Steve Foster
Well-known member
The first match in Group C will see Columbia host Greece, on Saturday night at 5pm kickoff.
COLOMBIA (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: After years of underachievement whilst employing defensive tactics, Colombia have reaped the benefits of attack-minded variations of 4-4-2 and 4-2-2-2.
Playmaker James Rodriguez roams inside, retreating to the left when out of possession, while the full-backs surge forward to provide width, often leaving just one genuine holding midfielder covering.
It's thrilling when it works but leaves them vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Strengths: The squad has plenty of attacking talents in fine form. Jackson Martinez hit 29 goals for Porto this term, while Carlos Bacca scored 21 for Sevilla. Huge numbers of fans will travel to cheer on the team and their itinerary involves relatively short flights from their Sao Paulo base.
Moreover, hot conditions won't bother them - they played qualifiers in the sweltering Caribbean port of Barranquilla, opting for mid-afternoon kick-offs in the belief their rivals would wilt in the heat.
Weaknesses: The absence of the iconic Falcao - a supreme predator with 20 goals in 51 caps and 155 goals in 198 club games since arriving in Europe.
Key centre-back Luis Perea is also ruled out so there are big question marks over the back four. Captain Mario Yepes, 38, is cripplingly slow, while Cristian Zapata and Pablo Armero have lost their places at club level and Juan Zuniga has barely played due to injury.
Key player
With Falcao not fit, the burden of expectation falls on Monaco team-mate James Rodriguez, an elegant number 10 who created more chances (43) than any other player in South American qualifying. The gifted left footer, who cost Monaco £37.5m last summer, topped the Ligue 1 charts for assists (12) this season. Shut him down and Colombia may struggle.
One to watch
Juan Cuadrado has blossomed at Fiorentina and was Serie A's best winger this term, with his explosive pace and ferocious shot yielding 15 goals. His passing accuracy (89.1%) was the highest of any regular Colombian player in World Cup qualifying.
The boss
Carlos Valderrama says Jose Pekerman, the Cafeteros' first foreign coach for over 30 years, has given Colombian football its identity back by reverting to an attacking philosophy.
The Argentine replaced Leonel Alvarez after Colombia made a stuttering start to qualifying for Brazil. He led his native country to the last eight of the 2006 World Cup.
How they qualified
Fairly comfortably, finishing a close second to Argentina. Their haul of 30 points from 16 games represents their best ever return. Outstanding performances included a 4-0 win at home to Uruguay and a 3-1 win in Chile, plus a gritty goalless draw in Argentina.
World Cup record
In four campaigns they've reached the last 16 only once, losing to Cameroon in 1990.
Painful memories still linger from USA 94; defender Andres Escobar was murdered in his hometown of Medellin after scoring a crucial own goal at the tournament.
Fifa ranking: 8
ossible starting XI
Squad
Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Nice), Faryd Mondragon (Deportivo Cali), Camilo Vargas (Independiente Santa Fe).
Defenders: Mario Yepes (AC Milan), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Pablo Armero (West Ham, on loan from Napoli), Camilo Zuniga (Napoli), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate), Carlos Valdes (San Lorenzo).
Midfielders: Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan), Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina), James Rodriguez (Monaco), Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto), Carlos Sanchez (Elche), Carlos Carbonero (River Plate), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional),
Forwards: Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari), Jackson Martinez (Porto), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate).
GREECE
Prospects
Despite their lofty Fifa ranking of 12th, the bookies rate Greece as outsiders to progress from Group C and the weakest European side in Brazil. Shock winners of Euro 2004, you can get odds of over 300/1 on Greece lightning striking twice this summer. There is a chronic lack of midfield creativity and little goal threat up front - especially if Kostas Mitroglou isn't fit and firing. But boss Fernando Santos knows how to get the most out of his limited resources and the Greeks' team spirit is second to none.
Key player
Greece's hopes of advancing beyond the group stage for the first time may depend on which Kostas Mitroglou we see in Brazil - the deadly "Mitrogoal" who hit 23 goals in 23 games for Olympiakos and Greece prior to the turn of the year, or the injury-cursed flop who made just three appearances for Fulham in 2014.
The boss
Portuguese coach Fernando Santos took over in 2010, but admits the legacy of predecessor Otto Rehhagel, under whom Greece won Euro 2004, remains "an identity that is not easy to change. We've tried to play a different way [but] then we slipped back into our comfort zone, our defensive strength". He will leave his post after Brazil.
How they qualified
Greece finished as runners-up to Bosnia-Hercegovina in Group G but were seeded for the play-offs, and beat Romania 4-2 on aggregate, thanks largely to Mitroglou.
World Cup record
Their two previous campaigns (1994 and 2010) ended at the group stage.
They did at least claim their first victory in South Africa, beating Nigeria, but bowed out following defeat by Argentina in Rehhagel's final game in charge.
Fifa ranking: 12
Squad
Goalkeepers: Orestis Karnezis (Granada), Panagiotis Glykos (PAOK), Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos).
Defenders: Kostas Manolas, Giannis Maniatis, Jose Holebas (all Olympiakos), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund), Giorgios Tzavellas (PAOK), Loukas Vyntra (Levante), Vasilis Torosidis (Roma), Vangelis Moras (Verona).
Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis (Kayserispor), Andreas Samaris (Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (PAOK), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham), Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Torino), Ioannis Fetfatzidis (Genoa), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Bologna), Panagiotis Kone (Bologna).
Forwards: Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK), Giorgios Samaras (Celtic), Konstantinos Mitroglou (Fulham), Theofanis Gekas (Konyaspor).
