MJ Gunner: Thank you for reminding me my beloved and fellow Russians will not be at the big dance this weekend. Sigh. What will Maradona do next? Well, he may be running through the streets naked as promised if the Argentinians win. Luckily for reporters and photographers this could be a somewhat safer alternative than him driving over reporters' legs.
I think the rest of the field looks great in general. As I cast over the groups I cannot pick one that has a definite two teams that will proceed outside of perhaps Brazil-Portugal in Group G. Personally, the flying Dutchmen are always a secondary team for me and with their ability to score comes their ability to beat teams. Their defense usually and routinely lets them down in the later stages but with a World Cup riddled with injury and uncertainty the Orange must think they can go far. Arjen Robben does not look ready for the first two games but I see Dutch easily proceeding and destined to make an impact in the knockout round.
The big boys always impress during qualifying, the group stage and beyond and per usual one could pick out of the European hat of Italy, Spain, England or Germany and think you have a winner. Notice the exclusion of France. They are a sad bunch squabbling with opponents they should trounce and le coach has shockingly changed the traditional formation to a 4-3-3 two weeks within their opening game. William Gallas a leader? He was snubbed for captaincy and us Arsenal fans know how this could turn for team chemistry. Le Bleus have to face host nation South Africa, a scrappy Mexican side and a Diego Forlan spearheaded attack in Uruguay. Matt, I am on board with the rest of the critics that the French may have their tails between their legs before the group stage is over.
I think the rest of the field looks great in general. As I cast over the groups I cannot pick one that has a definite two teams that will proceed outside of perhaps Brazil-Portugal in Group G. Personally, the flying Dutchmen are always a secondary team for me and with their ability to score comes their ability to beat teams. Their defense usually and routinely lets them down in the later stages but with a World Cup riddled with injury and uncertainty the Orange must think they can go far. Arjen Robben does not look ready for the first two games but I see Dutch easily proceeding and destined to make an impact in the knockout round.
The big boys always impress during qualifying, the group stage and beyond and per usual one could pick out of the European hat of Italy, Spain, England or Germany and think you have a winner. Notice the exclusion of France. They are a sad bunch squabbling with opponents they should trounce and le coach has shockingly changed the traditional formation to a 4-3-3 two weeks within their opening game. William Gallas a leader? He was snubbed for captaincy and us Arsenal fans know how this could turn for team chemistry. Le Bleus have to face host nation South Africa, a scrappy Mexican side and a Diego Forlan spearheaded attack in Uruguay. Matt, I am on board with the rest of the critics that the French may have their tails between their legs before the group stage is over.
England is facing a monstrous cup holding drought since 1966; they will get outclassed by a big team in the knockout round and 4 more years of rampant headrolling and press frenzy will continue. I think England secretly likes losing. They get to sell of a heck of a lot more papers writing about, "Is this this year?". Italy will also fizzle out. Yes they scrapped by to actually win the last WC but this year their players are four years older, two years past international retirement and yet they are still in the lineup. The bookies have Spain as the favorite. If you do not know why go watch a Barcelona game; that pretty much is Spain.. Oh and throw in the likes of Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Barca recent addition David Villa. The only team who can stack up to them is Brazil. They are faster and stronger then ever and still have the skill up and down the roster to make your jaw drop. Kaka came off what was a seemingly disapointing year and as a true competitor will see the WC as another proving ground why he was called one of the best in the world just 2-3 years ago.
Matt I know you are a Messi Fanatic so I will let you discuss Argentina's chances with volatile Maradona at the helm and please shed some light on your favorites to go through and far. As for the medium size fish that have been overlooked here. Watch for Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Switzerland, Serbia and of course the good ol' US of A to make an impact in the group stage and hopefully for the latter in the knockout stage as well!
Me: Well first let me preach on Maradona. I love Maradona like people love Ron Artest. In fact, if you take Michael Jordan's ability, Artest's personality, throw in some drugs, and a dash of religious zealotry, then put that in charge of the most important sports team to a country...that is Maradona. I love his crazy man beard right now. I hope he goes all Artest and has a barber shave some ridiculous designs into it. This could happen.
OK, enough of that. Messi. I love Messi: his flair, his control, his ability to change a game, the fact that he pretty much put my beloved Barca on his back on more than one occasion this year. If there were one player who could single-handedly win this tourney, it is Leo. I think he's one World Cup away from this though; he turns 23 during the tournament. I won't be surprised if he did it. I won't be surprised if he doesn't do it. If I had to bet on him having a tournament like his coach had in '86 I would wait for 2014, when he will probably have a better coach who will have a more favorable system around him. Although rumor has it that Maradona has been in contact with Pep Guardiola for tactical advice.
