The winners of the last two World Cups, Germany will begin their defence of the trophy on home soil against Canada next June. The draw (Group A alongside Canada, Nigeria & France) will buoy the hosts as they have absolutely destroyed both Canada and Nigeria in recent friendly matches. Showing exactly why they are the two-time holders, Germany crushed Nigeria 8-0 just 5 days prior to the draw and they managed an equally-impressive 5-0 win over Canada – who had finished fourth in the 2003 World Cup.

2009’s beaten (by Germany, of course) European Championship finalists, England will also be pleased with their draw. Placed in Group B along with Japan, New Zealand and Mexico, things could have been far worse for the lone British representatives. As well as Germany, they have avoided two-time champions, USA and a couple of tricky sides in Group D, which features former champions Norway and the ever-improving Brazilians. That is not to say Group B will be easy for England, however, as Mexico have already proven their strength by beating USA in qualifying.

As mentioned, Group B will provide some of the best entertainment. Norway traditionally do well in World Cups, having won the competition in 1995, finishing second in the first ever World Cup in 1991 and finished fourth in the 1999 and 2007 finals. Despite that impressive World Cup calibre, Brazil will probably still be favourites when the two nations clash next June. They looked extremely impressive in the 2007 finals, finishing runners up to Germany, and are currently ranked 3^rd in the world – behind USA and Germany, whilst Norway currently sit 7^th. Australia are even lower in the rankings – in 12^th – but they are well capable of providing anyone with a tough match. They battled to a respectable 2-1 loss to Germany last month, and managed an impressive 3-1 win over Mexico 3 days earlier. Spare a thought for Equatorial Guinea though. The central Africans are competing in their first ever World Cup and sit all the way down in 62^nd in the world rankings. Group B is not an ideal draw for them, to say the least.

The U.S. won’t necessarily be especially pleased with their draw. Their recent form hasn’t always been totally impressive, and Korea DPR and Sweden will present considerable challenges. Amazingly, USA have been placed in the same group as Korea DPR in each of the last three World Cups, and Sweden have often faced both sides too. This familiarity will only add to the tension, but ultimately, the U.S. are still perfectly capable of topping the group if they can hit the ground running. Colombia are the fourth team in Group C, and will be able to play in the knowledge that there is very little expectation on their shoulders.

The Draw in Full:

Group A – Germany, Canada, Nigeria, France

Group B – Japan, New Zealand, Mexico, England

Group C – United States, Korea DPR, Colombia, Sweden

Group D – Brazil, Australia, Norway, Equatorial Guinea

Since 1990, when Cameroon became the first African nation to reach the Quarter Finals of the World Cup, only one other African country has made it to the same point, Senegal in 2002. Despite the consistent leaps in quality, ability and tactical attitude, Africa has consistently failed to make the next breakthrough on the world stage. Critics can point to perhaps the continents best team, Egypt, not being in the finals, but Egypt traditionally struggle to qualify for the World Cup.

With continental advantage at hand, could Africa begin to consistently trouble the latter stages of the World Cup at last? It just seems unfortunate that only one of the six qualifiers this year looks capable of getting in to the last eight in South Africa. For me, the Ivory Coast stand head and shoulders above all the other African representatives even before they enticed Sven-Goran Eriksson to take the helm this summer.

As a squad, the depth and experience of the Elephants squad is clearly the strongest of the African nations in all parts of the field with talismanic striker Didier Drogba leading the team on and off the pitch. Add to that the options that players of the calibre of the Toure brothers, Guy Demel, Bakary Kone, Didier Zokora, Salomon Kalou and Aruna Dindane give you and you have a strong line up to match most sides in the tournament. The fact that they’ve found themselves in the same group as Brazil and Portugal and expected whipping boys North Korea shouldn’t fill them with fear.They can qualify from this group.

Under no circumstances is this the free flowing samba styled Brazil we’ve been brought up on over the last few years. Head coach Dunga has installed a pragmatic formation and tactical set that keeps the midfield anchored but allowing the wingers and fullbacks to bomb forward. It’s an interesting variation on the standard Brazilian style, more reminiscent of the 1994 winning side than the 2002 winning side.After they way they slumped out of the competition in 2006, they’ll be keen to be more clinical.

