World Cup 2010 Day 6 & 7 Review
I really don't want to write this. I really don't. A loss is devastating, you see. I've braced myself for it, and I was very realistic about it, but when it happens it is crushing nonetheless.
But let me get onto other news around the World Cup scene.
Giants Beaten
The biggest upset from the tournament came on Wednesday when tournament favorites Spain lost to a very defensive minded Switzerland. All their finesse passing and harlem globe trotting didn't break through the stalwart defense of the Swiss. Pass after pass, the crowds were mesmerized and the commentators commentated on how beautiful the game is, but the reality is goals win games and Spain had none.
It reminded me of many of Arsenal's games at the end of this past season, where the virtues of passing and playing beautifully didn't lead to results. It was as if the point of the game was on making the most intricate string of passes instead of netting the ball. If offensive mindedness was lacking, del Bosque should've put Fabregas, one of the best midfielders in the EPL, to provide some spark in the dying embers of the game. But alas, Cesc never even warmed up, leaving it to Xavi and Iniesta to provide something that wasn't there to begin with.
Diego!
How good is Diego Forlan? How many times have he scored when his team needed a goal most? He's done it plenty of times with Villareal. He's done it with Atletico Madrid this past season, especially against Liverpool in the semi finals of the Europa league (sorry, John). He is a clutch player that delivers clutch goals.
And he delivered two to beat out tournament hosts South Africa. I still have hopes for the Bafana Bafana, but after this loss, things look slim. As I mentioned earlier, Diego Forlan makes for a great story this tournament. Can he take Uruguay to glory? Can he repeat 1930? I still don't think they'll make it to the end, but a quarter final finish would definitely be a swan song for Forlan.
The Little Pea
France has a load of talent, but have been struggling to show what they are capable in their past two games. But don't let me detract you from how awesome Mexico was. They were composed, had a lot of passes completed, and kept their composure even when France was trying to hack their way through.
Javier Hernandez, also known as "Chicharito" (little pea), made an incredible goal, bringing Lloris out of his line and slotting it in the back of the net with a cool finish. Looks like Fergie made another good buy, although small strikers have never faired well in Manchester United. We'll see if Chicharito can turn that little piece of history around.
But let me talk a little bit about France, one of my favorite teams in the World Cup. Domenech's only good decision has been to convince Zidane to come out of international retirement back in 2006. That ultimately led the French to the final. Other than that, Domenech has shown so much incompetence, from choosing his starting eleven, team tactics, and antics in the dressing room. His new age influences have definitely not helped the team perform better either. Gignac and Govou have been such liabilities in front of goal, and Henry never even came off the bench. Why even have a player in your selection if you're not even going to play them? I feel the frustration with the team and I'm not even French!
Fighting Spirit Deflated
There's a tag line going around among the Korea national team, and it's 투혼, or "fighting spirit." It comes from the fact that all throughout Korea's history, they were underdogs and that it took a fighting spirit to make it through. The tagline is inscribed behind the shield inside the jersey. Yes, I'm a nerd for looking there. But looks like Messi and company undid the fighting spirit of the Taeguk warriors with relative ease and composure.
Unlike my compatriots, I had very realistic aspirations for the team. I know how much of a flop Park Chu Young can be. I know how uncreative the team can get under pressure from a much more physical, athletic, and faster opponent. A win over Greece is hardly an indication for greater things. If anything, tying with or beating Argentina is truly a statement. I had hopes, but my hopes were crushed by the lightning feet of Messi, who was pretty much involved in every goal, and by the "right place at the right time" Higuain who made a hat trick out of his uncanny ability to poach his way through. Consequently, my friend called it the "f---ing Frank Lampard goal". How much he hates Frank Lampard and his "right place at the right time" ability is still beyond me.
The omen was there as soon as the Park Chu Young own goal happened. If it were any player I would've brushed it aside, but the fact that it happened from Park, showed to me that the game was doomed from the start. Park has a real problem with confidence, and even though his position is as a center forward, he likes to play on the wings and give passes than take a shot at goal. And putting an own goal in your own net? Good job coming back from that.
And a late substitution with Kim Nam Il? Tired legs are not going to bring a spark. And Lee Dong Gook? He's never done anything good in any international competition. NOTHING. Why he's even on the squad? I'm not even sure. If there's anyone more useless than Govou, it is Lee Dong Gook. And a brilliant goal during the first half injury time from Lee Chung Yong brought the game to 2-1. Why we didn't swarm the back and play solid defense, I'm not even sure. It seems that we've also adopted the fad of "playing beautifully" but we cannot beat the giants of Argentina at their own game. The North Koreans knew that. Kim Jong Il knew that. But supposedly the open and free South Korea, with its highest broadband penetration rate and free flowing information society, didn't know that. We continued to stubbornly pursue the "jogo bonito" with our deft passing and our simple trickery, only to be handed a lesson from the bulldog Tevez, the mesmerizing Messi, and a brilliant Di Maria. By the way, how annoying is Real Madrid? There's already talk that they're going to swoop up Di Maria for 30 million.
I'm done with my ranting. The next game South Korea will have is with Nigeria. It is truly win or go home. Again.
