I am an absolute sucker for stories like these. So much so that I am going to share them. I absolutely love my Boxing and MMA, and when I am caught up in watching these guys put their health and bodies on the line, it is easy to forget that they are normal people. Normal people who have the same hardships as so many others. One is a story about a fighter struggling to make ends meet. Another is about a boxer whose wife has been fighting for her life. I have such admiration for these guys.
http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AnxErNSF5THKW6aJQnLf1oiUxLYF?slug=ki-guerrero072210
http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_ylt=AiIkODNrsWBHdW.EVnw_6jU9Eo14?slug=ki-volkmann072210
I'll also praise Kevin Iole. Easily my favourite journalist who covers Boxing and UFC. Superb pieces and I thoroughly enjoyed reading both of them.
These are the kind of stories that keep everything in perspective.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
What we do for love
Anybody heard of a boxer called Steve Molitor? I am guessing most non-boxing fans have not thus I will introduce him. Molitor is Canadian and a Junior Featherweight world champion with a record of 32 wins and just the one defeat. He is not a particularly powerful puncher as his 12 knockouts suggest, but he is technically very good and one of these gritty kind of guys, which I appreciate and enjoy watching. He came to my attention as he has fought in England a handful of times and beaten three English guys. He is due to fight another in September - Jason Booth - and I expect him to outclass him also. He seems like a really good bloke whenever I have heard him speak or read stories about him.
There is a twist in the tale however. His older brother Jeremy is currently in prison serving a term for murdering his partner. It is a pretty gruesome story which you can google if you wish. Anyhow, the way in which Steve deals with it is quite noble in my view. He completely accepts what his brother did was disgusting and appalling, but he visits him frequently and voices his love and support for him despite his actions. He has never sought to accept, justify or explain his brother's action, but has stuck by him.
It's an interesting story and one which has made me think a fair bit. I guess that is a form of unconditional love. Virtually everybody else would disown the guy other than family and in many instances, I suspect the family would also. It reminds me a little bit of when I was younger, how my mum used to tell me that if I did anything illegal, she would be the first person to go to the police. I know she would have still loved me, but she would have thrown me to the wolves, and I have no doubt about that. It was a fair incentive not to do anything bad and thankfully I never did get in any serious trouble.
It is a pretty sad and grim story really, but I genuinely admire Steve's stance. It cannot be easy for anybody in that position, and I am not sure how I would feel in the same situation. One thing is for sure, putting it aside and becoming a top class boxer is pretty impressive and he is one who I have a lot of respect for.
There is a twist in the tale however. His older brother Jeremy is currently in prison serving a term for murdering his partner. It is a pretty gruesome story which you can google if you wish. Anyhow, the way in which Steve deals with it is quite noble in my view. He completely accepts what his brother did was disgusting and appalling, but he visits him frequently and voices his love and support for him despite his actions. He has never sought to accept, justify or explain his brother's action, but has stuck by him.
It's an interesting story and one which has made me think a fair bit. I guess that is a form of unconditional love. Virtually everybody else would disown the guy other than family and in many instances, I suspect the family would also. It reminds me a little bit of when I was younger, how my mum used to tell me that if I did anything illegal, she would be the first person to go to the police. I know she would have still loved me, but she would have thrown me to the wolves, and I have no doubt about that. It was a fair incentive not to do anything bad and thankfully I never did get in any serious trouble.
It is a pretty sad and grim story really, but I genuinely admire Steve's stance. It cannot be easy for anybody in that position, and I am not sure how I would feel in the same situation. One thing is for sure, putting it aside and becoming a top class boxer is pretty impressive and he is one who I have a lot of respect for.
Friday, July 9, 2010
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
Well the World Cup is almost over. 64 games, one month, comes to a close on Sunday with a pretty decent final awaiting us. As anybody having read my pre-tournament analysis will know, I rate Spain as the best team around right now. They started slow with a poor loss to the Swiss, and had some average performances along the way, but they seem to have peaked at just the right time with a truly world class performance against Germany in the semis.
I heard early in the tournament some interesting information about Spain’s preparations at altitude training and how it had all been timed so that they would peak in the knockout phase of the competition. All of which sounds pretty sensible, plausible and logical. I also heard that England had done the same, following a similar regime. Unfortunately, they were unable to get through to the stage when that work would pay off!
I fully expect Spain to win the final. The Dutch have done well and surprised me somewhat, particularly the game against Brazil. They have won all their games in the tournament and are unbeaten in something like 25 games which is pretty impressive. That all said, I do not think they have faced a team like Spain.
There are a number of key elements which strongly favour Spain and how I expect the game to play out. Spain’s midfield is the best in the world bar none. I would go as far to say that there is no other national team that comes close to rivalling them in that area. Having seen Van Bommel exposed frequently against Brazil and Uruguay – I have no idea how he did not receive at least three bookings in those two games combined – they will really struggle to keep hold of the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and co. Even more so than the Germans did. Schweinsteiger has been fantastic the whole tournament, one of the best central midfielders. He was completely nullified in that game, and I expect Wesley Sneijder to face the same difficulties.
The other area is defensively. Holland have been somewhat flattered I think in this area, and I think it is a weakness – particularly against teams and players with excellent movement. I like Heitinga and he is probably the best of the bunch, but he will find it hard to deal with David Villa. Likewise down the flanks, especially Gio’s side, Spain will profit here.
The main factor in Holland’s favour is Arjen Robben. I’ve rambled about this before but I think he would be considered as one of the top five players in the world had he not suffered injuries and changed clubs so often. He could cause Capdevila and Ramos all kinds of problems and he will have to be at his very best if the Dutch are to have a chance of winning this game.
Otherwise it is Spain all the way for me, and rest assured I will have a pound or two on them for this game.
As much as the final entices me, I have been severely disappointed with this World Cup. I have enjoyed many of the games, but the actually quality of the competition has been incredibly low. In fact, I would go as far in saying that it was only the game between Spain and Germany where we saw some of the highest quality football. Otherwise, the competition has been littered with average games, and even the entertaining ones were largely down to refereeing mistakes, or poor defending/goalkeeping. How many absolute moments of brilliance can you remember from this one? There are not many at all. So many of the best players in the world also massively underperformed. Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Kaka....I could go on. Once again, just strengthens my belief that the Champions League is the best football competition in the world. I take Spain out of the equation as I rate them as comfortably the best team in the world, but every other team has significant weaknesses in their team. While it has been a success for the first WC held in Africa, I think international football is at a pretty low point right now.
I heard early in the tournament some interesting information about Spain’s preparations at altitude training and how it had all been timed so that they would peak in the knockout phase of the competition. All of which sounds pretty sensible, plausible and logical. I also heard that England had done the same, following a similar regime. Unfortunately, they were unable to get through to the stage when that work would pay off!
I fully expect Spain to win the final. The Dutch have done well and surprised me somewhat, particularly the game against Brazil. They have won all their games in the tournament and are unbeaten in something like 25 games which is pretty impressive. That all said, I do not think they have faced a team like Spain.
There are a number of key elements which strongly favour Spain and how I expect the game to play out. Spain’s midfield is the best in the world bar none. I would go as far to say that there is no other national team that comes close to rivalling them in that area. Having seen Van Bommel exposed frequently against Brazil and Uruguay – I have no idea how he did not receive at least three bookings in those two games combined – they will really struggle to keep hold of the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and co. Even more so than the Germans did. Schweinsteiger has been fantastic the whole tournament, one of the best central midfielders. He was completely nullified in that game, and I expect Wesley Sneijder to face the same difficulties.
The other area is defensively. Holland have been somewhat flattered I think in this area, and I think it is a weakness – particularly against teams and players with excellent movement. I like Heitinga and he is probably the best of the bunch, but he will find it hard to deal with David Villa. Likewise down the flanks, especially Gio’s side, Spain will profit here.
The main factor in Holland’s favour is Arjen Robben. I’ve rambled about this before but I think he would be considered as one of the top five players in the world had he not suffered injuries and changed clubs so often. He could cause Capdevila and Ramos all kinds of problems and he will have to be at his very best if the Dutch are to have a chance of winning this game.
