Arsène Wenger analyses World Cup Group B
World Cup: Wenger's verdict on Group B
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With the World Cup fast approaching, Arsène Wenger has been sharing his views on the competition.
The Official Arsenal Magazine spoke to the manager about all eight groups and his thoughts on Groups A-D have been published in the current issue, which is on sale now.
The manager's analysis of Groups E-H will be printed in the next edition of the Official Arsenal Magazine, due for release on Thursday, June 10.
Until then we've put together brief profiles of each nation involved and will bring you Wenger's views on Groups A-D over the next week, continuing with Group B.
| Manager | Diego Maradona |
| Captain |
Javier Mascherano |
| Qualified |
4th in South America |
| World Ranking | 7 |
| World Cup Best |
Winners 1978, 1986 |
| Manager |
Lars Lagerback |
| Captain |
Joseph Yobo |
| Qualified | Top of African Group B |
| World Ranking |
21 |
| World Cup Best |
Last-16 1994, 1998 |
| Manager | Huh Jung-Moo |
| Captain | Park Ji-Sung |
| Qualified | Top of Asian Group 2 |
| World Ranking |
47 |
| World Cup Best |
Semi-Finals 2002 |
| Manager | Otto Rehhagel |
| Captain | Giorgos Karagounis |
| Qualified | Beat Ukraine in Play-Off |
| World Ranking | 13 |
| World Cup Best | Group Stage 1994 |
WENGER'S VERDICT
People will all be looking to Lionel Messi in the Argentina squad but they have got lots of good players in their squad. It's not only Messi. Carlos Tevez, Esteban Cambiasso, Maxi Rodriguez, Walter Samuel and so on - they all play at the top level.
"If you look at just the list of players in the Argentina squad, you would make them super favourites to progress. As well they are in a group where you can not see who will seriously challenge them.
"Nigeria have got an ageing team. South Korea did well at home, but will they do well in South Africa? There is a big question mark over that. And finally Greece - they look to be an old team as well.
"Basically Argentina are a little bit like France and are lucky to be there after their qualification group where they struggled. They got through despite Maradona getting some bad results in that qualification programme.
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[Friday, June 04, 2010]
