Group D: Who most badly wants to survive, and what are they willing to try to get it?

Let me being this next post with a clarification. I am not here to offend anyone or to question or attack individuals, I am simply here to present opinions and provide a forum for discussion and expression of the game we all love so much. Concerns about certain things in my last post were brought to my attention, and I have taken them into consideration.

Specifically my comment about England defender Ledley King, was not an attack on his character or the severity of his knee condition, for I definitely feel for him and all that he has done for the sport. I was merely noting that maybe he isn’t the best choice as backup to Rio Ferdinand for a central defender; being as he cannot train during the week he will be unable to build a successful communicative relationship with fellow centre back John Terry – something that is extremely important to the success of the team as a whole.

I do, however, welcome all feedback – positive or negative – about my posts, and I will make changes accordingly.

Having said that, let’s move onto the next group of World Cup teams – Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana and Serbia.

This is another very intriguing group, with a struggling favourite and a ton of exciting football potential. Germany is consistently a strong contender in the World Cup, however they have struggled recently with the injury to Michael Ballack and the recent poor form of their former dynamic due of strikers – Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.

Young Thomas Muller, who demoted fellow Bayern Munich striker Klose to the bench this season, will be a key player for coach Joachim Low, and how early he is given a shot to prove his abilities could make or break Germany’s chances this year.

Always known as a poor defensive side and current questionable goal scoring abilities, this perennial favourite definitely looks to be beatable at the moment.

The Socceroos are heading to South Africa off their best-ever international performance in the 2006 World Cup; finishing as finalists in the round of 16. Allowing just one goal in their eight qualifying games, Australia boasts a strong defensive mindset and their fellow Group D’ers will definitely not look forward to facing their fearsome foursome at the back.

With Mark Viduka finally sitting out international competition, the Socceroos’ younger, faster stars will be given the opportunity to shine. Combine that and their creative 4-2-3-1 formation with hot goaltender Mark Schwarzer, and I am loving Australia’s chances in the group stage.

Ghana, up until a week ago, were my first choice as a dark horse to go far in the tournament. After a successful route in the first ever World Cup last time out, Ghana was coming in with a juicy mix of veteran and young, raw talent.

However, the Black Stars took a detrimental blow when captain Michael Essien announced he will not be available to help his side this year. Plagued by injuries all season, Essien will not be fully recovered from his most recent – a knee injury – until mid-July.

Unfortunately, Ghana are simply not the same team without their dynamic captain, and I doubt they will see the same success they had last time out.

Serbia will be partaking in their first World Cup this year, having entered previously as Yugoslavia and in 2006 as Serbia and Montenegro. With European stars such as Nemanja Vidic and Dejan Stankovic in the lineup, Serbia are considered by many as the tournament’s dark horse.

Having qualified atop their UEFA group – ahead of France – Serbia has only lost twice, once with a second-string squad after qualification has already been secured.

In order to escape the deadly group stage, Serbia will have to rely on the electrifying pace of striker Milan Jovanovic, the leading scorer during qualification, and hope that he is not left alone up front due to a weaker midfield.

I find it hard to bet against Germany and their history, but I think Australia is going to give them a tough run for their money. The second-place team in this group will have to play the winner of Group C in the next round (which SHOULD be England) and I have no idea which side I’d rather face.