World Cup preview: Group D – USA headline competitive group | OneFootball

The World Cup is almost upon us. From June 11 til July 19, 48 countries will fight to become World Champions in the tournament held in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

The teams in the tournament have already been drawn into 12 separate groups. Group D contains the United States, Paraguay, Australia and Turkey – four sides that are all more than capable of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup.

Here’s a preview of the teams hoping to make it out of Group D:

USA

The co-hosts will come into this tournament with high expectations. Mauricio Pochettino is an elite manager and the USA squad at his disposal is the strongest in recent memory. Their 26-man contingent is littered with talent from Europe’s top leagues.

Home advantage should be a boost for the US, whose fixtures take place in California and Seattle. However, heightened expectations can also bring increased pressure on the co-hosts, and this will be one of the biggest challenges faced by Pochettino’s side.

Player to watch: Folarin Balogun – the Monaco striker has been in fine form this season recording 17 goal contributions in Ligue 1, as well as scoring five Champions League goals.

Stage of elimination prediction: Round of 16

Paraguay

Paraguay return to football’s biggest tournament for the first time in 16 years. They successfully booked their place in this summer’s World Cup after a strong qualifying campaign, that included victories over both Brazil and Argentina, However, the South American side relied heavily on their home form, a luxury which they will not have this summer. They won just one of nine away games during the qualification process.

As a consequence, many do not expect Paraguay to go far in the tournament. Despite this, they are a stubborn side and will not be easy opponents for any team. They are solid defensively, with potential difference-makers going forward, and could well turn out to be surprise package.

Player to watch: Julio Enciso – the 22-year-old has rediscovered form with Strasbourg this season, tallying 21 goals and assists across all competitions.

Stage of elimination predicted: Round of 32

Australia

Australia will compete in their sixth consecutive World Cup this summer. Last time in Qatar they produced their best-ever performance in the tournament. They reached the Round of 16 following surprise victories over both Tunisia and Denmark.

The Socceroos sailed through qualifying relatively comfortably but will have their work cut out if they are to repeat their successes of four years ago. There is a distinct lack of top level players within their squad. They will need to outperform their station if they are to make this tournament a memorable one.

Player to watch: Mohamed Toure – after joining Norwich City in January, the attacker netted 10 goals and recorded three assists in just 12 appearances.

Stage of elimination predicted: Group stage

Turkey

It will be Turkey’s first World Cup appearance since 2002 and only their third ever. Remarkably in the 2002 tournament, Turkey’s only World Cup in the past 70 years, they made it all the way to the semi-finals and eventually finished third.

Turkey travel to this summer’s tournament with a desirable mixture of experience, talent and youth. They cruised through qualifying, barring a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Spain, and should arrive in the states with confidence.

Player to watch: Kenan Yildiz – the 21-year-old winger is continuing to blossom into a fine player for Juventus and could truly announce himself on the international scene this summer.

Stage of elimination predicted: Round of 16