THE LAST 16 - PORTUGAL

There is some substance to the hope in Portugal's chances. Coach Carlos Queiroz has nurtured many of the stars of Portugal's golden generation (Luis Figo, Rui Costa et al), and has coached the host nation.

The squad has a good balance of creativity and defensive strength, and Queiroz will be keen to ensure that it does not over rely on Cristiano Ronaldo, although he does not exactly seem to not thrive on pressure. The man delivers. Other than CR9, veterans Deco and Hugo Almeida will be keen to bring success to a nation that has dazzled and entertained but without any tangible reward.

Of particular interest will be the sexy tie v Brasil, although it risks being a dead rubber as both teams will be in all likelihood already qualified from their first 2 group games.

For all this though, Portugal face the dim prospect of facing Spain in the first knockout round.

GP

THE LAST 16 - GERMANY

Germany version 2010.1 is one with an ominous qualifying record (8W 2D 0L 28-5). After holding off Guus's Russians off for top spot, they have suffered minor setbacks (Michael Ballack and then his replacement's injuries), but still when drawn with Australia, my breath intake sharpened.

The Germans have been here many, many times before, and with previous young talents now senior staff Lukas Podolksi, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philip Lahm leading the way, Germany are confident of again moving through to the business end. But to do so, they will rely heavily on Miroslav Klose and Cacau to score.

Coach Joachim Low has dispelled any doubts fans had post-Klinsmann about his ability to meet huge expectations. Guus himself praised Germany's determination after losing 1-0 at home, nominating them as a favourite.

That's good enough for me.

GP

Domestic Tips

Following on from the last post, my lovely has decided to offer her last 16 teams to make it through the group stage:

A Carmel - Mexico Uruguay
A George - Mexico France
B Carmel - Argentina Sth Korea
B George - Argentina Nigeria
C Carmel - England Slovenia
C George - England Slovenia
D Carmel - Germany Serbia
D George - Germany Serbia
E Carmel - Holland Japan
E George - Holland Cameroon
F Carmel - Italy Paraguay
F George = Italy Paraguay
G Carmel - Brasil Portugal
G George - Brasil Portugal
H Carmel - Spain Chile
H George - Spain Chile

So we have 3 teams different.

The war begins...

GP

The folly of predictions

A short note on the perils of predicting the final 16, especially with
crazy results like the 1-0 win by NZ over Serbia.

I liken the confidence in tipping the winners to be like Wayne Swann
providing budget figures based on forward estimates. Basically a
lottery.

I also declare that in Euro 08, my wife defeated me by 3 pts, with her
mix of guessing and some knowledge of the big teams.

Enough said.

GP

SBS LINE UP

I am curious to see just who is expected to keep our interest during the long, cold nights in between, before and (presumably not) after the games.

Les Murray will hold sway on the key games, with Craig Foster drinking more short blacks than in my final semester in 3rd year to pass on his brand of wisdom, which we should be thankful for given the alternative of Robbie SLater and Andy Harper on Foxsports. If you have both options, may I further suggest that if you feel you face a dilemma, you have a problem.

My line up would include:

Les Murray
Craig Foster
Mariana Rudan
Jesper Olsen
Edi Krncevic
Tony Palombo
Raul Blanco
Framces Awaratife
Megan Gale (without Andy Lee)or if she has prior engagements, Nigella

Even with casualties, this should prevent the need to resort to the likes of:

David Zdrillic
David Basheer
Zejlko Kalac
Kimon Taliadoros
Paul Okon
Paul Wade (I liken him to an emergency runner for the Harold Park Trots)

If Aurelio Vidmar comes anywhere near the red couch and ottomans I will switch to SBS radio and this is not an empty threat!

..or anyone else who feels uncomfortable with the notion of provision of coherent and informed comment in the place of subjective tripe.

I am hopeful that Go! will comply and have some interesting shows lined up for those wanting to stay up in between games.

GP

THE LAST 16 - MEXICO

MEXICO

Advance apologies for the crass stereotype implied by the photo. That said, Mexico will be hoping to enjoy the beach and its treasures later rather than earlier. After taking advantage of a nervous host on day 1, the Mexicans should make it through with 4 pts from their remaining games against France and Uruguay.

Scarred after a bout of Sven-Goran Syndrome, Mexico dispensed of the Swede's services after phase 1 of qualification and promptly resumed normal service with Javier Aguirre. Most Mexican pundits are enthusiastic about the midfield and attack but less so about their defensive capabilities.

Key players include Rafael Marquez (Barca), Gerardo Torrardo (midfielder back in his homeland after 5 yrs in Spain) and Mr Bunnyhop himself, a spritely 37 yr old Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Up front, recent Manchester United signing Javier Hernandez could prove a surprise to those outside of his homeland.

After qualifying for phase 2, Mexico should face either Argentina or Nigeria, so top spot is essential.

