It’s a tale of two countries: Germans are reigning champs, while Mexicans try to break through past the e Round of 16
GERMANY ODDS: 9/2 2014 RESULT: Won final FORMATION: 4-2-3-1 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos is the leader, Marco Reus and Thomas Muller provide great flank work and Leon Goretzka — heading from Schalke to Bayern Munich — is a rising star. But Die Mannschaft don’t rely on star power, but rather on team ethos, tactics and discipline. Coach Joachim Low’s team has it all in spades.
OUTLOOK: No country has defended a World Cup title since Brazil in 1962, but Germany has the talent — despite captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer coming off an extended absence following a metatarsal fracture. They went undefeated last year, won the Confederations Cup with a B team and rolled through qualifying by winning all 10 games and scoring a Europeanrecord 43 goals. Find the flaw, because we can’t.
SOUTH KOREA ODDS: 750/1 2014 RESULT: Group stage FORMATION: 4-4-2 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Tottenham’s Son Heung-min (below) is already the highestscoring Asian player in the history of the Premier League by the tender age of 25. Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yueng will lead as captain.
OUTLOOK: South Korea struggled through qualifying and switched coaches midstream.
Lee Jae-Sung will join Sung-yueng in a quick midfield that will let South Korea attack with pace. But that defense is a sieve and will make advancement difficult.
MEXICO ODDS: 50/1 2014 RESULT: Round of 16 FORMATION: 4-3-3 PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Striker Javier Hernandez from West Ham will be flanked by PSV’s stellar Hirving Lozano and either Carlos Vela or Jesus Corona. Their offense — and former Red Bull coach Juan Carlos Osorio’s defense — could see them through in Group F. But can Gio dos Santos get fit quickly enough to help? OUTLOOK: El Tri have played in six straight World Cups, and fell every single time in the Round of 16. Their two quarterfinal berths came in 1970 and 1986 on home soil, but they have the talent to get there and the coaching. Despite schadenfreude and salt from U.S. fans, Mexico will likely get the highest TV ratings stateside.
SWEDEN ODDS: 250/1 2014 RESULT: Did not qualify FORMATION: 4-4-2 PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Leipzig right winger Emil Forsberg (below) has replaced Galaxy superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the leader in attack, while captain Andreas Granqvist and Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof will have to anchor the center of defense.
OUTLOOK: Sure, Sweden may be more unified without Ibrahimovic, but they’re sure not more talented. Forsberg has fallen off badly during this Bundesliga season, Lindelof was mistakeprone in his first EPL campaign and keeper Robin Olsen has been hurt. It will be asking a lot for this team to beat out Mexico for likely second place in Group F.