The obvious favorites are basically the same usual suspects - the multiple winners (Uruguay aside) - Argentina, Brasil, Italy, and Germany. I think the winner will definitely come from those four, but as European Champions Spain might make a bid in 2010. The remaining contenders are Netherlands, Portugal, England and France with my dark horses as Mexico, Cameroon and Paraguay.
Brasil- They are the only team to advance to all 19 World Cups and lead the competition with five championships. Ouch! We learned to despise our South American neighbor early on so I will keep it short and sweet. With Cesar in goal along in Kaka in the midfield and Fabiano up front and the absorbent talent they are always a threat. I think they are saving themselves for Rio in 2014 because Dunga left out players like Ronaldinho, Pato and Adriano and is already officially complaining to the FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke about the ball. I love the retort…Valcke suggested Brazil may be preparing to use the ball as an excuse for a poor performance at the World Cup. "its months now since the ball has been put into the market by Adidas," Valcke said, questioning the timing of the complaints.” Better luck in Rio where hosts tend to perform. It will be a good party and plans are already in the works for the next pirate excursion!
Italy- With four titles under their belt and the reigning world champions it is hard to talk shit. Chances of repeating are not in their favor, no team has won consecutive World Cup championships since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962, but they were the first to repeat back in the day. The team has gained some new faces since 2006, but they are still lacking a scoring striker making them a more predictable and less effective unit. It will be another defensive effort with the hope that keeper Buffon and Cannavaro push it to penalties. They do look vulnerable warm-up defeat to Mexico. Carnnavaro and Lippi claimed it was due to fatigue from the intensive fitness work outs. WC starts next week! Futbol shape is year round for this caliber of players. I am calling bullshit. Without a, striker (10) I don’t see a repeat happening!
Germany- they have won the World Cup three times, behind only Brasil and Italy. They have finished as runners-up four times, two more than any other side. In terms of semi-final appearances, Germany leads with 11, one more than Brazil's 10. With their captain, Ballack, out they appear far less strong than in recent tournaments, but simply cannot be discounted. I love it was a German-born Ghanaian international Kevin-Prince Boateng that took him out. Sabotage! How many non-Germans does it take to win a World Cup?
Brasil- They are the only team to advance to all 19 World Cups and lead the competition with five championships. Ouch! We learned to despise our South American neighbor early on so I will keep it short and sweet. With Cesar in goal along in Kaka in the midfield and Fabiano up front and the absorbent talent they are always a threat. I think they are saving themselves for Rio in 2014 because Dunga left out players like Ronaldinho, Pato and Adriano and is already officially complaining to the FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke about the ball. I love the retort…Valcke suggested Brazil may be preparing to use the ball as an excuse for a poor performance at the World Cup. "its months now since the ball has been put into the market by Adidas," Valcke said, questioning the timing of the complaints.” Better luck in Rio where hosts tend to perform. It will be a good party and plans are already in the works for the next pirate excursion!
Italy- With four titles under their belt and the reigning world champions it is hard to talk shit. Chances of repeating are not in their favor, no team has won consecutive World Cup championships since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962, but they were the first to repeat back in the day. The team has gained some new faces since 2006, but they are still lacking a scoring striker making them a more predictable and less effective unit. It will be another defensive effort with the hope that keeper Buffon and Cannavaro push it to penalties. They do look vulnerable warm-up defeat to Mexico. Carnnavaro and Lippi claimed it was due to fatigue from the intensive fitness work outs. WC starts next week! Futbol shape is year round for this caliber of players. I am calling bullshit. Without a, striker (10) I don’t see a repeat happening!
Germany- they have won the World Cup three times, behind only Brasil and Italy. They have finished as runners-up four times, two more than any other side. In terms of semi-final appearances, Germany leads with 11, one more than Brazil's 10. With their captain, Ballack, out they appear far less strong than in recent tournaments, but simply cannot be discounted. I love it was a German-born Ghanaian international Kevin-Prince Boateng that took him out. Sabotage! How many non-Germans does it take to win a World Cup?
