OFFICIAL: For Uruguay, Italy and England, it's Group D for Death. Argentina have it easiest...South Africa would have been the WORST side there

Have mercy: Rio's statue of Christ looms over World Cup

Less than a week before the World Cup kicks off on Thursday night, we have a NEW GROUP OF DEATH.

We always knew it was going to be tough for Ghana at this World Cup. Drawn in Group G with Germany, Portugal and the USA, we suspected the Black Stars would struggle to finish in the top two after narrowly failing to reach the semi-finals in South Africa 2010.

But today we can reveal Group G is NOT QUITE as nasty as Group D (Uruguay, England, Italy and Costa Rica) as we count down to the 2014 World Cup tournament which starts with hosts Brazil v Croatia on Thursday.

There is only ONE scientific way to rate a World Cup qualification group. It goes like this: add up the combined FIFA rankings of the four sides involved. The highest score equals the EASIEST group, the lowest score suggests the MOST DIFFICULT pool (otherwise known as the GROUP OF DEATH).

With FIFA’s last set of rankings before the big kick-off released yesterday, now is the time to check just WHICH TEAMS have the easiest task when it comes to reaching the last 16.

On that basis, with Costa Rica up SIX places to 28^th and England moving up one while Portugal slipped a place to 4th in the latest rankings, Group D can now be classified as the toughest group with 54 points while Group G is the second hardest pool with a total of 56 points.

Argentina’s Group F – shared with Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria – is officially the easiest pool on 113 with Group H (Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea) next easiest with a total world ranking of 109.

It’s also worth noting Group D contains the most top-ten teams (Three: Uruguay, Italy and England), while Group H (Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic) offers no nation in that elite group.

The world’s top 15 teams are ALL involved, Ukraine (16^th) are the highest ranked nation failing to qualify. Denmark (23^rd) are the next highest-ranked failures followed by Slovenia (25^th) and, surprisingly, Scotland (27^th).

The lowest ranked team in the tournament is Australia at 62 with South Korea at 56. If South Africa, now ranked 65 after their draws against the Aussies and New Zealand last month, had qualified, they would have been officially the WORST team at the tournament.

GROUP BY GROUP

GROUP A

Brazil 3

Croatia 18

Mexico 20

Cameroon 56

TOTAL: 97

GROUP B

Spain 1

Netherlands 15

Chile 14

Australia 62

TOTAL: 92

GROUP C

Colombia 8

Greece 12

Cote D’Ivoire 23

Japan 46

TOTAL: 89

GROUP D

Uruguay 7

Costa Rica 28

England 10

Italy 9

TOTAL: 54

GROUP E

Switzerland 6

Ecuador 26

France 16

Honduras 33

TOTAL: 81

GROUP F

Argentina 5

Bosnia 21

Iran 43

Nigeria 44

TOTAL: 113

GROUP G

Germany 2

Portugal 4

Ghana 37

USA 13

TOTAL: 56

GROUP H

Belgium 11

Algeria 22

Russia 19

South Korea 57

TOTAL: 109 

My email from FIFA after Spain debacle. Still can't quite work out how South Africa are STILL ranked 61 in the world

World beaters: Bafana celebrate Parker's goal against Spain

Dear Neal Collins,

Regarding your earlier enquiry, we can update you with the following information:

FIFA can confirm that the South Africa-Spain friendly match of 19 November remains an ‘A’ international, despite the fact that Spain allegedly used more than the maximum of six substitutes that the Laws of the Game stipulate can be used for such a match.

FIFA have taken into account that both teams had agreed on the conditions of the match and submitted the necessary documentation prior to the match in order for FIFA to confirm it as an ‘A’ international.

In this context, South Africa shall not suffer any negative consequences on its part for adhering to the agreed conditions and only using up to a maximum of six substitutes during the match.

The match shall be considered as an official match and is therefore included in the November edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Regarding the alleged incident of Spain using more than the maximum of six substitutes, FIFA is currently analysing the information at our disposal to assess possible next steps.

If you wish to quote FIFA, please simply quote the FIFA Media Department or a FIFA spokesperson.