Otherwise it is Spain all the way for me, and rest assured I will have a pound or two on them for this game.
As much as the final entices me, I have been severely disappointed with this World Cup. I have enjoyed many of the games, but the actually quality of the competition has been incredibly low. In fact, I would go as far in saying that it was only the game between Spain and Germany where we saw some of the highest quality football. Otherwise, the competition has been littered with average games, and even the entertaining ones were largely down to refereeing mistakes, or poor defending/goalkeeping. How many absolute moments of brilliance can you remember from this one? There are not many at all. So many of the best players in the world also massively underperformed. Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Kaka....I could go on. Once again, just strengthens my belief that the Champions League is the best football competition in the world. I take Spain out of the equation as I rate them as comfortably the best team in the world, but every other team has significant weaknesses in their team. While it has been a success for the first WC held in Africa, I think international football is at a pretty low point right now.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Paying the price
As an Everton fan, I think I am quite mellow on the whole. I am as passionate as anybody, I just don’t swear as much as I used to when I was a kid or like some of my fellow Evertonians in Lower Gwladys.
I guess more than anything I am realistic. I appreciate the situation surrounding the ownership and Bill Kenwright. He has his critics, he has many of them. I have a soft spot for him however. I wrote to him a few years ago while I was a Director at Brentford about a number of points, and he called me up only a few days later to discuss the letter. I found him extremely personable and an absolute pleasure to talk to. Does that make him a great chairman? Not at all. But I defy anybody working in English football to say a bad word about him, and he is respected throughout. Challenging and questioning key emotive issues such as the stadium move was always likely to upset some folks, but he is following principles which he strongly believes will take the club forward and I admire that. Would I like to see David Moyes with an unlimited transfer budget? Hell yeah! Would I like to see some random American, Russian or Sheikh come in and take the club over? Not at all. I only have to look at Man Utd and Liverpool to dissuade me from that.
Moyes is much the same. Even more so, I have the utmost respect for him and I rate him extremely highly. I haven’t met anybody who is not impressed by him in fact. I understand that they have not always been able to play the most attractive football, but he has done an amazing job with the funds and players at his disposal, and I would not swap him for anybody. Things are moving in the right direction on and off the pitch, and I have high hopes for next season if we can keep some key players fit, and hopefully not lose any of the star players.
All that said, I’ve been hit by some news in the last few days, and it is fair to say that I am absolutely fuming about it. Dan Gosling has reportedly left the club as a free agent after an administrative error saw a verbal offer of a contract not put into writing. How can this possibly happen at a professional football club? At the same time, the fact is, the player clearly has been tempted to leave and take advantage of the loophole. In that sense, there is nothing too much one can do. It should never be allowed to happen however. Given that the club have made a slight change to their transfer strategy in aiming to invest in younger players from across Europe, and taking advantage of the Bosman ruling, it amazes me that they can allow this to happen. Gosling signed for the club in 2008 for around £1.2m rising to £2m on appearances and milestones. To allow him to slip through the net and take advantage of this loophole is appalling. People in many industries lose their jobs for far less than this, and I would love to know who is to blame for this one. I suspect we will learn a lot once the club make it official and report on the official website. These kind of mistakes and comical financial losses happen at other clubs frequently. It should not happen at ours. I can forgive them for losing a match, not being the best team in the world, not having the most money, but this is different. Bad bad form.
I guess more than anything I am realistic. I appreciate the situation surrounding the ownership and Bill Kenwright. He has his critics, he has many of them. I have a soft spot for him however. I wrote to him a few years ago while I was a Director at Brentford about a number of points, and he called me up only a few days later to discuss the letter. I found him extremely personable and an absolute pleasure to talk to. Does that make him a great chairman? Not at all. But I defy anybody working in English football to say a bad word about him, and he is respected throughout. Challenging and questioning key emotive issues such as the stadium move was always likely to upset some folks, but he is following principles which he strongly believes will take the club forward and I admire that. Would I like to see David Moyes with an unlimited transfer budget? Hell yeah! Would I like to see some random American, Russian or Sheikh come in and take the club over? Not at all. I only have to look at Man Utd and Liverpool to dissuade me from that.
Moyes is much the same. Even more so, I have the utmost respect for him and I rate him extremely highly. I haven’t met anybody who is not impressed by him in fact. I understand that they have not always been able to play the most attractive football, but he has done an amazing job with the funds and players at his disposal, and I would not swap him for anybody. Things are moving in the right direction on and off the pitch, and I have high hopes for next season if we can keep some key players fit, and hopefully not lose any of the star players.
All that said, I’ve been hit by some news in the last few days, and it is fair to say that I am absolutely fuming about it. Dan Gosling has reportedly left the club as a free agent after an administrative error saw a verbal offer of a contract not put into writing. How can this possibly happen at a professional football club? At the same time, the fact is, the player clearly has been tempted to leave and take advantage of the loophole. In that sense, there is nothing too much one can do. It should never be allowed to happen however. Given that the club have made a slight change to their transfer strategy in aiming to invest in younger players from across Europe, and taking advantage of the Bosman ruling, it amazes me that they can allow this to happen. Gosling signed for the club in 2008 for around £1.2m rising to £2m on appearances and milestones. To allow him to slip through the net and take advantage of this loophole is appalling. People in many industries lose their jobs for far less than this, and I would love to know who is to blame for this one. I suspect we will learn a lot once the club make it official and report on the official website. These kind of mistakes and comical financial losses happen at other clubs frequently. It should not happen at ours. I can forgive them for losing a match, not being the best team in the world, not having the most money, but this is different. Bad bad form.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Bedtime Stories
If you are easily spooked or somebody with a sensitive disposition, then I suggest you click the X in the top right corner of the page and switch Coronation Street on. I am going to share two short but true stories with you from the last week of my life, and I cannot be responsible for how you will feel while reading them. Remember, the blog is called Random Writing.
It was a warm but grey Thursday evening in Lausanne. Bobby had finished work for the day and headed home slightly earlier than usual. That night, Mexico were playing the French in the 2010 World Cup and Bobby had invited a couple of friends round to watch the game and have a cheeky Indian curry. It was one of his favourite meals, so combined with some good football and some good company, it made for an excellent night’s entertainment.
And so it proved.
The football was excellent as Mexico beat the French much to the delight of the viewers in that apartment. The food was pretty good even if Bobby thought it was slightly below usual standards. And the company was pretty solid as always with plenty of laughs to boot.
The evening came to a close as Bobby and Banana washed up and finished the laundry. They had a wash, brushed their teeth and tucked each other into bed. It was a late night for them as thirty minutes divided them and the next day. They had a little chat and giggle, before turning the lights off and settling down to sleep.
No more than five minutes, ten at the maximum, had passed before the shutters outside their bedroom window starting rattling. Bobby’s initial thought was that the wind had disturbed them, Banana’s first thought was that somebody was rattling them. It was not the first time and would surely not be the last that Banana was right.
The noise became louder as a silhouette emerged behind the shutters as they were starting to be raised. It was difficult to see a great deal, neither Bobby nor Banana were blessed with particularly good night vision despite both their mothers insisting that carrots were the way forward when they were younger. However, the light shining behind the window from the office across the yard highlighted the figure standing on the window ledge attempting to raise the shutters.
Banana whispered to Bobby that she thought somebody was there as she snuggled up to Bobby. He was sure there was at this point as he had a sudden flashback to a previous time that something similar happened while he was at university. In a similar situation, Bobby was sleeping with his window open and curtains closed as two visitors approached his window. That moment provided him with the perfect experience to deal with this situation as he produced exactly the same excruciatingly loud cough which he produced on that night in late 1998, to surprise the intruders who promptly scampered.
The intruder on this occasion was fortunate to say the very least that he escaped at just the right time. Bobby had found his glasses, grabbed the baseball bat, but was wearing his usual sleeping attire which amounted to nothing. It was a fearsome sight, but the cough proved enough of a deterrent on this occasion as Bobby and Banana slept happily ever after.....with one eye open and a baseball bat under the bed.
