THE CONTENDERS (Part 1 of 8)
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going through Uruguayan World Cup over-load. Too much over magnification of issues that will have no consequence come June, number one being that Cebolla will indeed miss the first two group games in June. Another argument I’m fed up with is whether Nacho is going or not, I know certain people on this Blog can’t wait for Nacho to be re-capped, instead of paying attention to the bigger issues at hand, that Uruguay will only play one friendly match before the World Cup and that Diego Forlan will not be released in time to practice on the Uruguayan NT, the emphasis continues to be whether Uruguay will play with an enganche––– Never-mind that this team is built around Forlan’s talents, we’re getting ourselves hot and bothered with whether Nacho plays or whether Cebolla should go? These are the issues that concern us? The fact that Uruguay will not get Forlan in time should be a cause for concern, as is the fact that as of today, Uruguay only has one World Cup tune-up match. We shouldn’t resign ourselves to defeat yet, since anything can happen come June, with that said though it’s time to look at the real contenders in the 2010 World Cup tournament.
Brazil, the eternal contender
Brazil is always an odds on favorite to win the World Cup, the most recognizable jersey in the world, a football built on myth and results, the one team everybody roots for, well everybody except Uruguayans. Getting to South Africa was a different story though, many forget that Dunga came within a whisker of losing his job at the start of qualifiers but the results he was obtaining throughout the 2010 qualifiers kept him employed, the 2009 Confederations Cup win certified his position as Brazilian care-taker. Now Dunga is gunning to follow in Franz Beckenbauer’s footsteps and win the World Cup as a coach as well (Beckenbauer won as a captain in ’74 & as a coach in ’90) ––– it’s not as easy as it looks. Dunga’s Brazil like Uruguay has done away with the “enganche” player or specifically with including the always on the verge of disappointing Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho’s recent performances at Milan started a whisper campaign to include him on the 2010 “Scratch” but it appears Dunga does not want a repeat of the disastrous 2006 Brazilian run. Dunga has instead built this team around Kaká, the so-far under the radar centre forward that many forget he’s the linch-pin of this squad. So Dunga won’t bring back Ronaldinho or Ronaldo, heck he might even leave Robinho behind. Instead he might give Adriano a chance to play on this squad, even though if he gives Adriano a shot, he might as well call-up Diego Souza who plays for Palmeiras or Diego Tardelli (The Brazilian Forlan) who plays for Atlético Mineiro…. Adriano though played in 2006 and knows about World Cup pressure. There are other players he should take besides Souza & Tardelli, how about Tottenham’s goalkeeper Gomes? That’s the problem with Brazil, while in Uruguay we can second-guess Tabarez for not taking two or three players, in Brazil every spot is open for debate. Dunga though has taken the lessons of 2006 to heart. Brazil won’t win if they treat this tournament as a chance to “show-case” their players, Brazil instead is on a mission, taking things seriously as they did in 1970. While a Baggio missed penalty gave them the 1994 World Cup and horrible goal-keeping by Oliver Kahn of all people gave them the World Cup in 2002, this time Brazil is actually playing like a team, everyone knows their roles and everyone is focused on that singular goal. Which is why Robinho took his shenanigans back to Santos in order to regain some match-fitness and with the hope of making it to Dunga’s final 23 man call-up.
So what are Brazil’s chances? Just as good as the other teams in this tournament, this might be the first World Cup without a clear-cut favorite, you can thank FIFA for that, once the groups draws were announced, the African teams suffered the most, while UEFA countries are all but guaranteed of cruising into the knockout stage. Brazil is always in the top four when it comes to the World Cup, so now the question becomes, will Brazil erase the mistakes of 2006? If they win though the Carnaval begins, and judging by the multiple Carnavals going on in Brazil, that might actually be a good thing.
I’m guessing he’s injured. I read quite a few articles before the game and most of them said that Cebolla might not be able to play, but none of them said why.
El Pais has Tabarez saying although no decision has been made, it is “difficult” taking a player to the WC if he misses 2 games. I think he is being sly, because how many players go to a WC and don’t even play. So instead of having a “benchwarmer” who will never play, I would opt for a player who in the 3rd game can come on and make a difference.
Lugano will also not play against Switzerland, so maybe Coates will get the call-up.
