A is for Argentina
Argentina needs to go far. They haven’t gone past the
quarters since 1990. They’ve lost back-to-back QFs against Germany, losing
first in penalties in Germany and then getting hammered 4-0 in South Africa.
Those are bad results for a country who has been this talented. They have the
best player in the world, and a good core of players around him that all play
in Europe. They need to do something. They’ve been given a laughable group
(Iran, Bosnia, Nigeria) and one of the weaker groups to draw in the Round of 16
(France, Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras). They should reach the Quarters but
the problems could start there. If Germany struggles in their Group of Death,
they could even end up drawing Germany again. Other than the team to come next,
there is no team under more pressure than Argentina.
B is for Brazil
Speaking of pressure, here’s a team that has been disappointing
in the last two World Cups, losing to the eventual runner-up in 2006 and 2010,
and is now playing a World Cup at home. Here is the good news for Brazil: they
haven’t lost a game at home since 2002. They strolled to the Confederations Cup
at home last year, including dissecting a full-bodied Spain 3-0 in the Final.
They have one of the best players in the World in Neymar, who is a rare player
who so far has played better for country than club, and a young team that can
play both ways. The bad news: this team will be under more pressure than any
team in a long, long, long time in a World Cup. They have to win this at home.
They have to. There is no other alternative really.
C is for Coming Home
I decried the South African World Cup in 2010. It was awesome
that Africa got the chance to host one, and the stadiums were beautiful, but it
just felt weird. These weren’t traditional Football Stadiums, with tight,
cramped corners, and seemed more sprawling like the NFL. The fans blew
Vuvuzelas and the tapestry of a normal World Cup was gone. After going to Cape
Town and seeing that beautiful stadium empty and wasting money, it hurt even
more. Now, Brazil spent a giant amount of money, but this is a footballing
country. This is a return to what we had in 2006, with great stadium
atmospheres, awesome crowds and a country that knows how to host a party.
D is for Deadly Groups
There is no one real Group of Death in this World Cup. Most
American’s believe it is their Group, Group G, that features Germany (always a
lock to reach at least the Quarters), Portugal (who have the world’s best
current player) and Ghana (who has made it out of the Group Stage of the last
two World Cups). America seems like a pick to go 4th. I totally
disagree. First, we are overrating Portugal, a country who outside Cr7 is past
their prime or not yet there (and now Cr7 might be gimpy), and more so Ghana.
American fans hate Ghana as they knocked the US out of the World Cup in 2006
and 2010, but this Ghana team is not as good as those Ghana teams. Germany is
awesome, but the rest of the Group isn’t. Also, there are other groups that are
as great. Group D, with England, Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica, who is no
pushover in a South American World Cup, is right there with Group G. Group B
has Spain, Netherlands and Chile. There are a lot of tough groups right now,
which should make for an even better tournament.
E is for England?
This England team is unlike any other in recent World Cups.
The ‘Golden Generation’ of Beckham, Terry, Lampard, the brothers Cole and
others are basically gone, ceding the English team to a whole cast of young
characters. Rooney is still there, but so is Sturridge and Welbeck and Sterling
and a bunch of young blokes who can run and play attacking football. They have
more youth than anyone realizes but they are in the wrong group for youth. They
have to compete against the team that is the opposite of youth in Italy and one
of the popular darkhorses in Uruguay. There is a realistic chance that England
is by far the 3rd most talented team in their own group. Even if
they get knocked out before the knockout round, it will be a very interesting
road to get there.
F is for Franck
Just like that, France’s World Cup hopes went right out the
door. Last week France announced that Franck Ribery will miss the World Cup. He
is France’s best player and while they themselves are going through a youth
movement, Ribery was the key. France is in a tough group but still could
advance, but will it matter? Will a token Round of 16 game matter for a country
that has at best played token games since Zinedine Zidane retired? Ribery was
great as an up-and-comer in the 2006 World Cup, and then fell victim to being
‘the next Zidane’ in 2010. He has upped his game over the last four years and
this could have been a great showcase. Instead, it is a showcase of how much
they might miss him.
