In this very open FIFA World Cup we can find hardly much different among Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands, France, Germany, Colombia, Costa Rica and Belgium now ready to fight out which four of them will move further. Like any other person of flesh and blood we cannot claim to be 100% neutral. In conscious and subconscious mind we have to respond our hearts call though head tend to think differently. We can see and read fans are going to their limits for their favorites and in most cases Brazil and Argentina are dominating the discussions. But are they the best two teams to travel to Maracana on July 13, 2014 for a dream epic final? Definitely as diehard fan of one of the above this writer’s heart is also bleeding and pumping. But heart is telling something else having seen how all the eight teams excepting Colombia had to play out of their skins to knock out challengers. Let us go a little deeper.
How Probable is Brazil-Argentina Final?
What my Heart Bleeds?
In Petroleum Engineering term Probable is when the chances of happenings is 51-90% and possible is 10-50%. Brazil and Argentina playing the final would be possibly a dream final that would be discussed even in other planets if there is mankind there. But how realistic this seems now as both the favorites have not been seen in their true elements yet? Brazil survived a genuine wakeup call against red hot Chile and Argentina struggled and limped over all four opponents those have come their way. Neymar scored all four of his goals against Croatia and Cameroon which Brazil won comfortably. He could not score against Mexico and Chile causing Brazil struggle. Magical Messi scored four goals and created the other 3 for his team when in every match his team Argentina was looking out of sorts. While Fred, Oscar and Hulk are still not delivering, Fabulous Four (Messi, Di Maria, Higuain and Aguero) of Argentina is now reduced to Magical Messi only. Can Brazil and Argentina survive hotter contests if for any reason Neymar and Messi are a little bit off color one day? With all their super star abilities they are also mortals. Every day cannot be the same for anyone however brilliant he or she may be. But teams like Argentina and Brazil are on a long distance race where endurance, patience and off course embedded quality matters. May be these two will appear in a different gear in matches five and six to proceed to match seven. Whether that will be seventh heaven or hell for one of the two only future can say. But for the time being Brazil will have to hurdle over Colombia and Argentina have to go past Belgium to ride safely to semifinals. Then on Brazil will possibly play the inform Netherlands and Argentina the might of Germans. We know fans have to hold their breadth and have their hearts in their hands. But in matches of even chances local conditions and vocal gallery supports also contribute. Brazil and Argentina may have preserved a lot in their tanks to ride over the challenges. Brazil has a solid defence of proven high skilled players – Marcelo, David Luiz, Dany Alvez and Thiago Silva have quality and experience to neutralize any attack. They also generate the attacks of their team. In four matches so far Brazil conceded only 3 goals and one of them the first of this world cup was a suicide goal by Marcelo. The mid field appears to be a big worry. The only player who was working up to his potential Luiz Gustavo with two yellow cards will miss the match against Colombia. Brazil is feeling absence of Kaka and Ronaldinho. Neymar playing deep has so far worked. But Oscar, Ramirez and Willan will need to step in with their A game if Brazil has to reach the heaven. Argentina so far is the story to little magician the one and only Lionel Messi. With Aguero of the top four injured and out of world cup and Higuain looking completely out of touch Di Maria is doing bulk of the works beside Master Craftsman Messi. But definitely with smart opponents shutting window more and more for Messi in matches ahead Di Maria, Higuain will have to work like racing horses and feed Messi balls in the right areas for him delivering pieces of magic. Argentina for some reasons is hesitating in making the final strikes at the goal. Consequently they are getting dispossessed. The midfield is leaving lot of space and defence is getting caught against fast and furious counter attacks. The Argentine defence struggled to keep even the debutant Bosnian forwards at bay and conceded a goal and had to rely on Messi magic in getting bailed out. Iran defended doggedly against them making it extremely difficult for Argentine forwards to find a hole to penetrate. Again little master came to their rescue. Favortites were distinctly lucky against Nigeria and Switzerland in avoiding shock defeats. Defence and Mid Field looks less organized and flat footed. After surviving Belgian challenge if Argentina finds Netherlands in Semi Final the defence will have their tasks cut out against Robin, Robben and Schweinsteiger. We hope Alexandro Sabella will have a plan B for matches to be played for now on. Well like many my heart is also for Brazil Argentina playing in epic final at historic Maracana which may bring the world glued to the event in unison.
