The world’s biggest and most important sports even is getting closer with each day. Of course we are talking about the upcoming Football World Cup in South Africa 2010 and quite naturally most of us are already wondering who is going to win it. There area lot of quality teams more than capable of claiming the trophy but at the end the winner can only be one. So who will that be?
Once again we are talking about the Usual Suspects but we all know that there is a big surprise in every World Cup. The bookies are already offering odds for Outright Winner and if you check them at Bwin you will see that the top five favorites are Spain (4.75), Brazil (6.00), Argentina (6.50), England (7.5), Germany (11).
The question here is can Argentina conquer the World? If you look at their team sheet and the players at Don Diego’s disposal you will notice a squad exploding with individual talent, especially in attack. We are talking about the World’s best footballer right now – Leo Messi, combined with Carloz Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Kun Aguero, Diego Milito. Now that’s a real Attack Force! In defence you got the rock – Walter Samuel, Gabriel Milito, Martín Demichelis, Emiliano Insúa, Gabriel Heinze. The midfield consists of Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Angel Di María, Juan Verón.
Messi is playing like Jesus right now and if Don Diego comes up with a good tactical scheme centered around the little Argentinian, then goals are guaranteed. Argentina’s first WC title came in 1978 in a final against the Netherlands. This title was followed by another one 8 years later when Diego Maradona had the whole world in his feet. Now it seems that Messi is his direct heir and he is actually a better footballer and a better man that his current national coach. 34 years after their last triumph, the Argentinians look like a serious contender once again.
They have the best attack in the world and a strong midfield, but perhaps their weakest link is their defense. It’s still not clear who will be in goal and who will play as left and right backs. If Maradona gets his head straight and figures out a good scheme to balance for problems in defense (probably by introducing Mascherano and Cambiasso) into the lineup then Argentina have every chance of reaching the Final.
I have the funny feeling they will meet England somewhere down the road, but what are your thoughts on Argentina’s chances at this WC?
