Favorite countries from each continent in the world for the WC 2014 qualifiers?
By Bryanx54
@Bryanx54 (644)
September 9, 2012 7:06pm CST
Bear in mind that the International Break has arrived, so i think its time we talked more about the International teams that play the sport we truly love.
FIFA has over 200+ registered Countries participate within the world cup qualifiers, who are your favorites from each continent and why? Explain why in the terms of atmosphere, fans, their style of play and star players.
This is my opinion below;
Europe (UEFA)-Spain
Reason: They've dominated three major tournaments so far and have shown great ability in their play. So far they have yet kicked off their campaign but after a convincing 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia i see very little doubters.
Key players for me will be David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Iniesta These Midfield Maestros make it hard for any time to play their football, they have good ability to keep the ball, pass into space and cut defenders up with one touch football. The really question is can they replace these players after 2014? I don't know, but they have some hot prospects within young thiago Alcantara,Oliver Torres and other youngsters coming through the ranks.
South America (CONMEBOL)-Colombia
Reason: With Brazil not needing to qualify as they are hosts i can see Argentina topping the Qualifiers with Uruguay to suit, but what caught my eye was the attacking power that Colombia have at their disposal. Falcao and co; dismantled a fairly strong Uruguay team and they look like a team with confidence, i can see them beating a fair few teams at home, Falcao has been on fire for club and country with a hat-trick against Chelsea, so i see him as a key figure for his country's qualification hopes. Another player that caught my eye was James Rodriguez, he is quite young and versatile and has a finishing edge about him with his shooting and passing abilities it screams the big/little striker partnership we have seen through the years with Toni and Totti at the world cup in 2006 and Napoli's convincing champions league display of Cavani and Lavezzi.
Africa (CAF)- Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire)
Reason: My reason for Ivory Coast is because of their attacking displays and level of quality they have developed over the years, the recent match was a convincing 4-2 win over Senegal. In that game they played so very good counter attacking football and the speed and strength of this side is phenomenal, one of my favorites to go through the group stage providing they aren't drawn in another group of death. Star players being the likes of Drogba and Yaya Toure but they are aging players.
Asia (AFC)- Japan
Reason: For me Japan are turning into a world class side, they are bringing through brilliant players such as Shinji Kagawa of Manchester United and Yuto Nagatomo of Internazionale both really doing well. They have some of the best counter attacking displays i have seen Honda and Okazaki also playing well. Okazaki currently on goalscoring role with 6 goals. Best thing about Japan are they're players are relatively young meaning they would be in their prime by 2014.
North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF)-Mexico
Reason: Mexico won the Olympics gold medal in London and will look to qualify in style, they have some very good players such as Hernandez,Guardado,Benatia and many other exciting youngsters such as Erick Torres.
Oceania (OFC)-Tahiti
Reason: Tahiti despite their recent loss to Solomon Islands have played some of the best football of their continent, Oceania qualifiers known for its bad quality teams due to the size of the country and not being a major sport in others. However Tahiti for me played with spirit and determination in every game so far.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@sjlskl (3382)
• Singapore
11 Sep 12
I agree with some of your prediction and here is mine.
Europe:
The overwhelming favourite will be Spain but I think it is too much an asking to expect Spain to retain their title. No doubt, they will be in the party but they won't win. So the hope of Europe will falls on the shoulder of Germany. They have a young crop of players who would have the necessary experiences then to take on the world.
South America:
With the event being hosted on the soil of the samba football, so dares to ruin their party. Yes, football does not always follow scripts but the Brazilian team would love to reclaim the title and where else to do it but at the home ground. Like Germany, their young players will be ready by then. Neymar, Oscar, Ganso and the likes will be able to destroy any team on their day.
Africa:
Ivory Coast. They are the shinning lighting of African football now, following the footstep of Cameroon and Nigeria. In players like Yaya and Kolo Toure, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Didier Drogba, they are the who's who in the World of Soccer. One downside would be the lost or would be lost of Drogba. They do not have a striker of such presence to lead the team. The dark horse will be Ghana. Strong, powerful and can play soccer. They went the furthest of the African countries in the 2010 World Cup. They miss out in the most unfortunate of circumstances.
