The World Cup’s Wild Cards

by

Several teams already have their teams ready for the World Cup, just using the friendlies at their disposal to make simple adjustments and prepare their squads. Others are suffering through internal disputes (Cameroon) or waiting for players to achieve match fitness (Germany, Spain). Here are three teams who might surprise, be it by their playstyle, or their different approaches to the game, whether on or off the pitch.

Chile

Jorge Sampaoli took the reins from Claudio Borghi who had a lackluster stint with Chile, not living up to former coach Marcelo Bielsa’s showings with the national team. Sampaoli decided to build on the great framework which Bielsa had and expanded it. They finished 3rd in CONMEBOL qualifying and look impressive under Sampaoli. His team is even more dynamic than the 2010 squad which made it to the round of 16. His team plays either 4-3-3, 3-4-3, which is similar to Bielsa’s 3-4-3, or a 3-5-2.

His 4-3-3 revolves around several key players. Arturo Vidal is the engine which moves the offense and the defense. He has become a world class player, and is extremely vital to Chile. Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas are tasked as forwards who masquerade as wingers, but in reality make consistent runs around opposing defenses and love to play incisively, instead of going out wide. Marcelo Diaz, who plays for Basel in Switzerland, plays as a deep-lying playmaker, pulling the strings. He can even drop back and play as a Center-Back. Claudio Bravo, the goalkeeper and the captain, is another one of the frames. His ability to distribute possession across the field helps Chile get the ball to specific areas of the pitch, where there is space.

The 3-4-3 is a seamless transition from the 4-3-3 and vise versa. Both formations are eerily similar in Sampaoli’s game plan, but Jorge Valdivia becomes a needed player for the team, as his passing ability and his creativity allow him to play a deep-lying forward. Wingbacks as always are needed to make the formation work. There cannot be any weak points in the starting eleven. In this formation, the back three would be composed of Jara, Medel, and Mena, and Beausejour starts as wingback. A 3-5-2 without Valdivia, just using Vargas and Sanchez as forwards is also a very strong possibility. Chile have so many options in what formations they can choose.

What makes the team work so well is their transitional play and their specific man marking. They make as few passes as possible to move the ball forward and try to avoid aerial disputes, electing to make short passes instead. Their marking consists of pressing, while having key opposition players man marked specifically to limit runs. They play to disrupt their opponents, and Chile’s counter attack can be so lethal. Their weaknesses lie in their defense. No matter how good Gary Medel is as a Center-Back, his lack of height is exposed in aerial encounters and when facing long balls, same with Eugenio Mena. Teams can also put pressure and find spaces on the wing due to the wingbacks’s constant runs up the pitch. Arturo Vidal is just match fit to play and Alexis Sanchez has a shoulder knock, but both should be fine to play for La Roja.

They play Australia, Spain, and the Netherlands in Group B. A big team will exit the tournament in this group. While Spain most likely will advance, the second spot is left to either Chile or Holland, and Chile has what it takes to advance.

Disputed Starting XI:

GK: Bravo (C)

DEF: Jara, Medel, Mena

MID: Isla, Aranguiz, Diaz, Vidal, Beausejour

FWD: Sanchez, Vargas

Russia

Russia is playing in their first World Cup since 2002, and while Aleksandr Kerzhakov is the only player to have been in that 2002 squad, their inexperience may not be too much of a problem as Fabio Capello, a renown manager, is coaching their side. They finished first in group F of UEFA qualifying, and play a style for which Capello is known for, solid defensive and compact play. They tend to try and win many matches 1-0 and only conceded 5 times in their 10 qualifying games, keeping 5 clean sheets.

They will most likely play a 4-2-3-1 which focuses on deep, defensive displays, with discipline ingrained into the core of the team. Russia has suffered a major blow as Roman Shirokov, their leader and captain, has been ruled out due to an injury to his Achilles. Viktor Fayzulin, a natural winger, will most likely have to replace him in center midfield. Whether he is up to playing as a shuttler, will be shown by his performance against South Korea. They have a fantastic goalkeeper in Igor Akinfeev and a gamewinner in winger Alan Dzagoev. Akinfeev has played for the national team since he was 18 and he will be a leader from the back for the Sbornaya. Dzagoev had a great season at CSKA Moscow last season, and he scored three times Euro 2012. His creativity will be key for Russia as they don’t contain many inventive or resourceful players of his caliber.

Their starting striker is their most disputed position. Kerzhakov is the most experienced player, and one of Russia’s highest scorers, but Aleksandr Kokorin will give him a fight for the position and seems to be favored by Capello over the experienced Zenit forward. Kokorin was Russia’s highest scorer in qualifying and is more versatile. He could be a driving force behind a “Russian Revolution” of sorts.

Possible Starting XI:

GK: Igor Akinfeev

DEF: Yeshchenko, Ignashevich, Berezutski, Kombarov

CDMs: Denisov, Glushakov

AMs: Fayzulin, Dzagoev, Zhirkov

FWD: Kokorin

Croatia

Croatia is a “work in progress”. After Igor Stimac’s unsuccessful stint, last year Niko Kovac took over and has been developing his side around the technical players. He has preferred a 4-3-3 with Rakitic, Modric, and Kovacic in the the center. He most likely intends to play a possession game in order to control the opposition and shore up the fact that none of the three midfielders are holding midfielders, or are great at defending. They have exceptional vision, can weave through danger, and can make key passes. Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic both had stellar seasons at Real Madrid and Sevilla respectively, winning the Champions League and Europa League. Both, along with Mario Mandzukic will be the players who define Croatia’s campaign.

Their defense is probably composed of reliable captain Darijo Srna, Center-Backs Verdan Corluka and Dejan Lovren, and until recently, Danjiel Pranjic. Pranjic suffered an ankle injury in their recent encounter against Australia which rules him out against Brazil and possibly the rest of the tournament. Sime Vrsaljko will most likely replace Pranjic, even though he is a RB, not a LB, which is the position Pranjic plays. Lovren’s spot is disputed, because while he had a wonderful season at Southampton, he isn’t always as stellar for Croatia, and Gordon Schildenfeld is always available to take Lovren’s spot on the starting eleven.

Their biggest dilemmas are the fact that Kovac is a very inexperienced manager and that Mario Mandzukic is going to be suspended against Brazil in the opening game. Kovac only has previous experience as an assistant at Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg, and a handful of matches coaching the Croatian U-21 squad. His inexperience may cost Croatia dearly when playing against the likes of Brazil and Mexico, who have their lineups and tactics developed, and know who to target from the opposition. Without Mario Mandzukic, Croatia have to field either Eduardo, who hasn’t been anywhere the level he was since he played at Arsenal, or Ivica Olic, who while reliable, may start on the wing in the opener against the Brazilians.

Recently, Niko Kovac has made many rotations and never fielded a full strength side in the World Cup preparation friendlies, possibly to try and confuse Scolari and Brazil. Croatia’s starting eleven is very uncertain, and while that may confuse their opponents, It may backfire on Croatia, as teams need games in order to gain rhythm and become cohesive. Croatia has such a talented team, but can they prove themselves on the biggest stage?

Possible Starting XI:

GK: Pletikosa

DEF: Srna, Corluka, Lovren/Schildenfield, Vrsaljko

MID: Rakitic, Modric, Kovacic

FWD: Olic, Mandzukic, Perisic