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Home|Germany 2006|Travel|Guide|Groups|Group C
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Germany World Cup 2006 Group C
GROUP C
*ArgentinaA proper football country, technicians supreme Argentina still manage to underachieve and save their best moments for less crucial circumstances - as they showed by getting to Germany ahead of arch enemies Brazil in qualifying. Maradona was the exception to that rule, of course, but the haste with which young men are saddled with the "new Diego" tag has proved counterproductive to say the least. While the world waits on Riquelme - who has the goods to light up this tournament, make no mistake - what of Messi, Aimar and Tevez? Can Jose Pekerman even fit such luxuries in his side when more conventional service for his forwards from the likes of Luis and Kily Gonzalez, Esteban Cambiasso and captain Sorin always appears to be more dependable? Pekerman is not above some cerebral jousting, but handing quite as much initiative to Brazil by playing three at the back against their greatest rivals in Frankfurt, 2005 could hardly be deemed as lulling the despised Auriverdes into a false sense of security. Ayala is aging as is Samuel, while home-based goalkeeper Abbondanzieri concerns several home-based commentators. Heinze may not be fit and Crespo's relationship with his employers is something the coach could do without hanging over him. Still, rely on the Albiceleste to provide at least a couple of the tournament highlights as usual, and a semi-final appearance is by no means out of the question. Fixtures
Argentina v Ivory Coast 10 June; KO 21:00; Hamburg CoachJose Pekerman Record1934, 1958, 1962, 2002 First Round; 1974, 1982, 1994 Second Round; 1966, 1998 Quarter Finals; 1930, 1990 Runners up; 1978, 1986 Champions FIFA RankingMen to watchCarlos Tevez, Lionel Messi Predictions & Latest OddsShould make it at least to the quarterfinals. How they qualifiedFinished second just behind Brazil in South American qualification. On the sidelinesThe side is built around the silky skills of Villareal's Juan Roman
Riquelme. AnalysisArgentina In-Depth Team Profile The SquadGoalkeepers Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo
Franco (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Oscar Ustari (Independiente) 
Ivory CoastThe World Cup has become used to the likes of Senegal, Cameroon and Nigeria causing upsets along the way but this summer all five nations that have qualified from Africa for the Finals have never experienced the most prestigious football tournament before. The Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Angola and Trinidad and Tobago are all going to the World Cup Finals for the first time and while Pele's prophecy that an African team would lift the Cup still seems a bit far off given the formidable opposition that awaits in Germany but it s a good bet that there could be a few surprises in store for those coming up some of the African sides. The Ivory Coast, who go by the nickname The Elephants, won the African Nations Cup in 1992 and boasting talents like Didier Drogba and Ibrahima Bakayako will be capable of holding their own this summer. Plying his trade at Chelsea, Drogba took some criticism last season because of his inconsistency in the Premiership but he nevertheless returned a solid goalscoring ratio, something he has continued this season. The opportunity to plant his flag in the world s premier competition will be a tantalising prospect for the hitman who is more than capable of tormenting defences. Similarly, Bakayako who earns a crust from playing in Italy's Serie A was voted runner-up to Barcelona striker Samuel Eto o in the African Footballer of the Year award in February 2005. Fixtures
Ivory Coast v Argentina 10 June; KO 21:00; Hamburg CoachHenri Michel RecordFirst appearance at the World Cup. Men to watchDidier Drogba, Aruna Dindane, Kolo Toure They could pull off a shock win. The Elephants' stay in Germany,
however, will probably be brief. How they qualifiedQualified thanks to a missed penalty by Cameroon, thus squeaking through by a single point. On the sidelines Watch for Chelsea's Drogba. Streaky but amazing player. AnalysisIvory Coast In-Depth Team Profile The SquadGoalkeepers Jean-Jacques Tizie (Esperance Tunis, Tunisia),
Boubacar Barry Copa (KSK Beveren, Belgium), Gerard Gnanhouan (Montpellier,
France) 
