by Craig Laycock
Original article:
Group J Preview
Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
World Rankings:
Argentina 3rd
Austria 24th
Algeria 28th
Jordan 63rd
GROUP STRENGTH
Group J is the 5th strongest group on paper, but Argentina’s 3rd placed ranking is doing a lot of the heavy lifting there, with Jordan making up the numbers.
But an intriguing contest will be between Austria and Algeria, who share a similar ELO and are ranked 24th and 28th respectively.
On paper, then, you would expect the group to be won by multiple World Cup winners and current holders Argentina fairly easily, and then a tussle for 2nd and 3rd places.
***
Argentina
Defending champions Argentina made qualifying look easy, finishing top of the CONMEBOL qualifier tables ahead of Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil. Their 12 wins from 18 games was easily enough to qualify at a canter.
They got off to a good start, blasting their way through their first four qualifiers flawlessly. A minor blip occurred when they lost to Uruguay at home, but in the qualifying campaign they also destroyed Brazil 4-1. Lionel Messi was the top scorer in South American qualifying with 8, showing the old boy still has a fair few tricks up his sleeves.
Play style:
They’ve achieved a lot of success with a counter-pressing philosophy that sees them win the ball back very quickly when it’s lost via a very aggressive midfield press. Once they have the ball they rapidly break forward in controlled waves, ensuring teammates aren’t isolated and gaps aren’t appearing between their lines if they then lose the ball themselves.
It’s organised and elite in execution. Julián Álvarez and Giuliano Simeone are relentless on the press and sides with high or low composure will equally find them a challenge to play past.
Expected formation:
Typically a 4-3-3 that can merge into a 4-4-2 diamond or 4-3-1-2 depending on who has the ball.
Chances:
Huge. As defending champions, not far from home, I think they’ve got a really good chance of winning the whole competition. Looking at their qualification record, they’re blowing away top teams.
They should have no issues getting out of this group. If they do struggle, something has gone badly, inexplicably wrong in the build up to the tournament.
***
Austria
Austria also topped their qualifying group, sending Bosnia into the playoffs. Facing Bosnia, Romania, Cyprus and San Marino, they won 6, drew 1 and lost 1 (to Romania).
Along the way they blew away world minnows San Marino 10-0, and their draw against Bosnia at home was the final mathematical piece of the puzzle to seal their place at the World Cup.
Bosnia would also eventually find their way through the playoffs and will be competing in Group B.
Play style:
Under Ralf Rangnick, Austria play a very aggressive gegenpress rooted in the Red Bull mindset. With narrow lines, numerical overloads and a fluid shape morphing from a 4-4-2 out of possession into a 2-4-3-1 in possession, they pride themselves on an instant press on losing the ball.
When they win it back, you guessed it - explosive verticality. Players in wide areas cut inside to overload the central spaces, forcing the defensive block narrower and opening up space for the wing backs to maraud forwards.
Where Argentina break in controlled waves, Austria go for the kill straight away. They look for the decisive ball / killer pass immediately and their intent is to try to score on every turnover. It’s relentless to watch, and defend against.
Expected formation:
4-4-2 / 2-4-3-1 depending on who has the ball.
Chances:
A very good chance of finishing second in the group. They’re an aggressive side that look to take control, and that’s usually a strong indicator of a team’s potential in a tournament. If they get the opportunities they’ll look to take them quickly, which can be devastating in knock out rounds.
***
Algeria
Algeria also dominated their qualifying group with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat during their 10 match qualifying campaign against the likes of Uganda, Mozambique and Guinea. They lost to Guinea in 2024, but aside from that blip looked in commanding form in the group.
Striker Mohammed Amoura bagged 10 during the campaign and will be one to watch for the tournament. Other familiar names include 5-time Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez, who captains Algeria. He was extremely dangerous in qualifying too, contributing multiple assists and goals along the way.
Play style:
They like to keep the ball and play technically to work their key players into good positions and ensure they make the most of the chances they get. They play a very fluid style that allows them to change shape between a cautious 5 at the back to an aggressive 3-2-5 when they’re on the ball by pushing the full backs up.
