2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup!

Today sees the start of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup with defending champion Mexico looking for a record ninth title. In addition, just as the 2009 Gold Cup edition, the winner of the tournament will book its place for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, which will take place in Brazil.

The tournament has a wacky format, with three groups consisting of four teams each. Teams will play each other once in round-robin format, with 3 points awarded for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. The top two teams of each group will have an automatic place in the quarterfinals, followed with the two best-placed third teams in the groups.

Group A includes Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Cuba. Mexico is starting a new era with Jose Manuel de la Torre as the new head coach. De la Torre’s resume includes winning three league championships as a coach with Guadalajara and twice with Toluca.

On the other hand, Costa Rica is also new management with Argentinean coach Ricardo La Volpe. After reaching the 2002 and 2006 World Cup, the disappoint

ment of being left out of the 2010 edition pushed Costa Rica to look for international experience at the helm of the team. La Volpe coached Mexico from 2002 to 2006, and lead El Tri in 2005 Confederations Cup, the 2006 World Cup and even place the team fourth in the FIFA World Rankings.

I believe Mexico will take Group A and are my favorites to win the tournament. The continuing mixture of experienced players such as Rafael Marquez, Carlos Salcido and Gerardo Torrado and young talent such as Giovani Dos Santos, Javier Hernandez and Hector Moreno creates internal competition for a starting position in the team, which can only benefit the team.

I believe Costa Rica will take second place in the group with El Salvador taking one of the third-place quarterfinal positions.My player to follow in this group is Andres Guardado. Although Hernandez had a great season with Manchester United and Dos Santos had a great World Cup last year, Guardado had a disappointing World Cup and season with Deportivo La Coruna in Spain. He will be looking to regain his form after spending months injured and wants to make a claim that he still belongs in European football.

In Group B, we have Honduras, Guatemala, Jamaica and Grenada. My pick to take this group is Honduras, who enjoyed their first World Cup last year after missing out in the tournament in 28 years. Although they are in a two-game losing streak after an Asian tou

r against South Korea and China, Honduras has the experience and talent to see off all of the competition in their group.

After Honduras, a tight battle for the second and third place game will be interesting to follow. However, it is difficult to see Granada take any points home, and I believe Guatemala and Jamaica will advance to the quarterfinals, respectively.

My player to follow in this group is Wilson Palacios. The 26-year-old midfield plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premi

er League and will try to lead his team to its first Gold Cup final since 1991 after a difficult World Cup.

Group C will feature the United States, Canada, Panama and Guadeloupe. The U.S. re-instated Bob Bradley as head coach after their disappointing exit at the World Cup last year. However, they have only won one game (against South Africa) in the past eight exhibition games, which includes opponents such as Brazil, Argentina and world champions Spain.

The U.S. does not come to the Gold Cup in good form, but an easy group will help them gain confidence heading into the finals stage of the tournament. Followed in second place will be Panama, who will try to reach the quarterfinals for the consecutive third time. I doubt Canada or Guadeloupe will get any points from the U.S. or Panama, and will book early flights back home.

My player to follow in this group is Juan Agudelo. The 18-year-old American currently plays for New York Red Bulls, and is getting mentored by the one and only, Thierry Henry. He has netted two goals in his five caps for the U.S., including the tying goal against Argentina. It will be interesting to follow Agudelo’s development leading up to the 2014 World Cup.

Group E analysis

In this group, we find ourselves with Netherlands and Cameroon as clear favorites to progress to the second round of the tournament. But Denmark, who had a brilliant World Cup qualification, and Japan, who are still fighting for respect in the soccer world, should not be taken lightly as they will try to bring upsets in the tournament.

Netherlands is one of football's most mysterious teams to appear in the World Cup. Their first appearances were seen with first round exits in 1934 and 1938. The Dutch then had to wait 36 years until they played in the tournament again in 1974. The creation of Total Football (in which there is free-flowing position exchange within the team to create new attackers and defenders) in the 1970s by Netherlands shot the team to stardom and helped them reach two consecutive finals in 1974 and 1978, but lost to the host in both occasions (West Germany and Argentina, respectively). After their high of the 1970s the Dutch missed all the World Cup editions in the 1980s, but returned in the 1990s. Their bad luck though also followed them and have had disappointing exits as when they lost to Brazil in penalties in France '98, or in the Battle of Nuremberg when they lost to Portugal 1-0 in 2006 in one of the worst games in the tournament's history (16 yellow cards and 4 red cards were awarded in the game).

