World Cup Wildes

As you may know I watch a lot of football and I think I had mentioned that I was on summer vacation from college. This combination of reckless watching and the certainty of doing nothing when the day comes breeds a more avid interest in football. On what has to be said my favorite channel of all time the Fox Soccer Channel I have rekindled an interesting anecdote I have. FSC have began to air a program called Football Rivalries a series I had enjoyed watching before I moved to the States. In this wonderful piece of art you are taken on a journey that highlights, well the rivalries between to clubs/countries and I find the stories behind them very interesting. For example the beef between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam. Now for the novice of the sport I shall explain, these two teams are from Holland and I do say the best in that nation. Ajax is found in the Netherlands cultural capital Amsterdam while Feyenoord is found in Holland's second city Rotterdam an industrial haven filled with blue collar workers. As in found in all nations people who live in the capital think they are better and more worldly than their rural or industrial countrymen a feeling Ajax holds towards Feyenoord. Thus a rivalry was born. I won't go into detail because I will probably write about it in the future. I mentioned the whole Dutch thing because my favorite team is in Group E is that being bias? Yes it is so lets proceed.

Group E
Cameroon
Denmark
Japan
Netherlands

Cameroon


I started out with a bias tone and I will look to continue it. I have to be honest I have never liked Cameroon, in fact I am not a fan of most sub Saharan African teams. I never liked Nigeria, Senegal or teams like Ivory Coast. I prefer the north Africans like Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Don't get me wrong I do like Ghana and South Africa a lot, but they are like 2 out of 30. Does this mean deep down inside I dislike myself and my race. It is a possibility that I think Sigmund Freud could only answer but the fact remains I don't like African teams in general. As I just said I don't like Cameroon. Cameroon topped their group to book their ticket to South Africa, in fact to make me look even dumber, all African teams apart from the host topped their groups to make it to the World Cup. Cameroon are blessed with a luxury, something that is rare in African squads and that is a top class goalkeeper. Carlos Kameni who plays for Espanyol is very, very,very good. It is without a doubt he is the best goalkeeper on the continent. Cameroon also has a world class striker in Samuel Eto'o. He has won everything except a World Cup and I don't think he is going to win one either his form has taken a dip but I will let him slide on that. Due to that form dipping he has come in for some criticism from Cameroon great Roger Milla and like the true patriot Eto'o he is threatens to quit the team. It is this sort of thing makes be not like African teams. There is always an issue. However the Indomitable Lions boast experience defender Rigobert Song, his cousin Alexandre Song and the solid naturalized duo of Sebastian Bassong and Benoit Assou-Ekotto. A fairly good squad but I just can't get into them. If they play to their potential they have a chance but I can't see that happening for some reason.

Key Man- Samuel Eto'o: If he could just tuck the distractions at the back of his mind he could really do something great.

Denmark


Years ago Denmark were not just a team that would have given you a fight but they were good money to really beat you up. I remember the Laudrup boys, Stig Tofting and Peter Schmeichel, really good players. When they all retired Denmark entered into a little lull period where we say them not really challenge for anything or springing any big shocks. Today I do think they are being to re-emerge out of that lull and can cause a bit of a stir.When we look at this group we see some strong opposition for Denmark to face but I do say with confidence they will make it through. You see in order for the Danes to make it to South Africa they had to fight off the Portuguese, who themselves made it to the event and their Nordic neighbors Sweden who didn't make it to the dance. Not only did they hold them off they topped the group. With that kind of thinking applied I can only go with the Danes to make it through this group. As personnel go they have players I really like. I am a huge fan of Daniel Agger and a huger fan of young starlet Simon Kjaer. These two defenders will no doubt be instrumental in the Danish campaign. Christian Poulsen is another favorite of mind as well as Thomas Kahlenberg. They have some veterans that they will rely heavily on such as Jesper Gronkjaer, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Dennis Rommedahl.I never thought I would say this but Denmark has a young man I have often made fun of and frankly didn't like but he has proven to be a not a world class yet but a proven goal scorer and that is Nicklas Bendtner. I would like to apologize for my folly because it is because of him that Denmark even got here.

Key Man: Christian Poulsen: Hard man in the middle will need to be even harder when coming up against stiff opposition. (That was a pretty gay sentence.)

