The 2010 FIFA World Cup
is only seventy four days away and many teams that are participating are preparing for position in their respective groups. Group A is represented by Mexico, South Africa, Uruguay, and France. Group B is represented by Argentina, Nigeria, the Republic of Korea, and Greece.
The United States of America, England, Slovenia, and Algeria are in Group C. Group D is represented by Germany, Australia, Serbia, and Ghana. Group E will be represented by the Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, and Cameroon. Group F is Italy, Paraguay, Slovakia, and New Zealand.
Group G is known as the Group of Death is represented by Brazil, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Portugal, and the Ivory Coast. Group H is Spain, Honduras, Switzerland, and Chile. In order to determine who will be the top teams to follow, it is important to predict who will advance in their group.
I am willing to predict that of South Africa will be in first place followed by Mexico in Group A. South Africa will the team to watch since it is in the host country, is under pressure to win, and the will to win exists. While politics and sports should be separated, it would be a big mistake for the people to not take Bafana Bafana [South Africa] into account given the presence of African Nationalism.
South Africa also has the advantage of a coach who is one of the greatest in the history of Brazilian Soccer. Parreira [the coach of Bafana Bafana] was successful in mixing the Brazilian and African Style of playing. South Africa is also one of the disciplined and organized team in the 2010 World Cup.
Nigeria will be in first place followed by Argentina in second place in Group B in spite of a FIFA Pollwhich gives Argentina the advantage. Nigeria will also advance in the 2010 World Cup and is a team to follow given its free style of playing and its ability to surprise opponents. Diego Armando Maradona who is the coach of Argentina has not helped anything by disparaging the Nigerians. It is not a surprise that the Western Media has been kind towards Mexico and Argentina in their battle against the African Giants.
The United States of America and England will advance in Group C. It remains to be seen which of the two countries may advance since England has suffered from its equivalent of the Tiger Woods scandal and has had to change captains. England has not helped its cause by having the same ex captain be involved in another scandal.
The United States of America has lost almost most of their friendly games and it has hurt their cause. Regardless, it must be remembered that the USA is a country that surprises people in soccer. In the year 2009, it defeated Spain and Egypt to win second place in the 2009 Confederation Cup in South Africa. It proceeded to win the CONCACAF Qualifying Championship in the same year. The United States of America defeated England in the 1950 World Cup.
The USA is a team that has matured since its comeback in soccer in the early 1990’s and it would not be a surprise if it is the team to closely watched. Regardless, I do not think the USA will win the 2010 World Cup but there is the possibility of advancing in the semifinals. Group D will probably see Serbia and Germany advance although Serbia will advance in the 2010 World Cup. Group E will be the Netherlands given the fact that Cameroon has deteriorated in its style of play as well as organization.
Italy and Paraguay will be the teams to watch in Group F although Paraguay will advance in the 2010 World Cup. Paraguay has the discipline, the tenacity, and the organization. Paraguay is also going to attempt to win as an act of solidarity with its player Salvador Cabanas who was tragically shot in the head in the beginning of 2010. The Paraguayan National Soccer Team is going to play and win their games with Salvador Cabanas in their heart, soul, and mind.
Group G is going to be interesting with the presence of Brazil, Portugal, and the Ivory Coast. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or North Korea is going to lose all of its games. The result will be the remaining countries playing against each other. While it is expected that Brazil and Portugal may come out on top, the Ivory Coast has a new coach called Sven Goran Eriksson.
Eriksson was the mastermind behind England entering the Quarter Finals in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup before becoming coach at Manchester City and Notts County. The Ivory Coast and Eriksson are going to advance because of the pride in the sports as well as the new style of playing after the arrival of the new coach.
Group H will see Spain and Honduras advance but the team to watch will be Spain for the reasons of being organized and disciplined. The teams that I recommend to follow as they advance in the quarter finals will be South Africa, Nigeria, The USA [or England], Serbia, Paraguay, Ivory Coast [or Brazil and Portugal] and Spain.
El Noticiero de Alvarez Galloso 