World Cup 2010 Day 5 Review
The World Cup is in full swing, and only four teams have not yet played their matches. Already, lots of controversy surrounding the ball is making its rounds in the news and a lot of teams are playing very conservatively and ending up with draws rather than wins. A lot of the stars that people expect to perform at a high level have been largely silent, perhaps except for Messi and the Ze Germans. But as the saying goes, form is temporary but class is permanent. As teams are forced to go for wins instead of draws to escape the group stage, a lot of defenses will open up and the stars will shine as they take their teams to glory.
The Kiwis Fight Back
New Zealand is definitely one of the lowest of all the teams next to North Korea. They battled Slovakia early this morning and I was surprised how good they looked compared to their perceived reputation. Slovakia did have more organization, but New Zealand was no pushover, equalizing with a header from Reed at the end to draw 1-1. Yet, as mentioned before as teams become more desperate and aggressive for three points, I imagine New Zealand will end up making a lot of errors and concede many goals.
Drogba Cometh
Ivory Coast and Portugal played a very uninspiring game that led to a 0-0 draw. Ronaldo's reputation preceded him (he's a big sissy), and unfortunately a foul committed against him was misperceived as a dive and subsequently was handed a yellow card. To be fair, the ref gave a card to both Ronaldo and Dumel for arguing but was completely unnecessary. Then, the ref missed two more crucial calls later on in the game. Gervinho looked promising but no cigar. Basically, the most interesting thing about the match was the ref.
Lucky Maicon
The powerhouse known as Brazil played the minnows known as North Korea, and contrary to my friend's prediction of a double digit scoreline (Brazil's, not North Korea's), the game ended in a relatively subdued 2-1. Maicon put in a goal literally parallel to the goal line, which when seeing it for the first time is an absolute screamer, but upon careful mental dissection can only be considered as luck. Don't hate me because I'm supporting your Yankees, but if you asked Maicon to do it again, I don't think he'd be able to (this was Xin's point). The second goal by Elano was simply beautiful, as Robinho threaded a pass just right to get to Elano's feet. The People's Rooney (인민의 루니) cried during the anthem, whether because he was swelling with patriotism (never lived in North Korea!), was asked to do so as a PR ploy from the dear leader, or because he was thinking about his parents possibly being sent to a labor camp if he didn't score, we'll never know. On the pitch, he showed some flashes of brilliance, at least more than Park Chu Young. No, I'm not hating on Park Chu Young, my favorite player from South Korea, I'm just disappointed at how he doesn't show up to big games. A consolation goal from Ji Yun Nam showed the world that our northern brothers were not going to go quietly.
Tomorrow is the match that everyone is waiting for, the indomitable Spain versus the Swiss. Spain has too much talent to go quietly, especially against a Swiss team that lacks many components. If Brazil is the Yankees, does that make Spain the Red Sox?
And before I leave, more robertgreen goodness.
World Cup 2010 Day 2, 3, and 4 Recap
What a weekend. Went biking with the mrs, played some tennis for the first time since high school, and went to the AT&T Park in the city for some afternoon fun. A little burnt on the nose signals a return of summer.
But you're here for the World Cup. It's been hard to write a review every day, so here goes a lump summary of the past three days.
The Hand of Clod
Robert Green has done it again. England has done it again. They flew through their qualifications, only to reveal their true selves at the World Cup finals, which is that they're just another good team, not great. There were some flashes of brilliance from Heskey and Gerrard, but overall Rooney was silent and England resorted to their age old tactic of punting the ball forward and hoping one of their forwards (aka, Peter Crouch) will get a head on it. But to USA's credit, Jay Demeritt was fantastic in shutting Wayne Rooney down, and Tim Howard deserved to be the Man of the Match with his sticky fingers and instinctive saves.
South Korea Rolls
Meanwhile, on the same day, Korea opened up their World Cup run with a 2-0 romping against Greece. They started off shaky, but gathered their composure after the first goal by Lee Jung Soo. After that, Korea displayed some fine football and never lost their cool under pressure. Lee Young Pyo was his old self from back in the days of Tottenham Hotspur, and the captain Park Ji Sung was crucial in providing the second goal. The soon-to-be stars, Ki Seung Yeung and Lee Chung Yong were also very active. Of course, Park Chu Young preferred to pass than shoot and missed an easy gimme in front of goal. The plague of going dark in crucial games continues for the Monaco man. My hope in Korea is still muted, as Greece was an old squad that looked lumpy (is that a spare tire between their waist?), and lethargic at best. Samaras warmed the bench all year with Celtic and showed no spark at all, while Gekas was only good at showing his bald spot to the camera. Argentina and Nigeria will be much more difficult.
Argentina played against Nigeria, and old man Heinze showed Fergie and Manchester United what they're missing in shipping him off to the French Ligue. He had a spectacular header to put Argentina up early, but to be fair Nigeria's defense was practically sleeping. Messi had plenty of opportunities at goal, but failed to put any of them at the back of the net. That is the difference between good and great players, and Messi has yet to prove himself at the most esteemed level of football, the World Cup. The tournament is long so there's still ample opportunity for him to shine.
The Other Robert Green
The Algeria v. Slovenia match didn't seem all that interesting, so I opted to stay in bed. Good decision that was. If you read the Guardian live match commentary, the guy was so bored out of his mind he couldn't wait for the game to end. One notable item from the commentary is when the Algeria keeper "robertgreens" the ball into the net. That's funny.