The End
The Beginning
Bobby and Banana were off on their travels once again as they had yet another wedding to attend in London this time. It was a good old uni friend of Bobby’s who was getting married to a lovely girl. What made this wedding and trip to London particularly special was that Bobby was also the matchmaker. On a night out in 2006, call it a mini reunion between the four uni boys and a handful of others, they hit Soho for a night out. At the very end of the evening, Bobby started randomly talking to two girls and suggested to his friend that he should buy them a drink. Bobby even handed his friend the cash to buy the drinks, even if this seems to have slipped his friend’s mind. One thing led to another and Bobby’s friend obtained the phone number of one of the ladies. A beautiful relationship progressed from there and culminated in a fantastic wedding in London on Monday.
They were blessed. The venue was amazing. Set in Kent at a country castle, the barn was a fantastic setting and the weather played its part furthermore to add some sun to a beautiful day.
It had been an early start for Bobby and Banana. They woke up at 5.45am, took a taxi to Heathrow airport where they collected a hire car and drove to Kent. Banana looked as beautiful as ever in a fabulous black dress, and Bobby was suited and booted in a grey pin-striped suit and blight blue shirt. There are some days when both of them knew they were not at their best, but this particular day, they scrubbed up reasonably well.
The service went well, followed by an excellent meal, and then some drinks in the garden in the sun. It was a great opportunity for Bobby and Banana to catch up with another old uni mate and his partner, and the conversation was flowing. Bobby suggested that the quartet take a seat on the garden chairs as the sun began to set. As the chat continued to flow, Bobby felt a drop of water on his hand, but thought nothing more of it other than a drop of rain that must have lingered on a branch above. Shortly after, another drop landed on his back. He twisted his arm around his back to investigate only to find a large brown substance on his hand. A bird had flown overhead and decided to relieve himself on the back of Bobby’s shirt.
This was not just any poop however. This was a major poop. This bird had seemingly had a curry the night before, and had clearly identified Bobby as the perfect individual to share his joys. Banana scrubbed Bobby’s shirt with a tissue, and Bobby put his suit jacket back on as shortly after, they bid their farewells and rode off in the sunset.
Another End
It was a warm but grey Thursday evening in Lausanne. Bobby had finished work for the day and headed home slightly earlier than usual. That night, Mexico were playing the French in the 2010 World Cup and Bobby had invited a couple of friends round to watch the game and have a cheeky Indian curry. It was one of his favourite meals, so combined with some good football and some good company, it made for an excellent night’s entertainment.
And so it proved.
The football was excellent as Mexico beat the French much to the delight of the viewers in that apartment. The food was pretty good even if Bobby thought it was slightly below usual standards. And the company was pretty solid as always with plenty of laughs to boot.
The evening came to a close as Bobby and Banana washed up and finished the laundry. They had a wash, brushed their teeth and tucked each other into bed. It was a late night for them as thirty minutes divided them and the next day. They had a little chat and giggle, before turning the lights off and settling down to sleep.
No more than five minutes, ten at the maximum, had passed before the shutters outside their bedroom window starting rattling. Bobby’s initial thought was that the wind had disturbed them, Banana’s first thought was that somebody was rattling them. It was not the first time and would surely not be the last that Banana was right.
The noise became louder as a silhouette emerged behind the shutters as they were starting to be raised. It was difficult to see a great deal, neither Bobby nor Banana were blessed with particularly good night vision despite both their mothers insisting that carrots were the way forward when they were younger. However, the light shining behind the window from the office across the yard highlighted the figure standing on the window ledge attempting to raise the shutters.
Banana whispered to Bobby that she thought somebody was there as she snuggled up to Bobby. He was sure there was at this point as he had a sudden flashback to a previous time that something similar happened while he was at university. In a similar situation, Bobby was sleeping with his window open and curtains closed as two visitors approached his window. That moment provided him with the perfect experience to deal with this situation as he produced exactly the same excruciatingly loud cough which he produced on that night in late 1998, to surprise the intruders who promptly scampered.
The intruder on this occasion was fortunate to say the very least that he escaped at just the right time. Bobby had found his glasses, grabbed the baseball bat, but was wearing his usual sleeping attire which amounted to nothing. It was a fearsome sight, but the cough proved enough of a deterrent on this occasion as Bobby and Banana slept happily ever after.....with one eye open and a baseball bat under the bed.
The End
The Beginning
Bobby and Banana were off on their travels once again as they had yet another wedding to attend in London this time. It was a good old uni friend of Bobby’s who was getting married to a lovely girl. What made this wedding and trip to London particularly special was that Bobby was also the matchmaker. On a night out in 2006, call it a mini reunion between the four uni boys and a handful of others, they hit Soho for a night out. At the very end of the evening, Bobby started randomly talking to two girls and suggested to his friend that he should buy them a drink. Bobby even handed his friend the cash to buy the drinks, even if this seems to have slipped his friend’s mind. One thing led to another and Bobby’s friend obtained the phone number of one of the ladies. A beautiful relationship progressed from there and culminated in a fantastic wedding in London on Monday.
They were blessed. The venue was amazing. Set in Kent at a country castle, the barn was a fantastic setting and the weather played its part furthermore to add some sun to a beautiful day.
It had been an early start for Bobby and Banana. They woke up at 5.45am, took a taxi to Heathrow airport where they collected a hire car and drove to Kent. Banana looked as beautiful as ever in a fabulous black dress, and Bobby was suited and booted in a grey pin-striped suit and blight blue shirt. There are some days when both of them knew they were not at their best, but this particular day, they scrubbed up reasonably well.
The service went well, followed by an excellent meal, and then some drinks in the garden in the sun. It was a great opportunity for Bobby and Banana to catch up with another old uni mate and his partner, and the conversation was flowing. Bobby suggested that the quartet take a seat on the garden chairs as the sun began to set. As the chat continued to flow, Bobby felt a drop of water on his hand, but thought nothing more of it other than a drop of rain that must have lingered on a branch above. Shortly after, another drop landed on his back. He twisted his arm around his back to investigate only to find a large brown substance on his hand. A bird had flown overhead and decided to relieve himself on the back of Bobby’s shirt.
This was not just any poop however. This was a major poop. This bird had seemingly had a curry the night before, and had clearly identified Bobby as the perfect individual to share his joys. Banana scrubbed Bobby’s shirt with a tissue, and Bobby put his suit jacket back on as shortly after, they bid their farewells and rode off in the sunset.
Another End
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
WC Rankings
So, how do I rank the teams? This is always tricky when it involves cross-continent teams as it is effectively the only real opportunity one gets at this event to compare them, and even then it is not easy. Many of these can be argued, and if you wish to argue with me, go to the bar, buy two pints, and let’s sit and blast through them. There is nothing better than a good old debate about ranking teams and players.
Note, I am not considering the draw here, just the strength of the teams and squads on any given day.
I split the teams into six groups. The first involves Spain and Brazil. Those two are ahead of the chasing pack in my view. They have that greater quality all round, and I expect one of those two to win the tournament if the wind is blowing in the right direction.
Group two are those teams who have a good chance of challenging for the trophy if they hit form, do not suffer too many injuries, and if their foolish goalkeeper makes no more mistakes. Perhaps the most controversial one is Ivory Coast, but I really like their starting eleven in this tournament so they just make it on the list.
Group three is a group of four teams who I consider to be strong candidates for upsetting teams and potentially making a semi-final run. The US are a favourite of mine as I explained in my analysis, and they have the ability to surprise any team on their day as they have shown over the last 12 months. The other three have strong teams and most importantly for this group, some good firepower which will enable them to emerge ahead of some of the other teams.
Group four is the next tier down – all of whom could spring a surprise or two, but I very much doubt could do it for 5-6 matches and progress too far. Serbia could potentially be in the group above but I have serious issues with their mentality.
Group five are teams who are not going to cause anybody too much trouble. Maybe a strong game, but I think there are serious deficiencies in their play to threaten many of the sides in the tournament. Nigeria may be underestimated but I am very negative on them right now and I believe there are major issues and flaws in the team.
