Football World Cup 2014: Group of Death

Group D comprising Uruguay, Costa Rica, England and Italy can be termed the toughest EVEN THE MOST ARDENT FAN OF THE GAME WILL NOT FIND GROUP E APPETISING GROUP D AND GROUP G -CONSISTING OF GERMANY, PORTUGAL, GHANA AND USA -- HAVE ENOUGH AMMUNITION TO QUALIFY AS THE "GROUP OF DEATH"

Football can also be grip ping off the field. Even before the excitement on the draw for the 2014 World Cup has died down, the stage is ready for another episode: the C h a m p i o n s League last 16.

Although diehard fans tend to relate to club football more, it must be said that there is no sporting com petition on the earth like the World Cup.

Fifa has always worked hard to protect the identity of the World Cup with a religious zeal because the quadrennial event is the football governing body's golden goose. That's one of the reasons for age restrictions in Olympic football. Fifa doesn't want any other competition to resemble its prized possession. Imitation may be the best form of flattery but for Fifa it could be the death knell.

Coming back to the World Cup draw, the process of identifying the group of death is something everyone loves to indulge in every four years. Group D comprising Uruguay, Costa Rica, England and Italy and Group G consisting of Germany, Portugal, Ghana and USA are tricky. Both have enough ammunition to qualify for the “group of death“ tag.

Group B, some may point out, is equally intriguing. Spain and the Netherlands, who played out such a forgettable final in 2010, may fancy their chances but the presence of Chile has spiced up the pool. The Chileans would be no pushovers in a South American World Cup. Of course, the picture would become clearer after the first round of matches. Football discussions are polarising. And, the sport is not mathematics. So it wouldn't be possible to make an assertion on the most difficult group in a geographically and cli matically taxing tourna ment.

This correspondent would cast his vote for Group D based on these factors: Uruguay may have required an inter continental playoff to book a ticket but they have a resplendent histo ry and sparkling talent to make a mark. That their neighbours will host the World Cup will motivate them further. Italy bombed at the previous edition but don't count them out yet because they seldom fail to fire on the big stage.

Their qualification to Brazil was as smooth as a journey of a Swiss knife through butter.

England are, no doubt, short on talent but they invariably get out of their group after a goal keeping calamity . While there is some debate on the group of death, there shouldn't be any doubt on the dud pool. Even the most ardent fan of the game will not find Group E (Switzerland, Ecuador, France and Honduras) appetising.

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