by Craig Laycock
Original article:
Group K Preview
Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
World Rankings:
Portugal 5th
Colombia 13th
DR Congo 46th
Uzbekistan 50th
GROUP STRENGTH
Group K is very “top heavy”, with two highly-ranked teams in Portugal and Colombia facing off against two much-worse ranked teams in DR Congo and Uzbekistan
The combined strength of the two “top” teams lift the group to 4th in the group strength list with an average rating of 28.50
That said, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan are the lowest ranked teams of this particular group, they’re not that close to the bottom of the overall rankings. Their position of 36th and 37th in the FIFA list has them above 12/11 other teams in the competition.
***
Portugal
Portugal navigated UEFA Group F fairly well, but didn’t have it all their own way, notably coming undone in Dublin as they lost 2-0 courtesy of a Troy Parrott double. Four other wins, including a 1-0 reverse in the home leg in Lisbon, and one draw to Hungary was enough to get them over the line and consign Ireland to the playoffs.
Ronaldo featured prominently in the list of scorers, finishing joint top with Hungary’s Varga and Ireland’s Parrott on five goals for qualifying. Bruno Fernandes and João Neves also featured in the list, tied second with three goals each.
Play style:
Under Roberto Martinez, Portugal continue to play a style of football that is full of verve and technicality. They’re known for their 4-3-3 but often morph depending on the opposition. Ronaldo, of course, remains the attacking focal point, but the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva have license to roam in behind to devastating effect. Portugal also counter-press aggressively without the ball.
But Martinez’s men have nevertheless found themselves being asked questions particularly about their solidity in defensive transitions. Writer Olavo Marçal suggests a lack of coordination between the forwards and the midfield can leave gaps which opponents are able to exploit.
When Fernandes and the winger-forwards push high towards the box, deeper midfielders like Vitinha can find themselves badly isolated. Fast direct counter-attacks can then cause devastation, especially against elite opposition. It also leaves them vulnerable to aggressive man marking in midfield.
But Portugal do have plenty of experience playing against teams who try this, and you’d bet they’ll get it right more times than they’ll get it wrong.
Expected formation:
Usually their favoured 4-3-3, but this can change into a 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 depending on the opponent. Freedom of movement is a big feature of Portugal, and Martinez likes to keep the opposition guessing.
Chances:
With Ronaldo entering “final hurrah” territory, Fernandes at the peak of his powers and Portugal generally looking up for the fight, you wouldn’t bet against them going deep into the competition. They play an extremely attractive brand of tournament football, and I could see them being right in the mix towards the end of the tournament.
***
Colombia
Colombia finished 3rd in CONMEBOL to qualify, a creditable performance in a group that saw Brazil finish 5th and Uruguay 4th. Indeed, only Ecuador and Argentina (2nd and 1st respectively) could top them.
The likes of James Rodriguez, Jhon Duran, Richard Rios and Jhon Arias show the depth of quality in the Colombia attack, and underline why opponents shouldn’t underestimate them coming into the tournament. They are every bit the attacking side we remember.
Play style:
Colombia play a very attractive high tempo, intense style that could lead to a classic game for the ages against Portugal (or a damp squib, sue me!). Their fluid movement, vertical speed, wide play and physicality in the box give them an edge against many teams.
James Rodriguez continues to be a vital force for them, with devastatingly good passing statistics, particularly around chance creation as he pulls the strings from midfield.
Writing about Rodriguez has just reminded me of that World Cup goal he scored against Uruguay in 2014. I leapt off my sofa when that went in, let me tell you. There’s something about a shot that crashes off the bar like that.
Expected formation:
4-2-3-1, becoming a 4-3-3 or 2-4-4 when attacking. Defensive solidity comes through the double pivot in the midfield, and a creative attacking trio up top off a focal point like Jhon Duran.
Chances:
Nailed on for second in the group. Could squeeze past Portugal into 1st if everything clicks in their head-to-head. That’s an early shout for a potential game of the tournament for me.
***
DR Congo
DR Congo had to do it the hard way to make their first World Cup appearance in 52 years (after last appearing as Zaire). After an epic slog of qualifying through CAF Group B after playing 10 games, narrowly missing out to Senegal for top spot, they entered the continental play-offs.
