ANKARA
France, Switzerland, Ecuador, and Honduras constitute Group E of 2014 FIFA World Cup, considered the weakest by sports pundits.
- France
Didier Deschamps captained France to a World Cupvictory in 1998. Now, 16 years later, he hopes to guide them to another win -- as the manager. Undeterred by Franck Ribery's forfeit due to injury, Deschamps has tried to build a solid team unit that includes a host of talent, including Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Juventus’ enthusiastic midfielder Paul Pogba.
'Les Bleus' failed to qualify for the knock-out stage in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and are better remembered for their infamous strike, refusing to get out of the bus for practice, to protest striker Nicolas Anelka's eviction from the team. He had insulted the coach during a halftime break.
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Stephane Ruffier (Saint-Etienne), Mickael Landreau (Bastia)
Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United), Lucas Digne (Paris Saint-Germain), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Paris Saint-Germain), Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United), Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique de Marseille), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loic Remy (Newcastle United), Remy Cabella (Montpellier)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
- Switzerland
Switzerland are best known for their frugal defense and timid offense. Still, some players such as the exciting Bayern Munich winger, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s free-kick expert, Tranquillo Barnetta are worth the detour.
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Switzerland were eliminated in group stages.
Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg), Yann Sommer (Basel), Roman Buerki (Grasshoppers)
Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Reto Ziegler (Sassuolo), Michael Lang (Grasshoppers), Steve von Bergen (Young Boys), Philippe Senderos (Valencia), Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schaer (Basel)
Midfielders: Gokhan Inler (Napoli), Valentin Stocker (Basel), Tranquillo Barnetta (Schalke 04), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach), Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Dzemaili (Napoli), Gelson Fernandes (Freiburg), Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Haris Seferovic (Real Sociedad), Josip Drmic (Bayer Leverkusen), Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg), Mario Gavranovic (Zurich)
Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld
- Ecuador
Manchester United’s explosive winger Antonio Valencia will hope to drive his team to success and they might just have an outside chance if France or Switzerland slip up.
Ecuador lastly qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cupwhere they reached the Round of 16.
Goalkeepers: Maximo Banguera (Barcelona-Ecuador), Adrian Bone (El Nacional), Alexander Dominguez (Liga de Quito)
Defenders: Gabriel Achilier (Emelec), Walter Ayovi (Pachuca), Oscar Bagui (Emelec), Frickson Erazo (Flamengo), Jorge Guagua (Emelec), Juan Carlos Paredes (Barcelona-Ecuador)
Midfielders: Segundo Castillo (Al Hilal), Carlos Gruezo (Stuttgart), Renato Ibarra (Vitesse Arnhem), Fidel Martinez (Tijuana), Edison Mendez (Santa Fe), Christian Noboa (Dinamo Moscow), Luis Saritama (Liga de Quito), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)
Forwards: Jaime Ayovi (Tijuana), Felipe Caicedo (Al Jazira), Jefferson Montero (Morelia), Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul), Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Michael Arroyo (Atlante)
Coach: Reinaldo Rueda
- Honduras
Honduras do not have a distinguished World Cuprecord, appearing only twice before. They stand little chance to qualify for the next round.
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup Honduras were eliminated in group stages.
Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares and Donis Escober (Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real Espana)
Defenders: Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes), Osman Chavez (Qingdao Janoon), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua), Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia), Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan), Maynor Figueroa (Hull)
Midfielders: Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Edder Delgado (Real Espana), Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Roger Espinoza (Wigan), Jorge Claros (Motagua), Wilson Palacios (Stoke City), Oscar Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Andy Najar (Anderlecht), Mario Martinez (Real Espana), Marvin Chavez (Colorado Rapids), Jerry Palacios (Alajuelense)
Forwards: Carlo Costly (Real Espana), Rony Martinez (Real Sociedad), Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution)
Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez
Fixture of Group E is as follows:
June 15, Switzerland vs Ecuador at 1600GMT
June 15, France vs Honduras at 1900GMT
June 20, Switzerland vs France at 1900GMT
June 20, Honduras vs Ecuador at 2200GMT
June 25, Honduras vs Switzerland at 2000GMT
June 25, Ecuador vs France at 2000GMT
www.aa.com.tr/en