What about Germany-Netherland Final?
What My Head is telling?
If one goes by the match to match analysis, the form, fitness, depth and quality of the teams surviving till now can anyone just write off the possibilities of a German-Netherlands final? Perhaps that will be a bit anticlimax but it is very much probable. Netherland, the losing finalist of 2010 is the inform team in the tournament which started with a bang letting out shockwaves to the soccer world. Reigning Champions and one of the top favorites Spain was humbled, humiliated, bruised and battered in the first match 5-1. They had to struggle a bit against athletic Australia but again got back to sweet rhyme against Chile. Netherlands scored the most number of goals ten to be exact in the group stage and so far won four matches out of four in roaring to the quarter finals. They were extended to their limit by Mexico in the quarter though and won only through last 10 minutes blitz after trailing till that stage against North American fighters Mexico. Netherlands will play the Giant killers from CONACAF Costa Rica where the experience of Netherlands may count although tiding over impressive Ricans may not be easy. If they happen to overcome the challenge Argentina and Messi squad will come their way. Remember Messi vs Robben, Robin and Sneijder may tilt the balance in favor of the Orange bearers. This Dutch team is the combination of the remains of their Golden Generation Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie and young guns like Jeremey Lens, Memphis Deapay and Wesley Sneijder. They rely on quick counter attacks and have master strikers of proven quality in Robben and Robin. Midfield and defence also have capability of cutting out most of the attacks. The defence allows narrow corridor for opposition attacks to grow and flourish. The inheritisers of Johan Cruyff, Marco Van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Ruud Gullit, may finally make their world Cup dreams come true creating a history of any team other than South Americans winning it from South American territory. Netherlands remains one of the top football playing nations not to have won the most prestigious honor so far. This writer lived in Netherlands and enjoyed the serene beauty of Tulip and warmth of Dutch people. The inventor and bearers of Total Football Concept is definitely a tough contender this time. To do that they have to dispose of Costa Rica first and then possibly break the hearts of Argentina and Brazil along the way. Holland topped the list of a very strong group having World Champion Spain, very Strong South American team Chille and a tough nut to crack Australia. In the pre-quarter their patience and perseverance worked. With quality and depth they have enough gas in their tank to go all the way.
Germany is the steadiest of performers in World Cup for the last couple of years. This time is no different. The name of Germany was quoted in the same bracket with Brazil, Argentina and Spain as the top favorites in pre-tournament analysis. Although their performance went up and down in 4 matches they have played yet they have the quality , skills and class to go all the way as well They looked so impressive in their first match against strong Portugal dispatching them with disdain 4-0 . But charatertsically Germans always played their second game poorly in this world cup as well when they were held to 2-2 by impressive Ghana. Germans possibly played a strategic game with USA in their 1-0 win in their last group match. Another very impressive African team Algeria in what was termed a Revenge Match of avenging an incident in Spain World Cup 1982 stretched Germans to their limit. Germans must consider themselves lucky to survive Algerian Challenge. The Germans are very athletic and do lot of running. The build up attacks from organized defence and push forward many men in the wink of an eye. They have eagle eyed strikers in Thomas Mueller, Mesut Oezil, and Sami Khedira. When a team can have players of the quality of Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose waiting in the bench one can appreciate their depth for matches extending to extra period. Germans usually show greater resilience and adaptability as they go deeper and deeper. But to keep their dreams going into this Brazil they will be up against an Inform France team tonight and survive.
Readers do not get me wrong. I hope the dream finals of Brazil Argentina come through. My heart bleeds for that but head is telling of a strong possibility of an all European Netherlands – Germany final a repeat of 1974.
BDST: 0925 HRS, JUL 04, 2014