Japan


The Blue Samurai. Which I never understood why they call them blue. Sure their kit is blue and they are Japanese so you could call them samurais but their crest is a raven with white and red. I don't know. What I am also unsure about are the Japanese chances. The Asians qualified out of the AFC zone which is a given. Japan I think was the strongest Asian team in the world until the Australians came about usurping them. They are terrific in Asia and I do think they can give most teams on this planet a run for they money but seeing the group they have been placed in I am not so keen on their chances of progressing. They have a wonderful team spirit and some really versatile players but I think they are out gunned by their opponents in Group E. The Danes are a huge team physically, the Cameroonians are themselves huge and quick even wild and I don't think anyone can get the ball away from the Dutch when they start passing it. So the Japanese really need to be super efficient in every maneuver they make. They have interesting players like Keisuke Honda, Junichi Inamoto and Takayuki Morimoto. Interesting because you know how good they can be but you just don't know if they are going to ever reach your expectations. The real big name is the aging Shunsuke Nakamura. He is real class but he is getting up there in age so Japan really need to utilize him well if they can they have an outside chance of progression.

Key Man- Keisuke Honda: He is the hottest thing in Japanese football right now and will need help out Nakamura in the creative department so the Japanese can have a good summer, well South African winter.

Netherlands


I tried to pinpoint the reason why I liked the Dutch so much so I tried to tick some boxes. I asked may it was the orange but then I said nah it can't be.I like orange soda but as a fashion sense I think the color ghastly. So then I wondered maybe it was the culture. The Dutch are a fairly liberal people with a fairly harmonious society. Yet again I thunk no. Not to be disrespectful but the Greeks, Iberians and Italians have more appealing cultures. So I went on and said maybe it's what the Dutch gave to the world like windmills, clogs and donuts. Then I remembered the Dutch also started the slave trade, then I was like definitely not. Then it came back to me, my most earliest encounters with football were Dutch affiliated. When I was a kid I remember watching Dutch football on ESPN on a Saturday morning right after watching my Saturday morning cartoons. I remember my cousin and I loved Ajax and I guess that is where it started for me. This World Cup I will be rooting for them even though I know they are not going to win but I still love them. The Dutch are the great underachievers and have been for years but they also have been packed with talent. Talent of yesteryear featured men liked Johann Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman and Marco Van Basten. Today we see the likes of Rafael Van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie. You would have notice out of the current crop I haven't called any defenders, to be frank the Dutch don't have outstanding defenders and this is why I think they will flounder. The Dutch best defender is Johnny Heitinga. That is worrying, he is very good but he is the only one. Khalid Boulahrouz is like a blind pitbull and Giovani van Bronckhorst is old so I am a bit worried. I'm just hoping Van Persie and the gang can blitz the oppostion so the defence will not be found wanting.

Key Man- Robin Van Persie: In a team filled with goalscorers he is thee goalscorer. The Arsenal man can make this a memorable tourney for the Oranje if he hits the right form.

Predictions: Bias aside here it is. The Netherlands 1st, Denmark 2nd, Cameroon 3rd and Japan 4th. The Europeans are too formidable . Cameroon may have all these great players but Denmark are more of a team ironically even though the Japanese are more of a team than all of their Group E mates they are less gifted.

World Cup Wildes

Latin American people are hilarious. Never in my life have I met a bunch of people who bring a smile to my face like these folks. They make my life seem so much more meaningful. If I have a bad day (which is pretty much everyday) I just have to sit outside my home in Corona and just watch these people do their thing. Their loud, they play music that sounds like a cat being raped by a moose, they cook food laden with spice that make your ears bleed when you eat. Their kids run around like if they are mentally unstable and despite all of this I am intrigued by their ways. When they speak I can't understand what they are saying and to be honest I have given up. You see it may sound bad but I tend to look down on people, sometimes I think I'm better than everyone else. I'm better than North and South Americans, Europeans, Africans and Asians. I love myself to much it would seem. With that comes a sense of entitlement. I always think that I deserve more than others because I really have achieved a lot. My Hispanics neighbors here in America are really industrious, they work the worse jobs possible and get little reward. In this World Cup they are a lot of teams that think they have the right to the cup, they are entitled to it you may even say, sort of like me but they are some who know hard work and endeavor will get them where they want to go. The teams in Group D can make the claim that they are entitled to glory this summer but they should know that hard work is the only to get ahead.