After beating Cameroon in normal time and then Nigeria on penalties in their two games, they then qualified for the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica for a winner-takes-all battle to appear at the World Cup. They won that game 1-0 after a 100th minute goal from Axel Tuanzebe.
Play style:
Almost the antithesis of Portugal and Colombia, DR Congo play a very disciplined and organised style focused around a low block, with hopes of breaking on the counter. It doesn’t lead to high chance creation or many moments of outright quality, but it is effective in frustrating the opposition.
When they get the ball they look to quickly move it to wide players or go long to a target man, usually Simon Banza. They’ll generate flick ons or hold up the play for onrushing midfielders. It’s very pragmatic. They’ve shown resilience, but they have also shown very little in terms of outright attack, so may struggle against sides that also sit in a low block.
Expected formation:
They play a very rigid 4-2-3-1, sometimes becoming a 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 when they need to sit really deep. The back four are very imposing and look to strangle opposition play. When out of possession, often the lone striker will drop very deep to press the deepest opposition midfielder. The left and right wingers sit very flat and deep, forcing the opposition into wide traps.
Chances:
In a group with Portugal and Colombia, I think their best hope is 3rd. It’ll take some grit, as well as outfoxing Uzbekistan, but I fancy them to be in with a chance of going through as one of the 8 best teams in 3rd.
***
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan made it to their first ever World Cup this year after near misses in 2006 and 2014 saw them fall at the final hurdle of continental qualification. This time round, they made no mistake. Navigating the 2nd round of qualifying, finishing just behind Iran on goal difference and way ahead of Turkmenistan and Hong Kong, they faced the likes of UAE, Qatar, Iran again, and North Korea.
Six wins and three draws from their 10 games, the majority of the wins being 1-0s and the draws being 0-0s, might clue you in to how they will approach the tournament. But it was enough to send them through and to the USA in 2nd place in Group A.
Play style:
Defensive, hard-working, gritty. They try to press aggressively with a physical backbone and often go quite long as they look to soak up pressure and then get rid of the ball to an outlet.
High chance creation is not their thing. Think more along the lines of stability and physical dominance and a deep, organised defensive shape. They’re very very hard to break down, as evidenced by their goals against record in qualifying, conceding the fewest goals in both qualifying rounds in their groups (joint fewest with Iran in the 2nd round with 4 conceded from 6 games).
Expected formation:
It’s a very low block, 3-4-3 to 5-3-2. They’ll be gritty and safety-first and then look to launch it to their target man Eldo Shomurodov and look to latch on to second balls in the opponent’s half. It’s not going to be pretty football. It also probably won’t work that well against elite defences, but this is how they play and it did get them here, so expect them to stick to their guns.
Chances:
Limited. They don’t spend enough time with the ball to do much with it. Expect them to be in pressure-absorption mode and try to get something from a set piece.
I think they’re going home swiftly.
The Tournament Scout’s Prediction
I’m going to predict a minor upset here.
Colombia win the group
Portugal qualify in second and get a slightly tougher round of 32 onwards
DR Congo 3rd
Uzbekistan 4th
18 min read
Group K Preview: Colombia to turn on the heat
As Ronaldo looks for a final hurrah, could Colombia spring a surprise?
18 min read
Group K Preview
Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
World Rankings:
Portugal 5th
Colombia 13th
DR Congo 46th
Uzbekistan 50th
GROUP STRENGTH
Group K is very “top heavy”, with two highly-ranked teams in Portugal and Colombia facing off against two much-worse ranked teams in DR Congo and Uzbekistan
The combined strength of the two “top” teams lift the group to 4th in the group strength list with an average rating of 28.50
That said, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan are the lowest ranked teams of this particular group, they’re not that close to the bottom of the overall rankings. Their position of 36th and 37th in the FIFA list has them above 12/11 other teams in the competition.
***
Portugal
Portugal navigated UEFA Group F fairly well, but didn’t have it all their own way, notably coming undone in Dublin as they lost 2-0 courtesy of a Troy Parrott double. Four other wins, including a 1-0 reverse in the home leg in Lisbon, and one draw to Hungary was enough to get them over the line and consign Ireland to the playoffs.