They like to play with the ball on the deck and won’t spaff it long unnecessarily. They overload with the full backs and create problems in wide areas.
They do look a bit fragile defensively when they lose the ball, and I worry that Austria and Argentina will exploit that aggressively.
Expected formation:
4-3-3/3-2-5
Chances:
They have a chance, but I think Austria’s more aggressive style will put the shits up Algeria and they might find themselves finishing 3rd in the group after losing their head to head. I might be wrong, but unless Austria tire I can’t see Algeria withstanding the counter.
***
Jordan
After the minor sporting miracle of reaching the final of the the 2023 Asian Cup, Jordan qualified for their first ever World Cup this time around.
But their campaign wasn’t easy and they found themselves drawing against Tajikistan and losing to Saudi Arabia. But a 7-0 win over Pakistan helped them through to the third qualifying round, where they beat Oman in Muscat. Combined with South Korea beating Iraq, that was mathematically enough to sneak through to direct qualification.
Play style:
It’s a very direct style of play from Jordan. They look to counter attack after drawing opponents out, looking to find decisive moments to catch the opposition off-guard. They’ll try to get players in behind and go long/direct. They’ll also look to cut inside from the right, so expect to see them play the ball down that side.
Tactically, they look a little predictable for my liking and while they will try to get themselves into good positions, the opposition they’ll be facing will have on the whole very good recovery pace.
I think they’ll struggle.
Expected formation:
3-4-2-1.
Chances:
We’ve just had a great preview of Jordan’s likely play style for the World Cup with their game against Switzerland, which was rained off and on again in dramatic fashion during thunderstorms. They lost 4-1 and failed to look convincing at any juncture, so this is either the start of the greatest underdog tale of all time, or an unfortunate beginning to what might be a swift group campaign.
I think unfortunately I have to plump for the latter.
The Tournament Scout’s Prediction
Argentina boss the group
Austria are the wildcard and will finish 2nd
Algeria 3rd, after losing to Austria
Jordan find themselves on an early flight home
15 min read
Group J Preview: Wildcards Austria aim for upset
Surely Argentina's to lose?
15 min read
Group J Preview
Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
World Rankings:
Argentina 3rd
Austria 24th
Algeria 28th
Jordan 63rd
GROUP STRENGTH
Group J is the 5th strongest group on paper, but Argentina’s 3rd placed ranking is doing a lot of the heavy lifting there, with Jordan making up the numbers.
But an intriguing contest will be between Austria and Algeria, who share a similar ELO and are ranked 24th and 28th respectively.
On paper, then, you would expect the group to be won by multiple World Cup winners and current holders Argentina fairly easily, and then a tussle for 2nd and 3rd places.
***
Argentina
Defending champions Argentina made qualifying look easy, finishing top of the CONMEBOL qualifier tables ahead of Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil. Their 12 wins from 18 games was easily enough to qualify at a canter.
They got off to a good start, blasting their way through their first four qualifiers flawlessly. A minor blip occurred when they lost to Uruguay at home, but in the qualifying campaign they also destroyed Brazil 4-1. Lionel Messi was the top scorer in South American qualifying with 8, showing the old boy still has a fair few tricks up his sleeves.
Play style:
They’ve achieved a lot of success with a counter-pressing philosophy that sees them win the ball back very quickly when it’s lost via a very aggressive midfield press. Once they have the ball they rapidly break forward in controlled waves, ensuring teammates aren’t isolated and gaps aren’t appearing between their lines if they then lose the ball themselves.
It’s organised and elite in execution. Julián Álvarez and Giuliano Simeone are relentless on the press and sides with high or low composure will equally find them a challenge to play past.
Expected formation:
Typically a 4-3-3 that can merge into a 4-4-2 diamond or 4-3-1-2 depending on who has the ball.
Chances:
Huge. As defending champions, not far from home, I think they’ve got a really good chance of winning the whole competition. Looking at their qualification record, they’re blowing away top teams.
They should have no issues getting out of this group. If they do struggle, something has gone badly, inexplicably wrong in the build up to the tournament.
