Features, Ian John, World Cup 2010 POSTS

Rating the Teams… The Second 16

Published by Ian John on June 16, 2010

Well, al 32 teams have now played their first game and since we’ve ranked the first 16 teams in action, it seems only right and proper to rate the second 16 teams based on their performances in the first game… Let’s be kind and just say that so far, the World Cup has hardly lived up to expectation in terms of quality, hence the following rankings…

1. CHILE : Shock horror! No Spain! No Brazil! No Holland! No! Because by and large they were all pretty dismal in their games. Marcelo Bielsa’s side played with spirit, passion and pace. They created chance after chance against Honduras and with Alexis Sanchez (pictured) in dangerous form, looked likely to score far more goals than the one they managed. A great start for Chile.

2. HOLLAND : The Dutch were clinical rather than spectacular in their game against the Danes, but given that they were up against decent European opposition and recovered well after a poor first half to get the win, then I think Holland deserve their second place ranking. However there is still plenty of room for improvement.

3. SWITZERLAND : Given the somewhat dubious pleasure of facing the Spanish in their first game, the Swiss started the game brightly and through a combination of hard work and intelligent tactics from wily manager Ottmar Hitzfeld managed to subdue Spain in the first half and then mug them brilliantly in the second. A fantastic performance and result.

4. BRAZIL : Well the second favourites started against the easiest team in the competition and made a right meal of it. Maicon’s mishit cross giving them a lead before their class showed with Elano’s second. However defensively they looked wobbly and they created little from midfield, with Robinho the only bright spark in attack. A disappointing start but, as usual, three points in the bag.

5. JAPAN : I have to admit, having seen Japan twice in recent times, once in a friendly with England and once with Cameroon, I’ve been struck at how well organised this team is. They defeated a disappointing Cameroon with many critics stating it was Cameroon at fault. I disagreed, I thought Japan were quick on the counter and very well organised. They fully deserved the win.

6. NEW ZEALAND : What a performance by the All White’s. Yes they are technically limited and don’t have the strongest squad but they are set up to defend well and play to their strengths and they were fully deserving of their last minute draw against Slovakia. Great to see the Kiwi’s get their first point in a World Cup finals and it was well deserved on the back of a fine team performance.

7. SPAIN : They may have lost to Switzerland but they showed enough to suggest that this is just a minor blip. The defence of the Swiss goal was shambolic and no doubt people will wonder if the old Spanish problems of under-achieving have returned, but I still strongly fancy them to reach the knockout stages and perhaps even top the group.

8. PARAGUAY : Given Chile’s performance, it is perhaps easy to understand why Argentina, out of form, were struggling in fourth place in the South American qualifiers over the past couple of years. Paraguay were well organised, strong and decent against Italy. They’ve avoided defeat against the strongest team in their group and may well have a great chance of making the final 16 on this evidence.

9. NORTH KOREA : They may well have lost to Brazil, but you cannot help have been impressed by the endearing efforts of the North Korean players. Their young centre forward Jong Tae-Se was in tears before game, but he almost embarassed the experienced Brazilian defence at times. A fantastic performance and they fully deserved their goal against the No 1 rated team in the world.

10. IVORY COAST : Ivory Coast looked much more solid in their game with Portugal than they had during the African Cup of Nations earlier this year. Even minus Drogba, the lively Gervinho gave Portugal a few problems. Had Drogba been fully fit and in form, there is every chance they’d have beaten Portugal, but with Brazil up next, they face a real task to reach the second phase.

11. PORTUGAL : One Ronaldo rasping drive apart, Portugal were a little disappointing in their game with the Ivory Coast. It wasn’t an easy game but it was evident that most of the Portuguese team were looking solely to Ronaldo to win the game. He’s good, but not that good. Much more is needed from the likes of Liedson, Simao and co if they are to make the second stage.

12. DENMARK : Morten Olsen’s men were not really expected to take anything from their game with the Dutch, but I was more than a little disappointed with the Danish efforts against the Dutch. They never really put a suspect Dutch defence on the back foot and self-styled World’s greatest centre forward Nicklas Bendtner only gave evidence that he is anything but.

13. SLOVAKIA : Slovakia were supposedly handed the easiest game of the second 16 teams playing New Zealand, but Martin Skrtel and co looked desperately below average against a spirited but limited New Zealand. Hamsik did little and the lack of marking for the late New Zealand equaliser will be worrying against the much sterner tests that face Slovakia in their next two games.

14. ITALY : Are we surprised that the Italians started the finals so poorly? Probably not. They were abysmal against Paraguay and immediately any team drawn in the second half felt a little better. However be warned, Italy will only keep improving and they will progress into the second phase when they will be a real danger to any team.

15. CAMEROON : I was stunned at how poorly the Indomitable Lions played against a decidedly average Japan side. Lacking any real passion, ambition or indeed intelligence enough to open up a well organised but ultimately limited Japanese defence, one pot shot from distance apart, Cameroon were desperately disappointing and must do better.

16. HONDURAS : I thought the Honduras side would be one of the surprise teams of the world cup. They have some excellent individuals but unfortunately, they ran headlong into an in form Chile team on their opening game and very much looked second best. They need Suazo back in the team as soon as possible or their World Cup will surely be over before they have even got started.

Image Courtesy of ***Alexis Sanchez Flickr*** on Flickr.com

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