GROUP G

BELGIUM

2014: Supposedly the dark horses of the 2014 tourney, Belgium won all three group games and then knocked USA out in the R16 (2-1 aet) before losing 1-0 to Argentina in the Quarters. Decent effort.

The Gaffer: Roberto Martínez (ESP)

Main Man: Tough to ignore Kevin De Bruyne, he was amongst the finest players in the world over the past 12 months. KDB scores goals and KDB creates goals. Chuck him in a team with Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku around him and that’s a frightening prospect.

What to Watch For: If 2014 was the World Cup where Belgium’s new generation of stars first announced themselves then here’s the one where they get to take it to the limit. A lot of work has gone into Belgian football over the last two decades to get them to where they are now. There’s not a weak position in the squad. This is a squad that could conceivably go all the way.

The Big Question: Yeah… but as good as the players may be there’s not much faith that Roberto Martínez is the man to get the best out of them. What you got, Bobby?

Prediction: Bobby Martinez is the weak link. The draw’s been kind but got them losing in the quarters again.

PANAMA

2014: One of two teams, along with Iceland, appearing at their first ever World Cup.

The Gaffer: Hernán Darío Gómez (COL)

Main Man: Tough to say, this is probably the least star-studded team going to Russia. But young defender Fidel Escobar is one familiar to some kiwi fans, he was excellent for his team at the U20 World Cup in 2015. Dunno if he’ll play much here though so backup is Gabriel Torres who scored the goal to get Panama here.

What to Watch For: It’s always endearing to watch those teams who are just happy to be there, for whom even a single goal is a moment of national significance. There are no weak teams at the World Cup, of course, but not everyone has the same priorities. There are some massively experienced veterans in this Panama squad who are about to cap off their careers with

The Big Question: Once upon a time, in October 2013, Panama were on the brink of an intercontinental playoff with New Zealand when USA scored two injury time goals to eliminate them in a devastator. Mexico advanced instead and whalloped us poor kiwis 9-3 on aggregate. So how poetic that it was Panama who benefitted from USA’s massive choke to qualify for this one in their place?

Prediction: Nothing much, sorry.

TUNISIA

2014: Nowhere to be seen.

The Gaffer: Nabil Maâloul (TUN)

Main Man: It was probably Youssef Msakni but injury has meant he’ll miss the whole tournament. Instead Sunderland bust Wahbi Khazri is a much better player than Premier League fans ever got the chance to know. He’s got speed and skill and an eye for goal and in a defensively-minded Tunisian team those capabilities will be massive on the counter attack.

What to Watch For: There are heaps of underdogs who could make a big run in Russia. There’s always at least one. Tunisia are not a team that many people are giving much attention to but they’re a very organised team with a lot of familiarity and the potential to wreck some dreams along the way. Probably England’s. Not saying they will… but they could.

The Big Question: Will England choke for them? What about Belgium?

Prediction: Either they beat England and coast on that or they go out early after a battling effort.

ENGLAND

2014: Honestly, don’t even ask.

The Gaffer: Gareth Southgate (ENG)

Main Man: Captain fantastic and Harry Hotspur himself… Harry Kane. The lad is world class, don’t doubt it, but England have a funny history of not getting the best out of their best players in these situations. He’ll need to score some goals if a very young England team (18 players aged 27 or younger) is going to go far.

What to Watch For: The thing with a young team is that it’s a clean slate to work with, not nearly so much psychic damage accrued from past failures – Trent Alexander-Arnold was three years old when Ronaldinho chipped David Seamon in 2002! There’s also the usual English dilemma about finding a formation that suits everyone but Southgate’s been working hard at that. In the very least they ought to be less tragic than usual.

The Big Question: Weirdly it seems like England aren’t getting talked up as much as usual, with a young team and a pretty safe manager and considerably less pressure on everyone. Yet for some reason people think that means they’ll do better. Is the hush treatment just the same old curse in reverse?

Prediction: I don’t know when, I don’t know who against… but I do know that England will lose in a penalty shootout.

GROUP H

POLAND

2014: A large, greasy portion of DNQ.

The Gaffer: Adam Nawałka (POL)

Main Man: How do you spell Robert Lewandowski? Genuine world class striker at the peak of his abilities having scored 151 goals in 195 games for Bayern Munich over the last four years. Just get him the service and Bobby will do the rest.

What to Watch For: Qualified top of their group to get here but conceded in eight of their ten games (and it was a very soft group – Montenegro came third), with more goals leaked by Poland in qualifying than any other team that made it to Russia from UEFA. But they do score a fair few so that’ll keep it interesting.

The Big Question: Did Alan Pardew ruin Grzegorz Krychowiak? Also how reliant on Lewandowski are they going to be? Because he didn’t even scored at the 2016 Euros…

Prediction: A legendary striker will take you a long way and Poland are well in contention for the next round. But I like Japan better so guts to Poland.

SENEGAL

2014: Darlings of the 2002 tournament except that this is the first time they’ve made it back since.

The Gaffer: Aliou Cissé (SEN)

Main Man: Sadio Mane ain’t half bad. Pace, trickery and superb finishing is a recipe for World Cup success, where a good counter attack is often the best way to break down a stacked defence. Mane’s one of the absolute best in the business when you give him space to run into.

What to Watch For: Just their second ever World Cup so there’ll be nothing taken for granted. Senegal have speed in excess and all across the park. Idrissa Gueye is going to have a great tournament, those defensive midfielders always do. There’s massive bandwagon potential here.

The Big Question: How good is it seeing an African team qualify with an African manager?

Prediction: Certainly not here to make up the numbers, although I still think they’re in for fourth in Group H.

COLOMBIA

2014: The surprise package of the 2014 WC. Colombia unearthed a few gems with a perfect group stage and then a couple James Rodriguez goals in a 2-0 win over Uruguay (including that one absolute screamer) before Brazil edged them out 2-1 in the Quarters.

The Gaffer: José Pékerman (ARG)

Main Man: Gotta think James Rodríguez is still right up there, even if he did fall off the radar there at Real Madrid. But he’s got a decent season with Bayern Munich under his belt and has been playing well in the build ups.

What to Watch For: The surprise package of last time coming in with expectations this time. Not everyone handles those the best. Radamel Falcao is fit this time, which helps, while the emergence of a guy like Dávinson Sánchez helps plenty. This is an exciting team with exciting players.

The Big Question: Can they still dish it out now that everyone’s aware of them?

Prediction: Should be very strong. Not sure if they can run with the big dogs. Let’s say they top this group but exit in the R16.

JAPAN

2014: Unexpectedly poor showing there, failing to win a game and exiting fourth in their group.

The Gaffer: Akira Nishino (JPN)

Main Man: Seven of this Japan team plays in Germany and amongst them Shinji Kagawa remains the key man for the Blue Samurai. He’s the pivot for the attack, with heaps of passing and moving going on.

What to Watch For: Bosnian manager Vahid Halilhodzic was sacked less than two months out from the World Cup and personnel shake-ups this close to the dance are tough to make work, check out Australia for proof. But bringing in Nishino could prove a clever move, someone who understands the players better and can inspire a bit of the old national pride at the Cup. This is an experienced Japanese team too. Should be good.

The Big Question: With players like Shinji Okazaki, Maya Yoshida, Keisuke Honda, Makoto Hasebe and Yuto Nagamoto all in their late 20s and early 30s this might not be the last chance for this generation of Japanese talent… but it’ll probably be their best chance. So… will they take it?

Prediction: Second place in Group H and a knockout clash with either England or Belgium. That could go either way.

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