Preview - USA and Mexico - the CONCACAF representation at the FIFA World Cup 2014

  

It’s been far too long since a North American team has impressed at the World cup finals. Will the CONCACAF nations put up a show in brazil ??. Is this the time we get to see what their actuall potential is ??. All we know at this moment and time is that IF these teams perform on par with the others, the world cup will be a lot more than just participating in it for their respective fans as well more interesting and exciting for the neutrals.  

With the World cup just a few days away, it will be interesting to see whether the two North American giants, namely USA and Mexico put up a fight; Surprise everyone and finally show what thier always exciting and promising squads consisting of many young and talented players is capable of. We haven't had any such team come up and fight against the best of the best in the recent past.  

When will this change and what impact this could have on World Football.  

The fans of these respective countries would be the first ones to hope that this changes in over a months time.  Having said that, as neutrals everyone wants to see the so called small teams challenge the bigger teams in the World Cup in what's expected to be an end to end affair each game. The United States of America and the Mexico national team have always had players who have impressed as far as club football and domestic tournaments are concerned.

But on the International stage, they haven’t been able to showcase their talents in a way that they're often expected to. A part of this is down to the competetiveness in both the country’s leagues which was questioned in the past but has improved a lot over time. On a positive note, Mexico have continued their what has become a legacy now, to produce exciting young prospects who’ve later went on to make a name for themselves and Mexico itself in Europe.

Now, after a long wait, both these teams have a blend of youth and experience in their world cup squads. Both countries are in probably the toughest groups available and are expected to go out in the first round itself. With the Managers’s tactics, players available and certain experienced players in mind; almost everything taken into consideration, they have a fair outside chance of progressing in this tournament if everything clicks into place.   

An impressive performance in Brazil by both these teams could lead to many of their players coming in the limelight which could penultimately determine many transfers after the tournament ends. A success at the world cup finals would further give a boost to both the countrys' FA's to invest more and more money into their respective   national team set-ups to improve and possibly build on it.

                                 

                                            United States of America 

Manager:- Jurgen Klinsmann 

USA remain the only CONCACAF team to achieve the highest position in a World Cup (3^rd). They come to Brazil on the back of an excellent qualifying campaign having scored most goals in their group (15). They certainly are a team who can surprise quite a few and do well in Brazil. Managed by a a man who has a surprise up his sleeve every now and then, USA have adapted to Klinsmann’s  methods very well.   The 1994 hosts came closest in 2002 when they were knocked out by Germany in the quarters. They lie 3rd in terms of quality in the group of death which consists the likes of  Germany, Portugal and Ghana.

USA will again depend on their top experienced perfomers in Tim Howard, Geoff Cameroon, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey etc. They’ve got a goal poacher in Dempsey who takes his chances when given adequate supply, and a great versatile player in Donovan who can operate anywhere across the front three. Being the captain, Donovan always led from the front and has mostly been the only genuine performer against the big teams.

Between the poles are the safe hands of Tim Howard who’s had a great season with his club Everton in the Premier league. Another genuine quality forward USA have is Josy Altidore who’s a big physicall presence upfront, capable of holding the ball up and getting others into play and who's very strong in the air. Michael Bradley is the one they depend on to connect defence into attack. Geoff Cameroon and Matt Besler are two reliable defenders who are expected to start in Brazil. Under  Klinsmann, Cameroon has been rock solid so far. The omission of Tim Ream was unexpected as he had a fairly good season with Bolton.

In all, USA have a good team who on their day with the right decisions, can cause an upset. Let’s hope they do so, because it would only make up for further entertainment and excitement as far as thier own fans and the neutrals are concerned. 

                                                        Mexico

Manager :- Miguel Herrera 

Mexico have always been a team who’ve showed promise, but never have they perfomed to their level of expectation in the World Cup. They’re one of those teams having excellent youth prospects and experienced veterans. They also are a team who play  a brand of free flowing attacking football which is wonderfull on the eye.

