World Cup

Five Most Disappointing Teams in World Cup Qualifiers So Far

Published

7 years ago

September 8, 2017

With only two matches remaining in the World Cup qualifiers for each squad, time is running out for a few teams that are on the outside looking in, reports America based Sports Daily.

While most teams have performed at or above expectations, a few have underperformed on the pitch, and have either been eliminated or are fighting for a final qualifying spot in their group. Let’s take a closer look at those teams.

ARGENTINA

While there has been some recent turmoil in their organizational structure, no one can question the talent available to the Albiceleste. Led by superstar Lionel Messi, this is a squad that no one would’ve predicted to be in danger of missing a trip to the World Cup for the first time since 1970. Yet with two games remaining in CONMEBOL group play, Argentina finds itself in fifth place, a point ahead of Chile.

With their final two matches against Peru and Ecuador, conventional wisdom would see Argentina punch their ticket to Russia. Of course, that same wisdom wouldn’t have predicted last-place Venezuela to tie Argentina 1-1 at Estadio Monumental in their most recent match.

THE NETHERLANDS

With only two games remaining in group play, the Orangemen currently find themselves out of a World Cup spot.

Unhappy with previous manager Danny Blind’s start to the World Cup qualifiers, he was replaced by 69-year-old Dick Advocaat, who had managed the Dutch team three times previously and was seen largely as a caretaker.

Recent results have made him appear as more of an undertaker, with the Orangemen on the verge of elimination.

With the team itself captained by Arjen Robben, and comprised of mostly European international players, one would think the Dutch FA has buyers’ remorse in appointing Advocaat to the managerial post.

Expect Advocaat to be removed immediately as manager after the final group match, given how badly the team has under performed.

CHILE

A team ranked in the top ten of the FIFA World Rankings should’ve already qualified for the World Cup, but Chile has struggled in group play.

With two games remaining, Chile finds itself needing at least four and possibly six points in order to advance beyond the group. But in the CONMEBOL group, every point is difficult and they have an uphill battle to advance to Russia.

Their underperformance is a bit surprising, given their recent successes in tournaments against the same teams.

While the squad is largely the same, there seems to be some dissension among the players. After the 1-0 loss against second-to-last-place Bolivia, star forward Alexis Sanchez ripped his critics (including reporters) on social media and indicated that the negativity was affecting his level of play.

A few days prior to the Sanchez comments, midfielder Arturo Vidal also lashed out at the media following a 3-0 loss at home to Paraguay.

Vidal also announced that he will retire from international play after the current World Cup competition is over for Chile. Based upon where Chile is in the current group stage, that figures to be next month.

CHINA

The last decade has seen China infuse hundreds of millions of dollars into their soccer program in order to establish a foothold on the world stage.

After the creation of their professional football league, they sought out the best managers available to train their players professionally.

Top-flight managers in the China Super League include Luiz Felipe Scolari, Manuel Pellegrini, Andre Villas-Boa and Sven-Goren Eriksson.

They then proceeded to purchase players whom they felt could improve the play of their home-grown players, often paying exorbitant amounts of cash.

While many of these players may have seemed past their prime in terms of ability, the hope was that they would pass along their knowledge of the game to their Chinese teammates and thus improve their play.

The results in the Chinese Super League were lacking, and their home-grown players failed to show improvement on the world stage. The Chinese squad sits in fifth place in the AFC group, behind teams such as Syria and Uzbekistan, and that’s about as disappointing as it gets.

AUSTRIA

Barely a year ago, Das Team was ranked tenth in the FIFA World Rankings. Manager Marcel Koller, appointed to the position in 2011, was considered somewhat of a genius for his ability to cobble together such a successful team without any world-renowned players.

Fast-forward to 2017, and Austria finds itself eliminated from advancing to World Cup competition after only eight games in a relatively weak group.

With the majority of their roster playing across the border in the Bundesliga, Austria certainly seemed to possess the talent to have been more successful within their group.

But after two more matches in October, Das Team’s players will be returning to their clubs, and one would think that Koller will be returning to his native Switzerland in search of his next job assignment.

World Cup

BREAKING! Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy at World Cup goes for sale

Published

5 days ago

May 7, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy won for being named the best player at the 1986 World Cup will be auctioned in France in June, the Aguttes auction house said on Tuesday.

This is the first Golden Ball to go for auction and while the value is still to be confirmed, the auction house expects it to fetch millions on June 6.

Maradona, who died in 2020, won the award after leading Argentina to World Cup victory in Mexico, scoring five goals at the finals where he captained his country and played every minute of the tournament.

That tournament is probably best remembered for Maradona’s two goals against England in the quarter-finals.

Maradona outjumped England keeper Peter Shilton as he thumped in the first goal with a raised fist, which he later dubbed as being scored by the “Hand of God”.

The second was an incredible mazy slalom run from his own half, when he dribbled past five English outfield players, and was voted as the “Goal of the Century”

The jersey he wore that day, along with the ball from the match, have both previously been sold at auction.

After his display against England, Maradona went on to score the two goals which defeated Belgium in the semi-final and Argentina won a thrilling final 3-2 against West Germany.

