World Cup Report: Days 1-3

Three days in to the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the tournament is well underway now, with half of the thirty-two teams, having started their campaigns for success in South Africa.  Apart from England (who will be covered in separate match reports), here are minor details of the other seven matches to be played over the weekend.

Friday 11^th June: South Africa 1-1 Mexico

After a colourful and spectacular opening ceremony in Soccer City, the hosts won an unlikely and deserving point in the Group A opener in Johannesburg.  Against the talented North Americans Mexico, South Africa overcame the expected early nerves to break the deadlock early in the second half, when neat build-up released Siphiwe Tshabalala, who fired in a thunderbolt of an opening World Cup goal.  Cue massive celebrations for Bafana Bafana.  Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez ruined the party, taking advantage of slack marking to score from close range with 12 minutes left, but South Africa had done a nation proud and kept them believing of an unlikely passage into the knockout stages.

Friday 11^th June: Uruguay 0-0 France

As in the 2002 Group Stages, Uruguay and France played out a dull goalless draw in Cape Town.  Sidney Govou went closest in the early exchanges, failing to connect on a wonderful Patrice Evra cross.  Despite Diego Forlan threatening on occasion, the South Americans failed to capitalise on Raymond Domenach bizarre decision to leave Thierry Henry and Florent Malouda out of his starting eleven.  Substitute Nicolas Loderio picked up two yellows in the last ten minutes, which saw the Uruguay player become the first player to be dismissed in the finals.  It was an awful match, and left the favourites happy to see the French pose absolutely no threat to the probable final outcome in the tournament’s later stages.

Saturday 12^th June: South Korea 2-0 Greece

In Port Elizabeth, South Korea made a confident start with an emphatic 2-0 success over ageing Greece.  The 2004 European champions made little impact on the proceedings, conceding in either half to Lee Jung-Soo and Manchester United winger, Park-Ji Sung.

Saturday 12^th June: Argentina 1-0 Nigeria

A dominant Argentina gave Diego Maradona a winning start to World Cup management at Ellis Park.  Africans Nigeria, who beat Argentina to win the Olympic gold in 1996, was no match for Maradona’s superstars, and ended up being lucky to lose this Group B encounter by just the one goal.  This was largely down to an inspired goalkeeping performance from Vincent Enyeama and poor finishing from the South Americans, Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi especially guilty.  The only goal came in the sixth minute, with Gabriel Heinze powering home from Juan Sebastian Veron well-executed corner.

Sunday 13^th June: Algeria 0-1 Slovenia

England shouldn’t be too worried about their fellow Group C opponents, if this game has anything to go by.  Slovenia won their first ever World Cup match in a stinking match, settled by Robert Koren’s optimistic drive with ten minutes to go, which slipped through the grasp of Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi.

Sunday 13^th June: Serbia 0-1 Ghana

Africa received its first victory on day three, courtesy of Asamoah Gyan’s late penalty, earning Ghana a hard-fought 1-0 success against Serbia.  Raddy Antic’s side failed to cope with the powerful Ghanaian midfield, which dominated the game and were reduced to ten men, when defender Aleksandar Lukovic was dismissed for two yellow cards in the 74^th minute.  Gyan’s penalty came five minutes from time, when Serbia substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic needlessly handled a dangerous cross.

Sunday 13^th June: Germany 4-0 Australia

Germany sent a message to the rest of the global opposition, with an impressive demolition of Australia in Durban last night.  Joachim Low’s gamble to play out-of-form strikers Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose paid off, as the strike duo answered any doubters, with two first-half strikes.  Klose’s goal was his 11^th in three FIFA World Cup tournaments.  Everton Tim Cahill was harshly dismissed for a mistimed challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger early in the second half, which ended outside hope for the Socceroos.  Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller and substitute striker Cacau rounded off the rout midway through the second half, with two classy finishes to quality moves.  Make this note: The Germans must be taken seriously after this performance.

2010 World Cup Preview - Part 2

In this second segment, me (Simon Wright) has taken time out of  my busy schedule to preview four of the eight groups in the 2010 World Cup.  Here, I will give his predictions for these teams, and their strengths and weaknesses.  With the big kick-off tomorrow, the anticipation is nearly over.