Ghana pulled an amazing win against defensive stalwarts Serbia. Asamoah Gyan was on an absolute tear and looked dangerous all game long. Serbia committed stupid fouls that they didn't need to, and rightfully received a penalty for a handball in the box. Lukovic was also rightly sent off, despite his plead for ignorance. Gyan should've had another goal to his name, but the third arm of the goalie, aka the post, denied him of the celebration.
Ze Germans
Germany displayed some fine football on Sunday against the hapless Australians. Once known for their efficiency and their defensive toughness, this modern multicultural Germany has transformed into a free-flowing, total football-esque team under the Californian Jurgen Klinsmann in 2006 and now Joachim Low. Mesut Ozil had a bad case of acting early on in the game, but did enough throughout to earn the Man of the Match. Klose is still dangerous, especially in the air, and Philip Lahm still has some gas in the tank to be an excellent wingback.
Netherlands had a mediocre showing, but thanks to a shoddy defense and an own goal by Denmark, easily passed through with a 2-0 win. Robin Van Persie was instrumental early on, breaking down the defense, and making some clinical passes through the legs of defenders. The other Arsenal man, Niklas Bendtner, had one good chance and after that reverted back to silence.
It's a Honda
Japan claimed their first ever victory in a World Cup final, and Cameroon claimed their first ever defeat for their World Cup opener. Samuel Eto'o was largely ineffective throughout the game, mostly because Eto'o' strength lies in his movement rather than his dribbling. That means, he's most dangerous on the move when he receives the ball, but unfortunately Cameroon doesn't have a Sneijder to put the ball to his feet while in stride. I picked Cameroon to advance to the second round, but now that has been put into doubt.
Italy was in trouble all throughout the game against a much more faster and aggressive Paraguay, until veteran Camoronesi provided some much needed spark. The last twenty minutes of the game was all Italy, attacking and trying to get those three points but in the end a 1-1 draw was sufficient for both teams. Italy definitely looks like they will struggle in this world cup, and good for them. Their diving ways and their Opera-inspired acting really puts a bad taste in my football mouth. Boo Italy!
The Best Against The Worst
Now, all the attention is on tomorrow's match, where number 1 ranked Brazil will go against number 105 (lowest of all the teams in the finals), North Korea, I mean, DPRK. The Northern brothers had a press conference yesterday and the astute journalists asked such poignant questions such as who picks the teams, the coach or Kim Jong Il, and why is a striker listed as a goalkeeper. The coach and the media director were their usual northern selves with steely reserve and icy stares. On the other hand, the media savvy Jong Tae Se (if you do a Naver search you'll find a treasure trove of stuff) was much more comfortable in front of the capitalist media. By the way, I found a new favorite football blogger, and she is hilarious.
And since most of you reading this are USA fans, I thought you'd appreciate some more Robert Green-isms.
World Cup 2010: Opening Day Draws And The Mystery of Jong Tae Se
South Africa narrowly continued the tradition by not losing and ending with a draw with Mexico. No host nation has lost their opening game, and South Africa showed a lot of confidence in the second half, eventually scoring on a clean breakaway. Mexico equalized with defender Rafa Marquez scoring a goal. I didn't know Rafa still had it in him. Dos Santos looked good all game. Blanco seemed rusty with some horrible first touches. He's more apt roaming in the middle than on the wings. Mphela almost sealed three points but got denied by the woodwork.
Update: Just saw the replay of the corner where Vela was denied the goal. There was an RSA defender on the line, can't believe the refs didn't see that. The game should've been 2-1 at the least.
Meanwhile, The French continued to underperform, as expected. Uruguay played eight men in the back pretty much the whole game, and relied on Forlan poaching with a long ball counter every chance they got. Anelka doesn't play as nearly as well in the national team shirt as he does in a Chelsea shirt. I'd suggest Malouda to pair up with Anelka up front, rather than the diminutive and mostly ineffective Govou. I mean, when did Govou ever have a good game with Les Bleus? And Henry comes off the bench as a super sub. That sounds about right. It's been a long journey since 1998, but maybe I'll see you play in the USA next year. Domenech needs to start Ribery, Anelka, and Malouda up front for more creativity, and bring in Gignac earlier if Anelka is his lame self again.
Tomorrow, there's a Korea v. Greece match watching party at this super hip lounge / bowling alley in Cupertino, complete with "Be The Reds" Koreans, Hite, and soju. Then, it's off to St. Steven's Green's pub and their newly installed 3D TVs for the Argentina v. Nigeria match. And then, finally in the city to AT&T Park for a viewing of USA v. England. I'm not sure how I'm going to endure all these games, let alone drinking from 3am. Most likely, I'll skip the hoopla of the Korean game (sorry, my brethren), and watch from home.
And speaking of Koreans, I read up on Jong Tae Se, the "People's Wayne Rooney" and he has a fascinating story. Born in Japan to supposedly South Korean parents, he attended a North Korean school and plied his soccer trade there. He grew up in Japan all his life, so when he turned 17, he had the choice to play for Japan, South Korea, or North Korea. He chose the north. He also joined Kawasaki Frontale in the J League, and eventually got noticed in 2008 East Asian Football Championship where he earned the top scorer award. He is tenacious at goal and always looks to shoot first when he receives the ball, hence the Wayne Rooney comparisons. This is quite refreshing, as there's no South Korean player who possesses such demeanor and swagger all at the same time.
