World Cup Group Stage Draw

The World Cup draw is always one of the most looked forward to events of the soccer calendar. It precedes the actual Cup by half a year, but it is a major factor in determining the course of the Cup. This year there was controversy surrounding the "X-Pot," Fifa's odd new addition to the draw. In the end, the US was drawn into the group of death and Spain and the Netherlands will play a rematch of 2010's Final.

Group of Death

The group of death is undoubtedly Group G: Germany, ranked number 2 in the world, and bronze medal winners in 2010; Portugal, ranked number 5 in the world, and carried by Cristiano Ronaldo; USA, under the leadership of Jurgen Klinnsman and with the world's most powerful country at their backs; and Ghana, the team built around Europe based stars Michael Essien, Kevin Prince Boateng and Sully Muntari. This is by no means "overrateed." The quick first glance at the group, looking at the teams on paper, it is clear that the US are out, while Ghana could give Portugal a run for their second place money. However, I believe that the group will be a better contest than that; this is probably due to the fact that I am American, and desperately hope that the red white and blue have a change, which they do. I will preview each group more in depth as the year progresses, but for now, I will say that the Americans and Ghanaians must not be underestimated; Portugal has weaknesses, as it relies heavily on Ronaldo, which it should, and it's defense is weak. This group will only get more interesting as the international breaks in the upcoming months occur.

The Weak Group
Clearly the weakest group of the draw is group E, containing France, Honduras, Ecuador and Switzerland. Now, keep in mind that this is the world cup, and that all the teams involved are quality. However, of all the groups, this is the weakest. France struggled to qualify, Switzerland had the benefit of an easy group containing Iceland, Slovenia and Norway, Ecuador, while starting out very hot in qualification, have won just once in the last 10 games of qualification, and Honduras, while a possible dark horse, are from CONCACAF, which is one of the easier continental qualification pools. This group should not be the most rigorous, but it could bring some drama: might France be eliminated in the first round again? These teams have quality, and it could happen.

Look over the next weeks as I will be previewing each group in depth, including schedules, team strength and coaches. 

Gedion Zelalem: Arsenal and America's Future?

One of the revelations of Arsenal's Asian pre-season tour was Gedion Zelalem; a German of Ethopian descent, who has lived and played in America for several years, played 3 games in the tour, against Vietnam, Nagoya and Indonesia. His play drew the attention of many startled people, pundits and fans alike. And while the season started and attention was drawn away from him, his play hasn't left my mind. With Mesut Ozil now having arrived, most people would think that Zelalem, still 16, would be going to the reserve team, or out on loan; but in fact, the German creators' arrival is probably the best thing that could happen for Gedion.

Most people have been comparing Zelalem to Cesc Fabergas, or even Michael Laudrup; indeed, all three share the common ability to see spaces, to put balls into the spot where their teammate is going, setting up the player for a beautiful goal. But it seems from research that Zelalem isn't as small as the former, measuring up pretty well against the 6 foot 3 Arsene Wenger, and, from the videos on the internet, is more defensive minded than the later. Both Fabergas and Laudrup seem happy to score, and just as happy to set up the goal. Zelalem, in those three games with the first team, showed not that he had an eye for goal, but that rather, he could cut out the oppositions play. He seems just as content to make the first pass in an attack as he is to make the last. You can see this perfectly in the build up to Arsenal's third goal, against Indonesia. Zelalem made just a simple 10 yard pass, straight to his right, but it proved to be the catalyst for the attack, allowing a player to make a run that he couldn't have made a pass to. It looked simple and thoughtless to the naked eye, but proved to be brilliant. Later in that same game, he put a ball through the back line to put the striker through on goal; although the assistant referee would flag for offside, which would be shown to be a poor call, the pass was beautiful, setting up a sure goal. That game alone showed the midfielder's versatility.

As noted above, most pundits have made comparions of Gedion to Fabergas and Laudrup; I think, however, he is more like Andrea Pirlo, the Italian playmaker. Pirlo is what the Italians call a regista, or deep lying playmaker; the midfielder is slated as a defensive midfielder, but really plays more of a creating role, sometimes cutting out plays, and sometimes picking balls up from the defenders and goal keepers; both times he will create attacks from the back forward, either playing a short or long pass to stimulate the more attacking players of the sides. Gedion reminds me of the Italian because of his willingness, at least in the games he has played, to play a defensive role; several times in the games he stopped budding attacks, whether outside his own box or the opponents box, and won the ball back for his side.

