World Cup Preview...Group C
Algeria: The Desert Foxes have not played in the World Cup since 1986. They sneak into the tournament after upsetting Egypt in a playoff. With no stars on the roster, it will be possibly the biggest shock in recent memory if Algeria can somehow figure out a way through to the knockout stage. Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth) & Antar Yahia (VFL Bochum) are the most known players on the squad...not a good sign.
England: The English are very new to the game of football....okay, obviously that is a big fat joke. The Three Lions have only won the Cup once, back in 1966, and they were at home. So they have never won the tournament on foreign soil, but this team is confident under Head Coach Fabio Capello, and it showed during qualifying. They won 9 of 10 games during qualifying and their only loss came after they had already punched their ticket to South Africa. This team has plenty of reasons on why it can make a run at hoisting the Cup, but it also has plenty of drama...and we all know drama can cause failure. First things first, obviously every player at the tournament, even the non English players, will be keeping their significant others tied to their hip when former England captain John Terry (Chelsea) stumbles into the bar. Just in case you haven't heard, Terry had relations with Club and National teammate Wayne Bridge's (Manchester City) WAG. Even crazier, they were all good friends - now that is a teammate we all want to play with. And because of this Wayne Bridge has refused to play for the National team.
Also, this team might go as far as Wayne Rooney's (Manchester United) temper can be held in check. During the last tune-up, Rooney was given a yellow for descent...he is a World Class player, and needs to be smart or the English will be going home earlier rather than later. Last, but certainly not least, can Frank Lampard (Chelsea) and Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) gel in the midfield? One of them needs to swallow that ego and play the holding midfield role. Here is the ironic thing about this situation. All of the English are rooting for them to win the cup, but if Lampard and Gerrard make it work, they could both be on their way to play for Real Madrid next year. Jose Mourinho has already come out and said he wants both players to play at Madrid next season. So, pick your poison Chelsea & Liverpool fans. Plus, England fans are still waiting for Frank to show up for the World Cup back in 2006...he was easily one of the top 10 worst players in the tournament back in '06. Hopefully his experience will help him during this one.
Pictured: John Terry (left), Wayne Bridge (right)...JT showing Wayne how to woo Mrs. Bridge?
Slovenia: Slovenia completely shocked the world by beating the Russians in a playoff to get to this point. And shocked is probably an understatement. THe Russians made a run at Euro 2008, so they were playing some of the best futbol in the world at that time. Could their success have went to their heads and it cost them? Either way, Slovenia would like to continue to shock their skeptics, but it's not going to happen. Their captain is Robert Koren (West Brom), not a good sign when your best player isn't even playing in one of the top divisions in the world.
USA: The Americans will be looking for much better results this time around compared to the 2006 World Cup. Back in '06, the USA scored only 1 goal, but I honestly believe that was due to coaching. Bruce Arena, the USA Head Coach, played players in positions they had never played...he thought he was the 2nd coming of Sir Alex Ferguson, when he really was just a lacrosse player/coach trying to prove to everyone he knew more than anyone else in the world. You know when the top coaches from around the world get together still have to be laughing at the guy. Total embarrassment as a coach. But under Bob Bradley, the USA won the CONCACAF qualifying group and seemed ready to make a run through the group stage. Landon Donovan (Everton, LA Galaxy) finally wanted to be challenged as a player again and went back overseas after dominating the MLS for years. And he did not disappoint...played extremely well for Everton. Jozy Altidore (Hull City) also played at the top level in England. And goalkeeper Tim Howard (Everton) gives the US an experienced GK between the pipes. This is probably the best team the USA has had on paper, EVER! They are setup to make a run through the group stage, but then after that, it will all come down to who they draw. They have many players playing in top leagues around the world...and NO - I do not consider the MLS a top league. This team should have no problem advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament, but after that, it is all based on their matchup.
Biggest Match of the Group Stage: England vs. USA: This is the one that will more than likely decide who will win the Group. Three points to the Americans seem like it would be a lot more important to them than England. Why you ask? The 2nd place finisher in Group C will play the winner of Group D, and that will more than likely be Germany. FYI - under Capello, England has already beaten Germany 2-1 on German soil (Berlin).
Blast from the Past: What else can it be, 1950. You don't know? The USA beat England in the 1950 tournament...and the 1-0 win was so shocking that one English newspaper thought the report was a misprint and printed that England won 10-1.
What the Future Holds: Like previous stated, the runner-up will more than likely draw Germany, the winner of Group D. But I will tell you this, my dark horse for the tournament is Serbia...if Serbia is the runner-up in Group D, whoever comes out the winner of Group C will have all they can handle in the 1st round of the knockout stage.