Spain- Playing great futbol and with depth they have eight straight wins in qualifying and have blown away all-comers including England in friendly matches. Top-to-bottom, they have few weaknesses. Torres and Villa up front , Fabregas, Silva, Xavi at midfield and Puyol and Sergio Ramos anchor the defence with Valdes as third-string behind Casillas & Reina. Spain won all three games in the group stage four years ago and probably wins all of its matches in the opening round this year as well. Spain is in the best position in its history to finally lift the trophy, and leave the Netherlands as the most notable country without a title.
Netherlands- Clearly the best team in their group. Marwijk's has many solid players including Robben and Sneijder, who led their respective club teams, Bayern and Inter, to the Champions League final this season.The duo has made more than 100 combined appearances for the Netherlands, with Sneijder scoring 12 goals and Robben 11. Dutch defense is also much improved with captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst anchoring the unit. They have height and are always dangerous as they come to play arguably the best team to never win the World Cup.
Portugal- They enter as the third-ranked team in the world according to FIFA, but they certainly didn't look like it in qualifying as they finished behind Denmark in their group and needed to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in a playoff just to reach the World Cup. Much of Portugal's success hinges on the play of Cry-baby Ronaldo, who must drop his step over antics so he can start sharing the scoring load with likes of Nani and Deco. Considered to be this World Cup's "Group of Death," their group features two of the world's three top-ranked teams Brazil and Portugal - as well as a dangerous dark horse in the Ivory Coast. Prior to Drogba's injury, second place in the group appeared to be up for grabs between Portugal and the Ivory Coast. Portugal should have enough to comfortably move into the next round. A second-place finish in the group could mean a second-round matchup with Spain, something that would not bode well for back street boy and Portugal. If Figo was unable to capture that elusive World Cup title for Portugal as part of the country's golden generation I don’t think back Street Ronaldo has it in him, but he is only 25 and at the top of his game. However, his performances for Portugal have been underwhelming as he failed to score in seven qualification games and couldn't guide the team past the quarterfinals of Euro 2008. Portugal won't get past Spain!
England- the odds on winning the World Cup is now an even longer shot after Ferdinand (captain), is out of the tournament. Capello's recent run of bad luck and Rooney’s hot temper although it has been in check lately is always volatile. Let’s not forget the testicle crunching fiasco on Portugal's Carvalho that dashed their hope in 2006. This will not bode well for them. Let’s hope they stick around long enough so the pikeys’ can travel SA. Pikey literally translates to mean 'Filthy rude inbred shit', or "fat, tax averting, robbers who resort to violence and lack of personal hygiene as a way through life". When the Falklands are returned they will have a chance. La malvinas son nuestras!
France- Thierry’s handball goal karma will be too much to overcome. Quote from Henry himself “Naturally, I feel embarrassed at the way that we won and feel extremely sorry for the Irish who definitely deserve to be in South Africa”. That said, we (Argentina) won a cup with the infamous hand of god so anything is possible! I so wish the Irish were in the tournament. You have to love a nation that applauds a goal from the opponent to motivate the equalizer. On a more recent note France was beaten today 1-0 in an upset by non-qualifier China who was missing several starters. This can’t be a confidence builder for the 2006 World Cup finalist who by the way has conceded a goal in each of its last three friendlies while scoring just twice. And there is the sex scandal involving an underage prostitute that centers on Ribery, and has cast some shadows over the team in the build-up to the tournament. Surrender flag is in their future.
England- the odds on winning the World Cup is now an even longer shot after Ferdinand (captain), is out of the tournament. Capello's recent run of bad luck and Rooney’s hot temper although it has been in check lately is always volatile. Let’s not forget the testicle crunching fiasco on Portugal's Carvalho that dashed their hope in 2006. This will not bode well for them. Let’s hope they stick around long enough so the pikeys’ can travel SA. Pikey literally translates to mean 'Filthy rude inbred shit', or "fat, tax averting, robbers who resort to violence and lack of personal hygiene as a way through life". When the Falklands are returned they will have a chance. La malvinas son nuestras!
