THE LAST 16 - HOLLAND, CAMEROON

The NETHERLANDS have always been an exercise in paradox. Not just for George Costanza, with his incredulity at a nation called Holland from the Netherlands who are Dutch, but in a style over substance way.

For a nation that breeds talent after talent, it has failed to win anything before or after the 1988 European Championships, where a team including Van Baasten, Rijkaard, Gullit and Koeman excelled. Since then, any number of factors, many self-inflicted, have conspired to starve the Dutch of glory.

The latest version was in Germany 4 years ago when Holland faced an aggressive and organised Portugal. A massive 21 yellow cards and 3 reds were handed out in what my DVD has titled 'Die Kaartenfest' (probably erroneous German spelling). The Dutch self immolated as they had in previous Euro and World Cups.

The 2010 squad has again an ominous look to it, with a sliky yet street smart midfield and goals that can be sourced from anywhere, as seen in the 4-1 demolition of Ghana. With a fresh Robin Van Persie and a strutting midfield including Van Der Vaart, Robben, Sneijder and Van Bommel, again we wait to see if potential can be realised.

The group phase should be smooth sailing before a meeting with Paraguay or Italy.

Along with Spain, Holland brings the most comprehensive squad in terms of raw class.

Will it be enough?

CAMEROON'S lead up has been a little tetchy, with previous star wiggler Roger Milla suggesting Samuel Eto'o plays better for club than country, and Eto;o threatening to quit International football. The red card in the friendly against Cameroon echoes the frustration. Logic suggests that Eto'o ignore Milla and just get on with it, but Eto'o's prissiness suggests that Milla may be right to an extent. Beyond Eto'o, Paul Le Guen's squad includes experienced European based players Rigobert Song and Geremi.

However, all will inevitably depend on Eto'o. For a player who is so eulogised as a Cameroonian success story, he must deliver. Cameroon should shrug aside Japan and Denmark to clinch the 2nd spot in the group, again due to inherent acclimatisation and continent home pride.

THE LAST 16 - NIGERIA, SLOVENIA

NIGERIA

Africa's most populous nation faces the burden of expectation yet again. Swedish maestro Lars Lagerback has had a mere 4 months to make the whole greater than the sum of its expensive parts, probably the main weak spot in Nigeria's chances.

The squad itself is full of quality, from established forwards Martins and Yakubu, to Chelsea midfield hatchet man Jon Obi Mikel.

Lagerback also has the fall back option of veteran Nwankwo Kanu, a man in the frame some 16 years after winning Olympic Gold in Atlanta.

Second place in group B would set up a clash with any of France, Mexico or Uruguay.

Expect anything...that, punters is the mark of a tired blogger with sleep on his mind..

But first, SLOVENIA

Admittedly, I know little about them, but my gut tells me they will qualify ahead of the USA and behind England. A round of 16 clash with Germany or Serbia = zbogom...

Short and sweet, and no fluff. Great, now I read like an MTR transcript...

GP

SIDEBAR OF THE DAY-No Inter players in Lippi's squad

Had an impromptu exchange with an Italian patient today. His ire was
raised not by the condition of his eyes but by the non-inclusion of
any inter players in the azzurri 23 man squad.

I offered gently, given the man's obvious passion, that given the
starting line up he should not be surprised.

Cesar-Maicon Samuel Lucio Chivu- Cambiasso ThiagoMotta Zanetti- Pandev
Eto'o Milito

Not an Italian in the 11. The man shook his head with resignation and
sighed a sigh that implied a conspiracy.

"I still think he hates Inter"

Like I said, a passionate man.

GP

SIDE NETTING

Just as Pim is poised to leave the Socceroos after July 12, we hear rumours of another Dutch coach, one Ruud Gullit. Keeping it brief, the man has had the archetypal football dichotomy ie a great player but a coach with a history of train wrecks in his wake. Gullit may have restored some faith to Chelsea, but lifting the FA Cup hardly qualifies him as a messiah (and not even a naughty boy). His exploits at Newcastle though instill fear into my heart when meantioned as a possible successor for Pim. Maybe the gobber from Italia 90, Frank Riijkaard would be better placed.

Just because Ruud is Dutch, it doesn't follow ipso facto that he would be the fit we want. As Ruud himself said to a coach once:

"Ifs and Ifs. If my ooma had balls she'd be my oompa."

GP

SIDEBAR

My only question is...why did it take so long? The 'it' is the furore about the air physics of the World Cup ball version 2010, called Jabulani. Every bloody world cup we hear of the ball being difficult to control, predict and save. Nevermind that Madcap Sepp has his minions overseeing captive physicists under Lake Geneva in a Bondesque lab banging out balls that deviate more than a drug addled Amy Winehouse in Amsterdam, the ball shares the same characteristics as those of other world cups:

1. it is perfectly spherical, despite having 8 panels and not the old school 32
2. it is used by 2 teams and therefore has the inherent factor called fairness
3. it is a marketing tool employed by FIFA every world cup and has the same ring of inevitability as the Federal Budget or a COAG meeting ie a leak gives rise to pressure orchestrated relief through a media beat up followed by redundant analysis (of which i am patently a purveyor) followed by silence once the games begin

Game over. No more balls talk. For players who sit through interviews saying that they grew up playing with rolled socks in the street, a ball that, according to Brazil kepper Julio Cesar, resembles one found in aisle 8 of BigW should be a step up.

More goals please..after all the name jabulani stems from the Bantu language and literally means 'to celebrate'.

GP

THE LAST 16 - ENGLAND

Only Brasil face the same level of media hype and expectation that England does. For a country still dining out on 1966, it has overrpomised and underwhelmed. With fabio Capello, England has spluttered but qualified automatically, but many unwanted distractions and setbacks have marred the way, prompting me toi think that no amount of siege mentality can set the team straight. The Terry imbroglio, Ashley Cole's divorce, Joe Cole unsettled at Chelski, David Beckham's achilles and Fabio's own dealings with the FFA and the Inter speculation caused by the Special One have all created unnecessary fuss.

In short, England are being set up for a big drop. Touted by Lionel Messi and others as finals contenders, England have enough ego onboard to sink an ocean liner and Fabio will have his work cut out to keep everything in order. With Lampard and Cole on the crackberry every 2 seconds seeing if they'll 150,000 pounds or 200,000 with Real, there are too many distractions.

With an over reliance on Rooney, a team that plays over 50 games a season in what is still a kick and rush league compared to the rest of the world, the tournament will prove too much.

After the group stage comes a reality check with Germany and Serbia (although the romantic choice would Australia). If they can surpass their round of 16 opponent, who knows?

GP

THER LAST 16 - BRAZIL

Brazil has the imprimatur of Dunga, a no nonsense coach who played in a no nonsense manner in central midfield. In true Dunga style, star duo Adriano and Ronaldinho have been overlooked, a move that has polarised the Brazilian populace.

Included are mostly European based players who Dunga feels will provide both defensive maturity without the ball and creativity and killer moves with it. Players such as Manchester United flop Kleberson have raised eyebrows, and Dunga has asked self-professed star Robinho to prove himself where it counts. The modern trend of sound keeping continues with Inter's Julio Cesar, as does the tradition of attacking full backs in Daniel Alves, Gilberto and Maicon.

Brazil will hope to excel in the group stage in the hope of avoiding an unnecessarily early stoush with Spain. After Chile, the march begins. If the faith in defensive midfield is repaid, copa number 6 is a reality. Will Dunga be reviled if he wins ugly? He will be reviled anyway. He cares little what the public think.

GP.