Portugal on the other hand can thank a favourable seeding in the European play-offs for getting to the World Cup. A side that seems to be on the way down, huffing and puffing its way through qualification. Despite the hype, Ronaldo, similarly to Messi, doesn’t seem to play as we know him at the international level. North Korea have the surprise element, but I doubt we’ll have a repeat of their amazing shock of the 1966 finals.

We’ve a situation where one of the 3 big teams in this group will be going home and with Brazil and Portugal clashing as their last fixture, the Ivory Coast will be aware that they could be in a situation that they could send home one of the Portuguese speaking nations. Would it be a big shock? Not really, if anything, Portugal are the ones who have it all to do to get through. The tournament needs the best African side to go through as the only other contenders, Cameroon and Ghana often flatter to deceive.

World Cups have no time for sentiment, but the Ivory Coast have a chance to write a little bit of history and each of the three teams will be desperate to finish top as I can’t see Spain not winning Group H. Eriksson will be at his 3rd World Cup and despite his faults, is still one of the most experienced managers in the world. Adding his pragmatic tactics to the Ivory Coast’s boundless exuberance could be a match made in heaven. Brazil and Portugal will be hoping the cocktail doesn’t taste as sweet in action.

Leave me your comments below and you can follow me on http://twitter.com/paulbestall

Much has been written about January’s African Cup of Nations’ effect on the title race in the Premier League. Quite a few of the teams vying for the title will lose key players during the month long tournament. Chelsea stand to suffer the most, losing Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Solomon Kalou.

I am more curious to see how this tournament will affect the African teams’ chances in the World Cup. African teams have never advanced past the quarterfinals of the World Cup, and only Cameroon (1990), and Senegal (2002) have advanced that far. African teams are already at an advantage, having the World Cup on their own continent. African fans will have cheaper and shorter travel than in every other prior World Cup. Of the eighteen World Cups played, six have been won by the host team, and six more have been won in the winning team’s home continent. In addition, two of Brazil’s other wins took place in countries that had no realistic shot of winning the competition (USA ’94, South Korea/Japan ’02).

Perhaps the most important aspect of the African teams playing in the African Cup of Nations tournament is the level of play the tournament will provide. Having competitive matches with a chance to win silverware is a big advantage over teams from every other federation. International friendlies do not offer the same level of competition.

Whether or not an African team team advances past the quarterfinal round, much less lifts the Jules Rimet, is unknown. Playing in the African Cup of Nations will provide the best preparation for next summer’s World Cup.

I have traveled in Southern Africa several times for business, and I am always struck when I talk to South Africans about Nelson Mandela.  When talking to black South Africans, they look at Mandela as a hero and the father of their country, but they also have a more nuanced view and remain frustrated at some of the pothole-type problems that plague everyday life in their emerging country.

However, when talking to white Afrikaners about their former President, there is no nuance.  I have seen more than one Afrikaner slam his hand down on the table and say with their quirky phrase, “Full stop- the greatest man this country has ever produced.”

So how did this “convicted” terrorist who spent 30 years in prison emerge from his cell to seduce the white minority and build the most stable, multi-ethnic and economically thriving democracy on the African continent?

In his terrific new movie Invictus, director Clint Eastwood tries to answer that question by focusing on the 1995 Rugby World Cup.  Based on John Carlin’s book Playing The Enemy,  Eastwood’s Mandela, played brilliantly by Morgan Freeman, is a leader who has studied the white Afrikaner closely.  Mandela knows that in order to build his nation, he must find ways to break down white fears over being a minority and get them to buy into their new South Africa.

Rugby, a sport vital to Afrikaner culture and a symbol of the Afrikaner ideal of grit and manliness, proves to be the vehicle that Mandela needed.  An amateur boxer in his youth, Mandela understood the power that sport can have. From his jail cell on Robben Island, Mandela taught himself the Afrikaans language and would listen to the incessant conversations his jailers would have about the sport.  Upon emerging from prison, he advocated that the 1995 Rugby World Cup be held in South Africa and that international rugby end its boycott against playing the Springboks, the name of the South African national team.

This was not an easy concession for Mandela to enforce.  To black South Africans, the green and gold Springbok jersey was a symbol of white oppressive rule, and many blacks wanted the team renamed and the colors changed.  Mandela, who understood the deep attachment whites had for the team, fought this, and in one of the best scenes in the film, made a surprise visit to a meeting of the new South African sports ministry to prevent this change.  His portrayal of Mandela’s speech to these sports officials, both compassionate and calculating, is Oscar-worthy stuff for Freeman.

