One of the best things that happens every two years, but only if you are a football fan, or maybe not, if you tune in for the numerous pairs of legs on show, is after a packed domestic campaign, which includes the league, domestic cups, European cups and international friendlies/qualifiers is that then comes the major tournament, the most prestigious one in many peoples eyes. This year there is one which everyone is talking about, for numerous reasons. One reason is that it is the first football World Cup to be staged in Africa, after previous tournaments alternating between Europe, South America, North America and Asia.
As for the favourites for the tournament, as usual there is all the usual suspects, even if those classed among them, might well have struggled to get to the world cup itself in the first place, or maybe living on the past glories of their predecessors.
Among the usual ones, you have Brazil, England, Argentina, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Spain and Holland. All these teams have been kept apart, in the group stages, except Brazil and Portugal, which should prove a mouth watering tie and maybe one that might send one of the so called big boys home early.
After the most popular names which roll of the tongue when people talk about the favourites, we always have the next tier, the ones who if they play above their normal capacity levels and have a great deal of luck thrown their way, might indeed leave South Africa with the trophy.
Personally I think the African teams can be counted within these, maybe with the exception of the hosts South Africa, who on paper have maybe the weakest team among the home continent sides, although, host nations have normally tended to make good progression at the major tournaments, although I would expect South Africa, this time, to be an exception, with maybe the second round, a more, realistic objective.
There is though, no denying, the improvement from the African nations recently, with the improvement in tactics and technique, now being seen along with the strength and speed of the African teams of old. The fact that they are playing the biggest football tournament in the world on their own continent as well might also prove to be an extra bit of motivation for them.
Group ALots of eyes will be on this group, as the hosts will be playing in this one. Traditionally the host nations have did well in World Cups, and progressed from there groups and then beyond. This group sees a repeat of two teams from the same group of the 1998 world cup, France and South Africa, when France were the hosts, this time however the roles are reversed, with South Africa the hosts, and instead of Saudi Arabia and Denmark, the other two teams are Mexico and Uruguay. The game between the Latin America teams should be an interesting encounter, while France will obviously be the favourites for the group, but only on the reputation that precedes them, while there is always a keenness for the host nation to advance. I wouldn’t say that France are the favourites, but should pass through to the next stage, but with a little hic up along the way, and also South Africa to join them. There is no doubt however that the host side will need to play well, and have a great deal of luck, but as seen before in the Confederations Cup staged last year (where they reached the Semi Finals), they are capable, Mexico and Uruguay will push them close, but they need Diego Forlan to be firing on all cylinders.
Group BArgentina should be one of the favourites to win the competition, but however, this does not appear so, even if they have the Worlds best player in Lionel Messi. There is no doubting that they have individuals who are exceptional, but there seems to be a doubt as to if they can play as a team. The manager Diego Maradona, so far it seems has not been able to get the mix correct, something reflected in there scraping through the qualifiers to reach this point.
They will face Nigeria, Greece and South Korea. Nigeria and South Korea now are regular attendees at World cups over the years, with Greece the same can’t be said. It should be a group with contrasting styles of football with Argentina, the typical South American style with lots of touches on the ball and patient build up, Nigeria with their strong Athletic style, South Korea and their incredible levels of fitness and Greece with their European style.
If Argentina gets their act together and Messi carries his form from Barcelona into the world cup, they should qualify with ease. All eyes will be on Messi, whom, people think hasn’t reached the high of domestic performances compared to those of international, so pressure and the hope of a nation will be on him. Apart from Argentina the second position could be anyone’s guess, although I would say Nigeria, with their strong athletic and technical players and also with the incentive of the tournament being in Africa, will be enough to see them through.
