World Cup 2010

Finally, the FIFA World Cup 2010 is here :)

Let's quickly look at this year's top contenders.

Spain are red hot favourites, no doubt. Casillas at goal. Ramos, Pique, Puyol n Capdevilla at the back. 4 names from the mouthwatering team of Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso, Busquets, Silva n Fab will be in the midfield. Then there are Villa & Torres to find the net. wow! Even their bench is stronger than most teams with Reina, Marchena, Albiol, Pedro n Navas. They have 8 players from Barca, which is the best club/team in the world by a huge margin and 5 from Real Madrid. So they have unity and they know their fellows. So Spain are in it with a huge shout. It will be surprising or even shocking if we don't see them in the final.

Brazil is Brazil. They were/are/will always be the favourites. They have Julio Cesar, who is the best keeper in the world right now. Maicon, Lucio, Alves n Bastos are high quality defenders. Kaka, Elano, Gilby and Ramires in midfield n Robinho & Fabiano as strikers. The bench is not super strong. The defence can get exposed as there is no good name to partner Lucio at Centre Back. Still, they are a team to watch out for because they are ...... Brazil

Germany is the most consistent 'big match' team...2nd in 2002, 3rd in 2006 n 2nd in 2008 Euro. They are a team that I've been supporting for the past 10 years. Neuer is young, but is a good shot-stopper. Lahm is an inspiring captain n one of the best full-backs playing in South Africa. But with the exception of him, Mertesacker n Friedrich; the defence is very young n inexperienced n may get caught up. Schweinsteiger is the only big name in midfield. I guess Khedira n Ozil are gonna play a big role this time. But it is the 'Strikers department' that is hopeless. Klose, Gomez, Podolski are all in terrible form. Only Cacau has found something going his way. And there will be too much pressure on the young Muller. But the team always perform and produce some good football and I look forward to it.

Argentina has Messi, Carlitos (Tevez), Milito, n Kun Kun (Aguero) as forwards n Di Maria & Maxi as wingers. But that is it. Their captain Mascherano is an effective DM, but is used to getting a red card, every two games. The defence is utterly hopeless n only Demichelis is an exception. W Samuel, Heinze, Veron are all ancient. They don't have speed or agility and miss-pass a lot. And even the 3 goalkeepers combined don't look strong enough. Plus there are many unproven youngsters. Messi will have to work his magic if Argentina is to go much further.

Portugal has Ronaldo. Plus they have some good players in Deco, Simao,Raul Meireles, Danny, Bruno Alves, Carvalho n Pepe. They play well as a team, but has been placed in a tough group that includes Brazil and Ivory Coast. Anway they will progress to the inital knockout phase. But Ronaldo can't win a world cup on his own. We have to wait n watch to find out if they go a long way.

England has Rooney, Gerrad, Lampard, Crouch, J Cole, Lennon, Milner, Defoe n Wright-Phillips for offence n Terry, A Cole, Upson, Johnson, Carragher n the unpredictable Ledley King for defence. Only the 3rd choice keeper Hart can be called as a reliable shot-stopper, but I don't think he will ever be used. Much depends on how Rooney plays. England are a team that I never loved watching. Personally I feel, they are good only on the paper n not on the field. I don't think they have it in them to win something big.

France has a good keeper in Lloris. Gallas, Sagna n Evra makes a good defence. The weak link, however, is Abidal, who is poor when used as a CB. Even the bench CBs are not the best ones around. Ribery n Malouda on the wings offer pace. The effectiveness of Ribery is crucial in France's progress in the tournament. Toulalan is a strong holding midfielder. Gourcuff @ centre midfield is gonna be the key. Anelka n Govou as the forwards is not a bad prospect. Henry will come on after 70 minutes in every game and can be a game-changer. Anyway, to me, they don't look like a team threatening to win crown, due reasons unexplainable.

Italy is gonna struggle big time. Their squad still has veteran players, who are good enough for one last fight. Last year's heroes Buffon , Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Chiellini, Pirlo, Gattuso, Cameronesi, De Rossi Gilardino n Iaquinta are there. The young Criscito at Left Back is one of my favourite players. But I don't think the team is gonna click this time. Anyway, their football is not the most attractive or interesting and so the neutrals won't miss anything, if they go out cheaply.

We can expect some good football from some of the underdogs, such as Ivory Coast, Korean Republic, Ghana, Slovenia and South Africa. One or two of them will surely go through to the knockout phases, by upsetting the so-called 'group favourites'.

That leaves us with The Netherlands/Holland/The Dutch/The Orange.
Their keeper Skelenburg 2nd choice Vorm and defenders Heintinga, Mathijsen, Bronkhorst, Ooijer, Van der Wiel n Boulahrouz are pretty much decent, though they are not exactly the best around. But it is the midfield n the attack that is gonna tear apart any thing that comes their away. Van Bommel n de Jong will be the ball-winners. And just see that offence: Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Robben, Kuyt n Van Persie. Simply awesome! All of them had superb seasons for their clubs. They are smokin'. They have always done well for Holland and are ready to fire on all cylinders. The bench has Babel, Huntelaar, Elia n Afellay to offer cover.

My gut feeling points to them. I say Netherlands will win hearts as usual and, this time, the cup too for a change.

The Rainbow Nation in The Dark Continent is gonna get painted ORANGE this summer.

Go Holland Go!