Welcome To Group D The Dynamite Group!

Group D



1. Germany -- In 2006, a not-terribly-strong Germany made it to the semis, and Joachim Low's current crop expects at least as much, despite the gaping hole left in midfield by injured captain Michael Ballack. The Germans have incredible World Cup pedigree, and should be strong enough to escape the group despite a spate of last-minute injuries.

Low looks set to stick with 4-2-3-1, having drafted in Stuttgart's Sami Khedira as a direct replacement for Ballack, and it's a system that sees them pressing from the front and snapping from defense to attack in an instant. Question marks remain over forwards Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski due to their club form, but both are unerring on the international stage.
The Germans should start slowly in this group as the team still needs to blend.
Bayern Munich players like Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Holger Badstuber and Thomas Muller recently joined the Camop and have to blend with the team.

They have a friendly game tonight with Bosnia Herzegovina who might play similarly to Serbia.
Bosnia have in their squad Bundesliga stars like Vedad Ibisevic, Edin Dzeko, Sehad Salihovic, Zvezedan Misimovic, Also Miralem Pjanic from Lyon


2. Serbia -- Group D is wide open but Serbia is well fancied, having won its UEFA qualifying group ahead of France. This is a skilful, organized team with a strong spine, and coach Raddy Antic is rarely guilty of orchestrating negative football. Usually lining up in a 4-4-2, Serbia makes the most of two excellent wingers, Milos Krasic  and Milan Jovanovic, to attack at lethal pace, moving seamlessly into an intimidating 4-3-3. That said, these players aren't afraid to resort to Route One stuff when the situation demands it, and when you've got the likes of defenders Nemanja Vidic and Branislav Ivanovic, and lanky striker Nikola Zigic at your disposal, why not?


3. Ghana: January's African Cup of Nations, at which it finished runner-up, pointed 's impressive strength in depth. With Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari all missing from the middle of a typically no-nonsense 4-1-3-2, some of Ghana's U20 World Cup 2009 winners stepped in and proved their mettle. But Group D will be different without Essien, who was ruled out last week. Coach Milovan Rajevac, buoyed by what he saw in January, remains optimistic and has promised "winning football." Ghana is certainly capable of scaring opponents, especially if Asamoah Gyan gets chances to peel off the last defender, but has looked a little flat coming into the tournament.


4. Australia -- The Socceroos probably deserve better than to be hailed for their never-say-die attitude, but it remains their standout attribute -- and having carried them to the second round last time out, it's not to be discounted. The lineup is much like that of 2006, which should help that team spirit, too. Australia has a strong defense and an excellent goalkeeper in Mark Schwarzer. The pragmatism in coach Pim Verbeek's 4-2-3-1 (which effectively became 4-6-0 to shut out China in qualifying) will make Australia difficult to break down; it went unbeaten in the final round of qualifying. Going forward, however, it might struggle against the strong, well-organized defenses in Group D -- it failed to fill their boots when facing leaky sides like Qatar, Bahrain and Uzbekistan.


Players to watch
Germany
[img]http://erikwinterburn.files./2010/03/ozil1.jpg?w=200&h=300[/img]
1. Mesut Ozil, Germany -- Think of Germany and chances are you won't think of flair if your memory only goes back as far as recent incarnations. Ozil, Werder Bremen's dazzling 21-year-old playmaker, is the remedy. Always looking forward, with Velcro ball control and a handy turn of pace, Ozil was instrumental in Germany's U21 European Championship triumph last year. His approach and set-up play is superb -- he racked up 19 assists in the Bundesliga this season -- and with Ballack missing, Ozil looks set to enhance his reputation by being the conduit for Germany's most dangerous moments in front of goal.

Serbia

2. Milan Jovanovic, Serbia -- Jovanovic was signed on a free transfer by Liverpool earlier this year and it looks like Rafa Benitez has got himself a real bargain. Jovanovic brings skill and ingenuity to the left flank, where he flits from the wing to attack with ease. His link up play is his key strength -- he always seems to end up in the right spot with the ball at his feet nonetheless. Dangerous with a dead or moving ball, Jovanovic will try a shot from almost anywhere, with either foot -- he bagged five goals in eight qualifiers to finish the campaign as Serbia's top scorer.

Australia

3. Luke Wilkshire, Australia -- Tim Cahill is still (rightly) identified as Australia's most potent player, but keep an eye on the far less starry Wilkshire. He has come on in leaps and bounds since 2006, when he was a surprise starter against Italy and Japan, having moved from English minnows Bristol City to first FC Twente in the Netherlands and now Dynamo Moscow. Typically played at right back, he has the versatility and technique to push up to the wing if required, and proved in qualifying that he can pull the Socceroos' strings from a holding midfield role given the chance. Capable of the Hollywood distribution of the likes of David Beckham, his set pieces will be an important outlet.

Ghana
[img]http://www.ghanaweb.biz/GHP/img/pics/20793143.jpg[/img]
4. Kwadwo Asamoah, Ghana -- In the absence of Essien, Asamoah will move in to act as the midfield pivot, and there are plenty of Ghanaians who think he'll more than fill the Chelsea man's boots, having seen him playing in front of Essien and Anthony Annan versus Sudan and Mali in the qualifiers. That he was just as effective in the patched-up Cup of Nations midfield bodes well. As well as matching Essien for strength and composure, Asamoah, who plays his club football in Italy for Udinese, isn't scared to take people on with the ball at his feet. His distribution is thoughtful and accurate, and he has a habit of popping up in the penalty box.