G is for Golden Goal… as in Please Come Back
This will be the third straight World Cup since they removed
the Golden Goal, and I’m so against it. Sure, it may not be fair, but let’s be
real, how many times do both teams actually score in our non-Golden Goal World
Cup? The famous example is a Italy vs. Germany game back in the day that went
to Extra Time tied at 1-1, and ended 4-3. Well, that was 42 years ago. What’s
more likely is the ridiculous way the Champions League Final ended, with Real
winning 4-1 after entering Extra Time 1-1. The positive aspects of the Golden
Goal are too much to avoid. The Golden Goal in hockey is one of the best part
of NHL Playoff’s overtime periods, that terribly awesome feeling that at any
moment it could all be over. Soccer isn’t like that as much since the buildup
to goals in generally longer, but man were some of the famous Golden Goal’s
back in 2002 great. Please bring it back, FIFA.
H is for (the) Hand Ball Redemption
Luis Suarez was pretty unknown heading into the 2010 World
Cup, and while his teammate Diego Forlan ended up winning the Golden Ball
(player of the tournament), Suarez cemented his place in World Cup infamy with
his handball at the end of the Ghana game. Personally, I never had any problem
with it. It isn’t like he got away with it. He was punished, banished out of a
potential World Cup Semifinal and Final, and if Ghana makes the penalty no one
cares. Instead, Ghana missed, Uruguay won, and this was added as most people’s
starting point when discussing Suarez’s other let’s say odd behavior… like
biting Branislav Ivanovic, or being racist towards Patrice Evra, or diving a
lot. Suarez just completed one of the most dominant seasons for a striker in
EPL history. His team is one of the five favorites. He has a chance to redeem
himself well in this World Cup near his home country.
I is for International Stakes
The World Cup isn’t the best football showcase in the World.
No, that is the Champions League, where you get deeper teams that play together
all the time, that know each other better. You get a higher quality there. What
the World Cup is, is the best football spectacle. There is nothing better than
the atmosphere of a World Cup game, with the fans’ patriotic displays, the
unbelievable Nationalism, the party-like atmosphere all over the host country.
Nothing brings the World together like this tournament. Civil Wars in Africa
stopped in 2006 and 2010 for the World Cup. Business around the world goes to
shit during the World Cup. Everyone loves the World Cup. There is truly nothing
like it.
J is for Jogo Bonito?
Jogo Bonito is most associated with the flair and artistry
that Brazil plays with, especially back in the Pele, ZIco, Garrincha, Carlos
Alberto, Tostao days. The terms is still associated with Brazil after their
glorious run form 1994-2002. The term didn’t transfer, but the idea of
beautiful soccer did, to Spain from 2006-2012. Well, who has it now? After two
years of Barcelona falling back to earth and at times getting beaten soundly,
and Pep going to Bayern and getting embarrassed by Real Madrid, and
counterattacking teams becoming more successful, what is the beautiful game
right now? There is something pleasing to watching Spain’s passing triangles
still, but it gets boring. The speed and power of the German counterattack is
fun. Maybe it will be Brazil? Who knows, but soccer is at an interesting time
stylistically.
K is for K(C)ards
Ok, I'm cheating here. Cards obviously starts with a 'C' and not a 'K', but I couldn't think of anything for K. Not much really starts with the letter 'K' really. Anyway, cards will play a role, they always do. They played a role in 2002, when a dubious yellow to Michael Ballack put him out of the final. They played a massive role in 2006 with the infamous red to Zidane. They played a big role in 2010 when loads of players had to miss the Final, and the ref of the final, the one and only Howard Webb, didn't give out nearly enough cards. Cards will happen in this tournament, they'll effect games. Bad yellows knocking players out of huge games. Bad reds putting teams at huge disadvantages. There is always refereeing controversies, and cards are usually the reason.
L is for Landon Donovan
He won’t be at the World Cup, unceremoniously cut when the
roster was whittled down to 23. Still, his presence, or more accurately lacking
presence, will be felt. Jurgen Klinsmann has largely been left alone to do what
he sees fit with the US National Team since his appointment, but questions will
be asked if he fails here. Honestly, if they do as badly as they did in 2006
when placed in a similarly tough group (eventual World Cup Winner Italy, Ghana
and the Czech Republic that time) he might get canned. This is a decision that
was met mostly with round criticism, to just jettison the heart and soul of the
USMNT, but it does make some sense with a team that tries to get younger every
four years. Still, Jurgen Klinsmann’s honeymoon is over, and Donovan could be
the catalyst for a divorce.
