十大不容錯過的小組賽
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The 2014 FIFA World Cup is right around the corner, so it's time to get excited about the best matches in the group stage. From defending champion Spain to host favorite Brazil to perennial power Italy, several countries will be playing in can't-miss matches. Here are our 10 best, listed in chronological order: SPAIN vs. NETHERLANDS The first game of Group B competition is a rematch of the?2010 FIFA World Cup final?as defending champion Spain faces the Netherlands in Salvador, Brazil. Vicente Del Bosque brings a relatively familiar-looking Spanish side from his 2010 squad. Louis Van Gaal, however, brings a Dutch side that’s a mix of veteran players and new faces to the World Cup stage -- in particular, in defense and goalkeeping.?(June 13, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) ENGLAND vs. ITALY Two traditional soccer powers will square off on June 14, when England takes on Italy in Manaus, Brazil. The European World Cup fixtures each will be trying to get out of a difficult Group D, which also features Uruguay and lethal striker?Luis Suárez. The defensive-minded Italians will attempt to stifle?Wayne Rooney?and company, who will be out to dispel their underachiever label in World Cup play. England has never beaten Italy at a major tournament, and Italian striker Mario Balotelli recently provided some bulletin-board fodder by saying the Three Lions?have no chance of winning?this World Cup. “They have some good players, but they are no real rivals for Italy,” Balotelli said. On June 14, we’ll find out.?(June 14, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) GERMANY vs. PORTUGAL This June 16 match likely will play a big part in determining which sides advance out of the “Group of Death.” It wouldn’t be a surprise to see either the Germans or the Portuguese win Group G, so each nation will present a tough foe for one another in Salvador, Brazil. Germany has experienced a resurgence in international play and is one of the odds-on favorites to hoist the trophy in Brazil. ButCristiano Ronaldo?is a difficult force to stop, and arguably the world’s best player will be counted on to generate – and finish – plenty of Portugal’s scoring chances. He’ll need help for Portugal to knock off the well-rounded Germans in this crucial tilt.?(June 16, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN) USA vs. GHANA In both of the previous two World Cups, the United States was eliminated by Ghana in tense, hard-fought matches decided by the slimmest of margins, with the last match between these rivals decided in extra time. If either team hopes to advance to the next round, it will need to put its best foot forward from the get-go, as they meet in each country's World Cup opener. Points against Germany and Portugal will be difficult to come by, so a victory is a must for both countries.?(June 16, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) BRAZIL vs. MEXICO When asked whether he feared Mexico as a group-stage rival, Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari responded in the affirmative, answering,?“Mexico is always a tough opponent for us."