As quoted by USA captain Landon Donovan “In my opinion, the youth in Mexico is better than ours. We're looking for ways to improve it, but for me Mexico is one of the best in the world at that kind of progression, with youth, and with the national team it's almost the same forever, and I think it will continue to be for a long time.”  Donovan also went on to say that “Mexico has a chance to do something special in the World Cup. When they play well, Mexico is one of the best in the world.” 

The reputation Mexico have in terms of their youth and style of play is immense, but actually putting it all into practice and perfoming at a major International tournament remains a big problem. Recently, Mexico defeated Brazil in the Olympic final which should further add to their confidence and aura of being capable enough to beat the best when playing well. They’re often the underdogs who come out on top in the end. 

Qualification to the World cup finals was a close call as it was nail bitting stuff for the players as well as the fans. Mexico share their group with Cameroon, Croatia and hosts Brazil, who will be the only real threat to them. As far as the other two are concerned, quality wise Mexico have the upper hand over them.

Just like the USA, Mexico too depend wholely on their star performers and experienced veterans. Captain Rafael Marquez will resume his duty of leading his men as he always has. Marquez’ experience along with the ever-present Hector Moreno and Carlos Salcido would do Mexico a world of good at the back. It’s a partnership which is fairly reliable.  Herrera And Carlos Pena are the usual paring in the middle who are the main reason behind the free flowing football Mexico play. However, the real creativity in Mexico’s midfield is mainly seen on the left hand side where Giovanni Dos Santos is up and raring to go with his exquisite skills and tricks. He’s another essential asset on which Mexico rely upon for any kind of creativity.  

In attack, Oribe Peralta has been prolific on the international stage. He’s the “Fox in the box” type of a centre forward which every top team needs. Peralta is accompanied by another big name striker and a goal machine in Javier Hernandez who also shares similar instincts to that of Peralta. We all know that if anyone can get a goal out of nothing, Chicarito can.   

Mexico are a team who can pull off shock results and surprises with the football they play. They last reached the Quarters in 1986, which seems like ages ago. It’s about time they live up to the expectation of their fans and finally prove their mettle in Brazil.  

Scout Report :-   Stefan De Vrij.

The Netherlands national team have a good youth set-up in behind the scenes , when it comes to giving young players chances at international level. Yes, this also is credit to the exceptional academies at clubs such as Ajax, Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar, PSV etc , but the national team set-up has it's fair share too. The country is home to many young bright talents, some of whom will undoubtedly be the stars of tommorow. The current list consisting of these young talented players, on whom there are quite big expectations have the likes of  Blind, DeVrij, Willems , Clasie , Maher etc.

A mainstand in that list is Stefan De Vrij, who is a promising Centre back with great potential. He plys his trade at Feyenoord Rotterdam. A club which has a reputation of having the 2nd best youth academy in Holland, of which De Vrij is a product of. 

As far as his playing style goes, De Vrij has very much earned a reputatuion of being a very reliable Centre back who can also fill in at Right back if needed. He's incredibly composed with the ball at his feet and is a fine passer too as he often likes to switch play from one end to the other. This season, he's managed a pass success rate of 87.3%. At 6'2 , he's stands an imposing presence at the back and wins a high percentage of headers in his own half. He's remarkably good at dealing with teams who press high up the pitch and often brings the ball out of defence on his own in a serene way. 

Tackling is an area De Vrij excells at. He's a classic no-nonsense old school tough tackler who shines out in one on one situations. Moreover, De Vrij is blessed with great positional sense as he has a tendency to be in the right place at the right time in the penalty box when it comes to clearing final balls/crosses put in the box be it at ground , or in the air. This is one his biggest assets. De Vrij's and Janmaat's good perfomances are one of the major reasons behind feyenoord's success in the past two seasons.  

Furthermore, the 22 year old Feyenoord captain does have a strong authority over his players and is a leader on and off the pitch.When judged on Individual perfomances , De Vrij seems to be ready for a move to one of Europe's elite clubs. Also , his perfomances have attracted huge interest from some big clubs. Reportedly, there were many scouts present to watch him this season. Most notably from Arsenal , Liverpool and Everton. After the world cup (if given a chance) or in a season or two De Vrij will be a target for many big clubs.

