World Cup Favourites : Part 1

Spain

Spain National Team

Spain arrives in South Africa dubbed as the overwhelming favourites. They have arguably the best players in the world in all departments. Their football has enthralled one and all and has been a treat to watch them play. Spain under Vicente Del Bosque have prospered. They made a clean sweep in their qualification rounds and have lost only one match since 2006. If you look through the World Cup history you would have noticed they have underperformed, with 1950 semis being their best performance so far. Odds are on for Spain to go all the way this time. Let’s have a glimpse through the Spain team and their style.

GoalKeepers

Iker Casillas – is the No.1 a with Pepe Reina and Victor Valdes back ups. Two extremely talented subs who would have walked into any other team as the No.1. Iker Casillas, being the captain has led by example and has been the ever shining light for Real Madrid over the last two seasons.














Iker Casillas

Casillas has been phenomenal and has been the shot stopper for Spain for the last ten years. He is just 29 which is relatively young for goalkeepers and has amassed over 100 caps. His positioning and anticipation has been second to none. He is as safe as powerhouse. Pepe Reina and Victor Valdes have been in good form for their respective clubs and are very reliable replacements for Casillas.


Defence

Defence has been a weakspot for Spain over the last few years and have been heavily criticized for. They arrive this time with some of the World’s top defenders in Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol.















Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique has been arguably the best defender in the World over the last two seasons. He has got great pace, turns around really well and scores crucial crucial goals for his Club and country and have saved them in countless occasions. He is still 23 and is the spine of the Spain along with Xavi and Puyol.Puyol – a no nonsense defender, is more of a sweeper and he stays back unlike Pique and he has massive big match experience. The right full back , Sergio Ramos needs no mention. He is very good going forward and very pacy as well. He has been found wanting against some world class wingers but nevertheless has performed credibly over the years.Ramos can play centre as well, if situation demands. Slotting in the left role will be Joan Capdevila who plays for the Yellow Submarines, has been fantastic in the last few seasons and has been a mainstay in the Spain National Team since 2002. Spain has good deputies for the staring four in Raul Albiol, Marchena and Arbeloa.


Midfield




















Midfield Masetro: Xavi

Spain is blessed with the best of the very best in Midfield. They have the playmaker in Xavi who has the uncanny knack of finding unmarked players in the box and providing some awesome through balls. He has a silky touch. Barcelona fans know what it means to have Xavi in the team. He is the nucleus of the team and the rest plays round him. Then there is Xabi Alonso – who is best described as a ‘sprinkler’ in a football field. Good distribution of ball, good tackler and awesome volleys towards goal makes him the complete midfielder. He is very reliable and a sure started in the Spain line up.

The services of Marcos Senna in the form pure defensive midfielder will be sorely missed, though Sergio busquets can chip in when needed. Though he has played frequently under Pep Guardiola for Barca, he is over hyped and he is not as good as one thinks.May be the one person who is actually misfit in this team.Spain also have the able wingers in David Silva who will be a handful on his day and has good link up play with strikers. Along with him is Andres Iniesta who Rooney once described as the ‘Best player in the World’. There is also the Valencia sensation Juan Mata , teenage wonder Javier Martinez, Pedro and Jesus Navas who all had outstanding seasons with their respective clubs. The midfield looks very dangerous and is never short of any options and will test any defence up against them.

Midfield will not be complete without mentioning my personal favorite – Cesc Fabregas – who at this young age has been carrying Arsenal’s hopes - has been fantastic and phenomenal. He has become a role model already for any young player and with his conduct and performance has captured the hearts of many. He might not to get to start in the Spain Team , but will make a difference whenever called upon. His reading of the game is fantastic and he can dictate the pace of the match.


Forwards

As with the midfielders and defenders, Spain are blessed with good strikers as well in Fernando Torres and David Villa, who are the best strikers in the World.
















Villa & Torres


Few might argue with the likes of Rooney and Messi around, but with the kind of coordination and link up play these people have – they are a cut above the rest. Their finishing is fantastic and they can score from impossible angles. World class poachers for a world class team. Llorente will step in if needed – another very good player as a super sub.

