The Three Major Contenders For WC 2010

1. Brazil – Without doubt the team to beat. They do not play the Brazilian style flair football but they are the most clinical and effective team in the world carved out in the mould of their coach – Dunga who was a midfield hard man himself. With a world class goal keeper, an excellent defense with options, two of the world’s best right backs, a solid defensive midfield, a talisman in Kaka who is a player of undoubted class and high reliability and a lethal striker in Luis Fabiano whose game has been taken to an altogether new level by his national coach, Brazil look like a team that will be very difficult to beat and have shown that they somehow almost always find a way to win. The bench strength isn’t bad either. Combine it with the fact that they are the number one traditional super power in international football and there aren’t many people who will choose some other team as the number one favorite for WC 2010.

2. Spain – Their mesmerizing play has won many admirers. The kind of players they have leave you breathless at times. It’s the favorite team of many neutrals as well. Yet I am not totally convinced if Spain can actually win the world cup. What can be the possible reasons? One is that they have only one world class midfield hard man in Marcos Senna and he is already 33 years old. If he is not 100% match fit and in top form, I just cannot see Spain winning WC 2010. There is no direct replacement for him. In spite of their wonderful victory in Euro 2008, it still seems to me as if Spain lack a little physical and mental toughness compared to a team like Brazil. There are question marks over the defense. Yes, there are quite a few options for central defense but till now the best partnership has not been determined that can perform consistently. The left back can be considered a bit of a problem. As for right back Sergio Ramos can be brilliant at times but is not consistent and is susceptible to some really major gaffes. The one other problem that Spain face is quite ironical in nature. It’s just that they have so many world class attacking midfielders and that all of them seem to be in top form. Hence how can a coach leave out any of them and expect them to accept it especially when it’s a world cup match and every player dreams of that day from a young age. The formation isn’t fixed. Torres and Villa sometimes don’t work that well together because Torres’ game style is somewhat different from that of the rest of the team. Normally the front five would be Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Torres and Villa. Yet Fabregas has played so well almost whenever he is given any chance. He has a very justified case for playing in place of Torres and if he is again relegated to the bench, he will find it difficult to understand. The other player that we must mention is Xabi Alonso. He cannot be a direct replacement for Senna but he has performed any role given to him very well. He too would expect a starting place now. So there are at least six deserving starters in midfield out of which at most five and usually four can be picked. The final problem that I can think of is one I am a little reluctant to state due to my not having very accurate knowledge of it. It’s said that when Real Madrid dismissed Del Bosque in 2003, they said he wasn’t that great tactically. If this is indeed true, it can be a problem in the major knock out matches when pitted against the likes of Capello and Hiddink.

3. England – Usually it’s all about hype but this time something seems different. Fabio Capello is one of the unquestionable contenders for the title of the best coach in the world. He has the Midas touch of Hiddink and is also as much of a winner as anyone can be. Besides he is a no nonsense person with such imposing authority that even the best of stars never get the better of him. He’s currently making every single English player play at the maximum level he can possibly play at. What’s more is that they have the key personnel for important positions. The goal keeping position is a problem area but they are coming up with a good number of options and you can trust Capello to make the right choice at the right time. The central defensive partnership of Ferdinand and Terry is really strong with guys like Lescott and Upson waiting in the wings. Ashley Cole is very consistent at left back. Glen Johnson has grown at right back. In midfield Steven Gerrard has had to sacrifice his natural best position but he is a player of such undoubted class that he excels no matter where you put him. In attacking midfield Frank Lampard gives no one any reason to complain. As second striker Wayne Rooney is in lethal form. And in the understated Emile Heskey he has the ideal partner with Jermain Defoe waiting in the wings. The defensive midfield role is being handled well by Gareth Barry but some people would like the specialist Owen Hargreaves to come back. With players such as Michael Carrick available there are enough options here as well. The one position open for debate is the right midfield position. Beckham will be there but perhaps not as a 90 minute player. The man most likely to take the slot is Aaron Lennon. Overall it looks really good. Where I think England have an advantage over Spain is that they have a level of players defined whereby the substitutes don’t expect to replace a Lampard or a Gerrard. In Spain’s midfield there are too many top class talents who will find it difficult to accept a bench role. England do not suffer from this problem – at least not as much. Besides they have the iron hand of Capello to solve any disputes if at all they arise.

Before WC 2006, my prediction for the trophy was Brazil or Italy with Italy second to Brazil. It seems my prediction for WC 2010 is very similar – Brazil or England with England second to Brazil. Spain are very good without doubt but as explained above there are reasons for me doubting their ability to win the title. Still they remain third favorites. An even greater reason why these three nations stand out today than their own performances is the fact that the other international powers are on a downward spiral right now. Italy and Germany don’t have squads of that kind of quality. Holland’s defense is just not up to standard. And Argentina, France and Portugal have the misfortune of being led by very inept coaches. Combine all this with several experts saying that the weather in South Africa will suit England, I can see only two or a maximum of three likely contenders for the WC 2010 title at this point in time.