FIFA World Cup 2010 top news

THE TEAMS

Argentina

Argentina is clearly the favorite in this group, though most of us probably don’t want that to be the case. Why? Ya know, because of the whole Maradona will streak if they win the cup thing. And in the YouTube era, that thing (the video) is bound to wind up online. Anyways, it would be a major disappointment if they didn’t come out as the top team in this group, since they are completely loaded with talent. Lionel Messi and Diego Molito will be the main factors this summer, and if both of those guys are playing at their highest level, no one will stop Argentina. Except for maybe Maradona himself. Managing is the only question mark for this team, so when they get into crunch time, that could be a huge factor. If Argentina fans are to be nervous, it will definitely be more about Maradona than about the makeup of their team.


GROUP :B

1. Argentina,
2. Nigeria,
3. Greece and
4. South Korea

For the four nations of Group B—Argentina, Nigeria, Greece and South Korea—it will be the battleground of what is considered to be an open group.

Argentina will be favored as top dog, but Nigeria, Greece and South Korea all have the potential to unseat them. Look for an exciting group stage with lots of fireworks that could provide some upsets.


GROUP SCHEDULE

June 12, 2010

South Korea vs. Greece – 7:30 AM ET, ESPN
Argentina vs. Nigeria – 10 AM ET, ESPN

June 17, 2010

Argentina vs. South Korea – 7:30 AM ET, ESPN
Greece vs. Nigeria, 10 AM ET – ESPN

June 22, 2010

Nigeria vs. South Korea – 2:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Argentina vs. Greece – 2:30 PM ET, ESPN

*Times indicate actual game start times. 30 minute preview show before most games, so the actual coverage will begin a half hour earlier.

Despite laboring through qualification, Argentina, managed by footballing legend Diego Maradona, enter the 2010 World Cup tipped amongst the favorites due their plethora of offensive talent that features current Fifa Player of Year Lionel Messi.



Messi, only twenty two, scored forty seven goals in all competitions this past season for club team Barcelona and already possesses two Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns and a Ballon D’Or.

However, the native of Rosario has yet to replicate this form for his country and he is well aware that for him to transcend into the pantheon of greats, he must produce at the World Cup like previous legends such as Zidane, Pele, Beckenbauer, Platini and, of course, his manager, Maradona.

Messi’s struggles when playing for Argentina were magnified by the international press during Argentina’s arduous qualification campaign, which was only ensured on the last match day in a slender one nil victory over Uruguay.

Even the Argentinean press routinely criticized Messi during the country’s struggles in qualification, citing his lack of offensive production, although he led the team in scoring with six goals during the eighteen game campaign.

Also victimized by the press during qualification and even urged to resign by some was Maradona, who typically plays Messi in a free role behind two strikers.

For Barcelona, Messi occupies the right side of the three pronged Catalan attack and enjoys the freedom to run full pace at defenders or cut inside.

Because Maradona does not play Messi in the same role, despite his well publicized past success, reveals a fundamental problem with this Argentinean squad: most of the other stars do not compliment Messi’s play.

While Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Diego Milito are all exceptional offensive players and could play for any side in the world, in essence they share similar attributes and contribute the same mix of skill and grittiness to their team.

None of these three are ideal foils to Messi because they all demand space and the ball to create, which is exactly what Messi needs to thrive.

Therefore, the crucial element needed to assure that Messi and Argentina have a successful World Cup is Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, who scored twenty seven goals in total in La Liga, second only to Messi’s thirty four this past season.

Playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain, who only made three appearances during qualification, demonstrated that he can get into the proper positions without the ball and then finish consistently once he gets it.

If Higuain can perform under similar circumstances with Messi drawing the attention, Argentina should have no problems offensively even if Messi’s name does appear on the score sheet often.

But then again, offense should not be Maradona’s main concern, but rather his defense, which conceded six to Bolivia during qualification and has always been the perceived weakness of Argentina, a nation that regularly produces world class attack midfielders but fails to develop no-nonsense defenders.