Ronaldo featured prominently in the list of scorers, finishing joint top with Hungary’s Varga and Ireland’s Parrott on five goals for qualifying. Bruno Fernandes and João Neves also featured in the list, tied second with three goals each.
Play style:
Under Roberto Martinez, Portugal continue to play a style of football that is full of verve and technicality. They’re known for their 4-3-3 but often morph depending on the opposition. Ronaldo, of course, remains the attacking focal point, but the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva have license to roam in behind to devastating effect. Portugal also counter-press aggressively without the ball.
But Martinez’s men have nevertheless found themselves being asked questions particularly about their solidity in defensive transitions. Writer Olavo Marçal suggests a lack of coordination between the forwards and the midfield can leave gaps which opponents are able to exploit.
When Fernandes and the winger-forwards push high towards the box, deeper midfielders like Vitinha can find themselves badly isolated. Fast direct counter-attacks can then cause devastation, especially against elite opposition. It also leaves them vulnerable to aggressive man marking in midfield.
But Portugal do have plenty of experience playing against teams who try this, and you’d bet they’ll get it right more times than they’ll get it wrong.
Expected formation:
Usually their favoured 4-3-3, but this can change into a 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 depending on the opponent. Freedom of movement is a big feature of Portugal, and Martinez likes to keep the opposition guessing.
Chances:
With Ronaldo entering “final hurrah” territory, Fernandes at the peak of his powers and Portugal generally looking up for the fight, you wouldn’t bet against them going deep into the competition. They play an extremely attractive brand of tournament football, and I could see them being right in the mix towards the end of the tournament.
***
Colombia
Colombia finished 3rd in CONMEBOL to qualify, a creditable performance in a group that saw Brazil finish 5th and Uruguay 4th. Indeed, only Ecuador and Argentina (2nd and 1st respectively) could top them.
The likes of James Rodriguez, Jhon Duran, Richard Rios and Jhon Arias show the depth of quality in the Colombia attack, and underline why opponents shouldn’t underestimate them coming into the tournament. They are every bit the attacking side we remember.
Play style:
Colombia play a very attractive high tempo, intense style that could lead to a classic game for the ages against Portugal (or a damp squib, sue me!). Their fluid movement, vertical speed, wide play and physicality in the box give them an edge against many teams.
James Rodriguez continues to be a vital force for them, with devastatingly good passing statistics, particularly around chance creation as he pulls the strings from midfield.
Writing about Rodriguez has just reminded me of that World Cup goal he scored against Uruguay in 2014. I leapt off my sofa when that went in, let me tell you. There’s something about a shot that crashes off the bar like that.
Expected formation:
4-2-3-1, becoming a 4-3-3 or 2-4-4 when attacking. Defensive solidity comes through the double pivot in the midfield, and a creative attacking trio up top off a focal point like Jhon Duran.
Chances:
Nailed on for second in the group. Could squeeze past Portugal into 1st if everything clicks in their head-to-head. That’s an early shout for a potential game of the tournament for me.
***
DR Congo
DR Congo had to do it the hard way to make their first World Cup appearance in 52 years (after last appearing as Zaire). After an epic slog of qualifying through CAF Group B after playing 10 games, narrowly missing out to Senegal for top spot, they entered the continental play-offs.
After beating Cameroon in normal time and then Nigeria on penalties in their two games, they then qualified for the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica for a winner-takes-all battle to appear at the World Cup. They won that game 1-0 after a 100th minute goal from Axel Tuanzebe.
Play style:
Almost the antithesis of Portugal and Colombia, DR Congo play a very disciplined and organised style focused around a low block, with hopes of breaking on the counter. It doesn’t lead to high chance creation or many moments of outright quality, but it is effective in frustrating the opposition.
When they get the ball they look to quickly move it to wide players or go long to a target man, usually Simon Banza. They’ll generate flick ons or hold up the play for onrushing midfielders. It’s very pragmatic. They’ve shown resilience, but they have also shown very little in terms of outright attack, so may struggle against sides that also sit in a low block.
Expected formation:
They play a very rigid 4-2-3-1, sometimes becoming a 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 when they need to sit really deep. The back four are very imposing and look to strangle opposition play. When out of possession, often the lone striker will drop very deep to press the deepest opposition midfielder. The left and right wingers sit very flat and deep, forcing the opposition into wide traps.