I'll be looking forward to how he fares, and hope he makes his dream move to the Premier League. Fergie has had a knack for Korean players after the signing of Park Ji Sung (he even scouted Park Chu Young for a time before AS Monaco picked him up), so who knows, maybe Park and Jong will play side by side one day and make every grown Korean man and woman cry at the sight of reunification in our grasp.
North Korea's Wayne Rooney (NYTimes)
World Cup 2010: Groups F through H Preview
Just one more day till the beautiful game starts. I've made a lot of predictions this year, and in my heart of hearts I know that all of this will be turned upside down on its head. All I hope is that RVP will play beautiful football and restore hope to the world, and Messi will show why he's called La Pulga Atomica (the atomic flea). Oh, and an African nation making it to the semi finals. Is that too much to ask? And while I'm dreaming, I want those sweet Africa Unity jerseys, that will be the third kit for all African nations.
Group F (Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia)
Italy is one of those traditional powerhouses that play fundamental football, but their style of play is so boring and uninspiring, not to mention "dirty." They are very physical, yet have a penchant for "diving" like Vlade Divac. Their stars are on their last legs and even the talismanic Gilardino won't be able to save them from disgrace.
Paraguay has an impressive frontmen in Oscar Cardozo and Roque Santa Cruz, who is also known as "the most beautiful footballer in the world." They've conceded 16 goals in 18, which means a defense that can be plowed through, nevertheless they have been blessed with an easy group to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
New Zealand qualified for the first time since 1982, but that will probably be the only silver lining for them this tournament. Teenager Chris Wood will make his world debut, and Ryan Nelsen, former DC United defender, will see to it that Gilardino and Roque don't score on them as much.
Slovakia is a virgin to the World Cup, with their first ever appearance this year. Marek Hamsik is the breakout star of this story. I can't get enough of this guy, and yet after coming to my senses, I realize he won't be able to single handedly pull the team out of the group. But, that'd make for an awesome story wouldn't it?
In this weak group, the diving Italians and Paraguay will make it out.
Group G (Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal)
Brazil are the perennial favorites, even if they don't have marquee names of yesteryears. Plus, they have history behind them as a European nation has never won the World Cup outside of Europe. But look to a solidly defensive and "pass first" squad, with Maicon and Kaka delivering up the ball and Luis Fabiano poaching the goals. And on top of that, Julio Cesar is the best goalkeeper in the world, a first for Brazil.
North Korea's Jong Tae Se is also known as the People's Wayne Rooney. Kim Kum Il was AFC Young Player of the Year in 2007. But unfortunately that won't be enough for North Korea to win a single point in the group stage. After crashing out 0-3, will the North Korean team be hailed as heroes who fought gallantly against the West? Or, will they be sent straight to labor camps upon their return? And will they be televising the games in North Korea? Who knows, but look for an early exit against our brothers from the north.
Ivory Coast has Didier Drogba, one of the best strikers in the game. They also have some quality players in Keita (Barcelona), Eboue (Arsenal), Kalou (Chelsea), Kolo Toure (Man City) and Yaya Toure (Barcelona). They have a very good chance of edging past Portugal for a berth to the second round. Now, only if Drogba's broken arm heals in time.
Portugal has the world's most well known player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet, their best midfielder Nani is injured and out of the tournament. Deco is a shadow of his former self and Meireles likes to score more than he likes to pass. Unfortunately, all the Ronaldo fans won't be seeing much of him, save for the first two weeks of the tournament.
Brazil and Ivory Coast will advance.
Group H (Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile)
Spain has the pressure of being the favorites, even though Vicente Del Bosque is trying to downplay that among his men. With a fluid passing style, and patience to wait for the right moment, Spain seems to be truly the team to beat. But, Puyol tends to lapse every now and then, and Sergio Ramos is their biggest liability. With so many superstars-Torres, Villa, Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi, and on and on-all with Spanish nationalities, it'd be hard not to choose Spain to lift the Jules Rimet. Olé!
Switzerland has one good striker, Alexander Frei. And he picked up a recent injury, putting his form in doubt. Other than that, ex-Arsenal man Senderos will provide muscle in the back and aerial bullying in set pieces. Behrami might do some good but in the end, the team will need to mature their youngsters for a stronger showing in the future.
Honduras appears in their second World Cup ever. Wilson Palacios is their best known export and he picked up an injury in a recent friendly. David Suazo is a fan favorite but aging, and Pavon is practically an old timer at 37.
Chile is clearly the favorites to advance to the second round with Spain. They have a solid team, with some key players like Matias Fernandez and Jorge Valdivia. Unless Switzerland outperforms their own expectations, La Roja will make it through.
Spain and Chile will advance.
And finally, for those of you who are neutral fans, consider yourselves lucky.
World Cup 2010: Groups A Through E Preview
Who will make it out of their groups? Will France, a traditional power house make it out? Will defending champions Italy make a deep run? Does North Korea even have a chance? Will Bendtner become the world class striker that he says he is for Denmark? I'm sure many of you are already reading Soccernet, the Guardian, and goal.com. But to add to your appetite, here's the lowdown, very simplified.
Group A (France, South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay)
France is the clear favorite in this group, with loads of talent. But they have not shown any hunger to win in the past few years. Their 0-3 crashout in Euro 2008 should've seen Domenech fired, but he still continues to give the marching orders that left Benzema and Nasri out. I predict them to not even make it out of the group, even though on paper they have enough to make it to the semi finals.
