Group G (Germany, Ghana, United States, Portugal)

Pepe LeFrits

(Times are UK)

June 16 Salvador, 1700: Germany v Portugal
June 16 Natal, 2300: Ghana v United States
June 21 Fortaleza, 2000: Germany v Ghana
June 22 Manaus, 2000: United States v Portugal
June 26 Recife, 1700: United States v Germany
June 26 Brasilia, 1700: Portugal v Ghana

Tony Montana

Surprised no comments have been made on this group. Quite a tricky group. Ghana are not as strong as they were in 2010 I don't think.

Jed

Krauts will piss it, Portugal second

Rex

Portugal is what Spain used to be; despite some quality players they are a joke on the international scene. I am not 'just' saying that because they eliminated Sweden in the end, but they always surprise you in a negative way when you look at their results.

goon

They don't really have quality players though, other than four or five players they're all mid table level at best. Fine for reaching the knockout stages but against the best sides it's not enough.

Rex

I don't know. Pepe, Coentrao, Pereira, Carvalho, Moutinho, Ronaldo, Varela, Nani, Danny - they are all quality players in my book.

GaelForce

Lost to the winners of their last two tournaments (once on penalties in the Semi Final), lost to the Runners Up in 2008 and 2006 (again in the Semi Final), Runners Up themselves in 2004. Wouldn't mind being that sort of joke!

Irishgunner

USA to get absolutely mullered! 0 points!

banduan

Portugal have CRonaldo. He counts as 4-5 good players.

I just wanna see how far he'll drag them along.

Clrnc

I think Klinsmann have somethings up his sleeve. Will fight for some gritty draws.

Bold Tone

World Cups don't always follow form, or preparation, otherwise England would have won 3 or 4 by now.
I would laugh if at one out of the US and Ghana somehow fluked their way through this, the toughest group.

mentalvortex

Portugal declare their final 23 man squad for the World cup.

Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga), Patricio (Sporting)

Defenders: A Almeida (Benfica), B Alves (Fenerbahçe), Pepe, Coentrão (Real Madrid), R Costa, J Pereira (Valencia), Neto (Zenit)

Midfielders: Moutinho (Monaco), Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Meireles (Fenerbahce), Amorim (Benfica), Carvalho (Sporting), Rafa (Braga), Nani (Manchester United), Varela (Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg)

Forwards: C Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (SC Braga), Postiga (Lazio), H Almeida (Besiktas)

kamikaze

Irish gunner wrote:
USA to get absolutely mullered! 0 points!

😆 i would love that. i hate US soccer.

Klaus

Speaking of the US, how come Altidore was so hilarously poor for Sunderland this season? Maybe Eredivise is weak and overrated, but the switch to Premier League can't have been that big. One goal in thirty appearances? Dropped to the U21 team repeatedly? He's tall and strong. Two or three balls should have bounced off him into the net by pure happenstance.

innervisionscm

kamikaze wrote:
Irish gunner wrote:
USA to get absolutely mullered! 0 points!

😆 i would love that. i hate US soccer.

Me too lol. Not much of a patriot though.

ElGeniodeOviedo

No Landon Donovon in the US squad.

Don't agree with those saying the US will end up on zero points, Klinsman will see to a least a draw with Ghana in my book

Clrnc

Huge uproar in USA it seems with the exclusion of 3 experienced players, especially Donovan their star man.

Their inclusion of Julian Green reminds me of Theo. Not having played a single minute of football and then going to the world cup.

kamikaze

donovan is old and has lost his legs. i don't follow the USMNT, but apparently, the news is no surprise to people that do.

ElGeniodeOviedo

Clrnc wrote:
Huge uproar in USA it seems with the exclusion of 3 experienced players, especially Donovan their star man.

Their inclusion of Julian Green reminds me of Theo. Not having played a single minute of football and then going to the world cup.

I think it was important to captie Green to the US and keep him satisfied with his decision to switch. Not like the US has a particularly good chance of making waves this year anyway

MistaT

Thought leaving Donovan out of the squad was odd. Seems he should have warranted a bench/squad role due to his experience. I'm sure Klinnsman is banking on Dempsey going off in a free AM role but I'm not sure anyone has the wing opposite Zusi locked.