This post will be updated as Group H progresses.
Group H Preview (Algeria, Belgium, Russia, South Korea)
The final group kicks off on Tuesday, as we welcome the very popular sleeper pick, Belgium, to the dance. Doogan has been talking up this Belgium team for a long time now, and it seems the rest of us casual fans have caught up to him on them, as they are now generally considered only about a half-step down from the “Big Four” favorites in this tournament (Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and Germany). Having literally never seen a soccer match that included a Belgian team, I am very eager to see what all this hype is about. And, not only are they talented, but they were placed in one of the easier groups. It would be a real surprise if they didn’t come out as the Group H champion. Russia is probably the next best team in this group, and they are nowhere near an elite level. Algeria might be dangerous (and my pick as the second qualifier from Group H), as the Algerians have finally started being able to allure many of the French-raised Algerians to come play for the national team across the Sea. Imagine if they had been able to do this a couple decades ago and lured players like Zinedine Zidane and others to come play for Algeria. The course of soccer history would have been different. The fourth team is also not a pushover, in South Korea, but they are not exactly a juggernaut, either. There are no free points in this group, but also no one that should present any real challenge to the Belgians.
6/17, noon – Algeria vs. Belgium
The much-anticipated debut of the Belgians comes here as the final group opens this afternoon. Belgium, with their high expectations, has to deal with an Algerian side that can really give problems. Then again, the Algerians were a shot off the post away from not even making the Cup in their qualifier against Burkina Faso (who has never made the World Cup). There is no doubt that anything shy of 3 points here for the Belgians would be a disappointment, and, on the flip side, a draw would be huge for Algeria.
Belgium 2 – Algeria 1
Well, Algeria came to play and nearly stole a point here. They defensive style was causing fits for a Belgium team that looked – for a half – like the weight of expectations was weighing them down. But, they came out determined in the second half and showed that they are just flat-out better than their Algerian counterparts. The questions about Belgium’s chances to really threaten for a World Cup championship were certainly not answered by this somewhat shaky victory, but a win is a win and the first match for inexperienced players with the weight of a nation on their shoulders cannot be easy. As for Algeria, I think they acquitted themselves well here and probably made people who believe that they can get out of this group (including Yours Truly) feel pretty good about that opinion.
6/17, 6:00 – Russia vs. South Korea
With Belgium as clearly the class of this group and the other three sides all relatively equal, the three matches that do not include Belgium are all going to be enormous in deciding the second qualifier from this wide open group. Russia, as the better side here, is really looking for 3 points, while the Koreans would probably be okay with a draw, though are probably also looking to pick up 3. This doesn’t have all that much cache on paper, but might be a pretty entertaining game if they decide to open up and play.
Russia 1 – South Korea 1
There is no doubt that the Russians are better and were better on this day. But, the very first game after the most incredible goalkeeping performance I have ever seen came maybe the worst overall goalkeeping performance I have seen. And, it wasn’t just the ridiculous goal that the Russian keeper allowed (a soft shot that went right through his hands), but it was a slew of miscues that led up to that. Fortunately for Igor the Keeper, his teammates sort of bailed him out by scoring shortly after his debacle. But, it is hard not to think that goalkeeping is the reason that the Russians only have 1 point right now and not 3. Then again, with all the chances they had, they should have put more than one into the back of the net. It was domination from the start and yet it ended with a draw. A nice point for the Koreans, as they now have a shot to get out of this group.
Day One Recap
I have to say that Group H probably gave us the lowest quality of soccer of any of the groups – at least according to this untrained eye. The Belgians did not live up to expectations, though they got their 3 points against a decent Algerian squad. The Russia-South Korea match, while entertaining, was not played at an incredibly high level. I still think that the Russians are probably the most likely side to come out of the group after Belgium, but their draw with Korea means that they may have to either beat Algeria outright – a feat that did not look incredibly easy given how the two sides performed on Day One.
6/22, noon – Belgium vs. Russia
These are supposed to be the two best sides of this group, but after the first round of matches, Algeria looks like they may be the front-runner to take the second qualifying position, not Russia. Though, obviously, most of that will be decided on the pitch when the two sides face off on the final day of group play. As for now, the Russians will have to regroup from a disappointing draw with Korea and try to eke out a point against a Belgian side that looks to be the class of this group. Belgium actually went down to Algeria, but rallied for two second-half goals to pull out the victory. Another 3 points here should lock up the group for everybody’s favorite “sleeper.” A draw would be okay for Belgium, considering they already beat Algeria and only have Korea left, but they really should outclass the Russians and take the 3 points. Russia would probably be perfectly content with a draw.
