2010 FIFA World Cup – What One Can Expect From the Tournament
The UEFA Champions League came to an end this Saturday with Italian giants Inter Milan being crowned as Champions of Europe, and the focus of the players, coaches as well as football fans across the world now switches to the national sides as they gear up for the biggest stage of them all – the FIFA World Cup. For the first time in the eighty years since its inception in 1930, an Africa nation will be hosting the tournament, after South Africa won the bidding process that was kept limited to the continent. June 11 would see the start of a journey that assures to leave the world gripped in excitement and joy, bring the best out of players and coaches, give rise to new legends and national heroes, and eventually crown one of the 32 best nations in the sport as World Champions.
With a total amount of 8.4 billion Rands being pumped in over a period of almost six years, preparations have been immaculate, even though questions were raised time and again over the readiness of South Africa to handle a tournament of such magnitude. Five new stadiums have been constructed and another five renovated across a total of nine cities to meet the international standards set by the FIFA. With the possibility of a terror attack looming over the tournament, security has been buffed up for both the players and the large number of tourists that are expected to visit the country.
Although the World Cup promises to be one of the most entertaining tournaments in the world’s most popular sport, the nearly three year long pilgrimage to football’s most coveted trophy has been no less intriguing. The qualifying process saw Euro 2008 semifinalists Russia failing to make the cut, while France crept into the final 32 courtesy a controversial late goal in the play-off against Ireland, in which French striker Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball before assisting the winning goal that killed Robbie Keane and his men’s hopes of making it to South Africa. Similar controversy also surrounded Uruguay’s final qualifier against Costa Rica. Teams like Sweden, Turkey and Egypt looked depleted sides as they failed to live up to their fans’ anticipations and made way for the rather inconspicuous nations like Slovakia and Algeria. The football world was in a position of some shock again when the preliminary squads were announced by national coaches. France coach Ramon Domenech chose to drop the likes of Karim Benzema, hailed as the best thing that ever happened to French football since the legendary Zinedine Zidane’s retirement, and Arsenal’s creative midfielder Samir Nasri, another fan-favourite. Serious doubts were again cast both on the coaching ability and future of the controversy-ridden Diego Maradona, who excluded Inter Milan veterans Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, both of whom were essential in the Italian club’s treble win as well as Barcelona’s defensive rock Gabriel Milito. Players like Ronaldinho, Francesco Totti and Ruud van Nistelrooy were considered well past their prime by their respective coaches and as a result failed to make it to what possibly would have been their last appearance at the World Cup.
The draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup’s Group Stages which was held in December last year split the 32 qualified teams into eight groups of four teams each. In spite of many star players like Michael Ballack, David Beckham and Ronaldinho being missing from the competition and the participation of still not fully fit players like Francesc Fabregas and Xavi Hernandez looking doubtful, there is a lot to watch out for in the world’s most viewed sporting event. Here is what we can expect from the Group Stages:
Group A:
Hosts South Africa have been placed in Group A along with 2006 Runners-Up France, South American qualifiers Uruguay and Latin American representatives Mexico, what seems to be a rather unpredictable pool. While the hosts are considered nothing more than outsiders for even making it into the first knockout round, the huge crowd support might just power the determined Africans past the Group Stage. 1998 Champions France had a qualifying campaign that was anything other than promising to their fans and Les Blues would be seriously hoping for a change in fortunes as well as form if they are planning to go anywhere near replicating their run in Germany last time around. Mexico, considering their past performances, would be anticipating a place in the first knockout stage, while Uruguay, who won their first title as host nations in the first edition of the Cup and bagged another in 1950, would ban on star striker Diego Forlan to get to the last 16.
Fixtures to watch out for:
- South Africa v/s Mexico (Opening match of the 2010 World Cup)
- France v/s Mexico
Group B:
Copa America runners-up Argentina would be front runners to make it to the Round of 16 ahead of Group B candidates Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece. Maradona’s star-studded attack consisting of World Player of The Year Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito and Carlos Tevez is expected to lead Argentina to a third World Cup win despite the coach’s erratic selection procedure that left the defence looking suspect. As for the other three teams, the race seems wide open, with all three looking even on paper and having the potential to shock anyone on their day. While Korea and Nigeria have looked impressive in their past appearances at the World Cup, the Greeks, who were surprise winners of the Euro 2004, also have a reputation of going past fans’ expectations in big matches.
Fixtures to watch out for:
- Argentina v/s Nigeria (2008 Olympic Final repeat on the professional level)
- Argentina v/s Korea Republic
Group C:
With a near perfect qualifying campaign consisting of nine wins out of ten matches, England emerge as strong candidates for this year’s World Cup. Over the past many years, England’s talented players have not been able to replicate their brilliant performances at their clubs while wearing national colours, but under Italian coach Fabio Capello they have been able to push what seemed to be a perennial problem into oblivion. The qualifiers saw Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Manchester United stars Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, and the Chelsea duo of Frank Lampard and former English captain John Terry gelling well together as a team, raising hopes for a title after 44 long years. The English Cricket Team broke the jinx earlier this month by winning their first ever major ICC Tournament and English supporters around the world would be hoping for a similar change of fortunes for the football side. The USA led by their experienced captain Landon Donovan too have a good chance of making it to the next round although further progress seems unlikely as a face-off with Germany in the Round 16 looks almost certain for the team occupying the second spot in Group C. Algeria, one of the six qualifying nations from the host continent, along with little-known Slovenia will have a tough time around, but completely ruling them out would be a mistake that perhaps only few can afford to make in a competition where a single game can make or break a team’s fortunes.