On the other end of this equation is the Springbok captain Francois Pienaar, played by Matt Damon.  Pienaar is a man who has spent his whole life thinking about rugby, and has probably never had an opinion about politics one way or another.  However, just as he seduced his prison guards, his prison warden, the Minister of Justice and eventually the last white South African President FW De Klerk, Mandela convinces Pienaar to enlarge his vision and use the team to help unify the country.

The problem is the Springboks are not a great team.  After years of being boycotted out of the rugby community, the team is outclassed when it plays internationally.  However, inspired by Mandela, Pienaar pushes the team in its training and its attitude.  The team embraces the black community that once feared it, and by the time the World Cup comes, the ’Boks are prepared and the country is behind them.

It is at this point that the film takes an extra pass or two rather than properly running the ball across the line for a score.  The rugby scenes themselves run long, especially the final game between the Springboks and the New Zealand All-Blacks.  Rugby is a difficult game to portray on film – it is better seen from afar than up close – and the actual final game was a tough slow war of attrition with few big plays.  Eastwood captures all the drama leading up to the game, including Mandela’s famous walk onto the field wearing Pienaar’s #6 Springbok jersey and the nearly all-white crowd chanting “Nelson, Nelson…”  However, the game itself seems to go on, and the ending for most movie goers was never in doubt.

The South Africa that is preparing to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a different place than the South Africa portrayed by Eastwood, Freeman and Damon.  It is a calmer, less dramatic and more business-like place.  The daily papers are more concerned with the value of the Rand than multi racial reconciliation.  For many South Africans, this summer’s World Cup will be a triumph of commerce rather than sport.  That is all as it should be.  Thanks to Mandela, Pienaar and the millions who put aside their grievances and embraced their new country, the life and death drama can just occur on the field instead of around it.

World Cup fans, prepare to hear this song ad nauseum for the next seven months.  K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag” is the Official Anthem of World Cup 2010.

Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi has come under heavy criticism in recent months despite Italy’s success in qualifying to the World Cup in South Africa. La Nazionale went through an alarming goal drought and was only able to overcome it after two unfortunate own goals from returning Georgia captain Kakha Kaladze.

The Italians were expected to qualify from their group with only the Republic of Ireland posing any genuine threat to Lippi’s squad in terms of automatic qualification to South Africa. While it is true the Italians did not suffer any defeat in the group stage, the attack has been showing ill signs and regularly stuttering until a rejuvenated Alberto Gilardino began firing goals for the Azzurri. The Fiorentina striker scored towards the ends against the Irish before completing a late hat-trick in a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Cyprus. The Italian national team has players capable of finding the net yet appears to be lacking when it comes to imaginative players who are capable of not just scoring but creating chances as well.

There have been calls around the peninsula for the recall of bad-boy Antonio Cassano who plays in Genoa for Sampdoria. Cassano has been impressive and has played a major role in the Blucerchiati’s third ranking in Serie A so far. He is also key to the resurgence of partner Giampaolo Pazzini who actually earned three caps for the Azzurri during 2009. Cassano might not be a regular goal scorer yet his assists are often the reason behind the goals scored by his teammates with Pazzini scoring seven times so far this season.

Another forward who has been considered as a possible choice for South Africa is Roma talisman Francesco Totti who has had a positive start to the season scoring six times in the league before missing out due to injury. The main points of concern with Totti are his frequent niggling injuries and the potential for displeasure amongst certain Azzurri players, in particular in attack, since the star player opted to quit international football following the triumph in Berlin in 2006 and has yet to feature for Italy since that glorious night. On the other hand, Cassano has pledged on more than one occasion his desire to play again for his country despite Lippi’s reluctance to pick him.

Finally, Italy has the option of calling upon Alessandro Del Piero, the Juventus legend and all-time leading Bianconeri scorer. Del Piero is perhaps the least likely to feature at this point due to injuries and the fact that Lippi has also ignored him during his second tenure with la Nazionale. However, the positive factors playing in favour of the Old Lady’s captain include the fact that he is likely to have fresh legs after missing all of Juve’s matches up to this point and his decent participation with the Azzurri during World Cup 2006 when he was used effectively as a substitute. Del Piero’s desire to play in South Africa and his willingness to start on the bench without causing any fuss will also help his cause. Lastly, Lippi is quite familiar with the forward having trained him both with Juventus and with the national team.

