World Cup 2010 - The World At Their Feet III

If the 2010 World Cup were to be like these, how would they work out? There are five teams that could win this World Cup and they will all still be here - Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, Spain and England. Top players to watch in this World Cup - Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Wayne Rooney.

Quarter-Finals - Netherlands v Brazil, France v England, Argentina v Germany, Italy v Spain.

Netherlands v Brazil

Rinus Michels was the man responsible for "totaalvoetbal' or total football made famous by the Flying Dutchman of the Johan Cruyff led 1974 World Cup. They were said to be the strongest team ever not to win it together with the Mighty Magyars of Ference Puskas led Hungary in 1954. Their greatest moment was when they won the European crown in 1988 with stars like Marco van Basten (to me one of the greatest strikers ever), Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. In 1974, the Dutch led only after two minutes when Neeskens converted a penalty. Before that, not a single German player had touch the ball. The next closest was in 1978 when at 1-1 against Argentina., Robbie Resenbrink hit the post in the last minute but they eventually lost to the Argentines. Arjen Robben has been in superb form for Bayern Munich all season and could be their best player. The Dutch made qualification easy winning all their matches.

Brazil needs no introduction. They have always been one of the most exciting team to watch with their brand of soccer and a five time winner. Dunga's man didn't start well in qualification but ended top of the standings with 9 wins, 7 draws and 2 defeats. Yes there have been defeated twice and held 7 times. It was only from April 2009 that they went on 5 wins in a row streak humbling Uruguay 4-0 in Montevideo and defeating arch-rival Argentina 3-1 in Rosario. Brazil's defence is miserly partly because they are such a good team. 


They give their opponents little time and space and wins the ball back quickly when they loose it and as a result their defensive line is further up field than most for this quality. It is well led by Lucio and has a good goalie in Julio Cesar. They will look to Kaka for inspiration and Fabiano for goals and in manager Dunga they have a former World Cup winning captain (USA 1994). Watch out for AC Milan's young Alexandre Pato too. He could be a future great and can be a handful. Ronaldinho has been partying too much, put on some weight but is a pure magician without comparison when fit. Brazil is the only country to have participated in every edition. In all their 92 WC games, they have won 64, drawn 14 and lost 14 games.

For a game of this magnitude being Holland and Brazil, I may not feel as excited as their previous teams which were brimming with so much talent they could spill over. At this level it will be a tight game which either team could ace but Brazil being Brazil should just have the very slight edge. If they meet, I think Brazil will win 2-1.

France v England

Everyone knows how much the French and English love one another. There will be no love lost here. France became a leading world soccer nation from the late 90s. They finally lifted the trophy in 1998 with fine players in Fabian Barthez, Didier Deschamps, Laurent Blanc and World Best Player Zinedine Zidane. Before this, they had a fine team featuring Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez that went to the semis of 1982 and 1986. Then in the last finals, they came close but lost to Italy on penalties. They din't have a good qualification and during the play off needed the hand of Thierry Henry to beat Ireland. Franck Ribery is their biggest star now and Henry is captain. 


There is an emergence of a player called Yoann Gourcuff. Nicolas Anelka seemed to have been rejuvenated at Chelsea and Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) has an exciting future and in Hugo Lloris, a fine goalie in top form. What I missed most about France is the sight of the lanky Laurent Blanc kissing the bald head of Fabian Barthez just before kick off. However, the recent sex scandal involving a few players seems to give the French a slight edge with names of Ribery, Benzema and Govou mentioned so its 3-2 to France ("Ingeland" that's how England is shown at the World Cup has 2 - Terry and A. Cole) if it's a sex scandal world cup.

England finished qualification with 34 goals, top scorers in European zone with Rooney hitting nine goals. Don Fabio Capello gave them focus and discipline. Bobby Robson's side was the best in 1990 with players like Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne, David Platt and Chris Waddle reached the last four but defeated by eventual winner Germany through penalties. Their weak link is at goal. David James and Robert Green who featured most are playing at bottom clubs which is not good for their confidence. A better prospect would be Joe Hart who may be seen as lacking experience but he has big match temperament and was good at U-21 level. On paper, the Enlgish defence is sound with capable attacking full backs in Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole. 


