Neymar reels away after scoring against Spain in the 2013 Confederations Cup. Photo: sambafoot.com
With 10 places still to be decided and almost nine months still to go before the 2014 World Cup kicks off in Rio, it may seem too early to start thinking of potential winners, as the beautiful game heads to arguably its rightful home.
Certainly, you would be hard pushed to find one amongst the 73,500 fanatic and passionate Brazil fans inside the Maracana who would tell you otherwise. Never mind the debates about the rights and wrongs of hosting the World Cup – make no mistake, in Brazil, already, the fever pitch is paramount.
What better reason then to talk about the chances of Brazil’s team to add to their world record World Cup haul? On paper, they look a decent side, with a defence marshalled by Tiago Silva and flanked by Dani Alves and Marcelo, two of the best wingbacks in world football.
Throw in the attacking flair of Neymar, and it would be a dangerous bet to write them off, especially when you consider their emphatic 3-0 victory over hot-favourites Spain in the final of the Confederations Cup.
However, this victory has merely served to paper over the many deficiencies in their team that were masked by a fanatic home support against travel-weary and seemingly demotivated opponents. They still seem unsure of a central striker, with Fred a good goal-scorer but contributing nothing in general play, whilst Hulk on the right flatters to deceive, cutting inside time after time before blazing wastefully over the bar.
As a defensive unit too they appear yet to live up to their potential – they may possess two of the best centre-backs in the world in Dante and Tiago Silva, but they often left isolated by the marauding runs of Dani Alves and Marcelo and inadequate protection in front by Hulk and Neymar. As such, many cracks remain in the host’s armour, arguably too much for them to be seen as the front runners for their home event.
Elsewhere, Spain as always look the team to beat. They possess a strength in depth unparalleled by their rivals, while their first eleven is so strong that only two or three of the players from the other leading contenders would get into their team.
It is very hard to find any weaknesses in their eleven, but a chink can be found in the shape of right back Alvaro Arbeloa, surely one of the worst players to consistently play for Real Madrid and Spain simultaneously. Furthermore, the central striker position is another minor area of weakness, though they still possess players the envy of most, with Fernando Torres, David Villa, Roberto Soldado, Alvaro Negredo and Michu all in contention for an attacking birth.
One country who doesn’t have to worry about the central striker position is Argentina, who possess an embarrassment of riches in the shape of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria. Throw in Javier Pastore and Eric Lamela playing in behind and you have a potent attacking mix.
The worry, as one might expect, is in defence. Whilst in theory defenders like Pablo Zabaleta and Fabricio Colloccini, with Javier Mascherano to protect them, should be more than capable of holding their own, the problem is that all their front players are constantly racing forward.
Marco Reus, part of the young German generation of attacking flair. Photo: 1000goals.com
This is a fact that makes Coach Alejandro Sabella’s decision not to select Tevez for recent matches somewhat mystifying, given that he offers not only a world class strike-threat, but also immense defensive work rate. However, Argentina possess more than enough attacking riches to mask their defensive deficiencies, with quality in the final third ultimately what counts in international football.
Managers have a fraction of the time to drill their teams into watertight defensive operations as they do in club football, meaning Argentina arguably have enough to be established as second favourites.
The rest of the contenders almost all come from Europe, with Germany and Belgium the frontrunners. Germany possess no small amount of flair with the likes of Mario Gotze and Mesut Ozil, though their typical efficiency may be hampered by their centre backs, who seem to lack pace.
Furthermore, in the central-striker position they do not seem to have a contender, with Mario Gomez criminally overrated thanks to his ability to score five yard tap-ins whilst, like Fred for Brazil, contributing nothing in open play. He may well be his team’s principal Achilles’ heel, especially given that he seems to need a large number of chances to score one goal.
Germany do, however, have the option of playing a ‘false nine’ up front, in the form of Marco Reus or Thomas Muller. With Spain winning Euro 2012 with Cesc Fabregas in this position, a more fluid approach could bring success against the South American giants. England may go in with more hope than expectation, but the thrill, as ever, will be in seeing them try and this fan intends to watch every minute of it.
Better off in, better off out… the debate is endless, but public knowledge about this international organisation is not. Just what is the European Union?
the European Union Flag Image credits: R/DV/RS
What we call today the European Union has existed in various forms since its creation. Currently, this political and economic partnership exists between twenty-eight countries which are, unsurprisingly, situated in Europe.