It is quite possible that Lippi will ignore all three players for various reasons- some too obvious such as in the case of Antonio Cassano. As fans, who would you like to see featuring for Italy during next summer’s World Cup: Cassano, Del Piero or Totti?

The home continent of the 2010 World Cup is close to having its 5 qualifying sides defined for The Great Tournament. The 1st team to officially qualify is Ghana. The Black Stars defeated Sudan 2-0 at home to secure top spot in Group D. Goals by Inter midfielder Sulley Muntari & Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien sealed the victory. Ghana have yet to give up a goal in the final group stage of WC qualifying.

Côte d’Ivoire moved closer to securing qualification for 2010 with their 5-0 home destruction of Burkina Faso at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny. Chelsea hitman Didier Drogba scored twice as Les Éléphants maintained their perfect record in Group E. Côte d’Ivoire only need a draw in their next match against Malawi to officially qualify for The Great Tournament.

Cameroon moved to the top of Group A with back to back wins against surprise side Gabon. On Saturday, Cameroon defeated Gabon 2-0 on the road in Libreville and then 4 days later toppled Gabon 2-1 at home in Yaounde. Inter Milan goal assassin Samuel Eto’o scored in both matches to see the Indomitable Lions better position themselves for the World Cup.

Continental powers Egypt & Nigeria are facing an uphill drive for qualification in their respective groups. African champions Egypt beat Rwanda 1-0 on the road, a late 2nd half goal by Al-Ahly midfielder Ahmed Hassan secured the 3 points. The Pharaohs still trail Group C leaders Algeria by 3 points with 2 matches remaining.

Nigeria drew 2-2 at home against Group B leaders Tunisia. The share of points was a big blow to the Super Eagles who trail Tunisia by 2 points in Group B, Nigeria have only 1 win in the final group stage of qualifying. Tunisia’s #10 Oussama Darragi scored in the 89th minute to keep The Eagles of Carthage in 1st place and hand Nigeria its 3rd draw of final stage qualification.

Here are the results and standings from African WCQ:

GROUP A STANDINGS

SATURDAY, SEPT. 5

Gabon 0 – 2 Cameroon
CAM: Achille Emana (66′) & Samuel Eto’o (68′)

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6

Togo 1 – 1 Morocco
TOG: Moustapha Salifou (4′)
MOR: Adel Taarabt (90′+2′)

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9

Cameroon 2 – 1 Gabon
CAM: Jean Makoun (25′) & Samuel Eto’o (64′)
GAB: Daniel Cousin (90′)

GROUP B STANDINGS

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6

Mozambique 1 – 0 Kenya
MOZ: Tico-Tico (67′)

Nigeria 2 – 2 Tunisia
NIG: Peter Odemwingie (23′) & Michael Eneramo (80′)
TUN: Sliti Nabil (24′) & Oussama Darragi (89′)

GROUP C STANDINGS


SATURDAY, SEPT. 5

Rwanda 0 – 1 Egypt
EGY: Ahmed Hassan (68′)

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6

Algeria 1 – 0 Zambia
ALG: Rafik Saifi (59′)

GROUP D STANDINGS

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6

Benin 1 – 1 Mali
BEN: Mohamed Aoudou (87′)
MAL: Mahamadou Samassa (72′)

Ghana 2 – 0 Sudan
GHA: Sulley Muntari (14′) & Michael Essien (52′)

GROUP E STANDINGS


SATURDAY, SEPT. 5

Malawi 2 – 1 Guinea
MAL: Chiukepo Msowoya (46′, 59′)
GUI: Oumar Kalabane (37′)

Côte d’Ivoire 5 – 0 Burkina Faso
CIV: Saidou Panandetiguiri (og 9′), Drogba (48′, 64′), Yaya Toure (54′), Keita (68′)

I know what you’re thinking, what on Earth is a Vuvuzela? For those of you who have been watching the Confederations Cup in South Africa you will probably have heard some insanely annoying buzzing noise that sounds a bit like Satan playing a Kazoo – this is the Vuvuzela (see pic).

Some commentators, players, managers and fans have all complained about the noise and suggested banning them at the World Cup 2010. Indeed, FIFA actually did ban them until the South African Football Association (SAFA) made a presentation and suggested you would not get a true South African football experience without these horns.

