Just unlike an Indian Cricket mad fan am taking sides of a game which is slowly but surely gaining popularity in the subcontinent, yes Football (Soccer called in North America or specially in USA). The FIFA Football world cup is just a day away from today and it is the one which would be celebrated across 80% of the countries in the globe. This time the organizers are the country which is a football crazy country Brazil, like India which is a cricket crazy. Marred by a lot of controversies on the fitness of the stadia, the financial turmoil in the country etc., the fans and the players are ready to get along with the World's greatest show after the Olympics.
32 countries gonna fight it out for the ultimate championship which will be held over a month from June 12th to July 14th. Over the one month show there would be many new heroes coming out of nowhere and equally a lot of villains will be christened. Just like the hero of 1998 Zidane was finally turned into a villain 2006 after the head butt incident in the finals which went all the way to penalties. There would be many Managers who would be crucified but with all these things aside Brazil gonna see a lot of fireworks and massive changes in the world football and the game reaching a far more corners of the world.
There are usual suspects who can reach the top and my pick for the teams to watch out for and enter the Quarters are
a. Brazil
b. Germany
c. Spain
d. Netherlands
e. Argentina
f. Italy
g. Uruguay
h. France
The top 5 could form the last 4.
My take on the teams in the reverse order of my posting are as follows
France
France are one team which runs high on egos and emotions. There are quite a few good players who can be heroes on their day and can turn into villains very next day/match. They have been already dealt with a death blow with the injury to Frank Ribery who is one of the best midfielders in the world. His absence could cost the French a lot during the knok out stages but still hope they can get to the quarters and not beyond it. They have a good goalkeeper in Hugo Lloris and a not so bad defense line of Arsenal players in Koscielny and Sagna. Their midfield looks a bit shaky with the absence of Ribery and everyone would be dependent on the form of Yohann Cabaye and he would be the talisman for their chances. Olivier Giroud and Kareem Benzema could play their part but they have to receive the balls. Overall it would be pretty tough going in the Knock out stages and with luck on their side could get on to the Quarters.
Uruguay
The team that surprised everyone in the last world cup by entering the last 4. They showed the world of their supreme talent and they gonna display in their own backyard i mean in South America. They have an excellent defense and attack. The attacking prowess is the one to talk about. The partnership of two of the best strikers currently in the world of football Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani could give all the opposition defenders a nightmare. They have an ever reliable midfield marshall in Diego Forlan. At the back they have one of the finest goal keepers in Muslera and two good central defenders in Diego Lugano the captain and Diego Godin. Overall they should give the English and Italian defense a good run for their money. They gonna make life difficult for many of the teams in the knock outs.
Italy
The old warhorse of world Football perfectly fits Italy. They have two old men of World football in the most trusted goal keeper Gianluggi Buffon and the evergreen midfield marshall Andrea Pirlo, it seems these two men never grow old. They are the two important people who Cesare Prandelli would be trusting to lead the team on the field. Pirlo can change the course of a game with his magic from anywhere from the half way mark on the pitch. His vision for goal is unmatchable. They also have a mercurial player in Mario Balotelli need to see which mario turns up in the tournament, Super Mario or Stupid Mario. Traditionally the Italians are good in defense and this team also has good defenders in their ranks. The player to watch would be Immobile who Tato Schilachi has said he could be the game changer for them. They gonna give a lot of tough time for Uruguay and England.
Argentina
The team consisting of the World's best player Lionel Messi. Argentina boasts of the best forward line in Messi, Aguero, Higuain and Di Maria. The problem of plenty is such that one of the best poachers of the game Tevez is not available. The problem for Sabella would be who he should drop as all the four are in form of their life. Messi and DiMaria doing wonders in Spain, Aguero leading Man City to championship in England and Higuain doing good in Italy. Apart from these four the other departments of this team seems to be a bit weak. They have Mascherano who is mercurial leading the defense and they would struggle against quality attack. This makes them vulnerable to go past the last eight but with the luck on their side they can get over the quarters. Messi would be keen to take on the ever growing critics of being a club player than a player for the Country. Messi would also like to silence the critics by scoring his first goal in world stage for Argentina. My heart goes for him as he has carried the country through out and hope he gets some support from others.
Netherlands
One of the top teams in any of the World cups they have participated. They are excellent in all departments especially from the midfield. They have one of the best holding midfielder who does not hesitate to go far serious tackles Nigel De Jong. They have one of the best wingers in the world Arjen Robben who mesmerizes all the defenses. Wesley Snejder one of the best free kick takers. Robin Van Persie the captain and the best poachers of the game. They have other players on the benches like Klass-Huntelaar and De Guzman who are good in their own rights. Their defense is equally good and with all youngsters. They can decimate any opposition on their day and can succumb to anyone on an off-day. They can make it to the last four with their strength and the other major reason is because they have been managed by one of the greatest tactician of the game in Louis Van Gaal a genius in his own right.
Spain
La Furia Roja are still the team which every opponent would think twice to face. They have retained almost the same squad for this edition of the World cup. There is no major shake up in the Vincente Del Bosque's team. They have the same defense line just got better with the advent of Alba. The mid field is almost the same with Busquets and Xabi Alonso mastering the holding midfield and the twins Xavi and Iniesta controlling the ball all over the forward area and with Cesc and Torres/Costa upfront should be a dream team. David Villa should be the trump card for Del Bosque who scored 5 important goals in the 2010 edition. The problem with Spain is the could bore down with their tiki-taka. This may also back fire as the other countries have already read their game and would have already put a counter plan to take them on. They could very well be at Maracana on July 14th.
Germany
The favourites of every world cup and they live upto it everytime. Joachaim Leow has transformed this team into his own. The man has transformed a group of young players into world beaters. The most old player in the team apart from Miroslav Klose is Philip Lahm who is just 30 and the leader of the team. All others are almost under the age of 27. Another team which has the best in class midfield the players are Schweinsteiger, Ozeil, Khedira, Mueller, Gotze all are greats in their own rights at the very young age. The forwards Poldi and Klose are good poachers who can get in the penalty area from anywhere when there is an opportunity. The defense is thing to envy for others, Boateng, Hummels, Mertasacker and Lahm. It would be a miracle if they do not qualify for Semis. They are the one of the three to be on the flight to Maracana on July 14th.
Brazil
Jogo Bonito will be in action after almost 40 years. Brazil at home will be a team double their strength. They could repeat their performance in Confederations cup just a year ago here. Luiz Filippe Scolari is already a world cup winner in 2002. He knows to get things out of his players. He is a genius on his own right and he can transform an ordinary team into world beaters. This year Brazil is one of the strongest team and they have covered up all the bases with ease. Neymar Jr is the man the world is waiting to watch and going by his form in spain it is sure that he can set the field on fire with his pace and vision. They have a old war horse in Fred who is equally good and going by his form in the Confederations cup it could be really interesting the two forwards could score more goals against any team. They are very much to be part of the Marcana on July 14th and it would be a huge loss for the game if they do not get there.
No comments:
Post a Comment