The soccer world is about to be on stage for the biggest and most popular contest in the world: The 2010 Soccer World Cup. For the first time in its history, the World Cup will take place on the African continent. South Africa will host FIFA's nineteenth World Cup. For a month (6/11-7/11) thirty-two teams will compete for the most cherished trophy in professional sports: The golden world cup. This is the second time that the World Cup will not be held either in the American continent nor the European continent. The only other time the event was held away from either continent is in Korea/Japan in 2002. South Africa will put in display ten different stadiums from ten different cities throughout the country. Although here are issues about security, poverty and protest, the 2010 World Cup will hopefully present the best South Africa has to put forward. Its natural beauty and cultural diversity will be available for the entire world to appreciate and embrace.
Fortunately all of the traditional powers will be present for the event after concerns that countries like Argentina might miss the party. A much improved South African side should also provide a lot of excitement for the locals, especially since they have chosen to play the very successful Brazilian style. The mascot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is "Zakumi". Zakumi is a yellow leopard with green hair, hence reflecting the colors of the host nation. Will South Africa continue the tradition of the host country qualifying for at least the second round and maybe flirting with an appearance in the Finals? Or will we see heavy favorite soccer world cup teams like Brazil, Holland, Spain and Italy in the Final Four? With gifted African sides like Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria playing on their own soil, the 2010 competition guarantees to be an exciting contest filled with surprises and unexpected results. I am looking forward to a very successful FIFA 2010 World Cup. Why not? Maybe we will witness the crowning of an African nation for the first time in history.
Here are a few of the favorite soccer world cup teams.
Argentina. After struggling to qualify and nearly missing the World Cup for the first time since 1970, Argentina is still one of the favorite world cup teams to win the title in South Africa. With some of the most exciting players in the world in Barcelona's Lionel Messi or Tevez from Manchester city, Diego Maradona should have enough talent to be in the running for the cup. Argentina is scheduled to play Nigeria, Korea, and Greece. No easy task. One remembers what happen to Argentina in 1990. Both Nigeria and Greece are solid world cup veterans that will not be intimidated by the Argentinean style of play. However, Argentina should be able to dominate. Who will be the surprise winner in this group? North Korea? Greece? Argentina? In terms of sheer talent, Argentina is strong enough to win.
Germany. Germany's inferior performance at home in 2006 was not well received by the hardcore fans of the "Die Mannschaft". The three time champions have always been considered a solid threat to the title. The physical style of the Germans usually overwhelms their opponents. The joy of hosting a world cup since the unification of the country, and the pride that was displayed throughout Germany in 2006 was not fully reflected in the play of the national team. Germany started very well, but for whatever reason had difficulty keeping up with faster and more skilled opponents. As a result, despite a beautiful display of Germany's culture, the team managed to finish third. After a fairly easy qualification to the 2010 tournament in South Africa, the Germans will have to deal with Serbia, Ghana and Australia. The Ghanaians are a surprising favorite for this year's competition, but the team that might steal this group is Serbia. The former Yugoslavian republic is going to its first world cup, but will not be intimidated by any of the participants in the group. It will be very difficult to dispose of the Serbians, and this may be the most difficult group in the contest. We are in for some very competitive football as well as very hard physical matches. Watch out for this group and its games.
Brazil. Once again, Brazil is considered one of the favorite team to win it all in South Africa this year. Having been either in the finals or semi-finals of the last four world cups, it is difficult not to assume that the Brazilians will be there once again. Since 1994, Brazil has been in three finals, winning two cups and losing to France in Paris in 1998. With the marvelous pool of talent to pick from, such as Kaka, Ronaldinho, Fabiano, Robinho and Lucio, Dunga's challenge will be to find the right mix and chemistry. Brazil's style has always been beautiful to watch and entertaining. The individual skills has always been spectacular, but at times difficult to merge into a cohesive unit. If Dunga is able to find the right mix of players and have them play together at a high level, Brazil will be very difficult to beat and should defend another title in their home turf in 2014. The "selecao" breezed through the qualifiers and finished on top of the South American group. The only team that has been in their way so far has been France. The French beat the Brazilians in the finals in Paris in 1998, and then beat them again in the quarter-finals in Germany in 2006. If not for the French, we could have been witnessing a four-time world champion defending their title in South Africa.
To find out more about the 2010 soccer world cup teams, visit: 2010 Soccer World Cup Teams [http://worldcup2010shoponline.com/blog]
