VIVA w o r l d c u p 2 0 1 0 GROUP
Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
Pirlo & Co to defend their crown
PLAYER TO WATCH
Xavi (Spain)
Spain, Chile, Honduras, Switzerland
Most World Cup finals produce an outstanding player. We can tick When the Italian players threw their them off as we trawl back down coach Marcello Lippi into the air and the years: Argentina 1978, Mario carried the trophy out of the Kempes; Spain 1982, Paolo Rossi; Olympiastadion in Berlin four years Mexico 1986, Maradona; USA ago, Nessun Dorma playing in the 1994, Romario; France 1998, and only one behind Brazil Zidane; Japan and South Korea background, it was the fourth time they now, and the azzurri, like 2002, Ronaldo; Germany 2006, had been crowned world champions. England, got a good draw. New Fabio Cannavaro. 2010? Could this Sadly for them the occasion is Zealand are among the rank be the year of Fernando Torres? Or remembered mostly for Zinedine outsiders and this is the first even Cesc Fabregas? The funny Zidane’s last act as a professional time Slovakia have reached a thing is there was once was a time footballer: the headbutt into the chest major tournament since their when Spain were regarded as of Marco Materazzi that vandalised formation in 1993. something of a pushover in major a great reputation and ended a career tournaments - but not any more. PREDICTED GROUP with the brandish of a red card. Italy, The winners of Euro 2008, now WINNERS ITALY nonetheless, are the most successful with the veteran Vicente Del RUNNERS-UP SLOVAKIA European nation in this competition, Bosque as head coach, go into these finals as the bookmakers’ favourDunga’s Brazilian ites, and deservedly so given their PLAYER TO WATCH side will be stylish, first-touch, pass-them-tohard to beat death kind of football. The Spanish put their faith in artistry, thanks to a core of Barcelona-bred midfielders and the presence of a couple of outstanding strikers. They their only previous appearance in Brazil, Ivory Coast, play sweet and winning the finals in 1966. Brazil will be Miguel Veloso North Korea, Portugal football and, at its (Portugal) The the team to fear the most, even if best, they can give us midfielder comes from Cristiano Ronaldo will be desperEvery World Cup has one and the Sporting Lisbon football that defines the ate to demonstrate why he wants this is undoubtedly the closest academy where deepest beauty of the Christiano Ronaldo was thing to a Group of Death bear- to be regarded as the game. The same can nurtured and will be ing in mind it comprises Brazil, most lethal footballer on be said of a number vital to Portugal’s the five-time winners and proud the planet. Under Dunga's superviof teams, most notably tournament chances. sion, the South Americans have some architects of what Pele called Brazil, Argentina and the of the blunt pragmatism associated the ‘beautiful game’, as well Netherlands, but Spain as Portugal and an Ivory Coast with their manager's playing style merit their position as the side that could be the strongest when he captained them to the trophy team everyone should fear in the United States in 1994, but their of the African nations. Even and it is difficult to imagdefensive shield serves as a useful North Korea cannot be disine any scenario in Group H platform for the brilliance of Kaká counted from causing a shock other than Chile and SwitzerLuís Fabiano and the consistent goalscoring of (Brazil) The striker given that they achieved a land fighting it out for second doesn’t get the spot. Chile should be regarded stunning elimination of Italy in Luís Fabiano. attention that falls PREDICTED GROUP as marginal favourites after finishupon the likes of Kaká, PREDICTED GROUP WINNERS SPAIN ing second only to Brazil in their but was the top scorer RUNNERS-UP CHILE qualifying campaign. in 2009’s Confederations WINNERS BRAZIL RUNNERS-UP PORTUGAL Cup. Barcelona’s brilliant playmaker has a habit of rising to the occasion and was UEFA’s player of the tournament when Spain won Euro 2008.
Spain merit their position as the team to fear