Fifa World Cup 2010, A Preview.

(2nd June, 2010)

Okay.. so FINALLY the wait is over.. In less than two week's time now, the mega championship begins.. and here's a small preview to what we can all expect from this one of a kind spectacle that is sure to blow every football lover across the globe, over.. and beyond!

I wont make this boring by giving the squads of the teams, since.. everyone really knows that.. but.. I'd be trying to highlight the probable matches we can expect and the mouth watering prospects of the South American clashes and European rivalry!

9 out of 10 people who I meet are of the opinion that this time, its going Spain's way... and to be honest, the squad boasts of players who have immense talent and who can create magic! With adream team, Spain, on paper look more dominating than any other team! Placed in a rather easy group with Honduras, Switzerland and Chile, Spain look obvious favorites to top the group (H).. which would mean they would face Portugal or Cote d'Ivoire in the round of 16.. given Brazil top group G.

Going over to Group G, Brazil is placed in what is referred to as the Group of Death with Cote d'Ivoire, Portugal and Korea DPR (North). Brazil look firm favorites to top the table with a team which is overtly talented too.. Their defense is probably the best on paper .. even bettering that of Spain! The Brazil coach, Dunga has taken a massive gamble by omitting Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Adriano from the players who go to South Africa..

but it does speak immensely of the lesser known players who Dunga has shown faith in..

Korea DPR and Cote d'Ivoire are strong teams with the latter having a charismatic leader in Drogba and coach in Sven Goran Errikson.. but Portugal's world cup experience should get them through to the Round of 16.. The amazing duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani on either flanks is one prospect people would love to see..!

Whoever tops this group faces the runners up of Group H, which gives us another mouth watering prospect of witnessing an all South American battle between Brazil and Chile. Chile are in top form and recently played 2 matches in less than 7 hours' duration, demolishing both the opponents!

Defending champions Italy are in Group F, with Slovakia, Paraguay and New Zealand.. and quite obviously, Italy should comfortably top the table with Paraguay being the other team going through..
The Italians have always been a force to reckon.. and look formidable to go through to the Semis yet again.. Standing between them and the Quarter Final berth though, would be the second placed team in Group E, which would either be Japan or Cameroon or Denmark..

Yes, although Group G is what people call the Group of Death, Group E is no less with teams like Japan,Cameroon and Denmark coming under the same bracket of lesser known, but good teams. The other team in Group E, Netherlands, look another amazingly talented side with a impressive midfield only second to that of Spain. The Netherlands would be highly depending on their magic duo of Robben and Sneijder, both of whom led their respective clubs to the UCL Finals that was played last month..

The Netherlands would be facing Paraguay from Group F, provided Paraguay get the better of Slovakia and New Zealand.

The Germans are placed in Group D with Ghana, Serbia and Australia. Another very competitive group and Germany's vulnerability has been further increased with their captain, Micheal Ballack being ruled out of the World Cup owing to injury, probably ending his glorious, yet underachieved world cup career.

Australia have always had the ability to produce surprises and if there has to be a disappointment in the World Cup Germany look firm favorites to do so.. Ghana and Serbia are good teams too, but owing to the rather famous determination of the Germans, unmatched by any other, I'd still stick with Germany leading the Group followed by Australia.

The winners of this group face the runners up from Group C, which features England, USA, Algeria and Slovenia. 
A team who is almost into controversy all the time, England, seems to finally find stability in Fabio Capello as the manager, whose 23-man squad has many surprises but looks good to make it big at the Rainbow nation this time around..

Coming from their recent African Cup of Nations success, Algeria look good too.. but.. USA look formidable too with many players making it big in the BPL over the recent years..

With England and USA making through, England - Australia and Germany - USA seem to be the Round of 16 matches these groups would provide..

Group B has the other South American giants, Argentina besides Nigeria, Rep of Korea (South) and Greece. Following their Euro 2004 glory, Greece has been calm but Argentina is in no mood to be calm this time. Following a turbulent qualification, Maradona's boys look set to clinch back their 24 year old glory this time.. and spear heading the attack is probably the second greatest son of Argentina, Lionel Messi.

Argentina look favorites to top the group with a close finish between Nigeria and South Korea, but the Asian giants who've made many upsets in the past seem too good for Nigeria..


So, that gives us the prospect of watching a Argentina - France Q/F if France fail to top group, which seems most likely, given the French team's turbulence eventually resulting in their top star Thierry Henry not starting and Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri not even selected!! In their absence, all eyes would be on the star duo, Frank Ribery and Florent Malouda.

France is accompanied by Uruguay, Mexico and hosts South Africa. However, Mexico and Uruguay can cause the upset of the tournament by knocking out France. Uruguay look a formidable force headed by the veteran, Diego Forlan.

The winners of this group faces South Korea, and runners up would face Argentina..

However, trusting on the French to top their group and getting past South Korea, an interesting match to look out for would be France v England, in the second Quarters, provided England go past Australia.

However, the match of the tournament would probably be either Netherlands v Brazil, in the first quarters or Italy v Spain in the second, all taking for granted that Netherlands go past Paraguay, Brazil go past Chile, Spain go past Portugal/ Cote d'Ivoire and Italy go past the runners up of Group E.

Then again, Argentina v Germany would be another mouth watering match, probably the third Quarters if Argentina manage to square the runners up of Group A and Germany get past USA.

Going past Quarters would be taking too much for granted but.. On paper, Spain v Brazil would be the dream finals.. But, again, its the World Cup and you cant take anything for granted.. so it'd probably be best to see as things happen!

Given that, Spain is what the head says, Brazil is what the other part of the head says.. but Netherlands is what the heart says.. so.. lets see if the head wins over the heart.. or both lose out!