History
It all began after the Second World War, the idea being that countries which trade would be less likely to go to war with each other. By 1958, the European Economic Community (EEC) was established out of the 1951 European Coal and Steel Community between six initial countries – Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Italy and the Netherlands –freeing up the borders between them to allow better trade links.
We, the United Kingdom (in case you were not so sure), have always been a bunch of sceptics, refusing to make the “Inner Six” a “Seven” in the beginning, and then later joining in 1973 (with a bit of persuasion from the USA and the Suez Crisis). Shockingly, or perhaps not at all, our [poor] relationship with the French meant it would take three attempts at membership and Charles de Gaulle’s departure from the French presidency for them, fearing too much US involvement, to finally stop saying non and ruining our chances.
Now
The EEC became the European Union (EU) in November 1993 under the Maastricht Treaty, establishing what are known as its “Three Pillars”: the European Community – removing the word “Economic” to show the wider policy range it now covers; Common Foreign and Security Policy; and Police and Judicial Co-Operation in Criminal Matters. Although the latter two Pillars are largely based on international co-operation between member states with representatives working together on relevant issues, the first Pillar contains the supra-national institutions – those who have authority over individual national governments – and all of their work.
To begin, the European Commission is responsible for proposing legislation, upholding the Treaties they establish and running the EU from day to day. Each member state sends a single representative, making a total of twenty-eight members. The President of the European Commission is elected from these twenty-eight by the European Parliament. Don’t confuse this with the President of the European Union (who is actually the head of the European Council), currently President van Rompuy of Belgium!
The European Council has no strict power to make laws, but it is a body of the heads of government of each member state and is responsible for “the general political directions and priorities” of the EU according to the Lisbon Treaty. It acts as a body to be the presidency of the Union, and the head of the Council is its representative.
European Parliament, Strasbourg Image credits: Salim Shadid
The next institution is the European Parliament. If you have ever voted for a Member of the European Parliament as we are charged to do every five years (the next time being in 2014), this is where the 766 of them elected across the Union work. Depending on their political opinions, they join forces with politicians of similar views to create larger voting blocs such as the Greens or the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. Its job is to debate and vote on legislation, although it can’t actually use its initiative to create it itself. It does, however, have the second largest electorate (or voting population) in the world after India, and the largest trans-national democratic electorate, with 376 million eligible voters at the last elections.
Despite its lack of initiative, it does share power over the budget with the Council, and has to hold the European Commission shares equal legislative and budgetary powers with the Council and, just to confuse you, has its own President – currently Martin Schulz.
Finally, there is the European High Court of Justice which is the highest court of the EU and based in Luxembourg. It is mainly responsible for making sure all EU law is applied fairly across the Union. Again, each member state sends one judge and so there are twenty-eight of them, although it’s uncommon for all of them to hear every single case.
The Euro
Coming fully into force in 2002, the euro is the currency of seventeen of the twenty-eight member states, also known as the eurozone. A better currency for trading purposes, as well as a sense of unity, the eurozone is estimated by the International Monetary Fund as the second largest economy in the world, and the euro is the most-traded currency after, of course, the US dollar. If you’re as strange as I am (and commiserations if you are), you may have noticed from your travels to the eurozone – perhaps Spain, France, Finland or Ireland – that each country has a different design on the back of coins initially introduced into that country. “RF” for “République Francaise” or the French Republic is stamped across the French euro coins, for example.
The euro has been the cause of much debate and controversy in the UK. You won’t need me to point out to you that we are still in possession of the Great British Pound Sterling for currency, but there has been past discussion amongst British politicians about abandoning it for the euro. Whilst the Maastricht Treaty establishing the EU compelled most member states to swap their pesetas, francs and deutschmarks (among many others) for the euro, Denmark and Britain both notably negotiated exceptions.
New Labour, elected to power in 1997, was cautiously optimistic about joining, dependent upon our passing five particular economic tests first although it was a relatively minor issue in the end, despite William Hague’s decision to run his 2001 election campaign based, bizarrely, almost entirely on keeping the pound. Of course, since the economic crisis and the euro descending into madness, any British subscription to the euro now seems unlikely.
So where should you stand on the EU?
