Big Question: Which Teams have the Most Feeble Offenses?

March 25th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

Yesterday we looked at the teams that are sure to score a ton of goals in Germany this summer. Today we turn our attention to the teams that we think will struggle to score. This doesn’t mean that these teams aren’t good or that they don’t have a chance to win with their defense. But from what we have seen of these four teams, offense is not the name of their game.

Angola – We love the Palancas Negras to death but they didn’t qualify for the World Cup with their offense. As we saw at the African Cup of Nations, Angola struggles to mount an offensive attack. Outside of Akwa and perhaps Pedro Mantorras if he even plays, Angola doesn’t have much up front to strike fear in its opponents’ hearts.

Serbia and Montenegro – We are on the Plavi bandwagon, but only because they might have the best defense in the World Cup. On the offensive side of things, Mateja Kezman is a nice forward but we don’t see him getting much support from a suspect midfield. Look for plenty of 1-0 results.

Japan – The Japanese midfield might be one of the best in the World Cup, but its forwards are not. Zico continues to struggle to find the right combination up front with marginal players like Atsushi Yanagisawa and Naohiro Takahara seemingly unable to finish.

Saudi Arabia – Solid goalkeeping and defense booked Saudi Arabia’s ticket to Germany. A weak attack led by unproven players will send them home in group play.

Agree or disagree, let us know with your comments. You can also send your Big Question to bob [at] worldcupblog.org and we might just take a stab at answering it.

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Gibraldo

admit, you want to provoke comments on that from the plavi site. :-)

Just because you have a solid defense does not mean, you are not able to score. In the qualifiers, we scored 16 goals, Italy and England scored 17, so where is the difference?

And why the hell, you left out 3 time 0-0 homedrawers France from your list of feeble offences?
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/big-question-which-teams-have-the-most-potent-offenses.html Pedro P

You forgot Italy, Bob, who in spite of always having brilliant players, always suports their game on defense, defense and defense… So yeah, offense isn’t necessarily the name of the game!
http://hobbes-calvin.blogspot.com Luis Paulo

Serbia has one of the most talented offensive midfield playing in Brazil right now: Dejan Petkovic. Petkovic has such a history in Brazil that many brazilians would like to see him in our own squad. He was consider the best midfield on the 2005 Brazilian League. Although, he seems to have problem with the serbian coach, also named Petkovic. All the brazilians chears for him and expect to see him playing in germany this year. We believe that he would be so handfull for Serbia to improve their offensive skills.
Justin D

Just like Pedro, i belive Italy has a very stong defence. Italys offence is not amazing but not bad at all and it is mostly their defence that wins games. So it isn’t all offence and i think Italy is one of the strongest teams in the World Cup this year.
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/big-question-which-teams-have-the-most-potent-offenses.html Pedro P

Italay is always strong! Like Brasil, even when they are weak they are strong. They have 3 in the bag already… There’s no way around that…

But – OK, we all know the importance a solid defense has and tactical discipline (they got it probably from the romans still) – I just wonder if the boys in blue, being usually good, couldn’t for once show a display of what they can really do up front. Even if it costs them a goal or two…