Even though the noise is awful (horrifying really) I’m inclined to agree with the SAFA on this one. As much as the World Cup is about football it is also about the global football community and exploring new footballing cultures. If I’m starting to sound a bit like a hippy here I’m sorry, but it generally is the way I feel. Indeed the Vuvuzela is so important to South African fans it has come to ‘symbolise the sport in the country’ according to southafrica.info.

Basically, no matter how annoying the Vuvuzela simply can’t be banned. It would take away the whole point of holding the tournament in South Africa. I was watching the Confederations Cup with a friend of mine and I’ve got to be honest, we both thought it was a bit much. It turns out everyone else did as well and there has been quite a lot written about it on the internet already (search ‘Vuvuzela’ and you’ll see what I mean). However, I found this gem of a quote on the official FIFA website to back the unconventional instrument’s cause.

“When we started the vuvuzela, there was so much sadness in our country in those years and it brought so much joy,” said Mzion Mofokeng, deputy chairman of the South African team’s supporters’ association. “All of a sudden people would go to the stadiums because of this instrument that was able to get fans on their feet and start cheering. For few hours, they would forget about the reality in our society and enjoy the sound.”

So there you have it, everyone will moan a bit but it is a part of their football culture and the governing bodies can’t change that – nor do they want to. The English fans sing and have a very British brass band, the Brazilians use the samba drums and the South Africans have the Vuvuzela – it might not be the prettiest of sounds, but it is their sound. And if the noise does get too much for you to bear, you can always hit mute….

African World Cup qualifying is halfway to its conclusion as the Motherland continues to give the footballing world more to talk about as this round of matches ranged from the hardly interesting 0-0 draws like Morocco v Togo to 5 goal thrilers like Burkina Faso v Côte d’Ivoire. Interestingly, the visiting team took at least 1 point in all but 3 matches this weekend.

The match between Burkina Faso & Côte d’Ivoire was a battle for top spot in Group E with Les Éléphants being massively tested by a surprising Burkina Faso side. Goals by European stars Yaya Toure & Didier Drogba did not decide the match but an own goal by Burkina defender Mamadou Tall gave Côte d’Ivoire the 3-2 road win as Les Éléphants continued their perfect start in World Cup qualifying.

Algeria moved to the top of Group C with their big 2-0 road win against Zambia. Rangers’ defender Madjid Bougherra opened the scoring in the 21st minute as The Desert Foxes kept the clean sheet and remained unbeaten in Group C. Algeria look to be the favorite to win Group C as they are unbeaten in their last 6 WC Qualifiers.

On Sunday, Mali got its 1st win of the final group stage with a 3-1 home win in the capital city of Bamako against Benin. The Eagles’ French Connection of Modibo Maïga of Le Mans and Mamadou Diallo of Le Havre led Mali to victory with goals in the 21st and 75th minute respectively after Benin stunned the crowd with a 12th minute goal by Bahrain based midfielder Seidath Tchomogo. Mali’s victory moves them into 2nd place behind Ghana in Group D.

Here are the results & standings:

STANDINGS

SATURDAY, JUNE 20th
Morocco 0 – 0 Togo

STANDINGS

SATURDAY, JUNE 20th
Kenya 2 – 1 Mozambique
KEN: Julius Owino (5′) & Macdonald Mariaga (pen 76′)
MOZ: Domingues (49′)

Tunisia 0 – 0 Nigeria

STANDINGS

SATURDAY, JUNE 20th
Zambia 0 – 2 Algeria
ALG: Madjid Bougherra (21′) & Rafik Saifi (66′)

STANDINGS

SATURDAY, JUNE 20th
Sudan 0 – 2 Ghana
GHA: Matthew Amoah (5′, 52′)

SUNDAY, JUNE 21st
Mali 3 – 1 Benin
MLI: Modibo Maiga (21′), Mamadou Diallo (75′), Frédéric Kanouté (83′)
BEN: Seidath Tchomogo (12′)

STANDINGS

SATURDAY, JUNE 20th
Burkina Faso 2 – 3 Côte d’Ivoire
BFO: Jonathan Pitroipa (27′), Aristide Bance (78′)
CIV: Yaya Toure (13′), Mamadou Tall (og 55′), Didier Drogba (70′)

SUNDAY, JUNE 21st
Guinea 2 – 1 Malawi
GUI: Pascal Feindouno (24′, 42′)
MWI: Chiukepo Msowoya (89′)

This edition of the World Cup Buzz Top 5 will breakdown the Top 5 Things Observed From The June World Cup Qualifying Matches. Let’s begin with CONCACAF’s best team.

