Anybody’s World Cup as top teams still vulnerable

By Vikram Doraiswami

Now that the first round is done, with fate, referees and surprise performances conspiring to send half the teams home, the business end of the 2014 World Cup starts this weekend. So far, it has been a terrific fortnight.


After the goal drought in South Africa, we’ve seen 136 scored in 48 games of the group phase; six more than the previous high in 2002. Of course, there has also been more drama as top sides were cast aside—Italy, Spain, Russia and Bosnia flattered in the qualifiers, only to disappoint in Brazil. Portugal and Croatia were below par, as were several African and all Asian sides.

At least fate favoured the Algerians, who reached the second round for the first time and erased memories of the cynical deal West Germany and Austria struck in 1982 to qualify at their expense.

In a turnaround straight from Hollywood, Algeria plays Germany next. And then again, the more things change, the more they remain the same. For one, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez is still the villain. He surpassed his own 'hand of god' moment of the 2010 quarterfinal by bringing a whole new dimension to the phrase 'a sharp attack'.

He certainly did leave a mark. As usual, Germany remain tidy and efficient, even in driving rain at Recife against an American side that looked like a photocopy of 'die manneschaft' themselves or earlier, against an inspired Ghana.

And then there is England, who still flatter to deceive. Despite their 'A' list of EPL stars, they struggled to score. Indeed, only Cameroon, Honduras and Iran scored fewer goals.

The next two weeks will be where it all gets settled. Argentina and Brazil join France, Germany and Holland as favourites. However, each has displayed vulnerabilities. They have so far depended on Messi and Neymar respectively; their other vaunted stars are yet to live up to their billing. And their defences have looked shaky under pressure.

Holland and Germany have been compact in defence, lightning fast in attack and creative in the midfield. France have been a revelation, but are yet to be truly tested.

The mercurial Nigerians can spring a surprise, just as the Dutch may find it tougher against the compact defence of El Tri, whose custodian is one of the finds of the tournament.

The group stages also showed that any team can bring down a top seed. It may still be South America’s tournament to lose: five out six Latin American teams made it to the last sixteen.

Only Ecuador missed out. And yet Holland could well wind up at the Maracana in mid-July with either France or Germany on the other side. No matter who wins, for me, the big takeaway is the unequivocal answer Messi’s left foot gave those who doubt his place in football’s pantheon.

As Nigerian coach Keshi said, "There are good calibre players in the team, but Messi is from Jupiter."

The author is an IFS officer posted in Delhi. He occasionally writes on sports in a private capacity.