I agree with you on Les Bleus. They are talented as hell, but it seems that karma for the Hand of Gaul is already coming back to bite them. Teams historically don't play well for coaches on the outs. Which is why it was such a curious decision to announce that Domenech was out after the Cup. Why didn't they do this after Euro '08 and give a new coach 2 years to reform the team. And yeah Gallas is going to tear the locker room apart, as he did to your club.
I will have to go back on what I said to you yesterday about South Africa. I think that France will slip up, Mexico will be the class of the group, and it will be between Bafana Bafana and Uruguay for that second spot. That home crowd could really swing this. As long as the home team doesn't crap the bed in that first game and rain on the parade, that crowd, those damned vuvuzelas, will be devastating to opponents. Also, the home team has never been knocked out in the group stages; I won't go against history.
I also agree about Italy. They are not a year, not two, but four years older. The team wasn't exactly speed merchants in '06, and speed doesn't age like wine. The Netherlands are always a threat, but like you said that defense is suspect, so a deep run is possible, but hoisting that trophy would be a little surprising to me, not a shock, but I wouldn't put them in the first group of favorites. Also, I don't see Portugal playing a prominent role in this tourney. Cristiano Ronaldo is going to be on an island, and he really doesn't seem to care about playing for his country. They struggled qualifying, they have a horrible coach, Nani is out, and if they hit a bump look for CR9 to check out, or lash out and see the proverbial red mist (which Wayne Rooney is also a victim of from time to time.) So, don't pencil them in out of that group, because despite Drogba playing with a broken arm, that Ivory Coast team has Sven Goran Eriksson at the helm, who has been there under a lot more pressure with England, and plenty of talent. And don't underestimate North Korea. Those communist countries are crazy with their athletes; they are practically a military unit that sleeps, eats, trains, and craps as one. There isn't much to say about Germany, they will miss Ballack, but have talent, a good coach, and a workman approach. They should do well; I'm actually surprised more haven't tipped them as a dark horse.
I can only really agree with you about Nigeria, Cameroon and Serbia. The two African teams will most likely have more supporters there than most, and those sides are well coached with great players in them: Yobo, Uche, Martins, Yakubu, Webo, Eto'o, Song. Serbia is surprisingly loaded with talent from top European leagues: Vidic, Stankovic, Zigic, and Ivanovic to name just a few. This team will play a tactically sound game with very, very capable players in the wide positions. This is the kind of team that could devastate a squad like the Netherlands, and many other unsuspecting opponents.
It appears all that's left is Brazil and Spain. Spain is pretty much my second team, because as you said it practically is the Barcelona first choice squad with a more than capable players subbed in (although I think Victor Valdes is better than Iker Casillas, especially recently, but I'm biased). They are strong right through the middle, and all very, very familiar with each other. I mean how many teams in this competition can play 2 centerbacks behind 2 midfielders who all play club ball together? None. Throw in David Villa's recent welcoming into the Barca fold, and Pedro's explosion onto the scene this year for FCB, and Spain have chemistry out the ying-yang. But I can't tip them as winners. Why? Because everyone says they will. Favorites just don't tend to win this thing. Del Bosque is a great coach (for a Madridista), the squad is packed to the gills with talent, but one yellow card, one muscle tweak, one swerve of the frisbee that is the ball (and Casillas has had trouble catching this year for Real Madrid) and it can go horribly wrong.
That's why Brazil seems poised to do what everyone tipped them to do last time around the track. This year's squad doesn't have the prima donnas like Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, or Ronaldo (the fat one). They have just as much skill on the ball as any. But unlike Brazil sides of the past, these guys will knock you around. Kaka will pull the strings in the midfield, Fabiano will pour in goals up front, Maicon will dominate from the back to the front out wide, and Lucio is a rock. Brazilians criticized Dunga a lot, crucified him even, while the team was transitioning to being fully his team, but he has really put together a very, very dangerous team.
But like I said, one bad break, and its curtains. The reason we love this tournament is the unpredictability of a single leg elimination format, with players who generally don't have a lot of time playing together in the coach's system. It is predictably unpredictable.
That's why Brazil seems poised to do what everyone tipped them to do last time around the track. This year's squad doesn't have the prima donnas like Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, or Ronaldo (the fat one). They have just as much skill on the ball as any. But unlike Brazil sides of the past, these guys will knock you around. Kaka will pull the strings in the midfield, Fabiano will pour in goals up front, Maicon will dominate from the back to the front out wide, and Lucio is a rock. Brazilians criticized Dunga a lot, crucified him even, while the team was transitioning to being fully his team, but he has really put together a very, very dangerous team.
But like I said, one bad break, and its curtains. The reason we love this tournament is the unpredictability of a single leg elimination format, with players who generally don't have a lot of time playing together in the coach's system. It is predictably unpredictable.
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