Group E
Favorite: Netherlands
There’s so much about the 2010 World Cup that is different from the usual — the continent, the hemisphere, the season, the altitude — so throwing in a Dutch team that will contend for the title instead of fighting with itself shouldn’t be a stretch. If nothing else, the overloaded Oranje attack, led by Robin van Persie, is going to score goals in bunches. No team will be more fun to watch in the group phase.
Contender: Denmark
If you build from back to front, the results will come. The Danes have done exactly that, thanks to the might of disciplined stalwarts Daniel Agger and Christian Poulsen in the back and center. There’s precocious talent going forward, too, with Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner, even though he’s only 22 and carries far too large of an offensive burden. Still, the Danish squad, which is rounded out by a nice domestic core, looks complete, even if it doesn’t dazzle.
Dark horse: Cameroon
The value of a tune-up exhibition is marginal, but there’s nothing gained by the Indomitable Lions’ best player — and one of the world’s best strikers, Samuel Eto’o — getting himself sent off against Portugal last week. Combine that with an aging defense, led by Geremi and Rigobert Song, and the prospects seem grim for a team that made the quarterfinals in 1990. Hope can be found in the form of forward Mohamadou Idrissou’s stellar Bundesliga campaign.
Underdog: Japan
There just isn’t a lot of threatening soccer currently emerging from Asia, and Japan’s easy World Cup qualification is proof. There lies great promise in youngsters like playmaker Keisuke Honda, who recently moved to CSKA Moscow, but there just isn’t enough eye-opening talent surrounding him. Instead, it’s the weight of history — Japan has never won a World Cup match outside its own country — that remains this team’s most formidable opponent.
Player to watch:
Wesley Sneijder, Netherlands, midfielder
Sneijder has won, um, everything this season already with Inter Milan — the Serie A, the Italian Cup and the UEFA Champions League, in which he set up the first goal for Argentinian teammate Diego Milito. He’s tiny — graciously listed at 5-foot-7 — but his importance in the central midfield for the Dutch is huge, whether it be his slick passing ability or free kicks.
Game to watch:
Netherlands vs. Denmark, June 14, 7:30 a.m.
The European neighbors have never faced each other in a World Cup match, but the Danish keeper Peter Schmeichel famously ousted Marco van Basten & Co. in the 1992 European Championship semifinals on penalties. They’ll need to stifle the lethal Dutch attack in order to pull off a similar upset here and send Group E into immediate disarray.
Group F
Favorite: Italy
The Italians aren’t favorites to successfully defend their 2006 title, but don’t be surprised if they find themselves in the mix. Production in Serie A this season played a big roll in some of Marcello Lippi’s surprising selections — Antonio Di Natale’s 29 goals for Udinese have put him front and center. The pedigree of stalwarts Andrea Pirlo and 2006 MVP Fabio Cannavaro isn’t in question, but their stamina over the next month will be.
Contender: Paraguay
With all the usual talk about Brazil and Argentina, it’s easy to forget that Paraguay expects no less than to advance past the group stage after nearly finishing first in South American qualifying. That was before striker Salvador Cabañas was shot in the head at a Mexico City bar in January. His recovery is the rallying point for La Albirroja, and it also gives Nelson Haedo Valdez and Oscar Cardozo the chance to show their goal-scoring talents.
Dark horse: Slovakia
U.S. coach Bob Bradley and midfielder Michael Bradley aren’t the only prominent father-son duo in South Africa. Midfielder Vladimir Weiss, progeny of the Slovakian head coach with the same name, could be the key to making the country’s first World Cup appearance a noteworthy one. He serves as a critical role player alongside respected talents Martin Skrtel in defense and Marek Hamsik at forward. The Slovaks must take advantage in their opener against New Zealand.
Underdog: New Zealand
The All Whites will at least have a bevy of D.C. United supporters cheering them on, with former captain Ryan Nelsen anchoring the back line. Unfortunately, the rest of the roster doesn’t have nearly his quality. Midfielder Simon Elliott was a steady contributor in MLS for a number of seasons, but defender Tony Lochhead’s best exploits came with UC-Santa Barbara. Any pregame Haka won’t exactly come across as intimidating.
Player to watch:
Gianluigi Buffon, Italy, goal keeper
The longtime netminder has the potential to do to opponents what Montreal’s Jaroslav Halak did to the Washington Capitals, although the defense that plays in front of him just happens to help a great deal. The Italians expect Gigi to be great, especially if they can’t establish any offensive rhythm, but it’ll be worrisome for their prospects if he’s busy.
Game to watch:
Slovakia vs. Paraguay, June 20, 7:30 a.m.
If the Slovaks prevail as expected against New Zealand in the first match, they can put themselves in the Group F driver’s seat with a result in this encounter. What will add to the intrigue would be a Paraguayan upset against the Italians, which could put first place on the line — which is crucial, given the group runner-up likely will meet the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