***
Austria
Austria also topped their qualifying group, sending Bosnia into the playoffs. Facing Bosnia, Romania, Cyprus and San Marino, they won 6, drew 1 and lost 1 (to Romania).
Along the way they blew away world minnows San Marino 10-0, and their draw against Bosnia at home was the final mathematical piece of the puzzle to seal their place at the World Cup.
Bosnia would also eventually find their way through the playoffs and will be competing in Group B.
Play style:
Under Ralf Rangnick, Austria play a very aggressive gegenpress rooted in the Red Bull mindset. With narrow lines, numerical overloads and a fluid shape morphing from a 4-4-2 out of possession into a 2-4-3-1 in possession, they pride themselves on an instant press on losing the ball.
When they win it back, you guessed it - explosive verticality. Players in wide areas cut inside to overload the central spaces, forcing the defensive block narrower and opening up space for the wing backs to maraud forwards.
Where Argentina break in controlled waves, Austria go for the kill straight away. They look for the decisive ball / killer pass immediately and their intent is to try to score on every turnover. It’s relentless to watch, and defend against.
Expected formation:
4-4-2 / 2-4-3-1 depending on who has the ball.
Chances:
A very good chance of finishing second in the group. They’re an aggressive side that look to take control, and that’s usually a strong indicator of a team’s potential in a tournament. If they get the opportunities they’ll look to take them quickly, which can be devastating in knock out rounds.
***
Algeria
Algeria also dominated their qualifying group with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat during their 10 match qualifying campaign against the likes of Uganda, Mozambique and Guinea. They lost to Guinea in 2024, but aside from that blip looked in commanding form in the group.
Striker Mohammed Amoura bagged 10 during the campaign and will be one to watch for the tournament. Other familiar names include 5-time Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez, who captains Algeria. He was extremely dangerous in qualifying too, contributing multiple assists and goals along the way.
Play style:
They like to keep the ball and play technically to work their key players into good positions and ensure they make the most of the chances they get. They play a very fluid style that allows them to change shape between a cautious 5 at the back to an aggressive 3-2-5 when they’re on the ball by pushing the full backs up.
They like to play with the ball on the deck and won’t spaff it long unnecessarily. They overload with the full backs and create problems in wide areas.
They do look a bit fragile defensively when they lose the ball, and I worry that Austria and Argentina will exploit that aggressively.
Expected formation:
4-3-3/3-2-5
Chances:
They have a chance, but I think Austria’s more aggressive style will put the shits up Algeria and they might find themselves finishing 3rd in the group after losing their head to head. I might be wrong, but unless Austria tire I can’t see Algeria withstanding the counter.
***
Jordan
After the minor sporting miracle of reaching the final of the the 2023 Asian Cup, Jordan qualified for their first ever World Cup this time around.
But their campaign wasn’t easy and they found themselves drawing against Tajikistan and losing to Saudi Arabia. But a 7-0 win over Pakistan helped them through to the third qualifying round, where they beat Oman in Muscat. Combined with South Korea beating Iraq, that was mathematically enough to sneak through to direct qualification.
Play style:
It’s a very direct style of play from Jordan. They look to counter attack after drawing opponents out, looking to find decisive moments to catch the opposition off-guard. They’ll try to get players in behind and go long/direct. They’ll also look to cut inside from the right, so expect to see them play the ball down that side.
Tactically, they look a little predictable for my liking and while they will try to get themselves into good positions, the opposition they’ll be facing will have on the whole very good recovery pace.
I think they’ll struggle.
Expected formation:
3-4-2-1.
Chances:
We’ve just had a great preview of Jordan’s likely play style for the World Cup with their game against Switzerland, which was rained off and on again in dramatic fashion during thunderstorms. They lost 4-1 and failed to look convincing at any juncture, so this is either the start of the greatest underdog tale of all time, or an unfortunate beginning to what might be a swift group campaign.
I think unfortunately I have to plump for the latter.
The Tournament Scout’s Prediction
Argentina boss the group
Austria are the wildcard and will finish 2nd
Algeria 3rd, after losing to Austria
Jordan find themselves on an early flight home
Group J Preview: Wildcards Austria aim for upset
Surely Argentina's to lose?
