World Cup Previews: Group E
Four down, eight to go! Blimey, it’s a big World Cup. Group E up next, and it’s a big one! World Cup newbies and smallest nation to ever qualify Curacao will be facing off against former champions Germany, far from the peak of their powers but always a threat, the impenetrable Ecuador, and a resurgent Ivory Coast. That’s some baptism of fire. There should be some crazy games and there’s potential for huge upsets in this one, get ready for Group E!
Curacao
Qualifying
Even if you include the population of the diaspora in the Netherlands, where 25 of the 26 players in the Curacao squad were born, Curacao are still the smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup. What they’ve achieved is nothing short of remarkable.
They blitzed through the first round of qualifying, winning 4 from 4, conceding twice and scoring 15 goals in the process. It was an ominous sign of things to come for the rest of CONCACAF.
The second group stage went to the final day, but Curacao came out on top. Having won 3 and drawn 2 from their first 5 games, a 0-0 draw in Jamaica was enough to keep them above the Reggae Boyz on the final day and sent little old Curacao to the World Cup finals. Wow.
They left it until the final day, but an unbeaten qualifying campaign is nothing to be sniffed at, and they won’t roll over and be bested as everyone expects. They have some solid players it that squad that play at a decent level, and they’re extremely well drilled as a unit. One cause for concern could be their results in recent pre-tournament friendlies. A 2-0 loss to China, 5-1 to Australia and 4-1 to Scotland aren’t they most confidence-inspiring results, but they’re only friendlies at the end of the day. Curacao will bounce into their first game against Germany full of hope and belief, and so they should.
One To Watch
One of the more recognisable faces in the squad, in part due to his enormous hair, is Manchester United academy graduate and current Sheffield United midfielder Tahith Chong. He spent his youth career in Manchester and represented the Netherlands at age group level throughout, only making the switch to Curacao for this most recent qualifying campaign. Excellent timing, Tahith.
Chong is the only member of the squad who was actually born on the island, so will have a unique sense of pride amongst his peers as the team steps onto the pitch against Germany for the first time. He’s had a fairly poor season for the Blades, playing a rotation roll throughout and not managing to find the net a single time, yet he always seems to perform for Curacao. With 3 goals in just 5 caps, Chong has proven can let his enormous hair down when he’s away from the pressures of club football. Playing off that right hand side, he will be trusted to be one of his sides strongest creative outlets as well as a key goalscoring threat. With the pressure on and some big teams to face, can Chong step up to the plate?
Ecuador
Qualifying
Ecuador have quietly been cultivating superstars over the last few years, and it all came to a head in this latest bout of South American qualifying. Through 18 games against some of the toughest opposition in world football, Ecuador conceded a grand total of 5 goals and lost just twice. 14 of their 18 games finished either 1-0 or 0-0, including a streak of four 0-0 draws in a row! They might not have much going forwards, but my God they can defend.
Is it any wonder, either? With European champion Willian Pacho at the back alongside Premier League winner Piero Hincapié, and with Moises Caicedo screening the two, they were bound to cause nightmares for opposition frontlines. They’ve been thrown into a group where nobody has an elite attack to try and break them down either, so be ready for the potential of some extremely low-scoring games involving this Ecuador side.
For all their hard work at the back, they were rewarded with a second place finish in qualifying behind Argentina, with the least games lost and the best defensive record by far. In what is probably the harshest qualifying environment in the world, that’s not bad going. If they can find a way to break teams down more efficiently, watch out for Ecuador grinding their way into the later rounds of this tournament.
One To Watch
On the rare occasion Moises Caicedo isn’t being sent off, he’s one of the single best midfield players in the world. It’s a dream for Ecuador to have a player like him at their disposal, and the fact he’s reached such a high level so young means they get even longer to enjoy him at his brilliant best.
Caicedo’s role at Chelsea and for his country is that of a shield. He has a quality defence behind him, but if you even want to get there to have a pop at them you’ll have to go through him. Able to tackle you with ease and make a great pass look lazy with an inch-perfect interception, Caicedo is a nightmare for opposition midfielders trying to progress the ball up the field. You’re only option is to go out wide to circumvent him, and then Ecuador have you right where they want you with both wide players from each of their banks of four able to press the life out of you to win the ball back. The illusion of choice, either play directly into Ecuador’s hands or Caicedo will just take the ball from you himself.
His disciplinary issues are well documented, but I think that edge to his game is what makes him so great in the first place. He’s not shy at coming forwards and will absolutely go through the back of you if it means winning the ball for his team. Oh, and he can stick one in the top corner from 30 yards if you leave him a bit of room. One of the rare occasions where a £100m+ price tag looks like a bargain, Moises Caicedo is sure to light up this World Cup for Ecuador.
