With kick-off of the 19th FIFA World Cup mere days away, let’s take a look at the top first round match-ups. [Author’s Note: The AWITP preview piece is here. The games below are listed in chronological order with their broadcast time listed in Eastern Standard Time, USA.]
Argentina – Nigeria (Group B, June 12, 10:00 a.m.)
Self-aggrandizing Argentinian Coach and lugnut-in-chief Diego Maradona made it all about himself again this week, promising to jog naked through a town square if the Albicelestes (the “sky blue and white”) win the tournament. That’s a reason to root against Argentina on general principle. The Argentines open the tournament with arguably the toughest match-up in their group, but that’s not saying much as Greece and South Korea are the other two teams. Nigeria snuck into the tournament with two late goals in their final qualifying match against Kenya. The Super Eagles also struggled against Mozambique, another perennial doormat, before finally winning 1-0. Still, playing in their home continent may give the African nation a boost.
Fact to remember: Argentina finished FOURTH in South American qualifying behind Chile and Paraguay. Maybe someone besides Maradona would do a better job leading the team and not causing distractions for poor Messi.
England – USA (Group C, June 12, 2:30)
Injuries, confusion, and distractions are the order of the day as the U.S. heads off to Africa. They lost 4-2 to the Czech Republic this week, and the Czechs aren’t even in the tournament. Sure, Italy won the World Cup while a cloud of match fixing hung over their heads four years ago, but America is not Italy. Oh well, at least they got to meet Barack Obama, because they won’t be getting a Rose Garden reception after the tournament. A U.S. loss to England will have Algeria and Slovenia super-focused to eliminate us early, and with one mental breakdown on defense – and the U.S. is prone to those – it could happen. The U.S. played one last friendly today, against Turkey, another team that didn’t make the final field of 32. Though the US won 2-1, but they better solidify on both sides of the ball or else look for an early return from South Africa as our offense is inexperienced and our defense breaks down too often. England is probably still angry about their stunning loss to the U.S. in the 1950, even though most Americans may never have even heard about that game.
Side note: The Stars and Stripes may be in the Group with the best nicknames. England is the Three Lions, Algeria field the Desert Foxes, and Slovenia is the Dragons.
Netherlands – Denmark (Group E, June 14, 7:30 a.m.)
The Netherlands comes into the tournament rising in the rankings, but as the Bleacher Report says, the Dutch win a lot of games, but not a lot of trophies. They are also in a weak group: Cameroon is ranked 11th in the world (how?? why?? what the heck have they won and who outside of Africa have they beaten??), and Japan is 43d. Denmark stunned Sweden and Portugal to make the tournament and have beaten the Dutch five of their last six matches. They play each other frequently, and know each other well. Familiarity breeds contempt, which makes for a compelling sporting event.
Italy – Paraguay (Group F, June 14, 2:30 p.m.)
Watch this goal by Paraguay and then tell me they are a pushover. If they can shoot like this from 45 yards out, think what they can do from around the box. Still, Gigi Buffon is still the best goaltender in the World. If you love defense, watch the Italians: that’s what won them the cup last year…that and this incredible save by Buffon on Zidane in the first overtime …incredible!
Buffon at his best is worth diamonds. And if that’s not enough, how about one more…
Honduras – Chile (Group H, June 16, 7:30 a.m.)
Two Western Hemisphere rivals knocking heads for the right to advance along with Spain. They can dribble, they can pass, they can upset big teams and make a run. Winner advances…loser gets lined up and shot…oh, my mistake, that’s Columbia:) Honduras finished second to the U.S. and wasn’t sertiously threatened by any of the also-rans in CONCACAF, our world football conference. Chile finished second in South America to Brazil.
Mexico – France (Group A, June 17, 2:30 p.m.)
On paper the best match-up in Group A, but as France’s star is waning and Mexico’s is a dwarf, that’s not saying much. Don’t expect much from anyone from this group, but enjoy Henry and Malouda while they are around. As host South Africa (ranked 86 in the world), only got in the finals as the host nation, the winner of the Uruguay – Mexico match will advance, probably with France.
Brazil – Ivory Coast (Group G, June 20, 2:30 p.m.)
It’s the Samba Kings and the Elephants. It’s odd that Spain, not Brazil is the pre-tournament favorite, but that’s because too many people are looking at their number one in the world ranking and not at the institutional history of the Brazilians, who contend every Cup. Ivory Coast will have to beat Portugal to advance, but it’ll be fun watching I.C. striker Didier Drogba play give and go against Brazil.
Germany – Ghana (Group D, June 23, 2:30)
What a match-up this will be, the speedy, streaky Black Stars against perennial powerhouse Germany. They are the rising star of Africa and can play with anyone, even Brazil, as they proved last Cup. Nevertheless, the Germans will not sleep on them. Look for a late Michael Bollack goal to lift Deutchland where, as one of my German sports lawyer colleagues says, “we have three sports Herr Flemma: eins: futbol…zwei: futbol…drei: futbol!”
“Hair Flemma”…I haven’t heard that since college…anyway…
Netherlands – Cameroon (Group E, June 24, 2:30)
It’s the Orange and the Indomitable Lions in another of those battles of evenly matched sides. I thought I might have undervalued the Dutch in my preview piece, as they are ranked number 3 in the world, but until they make a deep run and eliminate a team that was supposed to beat them, I won’t jump on the bandwagon too soon. Watch out for Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, the heart and soul of the Lions.
Brazil – Portugal (Group G, June 25, 10:00 a.m.)
The best Group G match-up features Christiano Ronaldo – easily the most hated player in the Cup to everyone but France, who hate Italy’s Marco Matarazzi – against the five time Cup winners. Advantage: Brazil, because Portugal doesn’t have the same supporting cast from 2006.
Spain – Chile (Group H, June June 25, 2:30 p.m.)
Spain enters the tournament number one in the world, but I don’t believe it until they beat Brazil, or until they hoist the trophy. Chile – La Roja to their fans – finished second in South American qualifying and have quite a buzz of support as they head off to South Africa.
NEWS AND NOTES
Did you know? Only Italy and Brazil have ever won back-to-back World Cups: Italy in 1934 (held in Italy) and 1938 (in France), and Brazil in 1958 (in Sweden) and 1962 (in Chile).
Also did you know? The distribution by confederation for the 2010 World Cup was:
Europe (UEFA): 13 places
Africa (CAF): 5 places (+ South Africa qualified automatically as host nation for a total of 6 places)
Asia (AFC): 4 or 5 places (four made it as New Zealand defeated Bahrain)
South America (CONMEBOL) 4 or 5 places (five made it Uruguay defeated Costa Rica)
North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 or 4 places (3 only, Costa Rica lost)
Oceania (Oceania Football Confederation): 0 or 1 place (N.Z.)
