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The now completed qualification process has shown the following:
An African nation can make history
It may be unprecedented but it is not improbable that an African team will win the World Cup. The timing of the African Cup of Nations in February 2010, gives African teams the advantage of cohesion and tournament experience. Combined with the home continent advantage, Africa’s best teams look in a stronger position than ever before.
Ivory Coast looks the most capable. Didier Drogba is in irresistible touch this season and the inspirational patriot is an even more powerful presence in his nation’s colours. Behind the skipper is a world-class support cast of Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Didier Zokora, Emmanuel Eboue and Salomon Kalou.
Cameroon squeezed through qualifying but came with a late rush of four consecutive wins and is looking an increasingly formidable outfit with the predatory Samuel Eto’o at the apex of their attack. Ghana, with a midfield driven by the indomitable Michael Essien and the craft of Sully Muntari is also not without hope. For many years the World Cup has proven a showcase for the unique talents of African football, however, with resilience and experience added to the mix, perhaps one African team will take away more than the patronising platitudes praising their ‘natural flair.’
Spain is on the verge of greatness
Standing in the way of the African dream and the side in everyone else’s nightmares, is Spain. It’s less than two years since Spain shed its underachieving status in the most spectacular of fashion with a domineering Euro 2008 win. They have only got stronger since. Unlike its great football rivals in England, the golden generation tag sits comfortably with this Spanish team.
A remarkable ten wins from ten in qualifying has them ideally placed to become the first European nation to win a tournament held outside of Europe. With the midfield riches of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, and Marcus Senna supplying Fernando Torres and David Villa it looks impossible to contain them. Only the occasionally shaky defence needs to hold, to not only see them win the tournament, but confirm Spain as one of the all time greats.
France and Argentina survive scares but loom ominously
With names such as: Messi, Henry, Tevez, Benzema, Aguero, Gourcuff, Mascherano, Ribery, Gallas, Sanga and Lloris. A combination of the French and Argentine squads could easily read as a possible world 11. That they stumbled through qualifying only serves to highlight the managerial failings at the helm of both nations. The madness of Diego Maradona and the incompetence of Raymond Domenench almost conspired to deny them qualification. The brilliantly madcap Argentine campaign took in a thrashing from Brazil, a lucky escape against minnows Peru and ultimately qualification that led to a Diego belly flop and then a vitriolic rant that resulted in a two month Fifa ban. Things were duller in France, though no less disappointing from a playing perspective, eventually scrapping past an exceptionally unlucky Ireland in the play-offs after a shameful case of cheating from Thierry Henry. It is true for both of these talent rich squads, that while both on the plane to Africa, their stock in world football has never been lower. It seems improbable that they will be able to win the tournament but no team will relish the sight of them in a group or knock-out stages. On talent alone they remain the most dangerous floaters for the other contenders.
Europe has enough spots at the World Cup
It is a regular gripe of the European establishment that they are denied rightful spots in the World Cup by the inferior confederations in Central America, Africa and especially Asia. This year, with New Zealand qualifying, the argument has on the surface at least, even greater resonance. A little deeper though and you have to wonder if Europe is overstating its depth? Of the teams who have qualified, there is little to be excited about some of them, I speak of: Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Denmark and Greece. A look at the teams who failed to progress from the play-offs: Ireland, Bosnia, Ukraine and Russia, none would have been likely to trouble the top teams. Europe is undoubtedly the strongest confederation but they also have clearly the most spots and calls to further increase spots for European sides are wide of the mark. Before the bleating about New Zealand’s appearance begins, perhaps a viewing of the Switzerland V Ukraine Round of 16 match from Germany should be made compulsory viewing – a more miserable match has surely never blighted the World Cup.
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