28/05/2010 - Blast News World Cup South Africa 2010
By: Jack Davis
It is now only a matter of days before England kick of their world cup campaign in South Africa against the USA on the 11th of June. I have booked my flights to the first world cup to take place in Africa, but who are the favourites and more importantly can England win it?
For England to end there 44 years of hurt is a very tall order but it is not beyond the realms of possibility. Brazil and Spain seem to be the favourites and the most likely to lift the trophy in Soccer City, Johannesburg. England I think is with a handful of other teams such as Argentina, France, Portugal and Holland who have an outside chance. It would take a very special performance from one of those teams to stop the top two and go on to lift the trophy themselves.
There is no backing away from the fact that without Rooney England’s chances would massively diminish. If he hits the kind of form he show for Manchester United last season defences around the world need to be careful because even if England do not go all the way Rooney may walk away from the tournament having firmly stamped his claim as the best striker in the world. Other players such as Gerrard, Lampard, Terry and Ferdinand also need to step up to the plate and deliver what we know they are capable of in an England shirt.
Spain in my eyes are the team to beat, with so much depth, strength and experience they all must be relishing the chance to dominate the world stage. Brazil are lacking the mesmerising flair they have shown in previous years, but manager Dunga has brought them a solid structure that is hard to beat. Dunga who lifted the trophy in 1994 for Brazil will hope he can become only the second person to lift the trophy after Franz Beckenbauer as a player and as a manager.
Every World Cup as football fans our heart tells us that this is England’s Year, we have the players, the manager and the experience, but then our heads comes into play. Remember this is England we are talking about, we’ll lose on penalties, someone will get sent off and Fabio will get the sack. I’m still going to listen to my heart.
