 |
Post Draw: Quotes and Analysis |
 |
 |
|
 |
Italy
(ITA) |
|
Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni
It seems to be an easy group for us, but we cannot rest assured. Croatia
has a strong team and what really worries me is that Croatian players
know the Italian team well through their participation in Italian leagues.
Nor is Mexico an easy team to deal with because it is a country with a
long tradition in football. As for Ecuador, this is the first time that we will
play them and we haven't had the chance to measure up their strength,
which could make it difficult. It is above all a newly emerging country in
the world football scene and it's only easy to win in theory. We will need a
lot of caution and attention. As for having to travel from Japan to Korea
after the first round, it will of course be tiring for our players, but the
chances were 50:50 and there is nothing we could do about it.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Ecuador
(ECU) |
|
General Manager of Team Affairs: Edmundo Luna
In my opinion Italy stand out as the best team in the group. They have
won the tournament three times and their qualifying campaign
commands the utmost respect. Croatia are not to be underestimated
either - they have an excellent defence that only conceded two goals in
qualifying and finished third overall in the last World Cup. We have
played against Mexico many times in friendly matches with most of the
encounters ending in stalemates. We know their capabilities inside out
as most of our players ply their trade in their league and their style of play
is very similar to ours. We afford all our rivals the same amount of
respect but Ecuador will leave no stone unturned in terms of preparation for the tournament proper.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Croatia
(CRO) |
|
Coach: Mirko Jozic
I am very satisfied with the draw, no question about it. Italy and ourselves are favourites in this group, but
both the teams from the Americas play a very technically-strong style of football, which is an important
factor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Mexico
(MEX) |
|
Coach: Javier Aguirre
We already had one eye on Japan, a country we know well and which was our preferred option before
the draw was made. Scanning our rivals, I think that the Croatians are a good footballing nation with very
skilful players... they have only been an independent country for a short while but have achieved great
things in that time. They are a strong side with quality players who will have a major say in the way the
group pans out. Ecuador will be another difficult match. We know each other's games very well because
many of their players play in our league. Furthermore, they have a talented coach in Hernán Darío
Gómez who has now got his own system working well. It will be neck and neck all the way. We were
drawn in the same group as Italy in 1994 and came away with a good draw. They are one of the best
teams in the tournament and will always be a tough nut to crack. They have to be among the handful of
favourites to win the World Cup.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group Analysis:
Ecuador are at their first FIFA World Cup final and Croatia at their second, so head-to-head clashes have been at a premium amongst Group G rivals. Italy and Mexico have met twice, however, the Azzurri winning 4-1 against the host nation in 1970 whilst the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at USA 94.
Group G is very much a second "Group of Death", with the average FIFA/Coca-Cola rankings of the teams at the time of the Final Draw being 18 - only one less than Group F. Likewise, these are the only two groups to have two top-ten ranked teams in them - Italy 6th and Mexico 9th in Group G, Argentina 2nd and England 10th in Group F.
|
|
|