However, with each new tournament, the Oranje always bring new talent and expectations that make their fans hopeful of lifting the World Cup. This year is no exception as they are currently ranked fourth in the world and are gaining confidence from their recently friendly game victories over the United States (2-1), Mexico (2-1), Ghana (4-1) and Hungary (6-1). In addition, head coach Bert van Marwijk guided his team to an undefeated World Cup qualification (8-0-0), where they scored 17 goals and only conceded 2 (the least by any European team in this qualification round). He mixture of experience with players as Gio van Bronckhorst, Mark van Bommel and Wesley Sneijder, and youth with players as Gregory van der Wiel, Ibrahim Afellay and Eljero Elia has paid off effectively. Their great run to the World Cup has been extraordinary, and is only obvious why they are considered heavy favorites to win it all.

My player to watch for the Netherlands is Arjen Robben. The 26-year-old has accomplished more than what any other footballer could in a career. He has won five league titles in four different leagues (the Dutch Eredivisie with PSV, the English Premier League with FC Chelsea, La Liga with Real Madrid and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich). Although Robben has been inconsistent throughout his career due to injuries, this past season in Germany with Bayern Munich has seen him reach an incredible form that helped them to a season double (won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal) and almost completed the treble as they lost in the Champions League final against Internazionale (Fellow Dutchmen teammates van Bommel and Sneijder also played in the Champions League final with Bayern and Inter, respectively). I choose Netherlands to win the group.

Photo: Robben prepares to score in a friendly game against Hungary (By Peter Dejong/AP Photo)

The second team in this group is Denmark. After failing to qualify to the 2006 World Cup and 2008 European championship, the Danes burst out of the scene in an excellent qualifying run to this summer's tournament. They took first place in their European group by beating out Portugal and eliminating Sweden to reach South Africa. In one of their most memorable games of their qualification campaign, the Danes came back from behind twice when they scored 3 goals in the last ten minutes to beat Portugal 3-2.

Head coach Morten Olsen has been at the helm of the team since 2000, and is a symbolic figure to the team from his playing days. He was part of the Danish Dynamite team in the 1980s where he captained the team at the European Championship, where they finished in 3rd place, and to their first World Cup appearance in 1986. Olsen considered leaving the job after he failed to take his team to 2006 World Cup, but stayed as the fans still found him popular. Now, Olsens Elleve, led by striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, midfielders Christian Poulsen and Daniel Jensen, will try to cause an upset against Cameroon in their second game of the tournament to try to advance to the second round.

My player to watch for Denmark is Nicklas Bendtner. The 22-year-old striker is a tall and quick player that can be dangerous with the ball in his feet or in the air. At Arsenal, he has yet to breakthrough as a starter but is a great substitute for the team. Bendtner will most likely start with veteran forward Tomasson in the front line to form a good partnership of youth and experience. I believe that Denmark will have a fighting chance to advance to the second round, especially with Cameroon's recent struggling problems; however, I see them falling short to Cameroon and finishing in third from the group.

Photo: Bendtner in action for Denmark (By Hans Punz/AP Photo).

The next team in the group is Africa's most successful team, Cameroon. They have won four African Cup of Nations, a gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics, placed second in the 2003 Confederations Cup, and were the first African team to reach the quarterfinals in the World Cup (lost 3-2 to England in extra time in 1990). In addition, Cameroon has the record of the most World Cup appearances by an African team with 6 (1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010).

Les Lions Indomptables have long been an African soccer power, but ever since they failed to qualify to the 2006 World Cup, their dominance has been threatened by rising teams such as Ivory Coast and Ghana. But what is more alarming, is their recent form ahead of the World Cup. They started off their preparation this year with three consecutive ties (0-0 versus Italy and Georgia and 1-1 versus Slovakia) and two losses (3-1 versus Portugal and 4-3 versus Serbia). In addition, Cameroon's all-time scorer and leader Samuel Eto'o threaten to walk off the squad ahead of the tournament after receiving criticism from his compatriot and living-legend striker Roger Milla.

My player to watch for Cameroon is Eto'o. The 29-year-old striker is fresh off another treble season with Internazionale (Also won the treble last year with FC Barcelona) and is one of the most consistant forwards in soccer. However, what Milla said about Eto'o achieving just about everything with Inter and Barcelona but not accomplishing anything with Cameroon is true. It will be interesting to follow Eto'o and see if he will silence his critics this year at the World Cup. I choose Cameroon to place second in the group.

Photo: Eto'o with Cameroon in a friendly game against Italy (By Lionel Cironneau/AP Photo).

Finally, the last team to analyze in the group is Japan. The three-time Asian champions will participate in their fourth World Cup (Have consecutively qualified to the tournament since their first appearance in 1998). Although Japan has become a regional giant in Asia, they have failed to compete in international tournaments. Their best result in the international scene came in 2001 when they were runners-up in the Confederation Cup (lost 1-0 to France in the final) and have only won two games at the World Cup (in 2002 when they were co-host with South Korea).

