Inexperienced sides face giants of Argentina & Nigeria

Argentina face World Cup debutants Bosnia to open Group F on 15 June in the Maracana, where the final will be held, while Iran take on Nigeria a day later in a tie in which avoiding defeat could prove crucial if the Asian side are to avoid early elimination.

They next face Argentina on match-day two, where the South Americans will be heavy favourites to win. The other tie pits Nigeria against Bosnia in the newly-constructed Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, which could go a long way to deciding which team makes it out of the group.

Nigeria will hope to have secured progression by the final match-day on which they face Argentina. If either has not, it could be a tense atmosphere in the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre near the Argentine border. Meanwhile Bosnia will face Iran in what could prove each side’s final match.

The Players

Lionel Messi
The forward has now scored over 50 goals for Barcelona in each of his last three full seasons from his ‘false 9’ central attacking position, and he has begun to transfer his club form to the national side. Amid an injury-hit season Cristiano Ronaldo thwarted his bid for a fourth consecutive Ballon D’Or, but this summer he could match Argentine legend Diego Maradona by lifting the World Cup in Latin America.

Edin Dzeko
The tall, powerful striker scored 26 league goals ahead of his Bosnia-Herzegovina teammate Zvjezdan Misimovic as Wolfsburg won the Bundesliga in 2009. He has often been forced to contribute from the bench since moving to Manchester City in 2011 but he has still netted over 10 Premier League goals in each of the last three seasons and he offers creativity, aerial prowess, and powerful shot with either foot.

Vincent Enyeama
The Nigeria captain made his debut aged just 19 at the 2002 World Cup, and his good form for Lille this season helped the French side to a run of 11 consecutive clean sheets. At just 1.82m tall he is short for a goalkeeper but his powerful leap allows him to command his area and showcase his fearsome shot-stopping ability, as he did in a man-of-the-match display against group rivals Argentina at the last World Cup.

Javad Nekounam
The central midfielder made his debut for the national team in 2000 and following his impressive performances at the 2006 World Cup he spent six seasons in La Liga with Osasuna in Spain. The 33-year-old’s experience will be crucial in protecting Iran’s defence in Brazil, while his passing range and shooting ability, as demonstrated by his six goals during qualification, will be key going forward.

Argentina – Messi’s chance to be the new Maradona
La Albiceleste have failed to reach the semi-finals in their last five World Cups. However, with the tournament returning to South America for the first time since their 1978 victory on home soil, they come under considerable pressure to improve.

After a 4-0 defeat in in South Africa meant Argentina exited to Germany at the quarter-finals of their second consecutive World Cup, they exited the 2011 Copa America at the same stage on penalties to Uruguay prompting the departure of 1986 World Cup winner Sergio Batista. New manager Alejandro Sabella’s CONMEBOL qualifying campaign started poorly with a 1-0 defeat away to Venezuela in just their second group match, however his side then went 13 matches unbeaten to finish first in the league table despite defeat away at Uruguay in their final match.

In defence the manager has allowed Federico Fernandez and Ezequiel Garay to form a stable centre-back partnership alongside consistent right-back Pablo Zabaleta and goalkeeper Sergio Romero. In attack, Juventus’ Carlos Tevez is yet to make an appearance under his tenure while Messi was made captain and allowed a flexible role to the right of strikers Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain in attack.

With left-sided Angel Di Maria complementing anchorman Javier Mascherano and playmaker Fernando Gago in midfield, the Barcelona star began to show his club form and struck 10 goals in qualifying. If he can do so in Brazil his team will be unbeatable.

Bosnia-Herzegovina – Former player leads nation to debut tournament
The Dragons only began competing internationally in the race for 1998 World Cup qualification, but the national team provides an important source of unity for the young nation and improved quickly to reach the UEFA qualifying play-offs for both the World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012. They suffered the misfortune however of being drawn against Portugal on both occasions, and first under Miroslav Blazevic, then under new manager Safet Susic, the Balkan nation were unable to advance despite competitive first legs on each occasion.

Susic had starred in attack for Paris Saint-Germain in the 1980s and reached the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals with Yugoslavia before defeat to finalists Argentina on penalties. He finally secured a return to the tournament by topping UEFA Group G on goal difference ahead of Greece, although a disappointing defeat at home to Slovakia however meant this required a late winner from striker Vedad Ibisevic in their final qualifying match away in Lithuania.

He played a confident style of football that allowed playmakers Miralem Pjanic and Zvjezdan Misimovic as well as each of left-sided duo Sejad Salihovic and Senad Lulic to attack. Strike partnership Edin Dzeko and Ibisevic struck 10 and 8 respectively as his side netted 30 goals during qualification, but the lack of a settled defence could place heavy responsibility on experienced centre-back Emir Spahic and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic in Brazil.

Nigeria – Keshi’s return raises tournament hopes
Manager Stephen Keshi played in defence as Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, and later that year topped their group in their first ever World Cup before losing in the round-of-16 to eventual finalists Italy. Their promising and youthful group of players went on to win the 1996 Olympic title but could do no better in either tournament until Keshi’s return to manage the side in 2011.

The manager’s bold decision to leave experienced strikers Peter Odemwingie and Obafemi Martinsout of the squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and select several younger, home-based players was vindicated as his side began the group stage with two draws but grew throughout the tournament to collect the trophy with memorable wins over Ivory Coast, Mali and Burkina Faso in the knock-out rounds. Ahead of captain Vincent Enyeama, a defence of Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona, and newly-signed Monaco left-back Elderson was ably protected by Jon Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi and Sunday Mba in midfield.

The solid defensive platform supports the pace of a combination of Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye or Emmanuel Emenike in attack. Although the West African side opened their World Cup qualification campaign with three draws from five starts in the group stage, they settled their nerves to defeat Ethiopia in a qualification playoff. The Super Eagles could prove be an awkward opponent for any side they face at the World Cup.

Iran – Worldly manager leads inexperienced side
Iran collected just two wins from ten games to finish fourth in their last AFC fourth qualifying round, failing to reach the 2010 World Cup after political instability and the departure of legendary former national team striker Ali Daei proved a distraction. After another disappointing display at the 2011 Asian Cup, former Manchester United and Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz was appointed, bringing to the role his track record of leading Portugal and South Africa to the World Cup.

He was without experienced attackers Vahid Hashemian and Mehdi Mahdavikia, but his side navigated the third AFC qualifying round undefeated and also finished top of their fourth round group. Inconsistent displays saw his side drop points against Qatar, Lebanon and Uzbekistan, though they completed a 1-0 double against second-placed South Korea. The two games were mired in controversy after the South Korea coach complained about facilities provided for their match in Iran, but striker Reza Ghoochannejhad’s goal decided the return tie.

Ghoochannejhad scored nine in his first 11 games with Team Melli earning a move from Standard Liege to Charlton, but captain Javad Nekounam finished top scorer in qualifying from central midfield with six goals. Despite the experience of winger Ashkan Dejagah and former Bayern Munich attacker Ali Karimi, centre-back Jalal Hosseini leads a back line low on experience outside Iran and the defence may struggle.