Tickel your fancyThe News Record
Published: December 6, 2009
The stage is set for the world’s largest sporting event.
The World Cup only comes around every four years and it will take place in South Africa in June and July.
The U.S team received a favorable draw with an intriguing match up with England in its first game.
The England and USA rivalry on and off the field dates back to the independence of our nation.
“It’s an exciting start to the World Cup for us. They don’t come much bigger than England,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley.
England has long been known as our big brother collectively as a nation and as a soccer power. Nothing would upset the country that invented soccer more than if we beat them at their own game.
Call it what you want – the second coming of the tea party, the Revolutionary War, part two. No matter what you call it, it will make for a competitive and exciting game.
The last time these two teams met on this stage was 1950. The United States beat England 1-0 in one of the biggest upsets of all time. It was a game we haven’t let the English forget.
The United States will also face Algeria and Slovenia in Group C, two of the weaker teams in the 32-team field. The Americans will be heavy favorites along with England to advance to the second round.
“If you’re a U.S. fan you should expect to get out of this group,” said former men’s national team defender Alexi Lalas. “If they don’t, it’s a huge disappointment.”
The United States’ favorable draw is the first step toward to a successful tournament.
Beyond group play is the knockout stage, where it’s win or go home. The United States would likely face Germany and I give them a slight edge over the United States.
Eight teams were seeded based on ranking prior to the draw. The weakest was the host nation South Africa.
France was unlucky to not receive a seed but sure enough as I suspected, they drew South Africa.
This World Cup draw did not see a “group of death,” but Group D, contrary to popular belief, will be the toughest group to get out of.
Germany and Ghana will emerge from that group, which includes a talented Australia team and a strong Serbian squad that won its European Qualifying Group.
Group G with Ivory Coast, Portugal and Brazil make for a tough group, but Portugal is a team of individuals and North Korea brings the overall competition of this group down.
My four semifinalists are Ivory Coast, Germany, England and Spain.
Ivory Coast benefits from playing in Africa and this team is the strongest Ivory Coast has ever had with Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure.
They will be the first African side to ever advance to the semifinals.
Most of England’s players play in the Premiership, the best league in the world. They have the talent to make the final and this time will meet expectations.
Spain is the odds-on favorite to win the World Cup and I have them winning it all.
They have long been dubbed the Chicago Cubs of soccer for choking in big games and having never won. However, this team plays the most attractive style of soccer and has the best players in the world.
Brazil will be the biggest disappointment of the tournament. They are one of the favorites, but their style of play is uncharacteristic of past Brazilian teams.
Dunga, Brazil’s coach, limits their skill level by sitting back and counter attacking.
My sleeper teams to make a deep run are Denmark, Chile and Ghana.
Denmark won its qualifying group rather easily, which included Sweden and Portugal.
Chile finished second in the South America qualifying group, only one point behind Brazil.
Ghana is dangerous because they will be playing close to home and has players that have experienced success together in youth World Cups.
Players to keep an eye on at this summer are Lionel Messi of Argentina, Kaka of Brazil, Steven Gerrard of England, Michael Essisen of Ghana and Spanish midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
Will you be watching as USA tries to consistently be relevant in the world’s beautiful game? E-mail Hunter at tickelhm@mail.uc.edu
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