This WC is a bit boring to watch. There are few goals and teams have a cau tious approach as its their first game. Apart from England, South Korea, Mexico and Germany most teams have been defensive. Argentina showed good control in keeping possession. Dutch seems to miss their wingers and have too many playmakers to make a play. African teams are explosive but they have this habit of killing themselves. Australia seems to be the worst side as they played without a proper striker throughout the game!
So what does it take to win a WC. Its a mighty difficult question. Italy won the last world cup with out a prominent striker scoring goals or a big playmaker creating lots of chances. It was all down to a odd goal and discipline. The Italian scandal had a big part in their mental strength and a bitchy defender kept out the mighty Zidane.Attention to minute details and loads of luck is what is important.
Though teams may score loads of goals in the group stages (which is not happening) I expect very tight games in the knock out stages. But lets just assume that all disciplined teams will make it to the knock out stages. Most teams will wait for a mistake or a opportunity. This
is where the striker playmaker and the Goal keeper play a important role. The play maker has to find the gap somewhere in the defence and feed the striker.
In a game of 90 minutes this guy will fail most of the time but he just has to succeed once. A intelligent playmaker will keep the defence in check even if he doesn't have the ball. Riquelme showed how just his presence could make a huge difference. Zidance showed why France cannot win anything without him. Makelele was a defensive midfielder but also a deep lying playmaker.
Few have mastered the trade and Spain seems to have them in abundance and they are all world class. England has Lampard and Gerrard but they are not the trademark playmakers. They are trying to compensate using Heskey who cannot score goals. Argentina has Veron but tevez and messi has the habit of dropping back and doing the playmakers job and they are devastating in that. Germans have a solution in Ozil and he looks extraordinary. Sneider, Kaka, Ronaldo and Pirlo make up the elite list. I doubt if any of the African nations have a regular playmaker. This pretty much makes the list of countries in the last eight. Two of Ghana, ivory Coast, South Korea and Mexico has a chance of breaking into the top eight.
A playmaker can be as create hundreds of chance but if u are Heskey, then the chances of you scoring are almost nill. This is the main man who needs to get the job done. Hand of God is required to be prolific scorer. Again the favourites Spain lead the pack with two best strikers in form. But are they short on aerial ability? may be. Rooney is the best striker at the moment and has the say in how long England has proceed further. Argentina and Germany have plenty of them who can do the job. Argentina's strikers are as bad in the air as German's striker on the land! Milito seems to be a complete striker if he plays. Klose seems to head the ball that is on the ground than use his feet. Brazil have the lazy Robinho and a average Fabiano but cant all their player strike well? Other than the injured Drogba, I don't see any other striker that can really do the job.
Goal keepers are usually remembered only for their mistakes. Green will always be remembered and it seems most England goal keepers make mistakes in WC to make them immortal. They need to stop the best effort from the best strikers. Is England up for that challenge? I dont know. Surely Casillas can do the job for spain and Caesar for Brazil. Other than that there are no big names. Argentina and Germany have rookie keepers. France has a great goal keeper in Lorris but with Domenech in charge ... bye bye France.
Seems Brazil and Spain has the best chance this year. But again Germans and English can spring a surprise. Also forgot that Messi and Ronaldo has their own way of doing things. Crazy it is but these three people (striker , playmaker and Goal keeper) will decide this WC.