Chances:
In a group with Portugal and Colombia, I think their best hope is 3rd. It’ll take some grit, as well as outfoxing Uzbekistan, but I fancy them to be in with a chance of going through as one of the 8 best teams in 3rd.
***
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan made it to their first ever World Cup this year after near misses in 2006 and 2014 saw them fall at the final hurdle of continental qualification. This time round, they made no mistake. Navigating the 2nd round of qualifying, finishing just behind Iran on goal difference and way ahead of Turkmenistan and Hong Kong, they faced the likes of UAE, Qatar, Iran again, and North Korea.
Six wins and three draws from their 10 games, the majority of the wins being 1-0s and the draws being 0-0s, might clue you in to how they will approach the tournament. But it was enough to send them through and to the USA in 2nd place in Group A.
Play style:
Defensive, hard-working, gritty. They try to press aggressively with a physical backbone and often go quite long as they look to soak up pressure and then get rid of the ball to an outlet.
High chance creation is not their thing. Think more along the lines of stability and physical dominance and a deep, organised defensive shape. They’re very very hard to break down, as evidenced by their goals against record in qualifying, conceding the fewest goals in both qualifying rounds in their groups (joint fewest with Iran in the 2nd round with 4 conceded from 6 games).
Expected formation:
It’s a very low block, 3-4-3 to 5-3-2. They’ll be gritty and safety-first and then look to launch it to their target man Eldo Shomurodov and look to latch on to second balls in the opponent’s half. It’s not going to be pretty football. It also probably won’t work that well against elite defences, but this is how they play and it did get them here, so expect them to stick to their guns.
Chances:
Limited. They don’t spend enough time with the ball to do much with it. Expect them to be in pressure-absorption mode and try to get something from a set piece.
I think they’re going home swiftly.
The Tournament Scout’s Prediction
I’m going to predict a minor upset here.
Colombia win the group
Portugal qualify in second and get a slightly tougher round of 32 onwards
DR Congo 3rd
Uzbekistan 4th
Group K Preview: Colombia to turn on the heat
As Ronaldo looks for a final hurrah, could Colombia spring a surprise?
Original article:
Last updated:
Group K Preview
Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
World Rankings:
Portugal 5th
Colombia 13th
DR Congo 46th
Uzbekistan 50th
GROUP STRENGTH
Group K is very “top heavy”, with two highly-ranked teams in Portugal and Colombia facing off against two much-worse ranked teams in DR Congo and Uzbekistan
The combined strength of the two “top” teams lift the group to 4th in the group strength list with an average rating of 28.50
That said, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan are the lowest ranked teams of this particular group, they’re not that close to the bottom of the overall rankings. Their position of 36th and 37th in the FIFA list has them above 12/11 other teams in the competition.
***
Portugal
Portugal navigated UEFA Group F fairly well, but didn’t have it all their own way, notably coming undone in Dublin as they lost 2-0 courtesy of a Troy Parrott double. Four other wins, including a 1-0 reverse in the home leg in Lisbon, and one draw to Hungary was enough to get them over the line and consign Ireland to the playoffs.
Ronaldo featured prominently in the list of scorers, finishing joint top with Hungary’s Varga and Ireland’s Parrott on five goals for qualifying. Bruno Fernandes and João Neves also featured in the list, tied second with three goals each.
Play style:
Under Roberto Martinez, Portugal continue to play a style of football that is full of verve and technicality. They’re known for their 4-3-3 but often morph depending on the opposition. Ronaldo, of course, remains the attacking focal point, but the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva have license to roam in behind to devastating effect. Portugal also counter-press aggressively without the ball.
But Martinez’s men have nevertheless found themselves being asked questions particularly about their solidity in defensive transitions. Writer Olavo Marçal suggests a lack of coordination between the forwards and the midfield can leave gaps which opponents are able to exploit.
When Fernandes and the winger-forwards push high towards the box, deeper midfielders like Vitinha can find themselves badly isolated. Fast direct counter-attacks can then cause devastation, especially against elite opposition. It also leaves them vulnerable to aggressive man marking in midfield.
But Portugal do have plenty of experience playing against teams who try this, and you’d bet they’ll get it right more times than they’ll get it wrong.