Original article:
Last updated:
Group J Preview
Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
World Rankings:
Argentina 3rd
Austria 24th
Algeria 28th
Jordan 63rd
GROUP STRENGTH
Group J is the 5th strongest group on paper, but Argentina’s 3rd placed ranking is doing a lot of the heavy lifting there, with Jordan making up the numbers.
But an intriguing contest will be between Austria and Algeria, who share a similar ELO and are ranked 24th and 28th respectively.
On paper, then, you would expect the group to be won by multiple World Cup winners and current holders Argentina fairly easily, and then a tussle for 2nd and 3rd places.
***
Argentina
Defending champions Argentina made qualifying look easy, finishing top of the CONMEBOL qualifier tables ahead of Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil. Their 12 wins from 18 games was easily enough to qualify at a canter.
They got off to a good start, blasting their way through their first four qualifiers flawlessly. A minor blip occurred when they lost to Uruguay at home, but in the qualifying campaign they also destroyed Brazil 4-1. Lionel Messi was the top scorer in South American qualifying with 8, showing the old boy still has a fair few tricks up his sleeves.
Play style:
They’ve achieved a lot of success with a counter-pressing philosophy that sees them win the ball back very quickly when it’s lost via a very aggressive midfield press. Once they have the ball they rapidly break forward in controlled waves, ensuring teammates aren’t isolated and gaps aren’t appearing between their lines if they then lose the ball themselves.
It’s organised and elite in execution. Julián Álvarez and Giuliano Simeone are relentless on the press and sides with high or low composure will equally find them a challenge to play past.
Expected formation:
Typically a 4-3-3 that can merge into a 4-4-2 diamond or 4-3-1-2 depending on who has the ball.
Chances:
Huge. As defending champions, not far from home, I think they’ve got a really good chance of winning the whole competition. Looking at their qualification record, they’re blowing away top teams.
They should have no issues getting out of this group. If they do struggle, something has gone badly, inexplicably wrong in the build up to the tournament.
***
Austria
Austria also topped their qualifying group, sending Bosnia into the playoffs. Facing Bosnia, Romania, Cyprus and San Marino, they won 6, drew 1 and lost 1 (to Romania).
Along the way they blew away world minnows San Marino 10-0, and their draw against Bosnia at home was the final mathematical piece of the puzzle to seal their place at the World Cup.
Bosnia would also eventually find their way through the playoffs and will be competing in Group B.
Play style:
Under Ralf Rangnick, Austria play a very aggressive gegenpress rooted in the Red Bull mindset. With narrow lines, numerical overloads and a fluid shape morphing from a 4-4-2 out of possession into a 2-4-3-1 in possession, they pride themselves on an instant press on losing the ball.
When they win it back, you guessed it - explosive verticality. Players in wide areas cut inside to overload the central spaces, forcing the defensive block narrower and opening up space for the wing backs to maraud forwards.
Where Argentina break in controlled waves, Austria go for the kill straight away. They look for the decisive ball / killer pass immediately and their intent is to try to score on every turnover. It’s relentless to watch, and defend against.
Expected formation:
4-4-2 / 2-4-3-1 depending on who has the ball.
Chances:
A very good chance of finishing second in the group. They’re an aggressive side that look to take control, and that’s usually a strong indicator of a team’s potential in a tournament. If they get the opportunities they’ll look to take them quickly, which can be devastating in knock out rounds.
***
Algeria
Algeria also dominated their qualifying group with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat during their 10 match qualifying campaign against the likes of Uganda, Mozambique and Guinea. They lost to Guinea in 2024, but aside from that blip looked in commanding form in the group.
Striker Mohammed Amoura bagged 10 during the campaign and will be one to watch for the tournament. Other familiar names include 5-time Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez, who captains Algeria. He was extremely dangerous in qualifying too, contributing multiple assists and goals along the way.
Play style:
They like to keep the ball and play technically to work their key players into good positions and ensure they make the most of the chances they get. They play a very fluid style that allows them to change shape between a cautious 5 at the back to an aggressive 3-2-5 when they’re on the ball by pushing the full backs up.
