Ranking the 7 Teams in World Cup Draw Pot 2
The World Cup draw pots were announced on Tuesday, ahead of the actual draw in Bahia on Friday.
Already the possibilities are tantalising and have left football fans salivating at the prospect of some of the potential matchups in Brazil next summer.
Coming in for much of the interest is Pot 2, where FIFA have placed only seven sides, with an eighth to follow (coming from the overcrowded pot 4, featuring nine European teams) in Friday's pre-draw from the curiously named Pot X.
Until that particular European side is added, Pot 2 is exclusively for the five African qualifiers—Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria—as well as the two South American nations who aren't in Pot 1—Chile and Ecuador.
Therefore, here's a look at the seven teams in Pot 2 and an attempt to rank them according to strength.
Who will those in other groups fancy the look of and who will they hope to avoid?
Let's take a look:
No. 7: Algeria
1 of 7
Algeria edged their way through a lively play-off against Burkina Faso, claiming a win on away goals thanks to Madjid Bougherra's winner in the second leg, when perhaps the Foxes skipper was fortunate to be on the pitch after a horror tackle earlier in proceedings.
And they would appear to be the weakest of the seven teams in Pot 2.
Vahid Halihodzic's side have never made it through the group stage at a World Cup before and, despite a number of talented players, it is highly unlikely that they will get past the opening round in Brazil.
The key men will be Bougherra, a dominant if occasionally wayward centre-half, while the tigerish Sofiane Feghouli mixes excellent technical capabilities with clever movement in midfield and is proficient across a number of roles.
However, while they do have a fairly solid midfield—also featuring Hassan Yebda, Yacine Brahimi, Medhi Lacen and Inter Milan's Saphir Taider—they aren't the best in either penalty area (despite their goalscoring exploits in qualifying, where they were fortunate to get arguably the weakest of all 10 African qualifying groups) and are often troubled by sides who apply pressure and pace in the final third.
This year started poorly with an underwhelming showing at the Africa Cup of Nations—losing to Togo and Tunisia before drawing with an already qualified Ivory Coast—where they struggled for inspiration in attack.
There's little reason to believe they can do any better next summer.
No. 6: Cameroon
2 of 7
Cameroon eased past Tunisia in their play-off to qualify for another finals, but this current incarnation is a far cry from some of the sides that have graced the tournament since their debut in 1990.
Samuel Eto'o remains the talisman up front, but his is a divisive presence, with the Chelsea frontman even suggesting that his international colleagues don't want to pass him the ball, as reported by Daniel Meade at Soccerly.com.
Rather than treading on eggshells until Brazil, head coach Volker Finke needs either to cull the African legend now or find a way to harness his squad as one.
Aside from Eto'o, there is certainly plenty of talent throughout the starting XI: Marseille's Nicolas N'Koulou and Aurelien Chedjou of Galatasaray are both good defenders, Alex Song's quality in midfield is undoubted and Joel Matip is highly-rated—though not a guaranteed starter.
However, while you would label them solid, you would also have to say that this is a Cameroon side that lacks attacking inspiration.
Eto'o's international record is good (55 goals in 114 caps), but they lack goals, with just five in the five group games they actually played in qualifying—they were awarded a 3-0 win in Togo—and they lack the genius of a true No. 10 who can create in a role just off the front.
As such, don't expect their matches to be full brilliant attacking play next summer. And don't expect the Indomitable Lions to make their way past the group stage either.
No. 5: Ecuador
3 of 7
On paper this is not a fantastic side, but fortunately for Ecuador supporters next summer, football is not a game played on paper.
In short, Reinaldo Rueda's side are greater than the sum of their parts and that togetherness is something they will hope to show the world in Brazil, as they look to do justice to the memory of one of their own: the tragic striker Christian Benitez.
However, timing is everything where World Cups are concerned and though it will be played on their home continent, it could be a struggle for Rueda's men.
Had the competition been played in early 2013, when they were in the midst of a run of just two defeats in 18 matches, La Tri's chances of not only escaping their group but potentially making a quarter-final place would have been strong.
However, while they finished fourth in South American qualifying, they stumbled over the finish line with just one win in their last six matches, while they've won just one of their last 10 altogether. Add to that the difference in their results away from the altitude of Quito's Estadio Olimpico to those achieved on home soil and they're a particularly peculiar side.
Nonetheless, they do possess a number of match-winners in their ranks, most notably Manchester United's direct winger Luis Antonio Valencia, striker Felipe Caicedo and the tricky Jefferson Montero.
Yet their Achilles heel is undoubtedly a rather sub-standard defence, comprising mostly of home-based players who, when pressed and asked questions, tend to crumble under pressure. The way that what was effectively a Germany C team tore them apart in the early minutes of a friendly in May was horrifying.
As such, while Ecuador may be greater than the sum of their parts, it is unlikely to be enough when they get down to business next summer.
No. 4: Nigeria
4 of 7
All in all, 2013 has been a very good year for the Super Eagles, led by the excellent coach Stephen Keshi.
Having placed his faith in a number of home-based and young players—including the likes of Kenneth Omeruo, Sunday Mba and Ogenyi Onazi—Keshi took the side to Africa Cup of Nations glory in February, Mba's goal beating Burkina Faso in the final before securing a place in the World Cup with a comfortable play-off victory over Ethiopia in November.
Sandwiched between was a decent showing at the Confederations Cup, which will have perhaps helped to shed a little naivety from their play ahead of next year.
And while they have a number of good players—featuring Africa's finest goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, Chelsea's Jon Obi Mikel, the spiky striker Emmanuel Emenike and lightning-quick forward Ahmed Musa—it is Keshi who is their greatest strength.