Bookmaker Odds 80/1

OVERNIGHT FRIENDLIES

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Argentina	0
Israel	0	Postp

Congo DR	0
North Korea	0	Postp

Liechtenstein	0
Spain	0	Postp

Slovakia	0
Ghana	0	Postp

Slovakia	1
Cameroon	1	FT

Sweden	0
Bolivia	0	Postp

Norway	2
Montenegro	1	FT

Poland	0
Finland	0	FT

United Arab Emirates	3
Moldova	2	FT

New Zealand	1
Serbia	0	FT

Spain	3
Saudi Arabia	2	FT

Azerbaijan	1
Macedonia	3	FT

Sweden	4
Bosnia-Herzegovina	2	FT

Ukraine	3
Romania	2	FT

United States	2
Turkey	1	FT

Iceland	4
Andorra	0	FT

Venezuela	0
Canada	0	23:30 GMT

Hungary	0
Germany	3	FT

Millwall 1 Swindon 0 - oops sorry, nithing friendly 'bout this one...

GP

THE LAST 16 - FRANCE

DESOLE VOUS N'AVEZ PLUS DE CHANCE

(Sorry but your luck runs out here)

For Raymond Domenech, the stars have been kind. After a horrendous Euro 2008, marked by the 4-1 demolition by Holland and the 2-0 loss to Italy, the FFA saw fit to retain his services for the World Cup. Maybe it is French in nature to watch the slow disintegration of a man in charge, I don't know as I am not French. I am though very confused as to why this man is still there. He has landed in group A with hosts South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay, and has tempted fate by leaving star Karim Benzema at home. He has also decided to employ a 4-3-3 line up in training, one that spluttered to a 2-1 friendly victory over Costa Rica, where even his own family supplied rotten tomatoes for target practice.

France's hopes still rest with Thierry Henry and Franck Ribery, with William Gallas finally shaking off injury worries to form the core of defence. The French squad also includes other sullen strikers such as Djibril Cisse and Nicholas Anelka, and basically most of Arsenal's squad.

The title above refers to what I believe will be karma rebalanced, with France qualifying second, facing Argentina in the round of 16, and au revoir.

The good news is that football intellectual Laurent Blanc will be there to greet Domenech and show him the way to his car. Surely he will be an improvement. In French style, maybe they want Les Bleus to fail so that Domenech will finally go for good.

Yours in football,

GP

COMPILATION XIs

Eurosport has just released their all time best World Cup XI. Like all of these exercises in nostalgia, it is always in danger of being predisposed towards older players, a nostalgia akin to the numerous Rolling Stone and NME mags that released their 'all time best albums', with the inevitable Rubber Soul, Pet Sounds or The White Album chosen as no 1 even as late as 2002 until the true value of such greats as OK Computer et al were truly appreciated and we felt OK with ourselves about letting the older greats sink with some semblance of grace.

Not so for Eurosport though, with their line looking like this:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4-3-1-2

Lev Yashin

Cafu Franz Beckenbauer Bobby Moore Roberto Carlos

Garrincha Bobby Charlton Johan Cruyff

Zinedine Zidane

Pele Ronaldo

'Wildcard' : Roger Milla

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Only the coach of such a line up could imagine the defensive duties that both full backs would be faced with knowing Garrincha and Cruyff's disdain for tracking back. Mind you, if you're 5 up at half time with this lot I'd imagine the wind going out of any team's sails to prevent any attacking momentum.

In Genx terms, our first real accessible world cup was Mexico 1986. So if we look at an XI based on the 1986-2006 period and the 6 tournaments, this would have more relevance to us.

Your comments please on who would make such a unit and who would coach such a talented team.

Ciao,

GP

THE LAST 16 - SERBIA

SERBIA

Further distillation of the former Yugoslavia sees the Serbia & Montenegro team split into Serbia separately from Montenegro.

A surprise packet in qualification, the Serbs pipped France for top spot in group including Romania and France, the latter forced to a play off against the Rep of Ireland where Thierry Henry's classless antics caused a stir. As if Eugene Levy doppelganger Raymond Domenech needed more reason to be hated. But I digress..

The Serbs will be coached by Mad Raddy Antic, whose playing career included clubs as Partizan Belgrade, Fenerbache, Real Zaragoza and.. Luton, where he scored the goal that saved them relegation, thereby earning cult status. He then plied a successful coaching career in Spain. The man clearly knows his onions.

The squad he brings will be full of confidence after the aforementioned qualification, including a 5-0 pantsing of Romania. With quality and experience in the form of Dejan Stankovic and a potent midfield pairing in Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Milos Krasic, Serbia hope to erase the poor showing in 2006, where they were given the gloves on, finger up treatment by a the rampant Argentina. They also have possibly the tallest man in world football, a 202cm Nikola Zigic. Coach Antic claims that winger Zoran Tosic could be the X-factor, but given his limited game time at Old Trafford, his match fitness is in question. The Serbs have been training at high altitude in an attempt to galvanise team spirit (not exactly a strong Balkan trait at the world cup) and physiologically acclimatise.

