England Paraguay Trinidad & Tobago Sweden
* = Seeded Team
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England has under-performed in the history of the World Cup. Inured to disappointment, however, its faithful supporters press on. While the English merrily continue to provide their own worst enemy, the potential to dazzle is undeniable in Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's well-balanced squad.
Well-balanced on paper, that is, and while the hiccups of Belfast and Copenhagen may be firmly behind them, neither the debate over an optimum formation nor the domestic appetite for accentuating the very same problem has been resolved.
Gary Neville may have been missed in Japan/Korea but the accommodation of both him and best friend David Beckham in conventional roles can lead to a reversion to the more predictable, while talents as formidable as Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard are yet to truly deliver in harness.
The sublime Wayne Rooney may have to resist injury in the latter stages this time if a second tournament win, and on the most preferred territory of all, is not to remain in the realms of English fantasy. For once, the defence may emerge as the strong suit and not the Achilles heel, as the resources quite palpably exist to thrive on enforced rotation.
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England Kit 1 |
England Kit 2 |
England v Paraguay 10 June; KO 15:00; Frankfurt
England v Trinidad & Tobago 15 June; KO 18:00; Nuremberg
England v Sweden 20 June; KO 21:00; Cologne
1950, 1958 First Round; 1998 Round of 16; 1954, 1962, 1970, 1986, 2002 Quarterfinals; 1990 Semifinals; 1966 champions
Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney
Should make it out of the group with Sweden.
World Cup Betting
England finished at the top of European Group 6 to qualify.
Following a loss away to Northern Ireland, Coach Sven-Göran
Eriksson came under harsh criticism. Beckham has played only fair football for Real Madrid. The team will win or lose courtesy of Rooney, Lampard, or Gerrard.
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Goalkeepers Paul Robinson (Tottenham), David James (Manchester City), Robert Green (Norwich); Defenders Gary Neville (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea); Midfielders David Beckham (Real Madrid), Michael Carrick (Tottenham), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham); Strikers Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).
Paraguay will appear in its third consecutive World Cup. Finishing a solid fourth in the South America qualifiers, Paraguay is coming into its own. The generation of players that progressed through the Athens Olympiad could prove troublesome for the much better known and highly touted teams from England and Sweden. The highlight of their qualifying campaign was a 1-0 victory over Argentina.
Paraguay are looking to reach the second round for the fourth time in total and the third time on the bounce. At first glance, there isn't much bounce in what is an aging squad even with the retirement of defenders Francisco Arce, Celso Ayala, and the most famous Paraguayan in the world and one-time Liverpool target, eccentric goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert. All time record scorer Jose Cardozo is still there, but only just, as he will be 35 by the time the tournament kicks-off and the veteran hitman is often joined in attack by Bayern Munich's speedy striker Roque Santa Cruz and the nation's young hope Nelson Haedo Valdez of Werder Bremen.
In France 1998, Paraguay went down in the second round to eventual winner France on a golden goal. In the most recent World Cup, the Albirroja lost again 1-0, this time to runner-up Germany. Being drawn out of the hat with the South Americans may not strike fear into the hearts of Europe's finest but Paraguay shouldn't be underestimated.
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Paraguay Kit 1 |
Paraguay Kit 2 |
Paraguay v England 10 June; KO 15:00; Frankfurt
Paraguay v Sweden 15 June; KO 21:00; Berlin
Paraguay v Trinidad & Tobago 20 June; 21:00 KO; Kaiserslautern
Anibal Ruiz
1930, 1950, 1958 First Round; 1986, 1998, 2002 Second Round - Paraguay have lost in second round of last two World Cups.
Jose Cardozo, Nelson Haedo Valdez
They could pull off a shock. The difference between the South Americans
and England and or Sweden is very small.
World Cup Betting
They finished 4th in the South America group to qualify for Germany. The highlight of their qualifying run was a 1-0 victory over Argentina.
Paraguay was crushed several times in the qualifiers. They have
a tendency to lose it.
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Goalkeepers Justo Villar (Newell's Old Boys), Aldo Bobadilla
(Libertad), Derlis Gomez (Sportivo Luqueno)
Defenders Denis Caniza (unattached), Carlos Gamarra (Palmeiras),
Julio Cesar Caceres (River Plate), Delio Toledo (Real Zaragoza),
Paulo Da Silva (Toluca), Julio Cesar Mansur (Guarani), Jorge Nunez
(Estudiantes)
Midfielders Edgar Barreto (NEC Nijmegen), Roberto Acuna (Deportivo
La Coruna), Carlos Humberto Paredes (Reggina), Julio Dos Santos
(Bayern Munich), Cristian Riveros, Carlos Bonet (both Libertad),
Jose Montiel (Olimpia), Diego Gavilan (Newell's Old Boys)
Forwards Roque Santa Cruz (Bayern Munich), Nelson Haedo Valdez
(Werder Bremen), Jose Saturnino Cardozo (unattached), Salvador Cabanas
(Jaguares), Nelson Cuevas (Pachuca)
The Soca Warriors will probably be the favourite team of the neutrals in Germany and those watching on television but the team, led by canny Dutchman Leo Beenhakker will want to show that are more than stereotypical happy-go-lucky Caribbeans and are aiming high.
Marvin Andrews and Russell Latapy both sacrificed their SPL commitments to make sure that Trinidad and Tobago made it to Germany. Andrews, a devout Christian repeatedly voiced his belief that God was willing the team to make it to the World Cup Finals and his faith was rewarded when they made it after a play-off with Bahrain.
