World Cup 2010 - World At Their Feet Part II

The Ball

The most important thing at the 19th World Cup soccer tournament held for the first time on African soil is the ball. At every World Cup held once every four year, a new ball is usually unveil and players would fret about them especially the goalkeepers because although the ball will be within specification, some slight changes in characteristics like feel, weight, bounce and even the wicked swerve imparted from side spin can cause anguish and pain to one party and delight and joy for another.

Scientists have been develping the 2010 World Cup ball since the end of the last one in 2006. They envisioned a ball that does not absorb energy, that has accuracy in flight, that applied all of the kicking force applied to the ball, has soft feel, is safe for the head - in short the optimum soccer ball but it must adhere to strict specification of the USGA. Er no, I mean FIFA. Hey, I wasn't talking about a golf ball. The name of the FIFA World Cup 2010 soccer ball is named "Jabulani". Jabulani means to celebrate in African language. 

This ball will be the keepers' dream as it was built for consistent flight and a superb surface for grip. Oblivious to the naked eye, it will be the roundest soccer ball ever made. This ball has eleven colours and will be the eleventh adidas World Cup ball. The eleven colours will represent 11 players in each team and also the 11 South African communities that speaks 11 official languages. There are four triangular-shaped design elements on a completely white background to lend ethnicity and culture of the African spirit. From first tests, many players around the world are enthusiatic and have promsied many goals for this engineering feat. I offer you bigger than life one to marvel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbLjk4OTRdI

Mark your calendar, 11 June to 11 July 2010.



The Climate

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be played at altitude and it will be a winter World Cup. Stadium capacity will be in the region of 75,000 to 95,000. The only team with advantage going there is Mexico as Mexico City and Guadalajara is at 7,400 feet and 5,000 feet respectively. The rest will have to acclimatise. Adidas made a study that shows free kick from 20 yards in Johannesburg will reach goal 5% faster that at sea level meaning average speed of 78 mph at higher altitude to 74 mph at sea level.

Continued From Previous Article...

In my previous article, I have selected the following teams to qualify not necessary based on ability, for example, South Africa and South Korea. I gave them the votes for sentimental reasons like Korea is Asia while South Africa would have done so much just to be host and it's just not fun to be dumped early on. The recapitulation is as follows:

Group A - France, South Africa
Group B - Argentina, South Korea
Group C - England, USA
Group D - Germany, Ghana
Group E - Netherlands, Denmark
Group F - Italy, Paraguay
Group G - - Brazil, Ivory Coast
Group H - Spain, Chile
For those who missed the earlier article, please see:
http://gforce-guru.blogspot.com/2010/04/world-cup-2010-world-at-their-feet.html

On this assumption, the line-up ties for the last sixteen would be:

Last 16


France v South Korea, England v Ghana, Germany v USA, Argentina v South Africa, Netherlands v Paraguay, Brazil v Chile, Italy v Denmark, Spain v Ivory Coast. I think of some of the food in each country. Mmmm....

France v South Korea. Foie gras v Kimchi. One sinfully good and the other fiery. Koreans are true warriors and for whatever they lack, they make up for with guts and physical application and such grit can see them give anyone a good fight be it soccer or golf. South Korea is Asia's best team. Captain Park Ji Sung who plalys for Manchester United will play a key role. Park Chu-Young who plays for French club Monaco will lead the front line. Will it be Deja Vu 2002 where they beat powerhouses Portugal, Italy and Spain to reach the last four? Why not? 


The French are as delicate as their food. They have not been that impressive as suggested on paper but their goalie Hugo Lloris who plays for Lyon (or Olympique Lyonnais) has been in impressive form and is slated for bigger things. They have an exciting forward line led by Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka, captain Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema. Their best defender is Philippe Mexes who plays in Italy for AS Roma foolwed by Arsenal's William Gallas. France 2 South Korea 1. Park Ji Sung to score one.

England v Ghana. Fish and Chips v Okra. The first thing that comes to mind is England is overated. Many people tell me that but then they will go and put a wager on England anyhow. They will bet for England to win but England will draw or loose and then they start betting that England will loose and England wins. But today England has Fabio Capello or Don Fabio, he who is of steely eyes and knows what he wants to do. He won Serie A title witj 3 different clubs - AC Milan, As Roma and Juventus. Then he won 2 La Liga titles with Real Madrid. His emphasis is on team spirit and work ethics. The English are the only players who plays through winter in their domestic league (EPL) so winter conditions in S.A. should suit them very well. 


It is also a good sign that all Enlgish teams are out of the UEFA Championship so they have more chances to escape injury, to recover from the energy sapping league season and more time together. Gerard and Lampard while shining for Liverpool and Chelsea previously never shone at the WC but this year they seemed to be reserving themselves for the WC for their conservative showing inthe EPL. England scored 34 goals during qualification. Rooney is an extremely important player for them. England was powered by him till he got injured in his first Euro tourney. Ghana was the only African side the got out of group stage in Germany 2006. Their key strength is in midfield with Stephen Appiah, Muntari and Michael Essien (Chelsea). England 2 Ghana 0.