Group six have as good a chance as a pub team of doing anything noteworthy.
Spain
Brazil
Argentina
Holland
Portugal
England
France
Germany
Italy
Ivory Coast
USA
Uruguay
Paraguay
Cameroon
South Korea
Serbia
Ghana
Mexico
Chile
Denmark
Japan
Switzerland
Australia
Nigeria
Honduras
South Africa
Slovakia
Greece
Slovenia
Algeria
North Korea
New Zealand
Agree or disagree? Of course you disagree, that is the nature of this kind of thing and the beauty of the game. I sound like Sepp Blatter. Go to the bar, and we can talk it over, mine is a John Smiths please.
Note, I am not considering the draw here, just the strength of the teams and squads on any given day.
I split the teams into six groups. The first involves Spain and Brazil. Those two are ahead of the chasing pack in my view. They have that greater quality all round, and I expect one of those two to win the tournament if the wind is blowing in the right direction.
Group two are those teams who have a good chance of challenging for the trophy if they hit form, do not suffer too many injuries, and if their foolish goalkeeper makes no more mistakes. Perhaps the most controversial one is Ivory Coast, but I really like their starting eleven in this tournament so they just make it on the list.
Group three is a group of four teams who I consider to be strong candidates for upsetting teams and potentially making a semi-final run. The US are a favourite of mine as I explained in my analysis, and they have the ability to surprise any team on their day as they have shown over the last 12 months. The other three have strong teams and most importantly for this group, some good firepower which will enable them to emerge ahead of some of the other teams.
Group four is the next tier down – all of whom could spring a surprise or two, but I very much doubt could do it for 5-6 matches and progress too far. Serbia could potentially be in the group above but I have serious issues with their mentality.
Group five are teams who are not going to cause anybody too much trouble. Maybe a strong game, but I think there are serious deficiencies in their play to threaten many of the sides in the tournament. Nigeria may be underestimated but I am very negative on them right now and I believe there are major issues and flaws in the team.
Group six have as good a chance as a pub team of doing anything noteworthy.
Spain
Brazil
Argentina
Holland
Portugal
England
France
Germany
Italy
Ivory Coast
USA
Uruguay
Paraguay
Cameroon
South Korea
Serbia
Ghana
Mexico
Chile
Denmark
Japan
Switzerland
Australia
Nigeria
Honduras
South Africa
Slovakia
Greece
Slovenia
Algeria
North Korea
New Zealand
Agree or disagree? Of course you disagree, that is the nature of this kind of thing and the beauty of the game. I sound like Sepp Blatter. Go to the bar, and we can talk it over, mine is a John Smiths please.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Group H Analysis
Group H
Spain
Spain used to suffer from the English disease – big expectations, but would fail when they should do better. That was the case until Euro2008 and I think that has changed the mindset of the Spanish for the foreseeable future. There is no doubt in my mind that they are the best team in the World, and they could outplay the best teams in the competition.
I just have one fear however, and it is the one reason why I think they will possibly fall short in South Africa. Think about it. Combine Euro2008, along with the success of Barcelona – there are some absolutely key players in the team – Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Villa, Silva – who have played in so many games over the last two years, and that heavy workload is beginning to take its toll. Barca were not what they were two years ago, and injuries are starting to play a role now. Xavi would have been operated on a knee injury if it was not for the WC, Iniesta has struggled badly over the last six months particularly, while Fernando Torres is as fragile as ever. That is a major concern of mine with regards to Spain and I think it could have a major effect. A large number of the players have played 55-60+ games per season in the last two years, and they are suffering now.
If they somehow manage to avoid injuries, then they are the team for me. I am not totally sure about the defence and Iker Casillas has even had one or two weak moments in the lead up to this event, but the way in which they absolutely dominate possession means they can usually hide that weakness.
For me, it is a case of following them closely as the tournament progresses. If they avoid injuries, then it is theirs for the taking. If not, I see them just falling short. I am just not sure who can take advantage of any slip. They have a talented squad, but they cannot afford to miss the likes of Xavi Iniesta or Villa and Torres, so they need some luck in that department. Weighing everything up, I see them losing in a close final.
Prediction – Runners-up
Chile
Any Football Managers players will be cheering some of these Chilean players on as Mati Fernandez and Alexis Sanchez have been legends in the game for so many people. In real-life however, both are probably under a bit of pressure now to fulfil some of the potential that so many football folks have raved about but they have yet to live up to.
Apart from the likes of Sanchez, they have an experienced squad with many of the squad having played in Europe and Spain in particular. Mark Gonzalez could be one of the stars of the show if he can stay fit – something that has rarely happened in his career thus far. He is an excellent talent and on his day, can cause any right-back problems.
Defensively, they are very experienced. Fuentes, Contreras, and Jara have been mainstays in the squad for years along with Claudio Bravo in goal. They are pretty solid as a unit without being amazing individually. It is not the strongest point however, and is possibly the weakest of the five South American sides. In qualifying they did very well to come second in the group as they were rewarded for their attacking play. Humberto Suazo will lead the line and will have Gonzalez, Sanchez and Matigol supporting him down the flanks. If they provide Suazo with chances, he will score goals.
As far as their chances go, I think they will be competing with Honduras and the Swiss for second place, and that could be quite a battle. I just about give them the edge however. I like their attacking options and they can outscore the other two to steal second place. Marcelo Bielsa is doing a good job as coach and he can get them out of this group in my view. Even if they do however, a Round of 16 game against Brazil will send them home pretty sharply, but they could impress a few with some of their play along the way to that stage.
Prediction – Round of 16
Honduras
I think these boys will prove to be a fun team to watch, and I have a little soft spot for them. A handful of the squad play in England – Palacios, Figueroa and Thomas, and they are good, strong committed players with some flair added in.
Their preparations are hampered somewhat by injuries to two key men – Palacios and striker David Suazo. Both will be touch and go for the first game against Chile and they would be big losses to the team if they miss out.
They do have some other decent players. Carlos Pavon has a good goalscoring record, while the midfield is full of ferocious runners who are strong and fearless. Their approach will undoubtedly be a high tempo style and they will put their opponents under pressure throughout. Many of them will be keen to impress and earn transfers to Europe.
Whether they have enough to get through the group, I fear not. They will be a tough opponent for the Swiss and Chile, but unless Palacios and Suazo can get fit and on form, they will struggle to win games – just lacking the quality of Chile and possible the discipline of the Swiss. I am looking forward to watching them, but they are going home after the groups.
Prediction – Group Stage Only
Switzerland
I remember the start if Hitzfeld’s career as Swiss coach – picture me, sat in a pub chatting with the barman who likes stupid bets. He says, I think Luxembourg can beat Switzerland – I say, that is unlikely my friend....why not go for a draw if you suspect a surprise? Switzerland 1-2 Luxembourg.....Rob gets his coat and leaves promptly.
They turned it around, and did very well to negotiate an average but tricky group including Greece, Latvia and Israel. They are however a very average team. Some of their key players are not even regulars at their teams, and that will go against them. They will also struggle to score goals. Alexander Frei is done now, and despite a strong midfield which is key in protecting the defence and supporting the front men, they do not have enough to do much here. I think they are a little unfortunate in terms of the group – they are up against flair teams with excellent individual skill which will prove their downfall. They would be better against some of the more one dimensional European teams who they can frustrate and nick a goal against. They may score a goal or two, but they will find it hard to stop all three rivals.
The midfield will have to be on fire to lead them out of the groups, and I just do not see it as they could well finish bottom of the group. I have a soft spot for the Swiss, after all I am a resident but they will be gone pretty quickly unfortunately.
Prediction – Group Stage Only
Spain
Spain used to suffer from the English disease – big expectations, but would fail when they should do better. That was the case until Euro2008 and I think that has changed the mindset of the Spanish for the foreseeable future. There is no doubt in my mind that they are the best team in the World, and they could outplay the best teams in the competition.
