FIFA World Cup 2010: Argentina, Brazil - In It To Win!
Not many teams have shown promise in their initial matches during the on going Football World Cup in South Africa, but two teams have stood out due to their fair play and tactics; five time champions Brazil and former champions Argentina.
While Brazil has won the World Cup 5 times, Argentina has been champions on two occasions, once in 1978 and then in 1986. Their thrashing of South Korea by 4-1 termed as a timely reminders to those who labelled them as non-favourites, spent force and suspect against good defence. Instead, the way Lionel Messi has proved his mettle; there is nothing that the opponents could have done in the league matches. Messi doesn't score as much goals yet he makes moves and architects goals, something other teams in the tournament will have to tackle as the event progress.
Then there are Dunga's men, the Brazilians. They play fair, square and in circles, never saying die even when the chips are down. In both their matches so far, against North Korea and the talented Ivory Coast, Brazil has not only been the better side but also the one to watch for. Just like lions, they hunt in groups to subdue and kill large prey, stating their brilliance in the process.
The Brazilians first won the mega event in 1958, and successfully defended in 1962 and then reclaiming it from England in 1970. Their next triumph in the final came in 1994, when current coach Dunga was the skipper and masterminded the trophy with stalwarts like Romario, Bebeto and Ronaldo, who didn’t do much during the event. However, Ronaldo was in full form when Brazil won the final for the fifth time in 2002, scoring his 15th goal in the event.
Moving to 2010, both the teams have booked their spot in the pre quarter finals. With Luis Fabiano back to his best, and Kaka showing glimpse of talent that made him World Footballer of the Year 3 years back, the Brazilians might consider themselves one of the favourites. They have been subject to some dreadful umpiring decisions, like their star playmaker Kaka was harshly sent off late in the last game for a crime he didn’t commit, but after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession. He was 40 yards away from the place where the two teams had a quarrel, which escalated when Kaka unintentionally pushed an incoming Abdelkader Keita, who made it look like as if he was struck by Zindane, holding his face after the innocuous collision which did not warrant a warning, let alone a booking.
Kaka will miss his side’s match against Portugal but from what one has seen so far, he will come back as a stronger player, one who will be more focused and dedicated. They will however hope that they don’t meet Diego Maradona’s Argentina before the grand finale, because the South Americans have been in instrumental form throughout their first two matches of the tournament. Striker Gonzalo Higuain has been the lone hat trick scorer in the tournament, becoming the first Argentine since Gabriel Batistuta in 1998, and the first player to do so since Portugal's Pauleta in the World Cup of 2002.
Supported by Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez, he will be rearing to go when the team takes field for their last match against Greece tomorrow. So far, Argentina has played with authority and showed that their form has changed for the better. They have exerted authority from the whistle till the final minute, with Messi and Rodriguez making the most of the lapses in the defence of their opponents. They seem to be different in every aspect from the side that barely managed to qualify for the mega event, and if they continue their glorious form, who knows they might get third time lucky!
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