They like to play with the ball on the deck and won’t spaff it long unnecessarily. They overload with the full backs and create problems in wide areas.
They do look a bit fragile defensively when they lose the ball, and I worry that Austria and Argentina will exploit that aggressively.
Expected formation:
4-3-3/3-2-5
Chances:
They have a chance, but I think Austria’s more aggressive style will put the shits up Algeria and they might find themselves finishing 3rd in the group after losing their head to head. I might be wrong, but unless Austria tire I can’t see Algeria withstanding the counter.
***
Jordan
After the minor sporting miracle of reaching the final of the the 2023 Asian Cup, Jordan qualified for their first ever World Cup this time around.
But their campaign wasn’t easy and they found themselves drawing against Tajikistan and losing to Saudi Arabia. But a 7-0 win over Pakistan helped them through to the third qualifying round, where they beat Oman in Muscat. Combined with South Korea beating Iraq, that was mathematically enough to sneak through to direct qualification.
Play style:
It’s a very direct style of play from Jordan. They look to counter attack after drawing opponents out, looking to find decisive moments to catch the opposition off-guard. They’ll try to get players in behind and go long/direct. They’ll also look to cut inside from the right, so expect to see them play the ball down that side.
Tactically, they look a little predictable for my liking and while they will try to get themselves into good positions, the opposition they’ll be facing will have on the whole very good recovery pace.
I think they’ll struggle.
Expected formation:
3-4-2-1.
Chances:
We’ve just had a great preview of Jordan’s likely play style for the World Cup with their game against Switzerland, which was rained off and on again in dramatic fashion during thunderstorms. They lost 4-1 and failed to look convincing at any juncture, so this is either the start of the greatest underdog tale of all time, or an unfortunate beginning to what might be a swift group campaign.
I think unfortunately I have to plump for the latter.
The Tournament Scout’s Prediction
Argentina boss the group
Austria are the wildcard and will finish 2nd
Algeria 3rd, after losing to Austria
Jordan find themselves on an early flight home
15 min read
Group J Preview: Wildcards Austria aim for upset
Surely Argentina's to lose?
Group J Preview
Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
World Rankings:
Argentina 3rd
Austria 24th
Algeria 28th
Jordan 63rd
GROUP STRENGTH
Group J is the 5th strongest group on paper, but Argentina’s 3rd placed ranking is doing a lot of the heavy lifting there, with Jordan making up the numbers.
But an intriguing contest will be between Austria and Algeria, who share a similar ELO and are ranked 24th and 28th respectively.
On paper, then, you would expect the group to be won by multiple World Cup winners and current holders Argentina fairly easily, and then a tussle for 2nd and 3rd places.
***
Argentina
Defending champions Argentina made qualifying look easy, finishing top of the CONMEBOL qualifier tables ahead of Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil. Their 12 wins from 18 games was easily enough to qualify at a canter.
They got off to a good start, blasting their way through their first four qualifiers flawlessly. A minor blip occurred when they lost to Uruguay at home, but in the qualifying campaign they also destroyed Brazil 4-1. Lionel Messi was the top scorer in South American qualifying with 8, showing the old boy still has a fair few tricks up his sleeves.
Play style:
They’ve achieved a lot of success with a counter-pressing philosophy that sees them win the ball back very quickly when it’s lost via a very aggressive midfield press. Once they have the ball they rapidly break forward in controlled waves, ensuring teammates aren’t isolated and gaps aren’t appearing between their lines if they then lose the ball themselves.
It’s organised and elite in execution. Julián Álvarez and Giuliano Simeone are relentless on the press and sides with high or low composure will equally find them a challenge to play past.
Expected formation:
Typically a 4-3-3 that can merge into a 4-4-2 diamond or 4-3-1-2 depending on who has the ball.
Chances:
Huge. As defending champions, not far from home, I think they’ve got a really good chance of winning the whole competition. Looking at their qualification record, they’re blowing away top teams.
They should have no issues getting out of this group. If they do struggle, something has gone badly, inexplicably wrong in the build up to the tournament.
