Corner flag (vol 2.12) - Van Persie to score

Been taking stock on the bets / calls thats been made and pretty pleased as to how its all turned out. Especially, the Year of the Tiger theory. Ha.

Spain vs Holland, one of the favourites at the outset vs. a peripheral figure of the elite bunch of footballing nations. Both under achievers on the world stage for the longest time and we will have a new winner. All the chat at office is how the Spaniards are going to cruise it. Another day, another favourite. Not without reason though. Euro '08 champions and a core group of Barcelona players who have won titles together.

The Barcelona core were very effective against a rather polite German side, who were not used to sides not making mistakes in possession - like the Argentinians and the English in the previous rounds. The Germans couldn't get hold of the ball and were slowly worn down. The Dutch, I think, will have more of an edge about them and with players more than capable of scoring goals, its going to be a hard fought game. And of course, the Dutch will emerge as winners.

Either way, Arsenal will soon have a World Cup winner in the squad and I hope its Van Persie scoring the winning goal in the 85th minute of a hard fought game.
                                              

Corner flag (vol 2.10) - Maradona is a cat

Not a tiger, but a cat. With 9 lives: Hand of God almost got him lynched, the Camorra nearly bumped him off because even they got tired of his maniacal ways, got thrown out of USA 94 in a drug fueled daze, his dogs ate his ears while sleeping with him, his stomach nearly burst open one morning, was quite close to not qualifying with the most talented side for this world cup and now he is taking on Schweinsteiger over here - hilarious:




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Here is the cat on Mourinho - perfect bedfellows:
"I like Mourinho a lot. I've got his phone number, I might call him. We spent hours talking about football, attacking and defensive tactics. He seemed to me a guy to take to your bedside table and ask him each time you need something."

And on Messi:
"And he talks to [Juan Sebastián] Verón and I spy on them: La Bruja [the Witch] is an intellectual of football, because he knows much more of football than Leo, but they start talking about it and the bastard answers back."

Recounting his days in the psychiatric ward:
"They were all crazy in there. One guy said he was Napoleon and they didn't believe him. I said I was Maradona and they didn't believe me, either."

And here is the wonderful Richard Williams on the cat. He does write well though the fucker.

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The Big Brazilians just went out against the Dutch. Robben, Schneider together quelled a spirited Brazilian set up, but as the game wore on the Dutch were better constructed to pull it off. Even from being a goal down from the 10th minute. Felipe Melo set up the goal, then scored an own goal and finally got sent off - hopefully his market value deteriorates even further; Arsenal can possibly afford him now.
                                                       

From the Guardian. The two architects of a famous Dutch win                                      

                                                                              

Corner flag (vol 2.5)

Carrying on from four years ago, listing down my take on what this world cup is likely to offer. I realise that setting targets of this sort is a game of 'analysis' vs 'hope' - and therefore each comment will be qualified as either one of them (A or H).

As I write, its Day 3 already, and have the hindsight of a few games - of which I must admit the England - USA result was reassuring and in line with expectations. Its a nil-nil draw at the Ghana Serbia game at the moment. 

1. Favourites to win the World Cup:  Brazil (H)
Not the usual flamboyant boys, but its the Dunga boys that will do the job. Dogged and quite solid. There is worry about Luis Fabiano scoring goals, but I reckon Kaka will be ready for this; having had a quiet season at Madrid, he is going to be key behind any success for Brazil. 

2. Footballer of the tournament: Kaka (H)
Tough one, considering all the talent that exists in the Spanish side. 

3. Teams among the elite lot that look good and that could win: Argentina (H) & Holland  (H)
Elite set being Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, France, England, Portugal and Holland. Obviously Brazil & Spain are universally recognised as the favourites, which I kind of agree with. But its 2 of the others that I am going to have my eye on - Argentina and Holland.

Despite being led by Maradona, Argentina have a crew of top dog, experienced footballers. Will be interesting to watch their progress and a lot would depend on how much the players want to play for each other.

Which has historically been the problem with the Dutch as well, but I think they have an understated coach and team of former hot heads who have matured over the last couple of years. Questions about defence exists, but quality midfield and forward line.

Portugal - they have been awfully quiet all the way to the finals. To quote Jacques Kallis, do they have some reserve fuel in the radiator to surprise? I don't think so.

4. Teams that wont do well: Spain (H) & England (H)
Nothing much to say over here.

5. Teams from the non-Elite lot that will do well: Serbia (H)
Purely intuitive - ok this is how it goes: Croatia did well in 1998, the Czechs did well in Euro 2004, so one of the teams from that region is likely to do well some time soon. Intuition of the Times of India kind I suppose.

Serbia finds itself in a tough group and its the 66/1 odds that make it interesting. Though I have just learnt that the super, talented striker Stevan Jovetic of Fiorentina plays for Montenegro and not Serbia - which was one of the reasons behind my Serbia pick much before the tournament began.

That incidentally just shows the level of analysis thats gone behind this -  as any astute reader would have already picked up.

(Ghana just scored - so already getting fucked)

7. Source of likely fuck up for me : Not rating the African teams at all (A)

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Since the first round is well under way, I shall update my picks of teams that are likely to progress by Wednesday.

Though I am loyal to no particular team in such competitions, its going to be the Dutch that I'll be following closely this world cup. Heres to hoping that they win.