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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:32:50)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags:
PREVIEWS > Group B > Summary
Cameroon, Angola, Togo, Congo DR.
An exciting setup. Africa’s number one which have not qualified for the World Cup (assumed reason: because having been pitched against the similar strong Ivorians), encountering those two surprise qualificants who are thought to be lacking the top level a World Cup requests.
This group will not definitively deliver the answer about the real strength of the two, because on World level in the summer the football will be played a little different. Nevertheless the idea of a comparison with Camerron seems exciting.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:15:15)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags: Cameroon
PREVIEWS > Group B > Cameroon
Number 1 in Africa. Four time Nations Cup winners and have already two successes (2000 and 2002) in the just begun century.
Europe comparisons: population: Netherlands football level: Germany
Clubs: 30 years ago top, today relatively meaningless
Squad: all professionals at Europe. Young talents exit the country early to get educated at European clubs but have nowadays to compete with a lot of talents from other parts of Africa.
Coach: European. (Artur Jorge)
Cameroon want to win the cup after the huge World Cup disappointment and are the team to beat. They can force results although their striking power is limited after Mboma quit. Cameroon are usually dominatig matches by their one on one superiority.
In the World Cup qualifiers it had been conspicuous how the team lost focus and concentration when the match seemed apparently under control (Sudan and Egypt home games).
Stars: Eto’o (Barcelona), expect him to fulfil a more drawn back kind of role, as Cameroon have only limited potential at that position and leave the front job to Webo from Osasuna. That is why Eto’o does not score as many goals for the national team.
Conspicious: The reservoir of huge talent on the goalkeeping position. Long throw ins by Geremi (Chelsea) from the right and Womé from the left in case he will be in the squad.
Some players are refusing to play after past conflicts with the administration (Lauren).
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:09:45)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags: Angola
PREVIEWS > Group B > Angola
Only twice before at a Nations Cup. Long time suffering from the civil war but with a little petrol money backing football.
Clubs: not top but decent performers in Africa
Squad: Mixed. Homebased, Portugal based (Angola is former Portuguese colony), Arabia based
Coach: Angolan.
Angola play composed attacking football with combinatory skills. Individual players do not stand out with solos etc, rather because they are at the right place at the right time, like prominent striker Fabrice Akwa, their goal guarantuee.
Reaction to bad results does not seem to be as hysterical as they can be expected elsewhere, but this can also be a wrong impression through the language barrier of the rarely internationally read media in Portuguese.
Angola will unlikely disappoint but as unlikely go all the way as their football is not as unpredictable as the Congolese f.e.
Stars: besides Akwa, Mantorras can be mentioned, once one of the greater talents of African football, but thrown back through nagging knee injuries.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:08:36)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags: Togo
PREVIEWS > Group B > Togo
Only appeared regularly at recent Nations Cups. Have never reached the second round.
Europe comparisons:: Slovenia
Clubs: meaningless
Squad: Majority of players in lower divisions at Europe..
Coach: African. Stephen Keshi (Nigeria).
Togo like to compare themselves to Senegal 2002, whom they beat during the World Cup qualifiers.
An extraordinary coach has formed an exceptionally performing squad with players recruited mainly from French clubs. So far so good. The difference is: Togos players come from lower divisions while Senegals players had been top League 1 performers at top clubs in 2002. Nevertheless Togo have collected the most points in the World Cup qualifiers of all African teams. Weak opposition?
The biggest problem is exaggerated expectations: Former striker Salou expects the semi-finals.
The exceptional constellation of success is in danger considering African football hysteria.
Stars: Adebayor, striker (Monaco)
Conspicious: a hard to beat goalkeeper, if healthy.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:06:01)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags: Congo DR
PREVIEWS > Group B > Congo DR
Regularly at Nations Cup tournaments, winners 1968, 1974.
Clubs: traditional, huge crowds, but big successes in Africa long ago, modest success level
Coach: European (Frenchman Claude LeRoy, an experienced coach in Africa).
Here it is again, the old klischee: Congo DR are the Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hide team of Africa. In recent 10 years we have seen all kinds of performances, from the embarrassing wild behaviour against Ghana 1996 to the surprise team football of 1998 (third place), miserably prepared teams, teams with nonames, then with different names, than with stars (Nonda, Lualua). Judging from the preparation match at Morocco one should not expect too much. At their best they could leave Angola and Togo behind. At their worst they will discuss bonuses during the nights before matches, play with taped numbers, and lose all. We’ll see.
Stars: Nonda will miss with an injury, so the best known player seems to be Lualua from the English premier leaue.
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