Paying any significant attention to the news and current affairs will make you very much aware of strongly-held and strongly-fought opinions about the Union. Indeed, we have a whole political party dedicated to the cause: the United Kingdom Independence Party, or UKIP.
If you have made it this far through the article, you will perhaps have noted one of the major, particularly British, complaints about the European Union: the bureaucracy is an apparent nightmare. The idea of creating institutions each with their own responsibilities might have seemed wondrous, but instead there are a thousand and one different jobs to do by different people and a fair few “Presidents” and “High Commissioners” to go with it.
Many of said leaders are unelected which is cause for concern for those who are worried that the EU is too close turning into a supra-nation, and generally speaking, election turnout is close to pathetic – so those who debate our laws are not really accountable at all; in the last election, 43 per cent of all European voters cast their ballot.
The one nation problem is another worry in itself. People are not keen to lose their national identities which have been so well forged across the centuries, and many have nothing like a “European” identity. Particularly in Britain, our island mentality restricts us from being too keen to get too involved, and makes us angry when statistics are thrown around about how many of our laws are passed down from the European Parliament.
Eurosceptic politicians shout very loudly however, and those who are pro-EU keep their mouths closed far too much in comparison.
In an increasingly globalised world, it is silly to isolate ourselves from co-operation and partnership. Granted, prosecuting shopkeepers who price goods in pounds and ounces and not grams and kilograms is rather a ridiculous preoccupation for the European Union and anger over it is understandable, as is trying to tell us that Cadbury’s is not real chocolate (come on!!). But without the EU, travelling between mainland European countries would not be as easy as it is – the Schengen Agreement stops you from having to pull out your passport and go through customs and immigration checks every time you cross a border; trade would be restricted; police investigations would be more difficult across borders.
Image credits: Francisco Antunes
Nor could you just go and get a job in an EU country like you can now (provided there are any). Having spent a year living and working in France, without the EU I would have had a much more difficult time trying to set up my residency status and getting healthcare coverage than I did, and would have wasted my time on that rather than learning a new culture and language (and eating cheese – to perpetuate a stereotype).
All in all, the European Union is not about infringing national sovereignty and imposing petty laws on people. Or it ought not to be. It ought to be about co-operation and achieving bigger goals. Politicians argue that we have too many immigrants now – conveniently forgetting or simply not mentioning our chances to go and experience these other countries – and that the EU it costs too much and we aren’t getting the benefit from it back in the UK and if that is true then it is because we are not making the most of our involvement and reaping the benefit we could have whilst we dither on the edge.
Closing borders simply turns us into bigger xenophobes than we already are.
And if none of this convinces you, well then I suppose it has allowed us to hear a fair few stupid quotes…
Top Eight Quotes from European Politicians
“Sod off, you prick.” – Nicolas Sarkozy to journalist
“[Mr Obama is] young, handsome and suntanned.” – Silvio Berlusconi
Bonus: “Ah, Barack Obama. You won’t believe it, but the two of them sunbathe together, because the wife is also tanned.”) – Silvio Berlusconi
“You have all the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk and the question that I want to ask, that we all want to ask, is ‘Who are you?’” – UKIP’s Nigel Farage to the President of the European Council
“You have lost a good opportunity to shut up.” – Nicolas Sarkozy to David Cameron
“She says she’s on a diet and then helps herself to a second helping of cheese.” – Nicolas Sarkozy about Angela Merkel
“China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese.” – Charles de Gaulle
“In Italy, I am almost seen as German for my workaholism. Also I am from Milan, the city where people work the hardest. Work, work, work – I am almost German.” – Silvio Berlusconi (perhaps I ought not have spoken about stereotypes)
Last Tuesday signaled the close of the European qualifying group stage, and provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon the movers and shakers of World Cup qualifying.
England’s campaign saw them eventually match expectations to qualify as leaders of their group; nonetheless there have been numerous examples across the competition of high-flying underdogs. Whilst the likes of Brazil, Germany, Spain and Argentina represent obvious favourites at next year’s tournament, the qualifying rounds have presented us with a few potential dark horses.
Vincent Kompany, captain of the Belgian national side. Photo credits: Erik Drost (via Flickr)
Belgium – Winners of European Group A (Won 8, Drew 2, Lost 0)
Top Scorer: Keyin De Bruyne – 4 goals. Key Players: Defence – Vincent Kompany; Midfield – Kevin De Bruyne; Attack – Romelu Lukaku
It is perhaps unfair to label Belgium as a dark horse for Brazil. They currently sit in fifth in the FIFA world rankings, which sees them seeded for the finals ahead of the likes of France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and of course, England.
