France, Peru, Denmark. Nice!
Yep, we can't complain with that lot.
There's going to be a 2006/2010 sliding doors moment first up with how we go against top ranked France.
We lost to Brazil in 2006 0-2 (second game I know) but it a respectable loss that only boosted our confidence in getting out of the group stage. We were only 0-1 down until the last minute and coughed one up pushing forward for the equalizer. Also Harry missed a good chance earlier in the game. In 2010 however, we faced Germany first up and embarrassed ourselves 0-4. We never recovered with such a hit to our goal difference despite drawing with Ghana (Harry copped that dubious red card) and beating Serbia.
So a good showing against France is vital even if it's a narrow loss. Here's hoping France beats Peru and Denmark so a win and draw will again be only needed to get out of the group. Peru were only the 5th best South American team while Denmark is no European power. We should also be able to get some valuable tactical info from across the Tasman on playing Peru.
Group E looks like a cracker and Japan’s long slip in the rankings looks to have given them a tougher group.
My tips on those getting through to the knockout stage.
A: Russia, Uruguay
B: Portugal, Spain
C: France, Australia (why not
)
D: Argentina, Croatia
E: Brazil, Switzerland
F: Germany, Mexico
G: Belgium, England (Poms will be happy with their group)
H: Poland, Colombia (if they are on the legit
)
ps. So glad when Iran was named in Group B so we knew we had avoided both Portugal and Spain
.