Kind regards,  

 ***** 
Communications & Public Affairs
FIFA – Fédération Internationale de Football Association 
www.FIFA.com  

 -----Original Message-----
From: feedback@fifa.com; on behalf of nealcollins@hotmail.com; [mailto:feedback@fifa.com] 
Sent: Donnerstag, 28. November 2013 07:58
To: Contact (FIFA) 

Subject: Latest FIFA rankings 

 Name: Neal Collins
Email: 

nealcollins@hotmail.com

I'm a football presenter in South Africa, eagerly awaiting our new ranking after 1-0 win over Spain... can you call me on +27 791953899 and tell me when rankings will drop or give me a hint about Bafana's new position?!

Neal Collins
www.nealcollins.co.za

IT'S BEEN A CRAZY WEEK! Dean Furman on beating Spain for South Africa - and Yeovil for Doncaster. And his first EVER red card!

Iniesta in my pocket: Dean Furman

DEAN FURMAN was in the passport control queue when I got hold of him last week after South Africa’s epic 1-0 win over world champions Spain.

With the new FIFA rankings out on Thursday, 61^st-placed Bafana are expected to move up in the world, but for the 25-year-old Cape Town-born midfielder, this was simply: “One of the highlights of my career. A night I’ll never forget.”

Speaking on my football show BOLLOCKZ! on www.ballz.co.za, Furman laughed loudly when I suggested he had to allow Barcelona great Andres Iniesta out of his pocket for a second-half substitution.

Furman marshalled the World Cup winning Spaniards with some authority and Iniesta – scorer of the winning goal in the final at Soccer City in 2010 – was unable to repeat his heroics at the same stadium with Oupa Manyisa and Andile Jali creating a dynamic midfield trio for the first time.

Though our chat with Furman was rudely interrupted by passport control at Heathrow, his enthusiasm sparkled down the long-distance line.

With Furman and Bongani Khumalo playing for Doncaster Rovers and striker Tokelo Rantie now at Bournemouth, South Africa’s epic victory sparked interested in England too with Furman admitting: “Everone is talking about Bafana now. I’m still scratching my head about how we actually did it but in all honesty we played very well on the night.

“We had a game plan, we sat back and let the Spanish have it in their own half and when they came into ours, we pressed them, tried to catch them on the counter. We’ve got some great players going forward, with real pace.

“We knew that would cause them some problems on the night.

“Up against Alonso, Iniesta, Busquets, then Mata and Cazorla, it didn’t get an easier the whole night but it was a great spectacle, great to come up with a win.

“Against players like that you have to raise your game. Their movement off the ball is spectacular, they’re so clever. Communicating with each other was vital.

“It was unbelievable. For a very proud nation, there have been some disappointments, going out on penalties in the AFCON, not qualifying for the World Cup.

“This was a victory for the fans, the nation. The supporters were all coming up to thank us. It was a great moment for everyone. We can really build from here.”

Furman, who scored before being sent off in his first game back with Doncaster against Yeovil last Friday, grinned: “It’s been a crazy week Neal, great to get a goal and three points but gutted to get my first red!”

BOLLOCKZ! my show on www.ballz.co.za, airs every Thursday from 9am. See the Ballz channel on www.YouTube.com for our growing collection of interviews with the big names in South African football.

You can also follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol for all the latest sports news… and read my “Neal and Pray” column every Tuesday in www.thenewage.co.za.

BOLLOCKZ! is backed by www.topodds.com - have a look at their site for my latest sports betting advice and how we are doing in using @thumperpigeon's R5,000 to make money for the Ball's charity WINGZ OF CHANGE.

Rantie and Sandilands to start against Kenya as Igesund reveals secrets of Bafana camp

Mind the holes: Igesund and Parker training yesterday

GORDON IGESUND has revealed he will play former Orlando Pirates striker Tokelo Rantie and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands for the first time in the must-win friendly against Kenya tomorrow night.

The Bafana coach, under pressure just three games in to his reign after the 1-0 loss in Poland on Friday night, refuses to buckle, insisting: “I always said the first four games would be about looking at the players, coming up with a settled squad for AFCON in January. That is my priority.”

Igesund also revealed how two key players – in-form Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and Orlando Pirates centre-back Siya Sangweni – had both suffered injuries while training at Nairobi’s national stadium.

A distinctly grumpy Igesund, speaking to Robert Marawa on Metro FM, said: “The conditions are not the greatest, it’s a very, very bumpy pitch.

“Siya Sangweni and Itumeleng Khune both hurt their ankles. There are holes everywhere. Both are treatable. Siyabonga will be okay I’m sure.

“I’ve asked for sand to be laid down, fill the holes up. It’s not great. I want to avoid injuries to our players and the opposition.