South Africa are the hosts and other than Steven Pienaar, does not have any player that is recognizable in this part of the hemisphere. Yet, they are playing in their own country, backed by thousands of adoring fans. Plus they are riding on a very strong momentum, recently beating out Denmark in a friendly and winning three matches in a row. Mphela, their striker, is going to be dangerous.
Mexico is yet another country with loads of talent and inconsistent play. Depending on which team shows up, they will either make it to the quarter finals or crash and burn in the group stage. Carlos Vela has been in fine form, despite warming the bench for Arsenal most of the season. And the resilient Cuatamoc Blanco as the target man (he's too old to be running), Vela supporting from the wing, and with a reliable goalkeeper in Ochoa, they might have the steel this year to shed their image of never escaping the group stage.
Uruguay won the World Cup back in 1930 and 1950. Can they do it again? Probably not. But it will be fun to watch Diego Forlan in what may be his last World Cup.
My prediction is for South Africa and Mexico to push through.
Group B (Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece)
Argentina is exploding with talent. Messi, Higuain, Carlos Tevez, and Champions League final winner Milito warming the bench. Sure, their defense is suspect, and Messi may play out of position (up front in stead of on the wing) but look for them to be a serious contender.
Nigeria, in my opinion, is the biggest underdog of the tournament. Everyone has written them off as an old squad. Lagerbeck didn't have enough time with the team, and after failing to qualify Sweden for the World Cup, his strategy and leadership is put in question. Though my heart says Korea will make it through, my mind says Nigeria will be second to Argentina. Upcoming Marseille star Taiwo will shore up the defence, while Obafemi Martins will re-emerge as the world class striker that he is (and do a back flip celebration along the way). And let's not forget the sriking force of Odemwingie.
South Korea may be a powerhouse in Asia, but still a minnow in the world stage. They lack the traditional clinical striker that knows how to be in the right place at the right time for an easy poach. Lee Dong Gook is perennially injured, Park Chu Young goes silent whenever there's a big game (just youtube AS Monaco v. PSG Coupe de France). I'm hoping they will make it out of the group, but that would mean someone putting the ball in the back of the net. Ki Sung Yeung? Lee Chung Yong? Double Dragon?
Greece won the Euro 2004, but failed to qualify for the World Cup just two years later in 2006, and then in Euro 2008. Their squad is aging and Samaras is warming the bench in Celtic. If Gekas goes crazy they might survive, but I highly doubted. But then again, the same was said in 2004.
Argentina and Nigeria will take the top two spots. Disclosure: In my bracket, I have South Korea making the quarter-finals.
Group C (England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia)
England is without its captain and defensive stalwart Rio Ferdinand. Fabio Capello may be a great coach, but the back of the team is suspect with a shaky keeper Robert Green and an out-of-place Glen Johnson. Wayne Rooney may just win the golden boot, but whether England will win the whole thing, only time will tell.
USA has three bonafide stars in their midst: Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, and Clint Dempsey. Now whether those three can make up for the lackluster Oguchi Onyewu, the old and tired Bocanegra, and the nowhere-to-be-found Beasley, is another question altogether. Still, this is perhaps the best USA team in a long while, and their momentum is running high off the confederations cup win over Spain.
Algeria beat African powerhouse Egypt to qualify for their World Cup final, as well as Ivory Coast in this past African Cup of Nations. Other than that, little is known about Algeria's squad on this side of the world. It'd be hard for them to consider South Africa as home turf, as Algeria is Northern Africa, vastly different from the southern tip of the continent. Still, the fans will be cheering for their fellow Africans and that has to amount to something.
Slovenia is mostly of younger players that have the resolve and stamina to win games. Look to Mile Novakovic to make things happen, as well as Birsa to deliver the crisp passing.
In the end, the Yanks and their cousins, England, will make it through.
Group D (Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana)
Germany may not have their star captain Michael Ballack, but they are well organized and play great football together. Expect to see young stars Marko Marin, Mesut Ozil and now Sami Khedira make a name for themselves this tournament. Khedira is a hidden gem who will now replace the injured Ballack as the midfield general. This multi-cultural Germany is not on anyone's radar, but I expect them to reach the finals with a very potent squad front to back.
Australia had a glorious run in 2006, but that same squad is now charged with taking the Socceroos to the promised land again, but with older and more tired legs. Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer are coming off an excellent season in the English Premier League, but other than that nobody on the team seems to be able to provide a spark.
Serbia's strength is really in its defense. Vidic, Subotic, and Ivanovic are excellent defenders that will stop the best goal scorers. Zigic hasn't proved to be the target man that his price tag was for, but being the tallest player in this tournament, I'm sure their aerial attack will be useful.
Ghana is another country without their star captain, Michael Essien. Before his injury, I would've said that Ghana is the dark horse in the tournament, capable of going far with home field advantage and with a very physical team that can run over anyone. But Essien is the engine of the team and without him, they will flounder in the group stage.
Germany and defensive stalwarts Serbia will edge through their group.