Group D
Australia
Germany
Ghana
Serbia

Australia


Before the Socceroos moved from the Oceania confederation to the Asian one they could have made the claim they had the right to be called the kings of Oceania keeping their Tasman neighbors New Zealand at bay. They often had to face the last team in a final qualifying spot from some far flung corner of the earth in order to advance to the finals, an issue that has hampered the Aussies for some time now. This will be Australia's third World Cup and if I might say rightfully deserved. It would be a bit of a culture shock to any nation who moves to another zone but the Australians handled it with pure class. They didn't just walk through Asian qualification they rather waltzed through it,too easy in my opinion. Australia has a fairly experience team with the likes of Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano all in her ranks(that might be a dirty joke). I actually love the team but my only concern is that they don't have a prolific striker. Joshua Kennedy has now become their leading goal getter now that Mark Viduka removed himself from the national fold. That is a bit worrying, so that automatically heaps pressure upon the "Kenster" as I like to call him (Kennedy) and the Aussie midfield to produce the goals they need to progress. Seeing how they will come up against some resolute defending throughout the group they will definitely need some help. All in all if they can clamp down in defense and the midfield can support Kennedy they could be one to watch. Tough group though .

Key Man- Tim Cahill: He is a scrapper and embodies Australian self believe and spirit.

Germany


Deutschland! Do I need to say more. The discipline. The rigidness. The efficiency. The Germans. Fussbal as it is call in Germany is the national sport and you don't have to be an expert see why. They qualified to this date for the World Cup a record 17 times and won the prestigious tourney thrice first in 1954 then 74 and then 90. Chinks in the armor of Germany? There opponents wished. Just a sample of their might was found in their qualification for South Africa. The Germans dispatched teams like Russia and Wales to top their group. They are well coached with Joachim Low directing the Mannschaft as they are called. They have solid keepers in Manuel Neuer and Tim Wiese. Strong defenders with Phillip Lahm and Per Mertesacker heading up the back line. Young midfielders like Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos supporting veterans like Bastian Schweinsteiger and now they have founder a wonder striker like Stefan KieBling (his name has that special northern europe b). They have lost Michael Ballack a blow I think that can hinder them from going all the way but Germany to look solid not to cause a serious threat.

Key Man- Bastian Schweinsteiger: With Ballack out he has to be the loudest voice in the dress room and a lot of the burden will be placed upon him.

Ghana


The other day I made mention of how I have met people from all over the globe. I met a Ghanaian, well actually his parents are Ghanaian he's an American. He loves basketball and has a thing for Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (he is a beast). This kid's name is Ishmael MarkAddy he's from the Bronx. As American you can get. He told me his dad loves Ghana's national team, he on the other hand knows little to nothing about them. One day we were talking and he said his favorite player was "Ekien."I was, like who? then it clicked....ohhhhhhhhhhhh. You mean Essien. He said. "That is what I said." I was like, close enough and close enough is how I feel about Ghana right now. In this group it will be tough and I know they have talent in their ranks to make me say they got a shot. Which is good. What is bad is that Ekien according to my friend Ishmael may not make it to the finals he is struggling with a serious injury and Ghana can ill afford to be without their star man. Now they don't have to panic because I still think they can be competitive without him but can they win games without him is the question and indicators state that they could, they had to be without him the majority of qualification. That's qualification though this the real thing. This being their second World Cup its no longer a time for starry eyed moments they need to perform.

Key Man- Sulleyman Ali Muntari: Even if Essien gets the all clear to compete he won't be at 100% thus Muntari needs to pick up the slack. I think he was great at Portsmouth and I do believe Inter Milan should give him a chance. If Ghana has a chance of advancing he has to have something to do with it.