Serbia and MontenegroA second appearance* at the World Cup finals since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia is the reward for Serbia and Montenegro's unbeaten run to pole position in Group 7. Reducing heavyweights - and eventual finals seeds - Spain to second was no mean feat for Ilija Petkovic's resilient side who conceded just a solitary goal in ten qualifiers. Mladen Krstajic of Schalke superbly captained the defence throughout their surprising run with only Raul capable of breaching a record-breaking backline in the 1-1 draw in Madrid. It hardly needs to be said then that the team's strength is built upon the foundation of a solid defence, expertly marshaled by goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric and defender Nemanja Vidic who is being chased by Liverpool and Fiorentina. The plaudits, though, for having Europe's meanest defence perhaps masks a campaign in which they managed a puny six victories, and only two of those against nations in the top four. More familiar to fans is the team's strike force made up of Savo Milosevic of Osasuna and Athletico Madrid's Mateja Kezman who is always capable of getting a goal after watching his defence soak up the pressure. Serbia and Montenegro drew twice with playoff victors Spain and only beat third-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 in the deciding round thanks to a Mateja Kezman goal after seven minutes. Kezman will need to be at his goal-poaching best if UEFA's lowest ranked qualifiers are to progress to the knockout phase in a tough-looking Group C. *[the first appearance in 1998 was made under the name of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia] Fixtures
Serbia Montenegro v Holland 11 June; KO 15:00; Leipzig CoachIlija Petkovic RecordSecond appearance at the World Cup; 1998 Second Round (as Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia). FIFA RankingMen to watchMateja Kezman, Mladen Krstajic Predictions & Latest OddsTeams from the Balkans always pose a threat, but Holland and Argentina
may be too much for them to handle. How they qualifiedFinished first in European Group 7 On the sidelines Perhaps the tightest defense in the tournament. AnalysisSerbia & Montenegro In-Depth Team Profile The Squad Goalkeepers Dragoslav Jevric (Anakaraspor, Turkey), Oliver
Kovacevic (CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria), Vladimir Stojkovic (Nantes, France) 
The NetherlandsThe doubters who questioned Marco van Basten's appointment as national team coach after a brief managerial stint with the Ajax reserves have steadily fallen silent over the last 18 months. The Netherlands cruised through Group 1 incredibly leaking only a handful of goals, the last of which was scored by Finland's Teemu Tainio back in October 2004. With Edwin van der Sar keeping nine consecutive clean sheets (a total of 887 minutes) at one end and club-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy doing the damage at the other, the Dutch saw off the tigerish challenge of the Czech Republic with a qualifying-high total of 32 points. Van Nistelrooy is the pinnacle of Van Basten's preferred three upfront strategy. The Manchester United striker - with 11 Premiership goals to his name already this season - has been variously flanked by Dirk Kuijt, Romeo Castalen and latterly Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie. With Roy Maakay as first backup to Van Nistelrooy, the coach's striking options are frightening. And then there's there small matter of fitting Hamburg playmaker Raphael Van der Vaart - scorer of the opening goal in the Czech Republic decider - into the mix. If the Dutch can negotiate a nightmarish group, they could go all the way. Fixtures
Holland v Serbia & Montenegro 11 June; KO 15:00; Leipzig CoachMarco van Basten Record1934, 1938 First Round; 1990 Second Round; 1994 Quarterfinals, 1998 Fourth Place, 1974, 1978 Runners-up FIFA RankingMen to watchArjen Robben Predictions & Latest OddsHolland and Argentina to progress from the "Group of Death". How they qualifiedHolland were five points ahead of their previous nemesis Czech Republic in European Group 1. On the sidelinesNo signs of internal bickering--yet.Buy World Cup Tickets AnalysisThe Netherlands In-Depth Team Profile The SquadGoalkeepers Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten
Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar). For highlights of the qualifying rounds, read Soccerphile's Ozren Podnar's "Best of the World Cup Qualifiers." |
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