Is it time for Africa?
by sir eccles on Dec 2, 2009 10:45 AM EST
Email
Print
It comes up every time they play the World Cup, will an African team win. Pele's prediction that an African team will win by the end of the 20th century fell flat and an analysis of the results shows them barely reaching the quarter finals. Will home field prove to be an advantage?
Personally, I see a lot of very talented African players who play in the European leagues. They have great flair and certainly posses great skill. Where I think they have problems is in forming a team. It often feels like they are making up the numbers and you get the prima donna European based players not really meshing well with the home based players. I would love to see the hosts South Africa have a good competition but I feel that the team has waned from their heights of a few years ago (would they even have qualified if they weren't hosts?). Maybe Bafana Bafana will shock us all and we will start wondering when Asia will have a winner?
2 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Great question
I talked about this on a recent podcast, but I see Cote d’Ivoire as the strongest African side, but they don’t have the squad balance to survive a group of death, in my opinion.
In other words, if they have to rely on Drogba over-and-over again, I don’t see him holding up after a very long club/international season.
I think Cote d’Iviore can get a long way if they’re in a reasonable group and have a good Round of 16 draw. After that, I think Drogba could carry them.
Don't count out Ghana
They have probably the most balanced team talent wise and and some pretty decent players from the U-20 WC team that’ll be on the senior WC team
I'll Have A Matty Ice Please.
by IllHaveAMattyIcePlease on Dec 5, 2009 9:12 PM EST up reply actions
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
