Artem Sokolov, exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
VK continues to write about the teams of the World Cup in Brazil. This text is about group D with Uruguay, Costa Rica, England and Italy.
Uruguay
One of the leaders of the group and the entire championship. La Celeste is at least capable of repeating its way of four years ago when they stopped just one step from the finals. Their strong point is that they have played together for long. In the last four years their composition has almost not changed. Cavani, Forlan, Muslera, Lugano, Pereira, Godin are in good shape. And even the absence of the main star Luis Suarez who missed the first game in the group because of injury should not be a problem. The defense of La Celeste is among the strongest at this championship. Suarez, Cavani and the veteran Forlan can make a performance, like it was at the last championship.
The main problem of Uruguay is the lack of balance in the team with too much emphasis on the attack, which can result in some difficulties already at the group stage. Still, despite this, the wards of Oscar Tabarez can surprise us, as happened at the last championship. The climate will most likely be a problem for the English and Italian teams, who are the main enemies of Uruguay on the way to the play-offs.
Costa Rica
Los Ticos are a clear outsider of the group and their main task is to defend their name. The wards of Jorge Luis Pinto can hardly count on the play-offs in the company of Uruguay, England and Italy, but when defeat is expected victory can be glorious, and they can show their best football and take some points from one of the favorites. The composition of the team is the cheapest among all the 32 participants of the Cup and the main star and the captain of the team is the forward of the Dutch team PSV, Bryan Ruiz.
Italy
Italy is one of the mysterious teams of the championship. Even Italians do not know what the team will look like. Their plus is their traditional tactical preparation and the even composition without many problematic spots. Unlike the European championship two years ago, the coach Cesare Prandelli has a wide choice in attack. Balotelli, Cassno, Immobile, Insigne and Cerci. The main stars are the veteran goalkeeper Buffon and Andrea Pirlo, who can cut the defense of the enemy with one shot. In the absence of the injured Montolivo he will be helped by de Rossi, Veratti and Marchisio.
The problem of Italians can be the limit of the players. The team has practically no world stars. As experience shows, at the big tournaments the Italians start late. This can be a key problem in a group where your enemies are England and Uruguay. Yet, despite the level of the other teams, the Italian prospects are not bad. Squadra Azzura has often been written off, but it was a mistake. The Italians are capable of reaching the quarterfinals and even further.
England
This is also a mystery. The new English team can equally succeed and fail. The team has a good combination in attack - Sturridge, Welbeck, Sterling, Rooney. There is a choice in midfield - Henderson, Wilshere, Lampard, Gerrard, But the line of defense is completely unclear. Hart is a good goalkeeper, but the defenders Johnson, Cahill, Baines, Jagielka can both succeed and fail. And this is the main problem for the mentor of the three lions Roy Hodgson. The climate will also be a minus. But the young English team can fight, Their composition is balanced, unlike Uruguay, and the slow start of the Italians gives a chance to the English team to play more than three games. The wards of Hodgson can count on getting out of the group and even reaching the quarterfinals.