COSTA RICA IS THE BEST IN CONCACAF

Los Ticos have established themselves as the best team in CONCACAF after their impressive displays against the United States and Trinidad & Tobago. Costa Rica has lost only once in this cycle of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. In 13 WCQ matches, Los Ticos have lost once a 2-0 loss to Mexico at Estadio Azteca and drawn once a 2-2 result on the road in Grenada in a 2nd round 1st leg match. Rodrigo Kenton has done a masterful job steering Costa Rica to a highly likely spot in South Africa 2010. Los Ticos are a perfect 7-0-0 at the Estadio Saprissa in San Jose. Saprissa is now the most intimidating home field advantage in CONCACAF.

GABON IS FOR REAL

The West African nation through which the Equator runs through has become the big story in African World Cup Qualifying. The Azingo Nationale is coached by former French international Alain Giresse whose experience as part of “The Magic Square” of France’s national teams in the 80s has been essential in Gabon’s run to the top of Group A. In 8 matches of African WC Qualifying, Gabon has only lost twice and are currently riding a 5 game winning streak. Gabon have been riding the talents of all-time goal scorer Hull City striker Daniel Cousin, leading scorer in qualifying Ankaraspor striker Roguy Méyé and the Aubameyang brothers: Catilina, Pierre-Emerick, and Willy. All 3 were products of AC Milan’s scouting system with Pierre-Emerick & Willy still property of Il Rossoneri.

CONMEBOL’S PLAYOFF SPOT DUEL
VS.
After these past two rounds of CONMEBOL WC qualifying, it looks like the last playoff spot will come down to Ecuador versus Uruguay. Ecuador earned the max of 6 points over the past two rounds and it vaulted them into 5th place. Uruguay only got 1 point over the last two matches and fell 2 points behind Ecuador to 6th place. Colombia and Venezuela are tied for 7th place, 1 point behind Uruguay but Colombia does not score enough goals and Venezuela gives up too many goals to hold up. Ecuador seems to be regaining the form that has seen them qualify for the previous two World Cups and Uruguay has an explosive offense that can score goals quickly and in bunches. Ecuador hosts Uruguay in the next to last round of qualifying in a match that could determine who will face the CONCACAF 4th place team in a playoff.

SHOWDOWN IN ASIA
VS.
3 of the 4 automatic spots for South Africa 2010 from Asia have already been finalized. Only 1 spot remains and thankfully the schedule makers have set up massive drama on the final day of matches. In Group 2, 3rd place Saudi Arabia hosts 2nd place Korea DPR with the winner of the match going to South Africa. Korea DPR aka North Korea is looking to qualify for the 1st time since 1966 while Saudi Arabia goes for its 5th straight appearance. The loser could even lose out on the playoff spot if Iran defeats already qualified South Korea in their final WC Qualifying match. WHEW! Asia offering up some MASSIVE drama.

TRADITIONAL POWERS IN TROUBLE

3 traditional powers of their continents have their fans and citizens praying for some intervention to secure a place in South Africa 2010. Mexico sits in 4th place in CONCACAF and their form has been spotty at best. El Tri is not the lock to qualify from CONCACAF like the footballing world is used to. The Mexicans will have to show a lot more heart than in previous qualifying runs in order to get to The Great Tournament.

Maradona’s appointment as Argentina’s head coach was supposed to minimize the stress in qualifying from CONMEBOL but his tactical shortcomings are being exposed. Los Albicelestes haven’t been able to string wins together and have been embarrassed on the road allowing 10 goals in their last 4 road matches notching only 1 point in that stretch. They sit in the last automatic spot just 2 points ahead 5th place Ecuador.

Portugal’s troubles in Group 1 of European qualifying were eased a bit when they barely scraped by Albania 2-1 on the road. Bruno Alves’ 2nd half injury time goal kept Portugal breathing but the fact that they had to get a late goal to beat Albania shows that Portugal is overrated. They sit in 3rd place a full 4 points behind 2nd place Hungary with each having 4 matches remaining. Of the 3 mentioned continental powers, Portugal is in the greatest jeopardy of missing South Africa 2010.

Alright there it is the World Cup Buzz Top 5 for the June World Cup qualifiers. Post a comment and let us know what you think.