M is for Messi
This is it really for Leo Messi. He’s squarely in his prime,
and given the miles on his body, his injury history the past two seasons, and
his declining goal scoring rate (going from ridiculously awesome to just
awesome), this is Messi’s time to be the best player in the World. All the
Greats had their World Cup. Maradona had 1986. Cruyff had 1974. Ronaldo had
2002. Zidane had two, but one squarely in his prime in 1998. Messi did nothing
in the 2010 World Cup. He will be over 30 come 2018 and I can’t see him playing
too well in Russia if he can’t do it near his homeland. I have to think he
comes out and plays well against some bad teams in the Group Stage.
N is for Nationalism
There is nothing quite like the Nationalism and Patriotism
of the World Cup. It’s even more interesting a dynamic in a cultural melting
pot like the United States, where most soccer fans (or once-every-four-years
World Cup fans) will root for the USMNT, but also take up their own country
that they are ethnically aligned with, be it France, Germany, England,
Portugal, Brazil, Italy (especially, Italy) or wherever it may be. The other
interesting angle with the Nationalism in the World Cup is all the World
History present. When Germany plays anyone the lasting memory of the warring of
the 20th Century is still present. When England plays a former
colony, when any European team plays an African team. There is more than just
sport involved in these games, there is legacy, country and pride.
O is for Oscar Tabarez
Coaching generally isn’t a huge factor in World Cups. The
teams aren’t really together enough for a coach to have that much of an impact.
Sure, it may mean something that the last two World Cup winners were coached by
people who had tons of success at the club level as well (Vicente Del Bosque
with Real Madrid and Marcello Lippi with Juventus and AC Milan), but that’s
generally not the case (Hello Raymond Domenech). Oscar Tabarez of Uruguay may
be the exception. His work with the 2010 team was amazing, creating a
structured team environment that could play defense extremely well but still
push forward. They have the same thing going for them this time. Suarez is a
great player. Edinson Cavani is a great player. The whole roster has good
players, but Tabarez makes them go.
P is for Patriotism
Let's talk about the USMNT for a bit. I already talked about them when bringing up the Group of Death and Landon Donovan's exclusion, but let's talk about the team right now. The team is still quite good and while it wouldn't be a shock if they didn't make it out of a really tough group, I wouldn't be surprised if they made it. They train better than most teams in the World in terms of physical and endurance training which should serve them well playing in many different places. They are definitely a team that should, over time, make it out of the Group Stage more often than not. They have a lot of players who either play in Europe or are good enough to but don't since MLS is getting (somewhat) better. The future of the USMNT is still bright. They'll never be as good as the European powers, but they can be a Uruguay.
Q is for Qatar
It probably won’t be mentioned much during the 2014 World
Cup, and it is still 8 years away, but the 2022 World Cup being in Qatar will
be a major story over the next four years. Already we’ve had Sepp Blatter
saying he regretted the selection, albeit primarily due to the heat in Qatar
necessitating the tournament to be held in winter. We’ve had a massive bribing
scandal uncovered, though the people involved haven’t really said much since.
We’ve also had the problem with Qatar itself, as the stadiums need to be built
and people are dying literally by the hundreds and eventually thousands in
trying to build them, with the migrant workers living in conditions that are
almost worse than slums. I won’t be surprised if Qatar is essentially stripped
of the World Cup, but before we bash them too much, let’s be honest for a
minute. The chances of them being the only nation that did some bribing and
side payments in the leadup to the 2018 and 2022 hosting decisions are really
low.
R is for (la) Roja Furia
Spain has won the last three major International Tournaments
they have played in, winning the Euro 2008 and 2012, being the bread to the
meat of the sandwich that was the 2010 World Cup. They broke all types of
streaks in 2010, of course becoming the first Spanish team to win a World Cup,
and then becoming the first European team to win a World Cup outside of Europe.
Even with all their pedigree, their still loaded roster, Spain is slightly
under the radar. Most of their core from 2008-12 is aging, and they’re
depending on a lot of, admittedly really talented, players to pick up the
slack. Take David Silva, who was a starter and integral part of the 2008 side,
then was pushed aside for the Barca contingent in 2010-12 and is now back in
favor. It’s guys like him, Juan Mata, and Diego Costa who will have to step up.
After winning the last three tournaments with essentially the combined Real
Madrid and Barca rosters (minus Messi and Cr7), Spain is looking to other sides
to win.
S is for South America
A big theme of the early stages of the 2010 World Cup was
the success of South America. No South American team lost to anyone other than
other South American teams through the Group Stages. Then, they all fell like flies
and we were left with just one remaining in the Semifinals (after Paraguay,
Argentina and Brazil lost to three European teams). Well, now we are physically
in South America. They will have more fans. They will be used to the weather.
