World Cup 2010 Blog: The Draw and Must See Games

Written by Josué Árias, Latin Media Gurus Contributor.

With 187 days left until the world cup, the stage is set, the tables are filled and the discussions can begin.

If you missed it, here is the draw:

• Group A: South Africa, Mexico, France and Uruguay
• Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea and Greece
• Group C: England, USA, Algeria and Slovenia
• Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana
• Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
• Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
• Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal
• Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile.

First thing: Charlize Theron is the worst host for any ceremony I have ever seen. She was awkward, out of place, mis-informed and annoying. “Haha, Am I the only one who’s nervous???” to silent crowd.

On to the football:

My initial reaction was a sigh of relief to see a favorable draw for the Yanks. I EXPECT and HAVE NO DOUBT that the USA will advance into the round of 16. This is the easiest draw we’ve ever had in the modern age and I expect them to do very well. A rematch of 2002’s quarterfinal against the Germans may be in our horizon.

For the most part, I think the draw was fairly evenly distributed between all the groups. Just looking at the table, there are many match-ups that have the footballing world’s attention. Here is my selection for the top 10 must see games of the first round, in order of date:

1. Friday June 11, 7:00am PT – South Africa vs. Mexico

The Bafana Bafana will be opening the world cup against my beloved El Tri. This match will be tough for the mexicans, as they will face an overwhelming South African crowd. Its a match up putting the “plastic trumpets” of the south africans against the “si se puede” chants of the mexicans. Which is more annoying? We’ll see June 11.

2. Saturday June 12, 4:30am PT – Argentina vs. Nigeria

Will Diego Maradona be on the sidelines coaching the argentines? Will Messi finally play a good game with his national team? Can Argentina put behind them their troubled path to the finals and start playing the beautiful passing football that was part of Pekerman’s 2002 team? Many questions are going to be asked of this argentine side. My bet is Maradona will be a huge distraction to the team with the media.

3. Saturday June 12, 11:30am PT – England vs. United States

My hunch is that this game will be physical and we may see one or two red cards. Low Scoring, something like 1-0, 1-1. The USA could be without Oguchi Onyewu and/or Charlie Davies. England had a fairly easy route to the finals, and did not impress against the Brazilians in the November friendly match. I don’t buy into that whole “British World Cup Champs” talk with their manager Fabio Capello. With Ferdinand and Terry playing subpar for their clubs, it can be a perfect setting for a second “Miracle on Grass” (look up 1950 World Cup) with Jozy Altodore, Landon Donovan and *fingers crossed* Charlie Davies setting the pace that will cause the british defense to make mistakes.

4. Monday June 14, 11:30am PT – Italy vs. Paraguay

Both of these teams play defensive. One team has to, in theory, attack. Will Italy start off characteristically slow, giving the paraguayans a valuable opportunity to get a head start on the slovakians, who will more than likely win New Zealand to open the campaign.

5. Tuesday June 15, 7:00am PT – Ivory Coast vs. Portugal

An absolutely titanic match between these two nations, who in *my opinion* is the group a death. It is crucial for these teams to get a result in this match, especially Ivory Coast who will have to play Brazil in their second match day. Ivory Coast is the strongest african team and Cristiano Ronaldo and his selecao will be up for the challenge.

6. Thursday June 17, 4:30am PT – France vs. Mexico

This match could see both sides looking for their first points, as this evenly matched group will probably be going without a clear victor into the 3rd match day. I expect the mexicans to flourish under the underdog role, but will the star power of the french side prove to be fatal for El Tri? All you need is one touch from Benzema, Ribery, Gourcuff or a hand ball from Henry to get ahead in a match. Should have been the Irish.

7. Sunday June 20, 11:30am PT – Brazil vs. Ivory Coast

It is almost certain that the brazilians will have 3 points from their first match against the north koreans, and Ivory Coast will have to win IF they did not gain any points from their first match against the portuguese. Ivory Coast will have the luxury of knowing they have the north koreans last, but the brazilians do not want to be looking for points in the final match day against the portuguese where anything could happen.

8. Monday June 21, 7:00am PT – Chile vs. Switzerland

This could be the match that decides which of these two countries will join the spanish in the 2nd round. The chileans will be opening against a tough honduran side who could steal some points from a side or two in this group. Switzerland will be looking for points against Chile because more than likely will lose to the Furia Roja in the first match.

9. Tuesday, June 22, 7:00am PT – Mexico vs. Uruguay

All 3 of mexico’s matches make my “must see list”, because they’re all interesting for the neutral (ahem cough cough cough) spectator. A concacaf vs. conmebol match up, these two sides will more than likely need this result to pass the first round. This, and the Chile vs. Honduras match is a perfect game to end the discussion raised by my Conmebol vs. Concacaf debate.

10. Friday June 25, 7:00am PT – Brazil vs. Portugal

An absolute gigantic match up between european power versus former colony turned super champ, this may be a classic match up for the history books, given that both teams still have something to play for on the final match day. Zidane proved in 1998 and 2006 that one superman can defeat the five time champions. Cristiano Ronaldo would benefit from watching the tapes.

Thats the initial thoughts, given that there is still seven months until the finals. Much could change. The debate of the “Group Of Death” is between, group G with the 3 super nations and the unlucky communists or the evenly matched groups A, B and E.

Dios santo, que viva el futbol.