The World Cup is the supreme tournament of football, and all countries are strong enough. Then, what is the difference between the teams? The difference is that some of the teams have superstars while others have only stars.[break]
Argentine Lionel Messi, Portuguese Ronaldo, Brazilian Kaka, and English Wayne Rooney are superstars in this World Cup. Moreover, World Cup fate of the countries depends on their performances.
Spain is the reigning European Champion and they have consistency. They remained in the top rank for a long period. In addition, there are star players like David Villa, Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Iker Casillas in the squad. Thus, Spain is another favorite for the present World Cup.
Messi has been playing good football, and he is even compared with Maradona. Could he perform his magic for Argentina? He has a chance to prove himself. He has good team support as it has other star players.
As far as I am concerned, Ronaldo has less chance of creating magic, though he is in good form. This time, Portugal is featuring a comparatively weak team. Without team effort, even a superstar has less chance of shining.
England’s team is full of stars like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and John Terry. They can efficiently support Rooney, and the superstar can win this World Cup for his team, for the second time in history.
Besides these teams, Germany can be counted as one of the favorites since they know how to win matches.
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Every World Cup features a few superstars. We saw superstars like Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, and Zinedine Zidane in the past. However, Pele and Maradona are the legends, as they single-handedly won the World Cup for their countries.
We have also seen superstars failing at this level. Ronaldinho was a super star that Brazil had featured in the last World Cup in Germany but he failed.
Kaka, Messi, Rooney, and Ronaldo have to perform their magic in South Africa to keep their reputation alive. If any of them single-handedly can win the World Cup for their country this time, they will turn into legends.
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We, in Asia, have to accept the bitter fact that no Asian country can expect to win the World Cup for at least the next 50 years.
We can expect Australia to enter the second round in South Africa as they have won 14 qualifying matches. North Korea is relatively new for the foot-balling world.
South Africa had shown us a ray of hope in 2002 as they reached the semifinals but they upset us in the last edition.
However, we still can hope all Asian nations, including Japan, will give good fight in South Africa 2010.
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Talking about South Asian countries – like “my” own Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh – they will never play the World Cup unless and until they change their strategies. My country Nepal and India playing World Cup is as far as science inventing a technology to make humans immortal.
India is, at least, aiming for it and starting some program for it. But I feel sorry for “our” Nepal. Our government and football authorities are happy in defeating India, Pakistan and Bhutan. They cannot aim higher. Unless and until, we have the mindset of targeting higher tournaments out of our reach, we cannot progress in football.
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We Nepalis are the successors of the Gorkhalis, and we have the fighting nature to win. But we need honest efforts and programs. Our authorities concerned, however, are busy in mutual blame game. There should be no political interference in football, but the Association (ANFA) also should stop taking excuses of political interference.
Nepali football needs honesty on both sides to develop. We can work out a 50-year football plan. I am ready to contribute for my Nepal. I can work in youth development projects in Nepal if the Association can assure non-interference and proper infrastructure.
However, the Nepali national team should be under a well-trained foreign coach. If our youth project is properly implemented, and the national team is kept under a foreign coach, we can expect better results in the years to come.
The writer is a former star of South Asian football and national coach of Nepal.
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