The World Cup is almost here. Group F, the Troubled Group

If you thought these group previews would be either in alphabetical order, or concentrate in the interesting groups you would be wrong.  Here is Group F; a collection of countries with the full range of issues.

Argentina.  The two time world champs are playing almost at home.

Strangely Argentina does not seem to be getting hyped up as semi-favourites here, because they are.  In South Africa a young side looked the real deal until getting flogged by Germany.

But they were managed by a pantomime madman figure that time, here they have so much depth, conditions that suit, the best attacking player on the planet as well as four time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.

To be judged one of the true greats of the game you have to shine on The Highest Stage, and it is felt in his home country that Messi went missing a bit in South Africa.  This time around he will have Sergio Agüero next to him so that should provide a bit more space.

You would struggle to find a team with more attacking options than Argentina (Higuain is more than handy too).  Wisely they have left Carlos Tevez to shrug his shoulders back home.

And now the players have got in behind a Malvinas poster before their last warm-up match you know they’re going to play that card.  When an Argentinian fan thinks of the Malvinas from a football point of view they do not think 1982; they think 1986, and the Azteca Stadium.

Pop Trivia Moment: Defender Marcos Rojo, 24, is the youngest member of the squad.

Nigeria has been in the news a bit recently, but not for good reasons.  Heading towards a particularly nasty and high-profile type of Civil War at home, the deeds of their football team has raised eyebrows over the last few weeks.

Domestic games with socrelines of 73-0 are never a good look and then there was the cloud over the friendly against Scotland.  There was a lot of speculation before the game that there was money floating around.  You would have thought that may have settled things down, but an outrageous own goal flapped in by the goalkeeper from 10 metres out, ruled out due to a previous obstruction was followed by another own goal.

Squads that need a sign-off from senior government officials before being finalised are not always the best squads.  However, Nigeria are the reigning African Champions, and they got lucky with their group.

This will be Iran’s fourth World Cup Finals, and their history is most notable for their sole win at this level; against old friends the USA in 1998.  A game that produced one the most moving pre-match photos ever taken.

Naturally we know very little about their players, with the majority based in Iran or Kuwait.  The experienced players are the defenders, but the strikers are very young.   There is Charlton Athletic’s Reza Ghoochannejhad up front.  Listen for the commentators doing all they can to avoid saying that name.

They are managed by former Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, so there must be a bit of coin floating around.  They will be tough to break down but, assuming all matches are legit are unlikely to progress.

And then there is Bosnia-Herzegovina; the only country making its debut appearance in a World Cup Finals in Brazil.  A country previously synonymous with civil war, this would be the feel-good story if the tournament should they make it out of Group play.

From a footballing since, when you think Bosnia-Herzegovina you think Edin Dzeko; the brawn in front of Manchester City’s pretty passers.

But the key player is Roma’s Miralem Pjanic, who wears the burden of being compared to Maradonna.   He has openly stated he expects his market value to soar after the World Cup.  “Barcelona? That would not be a bad destination for me. I could show my full range of abilities.” Quite looking forward to watching what Miralem has to offer.

And then Susic coach as promised to “play all of his star forwards at once”.  Bring it on.

Previously, Group A and the Group of Death