Group C As always England starts the tournament as one of the favourites, but this time, deservedly so. Following a good qualifying campaign where they lost only once, and looked more of a secure outfit under Fabio Capello than Steve McLaren, England seem to have taken the extra step which everyone was waiting for. There is no doubt that over the last 10 or 15 years England have had good individual players, but there was always the inability for them to be bale to play together, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard being the most obvious and famous example. However under the shrewd old head of Capello, these things seem to be ratified and ironed out. Of course there are some problems, for example in the goalkeeper position, but all in all England look a excellent bet to progress from this group, and to advance even more, with the semi finals looking very promising.
USA is now very experienced old heads in the World Cup and has been improving every time. No doubt the introduction of the MLS has helped and also with many players playing in Europe this has added greater experience of playing against quality player’s week in, week out. With this in mind, and the inexperience and lesser quality of the other teams, Algeria and Slovakia, I would expect them along with England to advance to the second round.
Group DUntil about a few weeks ago, Germany looked odds on to progress out of this group, but following the injury to Michael Ballack, this has been cut down a peg or two. There is no doubt that the lose of such a protagonist will be huge for Germany, so someone else will now have to step to the fore, one person who this might be might be Sebastian Schweinstiger, who has been a mainstay of the team for years now and his experience could prove invaluable more so now, with the lose of Ballack.
Another team that will lament the loss of their star player, and another Chelsea player, is Ghana, who are without missing captain Essien, who, without him, don’t seem somewhat the threat they were to others in the group, although this should be a keenly contested group in itself, with both the other teams having improved since the last world cup in Germany, and all having players capable of winning any match. Germany should progress to the next phase, with maybe Serbia piping Australia and Ghana for the other spot.
Group E
Clear favourites for this group have to be the Dutch, who qualified with ease for the tournament. There is no doubt that when they play football the typical Dutch style with quick counter attacks and flowing passing football, then they are a match for any team on there day, but as always with them, it depends on their mood on the day.
For second place in the group, this can be anyone’s guess, with all teams appearing equally matched, with lots of experience of previous World Cups under their belt, and all of them with players who are capable, on their day, to do that something special so as to win a game. If I had to make a calculated guess then I would say Denmark, but it will be a close call.
Group F
Group F sees the defending champions pitted against what looks on paper a very easy group to progress from, although giving Italy’s form recently and their not so easy qualification for the tournament, this would therefore seem that they might not have things all their own way. This has been said before on numerous occasions, but it has to be stressed that when Italy need to perform they indeed perform, so, all the negative publicity, should be taken like water of a dogs back. The poorish standard of the teams in the groups may have helped them this time, but time will tell, though to progress, I would say near certainties, although, as those who know, nothing is certain in football.
No doubt helped by the decision of the Football Federation Australia to move from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation, New Zealand have qualified for their first World Cup since 1982 in Spain, but as in that time, they will have their work cut out, to get any results, with their performance in last years confederation cup a reflection of this.
As expected the second place position will be keenly contested between Paraguay and Slovakia, with the south Americans performance putting them slightly ahead as favourites, in this respect, where they will be hoping that Manchester City misfit Roque Santa Cruz will fire the goals for them, to help them progress to the second round just as they did in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
Somewhat unknowns are Slovakia, who have qualified for the first time for a International tournament since breaking up from the old Czechoslovakia. They will be looking for star player Marek Hamsik to lead them to the second round, and should not be underestimated, as the luck of the draw has put them in a weak group.
Group GThree words can sum up this group – Group of Death. Every major football tournament always has one group where the big boys are drawn together, and this time round, the pot has drawn Brazil, 5 times winner, Ivory Coast, one if not the best African team, North Korea, a team that shouldn’t be underestimated and Portugal which has one of the best players in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo, and who themselves are not a bad team. As is correct, Brazil, in every tournament, rank among the favourites, but this time, will be looking to out in a much better performance than 4 years ago, when the big name players failed to perform, most notably the best player in the world at that time Ronaldinho.
The coach brought in after the disaster of 2006, was Dunga, renowned as a player, but up until then, inexperienced and untried as a coach. First thing that was carried out was to drop those who were deemed to have outgrown their stay, although some saved themselves the pain and retired from International football, greats such as Cafu, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Ze Roberto were among those and focus was diverted to a younger generation of exciting players, such as Fabiano, Kaka, Robinho etc.
