My Selections For The World Cup Glory

With the world cup coming up on Friday, the most intense and most watched sports event in the world is about to kick off,

The world cup is a sports event like no other, its enchanting, magical, where heros are born as well as villains, its an event where one kick can make you a legend, a hero, and like every year there is always one player who makes the tournament exactly what it is today. For example, there once was a young, fairly unknown Brazilian player who played for Paris St Germain, who was picked for the world cup. He stood up to take a free kick against a strong English team in the semi finals, he didn't just score one of the best free kicks taken on the world cup stage but he also won them the match. His name was Ronaldo De Assis Moreira also known as Ronaldinho. After that he had a 21 million move to Barcelona where he became one of the greatest players of all time.

This year is all about hope, but who will win it? and who will even make it through the group stages?

Well lets have a quick look at a few of the bigger teams of the tournament:

France: With a good success rate at the world cup they are definitely one of the favorites but in my opinion, can a team like France beat a team like Spain or Brazil who will play them so far wide their only option would be to cross the ball, a team like France wont get past the last 16.

 

France odds with William Hill 20/1

 

Mexico: After beating the Italians 2-1 in a the warm up game Mexico look great, they have speed, power and accuracy, but they lack defence and with the exception of Marquez (Barcelona) no one gets back to defend.

 

Mexico odds with William Hill 80/1

 

Argentina: Argentina are a great team the have the best player in the world in Messi (Barcelona) they have a great attacking side, that is also led by inexperienced manager Diago Maradona who is a legend to the people of Argentina but playing in attack and having an attacking mind Maradona does not know how to play a defense, if you are a fan of Argentina and watch some of their games, you will notice that with the exceptions of Walter Samuel and Henize there defense is all over the place and they could never defend against a team like Spain.

 

Argentina odds with William Hill 13/2

 

England: After not qualifying for euro 2008, the fans expectations for England are not that high but they might just have a chance of reclaiming the cup they have chased for 44 years, with a team that does not have great pace with the exception being Aaron Lennon, (Tottenham Hotspur) but I believe that if Capello plays his infamous 4-5-1 formation then they might have a chance of holding possession, something they have not been able to to in the last eight years. In my opinion England could just sneak their way into world cup glory.

 

Englands odds with William Hill  8/1

 

Germany: Germany are a team of raw power and passion but without the heart of their team, captain Michael Ballack they don’t seem to have the same strength that can destroy any defense that is brave enough to stand in their way but after an ankle injury in the FA cup final against Portsmouth, Chelsea's Micheal Ballack has been completely ruled out of the world cup. If Germany have any chance of winning a major cup after losing the Euro 2008 final to Spain they are going to have to rely that Podolski can shoot them in with a fighting chance.

 

German odds with William Hill 14/1

 

Netherlands: Holland are an all around tremendous team, with a world class goal keeper, a rock solid defense, a midfield which boasts top stars and a strike force that can scare any team. They have the full package, if Holland get an easy run they are definitely one of my favorites to get to the final.

 

Netherlands odds with William Hill 10/1

 

Italy: Italy, the current world champions, are a team with a great defense but that is about it, they have lost their pace with the team average age over 30, Italy have no chance of retaining their world cup glory, a team that were outclassed by Mexico in there warm up just shows what kind of team they are nowadays.

 

Italy's odds with William Hill 16/1

 

Brazil: Brazil are a world class team that even without their two biggest stars of their last world cup (Ronaldo and Ronaldinho) still look very sharp, since the last world cup where they went out to France, they have built up a defense that will bully any striker around with players like Alves and Lucio at the back. You know they are in with a shot at the trophy.

 

Brazil odds with William Hill 9/2

 

Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast are a team with great passion and stamina, but with their hit man Dider Drogba just returning to training, they are going to have some problems, with many of there players being completely out of form they are really an outside bet.

 

Ivory Coast odds with William Hill 50/1

 

Portugal: Despite having one of the most talented players in the world in Ronaldo Portugal don’t look very strong at all, especially now one of there star men is out (Nani) I would say that Portugal will qualify there group, finishing behind Brazil but will most likely get knocked out in the last 16.

 

Portugal odds with William Hill 25/1

 

Spain: Spain are a team that at the last Euros showed that they are the new Brazil, with the ability to pass the ball around so perfectly and finish off any attack with there two world class strikers, Spain are a force to be reckoned with. They have an all around team of stars and are my pick for the winner of the 2010 world cup.

Spain odds with William hill 4/1

with that said lets hope that every one enjoys the next four weeks of solid football,

My Winners

First: Spain

Second: Brazil

Third: Holland/Brazil

Golden Boot: Wayne Rooney 

Player of the Tournament: Robiniho