With this World Cup promising to be one of the biggest
football celebrations in generations, the last four years should prove to be
worth the wait. Brazil is widely acknowledged as the spiritual home of football
with the game so deeply entrenched in its culture, and Brazilians know how to
throw a party! If as predicted by right back Dani Alves, the Seleção open up their campaign with a thumping
message to their rivals, the samba dance will last the distance in this World
Cup like the vuvuzela did at the last.
Brazil and South America
will however not be the only region looking to celebrate a successful World Cup.
Countries representing Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America and
Caribbean, and Oceania regions will each be vying for various measures of success
to mark World Cup 2014 favorably in their history.
Given that all previous
nineteen editions have been won by European or South American teams, it would
take a shock of unprecedented proportions for a contender from another region
to win it. With the exception of select countries like Ghana, United States,
Ivory Coast and Japan that have recently put up strong World Cup challenges,
countries from other regions will consider qualifying to the knock out stages great
success.
History does not favor
European teams for this tournament, as they have never won a World Cup on South
American soil. With the exception of giants like Spain, Germany and Italy, getting
to the semi-final will be considered a major success by most European
countries. Netherlands, widely considered the best footballing nation to never
win the World Cup, may also only consider another final appearance to be success.
This is generally considered
Brazil’s World Cup to loose given their rich history in the tournament, home
ground advantage and depth of their squad. For them, anything other than being
crowned champions will be considered a major disaster. Argentina though
boasting the tournament’s most lethal attack, excellent World Cup pedigree and
familiarity of the host nation will be looking to deny their bitter rivals.
Irrespective of which
country will have the last laugh, the next few weeks will be a celebration of
unprecedented proportions for football fans around the world. Enjoy the skill,
the diverse culture, the anticipation of success and above all the witnessing
of history. Hopefully a player or two will take this World Cup by storm and own
it the way Diego Maradona did at World Cup 1986. I have a feeling it may just
be a player in the same blue and white jersey the last true World Cup hero
donned.
Thanx Al for a good analysis.... i think if Brazil are to live up to the expectation and the hype of being called favorites they have to raise their game what we saw at the opening game was rather abysmal from what is expected from the spiritual home of football. For now the 3 points rather gifted to them from poor referring decision will suffice we hope they get better as the tournament progresses otherwise the risk being humiliated at home if they come across a much more organized and talented opponent.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Victor! Mexico was very impressive against Cameroon and will have tbe belief that they can beat Brazil, thanks to their Olympic final triumph. Alves ans Julio Cesar especially look like the team's weak links. I think they will definitely qualify from this group but the next round may be mpre dicy if they do not get their house in order.
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