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Group A is considered 8 of 12 toughest
Group A Teams in a Sentence
Mexico - Hosts with high expectations.
South Africa - Capable underdogs.
South Korea- Overachievers with a couple superstars.
Czechia - Disciplined, tight matches.
Where Group A finishers will play
1A Winner
2A Second Place
3A Third Place (8 of 12 will qualify)
1A gets a 3, 2A gets 2B, if qualified 3A would get 1E or 1G
Group A Schedule (times are CST)
Match 1 Thursday 6/11 Mexico City, 2p - FOX - Mexico v South Africa
Match 2 Thursday 6/11 Guadalajara, 9p - FS1 - South Korea v Czech Republic
Match 25 Thursday 6/18 Atlanta, 10a - FOX - Czech Republic v South Africa
Match 28 Thursday 6/18 Guadalajara, 8p - FOX - Mexico v South Korea
Match 53 Wednesday 6/24 Mexico City, 8p - FOX - Czech Republic v Mexico
Match 54 Wednesday 6/24 Monterrey, 8p - FS1 - South Africa v South Korea
Group ODDS (+110 = bet $100 to win $110, -250 = bet $250 to win $100)
To Advance out of Group A
Mexico -901
Czech Republic -400
South Korea -230
South Africa -165
To Win Group A
Mexico -101
Czech Republic +224
South Korea +330
South Africa +1200
To Win the World Cup
Mexico +8000
Czechia +30000
South Korea +48000
South Africa +95000
CS Analysis
Mexico should have a great home field advantage in Mexico City and Guadalajara. But just getting out of the Group is not the goal, el Tri expect to go much farther this year. To do so they will need to rely on a 17-year-old, Gilberto Mora, who is expected to play a key role.
Most Interesting Player
Raul Jimenez (Fulham)
Goal scoring machine chasing El Tri records, fans love him, some concern on his age.
South Africa may not have the same expectations as the other teams, but they will bring a very physical style of play, with pace, that can create problems for their opponents. Their odds are long, but they are capable.
Most Interesting Player
Lyle Foster (Burnley)
Speed who the Bafana Bafana love.
South Korea could each surprise and win the Group. They have no problem going on the road and playing in high pressure situations. The Korean’s have players at PSG, Bayern Munich and LAFC - they will not be impacted by the environment.
Most Interesting Player
Sonny (LAFC former Spurs)
Sonny is an international superstar who finished his Spurs career to end it in the MLS at LAFC.
Czechia plays a well-organized style and are very disciplined, they could keep matches tight and in a 3-game tournament it’s possible to take down more highly favored teams.
Most Interesting Player
Tomas Soucek - West Ham
Captain and the hero of the WC playoff. The midfielder controls the play from box-to-box, rock solid.
In Summary
This group pits the passionate, high-pressing hosts Mexico against a mix of disciplined underdogs in a battle of styles and experience. Mexico thrive on intense pressing and quick transitions under their experienced manager, Javier Aguirre, leveraging home-crowd energy at Estadio Azteca for the opener. Aguirre may be the best manager in the group and give Mexico an edge in adaptability. Czechia could surprise with their disciplined approach. South Africa are long shots but their pace and physicality could be tough to handle. The player who will be most interesting to watch is Sonny for South Korea. Mexico and South Korea renew their 2018 World Cup rivalry (El Tri won 2-1). Expect a tight group where one slip in transition play could send a favorite home early.
CS Picks
A1 Mexico
A2 South Korea
A3 Czech Republic
A4 South Africa
More On Each Country & National Team Below
Mexico
Population: 130M
Area: 750,000 Miles2
Region: North America
Capital: Mexico City
Language: Spanish
Greeting: Hola
Cuisine: Bold, fresh, layered and deeply communal. Corn, Chilies, Lime, Cilantro, Onion, Beans. Tacos are well known around the world.
El Tri
“The Trio” - referring to the colors of the flag.
Group A
World Ranking 15
WC Apps. 18 (tied for 4th most)
Best WC Finish: QF 1970 & 1986
FIFA Governing Body: CONCACAF
Head Coach: Javier Aguirre (Mexican)
Captain: Edson Alvarez (Fenerbahçe in Turkey)
All Time Top Scorer: Javier Hernandez “Chicharito” (109 caps, 52 goals)
About the Team
Powerhouse of CONCACAF. Technically sound, passion, flare, skill and heart. The majority of the players play in Liga MX.
The Fans
“El Tri Supporters”. A prominent fan group called Pancho Villa’s Army turn home or away stadiums into a fiesta.
A top 10 fan base who show up in big numbers - mariachi music, “the green wave” in the stands, and a wall of noise. The home stadium, Azteca, will be a major home field advantage in Mexico City.
Players to Watch
Edson Alvarez (Fenerbahçe)
Hirving Lozano (SDFC from MLS)
Alvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis)
Johan Vasquez (Genoa)
Santiego Jimenez (AC Milan)
Gilberto Mora (Tijuana)
South Africa
Visiting?
