2010 FIFA World Cup

The Best of the Best

With the World Cup in South Africa only one day away, it’s as good a time as ever to defend it as the greatest sporting event in the world. First of all, it’s one of very few tournaments where the champion can truly be named “world champion.” The term is thrown around in the NBA, MLB, and NFL, but are the teams that win the NBA Finals, World Series, and Super Bowl truly world champions? No, because they are competing nationally, not internationally, thus the title “world champion” is inappropriately used. Other than the World Cup, there are pretty much two schools of thought in terms of greatest sporting events. In my opinion, both NCAA March Madness and the Olympics can be compelling arguments, but in the end both fall short. Starting with March Madness, the single elimination tournament
opens the door wide for anything to happen. That obviously leads to very exciting games where mid-majors that nobody has heard of can beat powerhouses. The anticipation of Selection Sunday is like no other, waiting for the bracket to officially be released so that you can start filling it out as soon as possible, but what helps the tournament is also what hurts the tournament. The fact that the bracket is made by a NCAA committee is one of the turn-offs because unlike other post-season tournaments, this one is decided based on the bias of the committee. Records are not the deciding factor, but rather stats open to interpretation. Did this team play a hard enough schedule? Did that team have enough key wins? What one person thinks may not be what another thinks, and thus arguments arise and the brackets are created based on opinion, not fact. The championship winning team may not have been the best team, but instead the team given the easiest route to the finals.

The Olympics is the other worldwide tournament that, like the World Cup, happens every four years. The winner of the gold is truly a world champion, but the problem with the Olympics... so many different sports dilutes the event. With so many sports taking place, it’s tough to concentrate on just one. One second you are watching basketball, then it’s ping ping, then equestrian. It’s just too much. With the World Cup, it’s soccer, just soccer. The most popular sport in the world. Country against country. It is a combination of two styles of tournaments, consisting of a group stage where the top 2 teams in 8 groups move on to the Round of 16, which is a single elimination bracket. This guarantees that the best teams move on to the elimination round, but maintains the element of anything can happen. Adding in the fact that it takes place every four years, the excitement of the tournament is intensified by not making it an annual event.

Nothing Is Perfect

As much as I love the World Cup, there is one problem with it. Because the soccer season is so long and stressful, injuries are a recurring theme. This World Cup alone, Germany captain Michael Ballack, Ghana star Michael Essien, Portugal star Nani, and England captain Rio Ferdinand. The list continues with players who are likely, but not certainly, missing the World Cup with Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba, and Italy lockdown defender Andrea Pirlo. With only 3 subs a game, many of these players are playing 90 minutes a game just about all year round in league games, tournaments, and national team games. Mileage takes a tole and unfortunately it is beginning to show just before the start of the World Cup. In order to keep the best players available for the best sporting event, FIFA needs to make some changes so that players have more time to heal from injury and less of a chance to incur one.

U.S. National Team

If there was ever a time for the United States to be successful in the World Cup, it would be now. Patriotism in the direction of the national team is very high right now. Even though soccer is the most popular sport in the world, it has never gotten traction in the U.S. Between now and the end of the World Cup is a very sensitive time for U.S. soccer. A great showing could put soccer on the map, where a poor showing could set it back a few years. The first match with England on June 12 is one of the most anticipated matches of the entire World Cup. The loss of defensive specialist Ferdinand for England is a huge loss in the back. This could be just the luck the team needs to get through England and help increase soccer popularity. With a group rounded out by Slovenia and Algeria, the U.S. is expected to make the Round of 16 and, depending on who they play, maybe go even further. After all, when you beat Spain, the #1 team in the world at the time and a team carrying a 35 match undefeated streak, expectations sky rocket. However, there are 2 questions that haunt the U.S. team. 

Question 1) Can the defense get over the injuries that plagued them throughout the year? The injury bug has passed though the U.S. team and has certainly left a mark. Their back line is very depleted with center back Ogucho Onyewu coming back after a knee injury left him out 7 months, captain Carlos Bocanegra recuperating from hernia surgery, and Jay Demerit returning from a back injury. This leads to the biggest question for the U.S. Although the back line is supported by Tim Howard, one of the best goalies in the Cup, he can’t be relied on to help clean up every mess made by the D. If the defense can’t make stops, the U.S. doesn’t much of a chance of succeeding and it may be tough for Americans to wait another 4 years to see a successful soccer team. If the defense can stand tall and make stops, not much else is stopping the U.S. from reaching their great potential.

Question 2) Who plays next to Jozy Altidore at forward? This has been a concern ever since Charlie Davies was involved in a car crash 1 year ago, leaving the 2nd forward spot up for grabs. One option is moving midfielder Clint Dempsey up. Dempsey has an eye for the goal, but prefers to play outside left mid where he can cut to the inside and shoot with his right foot, something that will not be as readily available at forward. A second option is Robbie Findley. If Coach Bob Bradley is looking to replace Davies to the closest he can, Findley is the man. A speed demon like Davies, Findley isn’t always looking to score, but can out run opponents whenever he pleases. Lastly, Bradley can put either Edson Buddle or Herculez Gomez up front. Both players lead their respective club leagues in goals and, like Altidore, do not have much trouble putting the ball in the back of the net. In the end, I think Gomez gets the nod up front with Altidore. Although Findley is a solid second option, he has shown signs of immaturity by missing easy goals in exhibition games. Gomez, however, has shown signs of having a nose for the back of the net. Findley would be a good selection, giving opposing defenses polar opposites to worry about up front, combining Findley’s speed and finesse with Altidore’s size and power, but in the end you need to score goals to win.