World Cup Group D Discussion\Updates\Predictions
 

This Thread is for the World Cup Group D Teams discussions\predictions\ updates and soon results

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Germany face early test of mettle


'Group of death' may be a well-worn tournament standard but it is an epithet that could apply to this section. Germany, who share the record for most FIFA World Cup™ finals with Brazil, will cast a shadow over their rivals' preparations given their tradition of high achievement at this level. Yet the semi-finalists from 2006 were hardly alone in taking the fast lane to South Africa, with Australia, Ghana and Serbia all reigning supreme in their qualifying pools. The first two of those sides also gave eye-catching performances four years ago and are unlikely to stand on ceremony here, while Serbia's talent production has never been in doubt.
The favourites
Germany: Joachim Low's team are not top seeds for nothing. They showed their form in a clinical and unyielding Group 4 qualifying campaign in which the seven-goal Miroslav Klose, Michael Ballack and company accounted for Guus Hiddink’s Russia. Given also their seemingly effortless march to the last UEFA European Championship final, in 2008, you can expect another show of class from the seven-time FIFA World Cup finalists and three-time winners.
Ghana: As the first African team to reach the 2010 finals and their continent's only representative in the knockout rounds of the last FIFA World Cup – when they made an impressive tournament debut – Ghana arguably merit the tag of second favourites in this pool. Coach Milovan Rajevac's Black Stars easily navigated the final round of African qualification, losing a goal and a game only after the job was done. The midfield trio of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah could make them a match for anyone.
The outsiders
Serbia: Radomir Antic's men were last out of the hat in the Group D draw but should not be taken lightly. The White Eagles beat France to pole position in their qualifying section, earning Serbia's maiden FIFA World Cup appearance as an independent entity with a 5-0 thrashing of Romania. Any side boasting the talents of Nemanja Vidic, Dejan Stankovic and Milan Jovanovic deserves respect; add the historical pedigree of a nation with ten previous FIFA World Cup appearances (as Yugoslavia, and Serbia and Montenegro) and you have definite dark-horse material.
Australia: It took the Socceroos 32 years to regain the world stage they had first trod in 1974. But, four summers on from their impressive showing under Hiddink in Germany, the Australians make a quick return to the elite tournament. Now under the tutelage of another canny Dutchman, Pim Verbeek, this pragmatic and strong-willed outfit made smooth progress through their debut Asian qualification competition after the decision to leave the Oceania group. They finished well clear of Japan in the final stage.
The players to watch
Miroslav Klose (GER), Tim Cahill (AUS), Matthew Amoah (GHA), Michael Essien (GHA), Milan Jovanovic (SRB), Marko Pantelic (SRB)
The crunch match
Ghana-Australia: With Australia starting their campaign against Germany, this match will be central to the hopes of a Socceroos side who, like Ghana, will realistically be targeting second place. It is a game the Black Stars won’t want to lose either, given they finish off against Germany.
A look back
Australia-West Germany, 18 June 1974: Hamburg's Volksparkstadion was the stage when the countries met at the 1974 tournament. It was their second outing of the group stage and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the hosts prevailed by 3-0 against the upstarts from Oceania. Wolfgang Overath, Bernd Cullmann and Gerd Mueller scored for the eventual champions. For Australia, there would be the consolation of a point against Chile in their closing encounter.
The stat
4 – Germany have contested four penalty shoot-outs at the FIFA World Cup, winning them all.
Did you know?
Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer may have been born in Sydney but his parents are German and he played for Dynamo Dresden and Kaiserslautern after leaving his home country to try his luck in Europe.
The question
No European nation has lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy on another continent. Can Germany or Serbia achieve a historic first? Click 'Add your comment' to make your opinion known.

Germany will top the group;),Serbia will finish Second. It's not an easy group though.

at what time ? ta e7ssob 7ssebe min halla2 :P
lebanon wise of course

Thank You ...

You could be fooled into thinking there are three Mesut Ozils. First, there is the shy young man laughing mischievously among his team-mates. Then there is the media-savy youngster who has his answers ready for the journalists and plays it safe in front of a micraphone. And then, of course, there is the footballer; the explosive attacking midfielder whose enigmatic performances have wowed crowds week-in, week-out in the Bundesliga.
Germany have been anxiously awaiting a playmaker of his caliber for many years now. The 21-year-old, born in Gelsenkirchen to Turkish parents, has brought an extra dash of flavour, spontaneity and quality to the Bundesliga, a league perhaps better known for its disciplined, battling and direct style. Indeed, national team coach Joachim Low can barely believe his fortune, referring to the jewel in his crown as a "stroke of luck for German football".
Not since the days of Thomas Hassler and Mehmet Scholl has a player brought so much creativity and entertainment to a Germany team as the nimble and often cheeky playmaker, who started his career with Schalke before following in the footsteps of Brazilian icon Diego at Werder Bremen. Nonetheless, Ozil is clearly more than capable of stepping out of the shadows of his gifted predecessor.




