The World Cup - A Guide To Group E

Switzerland - Ecuador - France - Honduras

Switzerland

The Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld

• Star Player: Xerdan Shaqiri
• Position: Winger
• Age: 22
• Team: Bayern Munich
• Why? A phenominal talent who sadly has had limited first team club football with Bayern. However, Shaqiri is already an experienced international being capped 31 times for Switzerland. Expect him to take a more commanding role in the team with many of the attacks coming through his left-foot and in the trequartista position through the centre.

• One to Watch: Ricardo Rodriguez
  
• Position: Left Defender
• Age: 21
• Team: Wolfsburg
• Why? With the most goals and assists in Bundesliga for any full-back, Rodriguez possesses undoubted class. Look out for his bombing runs up and down the touch line and getting in amongst Switzerland's build up in the final third.

• Wildcard: Josip Drmić
• Position: Striker
• Age: 21
• Team: Bayer Leverkusen
• Why? With this Swiss side struggling for goals recently, Drmić could provide much needed ammo to fire them into the later stages. Finishing as third top scorer in Bundesliga for relegated Nürnberg, Drmić has already secured a transfer to Leverkusen and his confidence will surely be high.

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Roman Buerki (Grasshopper), Yann Sommer (Basel).

Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Michael Lang (Grasshopper), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schaer (Basel), Philippe Senderos (Valencia), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Reto Ziegler (Sassuolo).

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Eintracht Frankfurt), Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gelson Fernandes (Freiburg), Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich), Valentin Stocker (Basel).

Forwards: Josip Drmic (Nuremberg), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich), Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg), Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach).

Fun Fact: Shaqiri celebrates Christmas even though he is a Muslim

Ecuador

The Manager: Reinaldo Rueda

• Star Player: Antonio Valencia
• Position: Winger
• Age: 28
• Team: Manchester United
• Why? Arguable Ecuador’s best player of modern day football, Valencia has split opinion in his time in England. A versatile, skillful player who's athleticism out wide is a constant threat. He is more of a team player than an individual who can win a game solo though and expect just his presence and experience benefit Ecuador massively.

• One to Watch: Jefferson Montero
  
• Position: Winger
• Age: 24
• Team: Morelia
• Why? After failing to break through at Villarreal as a youngster, Montero was transferred to Morelia in Mexico. He has proven himself as a highly skilful winger who can cause any full-back a nightmare when he hits form. Touted as a better prospect than Valencia, big things are expected of Montero in Brazil with a possible move back to Europe if he has a belter.

• Wildcard: Felipe Caicedo
  
• Position: Striker
• Age: 25
• Team: Al-Jazira
• Why? Caicedo has accumulated fees of over 20 million pounds in his career so far. At 25 though, he now finds himself turning out for Al-Jazira in the United Arab Emirates. Perceived as a flop as club level, Caicedo is still a mainstay in this Ecuador team (since the recent tragic passing of Christian Benitez) and his size and strength up top could be what Ecuador need.

Goalkeepers: Maximo Banguera (Barcelona SC), Alexander Dominguez (LDU Quito), Adrian Bone (El Nacional).

Defenders: Frickson Erazo (Flamengo), Jorge Guagua, Oscar Bagui, Gabriel Achilier (all Emelec), Walter Ayovi (Pachuca), Juan Carlos Paredes (Barcelona SC).

Midfielders: Segundo Castillo (Al-Hilal), Carlos Gruezo (Stuttgart), Renato Ibarra (Vitesse Arnhem), Cristian Noboa (Dynamo Moscow), Luis Saritama (Barcelona SC), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), Edison Mendez (Independiente Santa Fe), Fidel Martinez (Tijuana), Michael Arroyo (Atlante).

Forwards: Felipe Caicedo (Al-Jazira), Jefferson Montero (Morelia), Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul), Jaime Ayovi (Tijuana), Enner Valencia (Pachuca)

Fun Fact: Every time Ecuador has qualified for a World Cup, It has been with a Colombian manager

France

The Manager: Didier Deschamps

• Star Player: Raphael Varane
  
• Position: Centre Back
• Age: 21
• Team: Real Madrid
• Why? With the loss of Ribery weeks before the start of the tournament, France need a leader with quality to step up. Varane is just that. Even at such a young age and just 6 caps to his name his composure and defensive prowess could be exactly what France to banish the demons of the last couple of tournaments.

• One to Watch: Paul Pogba
  
• Position: Central Midfielder
• Age: 21
• Team: Juventus
• Why? 2013 Golden Boy award winner, Pogba has been a mainstay in the Juventus team for a couple of seasons now. A defensive box-to-box midfielder who loves to shoot from distance with his powerful right foot. Another player with high energy levels, expect to see Pogba at heavily involved at both ends of the pitch. 

• Wildcard: Patrice Evra
• Position: Left Back
• Age: 33
• Team: Manchester United
• Why? Evra has come under scrutiny for the last two seasons at United, with many fans calling for him to be replaced. Still though, the experienced full-back should be important in his last world cup. This could be the last proper chance for him to prove to the doubters that there is still life in legs of this old dog.

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Stephane Ruffier (Marseille), Mickael Landreau (Bastia).

Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), Lucas Digne (Paris St-Germain) Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna (both Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi (both Paris St-Germain), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Remy Cabella (Montpellier), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loic Remy (Newastle, on loan from QPR).

