The world's most awaited spectacle is less than a month away. The FIFA World Cup 2010. The first World Cup in Africa. Also the World Cup that see's Diego Maradona's return albeit as head coach of Argentina. Also a World Cup that could be remembered, not for Maradona's Hand of God, but the Hand of Henry that helped France qualify. Thirty Two teams have made it to the finals. Some cruised like Holland and Spain, but others like Argentina, France and Portugal had a struggle. Only few of the 32 will believe they can reach the summit, but predicing who exactly it will be is like staring into Pandora's box. But, I, using my immeasurable accuracy, expertise and foresight will do exactly that.
I start with my favorite country - Argentina. They boast (probably not after the qualifying misadventures) of having both Maradona and his heir Lionel Messi.By all means, Messi will be the driving force for his team's chances. The Barcelona winger and World Player of the year will frighten every opposition with his runs and cut ins, as long as he manages to produce the same flair for Argentina as he does for Barcelona. But that has been something Messi has been accused of not doing.Even if Messi is kept quiet, the opposition has a host of other dangerous players to contend with. Sergio Aguero has been sublime in his club, Athletico Madrid's UEFA Europa League victory. Diego Milito, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain have been consistent in scoring for their clubs. Javier Mascherano of Liverpool, who will retain the captaincy, will effectively keep vigil against counters and also act as a launchpad. Inter Milan's Esteban Cambiasso and Benefica's Angel Di Maria, besides Lierpool's Maxi Rodriguez complete the midfield. With Walter Samuel, Marin Demichelis and Nicolas Burdisso manning the defense Argentina look good enough to stride past others on their way to glory.
My second favorites, Holland, the perennial under-performers will have a lot to prove this time with the talent they have. A fleet of vans - der Vaart, der Sar, Persie, Buyten, Bommel, Bronkhorst, will facilitate the shuttles from one round to the next. Holland will have their fingers crossed that Robin van Persie regains full fitness in time to demonstate his vicious left foot strikes at the big stage. He will have support from the Dutch Lightining Arjen Robben, who's been phenomenal for his club Bayern Munchen and Robben's UEFA Champions League final opponent, Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder, who has proven to be one of the most creative players in the world. Manchester City's Nigel de Jong will give cover to the back four of which John Heitinga of Everton, van Bronkhorst and Daniel van Buyten of Bayern Munchen are a part. Liverpools Dirk Kuyt, even if he doesn't start will be a useful substitute as will Klaas Jan Huntelaar. Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar will man the goal post, to achieve the goal of going the distance.
Germany are my next favorite team. The Euro 2008 finalists, though, will be without their captain and classy midfielder Michael Ballack who was injured in Chelsea's FA cup final. It is indeed a very big loss and no one can replace his quality. But they can overcome the loss if the likes of Lucas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Tim Borowski and 2006 golden boot winner Miroslav Klose step up. Mario Gomez and Fritz will also need to up their games. Phillip Lahm, one of the world's best full-backs is capable of producing explicable crosses into the box and supporting the wingers. Per Mertresacker, Metzelder and Jansen will make up the rest of the defense. Taking an overall view, though Germany are a very capable team, they would be just edged out by the likes of Argentina, Spain and the like. Atleast on Paper.
Which reminds me of the team that defeated them in the final -Spain. Probably the flashiest, most exhuberant and attacking team. They have the world's best strikers, the worlds best midfielders and one of the world's best keepers. Valencia's David Villa and Liverpool's 'El Nino' Fernando Torres mere presence together can make any team faint on the pitch. And it doesn't stop with them. A look at the names in the mid is enough to spell danger - Francesc Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Silva would be the ones in the starting XI. The ones that may occupy the bench - Xabi Alonso and Jesus Navas dont provide any respite either. Real Madrid and Barcelona players dominate the back with both Iker Casillas and Victor valdes chosen for goalkeeper, though Casillas is the obvious first choice. The defense comprises of carlos Puyol, Sergio Ramos, Joan capdevila of Villareal and Carlos Marchena of Valencia. Barcelona's Gerald Pique and Real Madrid's Arbeloa and Raul Albiol will be used as substitutes. Probably the team to beat. Anything short of the podium will be a major disappointment.
Winners of 2002 Brazil may have won the appetiser of the World Cup, the Conferderations cup, but here they have bigger challenges. But their team is more than capable of handling it. Ricardo Kaka, their biggest name will have to leave aside his Real Madrid form and return to his AC Milan form for Brazil to derive anything. Forwards Luis Adriano and Luis Fabiano will provide power in the box while the foot magic from Manchester City's Robinho will provide plenty for the viewers to feast their eyes on. Elano and Felipe Melo of Juventus will do the work in the center of the park and Elano's long range ability can also prove to be handy. In Daniel Alves and Maicon, Brazil have both of the world's best right-backs, and will have a real problem of plenty in chosing between the two. With Maicon's Inter Milan team mate Lucio and Luisao also there in the defense, Brazil have the firepower and also will provide some Samba sensation for the spectators to dance to.
Reigning Champions Italy, will probably not be the same ths time around. More of an ageing team they will look to win with their discipline, experience and wit rather than flair. They boast of a host of veterans, Fabio Cannavaro, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo to name the least. AC Milan's Borriello will try to make the starting XI. Di Natale, Quagliarella, Simone Perotta and Iaquinta will compete with Borriello to make up the attack. Andrea Pirlo will look to live to his tag of being the ever reliable goal creator and can be very dangerous with the spot kicks. Daniel De Rossi and Guisseppe Rossi will join him. Guisseppe was Italy's best player in The Confed cup. But Italy probably do have perhaps the strongest defense on paper. With Gianluigi Buffon covering the goalpost as well, the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, who's been off shade for Juventus, Chiellini, Materazzi, Panucci and Bonera will be extremely hard to go through. The services of injured Fabio Grosso, the celebrated hero of 2006, will be sorely missed. Italy would seem to many an eye as out of contention, but they can play the waiting game to perfection and catch the opposition and viewers unaware. Beware!