The Samuri Blue are regarded as the weakest team in the group, and probably in the tournament as well. Japan were the first team to qualify to the 2010 World Cup other than the host, and finished in second place in their qualifying group after Australia. However, they have only won 3 out of the 10 games they have played this year, and are currently on a four-game losing streak which have all featured World Cup teams (3-0 versus Serbia, 2-0 versus South Korea, 2-1 versus England and 2-0 versus the Ivory Coast).

My player to watch for Japan is Shunsuke Nakamura. The 31-year-old midfielder has great vision of the field and excellent ball touch. He primairly plays on the wing, and is deadly on set-pieces and freekicks. The former Reggina and Celtic player has been the symbol of Japanese football along with former midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, and was the first Japanese player to score in the Champions League. His experience and leadership will be helpful to his team as they must obtain a favorable result against Cameroon in their first game if they want to advance in the tournament. However, I see Japan not obtaining a win in the World Cup and ending in last place of their group.

Photo: Nakamura in action for Japan in an Asian Cup qualifying match (By Shuji Kajiyama/AP Photo).

Best jerseys at the World Cup!

Soccer jerseys represent tradition, pride, and a nation's hope in the World Cup. Every four years, the national teams unveil their new "skins" at the tournament that will attract soccer fans from all over the world. For this summer's tournament, nations will take up new designs and colors in their jerseys for a modern style that will bring awes from fans and consumers all over.

1. Mexico's Away Jersey
This will be the first time Mexico will use black as their alternate color. Due to the fact that they will be playing the inauguration game against South Africa (whose home jersey is yellow with green), Mexico is not able to use its traditional white color scheme for their away jersey. This gave Adidas the opportunity to take a risk in going with black, and Mexican fans and critics all over the world are enjoying the change.

2. England's Away Jersey
Umbro designed an elegant, fit-sized jersey for the English players. This new modern look is being picked up by other designers, and the fans of the Three Lions will wear this jersey proudly.

3. Spain's Away Jersey

Spain will use a nice dark blue jersey that will contrast the nation's colors of red and yellow. The V-neck collar gives the jersey a great modern touch.

4. Germany's Home Jersey

Germany's home jersey is a nice, clean jersey that will surely need a wash after each game. The three stripes going down the right side of the jersey with the DFB badge give a nice touch of elegance and pride to Die Mannschaft.

5. United State's Away Jersey

The U.S. will have a great dark blue jersey that samples the template from the 1950 World Cup Jersey with a diagonal white stripe that will be one-of-a-kind at the tournament.

6. South Korea's Home Jersey

Using a nice red to contrast the blue and white from the shorts, the tiger-striped design in the jersey will surely inspire the Koreans to be fierce competitors at this year's tournament.

7. Italy's Home Jersey

The current world champions are always one of the tournament's most fashionable teams, and this year will be no exception. Using their classic royal blue color scheme, the collar has an elegant "W-neck" shape with hints of the nation's colors on it. In addition, their new fourth star on the badge will debut in the tournament.

8. Ivory Coast's Away Jersey

The Ivory Coast will be showing off a beautiful green and white striped jersey that will resemble the terrain of their country. The Elephants will be representing their country and continent proudly with this shirt.

9. Portugal's Away Jersey

This shirt will be most wanted in the Iberian Peninsula and among young female fans around the world due to Cristiano Ronaldo. The white jersey with the green and maroon vertical stripe is a perfect design for a team that has a lot of hope for this year's World Cup.

10. Brazil's Away Jersey
And finally, no list is completed without naming Brazil somehow in a World Cup article. The five-time world champions will wear a tradition blue away jersey with a modern fit-sized style that has flavor of Samba just like their footwork.

All photos are from soccer.com

Group D analysis

In Group D, we find one of the more balanced and competitive groups in the World Cup. Germany, Australia, Ghana and Serbia will give us some of the most exciting games in the tournament and it will be hard to distinguish who will advance from this group. Although the Germans are one of football's superpowers, the other three teams are rising organizations that will give them a run for their money in the tournament.

Let's start off with Germany. One of the most successful and consistent teams in soccer, they have won the World Cup three times (1954, 1974 and 1990), the European championship three times (1972, 1980 and 1996) and have only been eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup once (1938)! Even more impressive, from the 17 World Cups they have appeared (withdrew from the tournament in 1930 and were banned in 1950), they have reached the semifinals a record 11 times (including 7 final appearances)! As Gary Lineker once said, "football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end the Germans win."