Such was the euphoria in Trinidad and Tobago that a national holiday was declared and street parties were held throughout the country. Andrews missed a crucial Old Firm tie to play for his national side and revealed afterwards that the achievement ranked as high as any domestic success he had ever enjoyed with Rangers.
"To take the country to a World Cup can change a lot of things in the country," he added. "The crime rate is really high - we are talking drugs, killing, murdering, kidnapping. the lot. That's how bad it is getting. So we will try to help by taking the country to the World Cup.
"I don't think it will change the crime rate completely but it can hopefully inspire a lot of younger boys who are actually committing the crimes at the moment," Andrews continued.
"Hopefully we will inspire them to change their lives and change the lives of other people. I try to be a role model to the young kids because they are the future. But they are the people the Devil is targeting at this moment."
Many of the players are well known in England and Europe. Veteran striker Dwight Yorke needs no introduction but the former Manchester United star has produced little on the pitch in the past five years. Fans will be hoping that he has enough left for a last swansong on the global stage.
There is some experience in the team to support the 34-year-old. Stern John, Chris Burchill and Dennis Lawrence are all seasoned professionals who will relish their time in the spotlight. Russell Lapaty must also be mentioned, the playmaker may be 37 but still has the talent to unlock the tightest defence.
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Trinidad & Tobago Kit 1 |
Trinidad & Tobago Kit 2 |
Trinidad & Tobago v Sweden 10 June; KO 18:00; Dortmund
Trinidad & Tobago v England 15 June; KO 18:00; Nuremberg
Trinidad & Tobago v Paraguay 20 June; 21:00 KO; Kaiserslautern
Leo Beenhakker
First Appearance at the World Cup Finals
Dwight Yorke, John Stern and Russel Latapy
With nothing to lose, a dangerous side. Still, they will be done
after three matches.
World Cup Betting
T & T finished fourth in the Concacaf third qualifying stage, and then beat Bahrain 2-1 on aggregate in the Concacaf/Asia play-off
John Stern scored 12 times in the qualifiers.
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Trinidad & Tobago In-Depth Profile
Goalkeepers Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Shaka Hislop (West Ham),
Clayton Ince (Coventry City).
Defenders Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham) Cyd Gray (San Juan Jabloteh),
Marvin Andrews (Rangers), Brent Sancho (Gillingham), Ian Cox (Gillingham),
Atiba Charles (W Connection), Avery John (New England Revolution).
Midfielders Silvio Spann (unattached), Chris Birchall (Port
Vale), Aurtis Whitley (San Juan Jabloteh), Anthony Wolfe (San Juan
Jabloteh), Densill Theobald (Falkirk), Carlos Edwards (Luton), Dwight
Yorke (Sydney FC), Russell Latapy (Falkirk).
Forwards Stern John (Coventry), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton),
Collin Samuel (Dundee United), Jason Scotland (St Johnstone), Cornell
Glen (LA Galaxy)
Not given a serious chance by pundits with detractors pointing to a shaky defence despite the Swedes conceding just four times in qualifying. The central pairing of captain Olof Mellburg of Aston Villa and Teddy Lucic from Swedish top flight side BV Hacken will need to be at their best in Germany although giant Rennes goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson did turn heads during qualifying with a series of outstanding displays.
Sweden's armoury, though, is in attack. Coach Lars Lagerback - in sole control of the side after the resignation of former co-coach Tommy Soderberg following Euro 2004 - has the luxury of selecting an attacking trio hailing from Juventus, Barca and Arsenal. Current Swedish footballer of the year Zlatan Ibrahimovic has the potency to match any striker on his day but needs to keep his composure in check. Henrik Larsson and Freddy Ljungberg complete the forward line, an enviable triumvirate who between them scored 20 of Sweden's 30 qualifying goals.
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Sweden Kit 1 |
Sweden Kit 2 |
Sweden v Trinidad & Tobago 10 June; KO 18:00; Dortmund
Sweden v Paraguay 15 June; KO 21:00; Berlin
Sweden v England 20 June; KO 21:00; Cologne
Lars Lagerback
1970, 1978 & 1990 First Round; 1934, 1950, 1974, 2002 Second round; 1994 semi-finals; 1938 Fourth place; 1958 runners-up. 11th appearance at the World Cup.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson
Sweden should go through with England.
World Cup Betting
They were one of two best runners-up in the European qualifying zone finishing level on points in European Group 8, with group winners Croatia.
Sweden will face England for the second consecutive time in the
group stage - the match in Japan in 2002 finished 1-1.
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Goalkeepers John Alvbage (Viborg, Denmark), Andreas Isaksson
(Rennes, France), Rami Shaaban (Fredrikstad, Norway)
Defenders Erik Edman (Rennes, France), Petter Hansson (Heerenveen,
Holland), Teddy Lucic (Hacken), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa, England),
Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos, Greece), Fredrik Stenman (Bayer Leverkusen,
Germany), Karl Svensson (IFK Goteborg)
Midfielders Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Goteborg), Daniel Andersson
(Malmo), Johan Elmander (Brondby, Denmark), Mattias Jonson (Djurgarden),
Kim Kallstrom (Rennes, France), Tobias Linderoth (Copenhagen, Denmark),
Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal, England), Anders Svensson (Elfsborg),
Christian Wilhelmsson (Anderlecht, Belgium)
Forwards Marcus Allback (Copenhagen, Denmark), Zlatan Ibrahimovic
(Juventus, Italy), Henrik Larsson (Barcelona, Spain), Markus Rosenberg
(Ajax, Holland)
For highlights of the qualifying rounds, read Soccerphile's Ozren Podnar's "Best
of the World Cup Qualifiers."
Group B World Cup 2010