Kruger National Park - Safari
The Big Five - Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo.
Cape Town. Table Mountain, beaches, Robben Island.
The “Rainbow Nation”
Population: 56 M
Area: 463,000 Miles2
Region: Southern Africa
Capital: Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town
Language: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and several more.
Greeting: Howzit?
Cuisine: Meat. Braai (BBQ). Boerewors (Spiced Sausage) and biltong (dried, cured). Add in roots like sorghum and fermented milk and you have a dish.
Bafana Bafana
“The Boys” - name emerged after apartheid-era.
Group A
World Ranking 60
WC Apps. 3
Best WC Finish: Have not gotten out of a Group. Did beat France in 2002 in the Group.
FIFA Governing Body: CAF
Head Coach: Hugo Broos (Belgian)
Captain: Ronwen Williams (Fenerbahçe in Turkey)
All Time Top Scorer: Benni McCarthy (79 caps, 32 goals) in the early 2000’s
About the Team
South Africa was banned from FIFA for 16 years for apartheid and returned in 1992. Since then, they have qualified for the WC three times. The team’s biggest achievement was winning the African Cup of Nations in 1996 when the country hosted the tournament.
The Fans
“Bafana Supporters”. Celebration is probably the best word to describe the fan base. Remember when South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup and each stadium was a celebration - with vuvuzelas, the noisy plastic horns and makarapa - the colorfully decorated hard hats.
The fan base travels well across Africa but there will be less of a presence for this WC.
Players to Watch
Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge)
Ime Okon (Hannover 96)
Percy Tau (Plays in Vietnam)
Mbekezeli Mbokazi (MLS Chicago)
South Korea
Visiting?
Seoul’s nightlife, technology and markets, like the Gwangjang Market for the amazing street food and being a part of the local scene.
Gyeongbokgung Palace, traditional Korean culture.
Take a tour to the DMZ - demilitarized zone.
“Land of the Morning Calm”
Population: 49 M
Area: 38,000 Miles2
Region: Asia
Capital: Seoul
Language: Korean
Greeting: Jeong - and don’t shake hands with your left hand, is seen as back luck.
Cuisine: Rice is the foundation, then add veggies and seafood and/or meat. Flavor with sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and gochutgaru. Bibimbop, which includes the ingredients above, is a national dish.
Taegeuk Warriors
“Tigers of Asia”
Group A
World Ranking 25
WC Apps. 10
Best WC Finish: Semi-Finals 2002
FIFA Governing Body: AFC
Head Coach: Hong Myung-bo (South Korean)
Captain: Son Heung-min (LAFC in MLS)
All Time Top Scorer: Cha Bum-ku (136 caps, 58 goals) in the 1970’s & 80’s.
About the Team
Asia’s greatest overachievers. Have advanced farther than any other Asian team - the Semi-Finals. High work rate, high pressing, fit, organized. A “never give up” ethos. Lots of players playing professionally in Europe.
The Fans
“Red Devils”. Recognized across Asia with their red shirts and deli-horned headbands. Known for their highly synchronized choreographed cheering and the “Daehan Minguk!” (Republic of Korea) chant accompanied with Korean drums and thunder sticks. Known to create a 12th-man atmosphere.
There will be a huge Korean contingent in the US getting out to watch the matches. Unfortunately, all three group matches are in Mexico so US fans will need to wait to see where South Korea places into the round of 32.
Players to Watch
Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich)
Lee Kang-in (PSG)
Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton)
Czech Republic
Visiting?
Prague - Cobbled streets, castle district, a medieval fairy tale.
Try a Plzen, home of the first Pilsner Beer.
Cesky Krumlov on the Vltava River.
“Czechia”
Population: 11 M
Area: 30,000 Miles2
Region: Central Europe
Capital: Prague
Language: Czech
Greeting: Debry den
Cuisine: Hearty, satisfying, sauce driven. Meat, dumplings, gravy. Don’t forget the side of sauerkraut or cabbage. More tangy and sweet than German or Polish food. Pork is consumed here more than anywhere else. Lager beer.
Narodak or Repre
“The National Team” or “The Representatives”
Group A
World Ranking 41
WC Apps. 1
Best WC Finish: Have not gotten out of a Group.
FIFA Governing Body: UEFA
Head Coach: Miroslav Koubek (Czech)
Captain: Ladislav Krejci (Wolverhampton)
All Time Top Scorer: Jan Koller (91 caps, 55 goals) in the 1990’s and 2000’s
About the Team
Played their way into their first tournament by beating Ireland and Denmark in the play-offs. Just their second WC appearance. Technical precision, creative midfield and disciplined defense. Quiet determination.
The Fans
Simply known as the Narodak or Repre supporters. The national pride comes through with their singing, in particular the national anthem “Kde domov muj” (Where is my home?). This fan base is not as organized as many of the European clubs. They turn out for European competitions, but it is yet to be seen what kind of following they will have in Mexico and Atlanta.
Players to Watch
Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen)
Pavel Sulc (Lyon)
Ladislav Krejci - (Wolverhampton)
