World Cup Preview
June 10th 2010 23:23
Every 4 years, I get real excited about following soccer for a month, and that time is now. The World Cup is not just for soccer fans, its for citizens who love a chance to root for their country in competition against others. There's something about international sports competition that galvanizes people to watch and take interests in things they normally couldn't care less about. I'm talking, of course, about competitions like Olympic swimming, gymnastics, figure skating, track & field, and women's softball.
For the average American watching the World Cup, its very unusual to enter into a crazed fanaticism for something that America doesn't lead in. For the rest of the world, the World Cup is less monumental because of the constant craze and appetite for soccer. Americans, who are less avid about the world's game, hype the World Cup much more than everyone else does, because of events that are considered much more important, like the UEFA Champion's League, Euro Cup, and each nation's respective league.
Let's get to the group by group breakdowns of a fairweather, bandwagon, uniformed soccer fan. Ready?
(I won't be offended if you decide that reading the rest of this would be an epic waste of your time.)
GROUP A
Projected Finish
1. France
FIFA's 9th ranked team is hungry after losing the 2006 World Cup Championship to Italy in PKs. Gone from that team is the controversial Zidane, who was the leader and icon of the French national team for the preceding decade. This team is left in the capable hands of striker Thierry Henry, midfielder Franck Ribery, and defender William Gallas. France needs to bring their best game in the group stage because this draw is no easy one. One loss could keep them from advancing with the strong teams from Mexico and Uruguay.
2. Mexico
After a frustrating draw in the Round of 16 in Germany against Argentina, Mexico is looking to advance into the late rounds to show its true strength. Aside from stars Giovani dos Santos, Carlos Vela, and Rafael Marquez, many of these guys play on clubs in Mexico or America, so the element of the unknown could be in play. This team must beat Uruguay or France if it hopes to advance to the Knockout stage.
3. Uruguay
This team enters the World Cup at 16 in FIFA's rankings, but did not qualify in 2006. Inexperience could be a factor, and there is no time to adjust to the intensity of the game when your opening games are against France, Mexico, and the South African hosts.
4. South Africa
The hosts are the unquestioned weakest team in this tournament and probably robbed a much stronger team from qualifying. This team is crucial to a nation like South Africa for unity and national pride. Because of everything that has gone down in the last 20 years and how far the nation has come, the home field advantage could be historically strong. Playing behind a raucous crowd, I would not be shocked if the team pulled a major upset in the group stage to spoil someone's trip.
GROUP B
1. Argentina
Lionel Messi, arguably the world's best player, leads one of the major contenders through a group that shouldn't give the team too much trouble. This squad is loaded with young guns like Messi, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain, and experience. Argentina's chances to win the Cup are as good as anyone.
2. Greece
The Greeks have the look of somebody who doesn't belong at the party. After drawing a weak qualifying pot, Greece barely advanced past the likes of Latvia, Israel, Luxembourg, and Moldova. When tested in qualifying, Greece lost twice to winner Switzerland. The team does have talent in forwards Theofanis Gekas and Angelos Charisteas who will propel them into the Round of 16.
3. South Korea
This team owns Asia, having qualified for its seventh straight World Cup out of the region's qualifying stage. The technical skill of this team has helped them achieve surprising success against more talented teams, like Portugal, Italy, and Spain in the 2002 Cup, and a draw with France in 2006. Ranked only 47th in FIFA, the South Koreans won't out-athletic anyone, but might out-discipline their way past the group stage.
4. Nigeria
The Super Eagles have a shallow history in the World Cup, never finishing better than 9th. It's hard to tell how good this team is in spite of its 21st FIFA rank, because they went undefeated in qualifying against a ho-hum continent and never faced Cameroon or Egypt. This team may be more talented than Greece and South Korea are, but Greece may be better equipped and experienced for this setting.
GROUP C
1. England
This team is poised to win its first World Cup since 1966. Given the expectations that surround this team every World Cup, the slew of 6th-8th place finishes is cause for depression.
Wayne Rooney leads an English squad with expectations high
2. United States
I've said it before: this team thrives when the expectations deflate. Entering 2006 Germany, this team was soaring with swagger and a FIFA ranking of 5th. To everyone's shock and horror, the Americans were eliminated in the group stage.
The U.S. hopes rest largely on Jozy Altidore's tender ankle
3. Slovenia
4. Algeria
GROUP D
1. Germany
The Germans are a traditional power with the arguable most decorated World Cup history. Three Cups, four times runners-up, quarterfinals or better in 14 straight tournaments. There might be no team with better chemistry than these guys, with 8 players from the the club team Bayern Munich, three from Werder Bremen, and three from Stuttgart. The fact that the players know each other's tendencies will be an advantageous factor. Noticeably absent is the legendary Michael Ballack, who was left off the roster because of an ankle injury. The 33 year old's leadership is unquestioned, but the German roster is more than talented enough to withstand the loss and still win.
2. Serbia
Serbia is back after a disappointing last place finish in the 2006 Cup, Serbia went 7-1-2 in qualifying, winning a pot that included France. If nothing else, this team has proven that it can play with the powers, having drawn France in that qualifying stage.