The new fan-favourite caresses the ball like no other German player before him, bringing his fellow midfielders into the game with a sixth sense that seems to put him one step ahead of his opponents. If that were not impressive enough, he also shows an ice-cool temperament in front of goal.
Even Germany captain Michael Ballack has earmarked Ozil as his heir in the national team. "Mesut has shown great potential," he raved. "We're all hoping that Germany have another classic No10 on their hands." Werder Bremen defender Naldo was equally effusive in his praise: "I've been positively surprised. He's taken on the role of Diego superbly. Mesut can decide a match on his own. He's quick-thinking and the ball just seems to stick to his feet, like Messi. I think he's going to get even better too."




Flying start
Germany's latest prodigy took just seven matches at international level to win over the nation's expectant fans. Following his debut in a disappointing 1-0 friendly defeat against Norway in February 2009, Ozil scored his first goal for Die Mannschaft in a 2-0 victory over the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ hosts seven months later.
However, it was his part in Miroslav Klose's goal against Russia that secured Germany's place at next summer's football festival which confirmed the youngster as an essential part of Joachim Low's South Africa 2010 plans. Indeed, it is highly likely that the team which finished third at Germany 2006 could provide us with the Hyundai Best Young Player once again next July, four years after Lukas Podolski took the accolade on home turf.




Ozil's ideal position in Low's formation lies somewhere between the midfield and attack, allowing him plenty of freedom to roam. Normally employed as a deep-lying second forward behind Miroslav Klose or Mario Gomez, the six-foot starlet supports the lone frontman along with the predominantly left-sided Podolski. Many observers have expressed the view that the more creative Ozil serves as the ideal midfield foil for the more defensively-minded Ballack.
The master and his apprentice are however split on the topic of Germany's chances at South Africa 2010. While Ballack feels the squad "lacks the necessary consistency and strength in depth", Ozil is far more optimistic: "It would be a dream come true to win the World Cup with Germany. We've certainly got the potential to go all the way."
Despite his tender years, Ozil, who lifted the German Cup in 2009, has already won one trophy at international level. At the 2009 UEFA U-21 European Championship in Sweden, the fledgling star played a huge part in Germany's eventual triumph, picking up the man of the match award in the final against England after setting up two goals and scoring one of his own in an emphatic 4-0 victory. Surely it is only a matter of time before Ozil spearheads the German charge to yet another major tournament final.


Fifa.com

German coach Joachim Löw has nominated 26 players for the upcoming international match against Argentina (Wednesday, March 3, 9.45 P.M., Beirut Time). Leverkusen’s Toni Kroos and Thomas Müller from Bayern München are called-upon for the first time.
Müller had been on the list for last year’s A-team game against the Ivory Coast, but had then played for the U 21-juniors. Löw said: “Both Kroos and Müller have shown solid performances in the Bundesliga for months, so they deserve this chance in the national team. We had invited them for our physical performance screening in Stuttgart last month, and now they have another opportunity to make an impression.”




As for the game against the two-time World Champions Argentina, Löw said: “On Wednesday, we’ll play our final game before we nominate the World Cup roster. With Argentina, we face a strong opponent, which demands our very best effort. We look forward to one of the classic matchups in modern-day football.” Löw went on to say: “We have decided to appoint more players than usual the case. Especially in a ‘World-Cup-season’, it’s vital to take a close look at all potential tournament players, and to have many personal talks, which is our emphasis for these next few days.”
Bremen’s goalkeeper Tim Wiese had to cancel because of a ruptured muscle fiber. Whether Hamburg’s Marcell Jansen, who has fallen ill, joins the team, has not yet been decided.

2 videos by me :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YFjssJbnbs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6StFaRyIco

Ghana will be the surprise of this group and will top it and Germany will end up 2nd.
This way, Germany will face England (the first in group C) and this game will be the end of Germany's journey in the World Cup. :D

i think it's the same as lebanon

we are 1 hour ahead of south africa according to google.
on another hand, i was watching youtube videos for Mesut Ozil and Marko Marin. these guys are amazing but still without international experience.i hope to see them in the squad as starters.