THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 Small, Dzeko, mountainous Enyeama and Queiroz countries clash for glory out to spoil Messi’s dream BRAZIL: The erratic French, efficient A and their impish winger Xherdan Shaqiri, 22, is one of the CUIABA: Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko, Nigeria goalkeeper Argentina’s second world title in Mexico in Swiss, flying Ecuadoreans and hard- most exciting players to have emerged from the country. Vincent Enyeama and Iran coach Carlos Queiroz will all 1986, but he is part of a “Fab Four” tackling Honduras promise to turn Like several other members of the squad, Shaqiri was born be looking for a say in trying to dent Lionel Messi’s attack. Group E into one of the most unpre- in Kosovo and came to Switzerland as an infant when his World Cup dream over the next two weeks. Argentina’s Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain dictable at the World Cup. parents moved during the Balkans conflict of the 1990s. captain, who came to Brazil as a favourite for player of and Angel Di Maria join Messi up The raw talents of Paul Pogba, The “Secondos” have given added confidence and feisty the tournament, should lead the twice world champi- front in a gameplan that is based on Jerry Bengtson, Xherdan Shaqiri and edge not usually associated with Swiss teams. On the other ons through to the knockout phase as winners of outscoring the opposition with the Jefferson Montero add to the intrigue hand, Switzerland were somewhat flattered by an easy Group F. back line seen as Argentina’s weak- to a group which may lack a World Cup qualifying group where Slovenia, Norway, They start against debutants Bosnia at the ness. high-profile Iceland, Albania and Cyprus were their modest rivals. Maracana on Sunday where coach Alejandro Bosnia have managed to bring Apart from Brazil, they have not faced world Sabella’s main worry will be Dzeko’s fine run class opponents in the last two years and they together a squad of talented often struggle to create chances against of scoring form in Manchester City’s run- players who grew up in packed defences. in to the Premier League title last month. many different parts of Fortunately for Switzerland, The next match against Iran in the world after their Ecuador do not fall into the latter Argentina’s base city of Belo Horizonte families escaped the category. They suffer from a six days later will be where Portuguese war in the Balkans. dearth of top class central Queiroz puts his coaching nous to the They have strong defenders and their already ultimate test having steered his side to sense of belonging vulnerable rearguard has their fourth finals. It is against Nigeria in that has helped Xherdan now lost the protection of the final group match in Porto Alegre coach Safet Susic Shaqiri Segundo Castillo after the on June 25 that Messi, Argentina’s sec- weld a team experienced defensive mid- ond highest scorer of all time with 38 capable of fielder was ruled out of the goals in 86 internationals, has a score upsetting the tournament with injury. On the to settle with Enyeama. best on their other hand, Antonio Valencia and The Nigeria keeper had a say in day and this the mercurial Montero offer the sort of threat down the South Africa in keeping Messi scoreless will be neces- flanks which Switzerland would not have faced during the in the 2010 finals, making superb saves sary in a side World Cup qualifiers. from the little ace in a 1-0 Argentine win with their own Montero’s speed and trickery on the left wing make and leaving him still looking for his first defensive frail- him unplayable on his day although he is exasperatingly World Cup goal since 2006. ties. —Reuters inconsistent as a quick glance at his checkered club career A good day for any one of the three indicates. encounter but will Honduras are making their third World Cup appearance could complicate Argentina’s plans to provide an intriguing and their credentials are less than impressive. They have break their quarter-final hoodoo and battle between failed to win a match in six attempts and did not even reach the last four for the first time since Europe and Latin score a goal in South Africa four years ago, when they also Diego Maradona’s side in Italy in 1990. America. met the Swiss and drew 0-0. “Those of us in the team for some time In theory, France, However, that was before Jerry Bengston arrived on the have not been (involved) in a good era for enjoying a revival under scene. The U.S.-based striker scored 11 goals in the qualify- achievements but there’s always the dream of Didier Deschamps, are clear ing competition despite walking out on the team halfway getting there,” said midfielder Javier favourites to finish top while through the campaign. He was allowed back by coach Luis Mascherano, a Copa America runner-up with Honduras, who have never Fernando Suarez after publicly apologising. Argentina in 2004 and 2007. won a match at the World Physically strong and tight at the back, Honduras could “We must try to put Argentina back in a place Cup, are given little spring a surprise if they can add some firepower to their they haven’t been for a long time,” he told hope of progressing. spoiling qualities. reporters at the weekend. That would leave They start their campaign against the French who are With Argentina likely to take first place in the the small, mountain- always vulnerable to upsets and in their last four World group, the key match for second should be Edin Dzeko ous countries of Cup campaigns have either reached the final or fallen at Bosnia’s clash on June 21 with Nigeria in muggy Switzerland the first hurdle. Cuiaba in the heart of the South American hinter- The script for the group would quickly have to be torn land. up if they fail to beat the Central Americans in their open- A duel there could see Dzeko up against ing game which, given their past record, is certainly within the realms of possibility. Enyeama as Bosnia look to crown their arrival on the Although Franck Ribery’s absence is a huge blow, 21- biggest stage with a place in the last 16, a dream for year-old midfielder Paul Pogba, who combines a strong fans of the nation that emerged from the ruins of the and Ecuador to battle for physical presence with deft footwork, outstanding former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. second place, making their technique and superb vision, could be one of the Nigeria have their own dream of reaching the same meeting in Brasilia on tournament revelations. stage for the first time since 1998 having been frustrat- Sunday possibly the Like his team, however, Pogba is prone to ed by Argentina in 2002 and again in 2010. most important of the ups and downs and he had a disappointing Messi has a special relationship with the Nigerians, group. On paper, the team second half of the season with Juventus. having beaten them in the final of the 2005 under-20 from the Alps, who by a quirk of the France are by no means guaranteed to beat World Cup and 2008 Olympic gold medal match in FIFA rankings are the group’s top seeds, would appear to the Swiss in their second game and they will certainly Beijing. be in better shape than their Andean opponents. not want to be needing a win when they face Ecuador at It is the supporting cast, though, that will take play- The Swiss sailed through their World Cup qualifying the Maracana in their final game.—Reuters ers like Messi, Dzeko, striker Emmanuel Emenike of group without losing, were the only team to beat Brazil in African champions Nigeria or, in a shock scenario, Iran’s 2013, have only lost once in the last two years and have veteran multi-cap midfielder Javad Nekounam through climbed to sixth in the world rankings. Most of their players to bigger things. have enjoyed successful seasons in the Bundesliga or Serie Messi may be compared with Maradona, who is regarded as having almost singlehandedly won Bonuses cause stir from Spain to Cameroon PARIS: From Cameroon’s players refus- Germany’s players ‘only’ set to earn joint biggest ever, only matches what ing to board their plane for Brazil to 300,000 euros a man if they win. they were promised for winning the Spain’s massive offer, World Cup bonus- Hosts Brazil are also in line for a competition on home soil eight years es have already caused a stir before a bumper payday, with squad members ago. That went down to 250,000 euros The ball is too light, ball has been kicked in anger. reported to earn around 1 million reais in South Africa but even so, these are As ever it was an African country, ($448,000) if they go all the way. figures that dwarf the amounts given moans Ospina this time Cameroon, who kicked up the Those may seem astronomical sums to previous German World Cup win- first fuss over bonuses. but they must be taken into considera- ners. In 1954 the German Football COTIA: Columbia’s goalkeeper David Ospina on ball comes from goals and we have to adapt to this In 2006 it was Togo while last time tion alongside the fact that FIFA will Federation (DFB) gave each player Tuesday criticised the World Cup ‘Brazuca’ ball new ball technology,” he said.