France will feel they should be able to navigate a path through Group E, something which would allow memories of 2010’s shambles in South Africa to be put to rest. However, the French would do well not to underestimate their opposition.
Switzerland are the seeded team in the group and always have a habit of reaching World Cups. Ottmar Hitzfeld will want his side to make sure they go through to the knockout phase. Ecuador and Honduras meanwhile will have reason to believe the climate in Brazil could play into their hands, offering them a precious advantage.
We look at all the teams in Group E and the twists and turns ahead.
EcuadorHaving qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2002, this is now the South Americans’ third appearance on the world’s biggest stage in four attempts to qualify. And intriguingly, all three successful qualification campaigns have been under the tutelage of Colombian coaches.
Ecuador’s qualification for the World Cup was however marked by tragedy, with the death of their star forward Christian Benitez. The hugely popular and skilful player had scored four times during qualifying, and so his passing meant that not only did Ecuador lose a wonderful person, but also a marvellous player who was integral to the way they played.
Reinaldo Rueda’s side have relied ever more on Felipe Caicedo up front to find the net, and he scored seven times during qualification. They were also reliant on their home form, having won more home games than any other South American team during qualification, whilst failing to win on the road. How much they suffer from not enjoying the advantage of the altitude of the Ecuadorian capital Quito is a big question mark over this team, although they have won in Australia and Portugal over the last year. However, an injury to Caicedo in another encouraging result, a draw with the Netherlands, is a worry and indicates that Ecuador could only have a good World Cup.
Key players
Caicedo will be critical because of his capacity to score goals – and there are few goalscorers in this Ecuador side. Tall and hugely promising as a youngster, his career never really took off the way some thought it might when he was in England with Manchester City, and he now plies his trade for Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates.
Antonio Valencia is the best known of the Ecuadorians and his searing pace and directness will be one of their biggest weapons. It may also be crucial on the counter-attack in what will probably be a tough battle for second place. Valencia has suffered though during a poor season at Manchester United and it may be that it is Jefferson Montero, on the other wing, who is the most exciting player Rueda has at his disposal. Montero, who plays in Mexico for Morelia, is a wonderful talent, a tricky dribbler and an unknown quantity to European defences.
Of Ecuador’s other players, perhaps Frickson Erazo is the most important. The centre-back played more than any other player during qualifying, but has struggled since a move to Rio de Janeiro to play for Flamengo, although he will be hoping to finally make an impact at the Maracana when they face France on 25th June.
Coach profile – Reinaldo Rueda
Ecuador and group rivals Honduras have a lot in common. Both have Colombian coaches. And both have the man who coached the other during the last World Cup cycle. Reinaldo Rueda took Honduras to the World Cup in South Africa, exiting at the group stage, but his achievements were noted in Ecuador, who moved to bring him in after that tournament.
Rueda hung onto his job despite a disappointing Copa America in 2011 and expertly guided them to their third World Cup appearance. They were comfortable behind Argentina and Colombia for much of the qualification campaign, even if they did have to wait until the last round to confirm their place in Brazil. The Colombian holds a degree from the University of Cologne and has been a university professor as well as a football coach. He rarely deviates from a 4-4-2 system which will make use of extensive wing play.
Expectations and prediction
The Ecuadorians have some key advantages in this group in what is likely to be a battle for second with Honduras and Switzerland. For a start their opening game is with Switzerland, in what is likely to be a tentative match. With Switzerland and Honduras having to face each other in the humidity of Manaus, Ecuador may just be able to profit from that in the final round of group games when they face a France team who may have already qualified. Ecuador seem a good bet for a last 16 place.
Should they get that far, Ecuador are most likely to face Argentina in the last 16. In qualifying the teams drew in Quito and Argentina won 4-0 at home. They also drew in a friendly last November, when Lionel Messi was absent. It is hard to see Rueda’s team, if they get that far, being able to get past the Argentines, so the second round looks like the best they can hope for once again.
