Group D is the only one that includes four teams who won their respective qualifying stage, while the combined FIFA rankings of the four teams involved show it to be one of the toughest to call in the tournament and therefore a gamble in Fantasy terms.
Serbia’s opening clash with Ghana looks set to be the pivotal fixture and will likely decide second place, with Germany expected to qualify as group leaders. Indeed, Serbia are being backed as a possible dark horse here, despite some questionable form going into the tournament. With both Ghana and Australia lacking creativity and a proven cutting edge up front – investment in Serbia’s defence as well as their vibrant attack looks a viable option for those shopping in the mid-price Fantasy bracket.
The group is linked to Group C so if Germany prevail as winners they are likely to face USA, Algeria or Slovenia – unless of course England falter. That would appear to hand Germany a relatively easy passage to the Quarter-Finals where Argentina could well be lying in wait. It seems more likely that Serbia will face Fabio Capello’s side in the second round should they claim the runners-up spot in this group – that will likely make them all that bit less attractive for Fantasy investors…
Germany
A team lacking a true World class performer, Germany can nonetheless field a side of proven talent who are well capable of inflicting damage to any defence in the tournament. At the back there are question marks, with a proven partner for Per Mertesacker in the centre set to be a problem area. Having said that they should still emerge from the group stages with some defensive returns and Paddy Power has them at 12/1, ranked fifth along with Holland, for the most clean sheets in the tournament.
Germany’s build-up to the tournament has not been smooth. The loss of skipper Michael Ballack is significant and his role as defensive anchor and prompter from midfield will be sorely missed, particularly beyond the group stage. Stuggart’s Sami Khedira is expected to take his place in midfield having started the last two friendlies in that position. However, coach Joachim Low has further injury concerns after losing keeper Rene Adler and midfielders Simon Rolfes and Christian Traesch from the squad. The loss of versatile defender Heiko Westermann was the latest blow only last week. It looks as though young Bayern defender Holger Badstuber will get the job to fill his shoes in defence; there are certainly doubts on his credentials at this level but he could well be a Fantasy bargain if he gets the nod.
The young defender is not alone when it comes to Fantasy long shots in this squad – Paddy Power’s odds on the Best Young Player of the Tournament show four Germans in the top eleven selections with Bayern’s Thomas Muller the current favourite for the award. He is yet to cement a starting role in Low’s side so, in Fantasy terms, remains a gamble.
Low also has a dilemma up front with Miroslav Klose continuing to struggle for confidence and form. Low has options here with Lukas Podolski, Mario Gomez, Thomas Müller all vying for a role up front but the insistence that Klose will come good in the big games may yet undermine Germany’s chances if that faith fails to be repaid.
The Fantasy Targets…
Philipp Lahm
The Bayern Munich left-back goes into the tournament at Germany’s star performer. Ever present in qualifying, if you’re going to invest in a German defender, Lahm’s significant attacking contributions down the left or right flank will make him the key target. Expect to pay a premium price across the Fantasy games however.
Per Mertesacker
A far more unfashionable option in the German back four, the imposing centre-back is a certain starter and could offer a relatively cheap route to potential clean sheets whilst offering some threat from set-pieces against the Australian and Ghanian defences. Badstuber could be alongside him either at centre-back or at left-back and is likely to be even cheaper across the Fantasy games, although his place is far from assured.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
The injury to Ballack could well see the distinctive figure of Schweinsteiger claim a central midfield role where he will look to use his energy and powerful shooting ability to threaten the opponents. He will surely be a driving force for Germany in the tournament having contributed three goals in his nine appearances in qualifying. Deployed in a central midfield role at Bayern, his returns have suffered as a result (3 goals in 48 appearances last season) but his ability to deliver from set-plays could see him notch up an assist or two. Two goals from the spot against Bosnia last Thursday demonstrated that he will be a candidate to step up for penalties, although Lucasc Podolski will likely get the task when he’s on the field.