The Golden Ball award was introduced at the 1982 World Cup, and its list of winners include Italy’s Paolo Rossi, Romario and Ronaldo of Brazil, Zinedine Zidane of France, while Argentine great Lionel Messi is the only player to have won the accolade twice.

Maradona’s award had disappeared before resurfacing among several trophy lots in an auction room.

Recently it was entrusted to Aguttes, which carried out an investigation into its provenance and managed to authenticate it as Maradona’s Adidas Golden Ball trophy.

-Reuters

World Cup

South Africa may field Nigerian against Nigeria in World Cup qualifier

Published

1 week ago

May 4, 2024

Kunle Solaja

As the destiny-shaping World Cup qualifying encounter of Nigeria and South Africa approaches, the South Africans have discovered a new sensation in their fold who is of Nigerian origin.

Nigerian-born Ime Okon has caught the attention of football followers in South Africa and there is great pressure to draft him into the Bafana Bafana squad before Nigeria calls him up.

Okon, a 20-year is is one of the breakthrough young stars for SuperSport United this season together with Shandre Campbell, holds dual citizenship because his father is Nigerian and his mother is South African.

He plays for SuperSport United as a central defender. Bafana Bafana legend Andre Arendse has urged South Africa to be decisive and secure the future of highly-promising youngster.

He has been named in provisional squads a few times by Bafana coach Hugo Broos but he is yet to earn a cap, and Arendse is concerned South Africa may lose a “super talent” to rivals Nigeria.

As a sign of his burgeoning career, the tall central defender has made 18 appearances for coach Gavin Hunt in the DStv Premiership and has tasted continental football with six appearances in the Confederation Cup.

“Ime Okon is the next one on the radar [of Ronwen Williams when it comes to development] and I don’t want to hype him up or put him out there and say he is the best because he is only 20,” said Arendse, who is assistant coach to Hunt.

“He is a super talent but I am not intending to put pressure on him though I know he can handle it. He is starting to prove he can handle pressure during games and we need to look after him.

“You spoke about dual citizenship and we better be careful we don’t lose him because he is definitely one for the future. I know what I am talking about because I have had the privilege of playing behind some of the best defenders in South Africa.

“I don’t need to mention names, you guys know who I am talking about, but I am telling you in a few year’s time he’s going to be up there.”

Arendse was speaking as United prepared to travel to Richards Bay for their tricky Nedbank Cup last 16 clash.

Okon’s club-mate, Thulani “Tyson” Hlatshwayo has also joined a growing list of personalities urging South Africa to be decisive and secure the future of Okon.

“To be able to crack the Nigerian national team, he needs to play in Europe — but we need him in Bafana Bafana. When you look at our centre backs, Mothobi Mvala has injuries, there is also Grant Kekana and Siyanda Xulu — and I read Siyabonga Ngezana had an issue with his travel documents, but I don’t know what is happening there.

“His father is from Nigeria and mother from South Africa. He grew up here, he studied here and coach Gavin Hunt took him from Randburg Football Club. He is South African and he speaks Afrikaans.”

Hlatshwayo said there is banter among players whenever South Africa plays against Nigeria and he has jokingly threatened not to help him if he supports the Super Eagles against Bafana.

“Every time there is Afcon, when Nigeria is playing he is with Nigeria and when South Africa is playing against Nigeria we have a lot of banter in the team. I told him I am going to stop helping him if he chose to play for Nigeria because there are things in his game that need to be polished.

“The more he plays, the more experience he is going to get and he will do well. I don’t know if it has something to do with him being young but he is quick and strong and we complement one another very well.”

World Cup

Can Finidi George take the Super Eagles to a new height?

Published

1 week ago

May 3, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

The new man on the saddle for the Super Eagles has been a coach since 2021 when he took over Enyimba. He is now upgraded as Nigeria’s manager.

Now the naturally cool-headed man now faces a baptism of fire in what will be his first assignment as confirmed Super Eagles’ manager.

In 30 days time, the Super Eagles will face one of their arch-rivals, South Africa in what is a ‘must-win’ match. There is zero margin of error. Even a draw spells doom to not just the team, but the manager whose goal earned Nigeria their first World Cup qualification 31 years ago.

At the moment, going into MatchDay 3, Nigeria surprisingly trail third behind unlikely leaders, Rwanda while South Africa follow.

The Super Eagles will need the maximum points, and possibly with good winning margin, against South Africa to have any realistic chance of heading the Group C when the series come to an end.

A win takes Nigeria to the summit with five points while the Super Eagles will be expecting Benin to win their home match against Rwanda.

In essence, the match with South Africa on June 3 will be the most challenging task that Finidi George will be facing in his close to three years coaching career in Nigeria.

Will he deliver when he also has additional responsibility of ensuring Enyimba finish at the to of the Nigeria Premier League? He is facing two complex situations at the same time.

The NFF expectedly did not give details of his contract and the relationship Finidi George will be having with his original employers, Enyimba.

The good thing is that having spent 20 months as an assistant to Jose Peseiro, he is expected to be familiar with most of the players expected to be called up for the destiny shaping encounters with South Africa and Benin Republic.