No, we haven't gone mad. We are not previewing the 2011 Cricket World Cup, but the small matter of the football World Cup kicking off in Johannesburg today when South Africa take on Mexico at Soccer City.
Cricket may be our main sporting passion, but until the last year or so football came close. That was before we get a little tired of the blanket coverage, hype and the primadonnas that play the game - especially in England. Of course, the fact that our team Liverpool have just had an annus horribilis has nothing to do with our disillusionment. No really.
But the lure of a World Cup and a World Cup in Africa at that, has brought us back into the fold. We may not have the passion we once had for the England national side, but the four yearly festival of football is something that really whets the appetite. So as a one-off, this cricket blog is going to have the odd football post over the coming weeks.
We start with our quickfire preview of the group stages of the tournament together with our predictions for this first stage.
Group A (South Africa, France, Mexico, Uruguay)
The hosts have never failed to qualify for the second phase and we back the passionate South Africans to carry their side through. Normally we would tip France to join them, but at the moment they are the West Indies of football - a once great side in total disarray. We expect Diego Forlan's Uruguay to beat the French tonight and set in motion a tournament to equal 2002 when the then holders went home after the group stages. At least that's what we hope as Anglos living in France! Mexico are a decent enough side, but we go for Uruguay and South Africa here.
Group B (Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, South Korea)
Argentina may have misfired in qualifying with the loose cannon that is Diego Maradona in charge. But any team that has Messi, Tevez, Maschareno and Di Maria should not be underestimated. They will certainly get through this group along with Nigeria, who should have too much for obdurate Greece and a South Korean team that never seems to perform away from Asia.
Group C (England, Slovenia, Algeria, USA)
We don't subscribe to the tabloid press view in England that their side will win the World Cup. However, this is a group that they will win with something to spare providing that they don't get surprised by a competitive US side in their first game. Algeria, Africa's weakest team here, will not present England or the US with many problems and neither will Slovenia.
Group D (Germany, Serbia, Ghana, Australia)
This is a tough group to call. Germany always do well in tournament football and despite losing captain Michael Ballack to injury, should get through as one of the top two. Who joins them is difficult to pick. Australia will be tough but lack real quality, Serbia can blow hot and cold and Ghana are without the inspirational Michael Essien. As the tournament is in Africa, we'll back the Ghanaians to join the Germans in round two.
Group E (Netherlands, Denmark, Cameroon, Japan)
We'll be stunned if the Netherlands don't cakewalk this group and they must be one of the teams most likely to win the whole competition. Japan have been in poor form and can be discounted, whilst Denmark are a fairly limited side. As such we take Cameroon to join the Dutch in round two.
Group F (Italy, Slovakia, Paraguay, New Zealand)
The holders have the easiest group and won't have to move out of second gear to get to the last 16. New Zealand could well be the weakest team in the tournament and are likely to lose every game. Slovakia could surprise Paraguay, but we take the South American side to sneak through with the Italians.
Group G (Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast, North Korea)
Even if Kim Jong Il drops nuclear bombs on Rio, Lisbon and Abidjan, his side have no chance of progressing to the last 16 - we will be surprised if they even get a point. Brazil will qualify of course, but whether it is Ronaldo's Portugal or Drogba's Ivory Coast side that join them is a real toss up. As an England fan we'll tip the Ivorians in the hope that it will mean that England can not lose on penalties this time to the Portuguese.
Group H (Spain, Switzerland, Chile, Honduras)
European Champions Spain, who have only lost one game since 2007 will have no trouble in negotiating this group. We don't expect much from the Hondurans and take Chile to have too much skill for the dour Swiss.
Who will win the tournament?
Ever since 2007, we have been tipping Spain. Any team that has the likes of Torres, Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Alonso, Sergio Ramos and Casillas will definitely be there or thereabouts. Winning the 2008 European Championship was the final proof that this was not the underachieving Spain of the past. So we go for them to complete a double. Of the other sides, we would expect Brazil, Argentina, Holland and Italy to run them close, and with England seeded to meet France in the quarter final, then Fabio Capello's side could well reach the semi-finals.
What about the African sides?
It would be great for an African team to go far. Ivory Coast are the best bet but they will do well to qualify from a group including Brazil and Portugal. So it may be up to Nigeria to emulate the Cameroon side of 1990 and Senegal in 2002 by reaching the quarter finals.
Who are the players to watch?
If we had to pick five, we'd go for Messi, Rooney, Iniesta, Robben and Di Maria.
Let the festival begin.
I have a feeling that the Euro 2008 win would have left Spain saturated... I would also have tipped Argentina, but I am not too sure of Maradona's coaching abilities...
But then, I am not too sure off any other team's chances either... The Dutch look strong, but they have also been underachievers for too long to really take them seriously...
So in short, I am confused!
Posted by: Shridhar Jaju | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 19:52
But wisely you didn't mention England! Rubbish goalkeepers, you see :-(
Posted by: The Reverse Sweep | Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 07:51
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