Ian ConstantineIs This South America's World Cup..?
June 23rd 2010 02:16
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World Cup 2010.. The Story So Far
Argentina's Manager: Maradona's Delight
Argentina Lead The South American Charge...
The South American continent is awash with delerium as their nations storm through the opening games of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
All five South American qualifiers: Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay have lit up the stage with glitering performances as the so-called big names from Europe fail to impress.
A look at the group leaders as the final matches of the group stage get underway says it all.
Group A Winners: Uruguay... unbeaten
Group B Winners: Argentina... unbeaten and victorious in all three games
Group F Leaders: Paraguay... unbeaten
Group G Leaders: Brazil... unbeaten and won both games so far
Group H Leaders: Chile... unbeaten and won both games so far
It's not that the South American teams are grinding out results either... they can all claim to be the best amongst the best five teams in the tournament so far with only Spain and the Netherlands of the European contingent coming close - in patches - to rivaling the undoubted skills of the latin americans.Group B Winners: Argentina... unbeaten and victorious in all three games
Group F Leaders: Paraguay... unbeaten
Group G Leaders: Brazil... unbeaten and won both games so far
Group H Leaders: Chile... unbeaten and won both games so far
Argentina have been imperious, winning all three games relatively comfortably. Chile have shown why they qualified so well with enterprising performances and victories in both opening games. Uruguay and Paraguay have followed opening draws with victories and Brazil top Group G with comfortable performances that promise there is much still to come from the five time World Champions.
Raymond Domenech: Despair for France
The tournament is bordering on disaster for the top European teams as France are out - finishing bottom of Group A - and Italy and England face a battle to qualify after drawing both opening games and producing disappointing performances in the process.
The Dutch and Portugese are currently the European shining lights - with the Netherlands topping Group E and qualifying after hard fought victories over Denmark & Japan. Portugal hit North Korea for seven after a slow start against the Ivory Coast in Group G and hnow have the unenviable task of gaining at least a point against Brazil to be sure of going through... though unless they take a substantial beating and Ivory Coast go on a similar goal rampage against the Koreans they will make it on goal difference.
Spain have recovered from their Swiss setback to move in to second place in Group H with a strong performance against Honduras. Chile are looming in the final game for Spain and qualification is very much in the balance.. especially if Switzerland manage to break out of their conservative shell and overcome the brittle Hondurans.
Germany should not be underated as a force in the is World Cup either as after a brilliant start against Australia they we're unlucky not to get something out of the Serbia game after being reduced to ten men. The final game against group leaders Ghana - now Africa's greatest hope to progress - will not be easy but we will be able to better guage how strong the German challenge is after this game. They are in still in control of their destiny and should progress from the group.
Fabio Capello: Insists England are happy... but is he?
As for England... they are now in the situation where nothing but a win will do against Slovenia after a promising error-marred performance against the americans followed by an abysmal display in the game against Algeria.
Group C now mirrors Group F where the Italian's have to beat less fancied opposition - in their case Slovakia - to progress. Despite being drawn in the supposedly easiest group of the competition, England now look to have the tougher of the tests to qualify. While the Slovaks have been generally poor and deserve to sit bottom of their group, tiny Slovenia - the smallest nation represented at this World Cup - sit proudly at the top of Group C after a narrow win over Algeria and a controversial draw against USA. Both groups are wide open with some semblance of hope for all teams going in to the last game.
South Korean Glory: Huh Jung-Moo
The Asian challenge is going strong with South Korea once again qualifying for the knock-out stage as runners up in Group B and Japan can follow them if they gain at least a draw with Denmark in their final game of Group E.
Australia can also still qualify from Group D but the outcome is not in their hands as they must beat Serbia and hope for either a Ghana win or a significant German victory that destroys the Africans goal difference.
Mexico Qualify: Satisfaction for Javier Aguirre
The Central and North American challenge has been admirably led by the enterprising Mexicans who have qualified as runners up in Group A - edging out the hosts on goal difference despite losing their final game to Uruguay.
South Africa can consider themselves unlucky to be the first host nation not to make the knock-out phase of the competition. In a tough group they took the lead against Mexico before settling for a draw and finished with a win over the dispirited French. The 3-0 defeat at the hands of Uruguay made the negative goal difference too great to grab second spot and keep the host nation qualification record going on to Brazil in 2014.
Of the other CONCACAF qualifiers Honduras are out after defeats by Chile and Spain and now face the Swiss in Group H. They will be looking to salvage some pride as well as assist the other latin nations in the group to advance as a win for Switzerland could still edge out either of teh top two in the group.
The US have performed better in Group C than their results show. A strong performance against England was followed by a fighting draw with Slovenia. Only a late disallowed goal prevented their stirring comeback in that game turning into a memorable victory.
Ricki Herbert: Joy for NZ
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the World Cup so far has been the performance of the supposedly easy-beats from Oceania. New Zealand grabbed a last second equaliser against Slovakia and moved on to the game with Italy with much boosted confidence. Another unexpected draw with the World Champions has the Kiwis in second spot going into the final round of group matches. They now face group leaders Paraguay and the odds are against them but with more of the fighting spirit the All Whites have shown so far who would bet against another surprise... in a World Cup that is getting used to shock results...
Crucial must-win matches now loom for the European powerhouses of England, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Spain... they have to step up quickly if they are to qualify for the knock-out phase that has started a game early. And the reward for victory? The sublime South American contingent awaits in the last 16...
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