LIHU‘E — The world’s biggest tournament kicks off today as the 2010 World Cup begins in South Africa. The best 32 soccer teams in the world — or at least many of them — are out to play for their
LIHU‘E — The world’s biggest tournament kicks off today as the 2010 World Cup begins in South Africa.
The best 32 soccer teams in the world — or at least many of them — are out to play for their highly-enthusiastic fans and bring home the most prized international title currently available.
There are interesting subplots that should play themselves out through all eight four-team groups.
Group A: This could be the most wide-open group of the field, as 9th-ranked France has been a disappointment internationally, qualifying for the World Cup on an uncalled hand ball from star player Thierry Henry, eliminating Ireland in the process. France lost a 1-0 friendly to China last week, after a 1-1 draw with Tunisia and a 2-1 win over Costa Rica in May. Host nation South Africa is just 83rd in the FIFA rankings, but will be playing in front of a rabid crowd and in familiar venues. Every host nation has advanced out of the group stage, but it will have to overachieve to continue that streak. Mexico, ranked 17th, is always a tough out and will bring a more skilled unit to its typically physical style. Mexico has been facing the world’s top competition, beating Italy in a friendly last week, but losing to England and the Netherlands in May. Uruguay, ranked 16th, has the ability to play with all the top squads and will keep itself in each match. This team has not played much together as of late, with just a 4-1 win over Israel and a 3-1 win over Switzerland in its only games since November.
Group B: Argentina (7) claims the world’s best player, Lionel Messi, and will be looking to repeat its championship run of 1986 behind Diego Maradona, who is now the team’s coach. Maradona’s effect on this team is still unknown, though he has provided a loose atmosphere throughout its training that the squad will likely be carrying into group play. Truly anything seems like a possibility for Argentina this time around. Greece (13) has maintained a high FIFA ranking since its Euro 2004 championship, but is not a high-powered offensive team. Its most experienced players have all hit age 30, making this a pivotal campaign. Nigeria (21) has a good chance to move on to the elimination round playing on its home continent, always a major factor. Striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has 20 goals in 52 career games and is a member of the Premier League’s Everton, where he has 24 goals since 2007. South Korea (47) continues to gain talent and experience, now with more firepower than past Cups.
Group C: Television executives could not have asked for a better situation than England (8) and the United States (14) finding the same group. England’s Wayne Rooney is a challenger to Messi’s “world’s greatest player” title and will be charging through the American defense, the team’s weakest area. The Americans boast their most talented team ever to go to a World Cup and have seen international success recently, beating Spain 2-0 before falling 3-2 to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final, after holding a 2-0 halftime lead. Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore will be relied upon heavily for goal scoring, while goalie Tim Howard is one of the world’s best. Slovenia (25) beat a strong Russian team (currently ranked 11th in FIFA rankings) to qualify, but have never advanced to the second round. Algeria (30) will be a feisty team, looking to prove something in front of its home fans, and beat Egypt (currently ranked 12th) to knock them out of Cup qualifying and earn a spot for themselves.
Group D: Germany (6) heads this group and is the clear favorite. The physical style they bring will be back in action, though former captain Michael Ballack is out of action following an ankle injury in May. Miroslav Klose has 48 international goals and will be the big target up front. Serbia (15) plays a frustrating style that many high-powered teams could struggle with. It coasted through qualifying, outscoring opponents 22-8 in 10 games. Australia (20) was a surprise advancer in 2006, bringing back the same hard-nosed attitude to South Africa. The “Socceroos” came through a difficult qualifying group impressively, but were badly outplayed by the USA in a 3-1 friendly loss last week. Ghana (32) is in its second World Cup, but without top player Michael Essien — one of the best all-around players in the Premier League for Chelsea — it will have a difficult task advancing. The team did beat Nigeria in January and Slovenia in May.
Group E: The Netherlands (4) have picked up a good draw in its quest for a deep run. One of the tournament favorites, the Dutch squad has plenty of firepower and experience. A perfect 8-0 record in qualifying has been followed by four straight recent wins, including victories over the United States, Mexico and Ghana, before a 6-1 thrashing of Hungary last week. The team will be missing Arjen Robben for at least the first match. Cameroon (19) will be led by captain Samuel Eto‘o who has 96 caps and 43 goals for his squad. A coaching change after a slow start to qualifying gave the team a jump-start and could ultimately move it into the second round. Denmark (36) made the quarterfinals in 1998 and the Round of 16 in 2002, but has a tall order getting to the elimination rounds this time. Jon Dahl Tomasson is getting on in years, now 33, but has 51 international goals on his resume. Japan (45) made the second round as host in 2002, but its only international wins in 10 games this year came against Yemen, Hong Kong and Bahrain.
Group F: Italy (5) has a great chance to move into the second round and try to defend its 2006 World Cup championship. The question will be if the savvy Italian squad can continue to display the cohesiveness that garnered it the crown last time around. Four years older with few new young players, it must take advantage of opportunities out of its typical hang-back gameplan. Paraguay (31) advanced out of the group in 1998 and 2002, but is not at full-strength currently. Roque Santa Cruz has 21 goals in 69 caps, so he will be the top target. Slovakia (34) will be reliant on strikers Stanislav Sestak and Robert Vittek to produce goals, while few other players have much international scoring experience. Each scored in its 3-0 tuneup win over Costa Rica last week. New Zealand (78) is making just its second World Cup appearance, having come through qualifying with a 1-0 win over Bahrain. Recent friendlies have produced one win in five games, a 1-0 win over Serbia sandwiched by losses to Mexico, Australia, Slovenia and Chile.
Group G: Brazil (1) is the top team in the world, both by ranking and the eye test. Watching the ever-impressive Brazilian squad is a joy, no matter who it puts out on the pitch. (Fun fact: Either Brazil or Germany has appeared in the final game of 11 of the past 13 World Cups.) Though a spot in the second round seems inevitable, it probably can’t just skate by on talent alone with the other teams in this group, dubbed this year’s “group of death.” Portugal (3) boasts one of the world’s most high-profile players in Cristiano Ronaldo and made the semifinals last time around. But that form was not on display during qualifying, as the team edged out Sweden by one point just to get to a playoff with Bosnia and Herzegovina, ultimately punching its ticket to South Africa with a pair of 1-0 wins. Ivory Coast (27) has one of the world’s best finishers in Didier Drogba, though his availability is now questionable following a broken arm in a friendly with Japan last week. The man with 44 goals in 80 appearances initially ruled himself out, but surgery may have kept him in the picture. A healthy Drogba will scare any team, no matter its ranking. North Korea (105) has little chance with these three other heavyweights, but its style will probably keep things interesting, with few goals either way.
Group H: Spain (2) may be playing the best of any team at the moment, having just gotten back Fernando Torres and his 73 caps and 24 goals. The team plays such a fluid game, knowing where every player is at all times. Much of that familiarity comes from so many playing in the Spanish leagues, many for the same clubs. Striker David Villa is a scoring machine with 58 caps and 38 goals on his resume. Chile (18) will likely be a part of some high-scoring affairs, both ways. It made it through qualifying in second place, but allowed 22 goals, most of any of the five qualifiers in the standings (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay). Switzerland (24) managed to win its qualifying division, despite a loss to Luxembourg (ranked 127 by FIFA). It lost friendlies with Norway, Uruguay and Costa Rica before a draw with Italy last week. Honduras (38) rounds out the group looking for its first time out of group play. Bucking that trend will be difficult, as this squad won just one of eight friendlies since November, including a 0-0 draw with Azerbaijan and a 3-0 loss to Romania this month.