I just have one fear however, and it is the one reason why I think they will possibly fall short in South Africa. Think about it. Combine Euro2008, along with the success of Barcelona – there are some absolutely key players in the team – Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Villa, Silva – who have played in so many games over the last two years, and that heavy workload is beginning to take its toll. Barca were not what they were two years ago, and injuries are starting to play a role now. Xavi would have been operated on a knee injury if it was not for the WC, Iniesta has struggled badly over the last six months particularly, while Fernando Torres is as fragile as ever. That is a major concern of mine with regards to Spain and I think it could have a major effect. A large number of the players have played 55-60+ games per season in the last two years, and they are suffering now.
If they somehow manage to avoid injuries, then they are the team for me. I am not totally sure about the defence and Iker Casillas has even had one or two weak moments in the lead up to this event, but the way in which they absolutely dominate possession means they can usually hide that weakness.
For me, it is a case of following them closely as the tournament progresses. If they avoid injuries, then it is theirs for the taking. If not, I see them just falling short. I am just not sure who can take advantage of any slip. They have a talented squad, but they cannot afford to miss the likes of Xavi Iniesta or Villa and Torres, so they need some luck in that department. Weighing everything up, I see them losing in a close final.
Prediction – Runners-up
Chile
Any Football Managers players will be cheering some of these Chilean players on as Mati Fernandez and Alexis Sanchez have been legends in the game for so many people. In real-life however, both are probably under a bit of pressure now to fulfil some of the potential that so many football folks have raved about but they have yet to live up to.
Apart from the likes of Sanchez, they have an experienced squad with many of the squad having played in Europe and Spain in particular. Mark Gonzalez could be one of the stars of the show if he can stay fit – something that has rarely happened in his career thus far. He is an excellent talent and on his day, can cause any right-back problems.
Defensively, they are very experienced. Fuentes, Contreras, and Jara have been mainstays in the squad for years along with Claudio Bravo in goal. They are pretty solid as a unit without being amazing individually. It is not the strongest point however, and is possibly the weakest of the five South American sides. In qualifying they did very well to come second in the group as they were rewarded for their attacking play. Humberto Suazo will lead the line and will have Gonzalez, Sanchez and Matigol supporting him down the flanks. If they provide Suazo with chances, he will score goals.
As far as their chances go, I think they will be competing with Honduras and the Swiss for second place, and that could be quite a battle. I just about give them the edge however. I like their attacking options and they can outscore the other two to steal second place. Marcelo Bielsa is doing a good job as coach and he can get them out of this group in my view. Even if they do however, a Round of 16 game against Brazil will send them home pretty sharply, but they could impress a few with some of their play along the way to that stage.
Prediction – Round of 16
Honduras
I think these boys will prove to be a fun team to watch, and I have a little soft spot for them. A handful of the squad play in England – Palacios, Figueroa and Thomas, and they are good, strong committed players with some flair added in.
Their preparations are hampered somewhat by injuries to two key men – Palacios and striker David Suazo. Both will be touch and go for the first game against Chile and they would be big losses to the team if they miss out.
They do have some other decent players. Carlos Pavon has a good goalscoring record, while the midfield is full of ferocious runners who are strong and fearless. Their approach will undoubtedly be a high tempo style and they will put their opponents under pressure throughout. Many of them will be keen to impress and earn transfers to Europe.
Whether they have enough to get through the group, I fear not. They will be a tough opponent for the Swiss and Chile, but unless Palacios and Suazo can get fit and on form, they will struggle to win games – just lacking the quality of Chile and possible the discipline of the Swiss. I am looking forward to watching them, but they are going home after the groups.
Prediction – Group Stage Only
Switzerland
I remember the start if Hitzfeld’s career as Swiss coach – picture me, sat in a pub chatting with the barman who likes stupid bets. He says, I think Luxembourg can beat Switzerland – I say, that is unlikely my friend....why not go for a draw if you suspect a surprise? Switzerland 1-2 Luxembourg.....Rob gets his coat and leaves promptly.
They turned it around, and did very well to negotiate an average but tricky group including Greece, Latvia and Israel. They are however a very average team. Some of their key players are not even regulars at their teams, and that will go against them. They will also struggle to score goals. Alexander Frei is done now, and despite a strong midfield which is key in protecting the defence and supporting the front men, they do not have enough to do much here. I think they are a little unfortunate in terms of the group – they are up against flair teams with excellent individual skill which will prove their downfall. They would be better against some of the more one dimensional European teams who they can frustrate and nick a goal against. They may score a goal or two, but they will find it hard to stop all three rivals.
The midfield will have to be on fire to lead them out of the groups, and I just do not see it as they could well finish bottom of the group. I have a soft spot for the Swiss, after all I am a resident but they will be gone pretty quickly unfortunately.
Prediction – Group Stage Only
Group G Analysis
Group G
Brazil
I fully expect to see a different Brazil to what most people expect and are used to. They can still turn it on when they want to and play some great stuff, but Dunga has introduced a more effective and organised style of play making them harder to beat. They will not be as attractive to watch as previous WC’s, but they should still be better than most sides to watch.
Their hopes and aspirations revolve around one player in particular for me, and that is Kaka. They need him to be fit and back to match sharpness, something which has not been the case all season since moving to Real Madrid. On one hand, he should be fresh and ready for this. On the other, he may be rusty and still struggling. Much will depend on him if Brazil are to really push on in this tournament. I am not suggesting they are a one man team at all, but if he is close to his best, then they will be really tough to stop. If he is out, then it could mean time for Robinho and that is a fair negative.
A handful of their players have also had very long seasons – Maicon and Lucio in particularly. Otherwise, the likes of Luis Fabiano, Robinho, Nilmar and Kaka have all conveniently had injuries in the second half of the season. I may be wrong, but I suspect their priority has been on this competition rather than with their clubs, so they should be fresh.
They should have enough quality and depth to get through the group and go all the way to the final. I actually give them the nod to win the tournament as I just feel Spain may run out of steam despite being the better side. I think Luis Fabiano will be one of the topscorers in the tournament, and this will be a really tough Brazilian team to beat. A Spain/Brazil final would be immense, and at the moment, I edge them for the better condition of their players.
Portugal
Another team hit by a late withdrawal as Nani was ruled out of the competition through injury. I cannot say I overly like him, but he has had some very good moments this season and played an important role for Portugal in their qualification. I do not think he is a major loss however as they have some options in attack.
They did receive some positive news though with Pepe passing a fitness test after recovering from a serious knee injury – he did not play at all before the end of the season but they decided to take a chance on him, and understandably so. He is a fantastic defender, but I think this competition just comes too soon for him.
The squad itself is decent on the whole. They have options all over the pitch and Queiroz has some decisions to make. The midfield if anything is a weakness for me. They have destroyers like Pedro Mendes, they have playmakers like Deco, but they just lack players who can really dominate in the midfield and control the game. When the going gets tough and they need to break the deadlock or take control of match, I am not sure where it will come from.
Interestingly, Cristiano Ronaldo was pretty quiet in qualification for the team. There is big expectation on him though in this tournament to produce the goods and if they are to go far, they desperately need him to be art his very best. Teams will double team him throughout and it will not be easy for him, but despite what many people say, he has had a very strong season in Madrid.
In theory, they should get out of this group but I am taking a bit of a shot here by saying that I think Ivory Coast will finish above them along with Brazil. I like many of the players in the squad, but there is something just lacking in my view. Too often they are ineffective, and I can see them being frustrated at times and stopped. It would be a bit of a surprise, but I say they get knocked out in the groups. Even if they do get through, I think they will lose to Spain in the Round of 16.
Prediction – Group Stage Only
Ivory Coast
Of all the African teams, the Ivorians are the team I like the most. Their starting team is very strong, they are solid defensively, have talented individuals who can create chances, and have some serious firepower. All-round, they can go further than any of their neighbours, despite being handed the toughest group of all.