Group E (Netherlands, Japan, Denmark, Cameroon)
Netherlands is a very strong team this time around. Traditionally they have always struggled with defense, but Sketelenberg has been having a remarkable number of clean sheets, so he will have a lot of momentum coming into the tournament. Robin Van Persie, despite being injured all season long, has shown goal scoring prowess ever since he returned. Coupled with a speedy Robben on the wing and a midfield maestro in Sneijder, they will go very far.
Japan, like their rivals Korea, is an Asian powerhouse but hardly a contender in the world scene. Honda has had a good year with CSK Moscow, but that probably isn't enough to go against the best in the world (as evidenced by a relative quiet showing in the Champions League). Nakamura is on his last legs and doubt he'll be spectacular, other than his free kicks.
Denmark has everything riding on Niklas Bendtner, the Arsenal man that self-predicted to be the world's best striker in a few years. He's had his bout with injuries and may be questionable for the beginning of the tournament. Daniel Agger will hold the back line, and Juventus' Cristian Poulsen will provide the wizardry for this expectant team.
Cameroon is in trouble. They have a great squad and look great on paper, but Eto'o, easily the most popular star, threatened to quit the World Cup just a few weeks before. Plus, they recently lost to Serbia in their final friendly. They will have home field advantage, but may struggle to get out of the group, unless Eto'o decides to turn it on. Plus, Makoun and Alex Song will tow the line in midfield.
Netherlands will go unbeaten, and Cameroon will barely ink through.
Writing The Future
Nike has a new ad campaign for the world cup called "write the future." I'm sure you've already seen the commercial. And in some sense, every individual representing their country in six days is going to write the future with their performance, whether for good or bad. Many of the countries are currently playing their last friendly matches before the real event and so far, in my opinion, Germany and Netherlands are looking great. Spain is the favorite for this year, with an odds of 4/1. The next in odds is Brazil (5/1) Argentina (9/1) and then England (11/2) and Germany and France both at 12/1. France may look good on paper, but the reality is they have no cohesion as a team. Germany may look like the tired old squad that they are, but they have some sleepers among their youth (Mesut Ozil and Marko Marin), so I'm betting they'll go pretty far in the tournament.
England has probably the best coach in all of the tournament, and a squad that is very deep. But they have some perennial problems (how to play Gerrard and Lampard on the same field, how to support Rooney, and how to win games when it counts), but I think Capello has a masterplan up his sleeve (4-2-3-1).
Italy looked horrendous in their friendlies and probably won't make it out of their group. Both Argentina and Netherlands are great on paper, but have not shined on the world stage in a very long time. Plus, Maradona is laughable as a coach.
And of course, my motherland, South Korea may have the most Europe based players in all of their national team history, but will still fail to get out of the group stage. They won't have a chance until they produce a through and through goal scorer molded in the image of Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy and Rooney. Cloning scientists, did you get that?
So who do I think is going to win?
My choice this time is Brazil. And let me explain why. Brazil, even to those who are new to soccer, is known for their "jogo bonito" (beautiful play), which is characterized by crisp pinpoint passing, deft footwork, and some dazzling skills that knock opponents off their feet. They are the epitome of attacking flair, with scoring as the mantra of winning games. Yet, this year strangely there aren't any headliners or superstars in Brazil's lineup that people can mention, except perhaps Kaka. A team once known for the sum of individual brilliance is now transformed into a team of hard working role players who contribute to a defense-first style of play. It's boring and some think the counter attack is the worst trick in the playbook but it wins games. Just ask Mourinho.
Luis Fabiano may not be the superstar like many of his compatriots before him, but he is still a threat to be reckoned with. He has speed and size to be a typical target man. But more importantly, Dunga, the current Brazil coach was a defensive player that helped bring the Jules Rimet back to his country in 1994. And even though this is his first world cup as a coach, he's brought defensive toughness and pass first mindset to the Brazil team, which is completely unheard of for the Seleçao. On top of that, Brazil boasts the best goalkeeper in the world in Julio Cesar. Coupled with enough firepower up front in Fabiano and Robinho, with some midfield wizardry provided by Kaka, Brazil looks like a winner. But in the end, I think it will come down to Julio Cesar having some incredible saves to keep Brazil in the race, and ultimately winning.
Some other prognostications for the World Cup:
Golden Ball: Julio Cesar
Golden Boot: Wayne Rooney
Best Young Player: Mesut Ozil
Most Entertaining Team: Netherlands
Now that I've made my predictions I'm ready for all of them to be untrue, as World Cup has a knack for producing upsets, questionable calls, and scandalous decisions. But that is part of the beautiful game.
Finally, enjoy one of my favorite players of all time, capturing the World Cup for France in 1988 with two marvelous headers. Starting next week, I will attempt to blog throughout the tournament. See you then.
12 Players To Watch This World Cup: Part 2
14 days left till the World Cup in South Africa. Anyone else getting excited? Last time around I was lucky enough to have a flexible schedule and ended up watching every single game live. I was so pumped back then, I remember blogging about every game after the group stage, but alas, I have since moved platforms and my old blog is nowhere to be found. Those were the glory days when my beloved France surprised everyone (even myself) and went to the final. I tried to reminisce through my writings of that time, but I guess the internet doesn't remember everything. Sigh.
Interesting figures coming out of South Africa are none of the 64 games have been sold out, and over 160,000 tickets are still available. It goes to show the African continent is yet still not as attractive for a global event, and the world economy has put a major dent in spending. But that won't deter fans from enjoying one of the best sporting events in the world. Now, on to the other six players to watch. To read the previous post, go here.
