Today’s match-up between Germany and Argentina isn’t simply a World Cup soccer match. It’s also part of the Diego Maradona “show,” where we get a chance to watch this magnetic character to see what he’ll do next either on or off the field.

Watching Argentina, I get a sense that both the players and coaching staff are incredibly proud of their country and are on a mission that is far greater than winning for their club. They seem like very patriotic and focused individuals who are all working to achieve the same goal, victory.

The same can be said of Germany, who always looked so focused and know exactly what they need to do to win a game.

The challenge is that only one team will win today and only one will lose in this game. Which one it will be is a tough call to make.

Before, during and after today’s game between Argentina and Germany, feel free to share your opinions and observations in the comments section below with soccer fans from around the World Cup. Enjoy the game. Let’s hope it’s a classic.

If you live in the South Florida area, I’ll be watching the game at Wowies Sports Grill today in Boca Raton (7036 W. Palmetto Park Road). During the game today, we’ll be giving away one Jabulani ball courtesy of Adidas. I look forward to seeing you there if you can make it.

So they almost didn’t make it, but in the end won the last two games to make sure they would be part of the World Cup party. It all came down to the final match to get through though. They had to win in Montevideo for the first time in 33 years to make sure they finished 4th in the South American group. Argentina scrambling to finish 4th? Behind those giants of South American football Chile and Paraguay.

Maradona used 102 different players in his first 14 months and the players who didn’t make the squad are probably the biggest surprises of any of the finalised 23 man squads in the competition. No Cambiasso and Zanetti, both imperious for Internazionale this season. No Coloccini or Milito in central defence and no place for Real Madrid’s midfield tyro Gago. Surely 5 excellent players, but deemed surplus to requirements for Maradona in South Africa.

So, the manager cuts 5 players which most people would imagine should be in the Argentinian squad and a relationship with Juan Roman Riquelme that is non-existent at best. A qualifying campaign that almost ended in disaster, a tactical mess that sees the manager play 4 centre backs in defence and an inability to get Lionel Messi to replicate his domestic form. So why do they worry me so. I’ve got this nagging feeling that everything is going to click in to place come June 11th.

All common sense points to Argentina continuing the widely chaotic form into the World Cup. I doubt Maradona will change from his rigid 4-4-2 formation to let Messi play as he is used to in Barcelona’s 4-3-3 style, but then again, should Maradona build Argentina around Messi, or alternatively should the Worlds best player be able to adapt to a change in style?

So why do I feel that they could be genuine challengers? What is it that troubles me so? I thought they’d go all the way in 2006, but they fell apart against Germany and limped out of the competition. I’ll be honest, I have a secret admiration for Argentina, I do. I know, as an Englishman, it should be part of my patriotic make up that I should despise them, but I can’t. Maradona, handball aside, is still one of my favourite players ever. I boo Brazil and cheer on one of my countries fiercest footballing rivals.If England don’t win it, I want Argentina to do so. No really.

Yet even through rose tinted spectacles, I still think they were very,very fortunate to get here. Any team who loses a qualifying game 6-1 away from home, is flying by the seat of their pants in regards to being a challenger for the title. Tactically, it doesn’t work, some of the players who haven’t been chosen make me scratch my head and the worlds best player struggles in the system, but still they nag away at me.

They’re in a group that could hold a few surprises, with the effective if dull Greeks, the unfancied Nigerians and the passionate South Koreans. It is a group that could cause them problems, but still I think they’ll have too much to not get through. It’s the one group that I’ll be keeping a keen eye on, purely to see if Argentina can finally make this tactical disaster a beautiful spectacle.

Please leave me your comments and you can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/paulbestall

Most of the heavy favourites have already qualified for the World Cup due next summer in South Africa. Previous World Cup winners such as Brazil, Germany, England, Argentina and Italy (also current WC Winners) all booked their spot in South Africa following a long and arduous road. Some teams such as Argentina have struggled while others such as England have cruised, yet the World Cup stage is a different playing field and previous results will not count. The only two teams with an outside chance that have yet to qualify are France and Portugal while the Spaniards have impressed in their group following their 2008 triumph in Europe.

Spain cannot be overlooked due to its rich talent, in particular the likes of David Villa, Xavi Herndandez and Fernando Torres among others. Other than Spain, the English national team under Italian Coach Fabio Capello had an impressive tally of points after convincingly navigating the qualifying group stage. Capello can count on the likes of Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard to carry England all the way into the final stages.

The Brazilians and the Germans as well as the Italians often perform their best when it matters most. Brazil has a plethora of talent beginning with current Real Madrid star Kaka and stretching to right-back Maicon who plays for Inter Milan. The Italians are current World Cup holders so there will be additional pressure on the Azzurri to perform following  a relatively uninspiring qualifying campaign. It will be wrong to undermine Italy’s chances when considering that Gianluigi Buffon is recapturing his best form which had him labeled as the best custodian in the world while Daniele De Rossi remains a considerable driving force in the midfield engine room.