Expected formation:
Usually their favoured 4-3-3, but this can change into a 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 depending on the opponent. Freedom of movement is a big feature of Portugal, and Martinez likes to keep the opposition guessing.
Chances:
With Ronaldo entering “final hurrah” territory, Fernandes at the peak of his powers and Portugal generally looking up for the fight, you wouldn’t bet against them going deep into the competition. They play an extremely attractive brand of tournament football, and I could see them being right in the mix towards the end of the tournament.
***
Colombia
Colombia finished 3rd in CONMEBOL to qualify, a creditable performance in a group that saw Brazil finish 5th and Uruguay 4th. Indeed, only Ecuador and Argentina (2nd and 1st respectively) could top them.
The likes of James Rodriguez, Jhon Duran, Richard Rios and Jhon Arias show the depth of quality in the Colombia attack, and underline why opponents shouldn’t underestimate them coming into the tournament. They are every bit the attacking side we remember.
Play style:
Colombia play a very attractive high tempo, intense style that could lead to a classic game for the ages against Portugal (or a damp squib, sue me!). Their fluid movement, vertical speed, wide play and physicality in the box give them an edge against many teams.
James Rodriguez continues to be a vital force for them, with devastatingly good passing statistics, particularly around chance creation as he pulls the strings from midfield.
Writing about Rodriguez has just reminded me of that World Cup goal he scored against Uruguay in 2014. I leapt off my sofa when that went in, let me tell you. There’s something about a shot that crashes off the bar like that.
Expected formation:
4-2-3-1, becoming a 4-3-3 or 2-4-4 when attacking. Defensive solidity comes through the double pivot in the midfield, and a creative attacking trio up top off a focal point like Jhon Duran.
Chances:
Nailed on for second in the group. Could squeeze past Portugal into 1st if everything clicks in their head-to-head. That’s an early shout for a potential game of the tournament for me.
***
DR Congo
DR Congo had to do it the hard way to make their first World Cup appearance in 52 years (after last appearing as Zaire). After an epic slog of qualifying through CAF Group B after playing 10 games, narrowly missing out to Senegal for top spot, they entered the continental play-offs.
After beating Cameroon in normal time and then Nigeria on penalties in their two games, they then qualified for the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica for a winner-takes-all battle to appear at the World Cup. They won that game 1-0 after a 100th minute goal from Axel Tuanzebe.
Play style:
Almost the antithesis of Portugal and Colombia, DR Congo play a very disciplined and organised style focused around a low block, with hopes of breaking on the counter. It doesn’t lead to high chance creation or many moments of outright quality, but it is effective in frustrating the opposition.
When they get the ball they look to quickly move it to wide players or go long to a target man, usually Simon Banza. They’ll generate flick ons or hold up the play for onrushing midfielders. It’s very pragmatic. They’ve shown resilience, but they have also shown very little in terms of outright attack, so may struggle against sides that also sit in a low block.
Expected formation:
They play a very rigid 4-2-3-1, sometimes becoming a 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 when they need to sit really deep. The back four are very imposing and look to strangle opposition play. When out of possession, often the lone striker will drop very deep to press the deepest opposition midfielder. The left and right wingers sit very flat and deep, forcing the opposition into wide traps.
Chances:
In a group with Portugal and Colombia, I think their best hope is 3rd. It’ll take some grit, as well as outfoxing Uzbekistan, but I fancy them to be in with a chance of going through as one of the 8 best teams in 3rd.
***
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan made it to their first ever World Cup this year after near misses in 2006 and 2014 saw them fall at the final hurdle of continental qualification. This time round, they made no mistake. Navigating the 2nd round of qualifying, finishing just behind Iran on goal difference and way ahead of Turkmenistan and Hong Kong, they faced the likes of UAE, Qatar, Iran again, and North Korea.
Six wins and three draws from their 10 games, the majority of the wins being 1-0s and the draws being 0-0s, might clue you in to how they will approach the tournament. But it was enough to send them through and to the USA in 2nd place in Group A.
Play style:
Defensive, hard-working, gritty. They try to press aggressively with a physical backbone and often go quite long as they look to soak up pressure and then get rid of the ball to an outlet.
