World Cup Names To Know: Group G

Previously:

World Cup Preview And Predictions

Group A Names To Know

Group B Names To Know

Group C Names To Know

Groups D, E, And F Names To Know

GERMANY

Who you know:

Bastian Schweinsteiger – about as rough and tough as the come, Schweinsteiger looks to punish any opponent that dare enter his midfield. Playing in over 100 caps for Germany and over 300 for his local club team Bayern Munich, Schweinsteiger’s over decade long career has made the world take notice of his talents. Dubbed the “midfield mastermind,” Schweinsteiger will slice and dice his way through most opposing defenses.

Philipp Lahm – another nation team member with over 100 caps, this 30 year old German captain still looks like a young man. At only 5’7”, many argue Lahm is undersized as a defender, but he utilizes his speed on the outside to punish teams that dare not respect him. Lahm’s corners and crosses should find their way to awaiting heads of the imposing German attackers

Who you should know:

Mesut Ozil – logging over 100 games for Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid will certainly help a footballer appear on many peoples radar. And that’s exactly what happened last year when he was scooped up by English club Arsenal in a deal which made him the most expensive German football player of all time. Ozil’s presence and creativity in the midfield is hard for most defenses to match and look for Ozil to make some headlines in Brazil/

Lukas Podolski – fellow Arsenal club member for Ozil, Lukas Podolski is another well-known and well respected German midfielder. Podolski will spend his time pushing up the left sideline and will punish other teams with his booming free kicks and surgeon like precision passing.

Who you will know:

Thomas Muller – Germany has never lacked goal scoring ability and this year will be no different. Muller is one of the most deadly headers of the ball in the world and is no stranger to scoring in the World Cup. After scoring 5 goals in 2010, look for Muller to pick up back where he left off and lead the German squad in goals again

Mario Gotze – another young, talented attacking midfielder, Gotze has made the most in his limited role with German club Bayern Munich. Always seeming to find the ball at his foot inside the box, Gotze has lighting quicks speed and finishing capabilities.

GHANA

Who you know:

Michael Essien – this extremely talented midfield has made a living on his ability to stretch the field and play from box to box. Most widely known for his time spent at England’s Chelsea club, Essien recently signed with Italy’s AC Milan after what is mostly considered and unsuccessful loan period to Real Madrid, Essien will look to revitalize his game in Brazil

Who you should know:

Sulley Muntari – another solid Ghana midfielder, Muntari is well known in Italy for his services at both Inter Milan and AC Milan. Muntari is 2^nd in goals scored (20), but is the only midfielder in double digits. Look for Muntari to puts shots on target from anywhere on the pitch.

Asamoah Gyan – Ghana captain and leading goal scorer, Gyan will be heavily relied upon to by the Black Stars if they hope to escape the so called “group of death.” Scoreless draws are unlikely to help this team advance against the likes of Germany and Portugal, so look for Gyan to appear in the stat sheet more than once.

Who you will know:

Kwadwo Asamoah – Asamoah is a natural playmaker and will most likely be lined up on the outside of the midfield for Ghana. Look for him to sneak up a sideline and deliver cross after cross to Gyan.

PORTUGAL

Who you know:

Cristiano Ronaldo – another player who needs no introduction. The 2^nd best player in the world, Ronaldo is an electrifying footballer. Ronaldo bests Messi in Spanish league goal-to-game ratio (a staggering 1.07), but falls in behind Messi in overall at a still impressive 0.73. Ronaldo has been unable to put the Portuguese side on his back and really advance them deep into the World Cup, but he will hope to change that this year with a bit more talent surrounding him.

Who you should know:

Nani – a poor man’s Ronaldo, or “Ronaldo-lite,” Nani is capable of producing wondrous balls from his winger positions. His youth, speed and athleticism have aided Nani into making his mark while at England’s Manchester United. Nani’s flopping style and penchant to try to do too much at times, leave him as a player with plenty of talent, but also plenty of room to improve.

Hugo Almeida – Almeida’s size and skillful finishes will draw plenty of attention from both fans and opposing defense this World Cup. Although he loses some of the spotlight to the likes of Ronaldo and Nani, Almeida will need to be on point in order to help Portugal advance from this group.

Helder Postiga – another pure striker much like Almeida, Postiga is a little less deadly in the air, but more than makes up for it with his right foot. Coring the 2^nd most Portuguese goals behind wonderboy Ronaldo, Postiga adds to an already scary attack.

Who you will know:

Fabio Coentrao – with all of the Portuguese attack being named already, the attention turns to the back line. Coentrao has all the necessary skills to be an elite defender and also finds himself in the center of many attacks on his Spanish Real Madrid club team. Portugal will desperately need a strong defensive showing in order to play deep into this tournament, and Coentrao is someone they can rely on to lead them in the right direction.

UNITED STATES

Who you know:

Tim Howard – 100 caps as the United States goalkeeper and recent face of US soccer. Howard boasts the most impressive club record for any current American while playing in nearly 300 games for England’s Everton. Howard is one of the best keepers in this World Cup and will need to play like it if the US has ANY hope to move to the knockout stages. The US backline is largely untested, so will Howard be able to save America on the 1-on-1 attacks? Only time will tell.

Clint Dempsey – even at 105 international caps, Dempsey has largely played in Landon Donovan’s shadow in the American midfield. Dempsey is talented, fit, battle-tested and ready to lead this squad to glory. Having played for both English clubs Fulham and Tottenham, Dempsey recently returned home to play for American based Seattle Sounders. This is the tournament Dempsey can become a US soccer legend.

Who you should know:

Jozy Altidore – it would be hard for a follower of US soccer to not know who Jozy Altidore is, but he is not quite at that “world-wide” level. Jozy has played for Spanish, Dutch and English clubs and is known for his physicality. With a rare combination of size and sped, look for Jozy to out-muscle defenders for Portugal and Ghana in this group and out-run the German central backs.

Michael Bradley – a truly unheralded US midfielder, Bradley had impressive performances at Italian clubs Chievo and Roma. Like Dempsey, Bradley has returned to play his club soccer locally, even though it is across the border in Canada’s Toronto FC. Bradley will be able to run box-to-box and will make at least a big play or two in the American attack.

Who you will know:

Chris Wondolowski – even though Wondo is 31 years old, he does not have much experience for the national team. He does, however, have plenty of experience putting balls in the back of the net. Look for Wondo to be a nice relief for Jozy and make a big impact when he is on the field.

Aron Johannsson – Icelandic-American Johannsson will also look to make an impact as a substitute. Playing in his first World Cup, Johannsson will need to rise to the occasion and make the most of his opportunities here in Brazil. Look for Johannsson to try to make a claim to be a starter for the US team in World Cup 2018. 

*Julian Green – Green has dual citizenship in the USA and Germany and has played on U16, U17, U18, and U19 squads in both countries. Look for Green to be a staple of the US midfield in the very near future.