Prediction: England wins the group, USA finishes 2nd
England: The English are very new to the game of football....okay, obviously that is a big fat joke. The Three Lions have only won the Cup once, back in 1966, and they were at home. So they have never won the tournament on foreign soil, but this team is confident under Head Coach Fabio Capello, and it showed during qualifying. They won 9 of 10 games during qualifying and their only loss came after they had already punched their ticket to South Africa. This team has plenty of reasons on why it can make a run at hoisting the Cup, but it also has plenty of drama...and we all know drama can cause failure. First things first, obviously every player at the tournament, even the non English players, will be keeping their significant others tied to their hip when former England captain John Terry (Chelsea) stumbles into the bar. Just in case you haven't heard, Terry had relations with Club and National teammate Wayne Bridge's (Manchester City) WAG. Even crazier, they were all good friends - now that is a teammate we all want to play with. And because of this Wayne Bridge has refused to play for the National team.
Also, this team might go as far as Wayne Rooney's (Manchester United) temper can be held in check. During the last tune-up, Rooney was given a yellow for descent...he is a World Class player, and needs to be smart or the English will be going home earlier rather than later. Last, but certainly not least, can Frank Lampard (Chelsea) and Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) gel in the midfield? One of them needs to swallow that ego and play the holding midfield role. Here is the ironic thing about this situation. All of the English are rooting for them to win the cup, but if Lampard and Gerrard make it work, they could both be on their way to play for Real Madrid next year. Jose Mourinho has already come out and said he wants both players to play at Madrid next season. So, pick your poison Chelsea & Liverpool fans. Plus, England fans are still waiting for Frank to show up for the World Cup back in 2006...he was easily one of the top 10 worst players in the tournament back in '06. Hopefully his experience will help him during this one.
Pictured: John Terry (left), Wayne Bridge (right)...JT showing Wayne how to woo Mrs. Bridge?
Slovenia: Slovenia completely shocked the world by beating the Russians in a playoff to get to this point. And shocked is probably an understatement. THe Russians made a run at Euro 2008, so they were playing some of the best futbol in the world at that time. Could their success have went to their heads and it cost them? Either way, Slovenia would like to continue to shock their skeptics, but it's not going to happen. Their captain is Robert Koren (West Brom), not a good sign when your best player isn't even playing in one of the top divisions in the world.
USA: The Americans will be looking for much better results this time around compared to the 2006 World Cup. Back in '06, the USA scored only 1 goal, but I honestly believe that was due to coaching. Bruce Arena, the USA Head Coach, played players in positions they had never played...he thought he was the 2nd coming of Sir Alex Ferguson, when he really was just a lacrosse player/coach trying to prove to everyone he knew more than anyone else in the world. You know when the top coaches from around the world get together still have to be laughing at the guy. Total embarrassment as a coach. But under Bob Bradley, the USA won the CONCACAF qualifying group and seemed ready to make a run through the group stage. Landon Donovan (Everton, LA Galaxy) finally wanted to be challenged as a player again and went back overseas after dominating the MLS for years. And he did not disappoint...played extremely well for Everton. Jozy Altidore (Hull City) also played at the top level in England. And goalkeeper Tim Howard (Everton) gives the US an experienced GK between the pipes. This is probably the best team the USA has had on paper, EVER! They are setup to make a run through the group stage, but then after that, it will all come down to who they draw. They have many players playing in top leagues around the world...and NO - I do not consider the MLS a top league. This team should have no problem advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament, but after that, it is all based on their matchup.
Biggest Match of the Group Stage: England vs. USA: This is the one that will more than likely decide who will win the Group. Three points to the Americans seem like it would be a lot more important to them than England. Why you ask? The 2nd place finisher in Group C will play the winner of Group D, and that will more than likely be Germany. FYI - under Capello, England has already beaten Germany 2-1 on German soil (Berlin).
Blast from the Past: What else can it be, 1950. You don't know? The USA beat England in the 1950 tournament...and the 1-0 win was so shocking that one English newspaper thought the report was a misprint and printed that England won 10-1.
What the Future Holds: Like previous stated, the runner-up will more than likely draw Germany, the winner of Group D. But I will tell you this, my dark horse for the tournament is Serbia...if Serbia is the runner-up in Group D, whoever comes out the winner of Group C will have all they can handle in the 1st round of the knockout stage.
Prediction: England wins the group, USA finishes 2nd
Posted by Goalmouth Scramble at June 8, 2010 11:24 AM 
Categories: 2010 World Cup
Tags: 2010 World Cup
Categories: 2010 World Cup
Tags: 2010 World Cup
Really found it interesting...Thanks for share good post
Reply to this