?However, historic results show Mexico to be a bit more than a “tough” opponent for Brazil. Since the turn of the century, no team has beaten Brazil more often than Mexico. Similarly, Brazil’s victory over Mexico during last summer’s Confederations Cup was its first competitive triumph against the CONCACAF nation in more than nine years. Expect a tense and entertaining encounter.?(June 17, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) URUGUAY vs. ENGLAND If Suárez?proves healthy?for this Group D clash, he’ll give the English defense a lot to worry about. His striking partner, Edinson Cavani, scored 25 goals for Paris St. Germain this season and will be a significant threat as well. Uruguay has a number of attacking options but its defense is a weak point. England stalwarts Rooney and?Steven Gerrard?will look to find a way through. The two sides are evenly matched. A moment of brilliance, possibly from Suárez or Rooney, might prove the difference.?(June 19, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) USA vs. PORTUGAL The heat will be on figuratively and literally for both the U.S. and Portugal when they meet in their second Group G match in city of Manaus—located in the middle of the Amazon rainforest—on June 22. In the “Group of Death,” points will come at a premium, and for either the U.S. or Portugal to advance to the knockout stage, this game can be considered a must-win.?(June 22, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) NETHERLANDS vs. CHILE The final day of group competition in Group B will showcase a scrappy Chilean side take on the Netherlands in Sao Paulo. Arturo Vidal and?Alexis Sánchez?will try to lead?La Roja?to the round of 16 for the second straight World Cup tournament, while?Arjen Robben?and Robin van Persie will lead the?Oranje?attack as the Netherlands will look to advance to the knockout stage for the eighth time in their history.?(June 23, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN) ITALY vs. URUGUAY Paired in a competitive group with England and Costa Rica, it’s likely that much will be at stake when these two teams meet in their last group match. So much depends on the health of Uruguayan striker Suárez who recently underwent knee cartilage surgery. Suárez, the reigning player of the year in England, comes into the World Cup as perhaps the most devastating striker on the planet. Italy, inventors of catenaccio, has the defensive pedigree to stop him. Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will lead the back line and likely be joined by two Juventus teammates: Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini. For goals, they’ll look to the temperamental Balotelli,?who's had his own struggles with fitness lately. On the right day, he can be a world-beater. On the wrong day, Balotelli can be a liability.?