Serbia

Forgive me for being very ignorant and blind. About two years ago I didn't know much about a then Serbia & Montenegro side. I knew they were apart of the mighty Yugoslavia but other than that I didn't care to pay much attention to them. I knew they played attractive football but for some reason I ignored them . Now Serbia has split with Montenegro and are for the first time entering as a solely sovereign nation into the World Cup. As apart of Yugoslavia they went to numerous World Cups even appearing in a final or here and there abouts. Looking back on it I think that was very impressive but one must keep in mind that Yugoslavia emcompassed what is today Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Macedonia and Kosovo. So they weren't exactly starved of population to develop footballers. What is impressive now is this Serbian side. To reach South Africa they topped a group that contained France, Romania and Austria teams that aren't considered light weights. So that is an accomplishment all on its own. Me being a neophyte was proclaiming that Nemanja Vidic was all the Serbs had. Then I started to look down the list at the players they had and it read. Dejan Stankovic, Nemanja Vidic, Marko Panetlic, Zoran Tosic, Aleksandar Kolarov and Milan Jovanovic and I said to myself. "Holy shit I know these guys." So I ask myself where was this team hiding. I was wrong about Serbia and I think they will go very far.

Key Man- Nemanja Vidic: He is a starting defender for Manchester United enough said.

Predictions- Before I start let me just say to this date this is the hardest group I have ever had to run the rule over but after some deep Aristotle like thinking I came up with this logical decision. Here I go. Germany 1st, Serbia 2nd, Australia 3rd, Ghana 4th. Germany is a given I don't have to explain why but looking at those names for Serbia I was forced to have them go through. Australia I said I liked but they don't have that striker and Ghana without Essien is like ice cream with out a cone, taste great in the begining but melts without the right support.

World Cup Wildes

I have been reading some really tasty works of literature in the past couple of months. Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. An epic poem about a guy who travels through the bowels of hell in order to see what awaits a soul if they live a faulty life. Another favourite of mine is the Confessions of St.Augustine. Which was a biography of Augustine's life, a life filled with constant sin and remorse. In both stories we see both men going through a journey where at the begining they were at the lowest points in their lives and as far away from purification as pagan baby killer. What was incredible about both stories is that the main characters Dante in the Divine Comedy and St. Augustine in the Confessions turned it all round.Dante achieved that pure figure he sought and Augustine well became a saint. In my reading of these to accounts I remember how far they had came to reach their ideal positions. Simply the message is no matter how dire the state one can always redeem thyself. Ironically all the teams in Group C in the World Cup are on some kind of quest and have a lot to repent for but as Augustine and Dante teaches salvation is just around the corner.

Group C
Algeria
England
Slovenia
United States of America

Algeria


What if Zinedine Zidane suited up for the country of his parents birth instead of France? Would we know him as the icon he is today? Would he have played for Juventus and Real Madrid? The answer is no. That means he wouldn't have won France 98 or would Materazzi be rammed in the chest like an ibex in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. If you didn't know, Zindane is of Algerian descent, so is Karim Benzema. Two world class players essentially are Algerian. Now if they are making that type of footballer in Algiers, Algeria has a wonderful chance of getting very far in this their third World Cup appearance. Like their former colonial masters the French their pass to South Africa was marred by incident. In a two leg play off with their regal neighbors Egypt who are the premier African team,saw them defeat them in the hotly contested match up. The Algerians were attacked in Egypt by the supporters of the Pharaohs with blood even being shed. Going to Cairo and beating the African champs is not an easy feet and that is why I am perplexed when pundits write off the Algerians. They beat Egypt in Cairo and they have some wonderful players with proven pedigree. Hassan Yebda a gun ho midfielder, Nadir Belhadj an even more gun ho player than Yebda. Karim Ziani I call him the Berber butcher a really fantastic midfielder and they have more, in fact a lot more than some of their African counterparts and some of their rivals in the group. I'm backing Les Fennecs for a quarters birth at least.

Key Man- Nadir Belhadj: How can a fullback be a key man, well I guess you never say Belhadj play. He is so exciting he makes you watch him. His energy will be a pivotal reason why Algeria goes far.

