As prestigious tournament, Brazil 2014 World Cup gets closer; we examine the strengths, weakness and prospect of each of the 32 competing nations. For each of the 32 teams we preview the data on every goal scored and conceded in qualifying.
We take a look at Group A that has host country Brazil, Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon making list of four countries in the group.
Group A
Brazil
Strengths:
As Brazil didn’t need to qualify based on the international matches they’ve played in 2013, in which they’ve been more notable for their defence than their attack. They rarely allow teams to get close to their goal and rarely concede late goals, suggesting a fit and organised back line. Going forward they are one of the more dependable goalscoring nations and few score multiple goals more regularly.
Weaknesses:
There are weaknesses to be found however, most notably in defending long-range shots, which account for almost half the goals they’ve conceded. Long balls have also caught out their defenders on a few occasions.
Prospects:
The draw looks good to Brazil, presenting them with three winnable games. With the third highest percentage of long-range goals in qualifying, Cameroon could potentially spring a surprise on their defence.
Their other two opponents, Croatia and Mexico, needed a play-off to reach the finals and have each dropped six places in the FIFA Rankings over the past year. Both have depended heavily on precisely the sort of close range finishes that Brazil usually prevents, so the hosts will be expecting to reach the knockout stages with little trouble.
Croatia
Strengths:
Croatia netted 43% of goals from inside the 6 yard box, the highest proportion of any team headed for Brazil, and also created the most chances from the wings with nearly two thirds of their goals being set up from a wide position. At the back they kept their focus late on, being one of just three finalists not to concede in the final quarter of an hour during qualifying.
Weaknesses:
The number of goals they can score is a concern however. They netted at the lowest rate of any finalist during qualifying, averaging just 1.17 goals per match and, along with only Nigeria, never scored more than twice in a match. At the back, close range goals were something of a problem: they conceded a greater share of goals from inside the six-yard box than anyone except Iran.
Prospects:
None of their opponents in Group A are conveniently flawed from Croatia’s perspective, with Brazil and Mexico difficult to break down from the wings in particular. Brazil have offered little close range quarter while the Mexicans look capable of getting in behind the Croatian defence in return, having scored nearly a third of their goals from close range.
Mexico
Strengths:
Making it late became something of a speciality for Mexico in qualifying where they scored over a third of their goals in the final 15 minutes of matches, which only three of the other 31 nations exceeded. They were also one of the more dangerous teams from corners and adept at defending long-range shots with just one such goal conceded.
Weaknesses:
Mexico endured a frustrating qualifying campaign in which they failed to score in a third of their matches and didn’t recover any points from losing positions, neither of which bode well against the tougher quality opposition they’ll face in Brazil. All but two of the goals they conceded came in the closing half an hour, which should also be of concern.
Prospects:
Finding a way past Brazil will be a challenge but there is plenty to hope for from their other two matches: Cameroon conceded half of their goals from corners and Croatia struggled for goals in qualifying. Late goals aren’t likely to be much help against the Croatians though, who didn’t concede any during their qualifiers.
Cameroon
Strengths:
Cameroon were one of four sides not to drop any points in qualifying after going ahead and netted a greater share of goals from distance than 29 of their 31 fellow qualifiers, with 22% of goals coming from outside the box. They also kept a clean sheet in over half their matches, one of eight teams to achieve this.
Weaknesses:
There were occasions in qualifying when their attack failed to deliver however: they netted goals at the third lowest rate during qualifying and drew a blank in almost a third of their games. At the back, set pieces proved the biggest problem to deal with, with corners accounting for half the goals they conceded.
Prospects:
While few will be expecting them to prevail against Brazil, their long-range accuracy exploits a weakness in the hosts’ defence. Their other opponents, Croatia and Mexico, have had a frustrating year and neither are they scoring freely, so they can potentially be shut out. Mexico’s threat from corners makes them look the tougher proposition at this stage.
Anthony Nlebem
