Running down the weaknesses of the 4 World Cup favorites

#1 Germany

Boateng has endured a frustrating season at Bayern

The reigning Champions of the World have made a largely seamless transition from the side of 2014 to the side of this summer’s World Cup. The Confederations Cup did help them a great deal in testing the players and it has worked out very well for them. And while even they have a side to be reckoned with, the Jerome Boateng factor can be detrimental to their performance in Russia.

Boateng has almost fallen off a cliff from the near complete defender that he was under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich. He was injured and ill on over six occasions this seasons for the Bavarian side and made only 19 appearances in the Bundesliga. And he endured a par season and still is suffering from a hamstring injury.

While that has allowed the emergence of Niklas Sule, the former Hoffenheim man has played only a single big game for Germany and has majorly been utilised in the low-key games only. The last four games he has featured in has yielded just a single win.

And while it shouldn’t be a matter of too much concern because Sule looks ready to step up to the plate, that could be a cause for annoyance for Loew. Antonio Rudiger has done well, but Loew should be careful of not relying much on Boateng, who looks set to be sold by Bayern this summer.