Asia:
South Korea and Japan might not agree but Asia's strongest team would be Australia. The reason why Australia choose to join the AFC is so that they can grab that automatic spot rather than to top the Oceania group only to get knock out in the play off against the fifth placed South American team. They are fully aware that they chance of going to the finals are much easier and rightly so.
North/Central America and Caribbean:
USA. While Mexico has the better and more technical players, but they are slight. They might have difficulties against the more physical team. As for the USA, they have done pretty well since the days where they were viewed as a minor in soccer.
As for Oceania, they might not have an representative in the World Cup 2014.
@Bryanx54 (644)
•
14 Sep 12
Some brilliant responses there my friend, I agree with Brazil they are in my favourites to win list of which I might make another discussion about when we are nearer to the time and teams have qualified, USA beat Jamaica recently with what was a beautifully taken free kick. From what I've saw they are very clinical when on the counter, defensively they are the best team in North America. I am also monitoring young Terrance Boyd's season at Rapid Vienna because Borussia do have a buy-back clause which means they can snap the player back providing he has a good season in first team football.
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
10 Sep 12
I agree that Spain would be there at Brazil, but not as top qualifiers from the European region, but because they are the current holders and are already qualified. :) I think the other European giants who should make it are Germany, Italy and Holland.
CONMEBOL would be Columbia, Uruguay and Argentina. In the Concacaf, I would think it would be Mexico and USA. For Africa, I would think Ivory Coast and Ghana. In Asia, I would think it would be Australia and Japan. Finally, from Oceania, I am not sure as I think they will have to play a playoff with with one of the losers from Conmebol and I think that country would qualify.
Cheers!
Ram
@Bryanx54 (644)
•
14 Sep 12
I Agree with the list of from South America and Africa. In Africa its all about Ivory coast and Ghana right now. Both teams have great sides with pace and skill and players that can score, more so Ivory Coast edge it for me due to experience but who knows I could be wrong Ghana could develop a wonderkid in that period. Cameroon have some brilliant youngsters coming through; whether they are ready for the world stage by the time the world cup starts is another matter.
@diezmara22 (818)
• Indonesia
10 Sep 12
Yes, interesting about what you write. How many countries in every continent of the favorites to become qualified pemuncak in each world.
and I think this is the ruler of all the world.
Europe - Spain
I agree with you that Spain is going to be the best country in Europe by winning the European Cup proved a successful merekaa maintain. Players are now in the Spanish national team is still a golden generation, and of course they are going to talk a lot.
Latin America (CONMEBOL) - Argentina
No matter how Argentina is still a favorite in Latin America after Brazil especially not qualify because they are the host of the world cup 2014. Colombia might open opportunities but they are probably still below Argentina.
Africa - Ivory Coast
Yes, it is a country that is good-good in Africa, they have a lot of players that a career in Europe, and of course, a team with a better prosfek.
Asia - Japan
Japan now began to grow and will certainly beat some powerful countries in Asia, they are now in a country that is having great talents.
North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) - Mexico
Mexico became the most favored nation in the CONCACAF zone. here there is a country like the United States, but I see what you do not have Meksika dipunya by the United States.
Oceania (OFC) - new zealand
After officially joining the Asian Football Australia, New Zealand opportunities seem more open.
@Bryanx54 (644)
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10 Sep 12
Thank you for your response, I think you made valid points on the decisions, I expected changes and was pleased to see them. I think Argentina do look relatively strong, Messi is really starting to turn it on for his country now and is scoring more freely. You did make valid points I believe Colombia will be strong at home and that should be enough to send them through but you have teams that generally qualify with ease and that is Argentina.
New Zealand, yeah they are as you can say the heavyweights of the Oceania, since Australia's move to the Asian qualifiers however its nice to see countries developing in that area to at least attempt to cause an upset to New Zealand. The most famous to date was Tahiti winning the Oceania cup, New Caledonia beat New Zealand. That being said New Zealand we're without the likes of Ryan Nelsen,Chris Killen and Smeltz 3 very strong players. What shocked me the most about the Oceania qualifiers was American Samoa getting 4 points in the round 1 qualifiers is some feat for a team that lost 32-0 to Australia a while back.
