ANKARA
Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria will all face off in one of the World Cup's most eclectic, and possibly most interesting, groups
- Argentina
Brazil's archrivals are one of the odds-on favorites to win the tournament this year. Real Madrid’s Angel di Maria, Manchester City’s determined striker Sergio Aguero and, of course, Barcelona’s leading star Lionel Messi are just some of the stars that constitute the talented squad.
Argentina were eliminated by Germany with a 4-0 score in quarter final phase in 2010 FIFA World Cupheld in South Africa.
Argentina's squad for World Cup is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Monaco), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors)
Defenders: Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Jose-Maria Basanta (Monterrey), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Enzo Perez (Benfica)
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint Germain), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter)
Coach: Alejandro Sabella
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
This is the first time Bosnia and Herzegovina qualify for a World Cup tournament in their history.
With their attack led by Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, Bosnia and Herzegovina will present a tough physical game to any opponent.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic (Stoke City), Jasmin Fejzic (Aalen), Asmir Avdukic (Borac Banja Luka)
Defenders: Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen), Toni Sunjic (Zorya Luhansk), Sead Kolasinac (Schalke 04), Ognjen Vranjes (Elazigspor), Ermin Bicakcic (Eintracht Braunschweig), Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros), Mensur Mujdza (Freiburg)
Midfielders: Miralem Pjanic (Roma), Izet Hajrovic (Galatasaray), Haris Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Senad Lulic (Lazio), Anel Hadzic (Sturm Graz), Tino-Sven Susic (Hajduk Split), Sejad Salihovic (Hoffenheim), Zvjezdan Misimovic (Guizhou Renhe), Senijad Ibricic (Kayseri Erciyespor), Avdija Vrsajevic (Hajduk Split)
Forwards: Vedad Ibisevic (Stuttgart), Edin Dzeko (Manchester City), Edin Visca (Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi)
Coach: Safet Susic
- Iran
Former Portugal and Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz successfully guided Iran through qualifications but his team is somewhat of a question mark.
Iran did not qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Goalkeepers: Daniel Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig), Rahman Ahmadi (Sepahan Isfahan), Alireza Haqiqi (Sporting da Covilha)
Defenders: Hossein Mahini (Persepolis), Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Amir Hossein Sadeqi (Esteghlal), Mehrdad Pouladi (Persepolis), Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft Tehran), Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal), Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Midfielders: Hashem Beykzadeh (Esteghlal), Reza Haghighi (Persepolis), Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal), Ghasem Hadadifar (Zob Ahan Isfahan), Javad Nekounam (Kuwait), Ehsan Haji safi (Sepahan Isfahan), Bakhtiar Rahmani (Foolad)
Forwards: Khosrow Heidari (Esteghlal), Karim Ansarifard (Tractor Sazi), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton Athletic), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC), Masoud Shojaei (Las Palmas), Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham)
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
- Nigeria
Nigeria are the current holders of the African Cup of Nations. They performed strongly in last year’s Confederations Cup and will be optimistic under the guidance of ruthless, but successful, manager Stephen Keshi.
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria were eliminated in group stages.
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva)
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod), Joseph Yobo (Norwich City), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars)
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Gabriel Reuben (Beveren), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Ramon Azeez (Almeria)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Peter Odemwingie, (Stoke City), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen), Babatunde Michael (Volyn)
Coach: Stephen Keshi
Fixture of Group F is as follows:
June 15, Argentina vs Bosnia and Herzegovina at 2200GMT
June 16, Iran vs Nigeria at 1900GMT
June 21, Argentina vs Iran at 1600GMT
June 21, Nigeria vs Bosnia and Herzegovina at 2200GMT
June 25, Nigeria vs Argentina at 1600GMT
June 25, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Iran at 1600GMT
www.aa.com.tr/en