So who do you think will win this one?
COLOMBIA (seeded)
How do they play?
Style & formation: After years of underachievement whilst employing defensive tactics, Colombia have reaped the benefits of attack-minded variations of 4-4-2 and 4-2-2-2.
Playmaker James Rodriguez roams inside, retreating to the left when out of possession, while the full-backs surge forward to provide width, often leaving just one genuine holding midfielder covering.
It's thrilling when it works but leaves them vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Strengths: The squad has plenty of attacking talents in fine form. Jackson Martinez hit 29 goals for Porto this term, while Carlos Bacca scored 21 for Sevilla. Huge numbers of fans will travel to cheer on the team and their itinerary involves relatively short flights from their Sao Paulo base.
Moreover, hot conditions won't bother them - they played qualifiers in the sweltering Caribbean port of Barranquilla, opting for mid-afternoon kick-offs in the belief their rivals would wilt in the heat.
Weaknesses: The absence of the iconic Falcao - a supreme predator with 20 goals in 51 caps and 155 goals in 198 club games since arriving in Europe.
Key centre-back Luis Perea is also ruled out so there are big question marks over the back four. Captain Mario Yepes, 38, is cripplingly slow, while Cristian Zapata and Pablo Armero have lost their places at club level and Juan Zuniga has barely played due to injury.
Key player
With Falcao not fit, the burden of expectation falls on Monaco team-mate James Rodriguez, an elegant number 10 who created more chances (43) than any other player in South American qualifying. The gifted left footer, who cost Monaco £37.5m last summer, topped the Ligue 1 charts for assists (12) this season. Shut him down and Colombia may struggle.
One to watch
Juan Cuadrado has blossomed at Fiorentina and was Serie A's best winger this term, with his explosive pace and ferocious shot yielding 15 goals. His passing accuracy (89.1%) was the highest of any regular Colombian player in World Cup qualifying.
The boss
Carlos Valderrama says Jose Pekerman, the Cafeteros' first foreign coach for over 30 years, has given Colombian football its identity back by reverting to an attacking philosophy.
The Argentine replaced Leonel Alvarez after Colombia made a stuttering start to qualifying for Brazil. He led his native country to the last eight of the 2006 World Cup.
How they qualified
Fairly comfortably, finishing a close second to Argentina. Their haul of 30 points from 16 games represents their best ever return. Outstanding performances included a 4-0 win at home to Uruguay and a 3-1 win in Chile, plus a gritty goalless draw in Argentina.
World Cup record
In four campaigns they've reached the last 16 only once, losing to Cameroon in 1990.
Painful memories still linger from USA 94; defender Andres Escobar was murdered in his hometown of Medellin after scoring a crucial own goal at the tournament.
Fifa ranking: 8
ossible starting XI
Squad
Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Nice), Faryd Mondragon (Deportivo Cali), Camilo Vargas (Independiente Santa Fe).
Defenders: Mario Yepes (AC Milan), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Pablo Armero (West Ham, on loan from Napoli), Camilo Zuniga (Napoli), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate), Carlos Valdes (San Lorenzo).
Midfielders: Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan), Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina), James Rodriguez (Monaco), Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto), Carlos Sanchez (Elche), Carlos Carbonero (River Plate), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional),
Forwards: Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari), Jackson Martinez (Porto), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate).
GREECE
Prospects
Despite their lofty Fifa ranking of 12th, the bookies rate Greece as outsiders to progress from Group C and the weakest European side in Brazil. Shock winners of Euro 2004, you can get odds of over 300/1 on Greece lightning striking twice this summer. There is a chronic lack of midfield creativity and little goal threat up front - especially if Kostas Mitroglou isn't fit and firing. But boss Fernando Santos knows how to get the most out of his limited resources and the Greeks' team spirit is second to none.
Key player
Greece's hopes of advancing beyond the group stage for the first time may depend on which Kostas Mitroglou we see in Brazil - the deadly "Mitrogoal" who hit 23 goals in 23 games for Olympiakos and Greece prior to the turn of the year, or the injury-cursed flop who made just three appearances for Fulham in 2014.
The boss
Portuguese coach Fernando Santos took over in 2010, but admits the legacy of predecessor Otto Rehhagel, under whom Greece won Euro 2004, remains "an identity that is not easy to change. We've tried to play a different way [but] then we slipped back into our comfort zone, our defensive strength". He will leave his post after Brazil.
How they qualified
Greece finished as runners-up to Bosnia-Hercegovina in Group G but were seeded for the play-offs, and beat Romania 4-2 on aggregate, thanks largely to Mitroglou.
World Cup record
Their two previous campaigns (1994 and 2010) ended at the group stage.
They did at least claim their first victory in South Africa, beating Nigeria, but bowed out following defeat by Argentina in Rehhagel's final game in charge.
Fifa ranking: 12
Squad
Goalkeepers: Orestis Karnezis (Granada), Panagiotis Glykos (PAOK), Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos).
Defenders: Kostas Manolas, Giannis Maniatis, Jose Holebas (all Olympiakos), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund), Giorgios Tzavellas (PAOK), Loukas Vyntra (Levante), Vasilis Torosidis (Roma), Vangelis Moras (Verona).
Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis (Kayserispor), Andreas Samaris (Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (PAOK), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham), Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Torino), Ioannis Fetfatzidis (Genoa), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Bologna), Panagiotis Kone (Bologna).
Forwards: Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK), Giorgios Samaras (Celtic), Konstantinos Mitroglou (Fulham), Theofanis Gekas (Konyaspor).
So who do you think will win this one?