While Argentina had a horrendous sequence of results before securing qualification  in the very last match, it is not wise to exclude the Argentines from the list of potential winners though Diego Maradona as a coach has shown over and again that he not only lacks the know-how but also is clueless when it comes to strategies, team selection and tactics. After all, Argentina still has Lionel Messi though he continues to underperform when compared to his exploits with Barcelona.

Will one of the traditional powers (i.e. Brazil, Germany or Italy) or will an emerging nation (Spain and England) or a new rising team (Ivory Coast) triumph in South Africa? For the record no European team has ever won outside Europe and the trend could very well continue if Brazil performs up to expectations or perhaps a surprising African package rises to the occasions just as the South Koreans did in Asia 2002 when they made it to the semi-finals.

How about the message sent by the people of Sevilla during the Spain-England friendly.  Thanks to Reuters for this great photo, the message says, “In Sevilla, we aren’t racists, we are artists.”  So now Ladies & Gentlemen, the artistry continues with another World Cup Buzz Top 5 for you.  After this past week of international friendlies and World Cup qualifiers you know we had to bring Edition #4 of the  Top 5.  Here they are the Top 5 Things Learned From This Last FIFA Date:

#1: Australia Is The New Power In Asia

The Socceroos have been flexing their muscle from Down Under since their move to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.  Adelaide United made the ’08 Asian Champions League final and now the national team is playing the best ball in Asia.  They have taken 7 of a possible 9 points on the road so far in WCQ while going undefeated atop Group 1.  Bad news for their opponents, 3 of their next 4 WCQ matches are in Australia.  Most of their national team players work in Europe with England’s Premier League employing the majority of them.  The Socceroos are becoming the dominant nation in Asia.

#2: South America is BALLIN!

South American national teams stood out during this last FIFA Date.  Only 1 CONMEBOL side lost, Peru. They lost to the best team in South America right now, Paraguay.  Chile beat South Africa 2-0, Colombia beat Haiti 2-0, Venezuela took down Guatemala 2-1, and Uruguay beat Libya in a thriller 3-2.  The big displays of strength came from The CONMEBOL Powers: Brazil & Argentina.  Brazil breezed past Italy 2-0 on a neutral site and Argentina cruised by France on the road 2-0.  CONMEBOL sides played against nations from CONCACAF, Europe, and Africa and were undefeated. The only South American team to lose, lost to another South American side.  Further affirmation that South America is the cradle of talent and the toughest region in World Cup Qualifying.

#3: The Soca Warriors Blew It

Trinidad & Tobago carries the banner of Caribbean football into the final stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and they blew a huge opportunity to start the hexagonal stage on top of the standings.  The Soca Warriors were up 2-0 on the road vs. El Salvador when they gave up 2 goals in the last 10 minutes to earn one point instead of the desired 3 points.  Vista Hermosa midfielder Osael Romero was the hero for Los Cuscatlecos and snatched a point from the jaws of defeat.  The Soca Warriors blew a golden opportunity to take a 3 points on the road.  3 points on the road in World Cup Qualifying is massive, thankfully it was only the 1st match of the hexagonal.

#4: Maradona May Know What He’s Doing

It might be too early to tell but “El Pibe De Oro” is turning Argentina’s form around to the positive side.  He’s been in charge for 2 friendlies and both have been wins:  1-0 versus Scotland and 2-0 versus France.  The true test of his managerial ability will come next month during CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying but Los Albicelestes have played with more life and passion.  The inclusion of Newcastle midfielder Jonas Gutierrez in the starting XI has been important in their improved play.  Its too early to say he is a great coach but so far its seems like he knows what he’s doing.

#5: Dunga Is Still On The Hot Seat

Let’s keep it real, the job security in being the coach of the Brazilian National Team is always fragile.  Despite Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Italy, Dunga seat has gotten hotter.  Why?  Thanks to Chelsea.  As it has been well publicized, Chelsea just fired Luiz Felipe Scolari after a disappointing few months at the London club.  His free agent status puts more pressure on Dunga because the coach of Brazil’s last World Cup triumph is available.  For Dunga’s sake, Scolari finds a job real soon.  If Brazil’s form dips during World Cup qualifying, Dunga’s seat is going to be boiling and the call for Scolari will be loud and the CBF (Confederação Brasileira de Futebol) might hear it and make the change.

Its another Top 5 for you here on World Cup Buzz. Don’t forget to check out our sister sites, to get the best opinions and insight on “The Beautiful Game.”