Group D

D is for Dude, as in "Dude... estas serioso?!?!". Also dog (poss my favorite animal). Denver, a very much top notch midsize American city. And dacha, which I hope to one day own.

Group D
Australia, Germany, Serbia, Ghana

This could be a very interesting group. The omnipresent Germans are the favorites and in all likelihood will find themselves in the round of 16 after three games. To me the other three teams are pretty interesting.

Ghana- I like Ghana's chances probably more than those of any other African country. They went through in the last tournament despite drawing a very difficult group. This time around they have a squad mostly in their mid 20s which should be able to utilize that experience. What will make or break Ghana, in my opinion, is the health and fitness of Michael Essien. He is an absolute beast. When he is healthy Essien is one of my favorite midfielders to watch. He is strong, skilled, powerful, and smart. A midfield built around an Essien-Muntari partnership should give Ghana a very good chance of making it out of the group stage once again.
PTW- Michael Essien

Germany- The Germans are always, always, always strong and there is no reason to think this time will be any different. Since Low took over the top spot from Klinsman Germany have made it to the Euro final where they lost 1-0 to a dynamic Spanish team and powered through qualifying undefeated (8-0-2). What I find interesting about the German side going into next summer is all the questions surrounding what is in many ways a power in transition. Who will fill the vacancy in goal? After his flop of a debut on the big stage at the Euros is Mario Gomez ready to be the machine he is at club level for the national team? Can Klose continue his domination of world cups (and maybe challenge for the all time goal record?)? Is Philip Lahm's offensive contribution worth the risk he exposes the German defense to? All of these questions will be answered next summer, but most likely after the group stage. There is too much skill, experience, focus, and organization to think Germany won't make it through.
PTW- Bastian Schweinsteiger. In 2006 and 2008 he showed flashes of true brilliance and he has been very exciting to watch at club level. I get the feeling that maybe Schweinsteiger has stalled a bit and has not been able to make the leap to stardom many people expected but he seems to be a player that dials it up when wearing a German shirt. He is big and fast and mean but also skilled and smart.

Serbia- The fact that Serbia won a group with France in it to qualify should be enough for them to be taken seriously. It is often easy to group the lesser known European teams into a "pretty good/not so bad" also ran group of nations, but I think this Serbian squad has a legitimate chance to make some waves. With months still to go, I see them battling Ghana for the second spot. They face each other in an opening match that will probably be passionate and urgent because they know what lies ahead. Serbia have a solid defense comprised of players who shine at some of the bigger European clubs. Nemanja Vidic may be one of the best 3 central defenders in the world. There is skill going forward and on any given day Dejan Stankovic looks like a world beater at Inter Milan. It will be up to him to drive the attack.
PTW- Dejan Stankovic.

Australia- This is by no means a bad team, but I think Australia are doomed to finish last in Group D. They reached a huge milestone in 2006 by reaching the round of 16 and this squad has many guys who play in the bigger leagues of Europe so they have a fighting chance but I don't see them being as powerful as Ghana or as technical as Serbia. Of course to see them make it through would not be a huge shock either. If that were to happen it would be on the back of Tim Cahill's creativity and playmaking and Scott MacDonald's finishing. There are pieces to work with, I just think they come up a bit short.
PTW- Mark Schwarzer. I suspect the Fulham goalkeeper will have his hands full. He will have to make saves he shouldn't to give Australia a chance.

The race for second should be a good one in this group.

My group predictions:
1. Germany (7)
2. Ghana (4)
3. Serbia (4)
4. Australia (1)