World Cup Group F: Is Sanes omission justified and can Son Heung-min make an impact?
There is less than a week to go until the World Cup kicks off in Russia, as the planets finest players prepare to dazzle and astound this summer. The tournament kicks off in Moscow on Thursday evening as hosts Russia take on Saudi Arabia, and Metro.co.uk will be previewing each group ahead of the big kick-off.
Here, we look at Group F which includes reigning, defending world champions Germany who will be heavy favourites to progress through to the round of 16. That leaves a likely battle for the second qualification spot between Mexico, Sweden and South Korea. Mexico have the pedigree and experience but Sweden and South Korea could well spring a surprise in what many have dubbed the group of death.
TALKING POINT: Will Joachim Low be justified in his omission of Leroy Sane?
Germanys progress to the finals had been routine and without much fanfare. The world champions have not lost a competitive game since the Euro 2016 semi-final defeat to France and looked like they would arrive in Russia without any overriding media narrative. That was until Joachim Low decided to cut Manchester City winger Leroy Sane from his final 23-man squad.
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The Premier League and PFA Young Player of the Year, who scored 14 goals and assisted a further 17 in all competitions, was deemed surplus to requirements due to apparent concerns over his attitude. While Germany dont have a shortage in proven talent in attacking areas, you could argue – besides Timo Werner and perhaps Marco Reus – no player in Lows squad can boast the explosive attributes Sane so clearly can.
The pressure will be on Lows tactical setup and the likes of Reus and Julian Brandt to deliver the goods in Sanes absence. If Lows men do come short at any point, there will be a long line of critics ready to beat him with a Leroy Sane-shaped stick.
GROUP OVERVIEW
Germanys progression to finals was practically flawless. They won each of their 10 matches and conceded just four goals while scoring 43. Two recent defeats in friendlies to Brazil and Austria have raised a few eyebrows but it will take a brave person to bet against them reaching another final.
Mexico once again coasted through their Central American qualification campaign, with Costa Rica only momentarily challenging their position at the top of the standings. Their only defeat came to Honduras, by which point qualification had already been achieved.
Group F Winner odds
Germany 4/11
Mexico 6/1
Sweden 8/1
South Korea 16/1
All odds courtesy of Betfair
Sweden made headlines by edging out the Netherlands in their qualification group on goal difference, to progress to the play-offs behind France. Thats where they ran into Italy and caused yet another sizeable shock, knocking out the 2006 winners over two legs.
South Korea have become part of the furniture at World Cup tournaments in recent history. They secured their automatic progress in the Asian qualification behind Iran, pushing Syria into the dreaded play-off spot.
HOW WILL GROUP FAVOURITES GERMANY LINE-UP?
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer played just 360 minutes of competitive football for Bayern last season due to injury but is expected to start for Low against Mexico regardless, providing he is fit. The back-four has been settled for a while now, with Colognes Jonas Hector at left-back perhaps the only unfamiliar name in the side.
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Low will stick with the long-serving midfield core of Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, fitness depending, and Thomas Muller, who all featured in the 2014 final win over Argentina in Rio.
The two contentious positions are; left-midfield and centre-forward. Julian Draxler has played enough in qualifying to suggest he will fill the wide left role, but Marco Reus or Julian Brandt could crowbar their way in.
The hardest position to predict is the striker. Mario Gotze largely filled the role during qualifying, but his absence from the squad suggests RB Leipzigs young upstart Timo Werner could be introduced. If Low thinks it is too soon for him, he will go for the tried and tested veteran target-man, Mario Gomez.
WHO SHOULD GERMANY FEAR?
While Mexicos collection of wiley veterans should not be overlooked, you would expect Germany to be well aware of their relative strengths and weaknesses.
South Korea, on the other hand, are the proverbial wildcards. Off the back of a standout season at Tottenham, their poster boy Son Heung-min could be the man to make an impact on the international stage and catapult himself into genuine stardom. Anything they do well will go through him, and his performances in the recent warm-up fixtures suggests he has the appetite, nevermind the ability, to take the competition by storm.
Traditionally South Korean sides have relied on speed, energy and technical quality to overcome opponents, as apposed to both Sweden and to some extent Mexico who have more regimented styles of play. Shin Tae-yongs side may not emulate the 2002 hosts and reach the semi-finals, but they could well spring a surprise in Group F and force their way in to the knockout stages.
FIXTURES
World Cup Group F Fixtures
17 JUNE
Sweden v South Korea – 1pm BST, Nizhny Novgorod
Germany v Mexico- 4pm BST, Moscow
22 JUNE
South Korea v Mexico – 4pm BST, Rostov-on-Don
Germany v Sweden – 7pm BST, Sochi
27 JUNE
South Korea v Germany – 3pm BST, Kazan
Mexico v Swden – 3pm BST, Ekaterinburg
CHECK OUT MORE GROUP PREVIEWS: Group A | Group B | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H
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