Germany
Qualifying
Germany went into the final game of qualifying against Slovakia level on points with them and knowing a win or a draw would see them into the World Cup automatically. A Slovakia win would spell disaster for the Germans and thrust them into the dreaded play-off system, they couldn’t afford to slip up and the pressure was truly on. Germany won 6-0 and are at the World Cup again, obviously.
Joking aside, the World Cup hasn’t been Germany’s usual happy place as of late. Before they won it for a fourth time in 2014, they’d only been knocked out earlier than the quarter finals once since they first entered the tournament in 1934. Since then, however, they have been dumped out in the group stage of the two subsequent tournaments in disastrous fashion.
This year represents a chance for Germany to reestablish themselves at the top table of world football and, even though their squad is a far cry from the imperious German sides of old, they’ll always fancy themselves to do well no matter who they’re draw against. Group E represents a tricky draw for Germany, but one they’ll relish. Each of these sides can pose Germany problems and for different reasons, if they can master each of these tests then they’ll be well prepared for a deep run into the knockouts having come through some strong opposition already as a group. There are huge doubts as to wether this Germany side is capable of going all the way, but a return to their place in the final eight could well be on the cards. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
One To Watch
Florian Wirtz is coming off the back of a difficult debut season in Merseyside and will just want to remind the world exactly why Liverpool threw over £100m at Leverkusen to acquire his signature.
He will more than likely start off the left for Germany as opposed to in the 10, a space that will probably be filled by Jamal Musiala, and cut inside onto his favoured right foot to cause havoc for opposition defences. We’ve seen flashes of it at Liverpool already, but it’s worth reiterating just how fantastic a dribbler Wirtz is. His close control and ability to beat a man, or multiple, in tight spaces is virtually unparalleled. Couple that with his eye for a pass and quality finishing, and you have the makings of one of the best players in the world.
Have we seen him at his best this year? No.
Is this the perfect opportunity for him to blow some steam off and go into next year under Antonio Iraola refreshed and confident? Absolutely.
Ivory Coast
Qualifying
After a few years away from being one of Africa’s best teams, Ivory Coast came back with a huge performance in World Cup qualifying to secure their spot in North America this summer.
They played 10 games, won 8, drew 2, and didn’t conceded a single goal. Not one. Zilch. Nada. All the while they also managed to score 25 of their own! Ivory Coast were the dominant side through African qualifying, and they’ll really fancy themselves to get through this group and beyond.
Without the recognisable superstars of the past like Drogba and Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast have built a well-oiled machine of high-quality players that play at the top level and know their roles like the backs of their hands. They recently beat France in a friendly and, while friendlies obviously count for nothing, they’ve proven they can hang at the table with the big boys.
Ivory Coast aren’t here to pad the numbers, they’re here to win and win well. The defensive might of Ecuador won’t phase them, Curacao should be a comfortable win, and Germany are hardly the side they once were. As far as their concerned, this group is for the taking.
One To Watch
Yan Diomande is the hot property in Europe at the moment, with Liverpool rumoured to be readying a bid of even more than they paid for Florian Wirtz to secure his services from RB Leipzig.
His story is remarkable. Less than 3 years ago he was playing high school soccer in the US and he’d failed a trial at Rangers. Now, after being picked up by Leganes, and subsequently Leipzig, he is one of the most coveted talents in world football. To be fair to Rangers, they already had Tom Lawrence by that point so they didn’t need 2 all-star wingers.
Diomande is potentially the best dribbler in the world. He’s quick, strong, direct and knows where the goal is when he gets there. There’s no doubt he’s raw and there are still some rough edges to his game, but that’s what makes him so exciting to watch! If you’re awake when any of the Ivory Coast matches are on, I implore you to tune in and watch him play before a big club hoovers him up and makes him play like a robot. For now, Diomande is the maverick on the wing that will drive Ivory Coast forwards. There’s so much talent across this group, but he might just have the highest ceiling.
Prediction
1. Germany
2. Ivory Coast
3. Ecuador
4. Curacao
This one is unbelievably close! Curacao have put on a great show to get here, but the strength of the opposition in front of them will just be too much for them to overcome this time around.
Ecuador’s defensive superiority will be enough to see off Curacao and earn a point against Ivory Coast, but Germany’s attacking players will prove too hot to handle in the New Jersey sunshine.
Ivory Coast will put on a dominant display to see off Curacao, and I think they’ll have enough left in the tank to earn a point apiece from Ecuador and Germany, leaving them comfortably second and unbeaten going into the knockout rounds.
That leaves the Germans back atop the table for the first time in a while, and won’t that cheer them up! The sheer ability of Wirtz and Musiala paired with the tenacity of players like Kimmich and Havertz is a combination that everyone in the tournament will fear. Yes, they haven’t got the strength in depth you’d associate with the best German sides, but their first XI will take some beating.