Die Mannschaft have a traditional soccer style with a 4-4-2 formation, in which they play organized, strong and fast-paced football. Although they have never been recognized to boast a "flashy", fancy style, they deliver results with precise offense. But in the past month, the team has recently suffered the loss of their captain Michael Ballack to an ankle injury. His leadership and experience absent in the center-midfield can prove costly to the team's dynamics. Also, head coach Joachim Low faces the problem of not having a strong front line. With forwards such as Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Mario Gomez, Germany should have one of the scariest offense in the tournament. However, all of three players had a bad season in the Bundesliga, in which Klose and Podolski only scored 5 goals between them in their respective clubs, and Gomez saw much of the benched in the latter part of the season. Low now faces the dilemma of either counting on his three preferred forwards who have been slumping, or looking to untested players such as Thomas Muller and Cacau (Muller has only 1 cap for Germany, Cacau has 6) to solve their offensive problems.

My player to watch for Germany is Mesut Ozil. The 21-year-old midfielder impressed last year at the U-21 European championship, where he shined in the 4-0 victory over England in the final. Ozil works well as an attacking midfielder or as a winger. Although he may be inconsistent, he has the ability to change the tempo and dimension of attack with his speed and great ball work. But with the loss of Ballack, Ozil might have to take control of the midfield. I choose Germany to win Group D.

Photo: Germany in a training session (By Kerstin Joensson/AP Photo)

The second team in this group is Australia who will be participating in their third World Cup. After reaching their first tournament in Germany 1974, they had to wait 32 years to reach their second appearance in 2006. The Australians had a very difficult road to reach their past two tournaments, due to their participation in the OFC (Oceania Confederation), where only one representative was allowed in the World Cup after a series of playoff fixtures against the last-placed teams of the CONCACAF (North and Central America) and CONEMBOL (South America) confederations. However, after joining AFC (Asian confederation) at the end of 2006, Australia had an easier road to the World Cup, where four teams of this confederation qualify automatically to the tournament (Australia finished in first place of their qualification group).

The Socceroos are looking to imitate their success from 2006; they picked up their first World Cup victory in their history (a 3-1 vicotry who came from behind versus Japon ) and advanced to the second round in which they lost in a controversial game to Italy (Italy received a penalty in the stoppage time of the game, in which Francesco Totti scored in the 95 minute to win 1-0). Head coach Pim Verbeek has selected 14 players who were featured in the 2006 edition for his 30-man preliminary roster in his search for experience from players as Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano, but has also turned to youth for speed and ability from players as James Holland and Nikita Rukavytsya.

My player to watch for Australia is Tim Cahill. The 30-year-old midfield has become a prominent player for his nation and club at Everton in the English Premier League. He is an attacking midfield who can score like a striker. Although he lacks the abilities that of a true "10" attacking midfielder, his dedication and tireless efforts can lead Australia to a consecutive second round appearance in the World Cup. However, with a tough first game against Germany that can prove pivotal, I see the Socceroos not finishing in second place in the group and losing out of the tournament.
Photo: Tim Cahill in a training for Australia (By Mick Tsikas/Reuters)

Next, let's look at one of the world's rising teams, Ghana. The Four-time African were FIFA's most improved team in 2005 and made their first World Cup appearance in 2006. After starting with a loss to eventually champions Italy (2-0), Ghana defeated Czech Republic (2-0) and the United States (2-1) to be the only African team to move on to the second round (Ivory Coast, Togo, Angola and Tunisia were eliminated in the group stages) where they eventually loss to Brazil (3-0). For this year's edition, they were the first team to qualify to this year's World Cup from their continent (South Africa qualified automatically because they are the host nation) with a 4-1-1 record.

However, the Black Stars have recently obtained a major setback to their World Cup aspirations, the loss of Michael Essien. The 27-year-old Chelsea midfield suffered a knee injury earlier this year while playing for Ghana at the African Cup, but was not able to recover for this summer's tournament. Essien is the heart of the team in the midfield and as a leader, and will be one the the world's best players missing in the tournament. Although head coach Milovan Rajevac might have been aware that Essien would not be fit for the World Cup, he has selected a 23-man roster that is still capable of competing at the highest level with speed, strength and youth (The average age in the roster is 24).

My player to watch for Ghana is Sulley Muntari. The 25-year-old is capable of player central or left midfield, and has just finished off a victorious season with Internazionale (Inter captured a treble season winning the Serie A, the Italian Cup and the UEFA Champions League). With Essien out of the tournament, Muntari will have a more central midfield role to play in and will be looked upon for his experience. However, I believe that the Black Stars will not be capable to cope with Essien's loss, and will be one of the African teams to be eliminated in the group stage.
Photo: Ghana in action at the African Nations Cup (By Amr Abdallah/Reuters)

The last team of the group is Serbia, who is another team that is rising in the international scene from Europe. They are currently ranked 15th in the world by FIFA, and had an excellent World Cup qualification run by winning their group with a 7-1-2 record, dumping France in second place to play an elimination playoff. Although this will be their first time in the tournament as independent Serbia, they have played as SFR Yugoslavia (1950-1990), FR Yugoslavia (1994-2002) and Serbia and Montenegro (2006).