Group fixtures
Switzerland v Ecuador (15th June, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia)
Honduras v Ecuador (20th June, Arena de Baixada, Curitiba)
Ecuador v France (25th June, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro)
FranceIf they follow their own World Cup pattern, France should make the final on 13th July. Winners at home in 1998, out in the group phase in 2002, runners-up in Germany in 2006 and then another embarrassing first round exit four years ago, France are nothing if not consistent in the extent of their inconsistency.
Didier Deschamps, the captain when they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy 16 years ago, does seem to be making good progress in getting this France side to equal the sum of their hugely talented parts. He has ostracised the likes of Samir Nasri in a bid to avoid the infighting that has plagued France in recent tournaments, but will have to cope without Franck Ribery, out with a back problem. However, the hugely promising Raphael Varane and Paul Pogba have come to the fore, there are other talented youngsters in the shape of centre-back Eliaquim Mangala, left-back Lucas Digne, midfielder Clement Grenier and forward Antoine Griezmann. Karim Benzema is proven at the very highest level, and then there are solid players from the top bracket of European football such as Yohan Cabaye, Laurent Koscielny, Mathieu Valbuena and Blaise Matuidi. This team, if they fulfil their significant potential, could be a real threat.
Key players
Paul Pogba is one of Europe’s brightest talents and he has his first chance to make his mark on the international stage this summer. The Juventus midfielder is powerful, technically gifted with an eye for goal and an excellent ball carrier, who doesn’t shirk the defensive side of the game; a bit like Yaya Toure in many ways, except presumably without the dislike of birthday cake.
Karim Benzema has enjoyed a fruitful season with Real Madrid after becoming the first choice forward following Gonzalo Higuain’s departure. An unerring finisher with the strength and guile to get involved in the build-up play, much could depend on how he links up with the midfield, on which he will depend for goal chances.
Further back, captain Hugo Lloris will have a key role to play in organising a defence which has plenty of talent but perhaps lacks a hardened edge at the very top level. Laurent Koscielny’s experience will therefore be critical alongside the enormously talented Raphael Varane, whilst Mathieu Debuchy’s rampaging runs down the right flank from deep will be a feature of their play.
Coach profile – Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps was a superb player in his time and his performances from the base of midfield pulled France together as a team. Now as a manager he appears to be having the same effect from the bench. Having guided Monaco to a Champions League final and won Juventus promotion back to Serie A after the Calciopoli scandal, he has an impressive pedigree across Europe, although Deschamps most recent club post, with Marseille, did not end well. Having won the title with them, his last season was a disaster, with the club finishing mid-table. Deschamps is a proven winner though and even during a year plagued with internal political fighting at Marseille, he managed to win the French League Cup.
Deschamps will set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 system in which Pogba and Matuidi will be charged with dominating and controlling matches. They have the physique and energy for the role but neither is especially defensive, which may prove a weakness later on in the tournament if the French get that far. The 45-year-old places significant emphasis on the collective and is more of a pragmatist than an idealist, who will be willing to sacrifice some guile if it gives France more chance of success. The case of Nasri illustrates that perfectly – a creative but controversial character in the dressing room, Deschamps dropped him from the squad and has even become embroiled in a lawsuit with the Manchester City man’s girlfriend since in the ensuing uproar.
Expectations and prediction
Germany and Spain may be the most likely challengers from Europe on paper, but this is a World Cup in which the draw and where matches are played should be more important than most. And in that regard, France have had a fantastic draw. If for once they meet expectations, and they could under Deschamps, they should qualify from this group with comfort. They have to travel up to Salvador to play Switzerland, but other than that their games are in the cool south of the country.
If they make it to the last 16 as group winners, France will probably face Nigeria or Bosnia in Brasilia, before facing the winner of Group G or the runners-up from Group H in the quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro. This run of games in relatively mild conditions should prove hugely advantageous to France. Germany, the toughest opponents they could face en route to the semi-finals, have an arduous schedule in the north and plenty of travelling to do; so this tournament may follow the pattern for France and see them make a surprise appearance in the semi-finals before bowing out with their heads held high for once.