Mesut Ozil
The Turkish born playmaker is tipped to be one of the young players to emerge from the tournament and his performance against Hungary demonstrated that promise. Ozil seems likely to be charged to provide support for the lone striker Miroslav Klose in Germany’s preferred 4-5-1 formation and could come out of the group stage with decent attacking returns to his name as a result. Getting and creating chances isn’t an issue – taking them is another matter but should Ozil’s finishing improve, he could be a canny signing. Still in the shadow of Ballack and Schweinsteiger for some pundits – check on his price in your Fantasy game for a potential mid-price bargain.
Lucasc Podolski
Young Player of the Tournament last time out who has a reputation of finding form when it matters. Look for Podolski’s Fantasy classification – often employed out on the left flank, he could come into your game as a midfield option making him a worthy consideration given that Low could well opt to start Podolski up front in a 4-4-2 against the inferior Australian and Ghanaian defences or even hand him the strikers role for the duration should Klose fail to convince. He should be on spot-kicks too.
Miroslav Klose
The Golden Boot winner in the last World Cup, Klose has suffered a season of frustration at Bayern Munich and goes into the tournament lacking form and sharpness as a result. Even so, Low has declared his faith in the striker and he will surely start and provide the focal point of the German attack regardless of the system employed. It remains to be seen whether Klose will come good and he represents a gamble for Fantasy investors. Paddy Power currently have Klose at 33/1 to reclaim the Golden Boot – they clearly don’t have the confidence of the German coach.
Serbia
Much like the Dutch, Serbia have a reputation for self-destructing in major tournaments due to in-fighting and off the field politics which overshadow and disrupt performances off the pitch. Under the guidance of former Luton Town hero Raddy Antic however, Serbia are a far more united outfit and, if they can avoid injuries and suspensions, have a blend and balance which could see them emerge as a source of dark horse Fantasy talent.
Preparations haven’t gone to plan; a shock defeat to New Zealand last weekend damaged confidence within the camp and the 0-0 draw with Poland on Thursday did little to help matters. Saturday’s 4-3 win over Cameroon did at least see them returning to scoring form.
Antic went for a 4-4-2 in that game and will likely maintain that for the first game against Ghana, pairing Marco Pantelic with the giant Nikola Zigic up front. A 4-5-1 against Germany may be on the cards though depending on how Serbia are positioned in the group. Defensively the Serbs should be good for at least one shut-out even with the erratic Stoikovic between the sticks. Their defenders also present a major threat from set pieces, demonstrated by eight goals from that particular source in qualifying. This certainly makes their major attractions at the back, Nemanja Vidic and Branislav Ivanovic, worthy of consideration. The midfield meanwhile has a wealth of talent, particularly in wide areas with Milan Jovanovic the man most likely to trouble the scoresheet.
The Fantasy Targets…
Nemanja Vidic and Branislav Ivanovic
We know the quality of this pairing all too well, although Ivanovic has really only come to our attention last season with performances in the Chelsea back four which saw him take up the right-back spot in the PFA team of the season. Both he and Vidic are certain starters in a organised Serbian rearguard. The Chelsea man is likely to find himself at full-back again during the tournament with Vidic partnered by Udinese’s Aleksandar Lukovic in the centre of defence. The left-back role is up for grabs though with Ivica Dragutinovic of Sevilla and Ivan Obradovic of Real Zaragoza vying for a start, while Lazio’s Aleksandar Kolarov is also in the mix. It’s Vidic and Ivanovic who are the real key players and main barriers for opposition. Their threat at set-plays will also be a factor which makes them tempting mid-price Fantasy propositions. Both notched in qualifying with Ivanovic returning an impressive three goals.
Dejan Stankovic
The vastly experienced Serie A competitor is Serbia’s captain and midfield general who will drive the team forward with his passing range and threat from distance. Eight starts in qualifying failed to bring a goal for the Inter man, while Stankovic’s form on the domestic front has been stalled by a failure to break into Jose Mourinho’s starting eleven on a regular basis. Much of Serbia’s play will go through Stankovic, but he will be found swapping in the role of destroyer and playmaker with central midfield partner Nenad Milijas of Wolves. His goal and assist output could suffer as a result, while discipline could also be a problem – Stankovic picked up four yellows in his nine qualifying appearances and was regularly booked for Inter last term. Scored in the win over Cameroon on Saturday.