Now moving to probably the most talked about team, England. You name it, they have it - Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Theo Walcott, Ashley Cole, Theo Walcott, Offense, Defense, everything. Wayne Rooney is the sure striker. Who will support him has nver been sure - Emile Heskey or Jermaine Defoe or Carlton Cole. Steven Gerrard and Lampard are definites in the midfeild leaving others to chance between Gareth Barry, David Beckham ( of course, how did i forget him?), Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott and Joe Cole. The substitute becnch is likely to be occupied by stewart Downing and James Milner. The defense is more set with Ashley Cole, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Glen Johnson set to start with Michael Upson, Ledley King and the lot waiting for a short appearance. The only big '?' is about who will keep?. Many favour Pompey david James, others favor Hammer Robert Green while Birmingham's Joe Hart has just been phenomenal. But England have always looked the team to beat. But they've, atleast recently done otherwise. Hopefully coach Fabio Capello can make up for their Euro2008 disgrace.
France are the next big team to watch for. But for them there's no Thierry Henry to lend a helping 'Hand'. But they still have plnty to choose from- Nicolas Anelka, Karim Benzema and Gomis in attack. Frank Ribery, the red hot Bayern Munich winger and Chelsea's Florent Malouda will do the supporing roles. Sidney Govou is also an option. Samir Nasri is sure to start too with Gourcoff and Toulalan competing for the remaining spot. The defense will be manned by either Eric Abidal and Bacary Sagna or Sagna and his Arsenal teammate Gael Clichy, with another Arsenal teammate being the shot-stopper. France have to recover from their disappointment of Euro 2008, and coach Raymond Domenech has to for once forget astrology and think football.
One of the teams i really dislike is Portugal and i thank god for putting them in the toughest group competing with Brazil and Cote de Ivoire. Portugal will depend much on Cristiano Ronaldo, the player i hate the most, and his skill, tricks and diving too, will be a handful for the opposition to manage. Anderson Deco has not been too infuential for his club Chelsea, and so have his clubmates and Portugal's fullback Jose Bosingwa who has been injured through the season. Centerback (also Chelsea) Ricardo Carvalho has also been nursing injuries and has been in and out. Pairing fullback Paolo Ferreira (also Chelsea!!!!) and Real Madrid centerback Pepe complete the back 4. Manchester United's Nani who will be Ronalso's opposite winger has been in sublime touch. Simao Sabrosa of Athletico Madrid and Ricardo Quaresma will also contednd for places in the starting XI. Hugo Almeida and Nuno Gomes will be the stiking pack, and though Portugal cannot wish for another Luis Figo, they will be hopeful of a good show with a good bench strength comprising the likes of Joao Moutinho, Raul Mereiles and Bruno Alves.
Portugal's group Rivals Cote de Ivoire (Ivory Coast) look by a mile the strongest African team. A lot rests on English League top-scorer, Chelsea's Didier Drogba's shoulders. He has establishe himself as one of the most feared stikers and has the ability to barge into any fortress and can also impress with venomous long range efforts. The Toure brothers - Manchester City's Kolo and Barcelona's Yaya, are the next most recognised players in the team. Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue, Chelsea's Salomon Kalou are Drogba's main feeders. Barcelona's Seydou Keita, Sevilla's Didier Zokora and Pompey Aruna Dindane are other players to have an eye on.
The above ten are the teams with the biggest chances of going the full mile. The rest of the pack will be happy with QF berth. Hosts South Africa will look towards striker Benny McCarthy from Blackburn, Steven Pienaar from Everton and Ben Parker for goals. Modise i another player who will look to impress. Australia will rely heavily on Tim Cahill for his aerial tenacity, heading and penalty box deliveries. Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer and former Liverpool striker Harry Kewell are the other noteworthy players. Gary O'Brien is the cheif man in defense. Cameroon have Inter Milan's Samuel Eto'o as their star player while the Tottenham defenders, Sebastien Bassong and Assou-Ekkoto and Arsenal's holding mid Alex Song are key players, as is Makoun of Lyon. Michael Essien will look to be in full fitness and form at South Africa representing his country Ghana. Mohammed Zidan will lead the pack for African Cup of Nations winners Egypt. He was impressive in the Confederations cup as well. Egypt have been known to play very well within their limits and as such can provide some upsetting results. So watch out for them a little more than the rest of the lesser teams. Mexico can show Arsenal's Carlos Vela as their star player. They will provide some free flowing football but dont expect them to acheive much. The USA though have a better chance than the rest of the side-runners. Everton players Landon Donovan, and keeper Tim Howard will bring in all their experience. Midfielder Clint Dempsey of Fulham had a good season too. Jose Altidore of Hull City too will be hopeful of making the cut. Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz and Athletico Madrid's Diego Forlan are star players for Paraguay and Uruguay respectively. Serbia have a bunch of useful players from Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and rocket launcher Dejan Stankovic of Inter Milan and Nikola Zigic up font. Other countries like South Korea with Manchester United's Park ji Sung, Japan with Celtic's Nakamura, Nigeria with Chelsea's John Obi Mikel, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Chile, Denmark, Greece, Algeria, Honduras and North Korea are too lightweight to compete with the big boys and are unlikely to make any impact.
So there it is. With all my mastery over the game i've given a good comprehensive guide for all you beginners so that you may spend more time paying attention to the game than scratching your heads during the World Cup. Now, lets go get Jabulani. (in case you dont know what that is, it is the name of this World Cup's ball)
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