England


In 1966 England lifted their first and only World Cup to this date. Their coach was Sir Alfred Ramsey. He did it, the thing that England had craved for since the beginning of the tournament in 1930. Since then the Three Lions have had 13 coaches, all promised but only brought failures and false dawns but it is the 13th coach since Sir Ramsey who offers the most promise. Before this 13th disciple England were a power than seemed destine for mediocrity but in step the Don and that feeling has seem to have rescinded. That man is the Italian Fabio Capello. After failing to qualify for Austria/Switzerland 2008 under Steve McClaren the FA hit the panic button and Capello was brought in to quell the storm. Under Capello they are no longer the bumbling idiots I have enjoyed laughing at for years nor are they the boring over paid douchebags I have come to hate. Now they are just overpaid but their good. I said in my previous post I do think England have the best defense in the world the options in defense are really superb. In the midfield there is a flux of good players and up front they have some pretty useful guys I won't call names. I am going to say they are one of my faves to go on and win the whole thing. I see no real weakness within the squad besides being overpaid peacocks. I really like England's chances and they will do extremely well in this show piece. Oh I should probably tell you guys how they got to South Africa, they basically kicked Ukraine, Croatia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra's asses to advance to the finals.

Key Man- Wayne Rooney: If Rooney doesn't get injured or red carded they should win the whole thing.

Slovenia


I am extremely happy for Slovenia as am I for any small nation who qualifies out of UEFA. Europe is a really tough place to clinch a birth to a World Cup but somehow they did it. If you have a good memory like me you would know that this isn't Slovenia's first dance. The nation featured in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan. I remembered Zlatko Zahovic and his vampire like demeanor. Now they are back and how they got here is very amusing. They weren't placed in a terribly diffcult group stage in Europe. A group that included San Marino, Poland, Slovakia, Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic. Who by the way did not qualify (major disappointment) but the Slovenians did, they came second right behind Slovakia which meant they had to defeat the mighty Russians in order to get here and you know what? They did. I'm glad they did and again I feel absolutely sparkly for them but they really don't have much of a chance. They could sneak some points here and there but outside there is not much hope for them. To be honest I only know two of the Slovenian players, Robert Koren a West Bromwich Albion man and Samir Handanovic a goalkeeper who plays for Udinese, he is pretty good. They will need him if they aren't to be blown away in this group.

Key Man- Samir Handanovic: Needs to be on form if his side to be given even a glimmer of hope.

USA


A couple of years ago I was really pulling for the Americans I didn't mine when they raped Barbados and made my cousin who plays for the islanders look like a dribbling cone. I didn't mine that at all but it seems that America is getting a bit to big for her britches. They don't deserve their lofty rank given to them by FIFA a top 20 side I think they are not and they are not better than Mexico. They did beat some pretty good teams like Spain and Egypt and I give them credit and no matter where your nation is it is hard to dominate a region and they do dominate Concacaf but beating up on Jamaica and her lackey islands like St.Vincent does not make you elite. You beat up Costa Rica and I say SO WHAT? I am really starting to get annoyed by America's attitude. America have excellent players and I rate some of them highly but you guys aren't the great northern gods last time I checked that title belonged to the Scandinavians. I actually pick Algeria to bring them down to earth. All that being said their path was pretty much routine, they raped a couple of island nations and thumped some Central Americans then they topped Concacaf's Hexagon to make it Africa. How do I gauge their chances? I really don't any more. I would have said a couple of months ago America has what it takes to go far into this competition but now they don't have a pray. You see America likes to be the underdog and in this group they are one of the faves the pundits say to advance to the second round. I honestly think that is a role America doesn't know how to play, when pressure is on them to succeed I don't think they can cope with it. I don't hate America I live here, its great country but I think their national team will be found out this summer.

Key Man- Landon Donovan: I have always liked him and without a doubt the reason why USA has become the force they are in this current day.

Predictions- England 1st, Algeria 2nd, United States 3rd and Slovenia 4th. England is different class. United States will not be able to cope with Algeria's intensity and will be pipped for 2nd. Thanks for coming Slovenia.

World Cup Wildes

The days are starting to turn over. I'm on my summer vacation officially but I'm looking for that premier summer job. The negative me says I have been unemployed for two weeks now but the positive me says I have been relaxing for two weeks.I'm not unemployed I'm funemployed that's the way I see it. The World Cup is pretty much upon us and they are teams who will see things in different ways sort of how each of us see things differently. New Zealand and Slovenia just chuffed to be there. The African teams are out to prove a point. The powers of football like Italy and Brazil see this as a must win. Myself I see this an integral part as my development as well. If I'm suppose to be serious about this football thing I really have to put steps in place so that I can be apart of it in the future but at the same time it has to be fun because I refuse to be stuck in a job that I hate for the rest of my life. As promise more group stage insight and if I'm correct after "A" is "B." So here we are from Alpha to Beta.