Ghana to come last

Germany will come first and the 2nd position will go to either of Australia or Serbia

but with players like Krasic in their team, i expect them to do well

Nice one, can't wait again,


Kii naaaa koorrrr

The Ghanians that lost to Holland 4 : 1 does not look like a team that can escape this group, i pity for them. infact I'm pitying most African teams  

www.nairaland.com/attachments/273826_wc_JPG62184137e6abd3758579fa4e464baa81

you dey happy abi?


Germany won't go pass round 16, bet me.

Infact, they won't go pass the group stage, i don vex

SERBIA and AUSTRALIA will fight for the second slot in that group. . .
Ghana must go

Ghana will suffer without Essien
he's like their talisman
they can't do much without him

Honeric, Infact they wont qualify for the world cup

i think ghana will qualify from that group

dayokanu:

Honeric, Infact they wont qualify for the world cup

yes, and infact they will only trek to SA if they eventually qualify

the only walkover in the group is Australia. i'm rooting for Ghana sha.

_{nice work DK sorry i was not around to assist}

Ok you can take over from here

Dominique, where are thou

right here

Team Focus; Ghana



players to look out for- Stephen Appiah (C), Sulley Muntari.


latest news

Ghana defender John Mensah rules out Africa advantage

number of appearances; 2
best performance so far; 2nd round, Germany 2006

Journey So Far; Friendlies

11-02-2009 Egypt 2 - 2 Ghana

30-05-2009 Ghana 2 - 0 Uganda

11-8-2009       Ghana    4 - 1 Zambia

09-09-2009 Japan    4 - 3 Ghana

01-10-2009 Argentina  2 - 0 Ghana

18-11-2009      Angola 0 - 0 Ghana

05-01-2010     Ghana  0 - 0 Malawi

03-03-2010     Bosnia-Herzegovina   2 - 1 Ghana

01-06-2010     Netherlands 4 - 1 Ghana

05-06-2010     Ghana 1 - 0 Latvia

stats; DWWLLDDLLW

good job

thanks

Team focus; Germany



look out for- Miroslav Klose (w/c veteran), Jerome Boateng (rookie; opportunity to prove himself)

Number of appearances- 17

best performances- Champions (Switzerland '54, Germany '74, Italy '90) _{oughta make DK blush with pride}

Journey so Far; Friendlies


stats- LLDWWDLWWW

Team Focus; Australia



latest
Lucas Neill hopes Australia succeed as tribute to Brad Jones

number of appearances- 3
best performance so far- 2nd round, Germany 2006.

Journey so far; Friendlies

22-03-2008 Singapore   0 - 0 Australia

22-05-2008 Australia 1 - 0 Ghana

19-08-2008 Australia 2 - 2 South Africa

05-09-2008 Netherlands 1 - 2 Australia

12-08-2009 Ireland Republic   0 - 3 Australia

05-09-2009 Korea Republic  3 - 1   Australia

10-10-2009 Australia 0 - 0 Netherlands

24-05-2010 Australia 2 - 1 New Zealand

01-06-2010 Australia 1 - 0 Denmark

05-06-2010 United States 3 - 1 Australia

stats; DWDWWLDWWL

Team Focus; Serbia



players to look out for; Nemanja Vidic, Dovan Stankovic

Latest; Aleksandar Lukovic hails Serbia strength

Number of appearances; 11

best performance so far; Chile '62 (4th place)

Journey so far; Friendlies

11-02-2009 Serbia 0 - 1 Ukraine

01-04-2009 Serbia 2 - 0 Sweden

12-08-2009 South Africa 1 - 3 Serbia

14-11-2009 Northern Ireland 0 - 1 Serbia

18-11-2009 Korea Republic 0 - 1 Serbia

03-03-2010 Algeria 0 - 3 Serbia

07-04-2010 Japan 0 - 3 Serbia

29-05-2010 New Zealand 1 - 0 Serbia

02-06-2010 Poland 0 - 0 Serbia

05-06-2010 Serbia 4 - 3 Cameroon

stats; LWWWWWWLDW

if friendlies are anything to go by, Serbia will top the group fair and square

^^

Defeat by New Zealand and a goalless draw with Poland were followed this weekend by a 4-3 win over Cameroon, but Lukovic remains confident of progress from a group including Germany, Ghana and Australia.

I saw this in the link you posted which is not a great result for someone you touted would top the group

thank you

Serbia and Germany will most likely make it through to the last 16.

nothing 4 Ghana

dayokanu:

^^
I saw this in the link you posted which is not a great result for someone you touted would top the group

but they've won seven other friendlies and lost only two. besides i said "if friendlies are anything to go by, they'd top the group". don't worry, Germany will top it you hear

mystikal:

nothing 4 Ghana

sadly, it appears so

I pray that Ghana will do well.

i see ghana comming through without much stress. i actually see nigeria playing ghana in the quater finals.

It will be Ghana vs Spain at the finals

Infact i see Ghana going far. Portugal also is gina do well. 9ja? Well, i don't know. . .

It will be Ghana vs Spain at the finals

At which Under 17 tournament?