Recently, Feyenoord's technical director Martin va Geel told Algemeen Dagblad on the future of De Vrij : "Talks have stopped and we will wait for the summer. With De Vrij, we have already made the decision to wait until after the World Cup (before re-evaluating the situation)." His market value at this moment and time stands in the reigon of 6-8ml euros, but feyenoord won't let leave him for a fee less than the 10ml mark. A move to England looks very likely at this stage considering the reported interest.  

It would be a valuable accquisition for any club who manages to get De Vrij. His perfomances justify that. 

Ricardo Kaka , Europe bids adieu.

They say players who make people love football come few and far between. Well, Ricardo Kaka is one such player. He was blessed with blistering pace , great technique  and could make sublime turns to lose a man. Kaka had a combination of explosiveness , touch and technique that made him a counter attacking threat and last but not the least , those exquisite flicks in the middle of the park and a tendency to find the perfect final ball almost every time are some unique qualities possessed by the 2007 Ballon D’or winner. Though the pace is probably not the same now , but Kaka is still very quick for a 31year old play-maker.

Kaka , who’s move left Milan fans in tears , cemented a place in every football fan’s heart before leaving for Madrid. Now, after four hard years he’s come home to “grow old” as he said earlier this year. The day he captained Madrid against Ajax, was a day where in the the feeling in the capital was that Kaka will be leaving Madrid soon.

He had achieved everything at AC Milan , but his decision to come back or rather to “come home” to help and contribute his wealth of experience to a club which was not going through one of its best spells, really says a lot about him. Milan had given Kaka everything and not to the surprise of many , Kaka was ready to give back something to the club he loved.

 Be it at Milan or at Real Madrid , Kaka has always taken chances given to him and has time and again showed what a unique player he is. He had a hard time in Spain and it clearly didn’t go according to what everyone expected. Although it was a joy to watch him play with some of the best players in the world , he suffered long term injuries. His knees giving out were a major part in him not being able to remain fit on a consistent basis. It was clear that he didn’t have any luck on the injury front but also when fit , Jose Mourinho didn’t see Kaka in his plans.

Kaka on the other hand constantly kept showcasing his abilities in the limited time which he was afforded; he performed well in the Champions League matches as he added to his goal tally which now stands at 29, the most by any Brazilian, but him playing a major role for Madrid just wasn’t in the script. His talent was always only utilized in patches over his four year stay in the capital.

Finally, he put an end to the misery and returned to his beloved AC Milan this season. He’s so loved in Milan that when he arrived for his medical at the Guissepe Meazza , journalists lined up just for an autograph of this happy go lucky Brazilian legend . Kaka this season has been the glue holding Milan players together and when given a chance , he’s always had the final say either in delivering a decisive final pass or scoring a vital goal.

A 31 year old being the driving force at a club as big as Milan speaks volumes for the influence that he has at Milan. This does take some doing. As thankful as a player he is , he’s been a symbol of loyalty for all clubs he’s represented in his career.

He’s been loyal to football in general and clearly is thankful to God for the talent he has; characterized by his trademark celebration. This year he’s showed what love and passion mean, by helping Milan in what has been a hard season for the Rossoneri. Unfortunately, the match against Atletico Madrid arguably was his last game in the Champions league. AC-Milan don’t look to have a squad required to challenge for a top four place next season. Furthermore , there have been reports that Kaka is on his way out looking for new experiences as he’s rumoured to have a pre-contract agreement with MLS side Orlando City.

Sadly, It’s looking more and more likely that Europe has seen the last of this immensely talented footballer who will go down in the history books as a great champion, a player who was wonderful to watch and the beauty of his football was for the world to admire; the one who got neutrals off of their seats celebrating in joy.

Kaka will be missed, as Europe bids him adieu….. 

   

Possible Andrea Pirlo replacements for Italy.... 

