Group A

Since there's only a week left to go, I'm going to try and do two of these today, starting with:
Germany headline the group as hosts of this World Cup, with fellow Europeans Poland (who qualified via the playoff spot after coming second in England's qualifying group), South American's Equador and Costa Rica make their third appearance in the World Cup finals.


TEAMS

Germany

• Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
• WC Winners: 3 (1954, 1974 and 1990 - all as West Germany)
• WC Participants: 15 (1934, 1938 and every World Cup since 1954)
• Titbits: Only Brazil have won more and played in more World Cup Finals. (West) Germany won the World Cup last time is was played in their country. Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup as a player in 1974, and then managed the team that won in 1990 (which included the current German coach, Klinsmann).
• Key Players: Jens Lehmann (GK), Jens Nowotny, Michael Ballack and Lukas Pololski.
  

Poland

• Coach: Pawel Janas
• WC Winners: 0
• WC Participants: 6 (1938, 74, 78, 82, 86 and 2002)
• Titbits: Despite not winning a world cup Poland finished 3rd in 1974 and 1982. Poland qualified in a playoff after finishing second in Englands qualifying group.
  
• Key Player: More a case of lack of Key player with Janas deciding not to select Goal Keeper Jersey Dudek.

Equador

• Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez
• WC Winners: 0
• WC Participants: 1 (2002)
• Titbits: Equador did not play any international outside South America until 1970. Qualified for the 2002 World Cup ahead of Brazil...Brazil went on to win it, while Equador dropped out in the group stages after a one win and two losses.
  
• Key Player: Felix Borja who has only 6 caps might be the break-out "star" of this team.

Costa Rica

• Coach: Alexandre Guimaraes
• WC Winners: 0
• WC Participants: 1 (1990 and 2002)
• Titbits: They made it through to their first qualifying round in their first ever World Cup Finals (1990). Their best result came in 1946, when they beat Panama 12-0. Costa Rica have won 11 Central American titles.
  
• Key Player: Paulo Wanchope, who has played for Derby, West Ham and Man City in the Prem and also at Malaga in Spain. He has scored 43 goals in 69 games for the Costa Ricans who he also represented in 1993 in the Cental American Basketball tournament!

GAMES PREDICTIONS

• Germany 2-1 Costa Rica: Germany should win at home to an inexperenced team.
• Poland 0-1 Equador: First suprise as I think Poland will struggle this time and Equador will be the early suprise team.
• Germany 3-1 Poland: Poland will be as good as elimated, while Germany will keep their 100% record.
• Equador 2-0 Costa Rica: The South American will again impress.
• Germany 2-2 Equador: Needing just a draw to top the group, Germany will just keep out a spritely South American team, who qualify second.
• Costa Rica 2-1 Poland: Thing will finish badly as Poland go out without a win and Costa Rica go home with a memorable victory.

TOURNAMENT PREDICTIONS

• Germany: Semi-Finals or Finals (depending on how they perform against France in the semi's). A good distance for this rather mediocre German team who will do well because of home support.
  
• Eqaudor: 1st Knock-out Round (last 16) going out in the first knock-out game after adding a little excitement to the tournament.
  
• Costa Rica: Out in the group phase, but not in last place.
• Poland: A World Cup to forget and lots of questions asked.