The Beli Orlovi is comprised of a talented squad, worthy of competing with any team in the tournament. They have a solid defense with English Premier League duo, Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, along with rising 21-year-old Neven Subotic impressing in his 11 caps. They have a talented midfield with a treble-winner of their own in Dejan Stankovic, who also had a great season with Internazionale as a defensive midfielder. In addition, although they might not have world-name strikers, Nikola Zigic and Danko Lazovic are both dependable forwards that can lead the attack for the Serbians.

My player to watch for this team is Nemanja Vidic. The first defender I have chosen to watch for in the tournament, Vidic is a strong player with GQ Magazine calling him a "brutish enforcer with a look to match." The 28-year-old defender has made a powerful partnership with English teammate Rio Ferdinand in Manchester United as one of the most-feared central-backs for their "no-nonsense" defending. In addition, Vidic was part the Serbian defense that only allowed one goal in 10 games in the qualification run to the 2006 World Cup, and is determined to bring that strong defense back to Serbia for this year's tournament. I choose Serbia to take second place in Group D.
Photo: Nemanja Vidic(R) in action against South Korea (By Eddie Keogh/Reuters)

Group C analysis

In Group C, we will have one of the most anticipated matches in the World Cup since the lottery was announced back in December, England versus the United States. Both teams are favorites to take the group, but can face some difficulty from Algeria and Slovenia who won't go without a fight.

First, let's look at one of the favorites to win the tournament, England. After failing to qualify to the European Championship in 2008, they did a 180-turn in their qualification round to the World Cup with Italian head coach Fabio Capello. They finished with a 9-0-1 record, scored 36 goals and received 6, and won Croatia twice (4-1, 5-1) who were the culprits that had eliminated the English from attending Euro '08. Capello has changed their football mentality with solid defense and a more creative attacking style.

The Three Lions are running on a 44-year run since their last World Cup championship when they hosted the tournament in 1966. They are credited as the creators of the game and arguably have the best football league in the world (English Premier League); however, they have failed to get past the quarterfinals round since 1990 (Failed to qualify to the '94 World Cup, lost to Argentina in round of 16 in '98, lost to Brazil and Portugal in quarterfinals in the '02 and '06 quarterfinals, respectively). But this can be the year they can end their poor run in the tournament with great coaching and a mix of experienced players, like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand, and young talent, like Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon and Adam Johnson.

My player to watch for England is Wayne Rooney. A personal favorite of mine, he first broke out to the football world in 2004 in the European championship when he scored 4 goals, and then transferred to Manchester United. Now Rooney, after a strong season at his club team where he scored a personal record of 34 goals, is ready to lead the attack for the Three Lions. I chose them to win the group.

Photo: Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney(L) and Rio Ferdinand training for England (By Darren Staples/Reuters)

The next team is the United States. After a disappointing World Cup in 2006, the U.S. is set to have a great tournament. The team and players have made strong progress since '06, winning the 2007 CONCACAF Gold cup, qualifying in first place in the CONCACAF and making their first final in a FIFA tournament last year in the Confederations Cup (They lost 3-2 to Brazil).

However, they will face England in their first game. This match will be crucial (have never qualified to the second round of the World Cup when losing their first match) and will set the tone for the rest of the tournament. They will most likely play as how they did against Spain last year (won the game 2-0 in the Confederation Cup semifinals) and will hold strong in the back and look for counter-attack offense. They will have to depend on a strong striker since Charlie Davies will miss the tournament (suffered a car accident last year), and will probably count on 20-year-old Jozy Altidore to spearhead the attack. It will be interesting to see the Americans try to pull an upset a la 1950.

My player to watch for this tournament is Clint Dempsey. The 27-year-old forward is coming off a great season for Fulham in the English Premier League, and is a tough, versatile player who can create great opportunities when attacking from the wings. Although all eyes will be on Landon Donovan as the leader of the team, Dempsey will be ready to prove his worth as one of the best to have played for the Bars and Stripes. I chose the U.S. to finish second in Group C.