So the 4-3 -3 formation likes this:

Casillas

Ramos Pique Puyol Capdevila

Iniesta Alonso Xavi

Silva Torres Villa

Watching Spain play will be a spectacle with this formation.

Tactics to control Spain

Few and far are the weakness with Spain and you have to be spot on with your tactics to get the better of them. 4-2 -3 -1 should be the formation against them with two defensive midfielders sitting in front of the defence. Have pacy wingers on either flanks with good counter attacking capabilities. Frustrate them by not giving the ball and try to cut out as many through balls as possible. Defend well for set pieces and play a physical game. Playing ugly might be a solution. I wonder how many of the 31 teams have these qualities and that’s probably why Spain are the favourites to lift the trophy.

World Cup Football - Some Random Memories

Finally, the most awaited and the arguably the biggest sporting carnival is around the corner – World Cup 2010. The event, all the football fans have been eagerly awaiting for-The best in the world fight it out for the biggest prize in World of football.

Football World Cup has given us some enthralling and unforgettable moments. It brings out the best and sometimes the worst as well in the players. As an avid soccer fan, this will be the fifth football world cup which I will be following. Let’s look at the some of the high and low points of the last five World Cups.

The world Cup ‘94- I got the first glimpse and probably the last of one of the games’ greats- Diego Maradona. The assist against his name which allowed Claudio Caniggia to score was simply awesome. Hristo Stoichkov of Bulgaria was in the form of his life. He had continued his club form ( then with Barca) to the World Cup and deservedly ended with the Golden Boot. The World Cup was tragic for some – Maradona failed the dope test and was ousted of the World Cup. Andres Escobar, the Colombian International paid with his life for scoring an own goal. Last but not the least, probably the most decorated player for Italy Roberto Baggio , two time player of the Year turned villain when he blasted the ball out in the penalties. His career never recovered from that loss.

World Cup ’98 – Enter France. France under the brilliance of Zinedine Zidane were the runaway winners of the World Cup.Michael Owen announced his entry into the world arena with one of the goals of the World Cup.David Beckham’s world cup came to an early end with an innocuous tackle on Diego Simeone – but thanks to his theatrics , Beckham got sent off. Croatia were the surprise element in the World Cup – with their run to the Semis – Davo Suker ending up with the Golden Boot.

Asia got its first chance in a long time to host the World Cup in 2002 which saw the holders France crash out in the first round- without even winning a single game. The much hyped England , even though got past the Argentines in the round of 16 were totally outclassed by Brazil - undone by a superb free kick from Ronaldinho (and the thanks to the positioning of the England Goalie David Seaman). South Korea under the best coach of our times, Guus Hiddink were the black horses, had a memorable run to the Semifinals. Brazil were the winners eventually, thanks to howler by the great German shot stopper Oliver Kahn.An evidence that the occasion can get to even one of the greats of the game

World Cup of 2006 is still fresh in most of our memories. The 26 pass sequence which ended in a goal by Esteban Cambiasso of Argentina is a testimony of South American football. They eventually crashed out to Germany thanks to a tactical howler by the Argentine Coach who took substituted his best players when they were just leading 1-0. Few would have forgotten how Cristiano Ronaldo was instrumental in getting his club mate Rooney sent off in the quarter final match between England and Portugal. France took out the holders Brazil and Spain too, only for Zinedine Zidane to lose his head in the Final against Azzuris. He got intimidated by the banter from Marco Matterazi and head butted him and got sent off. Marco Matterazi was really ‘ Man of the Match’ as he scored the equalizer and got the best player in the World Cup sent off as well. Italians, then of Course went on to win in the penalties.

So what is in store for 2010 World cup – only time will tell. The world Cup even before starting has a tale of injuries to tell- David Beckham. Owen, Rio Ferdinand, Drogba, Pirlo – all have had their World Cup dreams ended. Torres has had a season with injuries- one after the other. Nevertheless most of the teams have arrived in South Africa with their country’s hopes on their shoulders. Stage is set for a new star to take the centre stage and a new team to announce their arrival at the World Arena. Let’s hope this World Cup gives some beautiful and enjoyable football and the one to savor for – at least for the next four years.