(June 24, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN) USA vs. GERMANY A draw against powerhouse Germany sounds great, but depending on results from its first two matches, the U.S. may need more than a point to emerge from its group. U.S. coach Jürgen Klinsmann was once a star player for the German national side. From 2004-'06, he coached his country’s team, guiding them to a third-place finish at a World Cup played on home soil. His tactical acumen will be put to the test as the U.S. faces such individual attacking talents as Thomas Muller,Bastian Schweinsteiger?and Mesut Ozil. To stunt the German attack, the Americans likely will depend on a center-back partnership featuring the relatively inexperienced?Omar Gonzalez?and?Matt Besler. Chances at the other end should be few and far between for the Americans. When and if they do occur, expect captain?Clint Dempsey?to be at the heart of the U.S. attack.?(June 26, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN) |
2014世界杯即將開始，那么小組賽階段有哪些比賽最值得關注？從衛冕冠軍西班牙到東道主巴西，再到傳統強隊意大利，各個強隊即將上演強強對話，精彩不容錯過。下面就是我們按賽程順序為您精心挑選的十場比賽。 西班牙vs荷蘭 B組第一場較量將在2010年的兩只決賽隊伍中展開。衛冕冠軍西班牙隊將在巴西薩爾瓦多（Salvador）面對老冤家荷蘭。西班牙隊主教練文森特·德爾·博斯克（Vicente Del Bosque）將帶領他10年冠軍班底再次征戰，其中有不少熟悉面孔。荷蘭隊則是一支新老結合的荷蘭隊，這一點在防守端與控球方面尤為明顯。（比賽時間：6月13 日） 英格蘭vs意大利 兩支傳統足球強隊英格蘭與意大利將在6月14號在瑪瑙斯（Manaus）相遇。這兩支歐洲勁旅都將奮力爭取小組出線，因為他們所在的D組有擁有天才射手路易斯·蘇亞雷斯（Luis Suarez）的烏拉圭隊。以防守打法為主的意大利隊將會嘗試壓制魯尼和他的隊友，而后者則會努力改變英格蘭在世界杯舞臺上表現不佳的尷尬處境。英格蘭在大型賽事中從未戰勝過意大利。不久之前，意大利前鋒馬里奧·巴洛特利（Mario Balotelli）則叫板英格蘭，稱三獅軍團（Three Lion）對意大利隊毫無勝算：”他們有不錯的球員，但是拿不出對抗意大利的有效方法。” 在6月14日的時候就會見分曉（比賽時間：6月14號） 德國vs葡萄牙 6月16日比賽將在決定哪支隊伍在G組這只”死亡之組“（Group of Death）出線起很大的作用。兩隊勢均力敵，都有可能領銜G組，因此，到時兩隊定會在薩爾瓦多殊死對抗。德國隊在世界賽事中歷經低迷后反彈，并很有可能在巴西問鼎大力神杯。但對他們來說，葡萄牙隊的克里斯蒂亞諾·羅納爾多（Cristiano Ronaldo）是個大挑戰。這位可算世界最頂尖的球員將擔負起為葡萄牙隊制造并完成進球的重任。不過，要打敗組織嚴密的德國隊并贏下這至關重要的一戰，C羅需要隊友的大力協助。（比賽時間：6月16號） 美國vs加納 在前兩屆的世界杯中，美國隊都是在與加納的比賽中歷經艱難，在加時賽階段被淘汰出局。兩隊若是想要步入下一輪，則兩隊都要在本屆世界杯首戰取得佳績。因為要從同組的德國與葡萄牙手中拿分將十分艱難，因此，此役對兩隊都是必勝之戰。（比賽時間：6月16日） 巴西vs墨西哥 當問到是否害怕在小組賽碰到墨西哥時，巴西隊主教練路易斯·菲利佩·斯科拉里（Luiz Felipe Scolari）肯定地說：“墨西哥對我們來說一直都是個強勁的對手。”然而，從歷史戰績來看，這個對手對巴西來說可能有些過于強勁。自本世紀初以來，還沒有那支隊伍擊敗巴西隊的次數能超過墨西哥。相似的日，2013年夏天，巴西在聯合會杯中擊敗墨西哥這個是巴西在近九年多以來頭一次。這將會是場激烈的，觀賞性極強的比賽。（比賽時間：6月17日） 烏拉圭vs英格蘭 如果在這場D組強強對話中，蘇亞雷斯身體無礙，那么英格蘭的后防將壓力重重。他的進攻端搭檔埃迪森`卡瓦尼（Edinson Cavani）本賽季在巴黎圣日耳曼攻進25粒進球，對英格蘭同樣是個很大的威脅。烏拉圭進攻上有很多選擇，但防守卻是軟肋。英格蘭中堅韋恩·魯尼（Wayne Rooney）與史蒂芬·杰拉德（Steven Gerrard）要想方設法突破對手防線。兩方實力不相上下。比賽的天平可能會被魯尼或者蘇亞雷斯的個人能力爆發左右。（比賽時間：6月19日） 美國vs葡萄牙 在6月22號，美國與葡萄牙在亞馬遜雨林中部的瑪瑙斯相遇時，這場小組的第二場比賽肯定會像天氣一樣熱烈。在“死亡小組”的G組，分分都會得之艱難。不管是對美國還是葡萄牙來說，要想進入淘汰賽階段，此役必須拿下。（比賽時間：6月22日） 荷蘭vs智利 在小組賽最后一天的比賽中，B組的智利隊將在圣保羅迎戰荷蘭。阿圖羅·比達爾（Arturo Vidal）與阿萊克西斯·桑切斯(Alexis Sanchez)將努力帶領紅色軍團第二次進入16強決賽，而阿爾楊·羅本（Arjen Robben）與羅賓·范佩西（Robin van Perseie）則將帶領橙色軍團向歷史上第八次進入淘汰賽階段而努力。(比賽時間：6月23日） 意大利vs烏拉圭 與英格蘭與哥斯達黎加同在一組，這兩支隊伍在最后一場小組賽相遇時，很可能會有很多東西決定這場比賽的結果。有太多的東西取決于烏拉圭前鋒蘇亞雷斯的身體狀況，因為他不久前接受了膝軟骨手術。蘇亞雷斯是本年度英格蘭最佳球員，可能是這個星球上最具殺傷力的前鋒。意大利——一個發明鏈式防守的國度——將以自己的防守傳統打法來應對。身經百戰的布馮（Gianluigi Buffon)將坐鎮意大利后防，很有可能會與他在尤文圖斯的隊友萊昂納多`博努奇(Leonardo Bonucci)跟喬吉奧·基耶利尼（Giorgio Chiellini）并肩作戰。進球方面，他們將寄希望于表現不穩定的且身體狀況不佳的巴洛特利。運氣好，他能天下無敵；運氣不對，他也會是個累贅。（比賽時間：6月24日） 美國vs德國 若能與德國戰車打平是不錯，但根據前兩場的結果，美國可能需要不止一分才能出線。美國隊的主教練尤爾根·克林斯曼（Jurgen Klinsmann）曾作為德國國家隊的巨星。他自2004年6月執教德國隊，曾帶領德國隊取得本土作戰取得世界杯第三的成績。他的戰術敏銳性將在美國隊應對諸如托馬斯·穆勒（Thomas Muller）、巴斯蒂安·施魏因斯泰格（Bastian Scheweinsteiger）和梅蘇特·厄齊爾（Musuz Ozil）等個人能力超強的進攻型選手時得到充分體現。為了抵擋德國隊的進攻，美國隊很可能會利用德國隊中后場由奧馬爾·岡薩雷斯（Omar Gonzalez）與馬特·貝斯勒（Matt Besler）這兩新人之間的不默契合作。在進攻端，美國隊的機會應該不多。但如果機會出現，隊長克林特鄧普西將會充當進攻核心。（比賽時間：6月26日） |
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Australia had a bumpy ride through the Asian qualifying groups, losing to Oman and Jordan, En route to finishing second behind Japan to seal a world cup place. >詳細>>