GROUP B

ARGENTINA

FIFA ranking: 8

Coach: Diego Maradona 

Best: Winners (1978, 1986)

Key player: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Diego Maradona is a coach who is probably just as confused as the rest of us.  He used over 80 players in qualification and they only just scraped to South Africa.  If Argentina deliver, then it will be down to Lionel Messi.  The Barcelona wonderkid has been amazing for his club, less so for his country, largely because he has been played out of position by Maradona.  Esteban Cambiasso's absence is a shock, but with talent like Tevez, Aguero and Mascherano around and if Maradona can get the best out of his players, then expect the South Americans to be in the final reckoning.

PREDICTION: Semi-Finalists (Losing the 3rd placed playoff)


NIGERIA

FIFA ranking: 15

Coach: Lars Lagerback 

Best: Second Round (1994, 1998)

Key player: Obafemi Martins (VFL Wolfsburg)

This is Lars Lagerback's first solo coaching job and he will have a job to produce miracles for the Super Eagles.  However, despite the bitter blow of losing John Obi Mikel before the finals, Nigeria have quality all around the park, especially in the starting eleven.  They should have the potential to escape the group.

PREDICTION: Second Round


SOUTH KOREA

FIFA ranking: 49

Coach: Huh Jung-Moo 

Best: Semi-Finalists (2002)

Key player: Ji-Sung Park (Manchester United)

Eight years ago, South Korea stunned the world, to reach the last four on home soil.  However, they have failed to develop since then, and are still relying on the 2002 crop, who are past their peak.  Experience is their main drawback.

PREDICTION: Group Stages



GREECE

FIFA ranking: 12

Coach: Otto Rehengel

Best: Group Stages (1994)

Key player: Angelos Charisteas (FC Nurnberg)

Greece's previous World Cup experience was a disaster, with no goals and no points to show for their 1994 effort.  However, they are better equipped this time around.  Otto Rehengel has kept the majority of the squad that won Euro 2004 against the odds, so they are in a similar boat to South Korea.  However, a strong team unit is the vital ingredient to their success.  Their group match with Nigeria could well be the deciding factor for the Greeks.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

GROUP D

GERMANY

FIFA ranking: 6

Coach: Joachim Low

Best: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990)

Key player: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)

The Germans should never be underestimated or discounted.  They are typically around in the final stage,s despite never playing the most attractive football.  The goals of Miroslav Klose and the talent that Bastian Schweinsteiger has to be the main element to any success in South Africa, but injuries have ruined Germany's build-up, which could prove to be the deciding factor.

PREDICTION: Second Round

AUSTRALIA

FIFA ranking: 23

Coach: Pim Veerbeek

Best: Second Round (2006)

Key player: Tim Cahill (Everton)

The Socceroos eased through qualifying in their new region, Asia.  However, they don't look so strong on paper, as they did in 2006.  The form of Tim Cahill will be the main proving point for any Australian success in the finals.  A tough group doesn't help matters, so it could well be a tournament of little joy.

PREDICTION: Group Stage


SERBIA

FIFA ranking: 19

Coach: Raddy Antic

Best: Quarter-Finals (1990) (AS YUGOSLAVIA)

Key player: Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)

Serbia impressed in qualification, beating France and consequently avoiding a difficult playoff in the process.  Raddy Antic has come out of retirement to coach Serbia for a second time, and if it wasn't for the group they were drawn in, I'd expect them to play a major force in 2010.  Sadly, Group D looks very tough to advance out of, and I generally think that two teams are better than Serbia.

PREDICTION: Group Stages

GHANA

FIFA ranking: 27

Coach: Milvoan Rajevac

Best: Second Round (2006)

Key player: Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan)

The Ghana team were the only African side to reach the last 16 in 2006, and cruised through qualifying.  The loss of Michael Essien is a blow to their preparations, but was expected.  Ghana's attacking intent, combined with a lot of physical prowless and strength, could leave them to be the biggest surprise of World Cup 2010.

PREDICTION: Quarter-Finalists

GROUP E

HOLLAND

FIFA ranking: 3

Coach: Bert Van Marwijk

Best: Runners-Up (1974, 1978)

Key player: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)

Holland are the perennial underachievers of World Cup football, having finished runners-up twice in the 70's.  Despite the talent of Neeskens, Cruyff, Guillt, Van Basten and Bergkamp down the years, there has been no world trophy to show for their efforts.  Once again, this could be a similar story for the beginners of 'Total Football.'  Arjen Robben's battle to return to full fitness could have a big bearing on their final efforts.