Fun Fact: Paul Pogba is nicknamed Il Polpo Paul ("Paul the Octopus")

Honduras

The Manager: Luis Fernando Suárez

• Star Player: Wilson Palacios
• Position: Defensive Midfielder
• Age: 29
• Team: Stoke
• Why? Palacios has had a somewhat disappointing start to his career at Stoke City, having suffered various injuries as well as not been favoured by then manager Tony Pulis. Under new manager Hughes however Palacios has seen his time on the pitch increase and his experience in the Premier League will be invaluable as he looks to use his strength and defensive capabilities to protect the back-line from constant threats.

• One to Watch: Andy Najar
  
• Position: Winger
• Age: 21
• Team: Anderlecht
• Why? Signed by DC United as a youngster he had his breakthrough season in 2010, picking up the 'Rookie of the Year' award. Now playing in Belgium for Anderlecht, this winger has been gaining attention from clubs such as Valencia and Tottenham in recent times. Should he shine at the World Cup, a move this summer will be even more likely after an impressive season in Belgium.

• Wildcard: Carlos Costly
  
• Position: Striker
• Age: 31
• Team: Real España
• Why? The 6ft3 tall striker is the team's top scorer with 30 goals and now forms a dynamic attack duo with Jerry Bengtson. However, he is slightly injury prone and playing against the likes of France could be very difficult for him to add to his decent goals tally for Honduras.

Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares, Donis Escober (both Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real Espana).

Defenders: Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan), Maynor Figueroa (Hull), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes), Osman Chavez (Qingdao Janoon), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua).

Midfielders: Edder Delgado (Real Espana), Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Roger Espinoza (Wigan), Jorge Claros (Motagua), Wilson Palacios (Stoke), Oscar Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Andy Najar (Anderlecht), Mario Martinez (Real Espana), Marvin Chavez (Chivas USA).

Forwards: Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution), Jerry Palacios (Alajuelense), Carlo Costly (Real Espana), Rony Martinez (Real Sociedad).

Fun Fact: Ex- Hibernian player Jorge Claros was shot in the head and shoulder after a attempted car jacking. He managed to drive himself to the hospital and was back playing football 15 days later. Hence the nickname, 'The Pitbull'.

Play Sports? Got A Beard? You Are Great.

Everyone should appreciate a fine beard and if you don't, well I hate you. They can symbolise many things, like freedom or maturity but mainly just undoubted awesomeness.

Not strictly a sportsman. But a bearded Greek god-like athlete

Much deliberation has been had in creating a list of 6 such hairy heroes. The criteria is as follows:

Type of beard

Style

Coolness

Status of the sportsman

Manliness 

6. James Harden - Houston Rockets - USA - Basketball

James Harden owns the most bodacious beard in the NBA

Dream Team + Beard = Awesome

Anybody who shoots hoops of the calibre of James Harden and can pull off a slick beard should have a bronze statue of them erected. Harden's beard has a Facebook page and Twitter account and has inspired songs and t-shirts. Brilliant.

5. Josh Strauss - Glasgow Warriors - South Africa - Rugby

Great Scot! what a beard

Loves a beardy selfie

I particularly appreciate Josh Strauss's bushy beard. Physically imposing bosh machine and back row forward who puts his facial hair on the line every match.  I'm even more proud to be Scottish, with the knowledge that he plays his rugby in this very country. What a bloke.

4. Paul Breitner - West Germany - Bayern Munich - Real Madrid - Football

"No beard Keegan? Don't touch me..."

Not exactly a beard in this photo. But anyone that  looks
cool with a handlebar moustache, a perm and a yellow Jagermeister T-Shirt is beyond worthy for this short-list

Paul Breitner the marauding left back turned box-to-box midfielder had the 70's beard and perm combination down to an art. Pretty sexual for a man who was one of only four footballers ever to score in two different World Cup finals. Oh... the others were Vava, Zidane and Pele. Enough said.

3. Andrea Pirlo - Juventus - Italy - Football

The Architect

Italian Stallion

Andrea Pirlo was supposedly past it. Declined a new contract by Milan and released on a free. What better way to make a comeback than to grow a beautiful thick beard and pick up Serie A player of the season in the process with Juventus. L'architetto is a truly legendary deep lying playmaker that continues to dominate matches and beard competitions in equal measures.

2. Sebastian Chabal - Lyon - France - Rugby

A day in the life

Vogue

Sebastain Chabal is one of the bearded wonders of the modern facial hair world.  L'Homme Des Carvernes: 'The Caveman', is 6ft4 and almost 18st who's style of play can only be described as Neanderthal like. The contact area is his best friend and in his prime the most feared tackler and ball carrier in global rugby Chabalmania is a thing in France and with wild long flowing hair and a big bushy beard to match he is an icon of the professional game and a beard enthusiast's idol. Viva le barbe!

1. Socrates - 1954-2011 - Garforth Town - Brazil - Football

Dr Socrates- World Cup captain

Too cool to do his own stretches

Socrates who sadly past away in 2011, will be remembered for being one of the very best footballers of all time. He combined technique and grace as a midfield playmaker for Brazil at two World Cups. In my opinion qualified Doctor Socrates was the epitome of cool, having a striking beard and afro/perm look in the 70's and 80's is magnificent. Wearing a headband which read "people need justice",made political statements stylish. Described as a genius, intellectual or legend doesn't do this heavy drinking, heavy smoking, beardly God justice. Even his appearance for the last 12 minutes of a match for Garforth Town at the age of 50 transcended coolness.

All I can say is that this maverick of a man was a one off and brought joy to millions of beard enthusiasts and the other types of people around the world. He will be remembered as the great philosopher of football.

No Harry, not even a woollen beard can hide that melted fox face of yours. Go away