FourThreeThree (this is not directed at you but everyone, since I’m reading some really crummy opinions in EL PAIS) ––– I don’t care if Cebolla misses all three first group games, I’d still take him. In the 1998 World Cup didn’t Zidane get red-carded early and missed one group game? I understand the argument of not taking someone who will miss 2 games but if the player was Forlan wouldn’t you still take him? Cebolla is a key player —plays on a good European team that’s still alive in the Champions League… shouldn’t that be enough to take him? But instead everyone gets happy that Nacho is going who’s playing in a really mediocre league in Europe (if you want to call it Europe) but a guy who’s been one the main engine parts of this Celeste Squad is now in danger of losing his spot based on really bad public opinion.
Its funny someone here once said and complained out loud that Uruguay doesn’t have any players playing in the Champions League (well we do, we have 3 players, Fucile, Pereira & Cebolla) — this person used this reason as a reason as to why Uruguay underperforms, then when his player who is playing in a bad league gets capped, all is forgiven… the Champion Leagues argument falls by the waste — If you don’t take Cebolla who would be this great bench player that would take his spot? If someone mentions Pandiani or Santiago Silva, I’m gonna have to reach for a firearm!
yorugua, if cebolla did what he did it was because hes either crazy or he doesnt care much about la celeste. on the other hand, the person who said we didnt have enough players in the champions league was me so i think this was directed to me. i know it must hurt you that nacho gets called not only when you started to be hard on him but also when you less expected it, sometimes life is cruel with us i can tell you from experience, you just need to get over it man, nacho is the man of the hour.
fanatism aside; do you know when the market window will open? because i guess nacho would benefit whether his move is made after the WC, as he could show his outworldly playmaking skills there.
i saw it coming yorugua, nacho will be our true 10.
and btw, now i recall clearly. i said we needed players playing for champions league powerhouses.. you got 4 in england: man utd, chelsea, arsenal, liverpool. 2 in spain: real madrid and barca. and 3 in italy: inter, juve and milan.
so the conclussion is.. if you are gonna quote me and analyse it deep inside, i recommend you use copy and paste; only then i would say “i was wrong”. because as we can see you distorted it a bit and at your favour hihi.
both nacho g & cebolla are going to the world cup.
Tabarez said that its hard to take a player who is suspended but he was sending that message to fifa, not us or cebolla. I think that if cebolla is taken to the wc then tabarez is thinking about the 2nd round an has confidence that they will get through. The psychological effects on the team will be tremendous if cebolla stays home. I believe team morale/motivation will be affected negatively. A team is a team and he is part of that team. Cebolla should be supported. I don’t understand those fans who are trying to crucify him, he’s one of the best players we’ve got.. after Forlan, he is my number 2 on the list of key players.
Regarding Cebolla, it was a bonehead play but he does care about La Celeste & deserves to be on the squad, this isn’t even up for debate. Izzy is 100% right, after Forlan he’s probably one of the most important players on this squad.
Regarding Nacho, I’m not hurt… talking about inventing scenarios! Nacho is a good player (no argument from me) but you failed to see my argument because you have “Nacho-Blindness” — Did you or did you not say we need more players from the Champions League? OK lets go along with your exact words (word for word) it still doesn’t explain how all of a sudden you can change your opinion so quickly… something you accused me of doing on an earlier post. By your reasoning Uruguay has sucked because we don’t have enough players in the Champions League, how do you then justify taking Nacho along by your reasoning? And When I ask you this question, I’m not saying we shouldn’t take him, but since you say I change my opinion quickly, what about you my friend? You’re happy because a player playing in a real crappy league is going? Just because he played 3 games??? Amazing is the only thing I have to say about this. Nowhere in your argument have you said, “you know what guys Nacho is playing in a crap-league, he’s not really match-fit but maybe by June will be and maybe the Greek League isn’t so bad” — no instead you’re just parroting everything El Pais is saying.
But to be fair and to end this truly annoying debate since it involves your favorite player and I know you could argue this till Christ comes back — you’re an “Hincha” and have always preached the choir of Nacho so I really can’t blame you for wanting him back on the squad but EL PAIS should know better… they keep suggesting players who don’t play on good teams and players who play on crappy leagues. In the end Tabarez is doing what every Celeste coach before him has done, he’s letting the media pick his team. Great, only don’t complain to me when Uruguay underperforms.