Well , They say he gets better with age , such is the aura of this classic bearded Italian Legend who's been the driving force for club and country for what seems like ages ,now . Football fans in general won't like the sight of him hanging up his boots but , eventually  Andrea Pirlo will have to setlle for a lesser role in the coming years.  Yes , he can't be replaced by Italy nor  by Juventus but someone will have to fill this gap left by him. This gap by no means is a small one , as Italy's all round play will depend on the one who fills this gap.  The one who comes in will obviosly under the kosh for a while , down to the fact that he's come in for a player like Andrea Pirlo . With Pirlo possibly playing his last International tournament for Italy here , we examine the players capable of filling that huge gap.  

Marco Verratti -  Paris  Saint  Germain  

At 21 years of age , Marco Verratti is one of europe's brightest midfield prospects. The former Pescara player is a Defensive Midfielder with some qualities which are rather surprising for a player in his position. Technically gifted , he's a supreme  passer of the ball, particularly in difficult circumstances. His remarkable technique to get away from players helps a whole lot here. He's also a quick , sublime dribbler and finds the right pass even when it comes to the passing in the final third. Paris Saint Germain soleley depend on Verratti to getting the ball out of the defense and linking up with the likes of Javier Pastore etc. 

Even though  being small in size , his ability to retain the ball is one of his major assets. Being quick , he isn't afraid to dive into tackles in which he often comes out on top winning the ball for his team. Verratti can also operate behind the striker in the no.10 role , when needed.  His technique  of going about things on the pitch and his abilities to pass and  to find a teammate in the most difficult of circumstances make him a player capable of filling the void which will be left by Andrea Pirlo. At such a young age , he's the perfect player around whom Italy can raise a team in the near future.  

   

Claudio Marchisio - Juventus 

The Experienced Juventus vice captain is already a main fixture in the Gli Azzurri side. He's been immense playing in front of the likes of Bonnucci , Chiellini , Barzagli etc , along with that his defensive contributions have also led to Pirlo having sufficient space to orchestrate the play. Marchisio is a mixture of an attacking midfielder and a Defensive midfielder. A proper Central midfielder in simple words. He's very good going forward and can see a final pass. On the other hand , he's a workhorse when it comes to his defensive contributions. 

 He acts as a shield for his back four , be it for Italy or Juventus. Intercepting and breaking down play are one of his major qualities.Moreover , he's a textbook passer of the ball who often likes to play one touch passes. When given time and space , he's also a good long range shooter. The  ever present Claudio Marchisio will have to take over more responsibilities when Pirlo isn't there. He's certainly capable of doing so , as he's shown that at Juventus at times.  

Andrea Poli - AC Milan 

After joining Milan , we've seen that Poli , a Central midfielder by trade , is very versatile and can also play as an Attacking midfielder. This is a player who was dubbed as "The New Pirlo" a few years ago. These expectations were too pre-mature considering his perfomances weren't consistent. Nevertheless , he's always been a talented player. Poli operates well in a three as well as a four man midfield. He likes to have more of the ball and always  has an unexpected turn or a flick up his sleeve. He's the one on whom AC Milan often rely for dictating the tempo of the play. A smooth passer and a brilliant interceptor , Poli is a very versatile player as he can also put a shift in at Right back. At 24 years of age he's a player entering the prime years of his career and will only be getting better every season. He can well be the one who fills Pirlo's role in the near future if he showcases his talent on a consistent basis. 

  

There are many players who can fill that Andrea Pirlo role for the time being , the likes of  Daniele De Rossi , Ricardo Montolivo , Thiago Motta are close calls for this job , but the  three mentioned above, are the best when considering a long term solution for Italy's  Midfield Anchorman role .

The Youth system of FC Bayern Munich ,  "The Bundesliga". 

Bayern Munich , The supreme power in Germany.

Winning their first ever Club World Cup meant that it was a 5th trophy in the bag for the year for the mighty Bayern Munich. The fans couldn’t have asked for more in 2013 , their team had won everything , yes everything which was there to be won. The best club in Germany has been a dominant force in Europe for many years now. What is the reason behind all this success ?? Yes, its “The Bundesliga” , which is these days commonly known as the youth system of Bayern Munich.

