Who Wins The World Cup?

Now that dear Super Eagles has left Brazil, let’s look at the remaining teams and make submissions without sentiments hindering such attempts any more.

To start with, World Cup is a tournament that is laden with tradition. No team has ever jumped from nowhere to get to that ever prestigious winners podium. From 1930 to 1998, only six countries had rotated that elite chore among themselves in an unequal share of Brazil(four times), Italy(three times), Germany(three times), Uruguay(twice), Argentina(twice) and England(once).

Despite having won continental titles and having danced around World Cup semi-finals in 1982 and ’86, France knew hosting to win was not going to come on a platter. Despite being loaded to the hilt with World class talents, they still were not confident of breaching that elite company.  But Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, laurent Blanc, Didier Deschamps, Lilian Thuram, Marcel Daisaily and others would finally drink from the holy grail in an accomplished display, culminating in a master class dispatch of almighty Brazil in the final.

It was the turn of Spain to follow suit in 2010 in South Africa. Parading seven Barcelona starters that had dominated European and World football for over half a decade, La Furia Rojas eventually shrugged off that unenviable toga, ‘under perennial achievers’ to join that group that swelled to G8. But it wasn’t on a platter…like France before them,they had been persistently knocking on doors. Arriving South Africa as deserved European Champions, their tiki-taka showcase was a delight and the accomplishment well-deserved.

In Brazil, the only team that has consistently tried to no avail to enter that elite class has been the Orange Gang from Holland. Having failed three times in the final, Holland came to Brazil as vice champions. Their nemesis four years ago, defending champions, Spain has long left the scene. It may be deserved if the Dutch finally swelled that elite group to nine. But before their fans go gaga in celebration, are the boys of Louis van Gaal truly endowed to unequivocally cart home the holy grail?

Let’s start by taking a look at Argentina. In my humble reckoning, Argentina tops the list of my favourites…and it’s quite simple…they have Lionel Messi. I have always maintained that whoever has the Bracelona goal machine playing for him has over 50 % of his problems solved as a coach. The mercurial Barcelona ‘false 9’ is the best player on planet presently playing and third best ever to have kicked the round leather. Like Diego Maradona did in 1986, Messi has shown signs he can single-handedly drive the Argentines to that apex podium. He may not have actually set Brazil aglow yet but the pocket dynamite hasn’t done less either. Of his side’s seven goals scored so far, he has personally tucked in four while assisting one more in performances where almost all his five contributions ended up match winners. But is Argentina really all about Messi? They might have lost Sergio Aguero to injury but in Gonzalo Higuian, Angel Di Maria, Ezekiel Lavezzi, they still have a potent strike force that will give any set of defense nightmares.

Second in my rating comes Germany. The Germans seem to have taken another route to tiki-taka. This is no longer the famed German machines that bulldozed and physically dominated teams. This generation is rather a technically gifted set of individuals who surprisingly come up second bests in physical contacts. Mesut Ozil, Mario Gotze, Thomas Mueller, Andre Schuerrle, Philip Lahm, Per Metersacker even when they possess more appealing techniques, are a departure from the hard-playing robots of the Karl Heinz Rumenneige, Andre Brehme, Rudi Voeller, Lothar Mattaeus, Jurgen Klinsmann, Tomas Hassler days. The team in Brazil is far ahead of any other team left in possession and attractive play but disappointingly far less effective in dispatch and even chances created. Still, my money goes for them to exert the German spirit and play in the final, where if not Argentina, they’d win their fourth tile. Why not? Far inferior German teams in 1982,’86 and even 2002 got to the final. In Ozil, they may have one of the poorest in physical strength to have ever played for Germany but then he happens to be the most precise passer of the ball of this generation, once it’s being done in the final third. They may lack a potent point man but Mueller has cunning and positioning over most accomplished finishers in Brazil. Bet against this German team at your peril.

Brazil. Maybe the pressure of playing at home, Brazil has not really performed to a convincing level, making many dismiss their ability as potential champions. But that Brazil team is loaded with a compact-playing unit. Like Germany, they lack a real world class point man to compliment the array of quality in every other department. Neymar, the second most-influential single player in the tournament behind Messi, is having a good tournament so far while Hulk shone like a million stars against Chile. Oscar is still a dangerous customer while the array of combative midfielders in Gustavo, Paulinho, Fernadinho, William, Ramires testify that when Brazil needs to protect a lead, they’d conveniently roll into gear. And the rear guard of Alves, Silva, Liuz and Marcello cannot be rated as second bests. If Fred gets his boots on henceforth, the Samba men could be getting hands on their sixth title.

Holland. Despite my earlier belief they are the most poised to join the group of world champions, I still rate them fourth in my scale of potential champions. Arjen Robben is having a swell World Cup. Never mind his nauseating dives, he carries the hope of the Orange gang positively while skipper Robin Van Persie only adds to Robben’s pace and trickery. These two are among the best of forwards that can single-handedly win difficult matches. When combined, they can constitute real nightmares to opponents at the Mundial.  Their support cast play in a very compact unit – less possession but very effective tactical approach. They may not truly represent the best side in Brazil but they won’t be adjudged undeserved if they eventually get it done.

Then France. France have in Karim Benzema what many teams lack in Brazil – a potent point man. He may not have scored against Nigeria but he has Vincent Enyeama in goal to blame for his woes. He’s having a good World Cup and is quite capable of causing some teams grief as the Mundial rolls to final hour. However, Le Blues lack the team strength of that great side that grabbed it on home soil 16 years ago. I rate them fifth.

Then come Belgium, Colombia and Costa Rica in declining other.

In all, I see Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Holland qualifying for semi-finals.

 

Who wins the World Cup?