Group fixtures
France v Honduras (15th June, Estadio Beira Rio, Porto Alegre)
Switzerland v France (20th June, Arena Fonta Nova, Salvador)
Ecuador v France (25rd June, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro)
HondurasRank outsiders of this World Cup along with Iran and Australia, few believe Honduras have any real chance of being able to make an impact in Brazil. This will be their third World Cup and second in succession. They will be up against former coach Reinaldo Rueda’s Ecuador, but they have replaced him with another Colombian, Luis Fernando Suarez. And Suarez was the man who led Ecuador to the 2006 World Cup second round in Germany. Honduras’ qualification for this World Cup was something of a surprise, particularly after it became apparent that Costa Rica and the United States had a hold on two automatic qualification spots from North America. Surely the Hondurans wouldn’t beat Mexico to the last automatic qualification spot? But that is exactly what they did, shocking the Mexicans with a win in the Azteca which consigned their hosts to a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot with Panama.
Whilst Suarez has a hard-working team that got the best out of themselves in qualifying, they lack the quality to be consistent at the highest level. That problem is summed up by the fact that some of their best players, Wilson Palacios and Carlo Costly, appear past their best. Still, if Honduras can avoid defeat when they face Ecuador in their second match, they may at least stand a chance in their final game with Switzerland. And many of the current squad were part of the team which travelled to London in 2012 for the Olympics and clinched a surprise spot in the second round with a shock victory over Spain. Outsiders they may be, but Honduras cannot be written off as no-hopers.
Key players
Maynor Figueroa is the leader of this team, a centre-back for his country despite playing at full-back for his club side, Hull City. Emilio Izaguirre is at the peak of his career having starred for Celtic in Scotland in recent campaigns and his Champions League experience could be vital. Noel Valladares in goal could be a key man for Honduras, even at the age of 37, as the captain of the team and a steadying influence between the sticks. Intriguingly, Wilson, Jonny and Jerry Palacios, the first set of three brothers to play together at a World Cup four years ago in South Africa, won’t repeat that feat in Brazil as Jonny has been left at home.
Roger Espinoza is a talented forward-thinking midfielder, who is capable of the spectacular. Technical and ferociously hard-working, he had a superb game against Brazil at the Olympics in 2012, almost leading his team to a shock victory. Andy Najar is another promising young talent; the US-born attacking midfielder opted to play for Honduras and his technical quality and playmaking ability could be a feature of this team. Perhaps the most important player could be Jerry Bengston, who has netted 18 times for Honduras and scored that winning goal against Spain in London two years’ ago.
Coach profile – Luis Fernando Suarez
Luis Fernando Suarez came in and took over Honduras after their poor performance at the World Cup in South Africa and he has made a positive impact since. He guided them to their impressive London 2012 Olympics performance and navigated the qualifiers with some astute selections. The 54-year-old has brought through a crop of young talent whilst getting the best out of the wise heads of Figueroa, Costly and Izaguirre.
The former Ecuador boss won the Copa Libertadores as a player with Atletico Nacional in 1989 and then managed them 10 years later as he guided them to the Colombian title. Suarez has courted some criticism at home for opting not to take with the promising forward Jonny Meija, a decision which may come back to haunt him if the team struggle for goals. However, the Colombian is a shrewd man-manager, having dropped star striker Jerry Bengtson for the Gold Cup last year before recalling him and getting the best out of the New England striker during the final stage of World Cup qualifying. He will need those skills to get this squad to the second round.
Expectations and prediction
Honduras may be fourth favourites to come out of this group, but they have some hope in what is one of the weaker groups. And that has fuelled some optimism at home, particularly given that they have the advantage of playing the favourites to finish second, Switzerland, in the extreme humidity of Manaus. If Honduras can take advantage of that, and sneak a draw with Ecuador, then they could just squeak through to the next round.
Those however, are some pretty big ifs. This is a group in which, France aside, there are few quality goalscorers. So going through with France is likely to be the team with the strongest defence of the others, and that is where Ecuador probably have the edge in this group, particularly given their abilities on the counter-attack. Honduras will find getting past both them and Switzerland a hurdle too far, but don’t expect them to play the role of whipping boys. They may leave the tournament early, but bet on them to give one of their opponents a bloody nose on the way.