France- Thierry’s handball goal karma will be too much to overcome. Quote from Henry himself “Naturally, I feel embarrassed at the way that we won and feel extremely sorry for the Irish who definitely deserve to be in South Africa”. That said, we (Argentina) won a cup with the infamous hand of god so anything is possible! I so wish the Irish were in the tournament. You have to love a nation that applauds a goal from the opponent to motivate the equalizer. On a more recent note France was beaten today 1-0 in an upset by non-qualifier China who was missing several starters. This can’t be a confidence builder for the 2006 World Cup finalist who by the way has conceded a goal in each of its last three friendlies while scoring just twice. And there is the sex scandal involving an underage prostitute that centers on Ribery, and has cast some shadows over the team in the build-up to the tournament. Surrender flag is in their future.
Mexico- Mexico's schedule of 12 games in preparation for the World Cup has boosted team morale, particularly a 2-0 victory over defending World Cup champion Italy. It was Mexico's first victory over Italy in any match. 8th win in 12 friendly matches prior to SA. Its only two losses were against England and the Netherlands. They never have gotten past the QF as much as I hate to admit it this team could be one of the big surprises in South Africa. Penalty kicks will be their demise. Who will miss the penalty shot? Blanco! I do like Giovani dos Santos to make his.
Cameroon-2010 will be the first to be staged on African soil and to date no African side has reached the semi final stage, but history has proved that home advantage always plays a part in World Cup. Six of the seven world champions have won on their own turf. The 2010 hosts are the lowest ranked hosts of a World Cup in history currently ranked 88th in FIFA rankings and they are battling Mexico Uruguay & France for two places. I was pulling for the Ivory Coast but with the broken arm to Drogba against Japan it seems I am going with Cameroon. They reached the quarter finals in 1990 and will have something to prove. If they and Eto can gel as a team the have the speed and skills to wear down any contender. They have plenty of experience with many players plying their trade in the top European leagues, but they will need to make it past the first round where they would be up against a side from Italy, Paraguay & Slovakia the likely opponents. They have the best chance and could easily find themselves in the QF. Home cooking will definitely in the works if they make it to the finals!
Paraguay- finished a respectable third in the South American qualifying round for the and holds an edge over New Zealand which picks up only its second appearance in a cup and Slovakia which enters for the first time as an independent national team. They have the great chance to make it out of their group and then all bets are off. Dark horse, but they could make things interesting this world cup.
Argentina- On paper this Argentina squad is an all star cast, but can they play under Diego’s inept direction. We did not impress during qualifiers and posted a 0-6 loss to Bolivia & barley qualified via a Palermo goal against Peru, but fortunately prior world cups will tell you that qualifying form is a poor indicator of the tournament winner. If Diego can solve the defensive issues (our Achilles) scoring should not be too much of a problem for us. On paper this Argentina squad has goal scorers in Messi (47), Tevez (29), Aguero (20), Milito (30) and Higuian (29). (155 goals this season in total). If Messi can overcome the scrutiny of the argentine media who constantly reminds him of his modest six goals during qualifiers as compared to the staggering numbers while at Barcelona he will translate his success into international glory and cement his legacy with the other greats. He is only 22 so hopefully he will not be the focal point for the team so he can do what he does best making teams pay if they let him out of their sight. Even with Maradona prowling the sidelinesI am picking the motherland to win it all! Nationalism aside! Vamos Argentina!
Good assessment, I really think that an African team will play extremely well, not really sure who, but you mention Cameroon. I wouldn't be surprised to see an African team in the semifinal and even the final.
ReplyDeleteSince my fellow Swedes didn't make it this time, I might just have to adopt an African country to rout for, we'll see what happens.
Keep on keeping on.