The Sweet Spot

So here we are, with less than 100 days to go until FIFA lifts the curtain on the first World Cup on African soil and it’s not the top short priced favourite, in my mind at least, who will prevail in 2010.

It’s been 24 years since Argentina last won the World Cup under then captain Diego Maradona and according to the “albiceleste" coach, in South Africa, the circle will be complete.

Here’s a nation not expected to do much, especially after struggling to qualify for the finals during CONMEBOL qualification.

Maradona’s side brought a new meaning to the term “leaving it late”, only booking their ticket for the tournament in their final match.

So why Argentina I hear you say? Why not traditional heavyweights such as Brazil or red hot favourites Spain, the current Euro 2008 champions whose recent demolition of France on French soil brought up their 42nd win from their past 45 fixtures.

Three things.

Talent, fate and a complete lack of expectation.

As their recent friendly against Germany proved, you know you have an abundance of riches when you can leave both of your in-form goal poachers out of the starting eleven and still win. 

I’m talking about Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez and Inter Milan’s Diego Milito.  One, a player who on his day is as lethal as any striker currently in the game, the other, a forward who has helped keep Inter at the top of the Serie A ladder and in contention for a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Sure, it was only a friendly and coaches are always reluctant to show their cards before the World Cup but it certainly speaks volumes of the depth at Maradona’s disposal.

Old heads. Young guns and talent to burn. It’s an irresistible concoction.

Lionel Messi. The man even coach Diego himself calls “My Maradona”. Winner of the 2009 Ballon D’Or awarded to the European Footballer of the Year. Faster than a speeding bullet. Able to rip apart rival defences in a single bound.

Then there’s 35 year-old veteran Juan Sebastian Veron, a midfielder and strategist par excellence whose vision and pairing with Javier Mascherano has proved a winning combination.

Where the South American’s do have a weakness is in defence, most notably highlighted in qualifying following their humiliating 6-1 hammering at the hands of Bolivia – their worst loss in 60 years.
 
However Gabriel Hienze, the powerful, no nonsense defender coupled with Inter’s Walter Samuel, who doesn’t mind venturing forward, are starting to find form and add real starch at the back. They’ll certainly need both to be on top of their game.

Greece, Nigeria and South Korea should provide few problems in Group B. From there it’s possibly a repeat of their 2006, Round of 16 showdown against Mexico before facing Germany in the quarter-finals. Spain awaits in the Semis provided both get that far.

When it comes to the World Cup, more often than not it seems that a nation under siege with their back to the wall, tends to draw deep into the well of resolve.

Take France losing Zinedine Zidane through suspension in the opening stages at France ’98 and Italy and the infamous Serie A match fixing scandal which overshadowed their 2006 campaign.

Maradona, in keeping with his drama plagued days as a player, brought his side right to the brink of elimination and back again. Just as befittingly, he even managed to give his detractors the bird in the process.

“You can suck it and keep sucking it” may have been his infamous catchcry in the aftermath of World Cup qualification for South Africa and it may well be the same words uttered to the doubters at the tournament’s completion.