Group B
Argentina
Greece
Nigeria
South Korea

Argentina



Well as much as I love powerful teams like Argentina there is better than to rain on their parades that's right, defecate on their hopes and dreams. Unlike Uruguay I don't have to tell you what you already know. Argentina won the World Cup twice first in 1978 and then in 1986. They are multiple South American champions they boast world class talent for years now. What you may not know that they struggled to get the Dark Continent. They finished 4th in South American qualification behind Brazil who finished 1st which is not a shock but Chile and Paraguay roared passed them which was a shock. Maybe not, because they are being coached by ex World Cup legend slash Coke fiend Diego Maradona. Now I love Maradona my uncle thought he was the greatest thing since slice bread in fact he thought the Boca legend was the grain that made the bread. I however am not a fan of him as a coach. Actually he and Raymond Domench France's coach at this tournament are the worse of the lot. Machiavelli, Maradona is not, I'm not sure even if he has tactics. He is what I like to call a gusto coach. This is what a gusto coach does, they make a gay ass speech to the players talk them up fill them with pride and industry and all that wonderful stuff and hope their inner patriot comes out. That being said I have spent to much on him to his troops now. Do you know who is Argentina's number one goalkeeper? You don't! Me either. I do three things with my life go to school (I hope), Think about females and watch a ton of football. That being said I know none of them and if I don't know you there is a huge problem. From the roster I see their best keepers play in Holland and for a bottom feeder club in Serie A in Catania. Where is Lux and Abbondanzieri, Maradonna? I worry for Argentina's defenders, quite simply they have an old backline Samuel and Demichelis not the quickest and they left Coloccini and Cambiasso in Buenos Aires. Offensively they are the best in the world I don't have to call names but I will leave you with this, Cristiano Ronaldo can carry Portugal, he has done it so many times, Messi has never been on a team without a sporting cast and if Argentina get caught out he has no experience of digging teams out of trouble.

Key Man- Lionel Messi: Best player in the world and really needs to blow out the opposition because I don't think Argentina will be able to defend a full 90 very well.

Greece


The Greeks, they have brought us democracy and beautiful literature that Hollywood can turn into highly commercialized short films. What is not very beautiful is the way Hellas plays football. They are bruisers and they really aren't about killing you with passes but what Hollywood teahes us about the Greeks they are very effective. To qualify out of the UEFA zone is a feet worthy of praise. They finished second behind the Swiss in their group stage which forced them to playoff against Ukraine whom they dispatched. Greece shocked the world when they won Euro 2004. I too was shocked but Otto Rehhagel is a fine coach who maximizes what resources are at his disposal. Can they win it? They could, if this was in Europe and didn't have to contest nations from various continents. Seriously I think defense wise they can even stop a team like the Netherlands but Brazil would pose a different challenge. The Greeks are a really tidy unit and they put up walls with their physical play but they need goals to progress out the group and despite having good strikers like Theofanis Gekas and Georgios Samaras the key word is good but they are not great. The Greeks have to keep doing what they do well which is defend and maybe they can go far.

Key Man- Sotirios Kyrgiakos: Their a lot of things that make the Greeks tough, besides the pronunciation of their names and their beards. Their defence is extremely stout and Kyrgiakos is at the center of it. The Liverpool defender is always down for a tackle just hope he can get it right for Greece.

Nigeria


The Super Eagles were once the premier team in Africa but after a series of retirements of influential players such as Jay Jay Okocha have seen them just sit back in their seat for a little while. Their path to the World Cup was pretty much a stroll, they topped their qualifying group and here they are. I to be honest have never liked Nigeria but I respect them. They have some nifty and useful players like John Obi Mikel, Obafemi Martins and Victor Anichebe. They have a new coach in the Swede Lars Lagerback. A man that failed to get his own nation to the big dance. You would think that alarm bells would ring in the ears of the big wigs in Abuja. You fired your coach who got you here and you essentially appointed a loser. I don't get that but who am I but a young black male with a blog who lives with is mom in a flat in New York. Nigeria have a chance to advance out of the group but I'm just not sold on them. There is something about them that doesn't seem legit. I want to say they have a good team but I just can't. They don't seem to step outside of Africa and do the job. I know the tournament is in Africa but you know what I mean. The verdict is out on these guys I hope they prove me wrong.

