World Cup Preview: Pot 3*

Edit: I wrote this thinking that this would be Pot 2, but it turns out it's Pot 3. Tomorrow's post will be on Pot 2.

Pot 3 is made up of the 4 qualifiers from CONCACAF and the 4 from AFC. It is probably the weakest pot, but Japan, USA, and Mexico could play the underdog, provided with favorable draws. Obviously, AFC is more Bonny's area, and CONCACAF is mine, so it's perfect.

Japan

Japan's B-Team showed up Belgium last month. 

FIFA World Ranking: #44 (which is a fallacy)

Jonesy Ranking: #12

Bonny Ranking: #15

Key Player:

AJ:  Keisuke Honda is the heart of the Japanese national team, and when he's on, they all are. 

BS: Keisuke Honda – the heart of the team. If he isn't on the pitch Japan are half as good. Another key player is Yoshida. If he is stabled and leads the defense line Japan can go far. If he struggles and doesn’t provide and defends like shit, Japan will end up in the group stages.

Predictions: 

AJ: Quarterfinals. They're another dark-horse, with a little luck, they could shock a lot of people. They, or maybe Portugal or the Netherlands, are going to be the next team to win a World Cup for the first time in my opinion, and it could happen sooner than you may think.

BS: Although still in the developing stage, Japan is the light of Asia. While other Asian countries continue to aim for the coutner, Japan tried to keep bringing their own style they have been polishing since the beginning of the qualification stage, with the quick passing game, and now is in the stage to execute it effectively. They showed glimpses of it in the Confederations Cup (AJ edit: in which they were exhausted from a vital qualifier in Jordan 2 days earlier when they got mauled by Brazil) and executed it well in their November friendlies with the Netherlands and Belgium. 

Although there is a gap in quality between the centerbacks and the remainder of the team, Japan is capable of getting past the group stages and into the Round of 16. If they improve even more before the World Cup, they can get through to the Quarterfinals, maybe even the Semis. They are the most improved team since 2010.

Iran

Literally know no one in this picture. 

FIFA World Ranking: #49

Jonesy Ranking: #30 (which may be a tad harsh)

Bonny Ranking: #30

Key Player: Javad Nekounam, the captain, is the leader and heart of the side.

Predictions: 

AJ: Group Stage. Iran has a lot of spirit, and good chemistry between the players, but that doesn't grant them the class to negotiate the Group Stage. Knockout rounds would be a massive achievement.

BS: Iran will be an exciting version of Algeria. Better talent, but still not good enough which will make them force to park the bus. They parked the bus against a shit form Korea ffs. Their strongest opposition in 2013 was a shit form Korea, after that they’ve been playing Thailand and Lebanon -___-

Korea Republic

Korea Republic is falling behing Japan

FIFA World Ranking: #56

Jonesy Ranking: #28

Bonny Ranking: #25

Key Player: 

BS: Heung Min Son and Chung Young Lee

Predictions: 

AJ: Group Stage. Full disclosure, I know almost nothing about this team, other than that Australia is better than them, so. 

BS: Korea is better than Australia LOL. If Son can bring his Leverkusen form into the national side and lead the team Korea can get to the Round of 16, as their midfield is also decent, with the likes of Bo Kyung Kim, and Ja Cheol Koo.

Australia

Last hoorah for Tim Cahill

FIFA World Ranking: #57

Jonesy Ranking: #24

Bonny Ranking: #28

Key Player: 

AJ: Mark Schwarzer. Just like Greece, Australia heavily lean on their aging veterans, but that won't stop them from leaning on Ol' Mark once more in 2014. 

BS: Schwarzer retired from intl. football -_-. Key players are Tim Cahill and Robbie Kruse.

AJ: Oh. 

Predictions: 

AJ: Group Stage. Mixture of (ancient) veterans and raw youth, they don't have much of a prayer of reaching the knockout rounds. Then again I don't know much about them.

BS: Bottom of the group, unless they can come up with something that is not long balls and pray Cahill, Kruse, or Bresciano will do something.

United States

My boys. 

FIFA World Ranking: #13

Jonesy Ranking: #19

Bonny Ranking: #19

Key Player: Michael Bradley is finally getting the recognition he deserves, now that Daddy isn't the manager anymore. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan will provide the quality from the wings, and Jozy Altidore will look to continue his great national team form, but Bradley makes us tick, as can be seen by our poor performances without him.

Biased Predictions: 

AJ: Round of 16. And it will be glorious. Even as an American, I recognize the fact that we'll get dominated by any team with an ounce of true class, so we have to hope and pray for a favorable draw or we'll be out in the Group Stages. Bradley and Dempsey will be absolutely essential, and I hope Bocanegra or Beasley play left-back so Fabian Johnson can play left-midfield. 

The sport is still growing in the United States, and I don't see us going too far at all in Brazil. Get a tiered league system for christ's sake.

BS: I say Round of 16 too, USA isn’t a bad side, they are pretty good honestly.

Mexico

FIFA World Ranking: #24

Jonesy Ranking: #23

Bonny Ranking: #23

Key Player: 

AJ: Gio Dos Santos and Javier Hernández are the two best Europe-based players from the Mexican national team, and their combination is what makes them look like dark-horses usually. Santos Laguna's Oribe Peralta has been in incredible form lately for both club and country as well.

Predictions: 

AJ: Group Stages/Round of 16/Quarterfinal.It really depends on their mental state: at their best, they take some beating. If Mexico can get it together, the sky is the limit, but on current form they'll drop out without scoring a goal.

Honduras

FIFA World Ranking: #34

Jonesy Ranking: #32 (BOTTOM FEEDERS)

Bonny Ranking: #32

Key Player: 

AJ: Who cares?
BS: Palacios.. is he from Honduras? xD

Predictions: 

AJ: Group Stage. Awful, awful team. They score once in a while I suppose.

BS: BOTTOM OF THE GROUP xD

Costa Rica

FIFA World Ranking: #31

Jonesy Ranking: #31 (I'm on fire, hot damn)

Bonny Ranking: #31

Key Player:

AJ: Bryan Ruíz, the playmaker, is the one who can produce that bit of magic. 

BS: Celso Borges is also a kep player from central midfield.

Predictions: 

AJ: Group Stages. Though they're currently the second-best North American side, that's down to the poor form of Mexico, rather than the merit of their own play. Not to mention they're a whiny, bratty bunch of players to play against. A bunch of individuals does not a good team make.