
Group B:
Team | Odds To Win Cup |
1. Argentina | 13-to-2 |
2. Nigeria | 100-to-1 |
3. Greece | 150-to-1 |
4. South Korea | 300-to-1 |
There are only two things that can stop Argentina from making a run to the title in the 2010 World Cup. One is their eccentric manager, Diego Maradona, who has the distinct ability to create a number of headlines and distractions for his side.
If Maradona can keep his ego in check and focus on X's and O's in South Africa, then the only thing the Argentines need to be weary of is defense on the edges. The aforementioned ego of Maradona went with far less experienced options in naming his 23-man roster earlier this year, choosing far less-experienced options like Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarfield - Argentina) and Clemente Rodriguez (Espanyol) over the cunning Javier Zanetti (Inter) or even Esteban Cambiasso -- who plays more of a defensive midfield. At any rate, this Argentine squad is ripe for openings on the perimeter.
Luckily for the Argentines, it doesn't really matter how many goals they let up. Maradona carries possibly the most talented attacking group of all nations in the world cup to South Africa, so they'll be able to outscore almost any opponent. The diminutive Lionel Messi -- widely considered to be the best futbol player on the planet -- is just the tip of the iceberg. Maradona has his pick of Diego Milito, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez to couple with Messi up top at any moment. Milito basically won Inter the Champions League. Higuaín scored 27 goals in 28 games for Real Madrid. Tevez is lightning in a bottle. And Aguero is...well, he's married to Maradona's daughter (he's pretty good at kicking a ball too).
Expect Argentina to rifle through the competition in Group B, which is subpar at best. If Messi is playing like his mentor and coach circa 1986, Argentina could win it all this year like they did in the 2008 Olympics.
Second place should be a dog fight between Nigeria, Greece and South Korea. Greecian striker Theofanis Gekas (pronounced GAY-cast) scored more than any other European player in qualifying, but he did score six of his 10 goals in two games against the not-so-stalwart Latvian side. Overall, Greece plays soft and, with the exception of Gekas, don't take nearly enough shots.
Meanwhile, Nigerian brass has been yammering about nothing less than a semi-final finish. It's kind of mean to lead the poor Nigerian people on with something that will probably never happen (ever, I mean), but I think they do have enough talent to squeak by Greece on goal differential and get to the round of 16. Kalu Uche and perennial Nigerian rock John Obi Mikel hold it down in the midfield and Obafemi Martins and Ayegbeni Yakubu can score up front if given the opportunity.
South Korea is the wild card in this grouping. To be honest, I don't know what to make of them. Within the past year, it has beaten Australia, Japan and Ivory Coast. But it's also lost to Belarus and Zambia. I'm not even embarrassed to admit that I only know two South Korean players, Park Ji-Sung because he starts for Man U and Park Chu-Young because he has a similar name to the former. What, you think you can name more? Don't you judge me...
Here's some Messi footage for your viewing pleasure.
1 comment:
a bit gay, that picture. Argentina and South Korea go through. take it to the safety deposit box.
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