Group fixtures
France v Honduras (15th June, Estadio Beira Rio, Porto Alegre)
Honduras v Ecuador (20th June, Arena de Baixada, Curitiba)
Honduras v Switzerland (25rd June, Arena Amazonia, Manaus)
SwitzerlandIt is easy to forget but Switzerland are the seeds in this group and one of FIFA’s ‘top eight’ teams at this World Cup. They will be looking to improve upon their showings at the last two World Cups. Not only will they hope to do better than the last 16 exit to Ukraine in 2006 (when they left the competition without conceding a goal) and 2010’s group stage exit, but Ottmar Hitzfeld’s team will be looking to play with more style and swagger than they are traditionally known for. The Swiss have reached the last eight on three occasions, but the last of those came 60 years ago.
Switzerland have an exciting crop of youngsters, many of whom are naturalised immigrants. There are the Kosovans such as Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, then there are others including Gokhlan Inler, Johan Djourou and Admir Mehmedi who all have roots elsewhere. Complemented by seasoned European pros Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schar and Valentin Stocker, this Swiss side have the ability to cause a surprise or two in Brazil. Like France, the Swiss played back home before flying to Brazil, whereas many rivals travelled to the United States to prepare for Brazil. Will they suffer from the lack of training in the extreme heat? That will be an intriguing question of this Swiss team and coach Hitzfeld.
Key players
Xherdan Shaqiri is Switzerland’s best player. Creative, two-footed and technical, his ability to run at opponents and create chances for team-mates could make all the difference for Hitzfeld’s side. Having featured only sporadically at Bayern Munich, he could be fresh for this tournament. Gokhan Inler is probably the next best player in the squad. The central midfielder is the heartbeat and engine of the side, and he possesses a superb shot from distance too. Inler’s Napoli team-mates Valon Behrami and Blerim Dzemaili are both technical and attack-minded midfielders who can add spark to their play.
The one to watch in this side is the Bayer Leverkusen forward Josep Drmic. The striker set the Bundesliga on fire at Nurnberg before joining Leverkusen, all the more impressive when considering Der Club were relegated. The prolific forward has already forced his way into the national team reckoning and will be well worth keeping an eye on during this tournament.
Coach profile – Ottmar Hitzfield
Ottmar Hitzfeld is one of the elder statesmen of world football and a member of that elite group of coaches who have won two Champions Leagues with two different clubs. Hitzfeld is set to retire after this World Cup and hopes to bow out in style with a more expansive team than the one who went out of the last one in South Africa.
Hitzfeld has spent his entire career in Switzerland or Germany and made his mark internationally in 1997 when he guided Borussia Dortmund to their only Champions League against all odds. He then took Bayern Munich to two finals in the same competition, losing the first to Manchester United in dramatic circumstances before defeating Valencia in 2001. He left Bayern Munich in 2003, returning for a spell in 2007 before taking over the Swiss national side, who have made huge strides under his leadership, regularly qualifying for major international tournaments with a group of talented young players.
Expectations and prediction
The Swiss have a very good side who are dangerous to underestimate. They can blend traditional Swiss organisation and solidity with the flair of their youthful naturalised attackers. However, this is a group fraught with pitfalls. Playing in an environment and conditions which are unfamiliar to those used to the temperate Swiss climate will be a significant factor – Hitzfeld’s team have to play in the humidity of Manaus against Honduras, who will be more naturally suited to such conditions. They also have to face France in Salvador.
The key to this group for the Swiss may be whether they can pick anything up from that game against France if they fail to beat Ecuador in their opening match. That will be a fascinating game, but whether Switzerland have enough to break them down and keep out the South Americans on the counter-attack is an interesting question which they may not have the answer to. And if they come into the final match in Manaus needing points to qualify, it could end up being another early exit for Switzerland.
Group fixtures
Switzerland v Ecuador (15th June, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia)
Switzerland v France (20th June, Arena Fonta Nova, Salvador)
Honduras v Switzerland (25rd June, Arena Amazonia, Manaus)