High chance creation is not their thing. Think more along the lines of stability and physical dominance and a deep, organised defensive shape. They’re very very hard to break down, as evidenced by their goals against record in qualifying, conceding the fewest goals in both qualifying rounds in their groups (joint fewest with Iran in the 2nd round with 4 conceded from 6 games).
Expected formation:
It’s a very low block, 3-4-3 to 5-3-2. They’ll be gritty and safety-first and then look to launch it to their target man Eldo Shomurodov and look to latch on to second balls in the opponent’s half. It’s not going to be pretty football. It also probably won’t work that well against elite defences, but this is how they play and it did get them here, so expect them to stick to their guns.
Chances:
Limited. They don’t spend enough time with the ball to do much with it. Expect them to be in pressure-absorption mode and try to get something from a set piece.
I think they’re going home swiftly.
The Tournament Scout’s Prediction
I’m going to predict a minor upset here.
Colombia win the group
Portugal qualify in second and get a slightly tougher round of 32 onwards
DR Congo 3rd
Uzbekistan 4th
18 min read
Group K Preview: Colombia to turn on the heat
As Ronaldo looks for a final hurrah, could Colombia spring a surprise?
Group K Preview
Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
World Rankings:
Portugal 5th
Colombia 13th
DR Congo 46th
Uzbekistan 50th
GROUP STRENGTH
Group K is very “top heavy”, with two highly-ranked teams in Portugal and Colombia facing off against two much-worse ranked teams in DR Congo and Uzbekistan
The combined strength of the two “top” teams lift the group to 4th in the group strength list with an average rating of 28.50
That said, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan are the lowest ranked teams of this particular group, they’re not that close to the bottom of the overall rankings. Their position of 36th and 37th in the FIFA list has them above 12/11 other teams in the competition.
***
Portugal
Portugal navigated UEFA Group F fairly well, but didn’t have it all their own way, notably coming undone in Dublin as they lost 2-0 courtesy of a Troy Parrott double. Four other wins, including a 1-0 reverse in the home leg in Lisbon, and one draw to Hungary was enough to get them over the line and consign Ireland to the playoffs.
Ronaldo featured prominently in the list of scorers, finishing joint top with Hungary’s Varga and Ireland’s Parrott on five goals for qualifying. Bruno Fernandes and João Neves also featured in the list, tied second with three goals each.
Play style:
Under Roberto Martinez, Portugal continue to play a style of football that is full of verve and technicality. They’re known for their 4-3-3 but often morph depending on the opposition. Ronaldo, of course, remains the attacking focal point, but the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva have license to roam in behind to devastating effect. Portugal also counter-press aggressively without the ball.
But Martinez’s men have nevertheless found themselves being asked questions particularly about their solidity in defensive transitions. Writer Olavo Marçal suggests a lack of coordination between the forwards and the midfield can leave gaps which opponents are able to exploit.
When Fernandes and the winger-forwards push high towards the box, deeper midfielders like Vitinha can find themselves badly isolated. Fast direct counter-attacks can then cause devastation, especially against elite opposition. It also leaves them vulnerable to aggressive man marking in midfield.
But Portugal do have plenty of experience playing against teams who try this, and you’d bet they’ll get it right more times than they’ll get it wrong.
Expected formation:
Usually their favoured 4-3-3, but this can change into a 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 depending on the opponent. Freedom of movement is a big feature of Portugal, and Martinez likes to keep the opposition guessing.
Chances:
With Ronaldo entering “final hurrah” territory, Fernandes at the peak of his powers and Portugal generally looking up for the fight, you wouldn’t bet against them going deep into the competition. They play an extremely attractive brand of tournament football, and I could see them being right in the mix towards the end of the tournament.
***
Colombia
Colombia finished 3rd in CONMEBOL to qualify, a creditable performance in a group that saw Brazil finish 5th and Uruguay 4th. Indeed, only Ecuador and Argentina (2nd and 1st respectively) could top them.
The likes of James Rodriguez, Jhon Duran, Richard Rios and Jhon Arias show the depth of quality in the Colombia attack, and underline why opponents shouldn’t underestimate them coming into the tournament. They are every bit the attacking side we remember.