They will be battling with Portugal to qualify with Brazil in my view, but they have a great chance of edging them out. The main reason for this is Didier Drogba. I think he can be the difference between a hugely successful tournament and failure for them. Seeing him pick up that arm injury in the pre-tournament friendly will have alarmed everybody following the team, but reports suggest he has recovered sufficiently to play in the first game, and that is great news for them. He is fundamental to the team and he can terrorise any defence in the competition.
The rest of the team is strong also – they are not a one-man team even though they do badly miss the focal point of Drogba when he is absent. At the back they have some strong defenders in Toure, Eboue and Boka, while Zokora, Yaya Toure and Romaric give the back four plenty of protection allowing the raiding full-backs to pile forward. Their wing play is excellent and they have good variation in how they attack teams. They will be the most adventurous of the African sides and will cause Portugal and Brazil problems.
I prefer them to the Portuguese, as long as Drogba is fit. I just feel that they have the pace and power to overcome them and grab second place. The toughest thing for them is that second place will probably mean playing Spain where they will fall short I believe. Not only do they have the toughest group but the toughest run in the knockout phase potentially. They will impress many and give some trouble to some of the best teams in the world, but I think Spain will edge them unfortunately.
Prediction – Round of 16
North Korea
Your guess is as good as mine really as far as these boys are concerned. I have only seen a couple of their qualifying matches on good old Eurosport, and they used to be one of my favourites to bet on against the bigger Asian teams. For a long time, they were expected to be hammered by the likes of Japan and neighbours South Korea, but they proved they can match those kind of teams and get results through hard work, discipline and organisation.
There may be opportunities from a betting perspective in this group also. They will not allow any of the teams to walk over them and will cover a huge amount of ground to make up for their inferior quality. The main unknown for me is how they will perform on such a big stage against some top class rivals, will they freeze or will it motivate and inspire them further? I fear that they will be in awe of the likes of Brazil in the opening game and I would be cautious for if considering a bet on them there. However, in the following two games, they will make it incredibly hard for Portugal and Ivory Coast to break them down and could frustrate them for long periods.
The other key element I note with them is that they hold their nerve and keep their style and shape even if they go behind. I suspect that will be more than evident here also as the coach will want to avoid any major hammerings. I would not expect them to come out attacking and leaving major gaps at the back if they go 1-0 down after 15 minutes, but to keep their shape keep things tight and try to get back into the game with patience. The bookmakers may expect them to get hammered in each game by 2-3 goals, but it will not be easy for any of them.
All that said, they are going out in the groups in last position!
Prediction – Group stage Only
Brazil
I fully expect to see a different Brazil to what most people expect and are used to. They can still turn it on when they want to and play some great stuff, but Dunga has introduced a more effective and organised style of play making them harder to beat. They will not be as attractive to watch as previous WC’s, but they should still be better than most sides to watch.
Their hopes and aspirations revolve around one player in particular for me, and that is Kaka. They need him to be fit and back to match sharpness, something which has not been the case all season since moving to Real Madrid. On one hand, he should be fresh and ready for this. On the other, he may be rusty and still struggling. Much will depend on him if Brazil are to really push on in this tournament. I am not suggesting they are a one man team at all, but if he is close to his best, then they will be really tough to stop. If he is out, then it could mean time for Robinho and that is a fair negative.
A handful of their players have also had very long seasons – Maicon and Lucio in particularly. Otherwise, the likes of Luis Fabiano, Robinho, Nilmar and Kaka have all conveniently had injuries in the second half of the season. I may be wrong, but I suspect their priority has been on this competition rather than with their clubs, so they should be fresh.
They should have enough quality and depth to get through the group and go all the way to the final. I actually give them the nod to win the tournament as I just feel Spain may run out of steam despite being the better side. I think Luis Fabiano will be one of the topscorers in the tournament, and this will be a really tough Brazilian team to beat. A Spain/Brazil final would be immense, and at the moment, I edge them for the better condition of their players.
Portugal
Another team hit by a late withdrawal as Nani was ruled out of the competition through injury. I cannot say I overly like him, but he has had some very good moments this season and played an important role for Portugal in their qualification. I do not think he is a major loss however as they have some options in attack.
They did receive some positive news though with Pepe passing a fitness test after recovering from a serious knee injury – he did not play at all before the end of the season but they decided to take a chance on him, and understandably so. He is a fantastic defender, but I think this competition just comes too soon for him.
The squad itself is decent on the whole. They have options all over the pitch and Queiroz has some decisions to make. The midfield if anything is a weakness for me. They have destroyers like Pedro Mendes, they have playmakers like Deco, but they just lack players who can really dominate in the midfield and control the game. When the going gets tough and they need to break the deadlock or take control of match, I am not sure where it will come from.
Interestingly, Cristiano Ronaldo was pretty quiet in qualification for the team. There is big expectation on him though in this tournament to produce the goods and if they are to go far, they desperately need him to be art his very best. Teams will double team him throughout and it will not be easy for him, but despite what many people say, he has had a very strong season in Madrid.
In theory, they should get out of this group but I am taking a bit of a shot here by saying that I think Ivory Coast will finish above them along with Brazil. I like many of the players in the squad, but there is something just lacking in my view. Too often they are ineffective, and I can see them being frustrated at times and stopped. It would be a bit of a surprise, but I say they get knocked out in the groups. Even if they do get through, I think they will lose to Spain in the Round of 16.
Prediction – Group Stage Only
Ivory Coast
Of all the African teams, the Ivorians are the team I like the most. Their starting team is very strong, they are solid defensively, have talented individuals who can create chances, and have some serious firepower. All-round, they can go further than any of their neighbours, despite being handed the toughest group of all.
They will be battling with Portugal to qualify with Brazil in my view, but they have a great chance of edging them out. The main reason for this is Didier Drogba. I think he can be the difference between a hugely successful tournament and failure for them. Seeing him pick up that arm injury in the pre-tournament friendly will have alarmed everybody following the team, but reports suggest he has recovered sufficiently to play in the first game, and that is great news for them. He is fundamental to the team and he can terrorise any defence in the competition.
The rest of the team is strong also – they are not a one-man team even though they do badly miss the focal point of Drogba when he is absent. At the back they have some strong defenders in Toure, Eboue and Boka, while Zokora, Yaya Toure and Romaric give the back four plenty of protection allowing the raiding full-backs to pile forward. Their wing play is excellent and they have good variation in how they attack teams. They will be the most adventurous of the African sides and will cause Portugal and Brazil problems.
I prefer them to the Portuguese, as long as Drogba is fit. I just feel that they have the pace and power to overcome them and grab second place. The toughest thing for them is that second place will probably mean playing Spain where they will fall short I believe. Not only do they have the toughest group but the toughest run in the knockout phase potentially. They will impress many and give some trouble to some of the best teams in the world, but I think Spain will edge them unfortunately.
Prediction – Round of 16
North Korea
Your guess is as good as mine really as far as these boys are concerned. I have only seen a couple of their qualifying matches on good old Eurosport, and they used to be one of my favourites to bet on against the bigger Asian teams. For a long time, they were expected to be hammered by the likes of Japan and neighbours South Korea, but they proved they can match those kind of teams and get results through hard work, discipline and organisation.
There may be opportunities from a betting perspective in this group also. They will not allow any of the teams to walk over them and will cover a huge amount of ground to make up for their inferior quality. The main unknown for me is how they will perform on such a big stage against some top class rivals, will they freeze or will it motivate and inspire them further? I fear that they will be in awe of the likes of Brazil in the opening game and I would be cautious for if considering a bet on them there. However, in the following two games, they will make it incredibly hard for Portugal and Ivory Coast to break them down and could frustrate them for long periods.
The other key element I note with them is that they hold their nerve and keep their style and shape even if they go behind. I suspect that will be more than evident here also as the coach will want to avoid any major hammerings. I would not expect them to come out attacking and leaving major gaps at the back if they go 1-0 down after 15 minutes, but to keep their shape keep things tight and try to get back into the game with patience. The bookmakers may expect them to get hammered in each game by 2-3 goals, but it will not be easy for any of them.
All that said, they are going out in the groups in last position!
