Posts Tagged ‘Going All The Way’
Spain the team to beat
This summer’s World Cup is wide open, just as it was last time out in 2006. Nine teams will arrive in South Africa knowing they have a realistic chance of going all the way.
They can be categorised as multiple winners of the event - Brazil, Italy, Germany and Argentina, single winners - France and England - and prospective first time winners - Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.
Brazil and Spain present the best cases for victory. They have the star quality, current form and strength in depth to lift the trophy, although as their previous record suggests, there is a difference in experience.
However, Spain’s poor World Cup record - they have only reached the semi finals once, in 1950 - is no longer a major factor. Their victory at Euro 2008 lifted the burden of underachievement and the largely similar squad can go for glory with confidence.
As impressive as Brazil are, Spain edge the five-time winners when it comes to quality. In a neat role reversal, the most fancied European team is full of flair and skill, the strongest South American outfit characterised by pragmatism and organisation.
Brazil are hardly short of game-changing players and any World Cup betting guide will reflect how close the two teams are. However, Spain’s fluid passing game, built on the technical brilliance of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas trumps a team who can be more pedestrian in their passing. In David Villa and Fernando Torres, Spain also have the ideal strike pair combination.
Spain are ranked as the world’s best team for good reason. Their record 35-match unbeaten run that ended last year demands respect, as does the way they responded to the defeat by winning every match since, including showdowns with Argentina and France. They are in the winning habit and should start the tournament as favourites in the World Cup odds.
Tags: Andres Iniesta, Betting Guide, Cesc Fabregas, Characterised, Demands Respect, Euro 2008, Fernando Torres, Going All The Way, Good Reason, Passing Game, Pragmatism, Realistic Chance, Role Reversal, Semi Finals, Star Quality, Technical Brilliance, Time Winners, Underachievement, World Cup Odds, Xavi
Are Arsenal the real deal?
I’m sure most people expected Arsenal to beat Porto in the Champions League - the Portuguese side have an awful record in England after all. However, the manner of the 5-0 victory, achieved without talisman Cesc Fabregas, should force people to sit up and take notice.
Arsenal put in a sparkling performance against the 2004 European Champions, dominating pretty much from start to finish. Nicklas Bendtner will no doubt take most of the headlines with a face-saving hat-trick going some way towards making up for his horror show against Burnley at the weekend.
But credit also has to go to the two chief architects, Samir Nasri and Andrey Arshavin, whose probing midfield runs were instrumental in the victory and eased the pain of being without captain Fabregas.
The win caps off a satisfying few weeks for Arsene Wenger, whose side are visibly growing in confidence. Following last Saturday’s win over Burnley they will firmly believe they can take advantage of their favourable fixture list and win their first Premier league title since 2004.
After the Porto result what is stopping them going all the way in the Champions League as well?
Wenger himself has admitted he would relish the chance to avenge their heavy league defeats to Chelsea and Manchester United should they be drawn together in the next round.
Personally I feel the Champions League is a step too far. The Gunners have shown already they struggle against the top sides in the Premier league and I feel that when up against a similar side in the Europe they will fall just short. The Champions League football betting certainly suggests this will be the case.
The momentum is definitely with them in the league, however. Their win at Stoke the weekend before last was celebrated with extra vigour, not just because it was in response to Aaron Ramsey’s shocking injury but because it was seen as a rare banana skin in what is a dream of a run-in fixture list.
Local rivals Spurs and fellow fourth place chasers Man City are the only other major hiccups remaining for the Gunners and if the past few games are to go by, they shouldn’t present a problem. If this proves to be the case, then the title could be heading to Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium for the very first time.
Meanwhile, hat-trick hero Bendtner will be hoping he can hit form in time for the World Cup.
He will be representing Denmark and while the side are unlikely to be many people’s World Cup 2010 tips they could still cause an upset.
Tags: Andrey Arshavin, Banana Skin, Burnley, Cesc Fabregas, Champions League Football, Chasers, Chief Architects, European Champions, First Premier, Fixture List, Going All The Way, Gunners, Hat Trick, Horror Show, Last Saturday, Man City, Midfield, Nasri, Vigour, Wenger