Play style:
Colombia play a very attractive high tempo, intense style that could lead to a classic game for the ages against Portugal (or a damp squib, sue me!). Their fluid movement, vertical speed, wide play and physicality in the box give them an edge against many teams.
James Rodriguez continues to be a vital force for them, with devastatingly good passing statistics, particularly around chance creation as he pulls the strings from midfield.
Writing about Rodriguez has just reminded me of that World Cup goal he scored against Uruguay in 2014. I leapt off my sofa when that went in, let me tell you. There’s something about a shot that crashes off the bar like that.
Expected formation:
4-2-3-1, becoming a 4-3-3 or 2-4-4 when attacking. Defensive solidity comes through the double pivot in the midfield, and a creative attacking trio up top off a focal point like Jhon Duran.
Chances:
Nailed on for second in the group. Could squeeze past Portugal into 1st if everything clicks in their head-to-head. That’s an early shout for a potential game of the tournament for me.
***
DR Congo
DR Congo had to do it the hard way to make their first World Cup appearance in 52 years (after last appearing as Zaire). After an epic slog of qualifying through CAF Group B after playing 10 games, narrowly missing out to Senegal for top spot, they entered the continental play-offs.
After beating Cameroon in normal time and then Nigeria on penalties in their two games, they then qualified for the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica for a winner-takes-all battle to appear at the World Cup. They won that game 1-0 after a 100th minute goal from Axel Tuanzebe.
Play style:
Almost the antithesis of Portugal and Colombia, DR Congo play a very disciplined and organised style focused around a low block, with hopes of breaking on the counter. It doesn’t lead to high chance creation or many moments of outright quality, but it is effective in frustrating the opposition.
When they get the ball they look to quickly move it to wide players or go long to a target man, usually Simon Banza. They’ll generate flick ons or hold up the play for onrushing midfielders. It’s very pragmatic. They’ve shown resilience, but they have also shown very little in terms of outright attack, so may struggle against sides that also sit in a low block.
Expected formation:
They play a very rigid 4-2-3-1, sometimes becoming a 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 when they need to sit really deep. The back four are very imposing and look to strangle opposition play. When out of possession, often the lone striker will drop very deep to press the deepest opposition midfielder. The left and right wingers sit very flat and deep, forcing the opposition into wide traps.
Chances:
In a group with Portugal and Colombia, I think their best hope is 3rd. It’ll take some grit, as well as outfoxing Uzbekistan, but I fancy them to be in with a chance of going through as one of the 8 best teams in 3rd.
***
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan made it to their first ever World Cup this year after near misses in 2006 and 2014 saw them fall at the final hurdle of continental qualification. This time round, they made no mistake. Navigating the 2nd round of qualifying, finishing just behind Iran on goal difference and way ahead of Turkmenistan and Hong Kong, they faced the likes of UAE, Qatar, Iran again, and North Korea.
Six wins and three draws from their 10 games, the majority of the wins being 1-0s and the draws being 0-0s, might clue you in to how they will approach the tournament. But it was enough to send them through and to the USA in 2nd place in Group A.
Play style:
Defensive, hard-working, gritty. They try to press aggressively with a physical backbone and often go quite long as they look to soak up pressure and then get rid of the ball to an outlet.
High chance creation is not their thing. Think more along the lines of stability and physical dominance and a deep, organised defensive shape. They’re very very hard to break down, as evidenced by their goals against record in qualifying, conceding the fewest goals in both qualifying rounds in their groups (joint fewest with Iran in the 2nd round with 4 conceded from 6 games).
Expected formation:
It’s a very low block, 3-4-3 to 5-3-2. They’ll be gritty and safety-first and then look to launch it to their target man Eldo Shomurodov and look to latch on to second balls in the opponent’s half. It’s not going to be pretty football. It also probably won’t work that well against elite defences, but this is how they play and it did get them here, so expect them to stick to their guns.
Chances:
Limited. They don’t spend enough time with the ball to do much with it. Expect them to be in pressure-absorption mode and try to get something from a set piece.
I think they’re going home swiftly.
The Tournament Scout’s Prediction
I’m going to predict a minor upset here.
Colombia win the group
Portugal qualify in second and get a slightly tougher round of 32 onwards
DR Congo 3rd
Uzbekistan 4th
18 min read