PREDICTION: Quarter-Finalists

DENMARK

FIFA ranking: 26

Coach: Morten Olsen

Best: Quarter-Finals (1998)

Key player: Christian Poulsen (Juventus)

It is nice to see Denmark back at the main football party, six years since their quarter-final appearance in Euro 2004.  Morten Olsen is still the coach, and will need goals from Niklas Bendtner and the ageing Jon Dahl Tomasson for a successful tournament.  Scandinavia's only hope this time around will be pleased to meet their minimum expectation, escaping the group stages.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

JAPAN

FIFA ranking: 40

Coach: Takeshi Okada

Best: Round 2 (2002)

Key player: Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow)

Japan are in woeful form arriving into the competition, so this could be a very difficult tournament for them.  On their day, the Japanese have been known to give teams a fright for sustained periods, without transforming it into a decent result.  Sadly, with such a tough group, I can only see this popular side taking one of the first aeroplanes out of South Africa.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

CAMEROON

FIFA ranking: 20

Coach: Paul Le Guen

Best: Quarter-Finals (1990)

Key player: Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan)

The Indomindable Lions of Italia 90 must feel they have underachieved of late.  However, with the well-respected, if temperamental Paul Le Guen in charge, things are finally looking up for Cameroon.  Making Samuel Eto'o captain was a move of genius, and although there has been some unrest in the camp in the build-up to the finals, I'm convinced they will survive a tricky test against Denmark and progress from Group E.

PREDICTION: Second Round

GROUP H

SPAIN

FIFA ranking: 2

Coach: Vicente del Bosque

Best: 4th Place (1950), Quarter-Finals (1986, 1994, 2002)

Key player: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Spain have always failed to deliver at the World Cup, when it matters.  Whether that's an inspired Belgian goalkeeper (1986), Baggio's last-gasp heartbreak (1994) or dodgy linesman decisions (2002), the result has always been the same.  However, they come into the tournament as red-hot favourites, and their 6-0 warm-up triumph over Poland on Tuesday is some indication.  Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Casillas, Torres, Fabregas, Villa, there's quality all over the pitch and on the bench too, I think this will be the year when the Spanish finally rest their demons for good.

PREDICTION: WINNERS

SWITZERLAND

FIFA ranking: 18

Coach: Omar Hitzfeld

Best: Second Round (1994, 2006)

Key player: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen)

Otmar Hitzfeld's side recovered from an embarassing loss to Luxembourg in qualifying, to overcome stern challenges from Greece and Israel, to book their place in South Africa.  They haven't conceded at the World Cup since 1994 (ironically against Spain), who are their opponents in Wednesday's opener.  Switzerland are a dangerous side on their day, but lack the cutting edge when it requires to firepower at the right end of goal.  Matching their 1994 and 2006 feat of the knockout stage, will be seen as a positive tournament.

PREDICTION: Second Round

HONDURAS

FIFA ranking: 34

Coach: Reinaldo Rueda 

Best: Group Stages (1982)

Key player: Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur)

OK, they may be major outsiders in Group H, but Honduras should never be discounted.  They did extremeyl well to edge out traditional qualifiers, Costa Rica in making the finals, and play some very attractive, gung-ho football, which could result in some of the most exciting games to come in the finals.  Winning a game will be their target, and that is an achievable goal.

PREDICTION: Group Stages


CHILE

FIFA ranking: 16                                                    

Coach: Marcelo Bielsa

Best: 3rd (1962)

Key player: Alexis Sanchez (Udinese)

Like Honduras, Chile can not be discounted come the final reckoning, in what is a well-matched group behind the runaway group favourites, Spain.  Alexis Sanchez has had an injury-hit season for Udinese, and when he played in Serie A, he looked hopelessly off the pace.  Perhaps he is saving his best form for the World Cup, certainly more Chileans will be hoping so, as they will be relying on his dominance of the midfield, if they are to avoid an unanimous early exit.                                           

PREDICTION: Group Stages