Prediction – Group stage Only
Group F Analysis
Group F
Italy
I have difficulty ranking and analysing the Italians in much the same way I struggle with the Germans. Neither particularly give me great confidence nor do I like the way they are playing coming into the competition, but they have the ability to grow into the tournament and go a long way. They also have a major injury doubt which could severely affect their progress in the event. Andrea Pirlo has a knock and is expected to miss the first two games – that should not affect them too much and they have enough to get through the group without him. They will desperately need him however for the knockout phase as he is absolutely key for them.
Experience could be key in this tournament and they have that in abundance. Buffon, Cannavaro, Zambrotta and company have all huge experience at the highest level, and that will benefit them. At the same time, I have question marks about some of the veterans and whether they still have the legs to produce a title winning campaign again. Cannavaro especially concerns me, and I think he could be exposed plenty.
Midfield looks strong and talented as always. De Rossi and Pirlo is as good a partnership as there is in the tournament, and they will be key to their chances. Going forward, they do not inspire me at all, and they will not be creating chance after chance. They do however possess a handful of clever forwards, who will make their presence known, earn a free kick or two, and chip in with a goal here and there. There is no outstanding front man though in my view, and width may be an issue also.
Overall, I expect them to coast through the groups, but I am not sure how much further they will go. They are scheduled to meet Spain in the quarter-finals and that will be their downfall I believe. They should edge the average teams in their group, and a Denmark perhaps in the Round of 16, but Spain have too much class for them in my view. Quarters and out for these boys.
Prediction – Quarter-finals
Paraguay
In a group I consider to be one of the easier ones to predict, I expect the Paraguayans to qualify and finish second at least here. I like the look of their squad – they have been settled for few years now and they have decent experience. They have a couple of very dangerous goalscorers also in Roque Santa Cruz and Oscar Cardozo, which gives them an advantage over many similar teams who are solid and compact but lack finishers.
They were excellent in qualification and I believe having such a settled squad and experienced team was the key element for them as so many of their opponents in South America went through several coaching changes and transition periods. Whether that will benefit them as much in this event, I am not sure, but they should be able to get past Slovakia and New Zealand. After that, it is a tough ask of them. They will likely play Holland, and they will find it hard to get past them.
I think much depends on how they approach some games. They have been known to be extremely negative over the last few years and I would like to see them take a few more chances in some games. If they do that, and provide the front two with chances, they may do better than I predict. Otherwise, I expect a solid display but Round of 16 is the end for them, quarters at the very maximum.
Prediction – Round of 16
Slovakia
The Slovaks qualified from a tough group including Slovenia and the Czechs, and they did well to finish top. Their record against those two was poor however as they won one, drew one and lost two. They qualified by ruthlessly beating the lesser teams in the group, which they obviously did better than Slovenia and the Czechs, but at the same time it shows that they struggled against better opposition.
They have a talented squad and some good young players. Marek Hamsik is an excellent prospect in central midfield and it is a matter of time before he moves to a big European club while Miroslav Stoch and Vladimir Weiss have progressed well in the last twelve months. They do however need a fit Martin Skrtel – he is a key cornerstone in the defence and they need him.
They have a chance of beating Paraguay to second place but I just favour the South Americans. They have greater firepower and experience to edge Slovakia out and while the Slovaks may benefit from playing NZ first, I think the Paraguayans will emerge ahead of them.
Prediction – Group stage Only
New Zealand
The fact is, the only reason NZ are at this competition is because Australia moved to the Asian Confederation. Otherwise, there would be no chance of them being here and in fairness, they are out of their depth against this level of opposition – probably the only team I can say that about out of the 32. They are simply not used to playing against quality opposition and they could have a rude awakening here. Thankfully for them, they do not face any prolific scorers, although Paraguay could be the team to take advantage of them if any.
The key thing for them is to enjoy the experience and get used to playing in such events. That may sound a little patronising but it is true and they need to take that to improve in the coming years. Aside from Ryan Nelson, they have no real experience at a decent level, and they have a couple of promising younger players like Tommy Smith and Chris Wood who will benefit hugely from this. Needless to say, 0-3 for me here, and they will be going home pretty swiftly.
Prediction – Group stage Only
Italy
I have difficulty ranking and analysing the Italians in much the same way I struggle with the Germans. Neither particularly give me great confidence nor do I like the way they are playing coming into the competition, but they have the ability to grow into the tournament and go a long way. They also have a major injury doubt which could severely affect their progress in the event. Andrea Pirlo has a knock and is expected to miss the first two games – that should not affect them too much and they have enough to get through the group without him. They will desperately need him however for the knockout phase as he is absolutely key for them.
Experience could be key in this tournament and they have that in abundance. Buffon, Cannavaro, Zambrotta and company have all huge experience at the highest level, and that will benefit them. At the same time, I have question marks about some of the veterans and whether they still have the legs to produce a title winning campaign again. Cannavaro especially concerns me, and I think he could be exposed plenty.
Midfield looks strong and talented as always. De Rossi and Pirlo is as good a partnership as there is in the tournament, and they will be key to their chances. Going forward, they do not inspire me at all, and they will not be creating chance after chance. They do however possess a handful of clever forwards, who will make their presence known, earn a free kick or two, and chip in with a goal here and there. There is no outstanding front man though in my view, and width may be an issue also.
Overall, I expect them to coast through the groups, but I am not sure how much further they will go. They are scheduled to meet Spain in the quarter-finals and that will be their downfall I believe. They should edge the average teams in their group, and a Denmark perhaps in the Round of 16, but Spain have too much class for them in my view. Quarters and out for these boys.
Prediction – Quarter-finals
Paraguay
In a group I consider to be one of the easier ones to predict, I expect the Paraguayans to qualify and finish second at least here. I like the look of their squad – they have been settled for few years now and they have decent experience. They have a couple of very dangerous goalscorers also in Roque Santa Cruz and Oscar Cardozo, which gives them an advantage over many similar teams who are solid and compact but lack finishers.
They were excellent in qualification and I believe having such a settled squad and experienced team was the key element for them as so many of their opponents in South America went through several coaching changes and transition periods. Whether that will benefit them as much in this event, I am not sure, but they should be able to get past Slovakia and New Zealand. After that, it is a tough ask of them. They will likely play Holland, and they will find it hard to get past them.
I think much depends on how they approach some games. They have been known to be extremely negative over the last few years and I would like to see them take a few more chances in some games. If they do that, and provide the front two with chances, they may do better than I predict. Otherwise, I expect a solid display but Round of 16 is the end for them, quarters at the very maximum.
Prediction – Round of 16
Slovakia
The Slovaks qualified from a tough group including Slovenia and the Czechs, and they did well to finish top. Their record against those two was poor however as they won one, drew one and lost two. They qualified by ruthlessly beating the lesser teams in the group, which they obviously did better than Slovenia and the Czechs, but at the same time it shows that they struggled against better opposition.
They have a talented squad and some good young players. Marek Hamsik is an excellent prospect in central midfield and it is a matter of time before he moves to a big European club while Miroslav Stoch and Vladimir Weiss have progressed well in the last twelve months. They do however need a fit Martin Skrtel – he is a key cornerstone in the defence and they need him.
They have a chance of beating Paraguay to second place but I just favour the South Americans. They have greater firepower and experience to edge Slovakia out and while the Slovaks may benefit from playing NZ first, I think the Paraguayans will emerge ahead of them.
Prediction – Group stage Only
New Zealand
The fact is, the only reason NZ are at this competition is because Australia moved to the Asian Confederation. Otherwise, there would be no chance of them being here and in fairness, they are out of their depth against this level of opposition – probably the only team I can say that about out of the 32. They are simply not used to playing against quality opposition and they could have a rude awakening here. Thankfully for them, they do not face any prolific scorers, although Paraguay could be the team to take advantage of them if any.
The key thing for them is to enjoy the experience and get used to playing in such events. That may sound a little patronising but it is true and they need to take that to improve in the coming years. Aside from Ryan Nelson, they have no real experience at a decent level, and they have a couple of promising younger players like Tommy Smith and Chris Wood who will benefit hugely from this. Needless to say, 0-3 for me here, and they will be going home pretty swiftly.