Photo: Clint Dempsey(R) in action with Fulham (By Ian Kington/AFP)

If any one knows anything about bringing an upset, it's Algeria. The African team delivered won of the greatest upsets in the history of the World Cup in 1982 when they defeated West Germany 2-1 in their first tournament appearance (West Germany later went on to lose the final against Italy). But once a rising and dominant power house in Africa (Continent champions in '90, second place in '80 and two third place in '84/'88) and having consecutive World Cup qualifications in the 1980s (Spain '82 and Mexico '86), Les Fennecs have failed to make another tournament appearance until 2010.

Algeria finished with an exact 4-1-1 record as Egypt in the qualification round to the World Cup, and had to face each other in a tiebreaker playoff fixture. Algeria won the tie breaker and qualified to the tournament; however, they have failed to maintain their form and have been inconsistent in recent months (Egypt took revenge earlier this year when they beat Algeria 4-0 in the African Cup semifinals). A recent 3-0 loss to Serbia has also prompted concern for the African team. If they want to progress to a second round appearance, they will have to defeat Slovenia in their opening match and hold strong against England and the U.S. in the following matches, respectively.

My player to watch for Les Fennecs is Karim Ziani. The 27-year-old Paris native has great ball conduction and attacking mentality. He transferred to German Bundesliga club Wolfsburg last summer from French Ligue 1 for 7 million euros. His participation in the European Champions League will bring experience to the Algerian midfield, and can lead the counter attack against England and the U.S. However, I believe they will fail to advance to the second round of the tournament.

Photo: Karim Ziani in action for Algeria at the African Cup (By Rafael Marchante/Reuters)

Now let's look at the final team of the group, Slovenia. Since the downfall of Yugoslavia in 1991, Slovenia played their first official match the following year. They are the smallest nation in regards to area (7,872 sq. miles!) and are one of the youngest nations (18 years since formation!) in the World Cup. However, they are one of the world's fastest growing soccer squads (Ranked 23 in the world by FIFA since April 2010) as they prepare to participate in their third major tournament (Have only played in the '00 European Championship and '02 World Cup).

In reaching their second World Cup appearance, they finished in second place with the best defense (4 goals against) in their qualification group. Then, they won heavily-favored Russia in a playoff tie to reach the tournament. However, they will have to rely on their defense in order to obtain positive results against the English and American offenses they will face. In addition, their core squad consists of young players like Bojan Jokic and Valter Birsa who must be ready to play quick, fast-paced football.

My player to watch for Slovenia is Robert Koren. The 27-year-old was recently released by his English club team West Bromwich Albion, but his experience in the Premier League will be essential when he clashes with the Three Lions midfield. He is a consistent playmaker, and has recently stated that Slovenia should not be looked over in the group stage. Their young team and ambitions will give them a great run in the World Cup; however, I see them falling short and finishing 3rd in the group.

Photo: Robert Koren(Center) and his Slovenian teammates (By AP Photo)

Group B analysis

In Group B, we will see one of the best teams to follow: Argentina. They will be joined by Nigeria, South Korea and Greece, and are unprecedentedly favorites to win the group. Los Ches will have to overcome many factors if they will want to walk away with the World Cup, so let's begin the analysis with them.

Argentina had a rough road to reach the World Cup after finishing fourth in the South American qualification round. After a run of poor form, Alfio Basile resigned as head coach of the national team, and living-legend Diego Armando Maradona took hold of the post. The 1986 World Cup winner won his first three games at the helm, but after suffering a 6-1 defeat to Bolivia, has received much criticism for his team selections and style of play.

However, Argentina's poor form should be diminished as the World Cup arrives. After an 1-0 away victory to Germany last month, it seems as if the tide has turn and Maradona has finally settled on a first team selection. It seems he will have a 4-4-2 formation with Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain and FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi spearheading the attack. In addition, the midfield should also be solid with veteran Juan Sebastian Veron and Javier Mascherano set to be the brain of the team. Although, Maradona's decision to leave the Inter Milan duo of Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso can prove decisive in the defensive and possession aspect, and could be critical in the playoff phases of the tournament.

My player to watch for Argentina is Lionel Messi. The back-to-back FIFA World Player of the year has just finished another victorious season with Barcelona after crowning their second consecutive league championship (fourth in six years) and winning his first Pichichi Trophy for top-league scorer (34 goals). This will be the 22-year-old's second World Cup, and is a top candidate to win the Golden Boot (Best player of the tournament award). However, Messi has been criticized for not performing to the top of his level with Argentina as he does with his club team. Described as the "new Maradona", a World Cup victory can improve his credentials to that comparison, and even surpass his coach as one of the best players to ever play soccer. I choose Argentina to win Group B.

Photo: Lionel Messi celebrating his goal for FC Barcelona (By Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)

Los Che's first opponent in the tournament will be Nigeria. The Africans have long been regarded as the best team from their continent, but have long lost their supremacy after missing the 2006 World Cup. However, this group will be a great chance for the team to build confidence as they search to give a great performance.