Gedion will soon prosper in the side now that Mesut Ozil has arrived; the German fills a slot that Zelalem would have to otherwise had to compete for with players like Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky. He can fit comfortably into one of the two defensive midfielder slots, in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Think of Arsenal's bright future; Zelalem and Wilshere at the back, Ozil, Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain vying for the next three spots, and Olivier Giroud up front. That would be a formidable team, one that would be a consistent title contender.

Tottenham, Andre Villas-Boas and the club's ambitious transfer policy

Gareth Bale has been rumored to be moving on from London ever since he exploded this year. In 2010, the Welshman had his breakout year, scoring 11 goals in 41 appearances for the North London side. He won the PFA Player of the Year award, having two memorable appearances against Inter Milan in the Champions League. He scored a hat trick against the Italian side, on 20 October 2010, making Maicon, then one of the best defenders in the world, look foolish. In the return fixture, he led Spurs to a 3-1 win, setting up two of the team's goals. He drew even more attention this year, winning both the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards. His play, both in the Premier League and in the Europa League, were captivating, drawing many comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo. He looks set now to join the Portugese winger at Real Madrid, on a world record fee.

Andre Villas-Boas and the board of Tottenham had to know that, entering this summer; that much was evident by the transfers they made. Villas-Boas, one of Jose Mourinho's protege's, bought players who, although they would not replace Bale on their own, would, when put into the greater team plan, more than adequately replace him. Paulinho, the Brazilian midfielder, was the first to come in, leaving Corinthians.
The Brazilian is drawing comparisons to Frank Lampard, with both players sporting a box to box style of play. If those predictions should come true, then Paulinho will look back on a very successful career; indeed, Lampard is the only midfielder in Premier League history to have scored more than 150 goals, and is also second on the all time assists list in the league. Paulinho has spent time in Lithuania and Poland, as well as Brazil, before moving to England. If he can get settled in London, then the Brazilian should turn out to be a fantastic signing. Next came the direct replacement for Bale, Nacer Chadli. Chadli, a Belgian winger with ancestors from North Africa, has the physique of Bale, and could play very comfortably in Bale's position. However, the Belgian could also fill in up top as a striker, having played up there for Belgium. Chaldi is reported to bring the type of attacking vision that Spurs lost when they sold Luka Modric and Rafael Van der Vaart. With Bale sure to leave, the Londoners need that vision more than ever. Chadli also brings Champions League experience, from his time with FC Twente; in fact, the Belgian scored against Tottenham twice, in 2010, in that very league. The sale of Clint Dempsey to the MLS side Seattle Sounders announced the beginning of August for Spurs; two days later, Roberto Soldado was confirmed to be joining the club from Valencia for 30 million pounds. The Spanish striker has already proved that that was money well spent, scoring both of Tottenham's goals in the league so far. Etienne Capoue came later in the month, looking to continue in the mold of Tom Huddlestone, Scott Parker, Sandro and Jake Livermore, as a defensive midfielder. He will look to do better than the above stated did at the club, of course. Then followed Erik Lamela, from AS Roma; the Argentine winger tried to single handedly save River Plate from relegation several seasons ago, but when he failed in that near impossible task, he moved to the Italian club. He has been compared to both Javier Pastore and Cristiano Ronaldo, and could play in either role for the club. This adds yet another attacking talent for the club. Christian Eriksen and Vlad Chiriches followed today, in a deal that is reported to reach 50 million euros. Both players are young, and come with experience in European play. Eriksen joins the Premier League from Ajax, a storied club in its own right; he was the youngest player in South Africa several years ago, and was also the Footballer of the Year in Denmark, the country from which he hails, that year. Chiriches played central defender for Steaua Bucuresti last year, and will join a depleted Tottenham back line, featuring only Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul and Jan Vertonghen at centre back, and Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker at full back. He will be needed desperately, and rounds out a beautifully executed transfer window.

Villas-Boas, in signing seven players to replace one, followed the pattern set by Billy Beane; why pay a lot for one player, who may not even pan out, when you can spread your investments and get a better chance of success. Tottenham is set up for a successful year, both domestically and internationally. And if Bale's transfer falls through, then Spurs will indeed be a fearsome team, able to contend for the title.