Their rise to stardom has been astronomic – in 2006 the country found itself ranked lower than ever before in 71st. Back then, the squad featured only a sole Premier League player – Emile Mpenza, and even he was very much on the fringes of the Manchester City team.
12 Premier League players now grace the squad, including two of the division’s most potent strikers: Christian Benteke and Lukaku. An undefeated qualifying campaign in which they conceded a mere four goals, keeping six clean sheets seems to indicate that they won’t be defensive pushovers either.
The weight of expectation for Belgium’s golden generation is certainly increasing, and the World Cup in Brazil provides the first opportunity for them to showcase their obvious talent.
Colombia – 2nd place in ‘CONMEBOL’ (Won 9, Drew 3, Lost 4)
The trajectory of the Colombian national team is arguably similar to that of Belgium. 2014 represents their first qualification since 1998, whilst their current world ranking of fourth is representative of a team playing at its peak.
Looking at the squad on paper, many would see Colombia’s strike force as the driving force behind the team. Falcao’s summer switch to newly promoted French side AS Monaco raised a few eyebrows across Europe; nonetheless there are few more complete strikers in world football, whilst the lesser known Teófilo Gutiérrez, who plays for Argentinian giants River Plate, has proved almost equally efficient for his national side.
Creativity often flows from Monaco winger James Rodriguez, whose link up play with Falcao could prove vital. However, much like Belgium, it’s perhaps Colombia’s defensive record that proved most impressive, as their tally of 13 goals conceded was the most effective in South American qualifying.
The climate for a Brazilian World Cup may give Colombia an edge over their European rivals, as will their seeding. All of this presents Colombian fans with the very real possibility that their team could escape the group stage of the finals for only the second time in their history, the last being in 1990.
Chile – 3rd place in ‘CONMEBOL’ (Won 9, Drew 1, Lost 6)
Top Scorers: Arturo Vidal and Eduardo Vargas – 5 goals. Key Players: Defence – Gary Medel; Midfield – Arturo Vidal; Attack – Alexis Sanchez
The battle for qualification in South America was tinged with a sense of opportunity – due to Brazil’s automatic qualification, there was in essence an extra spot up for grabs amongst the nations.
Few grasped that opportunity in such a manner as Chile, who played some beautifully adventurous attacking football throughout their campaign. Their style came at a cost however as Chile conceded 25 goals in qualifying, significantly more than any of the other South American automatic qualifiers.
They attack with fluidity almost comparable to the total football of old, and it’s a system that manages to extract the quality from their talented forward line. Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez has arguably been a victim of his own promise, as his talent has at times failed to shine through – most notably at club level.
Nonetheless, it seems that under coach Jorge Sampaoli, he is starting to exhibit the qualities that will make him a vital figure come 2014. In Arturo Vidal, Chile possess one of the best all round box-to-box midfielders in the world, and if he, along with the ever-tenacious Gary Medel, can organize the defensive side of the team, Chile just might upset the odds at the World Cup.
Edin Dzeko celebrates a goal for Manchester City. Photo credits: Ulicar Streets (via Flickr)
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Winners of European Group G (Won 8, Drew 1, Lost 1)
Whilst Bosnia may have been neck and neck with Greece for superiority in their group, they showed glimpses throughout qualifying of their vast superiority over their opponents.
They topped Group G with a goal difference of 24, 16 more than rivals Greece, whilst in strikers Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic, they boast two of the four highest goal scorers in European qualifying. Midfielder pair Miralem Pjanic and Zvjezdan Misimovic also chipped in with a combined eight goals whilst also dictating most of Bosnia’s creative play.
Whilst there has been some evidence of weakness across the back four, in Asmir Begovic Bosnia can claim they have one of the best keepers in the Premier League, and arguably Europe too. The draw was arguably favourable to Bosnia, with only Greece and Slovakia providing real challenges, nonetheless they qualified with relative comfort, exhibiting some ruthless displays in the process such as the 1-8 demolition of Liechtenstein.
The fitness and form of talisman Dzeko will undoubtedly be key to any success they find in Brazil, but the whole group is undoubtedly ready to fight for success.
exeposedev 