Key Man- John Obi Mikel: Nigeria don't have a lot players who win tournaments besides Mikel who has have numerous cups to his name. He has a winners mentality which will be key to inspire his side. It takes a winner to lead winners.

Korea


I would have never in my life thought I would have a Korean friend let alone several. Since I have enrolled at C.W. Post Long Island University I have met people from all over the world. I have a Swedish friend, Bermudan friend, Iranian and Japanese but it is my Korean friends that I am mostly close too and I met them through playing football. I was brushing my teeth with my Manchester City jersey on and in stepped Jaeman, a Korean student, we never talked before that. He being a Man United fan had pretty harsh words for me and out of that I had a new friend. He introduced me to the best footballer I ever played against a 5'5 Korean Diego his name was Jae. After we played a game Jaeman told me that I can come to South Korea and come live with him. He said it like this "O'Jai U Come live me in Korea soon." That was one of the most touching things anyone has ever said to me, it was a tad bit gay but here was this Korean kid who hardly speaks a word of English inviting into his home that was really sentimental. What won't be sentimental is Jaeman's homeland chances in the World Cup. South Korea are the big boys of Asia but outside their confederation they are no more than water weight. As to be expected from any Asian team they are organize and they have that typical Asian chase down any ball attitude but I really to fear for the White Tigers. There is some hope in Park Ji-Sung and Lee Pyo- Young and Choon-Lee but their lack of height and pure goalscorers can hurt them.

Key Man- Park Ji-Sung: Captain Fantastic, was there any other that they could call on, he is a god in Korea.

Predicitons- Argentina 1st, Greece 2nd, Nigeria 3rd and South Korea 4th. Perfect alphabetical order. Argentina will out gun everyone with their cannons up front. It was tough to decide who would be second but I gave it to Greece because they know how to protect a lead. Nigeria will fall short as I said I'm not convinced by them. Sorry Jaeman and Jae your boys are out classed here and are to small physically. If me playing against you guys is an indicator Korea will be bullied of the ball despite their skills.

World Cup Wildes

Oh my, haven't I been naughty. I have been away for quite some time and to be honest I have really been lazy. I've been going to school full time, which might I add is as difficult as watching a cow eat grain. It really is child's play for me but what can I say the word "brilliant," was made for me. Since I have been away I've turn 22. Great Britain elected a new Prime Minister, Thierry Henry thought he was a basketball player. LeBron James crashed out of the NBA playoffs and fish in California have herpes now and in between all of that, all football 2009-10 seasons have concluded and champions have been crowned. Now since I have been told that the world will end in 2012 that means I don't have a lot of time so I should probably start saying prays and become for studious and less lazy. Well if you haven't heard the FIFA World Cup 2010 is being held in South Africa beginning June 11th to July 11th so from this date we don't have much long left. My task if you would have me is to keep you abreast on who is doing what and what groups there are in. So according to the ancient workings of the standardized alphabet we start with Group A. It's going to be A-mazing. I know that was a bit cheap but it is my first time being back so I'm allowed.

Group A
France
Mexico
South Africa
Uruguay

France


Les Bleus. One of the greatest teams in the world almost didn't make it. After finishing behind Serbia they needed to beat a resilient Republic of Ireland in order to reach the Africa's southern cape and they did although, marred with controversy. People say they should not be there come June 11th but I say to them. You can only score if you attack and Les Bleus did for most of the game. Can they go on and win the tournament that is a resounding yes I don't see why not. What turns me away from them achieving much however are a couple of factors. For one France have mounting injuries to key men like William Gallas and Lassana Diarra. Both men are focal points in the starting 11 and to be honest they aren't any ready made replacements for them in France. Secondly the coach Raymond Domench. This man is an idiot. He uses astrology to pick a team. He left out to my knowledge Karim Benzema and Philippe Mexes. Mexes is my dog so that is my bias comes through but Benzema is a must. Finally the French strike me as a unit not united. I think they have awful team chemistry and body language. I even bet that if they go behind to a good unit say England (BEST DEFENSE IN THE WORLD)I really doubt they have the spirit for the fight historically not only in football the French people outside of the Napoleonic Era are push overs unless things fall in there favor.