Unlike many other European heavy weights , Bayern have mostly invested in young or experienced players from Germany itself. This also showcases that the amount of upcoming talent in Germany is second to none , but Bayern buying almost all top talent has weakened the Bundesliga . In many ways, the German league is a direct supply unit for Bayern , which also reduces the chances of the others beating Bayern because they rely immensely on the talent of the players who they end up selling.

The most recent case has been that of Mario Gotze. The 37 million man had his mind made up about joining Bayern and eventually, he got what he desired. This “desire” which players often have , of joining Bayern is not a new thing in Germany. In previous years , we’ve seen players like Michael Ballack and Ze Roberto, who led Bayer Leverkusen to new heights, before jumping ship to join Bayern Munich.

Mario Gotze moved to Bayern in the summer.

The all time leading German goalscorer , Miroslav Klose was snatched from Werder Bremen. Similarly, Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who was then dubbed to be the future best goalkeeper in the world was reportedly a Manchester United target until he opted to join the German side for a huge fee of 25 million euros (for a young goalkeeper). In all fairness , he’s certainly lived up to the hype.

Bayern have also invested in experienced players who over a period were excellent for their respective clubs. The purchase of Mario Mandzukic from VFL Wolfsburg in a reported 15 million Euro deal serves as a great example. Borussia Mönchengladbach stopper Dante was bought last season to shore up the Bayern defense. Most notably, the now Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez’ 26 million move to Bayern was a record breaking transfer in Germany at the time.

Speaking of records, Bayern have been  involved in most of Germany’s record breaking transfers. They’ve also had a tendency to have a veteran striker in their ranks; Ivica Olic and Claudio Pizzaro being the most recent names on that list.

When given a choice , players in Germany have opted for big wages and the chance to lead their already settled lives in the country itself , over joining foreign clubs and experiencing a different football culture, bar the likes of a few select superstars like Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira etc. In addition to this , The appointment of Pep Guardiola has given the club, a big advantage in convincing young talents from Germany or abroad to join the club. Almost every player admires Guardiola’s brand of tikki – taka football and will obviously be eager to experience it.

The German league is now similar to a factory which finds and develops young talent , and then is on the receiving end of huge amounts sanctioned by Bayern Munich to hand over these players. Sadly, if players don’t join other big European clubs or choose to stay at their club, the Bundesliga might be a one horse race for many years  to come.

Recently , Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said  ”Bayern will not stop signing Dortmund stars” . Having said that , another Dortmund player in Robert Lewandowski is set to arrive in Munich come next season which will prove to be a huge lift for this already unbeatable Bayern side. It’s almost impossible to compete with such a squad. They look like Invincibles , and they might be prove to be invincible for a long, long time.


This Article is also posted on Sporstkeeda.com and Innofthewoodwork.blogspot .

AS-Roma's Resurgence under Rudi Garcia....

Seen as a Messiah by many Roma fans , Rudi Garcia who was third behind Massimiliano Allegri and Walter Mazzarri in Sporting Director Walter Sabatini's list to take over the reins in Rome has certainly transformed AS-Roma into the giant they once were. Furthermore , by the looks of it , there's more to come from them in the coming years. The classy and composed Frenchman came with a reputation of being a success in France , being voted French football manager of the year in 2011 & 2013. He has succesfully built a side which is well capable of challenging the best of teams around in Europe.

In the past year , Roma weren't in the best of financial conditions and being under pressure had to sell the likes of Erik Lamela , Pablo Osvaldo and Marquinhos. Garcia , now had the task to replace as well as build a side he wished to. Experienced goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis and Maicon led the list of arrivals in Rome. Mehdi Benatia, Kevin Strootman and Adem Ljajic were bought too. Although seen as a risk , Garcia also bought Gervinho from Arsenal, who had been excellent under him previously at Lille. These set of players have so far flourished under the Frenchmen's style of play.

Garcia likes his team to build from the back as seen in his previous sides. In Leandro Castan and Benatia ,Roma have one of the best young centre backs in Italy. This is a partnership which has been rock solid this season and has been a major part in thier transformation. The fullbacks have also been on par with the men in the middle. Maicon has as always contributed a lot in the attacking third as well as defensively. Dodo and Balzaretti on the other hand have been consistent too.