Belgium 1 – Russia 0
A late goal saves the Belgians, crushes the Ruskies, and wins me money. Our beer- and chocolate-loving friends came through again with an unimpressive victory against a side, though, that is better than people may give credit for. Russia, while playing 23 players that all play domestically (the only side in the tournament that can say that), is still a threat to get through and would be a tough draw in any group. Algeria is also not a pushover, so the two Belgium wins, while not making headlines for their brilliance, are not all that uninspiring. Now, having already qualified, they will try and finish it off by winning the group in order to escape a date with Germany in the Round of 16. Russia is still very much alive and probably playing a win-and-you’re-in match with Algeria in the final round.
6/22, 3:00 – Algeria vs. South Korea
Again, I am not sure why Vegas has Korea favored in this one, but I definitely placed a solid wager on the Algerian side here. The Desert Foxes looked rather solid against Belgium in defeat, while Korea was rather fortunate to get some abysmal goalkeeping by the Russians to give them a point. After a close loss to Belgium and in advance of a huge match with Russia, the Algerians need to stay focused and come to play and pick up 3 points that are well within reach here. The Koreans, while looking like the worst of the four sides in this group, do officially sit at 1 point, so if they can get a win here, they can put themselves in really good position for a surprise qualification out of Group H.
Algeria 4 – South Korea 2
The Desert Foxes made national history and continental history on this day, as they won their first ever World Cup match and, in the process, became the first African side to ever net 4 goals in a WC match. And, they could have had more. They were all over the Korean defense from the opening kick. They did not exactly have their patented stingy defense, but that may be a product of going up early. They did get an important 3 points and now face Russia in an elimination game for the second spot from this group. A draw or win for the North Africans would put them through.
Day Two Recap
As Doogan aptly put it, let’s not get too hasty on our citing the Belgian performance thus far as “disappointing,” seeing as they have 6 points, are going to win the group, and couldn’t really have done more. As he mentioned, Spain is out, Brazil and Germany have just 4 points and are still in danger or elimination, and the Argentines, while sitting on 6, have not exactly looked great against competition worse than the Belgians have faced. As for the Group H also-rans, the Koreans, expectedly, are a non-factor (making that draw against Russia look even more devastating for the Ruskies than it did previously), and Algeria and Russia will sort it all out on the pitch. Algeria – who, frankly, has looked the considerably better side – will only need a draw to get through, while Russia and their high hopes need to beat the Desert Foxes to qualify. Either way, don’t expect any second-place side from Group H to make any noise, as they are likely staring at a Round of 16 date with ‘Ze Germans.
6/26, 4:00 – Algeria vs. Russia
6/26, 4:00 – Belgium vs. South Korea
This group is harkening back to the first couple of groups, where the top and bottom sides were all but set and the second qualification would be decided on the pitch. Belgium is going to win this group, while South Korea is going home. The only question that remains is who will be the second qualifier – Algeria or Russia? And, that will be decided on the pitch at 4:00. This is an interesting match between an Algeria side that has looked a LOT better than most people thought they would (not this guy, though – I believed) and a Russian side that has not looked all that good. Algeria will go through with a draw, so they may pack it in (which they like to do anyway), while Russia should get out and attack. The best-case scenario for the viewer is if Russia scores early. That could open up the match, and we could see some up-and-down play. But, it is more likely that the Desert Foxes bunker down and put up their wall. I like Algeria to either get the draw they need or maybe even win the match with a well-timed counterattack. Hell, I have a bet on them at 30-1 to win this group, which is still a possibility, but would require a South Korean win over Belgium.
I think 16 of Algeria’s 23 players were born in France, which is crazy. Though it’s unlikely that they would’ve had a Zidane even today. The guys that go to play for Algeria are there because they’re not good enough to play for France. Just like how every German-American on the US team would be playing for Germany if they were good enough. Case in point: Karim Benzema, who scored two goals for France the other day, is the son of Algerian immigrants. I guess the hope for teams like Algeria and the US (gotta love soccer, when else are Algeria and the US in the same boat?) is that you get a kid to commit at a young age and he develops into a world-class player. That’s certainly the hope with Julian Green, but we’ll see if it happens.
Also interesting how much the Belgium and Algeria team have in common. You would think it’s just white guys from Belgium up against this Muslim team from North Africa. In reality, a large chunk of both teams are the children of African immigrants to Europe. The difference is, like I’m saying above, the ones on the Belgian team are the ones that were good enough to play for the country they actually grew up in, rather than going back to Morocco or Angola or the Congo or wherever their parents are from, to play.
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