Germany v USA. Bratwurst v Hamburger. Actually Germany's favourite food is the fast food Doner Kebab. The Germans build their soccer teams like thier automobiles. They have the methods to perform to win. Michael Ballack is getting on in age. Philipp Lahm is a good defender while Bastian Schwwinsteiger is an able midfielder. In Luksa Poldolski and Miroslav Klose they have strikers who seem to do well at World Cups. 


They are not in form but never write off the Germans. You saw how Bayern Munich overturned Manchester United in the UEFA. The most famous player in the USA is Barack Obama. He is fitter and in better shape than the economy. Their leading player is Landon Donovan, Clinton Dempsey (Fulham) and Tim Howard (Everton). This is the US's 6th consecutive appearance. Do not forget they were the only team in the world to beat Spain 2-0 ending their 35 game unbeaten run. What if Uncle Sam bring the Deutschmark down? Germany 3 USA 2.

Argentina v South Africa. Parrillada v Biltong. Two words - "Lionel Messi." enough said. They nearly missed the boat. Maradona was a great player but a poorer coach. Liverpool's Javier Mascherano is captain. Old man Juan Sebastian Veron who failed at Man Utd is still around. Man City's Carlos Tevez is in form. Two young guns Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid and Sergio Aguero are waiting in the wings. 


We need the Tango. For Messi alone it is worth the ticket and the wait but Messi hardly starred for Argentina even as he is out of this world with Barcelona. I suspect Maradona may have stifled him with his team strategy so that he remains dearer to the fans than Messi. South Africa's Steve Pienaar of Everton is their price asset together with their most famous striker Benni McCarthi. Their greatest strength are the home ground advantage as host and Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Pereira World Cup winning captain of 1970 and also as coach. Argentina 2 South Africa 0.

Netherlands v Paraguay. The Dutch are not well know for food and has a reputation for stodgy fare. They are potato and pea eaters but fed on herring so maybe they have lots of protein and Omega fatty acids running their total football. Herring v Mandioca. The Dutch won 8 out of 8 in qualifying. Their key men are Arje Robben (Bayern Munich), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal). Others are Wesly Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Klaas Jan Huntelaar. Paraguay will think big as it was their best ever qualification. They were 3rd behind Brazil and Chile. Salvador Cabanas is ruled out as he has been recuperating from being shot in the head but they still have Roque Santa Cruz (Man City), Oscar Cordozo and Nelson Valdez but the Dutch will have too much power. Netherlands 3 Paraguay 1.

Brazil v Chile. Ambrosia v Humitas. Five stars on their crest. Even without fatso buck toothed Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, Brazil well is simply Brazil. Julio Cesar is probably one of their best goalie ever but when talking Brazil normally the goalie is forgotten. Their key guy is obviously Kaka. The top scorer is Luis Fabiano. Brazil had already beaten Chile 4-2 at home and 3-0 away. Brazil 3 Chile 1.

Italy v Denmark. Pasta v Frikadeller. The defending champions have one of the finest goalie in the world in Gianluigi Buffon. Old man captain Fabio Cannavaro was a star in the last World Cup. Midfield is commanded by hard man Genarro Gattuso with the other being Andreas Pirlo the lay-maker. Top scorer is Alberto Gilardino. Coach Marcello Lippi is an expert tactics and making timely changes. Italy has tradition on their side and few teams are superior to them. Denmark is small but soccer crazy like Singapore, so I always like them. They did better than Portugal and Sweden during qualification. Captain Tomasson currently plays in thre Dutch League. They have others of note - Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal). Close call. Italy 2 Denmark 1.

Spain v Ivory Coast. Paella v Mafe. Spain are Euro Champs. They qualified by winning all games on offer. Barcelona are their UEFA Champs. They are the only team rate number one in FIFA rankings without having won the World Cup. They are at their peak unbeaten for 35 games until along came Uncle Sam. They are the team to beat on paper. They have 2 top hitman in David Villa and Fernando Torres and clever and gifted midfielders in Iniesta, Xavi and Fabregas. Ivory Coast is probably the strongest African contender. Chelsea's Didier Drogba, Barcelona's Yaya Toure, mac City's Kolo Toure, Arsenal's Eboue. They have a good defence too any may surprise. Spain 2 Ivory Coast 1.

Quarter-Finals

Netherlands v Brazil, France v England, Argentina v Germany, Italy v Spain.

Semi-Finals


England v Brazil, Argentina v Spain.


Final

Brazil v Spain.

Watch this space. I shall continue with the quarter-finals next, then the semis and the Final. I will also give an update with some history up to the current teams as well ad individual players. This way I can help to provide you some entertainment even if the telcos can't get the acts right. Why oh why do they take our hard-earned money to increased the coffers on EPL players, the World Cup or Tiger Woods? Stock up your coffee now so you don't have to join a long queue later for coffee, TV, whatever. Incidentally, my team has just been crowned Champions! as you can see below.

Be of good cheer.