“Training today wasn’t great, the ball was bobbling. But it’s raining quite hard, so I’m hoping it won’t be so bumpy for the game. It might make it easier to keep possession.

“I’m definitely going to make changes, this is our whole plan for the first four games. I need to look at players, this is our last game like this.

“If we can get 75 percent of the team ready, great. We haven’t got any combinations yet. We haven’t had chance to decide how we counter-attack, defend, shuffle across. Our dead-balls… we haven’t done any of that yet.

“I want to turn this squad in to a unit, a team before January.”

Igesund, who lost 1-0 in Brazil and beat Mozambique 2-0 in  his first two games in charge, knows a win tomorrow night is imperative with Kenya ranked a lowly 128th in the world and 27th in Africa. Bafana are currently listed at 76 by FIFA and 19 by CAF, putting them 10th among the 16 qualifiers for AFCON 2013 in South Africa next year.

Igesund confirmed: “I will change three of four players. I’ll definitely start with Sandilands in goal. Rantie has to get a shout, I have to look at him. He’s the type of player I have to consider, he gets in behind defenders, he’s got pace, he’s got strength, he’s looking good in training.

“I won’t make too many drastic changes, I want to do well. Delron Buckley, with his experience, uses the ball properly, he will definitely get a chance tomorrow.”

Though Igesund bemoaned the injuries which have left him experimenting at right back, he added: “I won’t make too many changes in defence. We’ll look at Sangweni overnight. I’ll probably start with the same two centre-backs, Sangweni and Bongani Khumalo.”

Controversial selection Ricardo Nunes, the left wing-back born in Johannesburg and now playing his football in Slovakia, is likely to get another chance to prove his worth for the nation he left as an eight-year-old.

Igesund said:  “Ricardo puts a great ball in to the area. I think that’s where the game will be won tomorrow. We need to get the ball in there and get the big lads challenging.

“We’ve still got quite a bit of work to do. We will get better, obviously we will get better. We haven’t started coaching yet, the combination plays. We will create more chances.

“I wasn’t quite happy with the amount of chances we created Poland. All these little situations, every game is telling us more about our players.

“Dean Furman and Kagiso Dikgacoi I’m very happy with in midfield. They can both play as holding players. KD is getting forward for Crystal Palace in England… and in training. One can stay, one can go. We haven’t worked on these situations at the moment.

“I need sooner rather than later to get the bulk of the squad sorted out.

“It’s a good atmosphere here at the moment, everybody wants to play. That’s a very good sign, the attitude in training is good. Working hard, encouraging each other.

“The most important thing is when a team-mate respects you. That’s a big start, that’s what’s happened so far.”

Igesund revealed how he’d had a “familiarisation” session with his players while in Kenya, explaining: “I was watching training and I realised they didn’t know each other’s names. They were going er…er…er when they called for the ball. It’s normal. Some of them have never met before.

“It’s important they share rooms, find out if their team-mates married, got kids, hobbies. It’s all part of building a team that can work hard for each other, fight for each other. I want them to become friends, know that they’ve got each other’s back.

“It’s normal they didn’t know each other. When Rantie, Ndlovu came, certain players didn’t know each other. They were just whistling. They are very new to each other.

“I have given some thought to the teams that have qualified. When AFCON starts on January 19, we have to be ready for everybody, Ghana or Nigeria. There are a couple of big guns up there. Senegal getting knocked-out wasn’t a surprise. Cameroon was a bit of a shock.

“But the gap has closed, the teams in Africa are much closer together. It’s about playing well as a team, how badly do they want it?”

Brazil v South Africa Preview: Gordon Igesund plays his captain's armband close to his chest

The champions' champion: Buccaneer Siya Sangweni

GORDON IGESUND’S Brazilian headache is rapidly turning in to a serious migraine. If, and that’s a sizeable if, everything goes to plan, I expect the Bafana Bafana coach’s first starting team to look like this in a 4-4-2 formation: Sandilands; Gaxa, Mathoho, Sangweni (captain), Nthle; Mokotjo, Dikgacoi, Furman, Tshabalala; Serero, Ndlovu.

Orlando Pirates veteran Siya Sangweni is not confirmed as skipper, but his known ability as a motivator with the double-champions may put last year’s Buccaneer of the season ahead of the Amakhosi’s Sipho Tshabalala in the race to succeed injured captain Steven Pienaar.

