboa, Umana, Gonzalez, Acosta, Diaz; Borges, Tejeda; Bolanos, Ruiz (c); Campbell.

Group E

France (4-3-3)

Lloris (c); Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra; Matuidi, Cabaye, Pogba, Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann.

Switzerland (4-2-3-1)

Benaglio; Lichsteiner, Schar, von Bergen, Rodriguez; Behrami, Inler (c); Shaqiri, Xhaka, Stocker; Drmic.

Ecuador (4-4-2)

Dominguez; Paredes, Erazo, Guagua, W Ayovi; A Valencia (c), Gruezo, Noboa, Montero; E Valencia, Caicedo.

Note: Castillo has withdrawn from the squad through injury and is set to be replaced by Gruezo in the starting XI. Research by Demi.

Honduras (4-4-2)

Valladares; Beckeles, Bernandez, Figueroa, Izaguirre; Garrido, Palacios, Garcia, Espinoza; Costly, Bengston.

Group F

Argentina (4-3-3)

Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Rojo; Mascherano, Gago, Di Maria; Messi (c), Aguero, Higuain.

Bosnia & Herzegovina (4-4-1-1)

Begovic; Mujdza, Bicakcic, Spahic (c), Kolasinac; Besic, Medunjanin, Pjanic, Lulic, Misimovic; Dzeko.

Nigeria (4-2-3-1)

Enyeama (c); Ambrose, Oboabona, Omeruo, Echiejile; Onazi, Mikel; Musa, Moses, Odemwingie; Emenike.

Note: Oshinawa is likely to be first choice left back after defender Echiejile was ruled out with injury (June 9). Research by Alberto Tomba.

Iran (4-2-3-1)

Davari; Heydari, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Beikzadeh; Nekounam (c), Teymourian; Dejagah, Jahanbakhsh, Shojaei; Ghoochannejhad.

Group G

Germany (4-2-3-1)

Neuer; Boateng, Mertesacker, Hummels, Höwedes; Lahm (c) Khedira; Schürrle, Kroos, Podolski; Muller

Note: German newspaper Sportbild is reporting that Schweinsteiger and Ozil are set to be dropped and Klose and Gotze are also set for bench roles. Muller in line for false nine role. Research by Portsmouth Bubblejet. Lahm set for a midfield role.

Portugal (4-3-3)

Patricio; Coentrao, Alves, Pepe, Pereira; Veloso, Meireles, Moutinho; Nani, Ronaldo(c), Almeida.

Ghana (4-2-3-1)

Dauda; Opare, Boye, Mensah, Afful; Muntari, Essien, Asamoah, Boateng, Ayew; Gyan(c).

USA (4-4-2)

Howard; Beasley, Besler, Cameron, Johnson; Beckerman, Jones, Bradley, Bedoya; Altidore, Dempsey (c).

Group H

Belgium (4-3-3)

Courtois; Vertonghen, Vermaelen, Kompany (c), Alderweireld; Dembele, Witsel, Fellaini; de Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard.

Russia (4-3-3)

Akinfeev,; Kombarov, Ignashevich, Berezutski (c), Yeshchenko; Denisov, Shatov, Fayzulin; Samedov Kokorin, Zhirkov.

South Korea (4-2-3-1)

Jung Sung-ryong; Park Joo-hoo, Kim Young-gwon, Hong Jeong-ho, Lee Young-joon; Ki Sung-yueng, Park jong-woo, Koo Ja-cheol(c), Son Heung-min, Lee Chung-yong; Park Chu-young.

Algeria (4-1-4-1)

M’bolhi; Ghoulam, Bougherra (c), Medjani, Mandi; Bentaleb, Lacen, Soudani, Feghouli, Taider; Slimani.