By Stephen Barston
As the final stages of World Cup qualifying approach, more
teams, including Mexico and Uruguay, the two countries that won in playoff
games today, are looking to punch their ticket for Brazil this summer. However,
there are 21 teams that have safely done so already. Here, I rank the top five out
of these aforementioned 21.
1) Brazil-
Although the hosts received an automatic berth, several aspects make this squad
a formidable threat to take home the famed World Cup trophy. Led by superstars
Neymar (forward, FC Barcelona) and Thiago Silva (center back, PSG), The Green
and Yellow put together incredible performances over the summer to win the
Confederations Cup, dethroning the perennial powerhouse that is Spain in the
process. Incredible depth at all positions, especially in the attacking third
(with one-named wonders like Hulk and Fred), is another asset, but the only
problem could be a lack of match time between now and this summer. Nonetheless,
look for the Brazilians to make a splash in their home country come May.
2) Spain- A
disappointing performance over the summer has led to critical opinion of the
Spanish national soccer team as of late, but the unavoidable truth is that La
Furia Roja still remains a dominant presence.
Despite the age of many of the side’s star players (such as goalkeeper
Iker Casillas and center back Carlos Puyol), the surfeit of possibilities for
manager Vicente del Bosque at all positions maintains a bright outlook for this
Spanish squad. Thusly, recent poor performances from national team mainstays in
their domestic fixtures (i.e. Chelsea striker Fernando Torres) simply means
that another player can step up and fill the empty role equally well in these
international games. An undeniable emphasis on technique and precision for this
squad in the past has led to numerous titles and records, so look for more of
the same this summer in Brazil.
3) Germany- Under
manager Joachim Löw, this German side has not produced as much as their
talented roster should have warranted, but the possibilities for success are
always endless. Savvy veterans like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, and,
arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, Manuel Neuer will lead this squad,
but look for younger, more versatile players with fewer caps to make an impact
for Germany as well. Some of these players to watch out for are midfielders
Mario Götze (Bayern München), İlkay Gündoğan (Borussia Dortmund), and Julian
Draxler (FC Schalke 04). Focusing on an attacking mentality, based off of
impeccable passing coming from players like midfielder Mesut Özil (the man who
has had an unquestionable influence on Arsenal’s position atop the Premier
League thus far) and clinical finishing around the net—see Lukas Podolski and
Miroslav Klose—should bring some success when May rolls around, and the results
should subsequently be starkly different than the summer friendly loss to the
USA.
4) Italy- Another
side that is scattered with aging veterans, the Azzurri has loads of experience
and also has young talents that are mature beyond their years. Notorious
striker Mario Balotelli, the subject of criticism from the press and racism
from fans worldwide, has developed into a world-class, consistent player (at
least on the pitch) after leaving Manchester City and is one of the biggest
attacking threats that the Italians have. Pace on the wing from Stephan El
Shaarawy and impeccable technical ability in the holding midfielder spot from
Andrea Pirlo (and his amazing beard, I might add) are just a few of the Italian
advantages. Perhaps most importantly, manager Cesare Prandelli has been
tactically sound recently and has allowed Italy to find continual success
against even the most difficult competitors. If all of these assets can
outweigh the collective age of this squad and the problems that it may bring,
success in the form of a fifth World Cup title may be attainable.
5) Belgium- The
only nation on this list without a title, the current Belgian side, with a best
World Cup finish of fourth place in 1986, looks poised to become the most
successful squad in their country’s history. Having qualified for the first
time since 2002, Belgium has benefited immensely from the patient development
of young stars. A solid defense, led by Manchester City center back and
national team captain Vincent Kompany, as well as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
(the transfer target of some of the best association teams in the world,
including FC Barcelona), will be important for the Red Devils to maintain in
order to find success in Brazil. If
Marouane Fellaini can once again find the form that attracted the attention of
his new club Manchester United and if the striker duo of Romelu Lukaku and
Christian Benteke can continue their mental and physical progress in the top
flight of English soccer, Belgium will—finally—be a force to be reckoned with
in international soccer.
 |
| Andrea Pirlo celebrates a goal during this summer's Confederations Cup |
No comments:
Post a Comment