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No other sporting event can ever compare to the magnitude of the world cup. The world cup is soccer’s most important tournament and every four years a country has the privilege to host this spectacular event. This year, South Africa is playing host to the 19th world cup this upcoming June. It’s the first time an African country is hosting the event and it’s quite a big deal. Africa has been torn by civil unrest for many years, and has been a war torn region for centuries, and for almost 20 years, South Africa had struggled with apartheid. Despite the troubled times, the world cup is proof that soccer and sports alike is a powerful tool that unites us all regardless of one’s background.
It has become a matter of days, not years, till the inauguration game kick off on June 11 in Johannesburg, and it seems like world cup fever has been spreading fast. For their June issue, Vanity Fair captures soccer’s biggest stars on the cover. And Louis Vuitton is on board with FIFA in designing the official carrying case for the solid 18-carat gold World Cup trophy. And talks of president Barack Obama going to South Africa is yet to be confirmed. With the tournament, less than a month away there’s a sense of excitement that cannot wait.
Soccer in America
Soccer as a sport in The United States, does not dominate. There are many reasons why soccer is not popular, but one main reason: people aren’t just interested. There have been numerous attempts to familiarize people with soccer, such as the US hosting the 1994 World Cup and the most recent: bringing David Beckham to the states, but besides that, not much has changed. Then again, how can soccer compete with the likes of baseball, basketball, and football? Outside of the United States though, soccer is a big. For example, the World Cup is the most watched sporting event in the world.
Approximately, 260 million people tuned in to watch France and Italy battle it out in the final match of the 2006 World Cup. The fact that soccer is not popular in America, may make it seem as if the US national team is not so great, but over the years, they have definitely improved. In last year’s Confederations Cup, the US pulled one of their biggest victories of all time. They beat FIFA’s No. 1 ranked team, Spain, 2-0 in the semifinals. This game snapped Spain’s 35 match winning streak. For what the US has accomplished in a short period of time, it has made them possible contenders in winning the world cup. Will just have to see what this year’s tournament brings.
The Favorites
Going into any World Cup, there has to be a favorite. Brazil is and always will be a favorite, but this year that title seems to steer towards the Spanish squad. As the 2008 Euro champions, Spain is the team to beat. This squad lacks nothing in talent. With the likes of Xavi, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta, Fernando Torres, Iker Casillas, and many more Spain is a team full of all-star players. Going into the world cup as the favorites, also brings a lot of added pressure, but pressure is good sometimes. Then again, you do have the weight of an entire country on your shoulders. Now that’s a lot of pressure.
Rivalries to look for
Any sporting event would not be complete without its rivalries and the world cup is no stranger to them. This is the tournament where everything is put on the line. Rivalries are what make the games exciting. Without them, there would be no point in watching. Most of the world cup rivalries are decades long and most of them are based by region. Below is a list of the top rivalries to look for in the world cup. That is, if they do compete against each other.
England-Germany
Argentina-Brazil
France-Italy
Argentina-England
Netherlands-Germany
Mexico-USA
Spain-Portugal
Players to Watch
Part of watching the world cup, is getting to see which players will be participating in them. With this year’s upcoming event, there are a couple of names that stand out. These are players that have done exceptionally well, not only with their respected club teams, but with their national teams as well. These names will definitely leave a lasting impression for the record books.
Lionel Messi
Age: 22
National Team: Argentina
Position: Forward
Appearances: 41
Goals: 13
Club Team: FC Barcelona
Kaká:
Age: 27
National Team: Brazil
Position: Midfielder
Appearances: 73
Goals: 26
Club Team: Real Madrid
Samuel Eto’o
Age: 28
National Team: Cameroon
Position: Forward
Appearances: 94
Goals: 44
Club Team: Inter Milan
Xavi
Age: 30
National Team: Spain
Position: Midfielder
Appearances: 83
Goals: 8
Club Team: Barcelona
Wayne Rooney
Age: 24
National Team: England
Position: Forward
Appearances: 57
Goals: 25
Club Team: Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 25
National Team: Portugal
Position: Midfielder
Appearances: 68
Goals: 22
Club Team: Real Madrid
Gianluigi Buffon
Age: 32
National Team: Italy
Position: Goalie
Appearances: 100
Club Team: Juventus
Wesley Sneijder
Age: 25
National Team: Netherlands
Position: Midfielder
Appearances: 56
Goals: 12
Club Team: Inter Milan
Didier Drogba:
Age: 31
National Team: Ivory Coast
Position: Forward
Appearances: 65
Goals: 43
Club Team: Chelsea
Fernando Torres
Age: 25
National Team: Spain
Position: Forward
World Cup Appearances: 71
Goals: 23
Club: Liverpool
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