Nenad Milijas
While Milijas struggled to maintain a regular starting role in the Wolves midfield, his creative talents are crucial to Serbia in their engine room. He will work in tandem with skipper Stankovic, swapping roles as the pair look to break up the opposition and spring their own forwards and wingers with probing passes. While there are more fashionable targets in the Serbian side, Milijas could well be priced generously in your Fantasy Game, particularly as he will be a major player at set-pieces and is the designated penalty taker. That was demonstrated in Saturday’s friendly with Cameroon in which Milijas notched from the spot to give his side the lead before half-time.
Milos Krasic
The CSKA Moscow man was the only member of the squad to feature in every qualifier and is set to be a key attacking threat from the right wing. A star of CSKA’s Champions League campaign with four goals to his name, Krasic was the Serbian player of the year in 2009 possesses impressive pace and trickery. He notched in Saturday’s clash with Cameroon but before that had just a couple of goals in 29 appearances. In Fantasy terms he perhaps fails to present the goal threat offered by fellow winger Milan Jovanovic but could well be a bigger influence regardless.
Milan Jovanovic
The Jovanovic threat from the left-wing brought five goals in qualifying, making him Serbia’s leading scorer. An impressive haul of nine goals in 24 appearances further reinforces the fact that this man could well be the source of Serbia’s goals. Look for his classification in your game – if he’s a midfielder then he should certainly be considered.
Nikola Zigic
Birmingham’s recent signing from Valencia will be carrying the expectations of a nation on his substantial shoulders to provide the cutting edge. A qualifying round return of just three goals in nine appearances, maintaining an International strike rate of around a goal every three games, suggests that he presents a mid-price gamble in World Cup Fantasy returns but he is a certain starter and a key threat from Serbia’s expertly rehearsed set-plays. Partner Marko Pantelic is another consideration should he be placed in the low-to-mid price bracket.
Ghana
The only African side to progress to the knockout stages in 2006, Ghana are again well fancied to make the last 16 here but the recent withdrawal of Michael Essien through injury has come as a cruel blow to their chances. Quite rightly singled out as their key player, Essien will leave a gaping hole in the engine room but Ghana do have young talent that could step up and did progress to the final of the African Nations without Essien earlier this year. The likes of Anthony Annan and Kwadwo Asamoah will need to prove themselves again then, particularly now that the powerful Sulley Muntari is also an injury doubt with a thigh problem. That setback has put Portsmouth’s Kevin Prince Boateng in contention having gained clearance to represent Ghana only last month. Bizarrely he may have already made his most telling contribution to their cause having sidelined Germany’s Michael Ballack with his FA Cup Final “challenge” although coach Milovan Rajevac has suggested that Boateng did enough on his recent debut.
The defence, marshalled by Sunderland’s injury prone John Mensah and the giant Issac Vorsah, will be questioned to the full by their group opponents and looks unlikely to offer defensive returns if the recent 4-1 defeat to the Dutch is anything to go by, while in attack the Africans will likely rely heavily on NAC Breda’s Matthew Amoah and Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan to provide the firepower.
All in all though, Ghana don’t appear to have a settled lineup with injuries mounting and Rajevac seemingly unsure on whether to stick with the old guard like Stephen Appiah or allow the young starlets another platform to prove their potential. The opening clash with Serbia is undoubtedly be the key encounter – get caught cold in this one and Ghana’s campaign would likely be over very quickly. Rajevac has to get his team selection right and might just go with experience.
The Fantasy Targets…
Anthony Annan
With Essien sidelined and Muntari a doubt, Annan has the opportunity to continue to foster his reputation as a star in the making. Blessed with strength and pace as well as an eye for a pass, he has a playing style likened to the Argentinian Pablo Aimar, Annan thrived during the African Cup of Nations and could well be a standout player although in Essien’s absence he is likely to be handed a defensive midfield role allowing Kwadwo Asamoah the freedom to join the attack.