Park Chu Young (Korea)
Everyone is raving about the double dragon, Ki Sung Yong and Lee Chung Yong. Sure, I'm looking forward to them succeeding this time as well, as they are both 21 in age and both have started to play in Europe this past season. Heck, my Korea jersey has Sung Yong in the back of it. I'm definitely a fan of them. But I'm an even more of a fan of Park Chu Young, the AS Monaco striker that has been given the privilege to wear the coveted number 10 shirt for a European team. To me, that's a huge feat for an Asian person trying to break into the European top flight.
I really hope that Park Chu Young performs well this year. He did well enough last world cup to get a call from a European club, but so far hasn't really made his mark yet, as AS Monaco hardly gets the publicity as a Manchester United or a Real Madrid. Will Park Chu Young elevate his game and play for a top tier club once in his career? I'm hoping that this summer will prove that he can.
Yoann Gourcuff (France)
France may not have its field general Zidane this summer, but they never cease to have great talent coming from the ranks. The 23 year old Gourcuff just might be Zizou's successor for the French national team. While Ribery is more comfortable on the wings, Gourcuff is out and out a midfield playmaker. He likes to roam in the middle, distribute the ball, and even score when necessary. Although he started out at AC Milan as a hot prospect, he unfortunately had to compete with Kaka (and Seedorf, Pirlo and Ambrosini) for a starting position and ended up warming the bench during his two year stint there. After moving to Bordeaux, he took them to a Ligue 1 title last year and a Champions league quarter-final this year.
France barely made it into the World Cup this year, thanks to "le hand of God". Domenech is an incompetent coach. Yet, I'm still rooting for Les Bleus. France has a solid defense with an awesome keeper Hugo Lloris, the back held by Evra, Sagna, Clichy, and Squillaci, and an impressive midfield in Diarra, Gourcuff, Malouda, and Ribery (depends on Domenech goes with a 4-4-2 or a more attacking 4-3-3), and Anelka and Henry up top. Hopefully they will advance the group stages behind Gourcuff's midfield magic.
Angel Di Maria (Argentina)
Many consider the reason why Messi has never shined on the international stage is because unlike his Barcelona teammates, his national side teammates do not have the same style of crisp passing and "on-the-ground" play where Messi thrives. While Di Maria has all the footwork and skill to keep possession and beat players, scoring is more of his strength rather than passing. That means, don't expect him to be a Xavi for Messi. Argentina is one of the few countries with endless scoring options (Higuain, Tevez, Milito, Messi) both from midfield and from up top. Regardless of how Argentina fares, Angel Di Maria is bound to leave Benfica for more glory. Hopefully, there will be enough organization from Maxi Rodriquez and Mascherano to provide their forwards with many chances.
Roque Santa Cruz (Paraguay)
Some call him the "most good looking footballer in the world," but regardless of his good looks, Roque Santa Cruz is first and foremost a great soccer player. He's had a bad bout with injuries this past season and didn't contribute much to Manchester City this year, so the World Cup is definitely an opportunity to prove the world that he still has what it takes to be counted among the best. Paraguay is no longer with their first choice striker, Salvador Cabañas, but Roque Santa Cruz and Oscar Cardozo (Benfica teammate with Angel Di Maria) will fill that gap. At 28, Roque (pronounced Rocky) is a through and through veteran, and will provide much leadership for Paraguay. Everyone considers Group F to be the weakest, and Paraguay should have no problem advancing through.
Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Diego Forlan is one of those stars that continues to shine, in spite of his age. He's performed some last minute heroics to keep Atletico Madrid in the Europa League, eventually scoring in the final and giving Atletico the title. For an aging star, I'm looking forward to Forlan playing, because it's always a joy to watch older players still outperform many of the younger ones. Uruguay is currently the favorites in a tough Group A, where France, Mexico and South Africa will battle it out to come out of it as well. Everyone knows the tremendous advantage home field is, and France and Mexico have been very inconsistent as of late, so should be interesting to see who will push through.
On any given day France will easily overcome, but the new firepower in Carlos Vela, Dos Santos, and now Chicharito, Mexico may outperform and advance beyond the group stage. Look to Forlan to deliver some magic yet again.
Cesc Fabregas (Spain)
And finally, I'm looking forward to seeing Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas perform this world cup. No, I'm not biased. I just think all eyes will be on him. Iniesta is injured, Xavi will probably be playing his last world cup, so this is Cesc' moment to shine. With all the hype and rumor about Cesc making a move to his boyhood club Barcelona this summer, everyone is buzzing about his future. Spain is considered the favorites to win it all and they do have an impressive squad, but whether they can shed their perennial "great squad that never wins" stigma, we'll have to see.
At 23, Fabregas is still quite young and already shows loads of talent. Depending on playing time this summer, I have no doubt that everyone will count him among the best, right up there with Messi, Rooney and CR.
Next week, I'm going to gaze into the crystal ball and lay my predictions for who will go to the finals and who will win it all.
12 Players To Watch This World Cup: Part 1
One thing I'm looking forward to most is seeing how certain players perform at soccer's biggest stage. This is a chance for budding stars to break into the scene. It's also a chance for older athletes to prove that they still have what it takes to change the game. And then for some, it's an opportunity to be grouped with the best of the best, where their exploits will be made into legends and folklore, passed to future generations through Youtube.
