2014年世界杯10大熱門小組賽
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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 Rooneyand 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. But Cristiano 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, whileArjen 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年國際足聯世界杯開賽在即，各位球迷們一定對小組賽階段的熱門比賽充滿期待。從衛冕冠軍西班牙隊，到備受關注的東道主巴西隊，再到球壇常勝將軍意大利隊，一些國家隊之間即將上演不可錯過的小組比賽。下面是我們按照時間順序，挑選出的十場最受期待的比賽。 西班牙對陣荷蘭 B組的第一場比賽將再現2010年國際足聯世界杯決賽。在巴西的薩爾瓦多，衛冕冠軍西班牙隊將對陣荷蘭隊。博斯克（Vicente del Bosque）帶來了我們熟悉的西班牙隊，這與他2010年率領征戰上屆世界杯的隊伍相比變化不大。不同的是，范加爾（Louis van Gaal）帶領的荷蘭隊混合了老將和新秀，其中的一些年輕球員是第一次出征世界杯比賽，特別是球隊中的防守隊員和守門員。 英格蘭對陣意大利 在巴西的馬瑙斯，英格蘭和意大利——兩支傳統的足球強隊將在6月14日開戰。這兩支歐洲球隊必將在強手扎堆的D組努力突出重圍。烏拉圭隊也分在D組，“致命射手”蘇亞雷斯是該隊的主力球員。極具防守意識的意大利人會嘗試壓制魯尼（Wayne Rooney）和他隊友們的進攻，英格蘭人希望取得突破，摘掉他們在世界杯比賽表現不佳的標簽。英格蘭隊從未在重大賽事上擊敗意大利隊，意大利球員巴洛特利（Mario Barotelli）最近放言，宣稱三獅軍團（即英格蘭隊）不可能在本次世界杯奪冠?！八麄儞碛幸恍﹥炐闱騿T，但都不是意大利的真正對手”，巴洛特利說。6月14日，我們拭目以待。 德國對陣葡萄牙 6月15日的這場比賽在很大程度上將決定哪支球隊從“死亡之組”出線。無論是德國人還是葡萄牙人在G組中拔得頭籌，都不是一件讓人驚訝的事，因此兩支國家隊會在巴西的薩爾瓦多，上演一場艱苦的比賽。德國隊經歷了在國際賽事中的復蘇，也是大有希望在巴西捧杯的球隊之一。但是克里斯蒂亞諾·羅納爾多（Christiano Ronaldo）是很難扼制的強勁球員，可以說被指望為葡萄牙隊制造并完成大部分的得分。在這場決定能否出線的關鍵比賽上，他需要隊友的協作，助力葡萄牙擊敗技術全面的德國人。 美國對陣加納 在前兩屆世界杯中，美國隊均被加納淘汰。在緊張難纏的比賽中，微小的差距決定了勝負，這兩支球隊最后一次的比賽甚至踢到了加時賽。如果他們希望進入淘汰賽，那么從開幕戰起就要拿出最好的水平，在兩隊的世界杯首秀上更要如此。從同組的德國隊和葡萄牙隊身上很難拿到分數，所以兩隊必須要在首戰中爭取勝利。 巴西對陣墨西哥 問起是否擔心小組賽的對手墨西哥隊，巴西隊主教練斯科拉里（Luiz Felipe Scolari）的回答是肯定的：“墨西哥對我們來說一直是一個強勁的對手”。然而，歷史紀錄顯示墨西哥對巴西不只是一個“強勁”的對手。本世紀以來，沒有哪支球隊比墨西哥隊擊敗巴西的次數更多。同樣，巴西隊在去年夏天的聯合會杯上擊敗墨西哥，是超過九年以來，巴西隊在對陣中北美洲及加勒比海足球協會球隊的第一次勝利。期待一場緊張而有趣的對決。 烏拉圭對陣英格蘭 如果蘇亞雷斯能在這場D組的交鋒中傷愈復出，他一定會給英格蘭人的后防線帶來不少麻煩。他的進攻搭檔，埃迪森·卡瓦尼（Edinson Cavani）在本賽季為巴黎圣日爾曼隊踢進了25枚進球，他也將成為英格蘭的重要威脅。烏拉圭擁有許多進攻的火力點，但是后防線較為薄弱。英格蘭隊體格高大健壯的魯尼和杰拉德（Steven Gerrard），將會積極尋找進球的突破口。兩支球隊勢均力敵。可能來自魯尼或者蘇亞雷斯的精彩瞬間，會成為決定勝負的一擊。 美國對陣葡萄牙 對于美國隊和葡萄牙隊來說，6月22日在馬瑙斯市（位于亞馬孫熱帶雨林中部）進行的G組第二場小組賽，一定會是激烈的一戰。在“死亡之組”每一分都來之不易，美國隊和葡萄牙隊要想進入淘汰賽，就一定要拿下這場比賽。 荷蘭對陣智利 在圣保羅，B組的最后一場比賽將在好斗的智利隊和荷蘭隊之間展開。阿圖羅·比達爾（Arturo Vidal）和阿萊克西斯·桑切斯（Alexis Sanchez）會努力帶領紅色軍團（即智利隊）第二次出戰世界杯殺入16強，而羅本（Arjen Robben）和佩西（Robin van Persie）也會帶領橙衣軍團發起猛攻，為了荷蘭人能在歷史上第八次進入淘汰賽。 意大利對陣烏拉圭 與英格蘭和哥斯達黎加一同被分在競爭激烈的小組，在兩支球隊的最后一場小組賽交鋒中，出線形勢很可能仍不明朗。烏拉圭的射手蘇亞雷斯最近剛接受了膝部軟骨手術，他能否傷愈復出可能會決定D組的出線形勢。蘇亞雷斯是英超聯賽的年度球員，他作為大概是“在這個星球上最具威脅的射手”來到本屆世界杯。意大利方面，作為四三三鏈式防守陣式的發明者，擁有阻止蘇亞雷斯射門的實力。老將守門員吉布馮（Gianluigi Buffon）將率領球隊的后防線，可能與兩位尤文圖斯隊友——萊昂納多·博努奇（Leonardo Bonucci）和吉奧吉奧·基耶利尼——協力嚴防。對于進球，他們會依靠喜怒無常的巴洛特利，他最近也被傷病困擾。時機成熟，他會是一個世界級水平的球員；時機不對，巴洛特利可能是個累贅 。 美國對陣德國 抽簽分到與強大的德國隊同組聽起來不錯，但是基于前兩場小組賽的結果，美國隊需要不只一分來從組內出現。美國隊主教練克林斯曼（Jurgen Klinsmann）曾是德國國家隊的明星球員，帶領球隊在本土舉辦的世界杯上獲得季軍。他的戰術意識將在對陣德國的比賽上得到考驗，尤其是應對諸如托馬斯·穆勒（Thomas Muller），巴斯蒂安·施魏因施泰格（Bastian Schweinsteiger）和厄齊爾（Mesut Ozil）這樣個人能力出眾的天才進攻球員。為了抵御德國人的攻擊，美國人可能要依靠中后衛的合作——相對經驗不足的奧馬爾·岡薩雷斯（Omar Gonzalez）和馬特·貝斯勒（Matt Besler）。相比之下，美國隊進攻得分的機會則是少之又少。一旦機會出現，就靠美國隊長克林特·鄧普西（Clint Dempsey）在球隊中心位置組織進攻了。 （譯者 scaxkelly 編輯 齊磊） |
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>>
