World Cup Preview 2

This is the second of the four-part special on this year's World Cup. For today, we will be talking about why will the following countries not win the World Cup? Of course, this is just a prediction so please do not take offence if the team you support is listed here

Italy

First of all, the defending champions. The country where Monica Bellucci, Ferrari and Mandarina Duck come from. It is evident that most of the current national team players are past their prime while the younger generation have yet to reach their peak

There will be no Francesco Totti or Alessandro del Piero in this year's competition. Young guns like Giuseppe Rossi and Giorgio Chiellini are now the stars. However, they are still a long way from being world-class

The familiar names are all names which are associated to an age above thirty. Italy have a main problem which is hindering them for a long time. They do not have flair players who can play beautifully on the wings. Gianluca Zambrotta and Mauro Camoranesi are too old and erm, I can't think of any other Italian wing players

Italy's style of play is too predictable. Gennaro Gattuso wins the ball, Andrea Pirlo makes the first pass from deep, Daniele de Rossi gets forward to support the strikers. Stop the central midfield and Italy is immobilized

Even a commoner can point out their weakness, what about the other 31 coaches at the World Cup?

Germany

Knocked out of the semi-finals by Italy in their own country four years ago. The country where Volkswagen, Adolf Hitler and a whole lot of beer brands originated from

Germany have the same problem as Italy, they lack flair players. I don't consider Michael Ballack as one. The closest whom I can think of is Phillip Lahm who unexpectedly scored the first goal in the 2006 competition

Miroslav Klose is no Gerd Muller. The current bunch of goalkeepers are still miles away from Oliver Khan standard. Bernd Schneider has retired, Torsten Frings is not included in the squad. How can Germany even survive the group stages?

Time to ask Franz Beckenbauer, Rudi Voller and Jurgen Klinsmann to return to their playing days, provided if they still have the energy

Netherlands

Unlike their Italian and German counterparts, Netherlands boast a variety of players with different styles. Their defenders can attack, their midfielders can play anywhere and their strikers run around chasing for the ball like defensive players (namely Dirk Kuyt)

The current squad has a balance of creative and holding players. There are at least two good players who can play in one position. Most of the players are at their peak including those over 30

However, the Dutch are not that reliable all the time, in terms of betting your money on them. Remember how Russia had them crashing out of Euro 2008? Their renowned Total Football playing style was jeered by many then

Netherlands are too perfect. Too perfect that having a single little flaw in them will affect them as a whole. It is like Bae Yong Joon. He is so popular and idolized but if he has a pimple on his face, people will start to think twice until the pimple is gone

What if Rafael van der Vaart gets a red card? What if Arjen Robben was injured? What if the defenders attacked too much and exposed the penalty area? Holland will be doomed. They will be, anyway

Argentina

Argentina? Messi lor. Messi? Barcelona lor. Barcelona? All the barca players lor. Messi? Still Barca lah

Argentina is forever equivalent to Lionel Messi but the World Footballer of the Year is only one of the eleven players wearing the blue-white striped jersey

If Argentina were to rely solely on Messi's magic, Diego Maradona can get ready to be thrown with tomatoes when he returns home. Sadly, that seems to be the plan. Javier Mascherano is only there to wear the captain's armband, Carlos Tevez is forever number two, Diego Milito seems to be in fine form lately but it is still too early to tell. Sergio Aguero might be Maradona's son-in-law but Messi is still first choice as long as he is available

Messi is so crucial to the team that Argentina will need to play 4-3-3 in every game if they have to accommodate Messi's playing style. Messi tends to cut in from the right wing with his preferred left foot. As long as the opposing team have a right-footed left back and a holding midfielder dedicated to marking him, Argentina would be paralysed

It is also bizarre that 35 year old Juan Veron gets a call-up when there are so many other younger and better players. The person whose name starts with "M" will decide Argentina's fate and he is not Messi. He was the one who scored a goal with his hand against England

Honduras

If you can name me three Honduras players, then I can consider taking them out of this list. Where the hell is Honduras anyway? Oh, it is in North America. Where? Heck care, they confirm won't get into the second round

New Zealand

This is a football competition, not a rugby one. If it is a rugby competition, New Zealand would have been one of the hot favourites. Unless FIFA allows animals like kangaroos to represent the country, New Zealand can start booking tickets for a flight back home after the group stages

Next week's topic...ok I shall keep it a secret first