One player who wasn’t given the preverbal axe was Ronaldinho, given chances by Dunga to recuperate the form that had eluded him. Dropped after two years of chances, although expected to return this year, after improved form for Milan, Dunga chose not to include him in this squad of 23 for the tournament, as well as another big name given numerous chances by Dunga, Adriano.
Time though has proved Dunga to be correct with Brazil winning the confederations cup, Copa America and qualifying with ease for the World cup. It would be a surprise if they didn’t keep up the trend with a at least a semi-final appearance or maybe winners!
There is no doubt that if the Ivory Coast has all their big guns fit and playing well, then they will be a match for any team on their day. Players such as Drogba, the Toure brothers and Eboue are the lynchpins of the side and have plenty of big game experience throughout their careers playing in big league and domestic games, and all especially Drogba will have need to be on top form, in what looks like a three way competition to progress from to the next round.
Ronaldo like Drogba is the most important player in their respective teams, and there is no doubt, Ronaldo will be looking to overshadow the other great player expected to shine in this tournament, Messi, so this should make an interesting group like this one even more interesting, if it can be that.
One team is missing though, North Korea, and although they may well be significant underdogs, I wouldn’t be surprised if they sprung at least a surprise or two along the way with the element if surprise being a key factor for them, though I would expect Brazil and Portugal to progress, in those respective positions with the encounter between the two looking mouth-watering.
Group H
Group H is the battle of the Spanish speaking countries, with of course the exception of Switzerland. Spain go into the tournament deservedly among the list of favourites because of, in no doubt due to the attractive and productive football they have played within the last four years, with evidence, in that they are the reigning European champions, having defeated Germany 2 years ago.
The list of players at their disposal is countless, with the best team in Spain and for some if Europe and the world providing the nucleus of the squad, with eight players involved. The quality does though not only come from Barcelona, as the team has limitless options from other teams on the bench. Spain’s former tag of underachievers has been extinguished with a new one now in place, ‘favourites’, expect them to do well with at least a semi final or maybe winners, with Xavi, one of their most important players, pulling the strings in midfield, if he pays well, then no doubt the team will play well.
Chile has progressed to the finals after an impressive qualifying performance in the South American section. Somewhat relatively unknowns along with Honduras, the European teams will have to do their research so as not to be taken by surprise. I would expect both of them to be decent technically with the big tackle never shied away from, if Honduras player William Palacios´s performances in the English Premier League are anything to go by. Along with those two teams it looks like it being a three way fight with Switzerland joining Chile and Honduras for second position. Switzerland are by no means a spectacular team, however they are very efficient, without playing spectacular football, but as demonstrated when Inter Milan won the champions league this year, and knocked Barcelona out in the process, beautiful is not always best, although I would expect Spain to easily qualify and Chile to progress with them.
Latter Stages
The ending of the group stages doesn’t however bring to an end the football, it brings a start to what is the most exciting part, the knock out stages, which in itself brings nerves, “dramaticness”, extra time and either love it or loathe it, penalties.
Looking at the draw, what seems for most, the picturesque final, might be at risk, with Brazil and Spain in the same section of the draw, but never say never. England look in a good position as well, and will be looking to break their quarter final jinx where they have met Portugal on many occasions, and Argentina shouldn’t be ruled out, even with their terrible qualifying campaign, and don’t forget the reigning World champions, Italy , as they showed in the last World cup, are more than capable.
Normally when the world cup comes around, one team stands out; that one might think will win. This time however there, there doesn’t seem to be. At a stretch the winner could come from three teams, in my opinion, Brazil, Spain or England, with it being winter in South Africa, this cooler climate might favour the English though if forced I would put my money on Brazil, as there record in recent tournament since the last world cup has been the most impressive, although time will tell, as they say. No doubt there will be many highs and lows over the next month.
