FIFA World Cup 2014: Group D Analysis – Will Gerrard vs Pirlo decide the group?
With the World Cup slowly creeping upon us, we analyse ‘the Group of Death.’ Group D, which sees Uruguay, Italy, England and Costa Rica clash.
Uruguay
FIFA Ranking: 6
Oscar Tabarez’s side reached the finals after beating Jordan in an Intercontinental play-off match, with a comprehensive 5-0 aggregate score. Los Charruas started their CONMEBOL qualifying stage impressively but endured a sticky patch where they failed to win in six matches. They recovered to win four of their final five games, however, before a win and a draw against minnows Jordan sealed their passage to Brazil.
Best Player: Luis Suarez
The Liverpool talisman was in scintillating form for his country during qualification and has been equally potent at the start of the Premier League season. The 26-year-old is also his country’s all-time top scorer with 39 goals from just 76 caps, surpassing Diego Forlan’s previous record at the Confederations Cup earlier this year.
Best Young Player: Jose Maria Gimenez
Atletico Madrid snapped up Uruguay’s next big hope Jose Maria Gimenez from Danubio – a team in his native homeland – earlier this year and he has been earmarked as the natural successor to an ageing Diego Godin due to his classy defensive style and desire to play out from the back.
Manager: Oscar Tabarez
The former Uruguay defender settled largely with a 4-4-2 or the more fashionable 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1, with Edinson Cavani spearheading the attack and Luis Suarez operating in the ‘No.10 role’ just off him. But Tabarez has become more renowned for his ability to rejig his pack, particularly in tricky away trips to try and stifle the opposition, with 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 utilised in the build-up to the finals. Uruguay will be one of the more gung-ho outfits on show in Brazil, thanks mainly to their plethora of attacking talents but also due to a leggy defence which includes veterans Diego Godin and captain Diego Lugano.
Costa Rica
FIFA Ranking: 31
The Central American outfit emerged from their CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group in second position behind USA in the fourth stage of the process, winning all five of their home matches, while only conceding seven goals – the best defensive record in the group.
Best Player: Bryan Ruiz
The pressure will be firmly placed on the Costa Rica captain and Fulham playmaker to come up with the goods at the other end of the pitch to complement their impressive defensive showings during qualifying. Ruiz was Los Ticos’ top goalscorer en route to the finals and will be key to any hopes the Group D underdogs have of springing any surprises next summer.
Best Young Player: Joel Campbell
The Arsenal striker has been unable to play for his parent club as yet due to a wrangle over a work permit but has illustrated his potential worth to the Gunners in loan spells at Lorient and Real Betis. He is out on loan again this year at Olympiakos, where an impressive tally of five goals in just 12 appearances for the Greek outfit has elevated his status amongst Costa Rican fans in World Cup year.
Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto
The 60-year-old Colombian returned to his post of first-team manager at the back end of 2011 after an ill-fated spell in charge between 2004 and 2005. But the qualifying campaign was a much more tranquil affair this time around, with eight players starting seven or more of the final group games.