While the 2 Michaels in Ballack and Essien mean that Australia perceive a lighter Germany and Ghana (and even that is a questionable notion), Serbia pose the greatest threat in group D and a draw for Pim Verbeek would, at this stage, seem a minor miracle.

PREDICTION - Serbia to top the group, teach Slovenia a lesson in the 2nd round before meeting...you guessed it, Argentina. If Maradona's men make it that far in spite of him, I fear history will be repeated. Love to see an upset though...

GP

THE FINAL 16 - ITALY

ITALY. Again the nation that teeters so elegantly will hold hopes for over 56 million people. No one in my lifetime has backed up a world cup with another, and no one really expects this incarnation to buck the trend. Marcello Lippi, the man who Peter Sellers would have looked like had he survived fame, has at once eschewed the glory days by not choosing some of the 2006 protagonists (Grosso, Totti, Del Piero) but has also included cup winners such as Pirlo, Buffon, Zambrotta and Gattuso, whose pants off celebration post penalties will remain indelibly in our memories.

As usual, the Azzurri have a sound defensive roster, a mix of hard and cultured midfielders, but curiously lack a matchwinning attack. No one triggers hope by the name of Baggio, Schilacci, Del Piero...instead the top scorer in qualification is one Alberto Gilardino, whose strange violin celebration at Germany 2006 proved to be an act of hubris as he failed to score again. Should Italy concede, they can hardly hope to see Pirlo nail 2 set pieces to get them through. That is the domain of Zizou, Platini, Zico and others.

Expect the usual grind through the group games, making hard work of relatively easy opponents and a second place in group F before bowing out to a crack Dutch team. Cue media frenzy and a snarling Lippi (whose face closely resembles that after winning in 2006 ie expressionless), who can retire without fear of resentment as he won in 2006.

The biggest mystery though is the omission of Antonio Cassano, a player whose consistent scoring in Sampdoria colours for 3 seasons suggest he would fare better than Iaquinta, Di Natale and former Man Utd offcut, Giuseppe Rossi.

But of course he is a destructive influence and therefore can play no part in Lippi's squad.

LIST OF THE DAY - PUNDITS I DON'T TO SEE ON SBS DURING SOUTH AFRICA 2006

(PREFERRED OPTIONS IN BRACKETS)

1. ZELJKO KALAC (FORMER APIA LEICHARDT KEEPER AND MADMAN TONY PEZZANO)
2. ANG POSTECOGLOU (EDI KRNCEVIC AKA THE SILVER FOX)
3. PAUL OKON (FRANCIS AWARATIFE)
4. DAVID ZDRILLIC (NICKY CARLE)
5. PAUL WADE (ANYONE)
6. CRAIG FOSTER, NO LEAVE FOZ IN HE'S GOOD TO GO...

Tomorrow's preview: SERBIA.

Yours in football,

GP

DO NOT DELUDE THYSELVES

Just a short note re the absence of Michaels Ballack and Essien from South Africa. Gotta love how the media is trying to portray this as a boost for Australia. Hmmm....Germany and Ghana made it with 11 players.

More ominously, there is always Serbia.

Later we start the recap of the likely 16 teams to be playing more than 3 matches. First up, Italy...stay tuned

Yours in football,

GP

WORLD CUP 2010 - 16 days to go

Sad but true..this is me during Italia90. Wide eyed and naive. Each world cup marks us in time and those fanatical enough can easily recall what they were doing at each world cup. For me Italia90 was the first overnight experience, pushing physiological boundaries by watching games at 12, 2 and 4 and expecting the body to stay alert for Neurology and the Eye lectures. Ironic given that I was learning about the function of the Pineal gland (the gland responsible for time regulation that goes AWOL during overseas travel) during this time. So what will I be doing for South Africa 2010 some 20 years later? The same...except expecting my mind and body to deal with 3 kids, a list of patients, a tolerant and forgiving wife and a voice that tells me I should know better. But, like many other football tragics (and by the way, football will be meant for football where football is being referred to for the football fans...get the drift I'm sure, no nomenclatural ambiguities here), I will try again...and pay.

LIST OF THE DAY - PLAYERS WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE PLANE TO JO'BURG

1. Antonia Cassano
2. Javier Zanetti
3. Esteban Cambiasso
4. Fernando Gago
5. Karim Benzema
6. Scott MacDonald (OK now I'm taking the proverbial)

ODD SPOT 1 - Daniel Allsop scores v AC Milan. Enough said.

ODD SPOT 2- Diego Armando Maradona has vowed to run naked showing his Chaminda Vass through the calles de Buenos Aires if Argentina take the chocolates on July 12. Probably not so strange given the omission of players 2,3 and 4 above.

Yours in football, GP