The Core of this Roma side , the trio of Pjanic - De Rossi and Strootman have worked wonders this campaign. Daniele De Rossi is a re-born player under Garcia. He's been allowed to play as an Orchestrator  in that that midfield along with Strootman. The Dutchman has been Roma's most consistent player this season . Garcia has found the perfect balance offensively and defensively as well as a blend of youth and experience. This in return has led to the team conceding only one goal in the first 10 fixtures of the season, proving that Roma are indeed an excellent defensive unit.

Miralem Pjanic's creativity and awareness has been second to none in that midfield as he's been a constant provider to the likes of Francesco Totti ,Alessandro Florenzi , Ljajic and particularly Gervinho , who's pace has been terrifying defenses and is in excellent form this year. In Pjanic , Roma have that composed No.10 every top team needs. The Bosnian has an eye for a killer pass and can pick out players in difficult circumstances be it with through balls or long balls. No wonder , the transition from defence to attack this season has been a pleasure to watch. All credit to these three midfield men who have been the driving force this season.

Francesco Totti has often been deployed as a False no. 9 this season. A role in which he has previously excelled and as of now is arguably his best position considering his age. The captain has a great understanding with the wide players in Gervinho and Florenzi who have been great in providing as well as scoring themselves. The likes of Adem Ljajic and Mattia Destro have also been sharp and decisive when called upon.

All in all , Rudi Garcia has formed a team that can not only play the creative brand of football he desires them to play , but can also do a job in the most difficulct of situations. The young talented players in this team are only going to get better and learn from the experienced ones. It's safe to say that AS-Roma have made a bright start in thier quest to dominate Italian football on a consistent basis again.


This Article is also published on Sportskeeda and InnOffTheWoodwork....

Markel Susaeta ,   The Stylet.... 

"El Estilete" (The Stylet) as he's known and called by the fans of Athletic club , Markel Susaeta , was a youth product of Athletic Bilbao  has over these years established himself as one of the main fixtures in the starting XI. Seen as one the leaders in the team , Susaeta has contributed a lot and has stepped up from time to time when his team needed him. He's come leaps and bounds over these past years and has arguably been the most consistent player at the club.

 A real fan favourite at the San Mames , the 26 year old attacking midfielder  is a pacey customer and is a danger for any defence. He mainly operates on the right flank and is excellent at streching the opposition by making good runs. Calm and composed on the ball , he's a quick natrual dribbler who does like to cut in from the right flank and switch positions at times. 

Some of the major standout qualities he has is his ability to run at defenders and to cross. He's very intelligent in and around the penalty area , this is another unique quality possesed by the spainard. Being a set-piece specialist his freekicks and his crosses are second to none. He's scored some great freekicks over these years. A clinical finisher , he's also good at shooting from range and does take his chances when given time and space , be it on his favoured right foot or his left.  Susaeta is equally a provider and a goalscorer. Although he's always on the lookout for a killer pass , picking out a teammate via a cutback or laying off someone for a shot. His passes in the final third are very accurate aswell.  His pace , dribbling ability and his quality crosses are one of the main assets on which the team depends upon.

Unlike many players who are often criticized for not playing thier defensive part , Susaeta does track back from time to time and is not afraid of making  a tackle or two. The 2011-12 campaign proved out to be his best season with 13 goals and 15 assists. So far this season , he has 5 goals and 7 assists to his name in all competitions. A consistent player indeed. In the summer of 2012 , Susaeta was linked to many clubs like Arsenal ,Manchester united and Chelsea as he was out of contract the following year. The feeling in spain was that he was going to leave for pastures new , but he signed a contract extension after a few months. It would've been brilliant to see a player of his quality in the premier league but it just wasn't in the script. Though , you never know what the future holds...

At 26 years of age , he's a gem of a player entering the peak of his powers. El Estilete is rightly considered as a quality Attacking Midfielder in spain. His perfomances justify that.  

This Article is also published on Sportskeeda.com & Inoffthewoodwork.blogspot