The coach has coaxed the best form out of a number of his players, including Mikel—to whom he has given greater attacking licence—and the winger Victor Moses, while he has also put together a side that fuses pace and power with a little bit of off-the-cuff magic.
However, there do still remain rough edges which Keshi will need to iron out if they're to emerge from their group in Brazil.
The defence, while better organised than at any point in perhaps the last decade, is still prone to individual lapses; the midfield—despite Mikel's presence—doesn't dictate matches as perhaps it should; and in turn the attack seemingly performs in fits and starts; they need to do more to threaten more regularly during 90 minutes.
However, if Keshi can continue his country on the upward curve on which they have ridden in the past 12-18 months, then look for Nigeria to make a decent go of things in South America next summer.
No. 3: Ivory Coast
5 of 7
Over the course of the past decade, Les Elephants have been great underachievers.
A side packed full of talent, led by midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure and talismanic striker Didier Drogba, they have failed to produce any kind of title—something which had been expected of this golden generation.
Certainly they haven't made the impact expected of them at previous World Cups, but there have been mitigating circumstances; placed in the Group of Death in both 2006 and 2010, with Argentina and Netherlands first before meeting both Brazil and Portugal four years later.
Many of their hopes will once again rest on the shoulders of Drogba, who throughout his career has frequently made his presence felt in the biggest of matches.
At international level it hasn't quite worked out that way for the 35-year-old, but if he can bring his best next summer, then few will fancy coming up against Sabri Lamouchi's well-organised side.
In an attacking sense, much will depend on Drogba as he adds a direct punch to their play that his potential replacements simply cannot muster. Yaya Toure's ability to dominate midfield and the unpredictability and pace from wide of Gervinho and Salomon Kalou will also offer a threat.
Defensively, Kolo Toure and Didier Zokora are a solid partnership while young full-back Serge Aurier has a bright future both at club and international level.
However, the Achilles heel once more for the Ivorians, as proven at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, will once again be the goalkeeper Boubacar Barry. Mistake-ridden doesn't even begin to describe the 33-year-old Lokeren stopper.
Perhaps they lack a subtle, creative type to link with Drogba in central areas, but the powerful midfield trio of Yaya Toure, Cheick Tiote and Christian Romaric don't lack for technique either.
Anyone who plays against Ivory Coast next summer will know they've been in a match. The hope for Lamouchi and his players is that they avoid another devilish group in Friday's draw.
No. 2: Ghana
6 of 7
Quarter-finalists at the 2010 World Cup and just a mere penalty kick away from the semi-final, the Black Stars are back for 2014 as perhaps Africa's No. 1 side, despite only finishing fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana smashed an Egypt side who had won all of their qualification matches 6-1 when the two met in their play-off first leg back in October, and that match perfectly encapsulated the kind of attacking threat that Akwasi Appiah's side contains.
Captain Asamoah Gyan may not be the greatest finisher, but his record of 39 goals in 77 games is to be respected, while he leads the line well and allows an extremely strong midfield to flourish.
And it is that midfield which is the West African side's great strength. Sulley Muntari is a solid performer, with an eye for goal from deep (20 in 80 caps) while Chelsea's Michael Essien, though not as mobile as he once was after serious knee problems, brings strength, nous and leadership.
Marseille winger Andre Ayew brings pace and trickery from the left flank, Wakaso brings unpredictability while the versatile Juventus star Kwadwo Asamoah can fulfil a number of different roles with considerable class.
Another World Cup showing has also brought the return to the fold of the eccentric talent that is Kevin-Prince Boateng who starred in 2010; he adds depth and big-game temperament.
However, the worry is that they remain suspect defensively and it is something that opponents will eye with glee. They've conceded in each of their last six matches and eventually it may place too much of a burden on the attacking players.
The question to that particular question, though, is when. In the last two World Cups, they've improved, making it to the last 16 in 2006 and the quarter-final in 2010.
It will likely prove too much for them to make progress once more, but they'll be a test for whoever they're paired with in Brazil. If the Ghanaians truly are "at it," expect some kind of impact.
No. 1: Chile
7 of 7
Under Marcelo Bielsa at the 2010 World Cup, Chile came to international attention with a hard-running, high-pressing yet technical style that has since become a staple of some of Europe's very best club sides.
After Bielsa's departure, Claudio Borghi took charge but struggled and, in 2012, Universidad de Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli—a man with similar managerial principles to Bielsa—took charge of the national side, having led La U to the 2011 Copa Sudamericana with some outstanding attacking displays.
Now Sampaoli has done a similar job with the national team to that of his mentor, building his Chilean XI in similar fashion to his former club side. Whether playing a 4-3-3 (utilising the recalled Jorge Valdivia as a false nine) or starting with a back three and wing-backs in Mauricio Isla and Eugenio Mena, La Roja have bought into Sampaoli's methods and are thriving.
Since Sampaoli's arrival at the beginning of 2013, Chile have embarked on a sterling run of just two defeats in 14 matches during which time they fired their way to third in CONMEBOL qualifying.
And as the tide has turned on the national XI as a whole, individuals have grown: Arturo Vidal, arguably club football's premier box-to-box midfielder, has shone with a number of all-action showings.
The Basel regista Marcelo Diaz has been excellent as a deep-lying playmaker, having been handed the reins of dictating on the international stage by his former club manager, and wide forwards Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas have found both form, confidence and crucially goals.
Additionally, La Roja have a number of back-up players who can seamlessly slot into the starting line-up without missing a beat.
Of course they aren't perfect. Gary Medel, the Cardiff City pitbull, continues to be employed out-of-position as a centre-back alongside veteran Marcos Gonzalez, while their suffocating pressing can be exploited by quick vertical passes.
However, Sampaoli's men are the very best that Pot 2 has to offer.
In a South American World Cup, they are very much the Dark Horse.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