Kwadwo Asamoah
The 21 year-old is described as Ghana’s “best kept secret” and looks the real dark horse Fantasy prospect within their ranks. The Udinese midfielder came to the fore in the absence of Essien and Muntari during the African Cup of Nations and was regarded as their best player throughout. With Stephen Appiah pushing for inclusion having returned to fitness, Asamoah may not get the opportunity but a start and an impressive display in the recent 1-0 win over Latvia, at the expense of Appiah, means he should get the nod against Serbia. Muntari’s injury surely only makes a start against Serbia more likely.
Asamoah Gyan
Ghana’s only representative in the African Cup of Nations Best XI, the rangy striker simply has to provide goals if the Black Stars are to fulfil their potential at the tournament. A return of 13 in 29 games for Rennes last season certainly suggests that he has the ability to convert chances and he’d previously maintained a goal every two games record for Udinese back in 2006-07. Fitness and injuries are often a problem for Gyan however – he was subbed in seven of his last eight matches for Rennes last season – a real concern for any Fantasy Manager considering his prospects as a cut-price option up front.
Dominic Adiyiah
A real long shot. The 20 year-old AC Milan striker is unproven but like so many of his compatriots has the potential to make a big impact in this tournament – if he is given the opportunity. Last October Adiyah fired 8 goals in 7 games in the Under-20 World Cup, winning the Golden Shoe and the “Most Valuable Player” of the Tournament gongs. Although he has just four appearances for the full national team, we could see him used as an impact sub and if he takes his chance he could emerge as a key figure. Was given 45 minutes against Latvia on Saturday.
Australia
Australia were famously victims of a cruel defeat to eventual winners Italy in 2006, having sealed a momentous second place in their group. That was under the stewardship of Gus Hiddink and the Socceroos were a very different team with him at the helm. The 2010 version is a far more conservative outfit with coach Pim Verbeek emphasising defence with a 4-2-3-1 formation that’s based around a protective shield in midfield supplied by Vince Grella and Jason Culina. Verbeek has even been known to shift to 4-6-0 when needs must.
Results have been gained however and the Socceroos have a fine defensive record that shows just a single goal conceded during the final stages of qualification from the Asian Round. the recent 1-0 win over dark horses Denmark demonstrated the defensive resolve they possess; Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to the USA less so. Despite that result there could be budget talent on show here with Mark Schwarzer giving us an option in goal, while the likes of Lucas Neill, Scott Chipperfield and Luke Wilshere all look likely starters in the back four. There’s experience in that defence and indeed throughout the side but age, fitness and regular club form is a major concern. In midfield they can call on the proven talent of Mark Bresciano and Bret Emerton but they lack goal power. Even up front goals seem to be hard to come by; the lack of proven goalscorer is a big concern.
Australia’s best bet will be to catch Germany cold in their opening fixture and build from there. It seems likely that both the Germans and Serbia will spoil potential clean sheets and the fact that Tim Cahill is the bookies favourite (with Harry Kewell second) to be Australia’s leading scorer in the tournament tells you all you need to know about the prospects of their strikers. Indeed, you can get 8/1 on Australia failing to score a single goal.
The Fantasy Targets…
Tim Cahill
Everton’s midfielder will carry the burden for goals and will likely find himself in a similar role to that handed to him by his club manager David Moyes. Cahill will be thrust up in support of a lone striker and will look to use the timing of his runs and his undoubted aerial ability from open and set-plays, to pose a threat to opposition. The Socceroo’s most likely scorer, emphasised by his goal in the recent 3-1 defeat to USA, but a gamble in Fantasy terms given their prospects for progression.
Harry Kewell
The former Leeds and Liverpool favourite has enjoyed a strong run of form for Galatasaray playing as a central striker in the absence of Milan Baros, scoring 12 goals in 21 starts in the 2009 season. Verbeek has earmarked him for a similar role for the Socceroos although he is currently struggling for fitness and is by no means guaranteed of a start for the opener against Germany. Even so, if he is classed as a midfielder in your Fantasy game, Kewell will at least present a budget out of position option.