With an aged backline consisting of Gabriel Hienze (32), Walter Samuel(32), Martin Demichelis (29) and Nicolas Burdisso (29), and two inexperienced goalkeepers, Argentina are prone to concede a foolish goal at some point in the tournament.

Defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano, who received two red cards in a sub par season for Liverpool by his high standards, must play well and protect the fragile defense for Argentina to advance deep.

Argentina have always looked to outscore their opponents and their numerous offensive weapons will carry them through their group and into the knockout stages.

Yet, Argentineans can only hope that the inevitable mistake from their inexperience goalie or defensive lapse from their aged backline comes in group play and not a pivotal moment of the knockout stages.

That being said, Argentina are serious contenders in the tournament and can win, if they find some luck and avoid certain physical teams, like England and Germany, that will not allow them to play as freely as they desire.

With the potential to inspire the entire nation, much of the focus will be on Leo Messi, but others, mainly Mascherano and Higuain will have to perform at the highest level for Argentina to win the World Cup.

The Argentines definitely have the talent to win the 2010 World Cup with players like Messi and Tevez. Now we'll see if Maradona can guide them to the championship.


When you enter a party, you always want to leave an impression. The question for Argentina is what type of impression will they leave at the prom this year?
odds betting odds

Diego Maradona They have the talent to easily be prom king and win the FIFA World Cup tournament. But at the same time, with an erratic coach like Diego Maradona, the Argentinean team could also leave the type of bad impression that no one will forget for another four years.



The Argentines struggled through qualifying but keep in mind that they did the same in 1985 and still rolled through World Cup football betting and managed to hoist the Jules Rimet trophy.

Meet Team Argentina


While the Argentina team may have some questions it has to answer, few of them have to do with talent. Lionel Messi is considered the best soccer player in the world by many and he’ll suit up alongside Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero. Messi will have to prove, though, that he can perform as well internationally as he does for Barcelona.

Javier Zanetti and Walter Samuel will provide plenty of experience at the back end and with Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Mascherano in the midfield, as mentioned, Argentina doesn’t have many holes on the roster.

The real question is what can coach Maradona milk out of this squad. He’s the biggest wild card on the team and because of it, pundits and handicappers aren’t sure what to expect from a soccer betting perspective.

Argentina Football Team Squad For 2010 World Cup Held In South Africa:Videos




Can Argentina Get Past The Group Stage?

Without question, this team will advance past the World Cup group stage . When you’re in a group with Nigeria, Greece and South Korea, advancing shouldn’t be much of an issue.

South Korea is in its seventh straight World Cup but is not on or near the same level as Argentina. Meanwhile, Greece is still trying to figure out why they were so successful in Euro 2004 and how to duplicate that success.

That leaves Nigeria as the main competitor but they needed two 12th-hour goals to advance through African qualifying and into the draw. There is a shortage of depth on the Nigerian squad and they will have a tough time slowing Argentina.

Overall, there isn’t much competition for Argentina in this group and don’t be surprised if they hang a big number or one or two of these teams.

WORLDCUP 2010 FIFA SPORTING EVENTS TEAM Argentina :videos




Can Argentina Win It All?

There is no question that Maradona was one of the best football players to ever live. What has come into question prior to, during and after qualification is his ability to coach.

Regardless of whether he’s an X’s and O’s guy or not, the reality is that Maradona will have the respect of the players and that might be all it takes to get this team to play to their potential.

Messi will win one or two games for La Albiceleste on his own and the powder blue and white will make a long run. They are among the favorites on the World Cup 2010 betting odds and don’t be surprised if they are the ones paying off at the end.


PREDICTIONS


*Winner in bold

South Korea vs. Greece – DRAW
Argentina vs. Nigeria – DRAW
Argentina vs. South Korea
Greece vs. Nigeria – DRAW
Nigeria vs. South Korea
Argentina vs. Greece

Predicted Standings:

1. Argentina (7 points)
2. Nigeria (5 points)
3. Greece (2 points)
4. South Korea (1 point)

Well that’s all for the Group B Preview here on FA Daily!

What are your predictions for the group? Be sure to vote on our poll to the right, and let us know who you think will win Group B!