The World Cup Preview: Groups D - F

Hello Rank Squad! Here's the second of our four World Cup preview shows, where we look through the next three groups and give our thoughts on each of the four teams in each. Jack Collins is joined by Austin Miller of the extraordinary World Cup After Dark Podcast to keep things ticking over.  Starting in Group D with a look through the expectations and reality associated with the USMNT ahead of the tournament as well as their strengths and weaknesses, we also take a look at an exceedingly solid Paraguay unit, a fun Türkiye who might just become a neutral's favourite, and a hard-nosed Australia side who absolutely will not.  In Group E, we talk through whether Julian Nagelsmann's Germany are being overlooked or overrated, before discussing Ecuador - who come in as many people's dark horses, a returning Cote d'Ivoire side who had an outrageous qualification record, and newcomers Curaçao, who might be the best story of this tournament but could also end up as this group's whipping boys.  And then in Group F, we reach the Netherlands, who are incredibly difficult to predict given the level of talent and the lack of goals, as well as a slightly underpowered but very cohesive Japan, Graham Potter's Sweden, who have two absolutely incredible strikers and...not much else; and Tunisia, who feel like they might have come to spoil everybody else's fun and try to draw 0-0 a lot.  Keep an eye on this feed for the next two previews, check out our Groups A-C preview with Dougie Critchley, and there's plenty more to come too, over the course of the World Cup.  It's Ranks!  And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.