Group D preview
Australia: The Aussies where one of the surprise packages in the last World Cup playing some brilliant football which culminated in a Round of 16 clash against Argentina that really should have went to extra-time if Australia had been more clinical in the last ten minutes, Messi ultimately decided that match but if they can replicate that form from Qatar they can definitely get out of this group. They do have a different manager in charge in Tony Popovic who has made them more resolute at the back going through qualifying unbeaten but I do worry about the firepower in this squad and if it will be enough to get through what looks like quite a tough group, I think it would be a success for this Australia side to get out of the group whether that’s in 2nd or one of the best 3rd place teams. The match against Paraguay will probably decide which team finishes 3rd in the group to be honest, will that be enough to get through? I’m not sure.
Player to watch: Nestory Irankunda
Paraguay: This is Paraguay’s first World Cup appearance since 2010 when they made the quarter-finals and they do have reason to be optimistic heading into this World Cup, they have a mix of youth and experience in the side with the likes of Miguel Almiron and Omar Alderete coming in with top level experience alongside players like Diego Gomez and Julio Enciso who Premier League fans will know well applying their trade for Brighton over the last few years. They didn’t look like qualifying for this tournament up until Gustavo Alfaro took charge midway through the qualifying campaign and surged the team up to 6th place in the table meaning that they didn’t have to go into a play-off to make this World Cup, Alfaro has made the team defensively resolute whilst still keeping some of that attacking prowess that they are going to need to progress from this group. Again I do think it’s going to be tough for Paraguay in this group but I see them beating Australia for that 3rd position, if they can get a point against Turkey or the USA I can see them being one of the best 3rd place teams in the group stage.
Player to watch: Diego Gomez
Turkey: I feel like Turkey always get the label of ‘dark horses’ heading into a tournament and I see it being the same going into this World Cup, they are in red hot form going into the tournament being unbeaten in their last 7 matches and are spearheaded by arguably two of the most exciting players in the tournament. Kenan Yildiz and Arda Guler will be looking to stamp their names all over this group with Guler having a breakout tournament in Euro 2024 scoring one of the goals of the tournament against Georgia with Turkey eventually going out to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, Yildiz is going into the tournament having finished the season poorly with Juventus but still having the opportunity to put his name on the world stage for Turkey if he has a good tournament. The rest of the squad is strong too with the likes of Ferdi Kadioglu, Hakan Calhanoglu, Baris Alper Yilmaz etc making up a really strong side which aren’t to be taken lightly at this World Cup, I’d be shocked if they didn’t at least make the Round of 16 and if the draw is kind I can definitley see them at least making the quarter-finals which I think would be a success for Turkey.
Player to watch: Kenan Yildiz
USA: The Americans are probably the most hopeful they have ever been going into a World Cup with probably their strongest squad in the history of the team and the fact that they will be playing at home which has to be huge factor in why they make the deepest run they ever have at a World Cup, Mauricio Pochettino’s time as the USA manager has been mixed to say the least bringing some attacking football to the team but the loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final last year was a blow and it’ll be interesting to see how they go about navigating a tough group against three pretty good teams. Their star player Christian Pulisic is heading into the tournament in horrific form but I don’t think that will matter as he will have to lead this team if want any chance of going far in this competition, I do see them making it out of the group but I just can’t see them going that far in this World Cup unfortunately. I think the furthest that this team can go is the quarter-finals, will that be a disappointment for the USA? I don’t really know.
Player to watch: Malik Tillman
Overall prediction for the group:
1.Turkey
2.USA
3.Paraguay
4.Australia