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World Cup Action: Well, are you?
Host nation South Africa are in Group A and get the tournament started by playing Mexico. The hosts were the country every non top-seed wanted to be paired with and Mexico, alongside France and Uruguay will be fancying their chances of progressing to the knock-out round. France will rightly start as favourites for the group but they have not hit form in recent years.
Coach Raymond Domenech knows that this will be his last tournament and there will be a heavy reliance on Frank Ribery, who has been carrying an injury for most of the season. Uruguay are perennially the outsiders but with Diego Forlan in Europa League winning form, the former two times World Champions will fancy their chances of progressing from the group.
The South African fans will get behind their team for the entire 90 minutes and more but it may be a long haul if they are unable to raise their game significantly.
All eyes on Group B will be firmly focussed on Diego Maradona and whether he can impact on the world¡¯s greatest tournament as a manager the way that he did as a player. Most people want to see Argentina in the way a car crash is viewed, you know you shouldn¡¯t look but you cannot take your eyes off them.
Lionel Messi is the best player in the world on current club form but he struggles to replicate this at international level. The system of play for the national team is very different and many critics say the inability to free Messi up will prevent Argentina from progressing far.
The group has been kind to Argentina though with Greece and the Korean Republic not being, on paper, a formidable test. The crucial game of the group could come when Argentina face Nigeria. If a home continent team is going to do well this year, Nigeria or Ivory Coast look to be the best bet and the Super Eagles could even top the group.
Group C contains England and similar to every four years, the murmurings of England winning the World Cup has begun. Their opponents of USA, Algeria and Slovenia shouldn¡¯t present much opposition to England but it is hard to see Fabio Capello¡¯s boys winning the tournament. Too many key players like Terry, Ferdinand and Gerrard have been off form whilst injury doubts over Rooney and Barry could prove decisive. A semi-final place may not be beyond England but it is difficult to see how they can win it.
The United States will consider themselves to be in with a very good chance of progressing to the knock-out rounds but yet again, the familiarity that the Algerian players will have with South Africa could prove crucial in deciding who progresses alongside England from Group C.
Germany are the top seeds in Group D and it is hard to see who out of Australia, Serbia or Ghana will stop them. The loss of Michael Essien will hamper Ghana greatly but the Germans can point to the absence of Michael Ballack as a negative point for their campaign.
Australia were extremely unfortunate to be knocked out by Italy at World Cup 2006 but they had Guus Hiddink in charge then, a man who can make a difference to any team. Whether the Socceroos have enough about them to progress from the group remains to be seen.
Group E sees European near neighbours Holland and Denmark compete alongside Japan and Cameroon. This group has a genuinely competitive element to who will progress although the Dutch are clear favourites to top the group. The Dutch started Euro 2008 in terrific form but fizzled out rather quickly. A similar start will very welcome from the Dutch fans hoping their national team can reach the latter stages of the World Cup for the first in decades.
Group F sees World Cup holders Italy in another group that looks very favourable to the top seeds. Italy faced New Zealand last summer with the match finishing 4-3 to the Azzuri. The match was more akin to a training exercise than full match so do not expect a similar score line this time around but do not be shocked if Italy win all three matches against New Zealand, Slovakia and Paraguay.
For many people, there are two things which should always be present at the World Cup. Brazil and a group called the Group of Death. Group G sees both of these things as the 5 times winners of the World Cup square off against Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea. The deciding match of the group sees Portugal and Brazil clashing, a match that will be highly anticipated.
Cristiano Ronaldo had a phenomenal debut season at Real Madrid but his goals and assists were not enough to clinch any silverware for his new team. It is likely that he will be managed by Jose Mourinho next season so silver ware may be forthcoming but is unlikely to come for Ronaldo this summer. The Ivory Coast, with Didier Drogba leading the line, pose a serious threat to Portugal progressing to the knock-out round and if any team can win their match, they will be well on their way to getting out of the group.
The final group sees Euro 2008 winners Spain as the top seeds and it is unlikely that Switzerland, Chile or Honduras will present any real challenge to the Spaniards. Doubts over the fitness over Fernando Torres and Andreas Iniesta will cast some doubt over the chances of Spain winning the tournament but they are in with a shout. New Barcelona signing David Villa is likely to be one of the most watched men in the tournament and he will be keen to carry on his goal scoring form from Euro 2008.
Any of the other three teams will consider themselves in with a shout of progressing to the knock-out rounds so this group could contain a few matches of interest amongst the lower lights at the tournament.
by Andrew Reilly
for The Silver Circle at www.footballtip.co.uk
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Dear Greg,
I've been a member since July 2003, maybe one of the first to join the Silver Circle.
2004 was a good year but I really enjoyed the long run we had in, I think, July 2005. It was exhilarating! 2006-2007 was not as exciting although still quite profitable and so far 2007-2008 looks quite good. I'm wondering if we're going to hit a long one again soon. Anyway, it's been a pleasure as always with your service, Greg. Armstrong and you are one of the few people I trust on the internet. You have made my retirement so much more fun and financially happy!
Best Wishes, Trent Wrayford, Sidney