They have the advantage. Historically only South American teams have won World
Cups in the Western Hemisphere. I think a lot are people are counting on that,
on the South American teams playing well. I mean, if the
Chile/Colombia/Ecuador’s play well, that makes those groups more competitive.
If South America does well, the World Cup does well, and if the World Cup does
well, the fans do really well.
T is for Thomas Muller
I had to bring up Germany sometime, and stupidly used 'Golden Goal' for G, so I have to shoehorn it here. With the late injury to Marco Reus, and questions regarding the health of Bastian Schweinsteiger and the form of Mesut Ozil, the once co-favorites really need their most sturdy player to step up. Muller was a breakout star in the 2010 World Cup, and has been a clutch player for Bayern for years. See his 3 goals in the 2013 UCL Semi against Barca. See his goal in the 2012 UCL Final. He hasn't fit perfectly in Pep's system, but he's free from that now and needs to pick up the slack. Somehow, despite being Semifinalists at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, and the Finalist in Euro 2008, the German National Team is stacked, but injury makes them less stacked and they'll need Mr. Reliable more than ever.
V is for Vuvuzelas Are Gone
The scourge of the earth of the 2010 World Cup, other than
the average level of drama in the games, was the Vuvuzela, that loud, buzzing,
awful horn that ruined the game day atmosphere. You couldn’t hear the awesome
chanting and singing that is so often the highlight of World Cup games. Those
awesome crowds will be back in Brazil, and the buzzing will be gone. Replaced
by beautiful, beautiful singing and chanting and dancing. Personally, I can’t
wait for the first time I sit down and watch Brazil play Croatia and not have
to deal with the sound of that idiotic horn.
W is for Winter
One of the more interesting aspects of Southern Hemisphere
World Cups is that they take place in winter in the host country. Now, since
the Southern Hemishpere doesn’t stretch as far South and the Northern does
North, winter’s generally aren’t as bad in the Southern Hemisphere, assuming no
World Cup is played in the Andes. That said, Brazil is a giant country, with
very disparate weather across it’s plains. There are host cities that will be
really cold. There are host cities that will be really warm. This World Cup
will really test the fitness but also the adaptability of the teams. Who can
adapt best to very different weather conditions, and can European players, who
aren’t used to playing in cold in June and July, adapt if they have a big game
in a cold place?
X is for Xavi and Xabi
I’m pretty sure I used the same two guys for the ‘X’ in
2010. Back then, they were the heart and soul of the Spanish side. Now, they
are the aging hangers-on, but Spain will need them. There are many legendary
players in this world Cup, but these are the two leading ones who almost
certainly won’t be around when we all meet again in Russia in 2018 (Andrea
Pirlo being another big one). Xavi and Xabi are perfect players, but injuries
and age slowed them down in recent times. It will be interesting to see how
much they play in a stacked midfield. Vicente del Bosque has been loathe to go
away from the Golden Guys from ’08-’12, but he might need to change and pass it
along to someone else.
Y is for Young Stars
In 2002, it was Ronaldinho. In 2006, it was Lionel Messi. In 2010, it was Luis Suarez. For the past three World Cups, one bright young star who wasn't yet at his prime announced himself to the World. Ronaldinho, despite his wonder goal against England, wasn't really the biggest part of the Brazil team that won. Messi scored just one goal, but the at-the-time 19 year old showed flashes of what will come. Luis Suarez was relatively unknown until Uruguay's surprise run to the SFs. Who will it be in 2014? Maybe one of the non-Neymar Brazilian players, or one of the new Spaniards, or maybe even a non-Messi player from Argentina. Someone will step up and announce himself as a major presence for the next 4 years. Who will 2014 break out?
Z is for Zidane
Just like last time, we close with Zizou. This isn’t as much
about Zizou, as now we’re a full 8 years from when he set the world on fire in
2006, but this is about the legacies at stake here. Zidane is a Top-10 player
all time, and what helps cement that case is what he did for France. He scored
the two goals that opened the 1998 World Cup Final in France (the last team to
win at home), and then was the best player in the world during the 2006 World
Cup despite being 34. He achieved his Legend status by playing brilliantly in
World Cups as well as his awesome performances at Juve and Real Madrid. Well,
that’s what is available for both Messi and Ronaldo here. Both have been
underwhelming in their careers internationally, despite being on loaded teams,
despite having ample opportunities. They’ve combined to not score a single goal
in knockout rounds of World Cups. That needs to change. This is their time.