Key Man- Hugo Lloris: For all their cavalier like attacking. It is France's goalkeeping depth that is key. Behind Hugo Lloris there is Steve Mandana behind Steve is Cedric Carasso. Hugo Lloris is the most agile goalkeeper in the game today and with out Gallas or Mexes we will be needed on a regular.

Mexico


Its not very hard to get out of the Concacaf qualification zone. If you have a massive population and a history that Mexico has. When you look around the region Mexico only has United States, Costa Rica and Canada (if they feel like it,) as competition. So I really don't have to speak on their progress through qualification. Have to say they tried the Swedish sweetheart Sven Goran Eriksson a while back that didn't work out so they brought in El Vasco better known as Javier Aguirre . He righted the ship and so far it has been a breeze. I really love Mexico in fact I own a shirt. Shoot where I live in New York there is nothing but Mexicans and I love burritos match made in heaven. As a football power I'm a bit concern because Mexico has pretty much pedestrian competition in their FIFA zone so there is always the need for them to blow out the competition that is served up to them. It's like the story of a mighty island. They are magnificent against the other little islands but when facing a continent she sinks. Same can apply to America but that's not our focus. Mexico is well drilled and discipline and now they can defend very well but its like they traded in their firepower for their new armor. Mexico lately have been firing blanks they need to step up the goal department. Which is odd with Blanco, Vela, Dos Santos and Guardado you would think they would be cruel on opposition.

Key Man- Andres Guardado: Dangerous, very dangerous, he is getting better and better. Most of the creativity and guile will come through him. I'm not just praising him because he is a Depor man but he really is their best player and he defends things stuff dreams are made of.

South Africa


They say that there is a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. For the host nation I really hope there is one here because they look to be in danger of becoming the first host not to advance beyond the group stage. These are some hard facts. We know as the host they did not have to qualify as a result they have had nothing to play for since who knows. They played in the Confed Cup which really isn't important. They did not even qualify for the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola. They switched their coach which is always rough but at least he knows the set up since he was their coach before. South Africa can't score goals that is another cold fact. South Africa's major problem is that their main attacking threat is Steven Pienaar. Don't get me wrong he is fantastic but Steve is a midfielder and a small one at that and he really has no other help in an attacking sense. Benni McCarthy God bless him because he is a devout Christian isn't the same man he once was. What saves the Africans is however the home support and the teams athleticism but let me remind you this is not cricket or rugby two sports where South Africa dominates, this is football and to be honest they are not that great.

Key Man- Matthew Booth: Forget Pienaar he can't defend any way. There is nothing more frightening than a 6'6 ft 209lbs white man barreling down upon you. That is what Booth is, he is a monolith and he's quick. Booth maybe 33 but he gets about.

Uruguay

I like to call them the little Argentina but if I said that in Montevideo they would probably stab me and burn me. Uruguayans hate Argentinians with all their hearts. Who would guess that they would have so much in common. Their flags, their ethnicity with both South American states emerging from vast European migration. More importantly to us they both won the World Cup twice. Yes Uruguay have more right to be here than any other nation who will be in South Africa. They were the first to lift the prestigious cup in 1930 and then in 1950. They have pedigree and pedigree never fades. Even if the personnel change. They play with an heir of promise and I do think they will go far and could even win it. I sound crazy and I understand why one would think that but the people of Uruguay are winners and her players were brought up hearing the glories of the past. Being West Indian I have always heard how mighty Barbados and the West Indies were at cricket and that sticks with me to this day. Their is nothing more empowering to know that men that shares your same blood who lived a few meters away from where you were bred went on and championed the world. There is something very beautiful about that and the Uruguayan players who will play in South Africa and who will ever don her colors are natural winners.

Key Man- Diego Forlan:You are a fool to think that Forlan is the only weapon Uruguay has. Diego Lugano, Edinson Cavani and Sebastian Abreu stand at the ready to support the "Golden One." Forlan has a habit of proving people wrong. I made so much fun at Forlan at his Man United days but now I eat every word twice.

Predictions
France 1st, Uruguay 2nd, Mexico 3rd and South Africa 4th. Come on... its France, the French have what it takes to win the whole thing. Uruguay have to much spirit for Mexico and South Africa. Mexico is very timid on the road and South Africa just doesn't know how to win for all the spirit they will have.