Fixture to watch out for:
Group D:
Placed in Group D alongside Australia, Ghana and Serbia, Euro 2008 finalists and last edition’s third place holders Germany would like to extend their past incredible run at major competitions by converting their favourites tag into something more meaningful, like the World Cup Trophy. Ghanaian Kevin-Price Boateng’s rash tackle that sent German captain Michael Ballack out of the World Cup led to a lot of controversy, which has made the match between the two sides a much anticipated encounter. But even without their inspirational captain, the three-time champions have enough depth in their lineup with household names like Philippe Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose always ready for the Blitzkrieg. Four time Oceania Nations Cup winners Australia, who were eliminated from the 2006 World Cup after a controversial penalty in their contest with eventual champions Italy in the last 16, are expected to take the second spot in their group with a pretty experienced side led by Everton forward Tim Cahill although Michael Essien-led Ghana cannot be written off so easily.
Fixtures to watch out for:
- Germany v/s Australia
- Germany v/s Ghana
Group E:
With eight wins out of eight in the qualifiers, The Netherlands will be hoping to carry on their excellent performances in the past and looking at the Dutch squad, which boasts of an array of talented stars like Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder, a place in the final four seems certain for The Oranje. The heartbreaking loss to West Germany in 1974 under the great Johan Cruyff and the title drought ever since still hurt many Dutch fans but with the crafty and skillful team that The Netherlands possess this time around, a World Title does not look like a distant dream. African giants Cameroon would be relying on Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o to guide them through the competition, but they would face stiff opposition from fellow Group E contenders Denmark and Japan. Overall, all the three teams are pretty strong contenders for the second spot and it may well go right down to the last match to decide who joins the Dutchmen in the last 16 from Group E.
Fixtures to watch out for:
- The Netherlands v/s Cameroon
- The Netherlands v/s Japan
Group F:
Defending champions Italy, despite their ageing and predominantly defensive side consisting of Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo and Genaro Gattuso, are the leading candidates from Group F along with Manchester City front man Roque Santa Cruz-led South American side Paraguay. In spite of their entry into the tournament as the Oceanian champions, New Zealand look a weak side on paper, lacking the flair in their squad that would guarantee any progress, while Slovakia too lack the goods to pose any serious challenge to stronger opponents. Italy and Paraguay should thus find it easy to qualify for the Round of 16 at the expense of these two underdogs.
Fixture to watch out for:
Group G:
Undoubtedly the Group of Death. Current leaders of the FIFA World Ranking tables and firm favourites Brazil have been drawn with Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea. With both history and star power on their side, the Samba Boys are expected to make it through to another World Cup Final. Players like Kaka, Julio Cesar, Luis Fabiano and Robinho have proved time and again that Brazil have it in them to grab a sixth World Title. Portugal would be relying on their skillful and flamboyant captain Cristiano Ronaldo to get them through, while Ivory Coast, commanded upfront by this year’s Premier League top scorer, Didier Drogba also are in serious contention for going past the Group Stages. As if qualification wasn’t difficult enough, a potential Round of 16 Clash with Spain can prove fatal for even the best of teams. The fourth team in the group, North Korea, can blame their poor luck as a place in the next round seems next to impossible.
Fixtures to watch out for:
- Brazil v/s Ivory Coast
- Ivory Coast v/s Portugal
- Portugal v/s Brazil (Probably the most anticipated encounter of the Group Stages)
Group H:
Like the Dutchmen, European champions Spain also boast of a perfect qualifying campaign under Coach Vicente Del Bosque. Blessed with some of the finest footballers on earth today, La Furia Roja perhaps hold the strongest candidature for this year’s World Cup, a title they have been yearning for ever since the tournament began 80 years ago. Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Francesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres – the list of match winners in the Reds’ side is endless. History is also on their side as they have never lost to any of their Group H opponents. Switzerland would be looking forward to join Spain, ahead of Honduras and Chile, two largely unexpected teams hailing from the Americas.
Fixtures to watch out for:
- Spain v/s Switzerland
- Spain v/s Honduras (A goal treat expected)
- Spain v/s Chile (Another drubbing at the hands of Spain expected)
But that’s just me imagining..
I was expecting a low turnout since most people weren’t too forthright about their participation. However, an unprecedented 21 teams turned up for the show. Make that an approximate of 80 people! TBH, I was expecting a fourth of that number but hey-everyone like a good surprise once in a while! 