***
Austria
Austria also topped their qualifying group, sending Bosnia into the playoffs. Facing Bosnia, Romania, Cyprus and San Marino, they won 6, drew 1 and lost 1 (to Romania).
Along the way they blew away world minnows San Marino 10-0, and their draw against Bosnia at home was the final mathematical piece of the puzzle to seal their place at the World Cup.
Bosnia would also eventually find their way through the playoffs and will be competing in Group B.
Play style:
Under Ralf Rangnick, Austria play a very aggressive gegenpress rooted in the Red Bull mindset. With narrow lines, numerical overloads and a fluid shape morphing from a 4-4-2 out of possession into a 2-4-3-1 in possession, they pride themselves on an instant press on losing the ball.
When they win it back, you guessed it - explosive verticality. Players in wide areas cut inside to overload the central spaces, forcing the defensive block narrower and opening up space for the wing backs to maraud forwards.
Where Argentina break in controlled waves, Austria go for the kill straight away. They look for the decisive ball / killer pass immediately and their intent is to try to score on every turnover. It’s relentless to watch, and defend against.
Expected formation:
4-4-2 / 2-4-3-1 depending on who has the ball.
Chances:
A very good chance of finishing second in the group. They’re an aggressive side that look to take control, and that’s usually a strong indicator of a team’s potential in a tournament. If they get the opportunities they’ll look to take them quickly, which can be devastating in knock out rounds.
***
Algeria
Algeria also dominated their qualifying group with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat during their 10 match qualifying campaign against the likes of Uganda, Mozambique and Guinea. They lost to Guinea in 2024, but aside from that blip looked in commanding form in the group.
Striker Mohammed Amoura bagged 10 during the campaign and will be one to watch for the tournament. Other familiar names include 5-time Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez, who captains Algeria. He was extremely dangerous in qualifying too, contributing multiple assists and goals along the way.
Play style:
They like to keep the ball and play technically to work their key players into good positions and ensure they make the most of the chances they get. They play a very fluid style that allows them to change shape between a cautious 5 at the back to an aggressive 3-2-5 when they’re on the ball by pushing the full backs up.
They like to play with the ball on the deck and won’t spaff it long unnecessarily. They overload with the full backs and create problems in wide areas.
They do look a bit fragile defensively when they lose the ball, and I worry that Austria and Argentina will exploit that aggressively.
Expected formation:
4-3-3/3-2-5
Chances:
They have a chance, but I think Austria’s more aggressive style will put the shits up Algeria and they might find themselves finishing 3rd in the group after losing their head to head. I might be wrong, but unless Austria tire I can’t see Algeria withstanding the counter.
***
Jordan
After the minor sporting miracle of reaching the final of the the 2023 Asian Cup, Jordan qualified for their first ever World Cup this time around.
But their campaign wasn’t easy and they found themselves drawing against Tajikistan and losing to Saudi Arabia. But a 7-0 win over Pakistan helped them through to the third qualifying round, where they beat Oman in Muscat. Combined with South Korea beating Iraq, that was mathematically enough to sneak through to direct qualification.
Play style:
It’s a very direct style of play from Jordan. They look to counter attack after drawing opponents out, looking to find decisive moments to catch the opposition off-guard. They’ll try to get players in behind and go long/direct. They’ll also look to cut inside from the right, so expect to see them play the ball down that side.
Tactically, they look a little predictable for my liking and while they will try to get themselves into good positions, the opposition they’ll be facing will have on the whole very good recovery pace.
I think they’ll struggle.
Expected formation:
3-4-2-1.
Chances:
We’ve just had a great preview of Jordan’s likely play style for the World Cup with their game against Switzerland, which was rained off and on again in dramatic fashion during thunderstorms. They lost 4-1 and failed to look convincing at any juncture, so this is either the start of the greatest underdog tale of all time, or an unfortunate beginning to what might be a swift group campaign.
I think unfortunately I have to plump for the latter.
The Tournament Scout’s Prediction
Argentina boss the group
Austria are the wildcard and will finish 2nd
Algeria 3rd, after losing to Austria
Jordan find themselves on an early flight home
15 min read