And finally after four long years, the FIFA World Cup will once again be held, this time in sunny South Africa. This year World Cup will be the first to be held in Africa and I'm sure that every team will be raring to go once the first ball is kicked at the first game of the World Cup in 11th June 2010 at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium where the Final will also be held.
I will be doing an analysis of each team and predict where they will be come the end of the tournament, I'll start by analyzing each team on a group by group basis.
Group A is the Host country group and it is comprised of South Africa, Mexico, France and Uruguay. All eyes will be on South Africa in this tournament as they are the lowest ranked team in the world standings playing in the tournament; an interesting thing to note is that no host team has ever failed to win a match so far in the history of the World Cup. Under an experienced coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, the South Africans should be able to nick a point or two in this group, but by the end of the group stages, they will be packing their bags. Next, we have Mexico, an impressive qualification after ditching former coach, Sven Goran Eriksson. The Mexicans should be winning their opening match comfortably and should go into the second round, but that's the furthest they will go to in this year's tournament.
Next up, we have France who went through to the World Cup Finals courtesy of Thierry Henry's handball. The French side has argurably one of the most talented side in the tournament with stars like Frank Ribery, Nicolas Anelka and Samir Nasri, but with Coach Raymond Domenech unable to gel the side as a unit and bring out the best in them, a quarter final spot looks the best they can achieve. Uruguay, the first ever winner of the FIFA World Cup in 1930 in Montevideo looks wobbly at the moment, needing a play-off against Costa Rica and a highly dubious goal which saw them through will certainly not make them look favorites to progress into the second round.
In Group B, we have Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea and Greece. Argentina looks the best bet to progress to the second round as leaders of this group; however, the eccentric Diego Maradona need to gel his team well together and ensure that Lionel Messi is hitting top form in South Africa just like he does for Barcelona. If Maradona and Messi can get their act together, then Argentina may well have a chance of reaching the semi finals of the tournament. Nigeria will be inspired to go all out and do well at this year's edition of the World Cup since it is on Africa, their continent. The Nigerians are able to rise up to the occasions and grind out draws against other top teams, however, this time it may not be enough to see them through.
2002 FIFA World Cup Semi Finalists South Korea will be looking to try their best to emulate that feat once again. They will have to count on their captain, Manchester United midfielder Park Ji Sung to lead them out of this group into the second round. However, apart from Park and a few of the other players who ply their trade in Europe, the team does not look capable of progressing out of this group. Greece, Euro 2004 champions will be trying their best to rediscover their form and aerial prowess to avoid shooting blanks at this this year tournament, however, the core of the squad is strong and disciplined and it should be enough to see them through to the second round.
Group C comprises of England, United States, Algeria and Slovenia. England will be looking for their second World Cup since 1966 and as long as their star man Wayne Rooney keeps his temper in check and legs free of injury, you wouldn't dare bet against the Fabio Capello side from mounting a challenge for the coveted cup. They should go as far as the semi finals if not the final. The United States is the other team who look very capable of surviving the group, they are the most athletic side in the tournament and their recent run in the confederation cup showed that they can actually match the best and give them a tough fight. A quarter final berth look very likely for this promising team.
Algeria and Slovenia will be trying their best to compete with England and United States but it looks like an uphill task for both teams to get anything out of this draw, a second round place would be a bonus already.
Group D houses Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana. Last year host country Germany looks the best bet to top the group, with inspirational captain Michael Ballack to show them the way, a quarter final berth looks very likely for Joachim Low's side. Australia, Asia's biggest hope at the tournament look a very good bet to qualify from this group along with Germany, however, the focus will be on Lucas Neil and Tim Cahil to lead the team out of this tough group and face a potentially mouth watering clash with England.
Serbia will be entering the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals for the first time as an independent nation and will look to prove their doubters wrong, they came from a very tough European qualifying group and did well in that group. However, anything past the group stage would be a bonus for this country. Ghana are a very tough physical side who have player like Michael Essien, the country's bid to survive this group stage would rest solely on the Chelsea midfielder, expect Ghana to challenge Australia for the second place spot.
Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon make up Group E of the tournament. Netherlands should qualify comfortably for the second round and with a star studded side which boasts players like Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijier and Rafael van der Vaart, the orange jersey team should progress all the way to the quarter finals without a problem. Denmark are a relatively strong side who will be challenging for the second place spot in the group with Cameroon, Morten Olsen's men will be prepared to face up to the challenges and try their best to progress along with Netherlands.
Japan, the co-host of the 2002 FIFA World Cup will be looking to try their best and will largely depend on Celtic Playmaker, Shunsuke Nakamura to lead them into the second round. Sadly though, the Asian giant just look incapable of qualifying from this group. Cameroon will be one of the hardest side to beat on their own continent and will look up to Samuel Eto'o to score goals and strike fear into their opponent. The match between Cameroon and Denmark will be crucial in deciding who will go through with the Netherlands to the second round.
Defending Champion Italy is grouped together with Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia in Group F. The group looks relatively easy for Italy to qualify from and they actually have the quality to defend their cup successfully. However, an aging squad will hinder their progress and a quarter final spots is the maximum they can achieve. Paraguay will be the top favorites to qualify from the group in second place, New Zealand and Slovakia should prove to be easy opponents for the South American side and Roque Santa Cruz should have no problems hitting the back of the net against them.
New Zealand, who qualified for the Finals after a play-off against Bahrain, will be trying their best to qualify out of this group. Sadly, both New Zealand and Slovakia will be challenging to see who would finish in third place for pride sake. Slovakia just does not have the quality to qualify or put up a fight with Italy and Paraguay.
And now finally, we are onto the group of death - Group G. The group boasts of top teams like five times World Champions Brazil, Ivory Coast, Portugal and North Korea. Brazil look set to qualify from this tough group as winners and with players like Alexandre Pato, Kaka, Luis Fabiano, you wouldn't bet against it. The Samba Boys will be looking to go all the way to the final and win the coveted trophy for the sixth time and I think that they can do just that. Ivory Coast, the African Giants will be counting on DIdier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Toure to lead them out of this group at the expense of Portugal, the match which pit Portugal and Ivory Coast against one another will be extremely crucial to see who will be boarding an earlier flight home. I will go with the Ivory Coast to emerge from this group behind Brazil in the second place spot though, the Elephants have really matured as a tough nut to crack and with the Finals held in their continent, you will not write them off easily. Although the spirited Ivory Coast will see their tournament ends in the quarter finals.
Portugal, a very talented side with players like Deco and Cristiano Ronaldo spearheading their world cup bid, you will expect them to progress comfortably. However, their over reliance on the latter may backfire should the Real Madrid man fail to live up to expectations at the tournament. They will not be able to progress far in the tournament and will most likely be boarding an early flight back home. North Korea - not much is known about the side except that they previously had a good tournament in England 1966. The North Koreans will most likely be the whipping boys in this group and will book an early flight back home.
The last group, Group H. Group H consists of Spain, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile. Spain, the 2008 European Champions should qualify easily from this group. Of all the teams in this tournament, Spain are probably the best balanced team, in defence, they have the ever present Carles Puyol to marshal them. In midfield, Xavi and Andre Iniesta to protect their defence and carve out quality balls for their forwards. In attack, the speedy Fernando Torres will be there to score all the goals Spain need to take them to the final. Switzerland are the other favorites to qualify from this group with Spain, they have a steady side and will be looking to record wins over Honduras and Chile.
Honduras and Chile will most probably be just making up the numbers for this tournament, both team lacked the experience and that could prove crucial in their bid to upset Switzerland for second place. Chile will most probably end up in third place owing to their experience of being in the World Cup before while Honduras will most probably be the whipping boys of the group.
To conclude, on 11th of July, in Soccer City Johannesburg, we should be seeing either Brazil taking on England in the final, Spain taking on Brazil in the final or England taking on Spain in the final. Although my bet is that Spain will be the champions, with England being runner ups.