It is important to recognize that 29 out of the 30 players on the provisional roster play in Europe (Defender Terna Suswam plays in Nigeria for Lobi Stars FC). This means they will have the quality to play against top-quality teams, such as Argentina. Their most recognized player is 23-year-old John Mikel Obi who currently plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League. Although he is not a consistent started for the team, the former African Youth Player of the Year (2005, 2006) has matured and is capable of leading the midfield for the Super Eagles.

My player to watch for Nigeria will be 25-year-old Obafemi Martins. He currently sits as the fifth top scorer for the Super Eagles with 16 goals, and is in great condition to top the record of 37. Martins currently plays for Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga, but has failed to meet expectations this past season due to the great season teammate by Brazilian Grafite. However, Martins possesses the speed and goal execution that can help take Nigeria to the second round. I choose Nigeria to the second place in this group.

Photo: Nigeria in action at the African Cup of Nations (By Themba Hadebe/AP Photo)

South Korea will be featured in their seventh consecutive World Cup. However, history has shown that the Asians will not advance past the group stage at the tournament. Since 1986, the Taegeuk Jeonsa have only gone through to the second round once in 2002, where they were co-host with Japan and finished in fourth place. But even more astonishing is that fact they have only won once in the group stage (2-1 victory over Togo in 2006), excluding the 2002 edition when they had home-field advantage.

However, there recent form makes them a strong contender to advance to the second round. On a current three-game winning streak, including a 2-0 victory over the Ivory Coast in London, they have only lost three of their past 17 games. Captain and Manchester United midfield Park Ji-Sung is coming off a great season in the English Premier League, and can lead South Korea to the second round for the first time outside their home soil.

My player to watch for South Korea is Park Chu-Young. The 24-year-old Daego native currently plays for AS Monaco in the French Ligue 1. He posses great speed and agility, and can play as either a striker or winger. Although he lacks the goal-scoring capacity of a true striker, his tactical and effective passing can create danger against any opponent. They will face Greece in their first match, and if they win the match, can gain confidence to give Argentina an upset loss or tie. However, I believe that they will not get passed the group stage in the tournament.

Photo: Chu-Young in action with AS Monaco (By Michel Spingler/AP Photo)

The last team to analyze in Group B is Greece. The 2004 European champions are seen as the weakest team in this group and have a 33 percent chance to get past the group (espnsoccernet.com). The 2010 World Cup will be their second tournament appearence in their history, with their first being in 1994 where they lost all their group games.

Although they qualified to the tournament after a 1-0 playoff tie against Ukraine, Greece had a successful qualifying round with a 7-3-2 overall record. Midfield veteran Giorgos Karagounis was part of the 2004 European championship team, and can lead the Greeks to another dark horse run. The former Inter Milan and Benfica player, who is remembered for his opening goal of the 2004 Euro tournament against Portugal), is a good attacking midfielder that can help his stikers in break away situations since they will be held back against Argentina and Nigeria.

My player to watch for the galanoleyki is Theofanis Gekas. The striker, who currently plays for Hertha BSC in the German Bundesliga, was the top scorer in the European qualification section for 2010 FIFA World Cup with 10 goals. Although he has struggled in Germany after signing with the team mid-season, Gekas has great speed and will be an important factor for the Greeks when they try to play counter-attack against Argentina and Nigeria. However, I do not seem them picking up a single point in the tournament.

Photo: Greece before a FIFA Qualification game (By Petro Giannakouris/AP Photo)

Group A Analysis

Group A is probably one of the most equal groups in this year's tournament. The four teams will face different challenges at every game and will be one of the best groups to follow.

Let's start off with the host. South Africa will be participating in their third World Cup in the past 12 years, failing to qualify to the 2006 tournament. However, Bafana Bafana may have the luxury of home field advantage (No host nation has never been eliminated in the first round). This will help motivate the team to perform well and seek to take control of games, especially as the reecent goal drought has them under fire. The team's undefeated streak in the past five games, including an impressive 1-1 away draw to Paraguay, has seen the team's chemistry improving.

In addition, last year's FIFA Confederation Cup gave South Africa the opportunity to get rid of its "major tournament" jitters out of the way. Although they lost the 3rd-place match to European Champions Spain, the South Africans did not enjoy a successful tournament. They walked away with only one win, one tie and three losses. But the home field advantage pressure might have been loosen up, although the Confederation Cup is not the same as a World Cup.