With Igesund playing his armband close to his chest, Shabba himself admits: “It does not matter who captains the side to me. We are here to rebuild Bafana under a new coach, that’s our priority.”

Worried South Africans should consider this: Brazil have just slipped to an all-time low in the FIFA rankings, despite their plethora of international stars.

Before tomorrow's friendly showdown at the Estadio do Morumbi in Sao Paulo (live on SABC1 8.45pm), Igesund was unable to have a good look at Dino Ndlovu or Benni McCarthy during training at Palmeiras.

With his favourite veteran Siyabonga Nomvethe of Moroka Swallows, Malmo’s Tokelo Rantie and up-and-coming Sundowns striker Edward Manqele already withdrawn, Igesund’s attacking options were already restricted before Ndlovu turned up from Israel on Wednesday with concussion.

The 22-year-old former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic goal sensation took a knock on the head while scoring his third goal in three games for Maccabi Haifa on Saturday.

While Ndlovu did involve himself briefly in the training session, the Bafana Bafana medical staff will be keeping a close eye on his situation – and the veteran McCarthy’s “tight calf” which kept him sidelined at the Palmeiras training facility.

Igesund’s selection process is further complicated by the late arrivals of centre-back Bongani Khumalo from Greece and full-back Siboniso Gaxa, the late call-up from Kaizer Chiefs.

With just 32,000 tickets sold for the 67,000 Sao Paulo venue on Brazil’s biggest national holiday today, Igesund knows his Brazilian counterpart is under pressure too – anything less than a thumping win over South Africa will put Mano Menezez on the brink.

Five-time World Cup winners Brazil are currently ranked a gloomy 12^th in the latest FIFA rankings with South Africa 74^th, ten places short of their next World Cup qualifying rivals Central African Republic, who are 64^th.

But rankings mean little to Igesund as he starts the monumental task of guiding Bafana to the AFCON 2013 semi-finals on home soil before engineering World Cup qualification for Brazil 2014 with his side on two points from two games so far.

If Ndlovu is fit, Igesund will play him alone up front ahead of Thulani Serero, who scored twice for Ajax Amsterdam in their 2-2 draw against Herenveen on Saturday before a 53^rd-minute red card.

Swallows’ reformed alcoholic Lerato Chabangu, in top form on the domestic scene, will be on the bench with late replacement McCarthy, if fit.

With Everton’s Steven Pienaar “injured” after Saturday’s defeat against West Brom, Champions club Oldham Athletic’s 24-year-old Dean Furman – not to be confused with Norwich City’s English-qualified South African Andrew Surman – is set to make his debut after appearing as a non-playing sub for Joel Santana against Australia in 2008.

Fellow Championship battler Kagiso Dikgacoi of Crystal Palace will slot in next to Furman with Feyenoord’s Kamohelo Mokotjo behind them in a protective midfield triangle, leaving Siphiwe Tshabalala wide left. Serero will be expected to find space out on the right wing while supporting Ndlovu up front.

SuperSport United’s George Maluleka will be on the bench to add creative impetus if needed.

If Khumalo is ready his late arrival from Thessalonika, he will line up next to Sangweni in central defence, though Tower Mathoho, Kaizer Chiefs off-season signing from Bloemfontein Celtic, will be eager to make up for the absence of stricken team-mate Morgan Gould, who would have led Bafana had he not needed a season-threatening Achilles tendon operation.

The Europe-tested Gaxa should take his place at right back though Punch Masenamela may find himself lined up behind Kgosi Nthle of Peterborough at left-back, the 18-year-old has apparently impressed in training.

In goal, with SuperSport United’s young shot-stopped Rowan Williams injured, Igesund knows all three “glamour club” keepers have suffered significant reverses in recent weeks, but he could go with Sundowns’ Wayne Sandilands ahead of Pitso Mosimane’s beloved Chief Itumelenge Khune and the returning Buccaneer Moeneeb Josephs.

Neymar, Dani Alvez and David Luiz will be lining up at the other end – along with Lucas Moura, Ramires and Paulinho who trained together in an 8-a-side training clash yesterday.

The last time these two teams met Brazil emerged victorious with a late Dani Alves strike knocking the Bafana out in the semifinal of the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Igesund knows any side he picks will come under severe pressure in all areas. But he insists: “We’ve taken a few blows over the last week. But you know me Neal, I don’t go out not to lose games. We will give it a go. We won’t go out there feeling inferior.”