Here are the players that I will be watching closely this World Cup. Right off the bat, there is no Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, or Kaka. I didn't include token USA player Landon Donovan either. People are going to pay attention to them anyway, for their star power, and to see if they can outperform the expectations set upon them. This list of twelve players is mostly to see developing talent (with a few already established players), ones who truly have potential to breakthrough into the top tier of world soccer players, and perhaps those who have quite a story to tell at the world's biggest stage for football.
Robin Van Persie (Netherlands)
During Robin Van Persie's first few years at Arsenal, there was an outbound Dutch compatriot legend named Dennis Bergkamp. I suspect those few years together gave Bergkamp the chance to pass on his legacy to an upcoming star. The similarity of their style of play is very striking.
Although RVP has been injured most of last season, he is still a force to be reckoned with. He is a superb passer and an out and out goal scorer. He has deadly accurate free kicks, and a knack for finding the back of the net from awkward angles. And for a European, he has deft footwork and creative ability to get past defenders... much like the Brazilians. Man, I can't say enough good things about him. I expect team Nederland to perform very well this year, even though they lack a strong defense (as usual). Their scoring options are endless, and as the originators of total football, I expect every match to be amazing to watch. And if RVP shines, then the world will know what Arsenal fans have known for a long time, that what a top class player he is.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez (Mexico)
Javier Hernandez, also known as "Chicharito", is Mexico's newest sensation. He's no longer a secret, as Manchester United signed him for an undisclosed fee back in April. At age 22, he is young enough to continue to develop and arrive at his peak around when he's 26. I've seen a few friendlies and didn't think he was on target at all, but still the prospect of him doing well is there. Will he choke in front of the whole world watching? Or will he be laser sharp in front of goal? We'll find out soon enough.
Marek Hamsik (Slovakia)
Everyone is talking about the 23 year old Marek Hamsik these days. Yesterday, he was virtually an unkown footballer, quietly plying his trade in Napoli (who follows Napoli unless they live in Naples?) Today, seems like all the big clubs want him, including money-is-no-object Manchester City.
He is most often compared with Xabi Alonso, for his passing ability and creative play in the midfield. Slovakia may not have a strong team this time around, but watching Hamsik will be a treat in my opinion. And depending on how he does, he will definitely be bought by a bigger club. Just look at what Euro 2008 did for Arshavin.
Gervinho (Ivory Coast)
Gervinho, also known as Gervais Yao Kouassi, is a Ivory Coast striker that's going to be eager to overcome the shadow of Didier Drobga as a threat from the Elephants this summer. He has an interesting Brazilian name, supposedly a nickname given to him during his youth academy days by a Brazilian coach. He's only 22 so he has a long way ahead of him, and if all the scouting reports are true, he can easily break into a bigger club in Spain or England. I remember rumors of him joining Arsenal a few years back, and although that never materialized, I wouldn't be surprised if other big clubs come knocking on his door depending on the performance of the Elephants in South Africa.
With the powerful Drogba and Kalou up front, Ivory Coast is going to field an impressive squad with the likes of the Toure brothers, Keita, and the resurgent Aruna Dindane. I don't think Gervinho will start ahead of Kalou and Dindane, but hope when he does, he will deliver a performance everyone will remember.
Guiseppe Rossi (Italy)
Also known in some circles as Il Traditore (the traitor), Guiseppe Rossi actually is a New Jersey native that decided to play for the Azurri rather than the Red White and Blue. At 5 foot 8, he's pretty small but he has a good sense of space and can finish on either foot. Once again, there's a lot of talk of moving Rossi to a bigger club than Villareal, but I really don't think he will be any better than he is now. The World Cup obviously is the stage to prove skeptics like me wrong, but with an aging Italy squad behind him, and with the likes of Gilardino and Toni starting ahead of him, not sure if he will create too much buzz with his play. But of course, I can imagine all the ESPN announcers lamenting how he got away from the US national team's grasps every time he comes on the pitch. Maybe a special segment on his family back in New Jersey, and an interview of his hometown friends. Suffice to say, our American broadcasters will definitely make a big deal out of him.
Mesut Özil (Germany)
Germany is another one of those teams, like Italy, who have an aging squad that is virtually unchanged from World Cup 2006 and Euro 2008. However, this is a great time to see Mesut Özil rise to prominence. At only 21 and already competing in German Bundesliga (9 goals last season for Werder Bremen) at the highest level, it seems that there is nowhere but up to go for the young midfielder. Frankly, there hasn't been any German player worth following since Ballack, and he is definitely past his prime. Özil seems to carry a lot of promise, and I'm anxious to see how well he fares. Plus, it puts me in good graces with my wife who was born in Germany.
Next week, I'll finish it off with the rest of the 12 players I'll be watching carefully this World Cup. But for now, I leave you with this Youtube clip, Dennis Bergkamp's wondergoal back in the 1988 World Cup. You won't see a prettier first touch than this.
Ushering A New Era
I'm retiring my car of 9 years, 130,000 miles, four trips from Michigan to the East Coast (Boston, New York, New Jersey), countless weekend commutes from Chicago to Ann Arbor, treks through Canada, one cross country trip from Michigan to California, several Norcal-Socal trips, rain, snow, sleet and hail. 
Now ushering a new era in.