My player to watch for South Africa will be Steven Pineaar, the 28-year-old midfielder who plays for Everton in the English Premier League. Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo has also tipped Pineaar to star in the tournament calling him a "fantastic [and] skillful player." However, I believe South Africa will become the first host nation not to qualify to the second round. They will need a victory over Mexico in the opening match, and a tie or loss will leave Bafana Bafana against the ropes the whole tournament.
Photo: Pineaar with Everton (By Paul Ellis/AFP)

Mexico will attend the tournament with great confidence after having scares of not qualifying to the tournament. Javier Aguirre is the fourth coach for Mexico in the past four years after disappointing tenures by ex-Real Madrid player Hugo Sanchez and ex-England coach Sven-Govan Eriksson left the team in fourth place in the CONCACAF. But Aguirre, who also coached Mexico in the 2002 World Cup, changed the team's fortune and attitude in the final stages of qualifying round (including a 3-0 victory in Costa Rica) and winning the CONCACAF's Gold Cup.

El Tri did not enjoy a smooth ride in the first round of the 2006 World Cup. They opened the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Iran, but failed to impress in the following matches with a 0-0 draw to Angola and 2-1 loss to Portugal. They qualified to the second round, but crashed in overtime in a 2-1 loss to Argentina in one of the most exciting games of the tournament (Argentina/Mexico highlights). Much is expected of the Mexicans, who now have 9 regulars playing in Europe, instead of just two in 2006, and must perform at a higher level.

My player to watch for Mexico will be Giovanni Dos Santos, the 20-year-old forward who currently plays in Turkey. Dos Santos developed in the FC Barcelona's youth camp before joining the senior team and having a short stint for Tottenham in the English Premier League. Compared to Ronaldinho when both were at Barcelona for looks and style of play, Dos Santos lead Mexico to the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship and won the silver boot award for being the second best player of the tournament. A core of young players, including Andres Guadardo and Efrain Juarez, and veterans, as Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Rafael Marquez, will have a balanced team of experience and youth to help them advance to the second round of the tournament.
Photo: Dos Santos (left) with Blanco (By Claudio Cruz/AP Photo)

Uruguay is also set to make a great run at the World Cup. Although it did not automatically qualify to the tournament (won the playoff fixture with Costa Rica), the team has been inform and boast a great attacking partnership with Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan.

Although internationally not recognized as a super power in soccer, Uruguay has won the World Cup twice, including the first tournament in 1930. However, the 2010 World Cup will be their second tournament in 16 years (Did not qualify in '94, '98 or '06). Their coach, Oscar Tabarez, has told his players to seek their team's history as a source of motivation as they are also seen as underdogs (Have not reached further than the second round since Mexico '70).

My player to watch for Uruguay is Diego Forlan. After a disappointing stint in Manchester United, scoring only 10 goals from 2002-2004, Forlan scored 54 goals for Villareal from 2004-2007 and 66 goals for Atletico Madrid from 2007-2010. He also won the Spanish league's Pichichi Trophey for top scorer in 2005 and 2009. Forlan will spearhead the attack with Suarez, who also had a great season with Ajax in Holland. I choose Uruguay to as the second team from this group to qualify to the second round.

Photo: Forlan in action with Atletico Madrid (By Paul White/AP)

France's controversial qualification and recent form has cast doubts on the team for a successful tournament. France failed to automatically qualify to the tournament and was forced to a playoff fixture with the Republic of Ireland. France won the first leg in Ireland 1-0, but in the second leg tied 1-1 after the game went into extra game. Les Bleus were losing 1-0 at the end of regulation (1-1 aggregate score), and in extra time, scored the equalizer (2-1 aggregate score) after Thierry Henry used his hand to control the ball and set up for an assist for the goal that gave them the ticket to South Africa.

France's recent form and morale has been under fire due to their head coach, Raymond Domenech. Being in the helm since 2004, his team selections and tactics have been questioned by the French media and fans, and has had public disputes with ex-players such as Ludovic Guily, Claude Makelele and David Trezeguet. Furthermore, after reaching the 2006 World Cup final, in the 2008 European tournament, France were eliminated in the group stage with only 1 point.

My player to watch for France is Frank Ribery. He will seek to lead his team to a good showing after a disappointing Euro '08 and qualification round. However, he has been under investigation after an underage prostitution scandal along with other National French teammates that has shadowed the team. Also, he has been suited by many teams to a record-breaking transfer to either Real Madrid, Barcelona or Chelsea from Bayern Munich. Although France have the skill and experience to turn the tide at the tournament, I believe that poor coaching and lack of leadership will see the French out of the tournament in the first round.

Photo: Ribery with Bayern Munich (By Christophe Simon/AFP)

Group A: Mexico and Uruguay qualify to second round; South Africa and France eliminated.