Prediction – Group stage Only
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Group E Analysis
Group E
Holland
I am anticipating a typical Dutch performance in this World Cup. Some moments of brilliance, some beautiful attacking play, but will ultimately be let down defensively when they cannot outscore their opponent. Going forward, they will cause most teams plenty of trouble, and we can only hope that Arjen Robben is fit to play some part. I have said it to a couple of people recently but I genuinely believe that if Robben was not so injury prone, he would be considered one of the top five players in the world. I will never forget a story on Marca during his time at Real Madrid explaining how he picked up an injury playing ‘keepy-uppy’ in training – just an example of his fragility.
Combine him with Van der Vaart, Van Persie, and Sneijder and they are a hugely talented frontline which will score plenty of goals. I am not sure Van Persie is the right guy to play as the lone striker, but he will do a job for them.
It will be defensively that they have issues, and that has been the case for a couple of years. They will beat average teams comfortable, occasionally outscore some bigger teams, but they are not good enough defensively to beat 3-4 top class teams consecutively in major competitions. They will raise everybody’s hopes as they coast through their group, but they will manage to throw it all away with one poor performance in the knockout stage. I’ll go for quarter-finals for the Dutch.
Prediction – Quarters
Japan
Solid but certainly not spectacular is how I would describe the Japanese. They have more flair than the other Asian sides, but at the same time, they are probably not quite as solid as some of the others like South Korea. They have some talented players in Nakamura who can produce some moments of magic which may just help them unlock some defences.
I do however think they will just fall short. Cameroon will be a tough opponent for them and that is another game I will stay clear from in terms of betting. Denmark have greater all-round quality in my view, and will edge them in the race for second in my mind. Group stage is as far as they will go for me, but they will not be a pushover for anybody.
Prediction – Group stage Only
Cameroon
On paper, they are the strongest Africa side alongside Ivory Coast for me, and they could be the only two to qualify from Africa. It is a tough task ahead for them in a tricky group, but they will fight with Denmark for second spot.
They have a strong starting eleven on paper, with a strong core to the team but slightly lacking down the wings. That may be a factor when they come up against well organised sides like Japan and Denmark, and one of the reasons why I just fancy Denmark to edge them out. They will rely heavily on their full-backs to get forward but they generally lack quality down the wings, and that will make it tough for them at times to break teams down.
If all their players are on top form, they could grab second, if not, then they could fail miserably. Carlos Kameni is one of their players who I have followed closely during his career in Spain at Espanyol. So many times I have watched him and questioned why he was not playing for a major club, and then he produces a monumental error. He will big amazing one match, but slip up in the next, and that is why I rate the more solid keepers like Tim Howard higher. That is the same for a number of their players – they will be superb one match, but shocking the next, and consistency is there issue.
I give the Danes the edge over them, but do not be shocked if they progress further than that. I must say though that I do not think the African sides will have too much of a ‘home’ advantage in this competition as is often considered as it shifts continent – weather is neutral if anything, and the pitches are good.
Prediction – Group stage Only
Denmark
I think the Danes are being slightly underrated in this group and in general and I think they can sneak the second spot. They have a bit of Japan (organisation) and a bit of Cameroon (flair) and combined I think they can edge the pair and take second place. They came top of a tough group ahead of the Swedes and Portugal, which shows what they can do.
They have a tough opening game against Holland, but I expect them to be unperturbed by any potential loss and bounce back. The squad is down to earth and they know they are competing with the other two for second place. They are a workmanlike squad, but possession some quality players such as youngster Christian Eriksen and Simon Kjaer. They are complemented by some experienced campaigners like Poulsen, Gronkjaer and Sorensen, and I like the general balance they have in the squad.
Going forward, Bendtner will surely play and I am far from being a fan of his. I can see him scoring a couple of cheeky goals among some shocking misses and being an important player for the team. I am not expecting fireworks from this team but a solid performance which should be enough to squeak them past Japan and Cameroon. It will not be easy and I feel as though the group is a tough one, but they can edge it for second even if that is as far as they go.
Prediction – Round 16
Holland
I am anticipating a typical Dutch performance in this World Cup. Some moments of brilliance, some beautiful attacking play, but will ultimately be let down defensively when they cannot outscore their opponent. Going forward, they will cause most teams plenty of trouble, and we can only hope that Arjen Robben is fit to play some part. I have said it to a couple of people recently but I genuinely believe that if Robben was not so injury prone, he would be considered one of the top five players in the world. I will never forget a story on Marca during his time at Real Madrid explaining how he picked up an injury playing ‘keepy-uppy’ in training – just an example of his fragility.
Combine him with Van der Vaart, Van Persie, and Sneijder and they are a hugely talented frontline which will score plenty of goals. I am not sure Van Persie is the right guy to play as the lone striker, but he will do a job for them.
It will be defensively that they have issues, and that has been the case for a couple of years. They will beat average teams comfortable, occasionally outscore some bigger teams, but they are not good enough defensively to beat 3-4 top class teams consecutively in major competitions. They will raise everybody’s hopes as they coast through their group, but they will manage to throw it all away with one poor performance in the knockout stage. I’ll go for quarter-finals for the Dutch.
Prediction – Quarters
Japan
Solid but certainly not spectacular is how I would describe the Japanese. They have more flair than the other Asian sides, but at the same time, they are probably not quite as solid as some of the others like South Korea. They have some talented players in Nakamura who can produce some moments of magic which may just help them unlock some defences.
I do however think they will just fall short. Cameroon will be a tough opponent for them and that is another game I will stay clear from in terms of betting. Denmark have greater all-round quality in my view, and will edge them in the race for second in my mind. Group stage is as far as they will go for me, but they will not be a pushover for anybody.
Prediction – Group stage Only
Cameroon
On paper, they are the strongest Africa side alongside Ivory Coast for me, and they could be the only two to qualify from Africa. It is a tough task ahead for them in a tricky group, but they will fight with Denmark for second spot.
They have a strong starting eleven on paper, with a strong core to the team but slightly lacking down the wings. That may be a factor when they come up against well organised sides like Japan and Denmark, and one of the reasons why I just fancy Denmark to edge them out. They will rely heavily on their full-backs to get forward but they generally lack quality down the wings, and that will make it tough for them at times to break teams down.
If all their players are on top form, they could grab second, if not, then they could fail miserably. Carlos Kameni is one of their players who I have followed closely during his career in Spain at Espanyol. So many times I have watched him and questioned why he was not playing for a major club, and then he produces a monumental error. He will big amazing one match, but slip up in the next, and that is why I rate the more solid keepers like Tim Howard higher. That is the same for a number of their players – they will be superb one match, but shocking the next, and consistency is there issue.
I give the Danes the edge over them, but do not be shocked if they progress further than that. I must say though that I do not think the African sides will have too much of a ‘home’ advantage in this competition as is often considered as it shifts continent – weather is neutral if anything, and the pitches are good.
Prediction – Group stage Only
Denmark
I think the Danes are being slightly underrated in this group and in general and I think they can sneak the second spot. They have a bit of Japan (organisation) and a bit of Cameroon (flair) and combined I think they can edge the pair and take second place. They came top of a tough group ahead of the Swedes and Portugal, which shows what they can do.
They have a tough opening game against Holland, but I expect them to be unperturbed by any potential loss and bounce back. The squad is down to earth and they know they are competing with the other two for second place. They are a workmanlike squad, but possession some quality players such as youngster Christian Eriksen and Simon Kjaer. They are complemented by some experienced campaigners like Poulsen, Gronkjaer and Sorensen, and I like the general balance they have in the squad.
Going forward, Bendtner will surely play and I am far from being a fan of his. I can see him scoring a couple of cheeky goals among some shocking misses and being an important player for the team. I am not expecting fireworks from this team but a solid performance which should be enough to squeak them past Japan and Cameroon. It will not be easy and I feel as though the group is a tough one, but they can edge it for second even if that is as far as they go.
Prediction – Round 16
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
