Beckhams Right Foot (Who will win the World Cup 2002?)

Member Name: DavidJWest

Product:	Who will win the World Cup 2002?
Date:	24/04/02 (72 review reads)
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Advantages: Football

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The World Cup, that holy grail of football is looming large and the English Talisman, David Beckham is injured! Regardless of whether or not Mr Beckham is fit for the finals I don't see England getting to the latter stages, sorry!

It's a hard one to predict this time around as traditionally the finals are either in Europe or the Americas with every tournament being won by a nation from the host continent. Except for once when the Brazilians won in Sweden during the 1950's.

Obviously I don't fancy any of the Asian teams chances, their leagues are not yet developed enough to allow them a good chance at such a major trophy. Few Asians are playing in the established leagues either, at the moment. This tournament may well change that, hopefully a new level of interest will be ignited in the host nations of South Korea and Japan at least so they can develop their games to a new level. I expect South Korea and Japan to do well, surprising a few of their opponents and maybe scraping through their groups.

In another ten to twenty years we may see Asian sides getting to the latter stages, it's similar to the African situation. Twenty years ago these countries were simply there to make up the numbers but nowadays the likes of Nigeria can be seen as genuine contenders, maybe not to lift the trophy but certainly potential quarter finalists.

So who will win and who will do well? My favourites are Argentina, a side packed with top class, world class players and in my opnion well capable of dealing with the other sides out there. They have good attacking players but also a strong defensive mentallity, they should score goals and be very hard to score against. They don't particularly rely on one or two players either so injury to one key player will not wipe out their chances.

Close behind the Argentinians I see France, current holders of the World Cup their main weakness could be temprement, away from hom
e I am not convinced they travel well enough to win this time around.

England may get to the semi-finals, but I don't think we have enough truly world class players at the moment. Undoubtedly we will raise our game for the top sides and give them a match but we will also lower our game against perceived weaker teams and probably struggle against them. As Sven Urine Eriksson has said the best chance for Englans will be at the next World Cup when our youngsters have more experience under their belts. Pity we don't enter the Olympic Games football tournament as we would do well in that I believe.

I would never rule out Italy and Brazil. These teams are the only others who I think could win the tournament.

Pity Holland didn't make the finals, they always seem to bring an extra something to the proceedings. Don't rule out Germany either, they wont win but will surprise a few people I suspect.

So here we go -

Winners - Argentina
Runners Up - France
3rd Place - Brazil
4th - England (Optomist me)

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