Features, Ian John, World Cup 2010 POSTS

Rating The Teams : The First 16…

Published by Ian John on June 14, 2010

So, we reach Monday and half the teams in the World Cup have now played their first game. Let’s go through the 16 teams who have played and rank them in order, from those who have most impressed, to those who have singularly failed to do so…

1. GERMANY – Clinical, efficient and easily the best team we have seen in action in the opening three days of World Cup competition. So much for my prediction of the German’s struggling, they made light work of Australia and are, so far, the class team we’ve seen at the finals in the opening eight games.

2. GHANA – Considering they were up against a supposedly talented Serbia team (another one of my class predictions), I thought Ghana were outstanding for long periods of that game, in particular Prince Tagoe and Asamoah Gyan. If England get through, it looks like being a very tough second round game, no matter who they face.

3. SOUTH KOREA – We always knew that the South Korean side would have industry, energy and efficiency. However they have now added to their game a real tempo and a style of play that caused Greece untold problems. A hugely impressive start and they could nick the second qualification spot in Group B if they can perform like that against Nigeria.

4. ARGENTINA – Am I being dense here? Messi was decent against Nigeria. Flashes of brilliance once or twice, but considering what we’ve witnessed for Barcelona this season, I’d still have given him a 7/10. Argentina were by far the better team, but struggled to put a pedestrian Nigeria away and it almost cost them at times. Still a win is a good start for Diego’s men and they will only improve.

5. ENGLAND – Yes there’s plenty to improve on, but I didn’t feel England were quite as bad as many people are making out. With better finishing and decent goalkeeping, England would have won that game comfortably. Capello’s mistake wasn’t selecting Green, but Milner when he was clearly still under the weather. Green’s mistake was unfortunate but not fatal. More worrying was the inability to take our chances. That has to improve.

6. SOUTH AFRICA – For the first half, they looked very much like a rabbit caught in the headlights, as if the enormity of being hosts had only just dawned on them. However when they had the chances against Mexico, they looked a very good passing side. I am still not sure they’ll make it through the group stages, but it was a decent start and a hell of a goal to start the competition off.

7. MEXICO – Some of their passing play was fantastic and they really gave South Africa a football lesson at times in the first half, but like England, failed to take their chances. The result, like England, was a draw when perhaps they should have won the game. That said, I still think they have a decent chance of qualifying from Group A.

8. UNITED STATES – They didn’t create much against England, but they weren’t expected to. Defensively however they looked strong and well organised and the midfield worked hard. There needs to be more from their more creative players, like Donovan and Altidore however, if they are to make significant progress into the latter stages.

9. NIGERIA – They lost to Argentina but I didn’t think they lost any face. They were strong, well organised and caused the Argentineans a few problems. However a lack of goals still seems to be a real problem and with South Korea looking very impressive, it could be a tough task for Nigeria to reach the knockout phase now.

10. SLOVENIA – Let’s be honest, Algeria were not that good and Slovenia were little better. That Robert Koren’s tamely hit shot was waved at by the goalkeeper only gifted Slovenia a victory they probably didn’t deserve. England should beat them and to be honest, so should America, but that three points at the start will make them dangerous in both games.

11. URUGUAY – I did like Oscar Tabarez approach to the game with France, but to be honest Uruguay looked like a team devoid of midfield. Defensively they were ok, Godin making up for Lugano’s errors, and in attack Forlan looked busy but they are going to need better performances from Lugano, Suarez and at least pretend to have a midfield if they are to make it through their opening group.

12. FRANCE – I thought France started pretty well, but as the game wore on, I was more and more baffled by their approach. Domenech seems to have the attitude of trying to upset as many French people as possible at these finals. As the game wore on, even as Uruguay had 10 men, the French looked less and less likely to score. Very disappointing. No wonder Zidane is now cheering on Algeria…

13. SERBIA – If you look under biggest disappointments of the 1st round, then Serbia just edge it from France. A desperately disappointing performance from a very talented group of individuals, compounded by the gifting of a ridiculous but deserved penalty. So many good players and yet they played woefully. A terrible start and it will be hard for them to recover especially in Germany’s group.

14. AUSTRALIA – Yes they got the spanking of the competition so far, but I don’t think the Aussies were the worst team. I think Germany were clinical and the Aussies made a few mistakes, so did the referee sending off Cahill just as the Aussies were coming into the game in the 2nd half. They may have been beaten 4-0 by a very strong team, but this is an Aussie team a lot better than that scoreline suggests.

15. ALGERIA – If Green’s mistake was dreadful, then the Algerian keepers was equally as poor. However that paled into insignificance compared to the sub Ghezzal who was booked, headed tamely over and then sent off in the space of fifteen minutes. England the USA should not have any problems if the Algerians continue to play as devoid of passion and spirit as this. Surely they can only get better?

16. GREECE – An utter waste of space from the first moment to the last. They started the game expecting to be beaten and half an hour in, they were. Too many players totally ineffective and Rehnhagel seems to have lost the plot. Their Euro 2004 win a long memory, this was an abysmal performance and major changes need to be made for the next game to avoid a humiliation against Argentina.

So do you agree or disagree with my view of the first 16 teams to play?

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