They have a great leader in John Terry and a stylish Rio Ferdinand who is very comfortable on the ball but they can get caught flat or slow. Both Terry and Ferdinand can be dangerous at set pieces. Gareth Barry gives them anchor at midfield while Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard if they play to the form at club level will be important. Both were outstanding even at the highest level in UEFA games and this will be their last chance to show it. England can add speed and variety through the wings if the likes of Shaun Wright Philips, Aaron Lennon, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott were to play. Peter Crouch is a good target man but they must not be pumping balls to him. He scores frequently for England. Jermaine Defoe is impish and very quick while Wayne Rooney is undoubtedly the star. If they harbour any hope, the team must click.

France's weakness is coach Raymond Domenech and the French team does not seem motivated. All things being equal, it seems England has a better coach and a more motivated team. 3-1 to England not because England are too good but France has been poor. They have lost to Austria 3-1 in qualification so why not England?

Argentina v Germany

In a friendly recently, Argentina won 1-0 comfortably.

A German scientist has calculated that Germany will win this year's edition and he also predicted Germany would win the last World Cup. His calculation is based on an average finishing place of 3.7 so they would win every fourth or fifth World Cup. But hey this guy is German but then Gary Lineker said that at the end Germany always wins. He can predict Germany to win everytime and I think every fourth or fifth time he will be right. Not this time because science cannot counter act of God like Messi. 


The Germans are Germans and true to their Teutonic qualities can never be discounted. Besides, Jose Mourinho has shown how it can be done. Against teams of superior skills, excellent technical abilities and who keep the ball so well like Brazil, Spain and Argentina, Mourinho knew how to disrupt them. Germany can take a leave from there. Bayern Munich is also back in contention in UEFA. Not necessarily a foregone conclusion here. Mourinho"s Inter over two legs stifled and shocked Barcelona and even as Inter lost 0-1 at the Nou Camp after taking a 3-1 lead and down to 10 men, they had an octopus grip to prevent Barca from playing. For that Mourinho is a master. Don't forget he was once a translator for Bobby Robson at Barcelona and he's one great soccer translator now. However, I do not like his styel, it prevents the other team from playing but can usually get results. Attack is the best form of defence or defence is the best form of attack?

No doubt Messi can operate at the highest level, he is but only 22 and is entitled to an off day every now and then and I do not agree with all the journalist out there who said the Messi must lift the World Cup to be considered the best. The reason is simple but may not be obvious to all that the best football out there are dished out at club levels because players are beholden to their clubs who pay the super wages and they eat, sweat, sh*t and sleep together daily whereas an international team gathers for a short time to prepare a game every once in a while and for the World Cup for a couple of months. So with due respect to Germany, I'll stick my neck out for Messi to Tango. Argentina 1 Germany 0.

Italy v Spain

The Italians are defending World Champions. Spain are the reigning European Champions. The Italians were good 4 years ago while Spain's form was more recent in just 2 years ago. The good news for the Italians was that Inter Milan had beaten Barcelona 3-1 shocking everyone. The Italians has World Cup tradition on their side and their game has always been result-oriented. They could defend well, mostly. 

When it comes to possession play, no team in the world is better at keeping the ball than Brazil and Spain. If Spain could dictate play early and set the tempo they win. If Italy could frustrate the Spanish long enough and give a sucker punch of a goal then close up the game, Spain could be in trouble. Like England, Spain has always been over-rated. Starting well in qualification and group stages then crumbling when the big games came along. However, they have overcame that to win Euro. They could be too strong. Spain 2 Italy 0.

That will lead us to the Semi-Finals. It doesn't matter now if they wanted to telecast it live. I have already given you the semis. England v Brazil, Argentina v Spain?

Watch this space.