With Pienaar and the vuvuzelas on their side, perhaps South Africa have a chance

AT last Steven Pienaar is offering a glimmer of on-field optimism for Bafana Bafana. Yes, South Africa may be gearing up nicely for the World Cup in June – I’ve been to the Moses Mabhida in Durban, Green Point in Cape Town, Soccer City in Soweto –off the field, great job.

But it’s on the field where pessimism strikes at the heart among the Rainbow Nation’s population, whether they follow local football or not. Invariably not.

But my question for those doubters is this: “How can any side fail to compete at the top level with Steven Pienaar at the heart of things?”

The bloke is a revelation. Anybody who watched Everton’s emphatic 2-0 win over Manchester City’s millionaires will understand the point.

Sure Pienaar scored his third goal in three games – a neat near-post free-kick nearly as good as his exquisite finish in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last week – but goals aren’t the only currency for the former Ajax Amsteram midfielder.

He is one of those rare midfielders who can perform the “Makalele” role – defensive, along the lines of Alex Song at Arsenal or Michael Essien at Chelsea. He is also adept at the creative passing and quick break element – think Stevie Gerrard at Liverpool, though not lately. And of course, he has the engine of a Frank Lampard, able to run all day and work in both penalty areas, almost simultaneously.

Yet here sit South Africa. Failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations and at No86 in the fickle FIFA tables, the lowest ranked side ever to host a World Cup

It can’t be right. Given you’ve got only 31 nations visiting here in June, there’s a good chance you’ll finish better than 86^th, especially if Pienaar is given free reign in your midfield. Arguably, with the captain’s armband on. He’s 27, he played in Cape Town, Amsterdam, Dortmund and Liverpool, he has the experience.

Remember, Benni McCarthy and Aaron Makoena have also been scoring Premier League goals in recent weeks.

But it worries me when, this week, I hear Bafana coach Carlos Parreira saying he’ll build his team around a core of South African-based players.

Before this epic cricket series between South Africa and England started I got around to a few grounds and saw, amongst others, your champions Supersports United beat lowly Jomo Cosmos 3-0 at a nearly-empty Loftus Versfeld.

And let’s be frank, Stevie Pienaar would have made a huge difference in a game like that. The idea that Parreira may build his side around players not playing in the European leagues is deeply flawed, though understandable.

He’s taken 29 players down to Durban (why not at high altitude? All the big World Cup teams will be preparing at altitude given the World Cup final will be played at 5,000 feet).for friendlies against Swaziland on Saturday in Chatsworth and Zimbabwe at the superb Moses Mabhida stadium next Wednesday.

I know he’s unhappy about Elrio van Heerden not getting much action for Blackburn – he’s now in Turkey with Sivasspor and trying to regain full fitness.

And you can sympathise with Parreira when he says: “I don’t think David Moyes will allow Pienaar to join us before the World Cup because he has become a vital player for them. We will have to wait until late in May for him and Mokoena at Portsmouth.”

He’s right, but that doesn’t mean the side shouldn’t be built around Pienaar variously described as “superb”, “a revelation” and “unstoppable” by the British papers this morning.

Let’s take the view from Pienaar himself, who handles himself well in front of the cameras, as a captain-elect should: “I would definitely say I am a more complete player since coming to Everton.

“I do think South Africa might still surprise a few people at the World Cup. We players have to be ready to show we are not just a team with a few individuals. Part of the problem is that, compared with some other African countries, some of our players are not hungry enough. Maybe we’re not very adventurous and don’t like to be away from home

“For us to go to the second round, that is the expectation of the people. I think we can get out of the group.

“Mexico and Uruguay play quite similar to us, only France will be a bit of a challenge for us.

“The crowd will boost the players and we will be confident with them behind us. We hope they will be behind us.”

Pienaar came out strongly in defence of South Africa when the British press were linking the Togo team bus shootings in Cabinda with the upcoming World Cup. And the man born in Westbury near Johannesburg but thriving on Merseyside, says: “You know, things are getting better in Westbury. The crime’s coming down a bit.

“I don’t think too many visitors will going to Westbury but they will be coming to a beautiful country and the tournament is going to be very good for South Africa.”

Remember, the hosts invariably do shockingly well at World Cups. South Korea, France, Germany, Argentina... blimey, even England won it when they got to host it 44 years ago.

With Pienaar and the vuvuzela-blasting home fans behind them, who knows what South Africa are capable of producing in five months' time?