Governing Body:
Deutscher Fussball-Bund www.dfb.de
# Team Coach:RUDI VOELLER
Age: 41
Nationality: German
*
Star Player: OLIVER KAHN
Factfile
on Kahn
Age: 32
Date of Birth: 15 July, 1969
Position: Goalkeeper
Appearances: 36
Goals:
Current Club: FC Bayern Munich (Germany)
Previous Clubs: Karlsruher SC
Awards: 2000 German Footballer of Year
European Goalkeeper of Year
Road
to Qualification:
Runners-up, Group 9, European Qualifying Section
Qualified via playoff, versus Group 5 runner-up, Ukraine
Germany 4 v 1 Ukraine (agg score after 2 legs)
European Qualifying
Group 9
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
PTS
England
8
5
2
1
16
6
+10
17
Germany
8
5
2
1
14
10
+4
17
Finland
8
3
3
2
12
7
+5
12
Greece
8
2
1
5
7
17
-10
7
Albania
8
1
0
7
5
14
-9
3
FOCUS on GERMANY
November 2000: Germany
had just defeated England at Wembley in a monumental Group 9. At that
moment, it was unlikely that England would qualify automatically as
Group winners and Germany would have to qualify via an awkward play-off
versus Ukraine, yet this is what happened. There is no doubt that this
current German team is not of the standard of those that have gone before
them and which the nation holds in such high esteem. Yet, it is always
foolish to write-off Germany based on a poor qualifying campaign and
a general drop in standards. They always have the knack of getting results
with an industrious efficiency that has become their hallmark over recent
years. Oliver Kahn can be relied upon to tighten a less than convincing
defence, but it is in attack that they face some problems. Germany have
never totally replaced the likes of Klinsmann, Voeller and Bierhoff
and goals have been hard to come by at times. So, much will depend on
their two outstanding midfielders: Michael Ballack and Mehmet Scholl.
They will be required to get forward as often as possible. If these
players can contribute goals as well as creativity then Germanyare,
as usual, a danger force.
CURRENT FIFA WORLD
RANKING: 12th OFFICIAL ODDS:
14/1 JJ's PREDICTION: Quarter-Finals
Governing Body:
Saudi Arabian Football Federation N/A
# Team Coach:
NASSER AL JOHAR
Age: N/A
Nationality: Saudi Arabian
*
Star Player: SAMI AL JABER
Factfile
on Al Jaber
Age: 29
Date of Birth: 11 December, 1972
Position: Forward
Appearances: N/A
Goals: N/A
Current Club: Al Halil (Saudi Arabia)
Previous Clubs: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Awards:
World Cup Achievements: 1994, USA, Second Round
Road
to Qualification:
Winners, Group A, Asian Qualifying Zone
Asian Qualifying
Group B
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
PTS
Saudi
Arabia
8
5
2
1
17
8
+9
17
Iran
8
4
3
1
10
7
+3
15
Bahrain
8
2
4
2
8
9
-1
10
Iraq
8
2
1
5
9
10
-1
7
Thailand
8
0
4
4
5
15
-10
4
FOCUS
on SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia are
something of an unknown quantity coming into the tournament. After sparkling
at USA '94 when spectators were treated to some dazzling skills, imaginative
play and superb individual goals fans all over the world will be hoping
for more of the same at Korea and Japan. They are one team of four,
in what is probably the tightest Group in the first stage of the Finals.
To determine the outcome of this group with any certainty is very difficult.
However, Saudi Arabia are probably the least likely to qualify. Like
many teams, attacking and scoring goals is not a problem; it is in defence
where potential difficulties lurk. If coach Nasser Al Johar can promote
organisation within a team that relies more on individuality than it
does a team ethic and Sami Al Jaber can produce the goalscoring form
that earned him a move to English side Wolverhampton Wanderers then
Saudi Arabia could provide the closest of finishes to Group E .
