Pot 4 is all of the UEFA nations that failed to make it into Pot 1. It consists of 9 nations, and it will serve as a sub-pot, from which one nation will be drawn into Pot 2.
Netherlands
FIFA World Ranking:
Joint #8
Jonesy Ranking: #6
Bonny Ranking: #6
Key Player:
AJ: Robin
van Persie is the man, full bias noted. World-class striker.
Also, if Wesley Sneijder's resurgence holds until summer,
he'll play a huge part in how far they could go. Not to mention,
Arjen Robben is the best winger in the world on his day.
BS: De
Jong is the key player, as Netherlands have a SHIT defense. (AJ note: Pretty sure he doesn't play for them anymore, at least doesn't start. Try Strootman :P)
Predictions:
AJ: Quarterfinals. Toss-up between them and Italy in my opinion, but
their typically weak defense will be a hindrance against the cream of
the crop. They'll depend on the combination play between RVP, Robben,
Sneijder, Lens, and maybe van der Vaart.
Italy
FIFA World Ranking:
Joint #8
Jonesy Ranking: #4
Bonny Ranking: #4
Key Player:
AJ: Andrea Pirlo makes them tick and Gigi Buffon is, at 35 years old (36 once the World Cup rolls around), still one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not the best outright. Italian supporters will hope that wildcard Mario Balotelli can keep it together mentally and that Giuseppe Rossi (former United represent) can stay healthy and maintain his excellent form.
AJ: Andrea Pirlo makes them tick and Gigi Buffon is, at 35 years old (36 once the World Cup rolls around), still one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not the best outright. Italian supporters will hope that wildcard Mario Balotelli can keep it together mentally and that Giuseppe Rossi (former United represent) can stay healthy and maintain his excellent form.
Predictions:
AJ: Semi-finals. Italy has that special something about them, and they have the team spirit to make it, but I think they'll lose if they face Spain or Brazil, but they could surprise one of them with their fantastic defending and deadly interplay. All depends on their form and whether they can maintain fitness – finishing the Euro 2012 final with 10 players due to injury was more of a tactical error by Prandelli, and he should get it right in 2014. Could make it 5 for the Azzuri in Rio.
AJ: Semi-finals. Italy has that special something about them, and they have the team spirit to make it, but I think they'll lose if they face Spain or Brazil, but they could surprise one of them with their fantastic defending and deadly interplay. All depends on their form and whether they can maintain fitness – finishing the Euro 2012 final with 10 players due to injury was more of a tactical error by Prandelli, and he should get it right in 2014. Could make it 5 for the Azzuri in Rio.
England
Bwing on Brazil!
FIFA World Ranking:
#10
Jonesy Ranking: #9
Key Player:
AJ: Wayne
Rooney, even when off form, is their most important and best
player. Steven Gerrard, as captain will also have a massive
role to play in what might be his last major tournament for the Three
Lions.
Predictions:
AJ: Round
of 16. Ugh. England. I've stopped putting my faith in them. Too many
times has the sensationalist press rated their chances of winning
that it's just at the point where I'll set my hopes low, and watch
them struggled to exceed even those. Overrated squad – the best
players in the EPL aren't even English, save for Rooney, Gerrard,
Cole, and Baines (relative to their positions, of course).
Portugal
FIFA World Ranking:
#14
Jonesy Ranking: #7
Bonny Ranking: #7
Key Player:
AJ: The best
player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. This man better win
the Ballon d'Or. He'll lead them by example, and they can surprise a
few people with him spearheading their attack.
BS: Moutinho
and Miguel Veloso are key players too. Their dominance in midfield
decides the game (excluding Ronaldo magic)
Predictions:
AJ: Round
of 16 at minimum. If they can avoid their bogey-team Spain, they can
go as far as anyone else in the tournament. With the best player in
the world leading their attack, he can strike at any moment. 2014
might finally be the year in which Ronaldo shows up at a major
tournament, and if he does the other sides better watch out.
Greece
FIFA World Ranking:
#15
Jonesy Ranking: #25
Bonny Ranking: #26
Key Player:
AJ: Giorgos
Karagounis is a perfect example of Greece's dependency on the old
dogs, and he'll captain them next summer without doubt and Georgios
Samaras is a talent, not just in the air. However, the man
they'll look to is Konstantinos Mitroglou. He's had a
scintillating first few months of the season, and his hat-trick in
the first leg of their UEFA qualifying play-off with Romania was the
difference maker. He gives them a dynamic that no one knew they had –
he can attack.
BS: Don’t forget Salpingidis, he
isn’t great, but scores crucial goals for Greece.
Predictions:
AJ: Group
Stages/Round of 16. Greece are a boring side to watch, but they can
make it work by playing their game, but they'd only scrape through
the group stages, provided they get a favorable draw.
BS: 3rd in the group, I just don’t get why they are always so lucky/good in the qualifiers, they are not only boring but I rate them really low.
BS: 3rd in the group, I just don’t get why they are always so lucky/good in the qualifiers, they are not only boring but I rate them really low.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
FIFA World Ranking:
#16
Jonesy Ranking: #21
Bonny Ranking: #21
Key Player:
AJ: Edin
Dzeko is on the cusp of world-class. If he moves to a place where
he's appreciated, รก la Borussia Dortmund or maybe even Napoli, he'll
be able to finally show his true worth. Fantastic striker. Bosnia is
full of young talent. Asmir Begovic is one of the best
goalkeepers in the Premier League, and Miralem Pjanic is
another burgeoning talent that could take Bosnia places in the coming
years and tournaments.
BS: Although playing in
China now, Zvjezdan Misimovic is the biggest key player along Dzeko.
If he struggles, unless Pjanic does something amazing Bosnia will
struggle in attack too
Predictions:
AJ: Group
Stage. Despite their pedigree, I don't they have it in them this
year, and making it to the Round of 16 will be an accomplishment for
them in their first ever World Cup.
BS: I say Round
of 16.
Croatia
FIFA World Ranking:
#18
Jonesy Ranking: #18
(Go me)
Bonny Ranking: #14
Key Player:
AJ: Luka
Modric is one of the best midfielders in Europe, and he'll need
to be in top form to see Croatia through to any success in Brazil.
BS: Mario Mandukic is another key player
Predictions:
AJ: Group
Stages. Croatia are much like Bosnia in that they have pedigree, but
I can't see them showing it in the tournament proper. Just like
Bosnia, making it to the knockout rounds will be a job well done.
BS: Round of 8 to me, unless they end up in the
deadly group.
Russia
FIFA World Ranking:
#19
Jonesy Ranking: #17
Bonny Ranking: #12
Key Player:
AJ: Igor
Akinfeev needs a move out of the Russian Premier League. Just
like Keisuke Honda, he's wasting away his career at CSKA Moscow and
needs to test himself in a Big-4 league.
BS: More
like forced to waste his career at CSKA like Honda xD
Predictions:
AJ: Group
Stage. After a great start to Euro 2012 with an absolute mauling of
the Czech Republic, they choked and didn't even make it to the
knockout rounds. Don't be surprised to see a repeat performance. All
3 games matter, stupid.
France
FIFA World Ranking: #21
Jonesy Ranking: #11
Bonny Ranking: #10
Key Player: Franck Ribery is widely expected to contest for the Ballon d'Or, and his involvement is what keeps France ticking. Paul Pogba will have had 2 full seasons starting in the top flight under his belt once the World Cup rolls around, and he could have a major role to play for Les Bleus.
Predictions: Round of 16 at least. My personal favorite Fifa team for international play, which may influence my opinion of them, but I think they have it in them if they can control the egos and play for their nation like a normal national team for once.
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