3. Australia
The "Socceroos" are playing in just their third World Cup, having entered their best soccer stretch in national team history. The advancement to the Round of 16 was a huge confidence booster for this team, and they were competitive every step of the way in the 2006 tournament. A 1-0 loss to Brazil is all that kept this team from being the headline story for the entire event. Opposite the Germans, a splintered roster of players from all over the club soccer world keeps this team from experiencing familiarity. The second advancer from this group may come down to the match between Serbia and Australia.
4. Ghana
Ghana looks to build on its impressive showing in the 2006 Group of Death, in which it made the Round of 16. Not an established soccer power in Africa, Ghana would love to break into that conversation with Egypt, Cameroon, and the Ivory Coast. It is possible that Ghana could advance past Serbia and Australia, because Group D seems very muddled after the titan Germany.
GROUP E
1. Netherlands
I love the alternate solid Orange kit that the Dutch sport. My favorite jerseys in the world, and one of the main reasons why the Netherlands was my team of choice to play with in EA Sports FIFA World Cup 2006. This team has lost twice in the Final, but has a surprisingly short World Cup history behind it. Names like van Bommel, van Persie, and Robben give this team a great chance to advance far into the tournament. The best Round of 16 game in 2006 was this team vs. Portugal, which was a tough luck match up for the Dutch. They're out for blood this time.
2. Cameroon
"The Indomitable Lions" haven't advanced through the group stage since a quarterfinal finish 20 years ago in Italy. Supremacy in Africa is on the line for this team as it fights to stay on top. Advancing through this stage should be no problem.
3. Denmark
4. Japan
GROUP F
1. Italy
One of the world's best teams leads the Cup's worst group into competition. The 2006 Champion may not have to flip the switch until the Round of 16 with the way this group shapes up. This team's defense is its defining characteristic, having allowed just two goals in 2006. Names like Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Pirlo, and Camoronesi return from the 2006 team to occupy the back and midfield, leaving the Italians in a great spot for the Knockout round.
2. Paraguay
Not a lot to expect from this team, but it did have a great qualifying, beating Argentina, Peru, Brazil, and Uruguay en route to third place in South America. That indicates to me that either (a) those teams were taking it easy in qualifying, or (b) Paraguay has some legit upset potential.
3. Slovakia
4. New Zealand
GROUP G
1. Brazil
The world's best team leads the Cup's most competitive group, where one team that is skilled enough to make the top 16 will not make it. Brazil will not be that team. With a record 5 World Cup titles, Brazil's success is deep and unprecedented in this tournament. Expect them to play into the second week of July somewhere past the semifinals.
2. Portugal
I almost put Portugal to win this group over Brazil. They'll both beat the other two teams, so it really comes down to their head-to-head match,
3. Ivory Coast
This team got a tough luck draw with two of the 3 best teams in the world.
Amazingly, Drogba might play in Ivory Coast's opener
4. North Korea
Making its 2nd qualification ever, the North Korean team faces a daunting task. As the lowest ranked team at 105, this team has little chance of challenging any of the three great teams in the group.
GROUP H
1. Spain
I was wrong. This is the best group in the tournament, with no team ranked worse than 38th. Spain is the prohibitive favorite to win the group and quite possibly the entire tournament. The Round of 16 loss to France was just one more in a frustrating sequence of eliminations in Spain's quest for that first World Cup title. The team has qualified for the Cup 8 straight times and has moved into the quarterfinal another handful of times, but never into the title game. The Spanish are in the midst of a mindnumbing streak of success: since winning a friendly against England in February 2007, the national team has lost one time in 47 matches. This streak encompasses wins against several of the world's top 10 teams in 2-0 or 3-0 fashion. When we talk about dominance in sport, this is the kind of streak that we're talking about. This team has it flowing like no national team ever has before, and many think that it will carry on through to Spain's first World Cup title. The one loss during that streak? To the United States in 2009's Confederation's Cup. Possible foreshadowing? Probably not.
2. Chile
One of the premier South American teams draws a very competitive group after a good qualifying session. If Chile can survive the group stage, I'm considering them a primary darkhorse to steal the show in Knockout. This team doesn't lose to inferior teams, and knows how to put teams away when ahead. The roster is one of the freshest and youngest in the tournament, which is high risk/high reward in my opinion. However, all bets are off in the World Cup with the experience argument, because of how delicate every run, every foul, and every corner is. One bounce can make or break a team's chances to advance. Essentially, every team is high risk in that kind of setting, so I'll take the young and explosive roster over other teams who have more experience.
3. Switzerland
The only team is 2006 to not allow a regulation goal, the Swiss are back to make their mark on the Round of 16. Another young roster bodes well in a tourney full of grizzled vets. A more informed soccer fan could tell you the differences between Chile and this team and who has a better chance to advance, but I can't. My qualifier is that any of the bottom 3 teams in this draw could take the 2nd spot and belong in the Round of 16.
4. Honduras
This is one of the 3 best teams in the CONCACAF region making its 2nd World Cup appearance. Let's put it this way, when Honduras is the 4th best team in your group, your group is stacked. This team could finish second in many of the other groups, and could conceivably do so here. It will be an uphill battle for Los Catrachos, but I won't be surprised if they move on.
The group stage has a lot of promise and will be riveting to watch. As we advance into the later stages, I'll come back with a little bigger body of soccer knowledge and reset the stage. Enjoy the futbol!
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