CURRENT FIFA WORLD
RANKING: 31st OFFICIAL ODDS: 250/1 JJ's PREDICTION: 4th, Group E
Governing Body:
Football Association of Ireland www.fai.ire
# Team Coach:
MICK McCARTHY
Age: 42
Nationality: Irish
*
Star Player: ROY KEANE
Factfile
on Keane
Age: 30
Date of Birth: 8 October, 1971
Position: Midfield
Appearances: 29
Goals: 8
Current Club: Manchester Utd (England)
Previous Clubs: Nottingham Forest
Awards: 2000 PFA English Footballer of Year
English Football Writers Player of Year
World Cup Achievements: 1990, Italy, Quarter Finals
Road
to Qualification:
Runners-up, Group 2, European Qualifying Section
Qualified via playoff, versus Asian Qaulifying Group A runner-up, Iran:
Rep. Of Ireland 2 v 1 Iran (agg score after 2 legs)
European Qualifying
Group 2
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
PTS
Portugal
10
7
3
0
33
7
+26
24
Rep.
of Ireland
10
7
3
0
23
5
+18
24
Holland
10
6
2
2
30
9
+21
20
Estonia
10
2
2
6
10
26
-16
8
Cyprus
10
2
2
6
13
31
-18
8
Andorra
10
0
0
10
5
36
-31
0
FOCUS
on REP. OF IRELAND
Taking over from
the mercurial Jack Charlton was never going to be an easy task for Mick
McCarthy. After a slow start, when critics were quick to point out faults,
McCarthy has proved to be master at international coaching and many
argue that his achievement at qualifying from a group which contained
Portugal and Holland, undefeated, has surpassed those of 'Big Jack'.
McCarthy, an ex-defender himself, likes his teams to practice what he
preaches: hardwork, solid organisation and a defensive barrier that
is extremely tough to break down. With Roy Keane controlling every blade
of midfield grass, they have one of the best players in modern day football.
His namesake, Robbie, is an exciting prospect in attack. He recently
left Internazionale for Leeds Utd. Robbie Keane is capable of scoring
outstanding goals when there seemed no danger: he can ensure qualification
from the group. Mick McCarthy has brought his own style of management
on to the team and if the team can repay him by producing the same workrate
that they did during the qualifying campaign, then the Irish could produce
a few shocks come May / June.
CURRENT FIFA WORLD
RANKING: 17th OFFICIAL ODDS: 50/1 JJ's PREDICTION: Second Round
Governing Body:
Federation Camerounaise de Football www.cameroon.fifa.com
# Team Coach:
WINIFRIED SCHAFER
Age: N/A
Nationality: German
*
Star Player: PATRICK MBOMA
Factfile
on Mboma
Age: 31
Date of Birth: 15 November, 1970
Position: Forward
Appearances: N/A
Goals: N/A
Current Club: AC Parma (Italy)
Previous Clubs: Stade de L'Est, Paris Saint Germain, Chateauroux, Metz,
Gamba, Cagliari
Awards: 2000 African Footballer of Year
World Cup Achievements: 1990, Italy, Quarter Finals
Road to Qualification:
Winner, Group A, African Qualifying Section, AFC
African Qualifying
Group A
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
PTS
Cameroon
8
6
1
1
14
4
+10
19
Angola
8
3
4
1
11
9
+2
13
Zambia
8
3
2
3
14
11
+3
11
Togo
8
2
3
3
10
13
-3
9
Libya
8
0
2
6
7
20
-13
2
FOCUS
on CAMEROON
No longer can people
jest at the inferiority of African football. Although Pele was incorrect
in his forecast that an African team would win the World Cup before
the end of the 20th Century, the time for this prophecy to become reality
is not too distant. Cameroon are the current African Nation Cup holders
and have many exceptional players at their disposal: Rigobert Song,
Lauren, Patrick Mboma, Marc Vivien Foe, just to name a few. They have
a wealth of experience, with the majority earning a living in Europe
with big teams in competitive leagues. They will be hoping to add to
recent successes: who can forget Italia '90, Roger Milla and his extravagant
celebrations. Then they were an unknown quantity and reached the Quarter
Finals. Now, everybody is aware of the dangers they possess and they
will have to adapt to opposing teams knowledge of their capabilities.
This will be crucial One question mark surrounds the ability of the
squad to bond as a group when things are not going well. Indiscipline
has been an affliction that affects many African teams and Cameroon
are no exception. If they can qualify from the group then it is a possibility
that they could reach the quarter finals for a second time.
CURRENT FIFA WORLD
RANKING: 38th OFFICIAL ODDS: 50/1 JJ's PREDICTION: 3rd, Group E
