Is the football World cup bigger then the Olympics? One could probably fill up a library With the response to that question without coming anywhere near a definitive answer. Some world argue that the Olympics give the minnows a chance to compete with the big boys, to be held in the same esteem as them and to maybe (and it’s a really bigmaybe) prize a medal away from the better funded and coached countries. The football World Cup offers UP the same chances, but a minnow will probably never take the ultimate prize, there may be an upset or two along the way, but nothing more then that.
Why then does the tournament generate such global attention? Why do nations Came to a collective halt When their teams are playing? And why every four years.Football truly is the beautiful game in 90 minutes it generates more emotion than many will feel in a lifetime, it inspires hope and extinguishes dreams. Most importantly its beauty is in its simplicity, twenty two players, two goalposts and one ball.
This year the show shifts to South Africa for the first time as football’s marquee tournament belatedly makes its African entry. While many had claimed that Africa was not ready to hold such a challenging tournament they seemed to have been proven wrong. There were some delays along the way, online ticketing problems persist to this day and security seems to be on everyone’s mind but in the end Africa is ready and the world awaits.
When it boils down to the football, this World cup will probably be like so many of the past. The traditionally strong teams of Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany and Italy all stand a decent chance of adding to their trophies. But realistically those chances are not too good for the latter Three, with major players out for England and Germany along with an important and ageing Italy team, they look good to chase for the title, but one doubts if they will go the whole way. Their strength is in their wisdom, they know what it takes to win even when they are not the best team and their respective World Cup pedigrees should take them into the quarter finals relatively easily.
Argentina and Brazil on the other hand both go into the tournament quietly confident of their chances. Argentina are in the unique position of having the world’s best ever coaching the team, But that is not a recipe for success, with a way ward Maradona coaching the team, he may prove to be more of a distraction than an asset. Maradona aside, Argentina bring a bag full of attacking options with them to the tournament but with all eyes on messi and probably more then two men marking him par game, it could help create a void that Higuain, Tevez or enen Aguero could wxploit to great effect.
Brazil on the other hand go into the tournament with a terrifically pragmatic coach in Dunga and while the team lacks any headlining stars to match Messi, they have a well organized team with a highly under rated yet clinical finisher in Fabiano Who could prove to be the star of the tournament. Interestingly Brazil also bring possibly the best defense with them to the World Cup with Maicon, Lucio and Ceasar in goal. With a stellar defense and an underrated attack they have the drive to go all the way and should at last precede to the semi finals.
Spain along with Brazil are the bookmakers favorites to lift the cup and that too for good reason. They boast a team of outstandingly talented players at the peak of their powers, currently the only problem is their over reliance on Torres, but with more than enough strength in depth that should not be too much of a worry. While this would be blasphemy in Madrid, actually the only real chink in their armour is Casilas.
His goal keeping is no longer what it used to be and guaranteeing him a starting position has made him sloppy. Reina and Valbez are probably better than him and much like cannavaro for Italy he will play because he is the proverbial heartbeat of the team, even though both of team don’t deserve to be in the staring elevens. Spain have long been labeled football’s bridesmaids but after winning their first major trophy two years ago at the European championships, a win at the World Cup would be the prefect honeymoon.
This year probably will not be the year of the dark horses mainly because two come from the same group as Brazil and well the other just can’t seem to get it together in the World Cup.
Holland suffered soul crushing defeats in the final of the 1974 and 1978 World Cup and have never been able to lift them-selves to those heights again.
This year they romped to the finals winning all their qualifying games, yet still on one really tips them to do much at the World Cup. With possibly the second best midfield in the world (after Spain) they should be force to be reckoned with, but one feels they may choke yet again. Only time will tell.
The other two dark horses are Portugal and Ivory Coast. Unfortunately they have been drawn together along with Brazil and North Korea in what is obviously the group ao death, with only two teams advancing to the second round.
With Ivory Coast’s charismatic captain and star striker breaking his elbow aheab of the tournament the odds have shifted in Portugal’s favour, But for them to make best use of their underdog status they will have to learn to play with Ronaldo rather then around him. If that does materialize then they could push the big names hard and jostle for a place in latter half of the tournament.
A month of the World Cup should help cure and keep it away for at least another four years. The only definitive diagnosis will come after the final whistle, See you then.
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