EGUREN!!
Sebastian eguren has signed a six months loan contract with swedish champions AIK- solna… im not sure whether this will help him on the world cup squad… allsvenskan is a shit league–
strange..
you are misrepresenting what i said.
one thing is to say we need “more players playing for champions league powerhouses.. all in all they are 9 clubs” another different thing is to say “we need more players in the champions league… this includes every single club that goes there to compete”. so if you are trying to crucify me and nacho alltogether, try to quote me using copy and paste lol. the funny thing is that this is coming from someone who used to hate Forlan but now believes hes our saviour? nice.
and no, im not parroting what el pais is saying, in fact, i said it before el pais, since the very yorugua blog and you know that. nacho is our saviour and i have been saying it for a long while.
ps: tabarez said it is very likely he wont be at the helm of the NT after the WC, what leads me to think he has a loser mentality.. my argument is the following: by saying so hes also acknowledging that our chances of winning the cup are one in a millon
ps1: do you honestly think Nacho is deserving to play for Levadiakos when he wasnt given a single chance at Valencia? your hard feelings on him are not allowing you to see the bigger picture my friend.
ps2: btw Yoru, fresh food, bon appetit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iCzt11rK4Q
Hey guys! LOL! I think that Tabarez already has 99% of the team selected. As I said, how many players go to a WC and don’t even play. So Tabarez is still looking for 2-3 impact players. I see this exhibition game as a try-out for Nacho. I really think he is on the outside looking in. He has to be, he has hardly played all year. I’m not debating his technical ability, how well he can strike the ball, etc. But I do believe we can say that he is not being challenged playing in Greece like he would be playing somewhere else (this is why I also believe Lugano has slipped in his level). And when you are not challenged and things come too easy, you do slip in your game ability/shape. I mean it’s like a player from a first division team going down and playing in the second division. He stands out in the second division, so he is promoted. When he returns to the first division, it will take some adjustment on his part to the faster speed of the game, and greater skill level of the opponents. If Nacho (or for that matter, any other player being evaluated) can show that he can make that adjustment (ie. from Greek league to WC level), then he will be on the team. Otherwise, not. Just cold hard facts!
About Tabarez not coaching after the WC, I’m not too worried about those kind of statements. I don’t know that context of those comments. But if you look at the glass half full scenario, we could say he wants to go out with a great legacy, which means he wants to win badly. Also, if he should be job hunting, nothing looks better on a resume than a winning team, just ask Spain’s Aragones. Also, again, if some members of the AUF had it their way, he would not be coaching in the WC anyway. I know that if Uruguay does not have a good WC, we’ll probably be the first ones asking for his head. I mean, isn’t that what we were doing months ago when we were asking for Makarian? I know that in the past we have not been in total agreement with Tabarez, and in part, it has been because he has called up some players, like the goalkeepers, who had no game shape.
0:48 Nice goal from Nacho
My brother said: “Debating who would be the best uruguayan medfielder for WC? mmm Putting aside Nacho G. what others candidates are there left?, I don’t know anybody else XD. At the end they should put the ones who will make la Celeste wins… that’s it”
I think Nacho is a good player and when you’re good, you’ll shine and show what you’ve got everywhere you go and of course he’s not the only one.
I understand what 433 said cuz it’s true that some teams will require a higher level than others but just because you play in a great team is not an “ace in the hole” for a player to be picked for WC. I’m not saying is not important but it’s not determinant, in this case. And it’s not fair for the other players.
Nacho has bad luck haha^^ (and he’s not the only one).he has had acceptable and nice performances in each team he’s been (from good ones to not so good ones), that’s what I’ve seen.
Btw: Yoru, don[t get mad and Nico, try not to write ambigous phrases. And in this case, yes, yoru is misrepesenting Nico’s words.
Hugs
btw, congratz Julio, he really improved this website. he also solved some old problems the likes of: the display picture hiding text, when you are connected to LCB then you just have the gap to write your comment whereas before you had a gap for the nickname and password as well which was riddiculous because you were logged in and finally now emoticons appear in the right place