WORLD CUP: ARGENTINA AND FRANCE HAVE THE QUALITY TO OVERCOME RECENT POOR FORM

By Guilaine Le Moustre

With the World Cup only four days away the excitement of watching the games is growing with each passing second. Every game. As most of you know, there are seven teams who will always be great soccer nations because of their history: Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina and France. These teams, besides being world champions,  have reached the finals or semi-finals on several occasions.
 
Six months ago it was very common to hear and read comments regarding Argentina and France’s bad development for the tournament in South Africa, either because of their coaches or players. The fact each team wasn’t clicking right because they couldn’t find the right style to play also contributed to the negative press. But isn’t it ironic how today’s best player and reigning Golden Boot holder is an Argentinean and Frenchman? (Other countries, as it stands, normally would have just 1 or 2 players as “cracks” in Europe).  

Currently this is what you have got with Argentina: Lionel Messi is the best player and he is untouchable at Barça; Gonzalo Higuain was this season Madrid’s top scorer; Carlitos Tevez was on fire in England despite suffering a knee injury; Diego Milito had the best rate scoring goals for Inter (an average of 0.8 goals per game), Di Maria scored 11 goals for Benfica this season (as a midfielder); Juan Veron won for two consecutive seasons Latin American Player of the the year, won the Libertadores with Estudiantes de La Plata and led the team to the Intercontinental cup last year.

And I’ve haven’t talked  about Javier Mascherano, Sergio Aguero, Jonas Gutierrez, Mario Bolatti and Martin Demichelis!
 
On the other hand, you’ve got Franck Ribery, unstoppable unless you commit a fault on him, Karim Benzema had an spectacular campaign in 2007-2008, being top scorer in the French national league (so sad Domenech didn’t call him, but I do understand his position); Yoann Gourcuff, has been compared to Zizou, was ranked as the best French player of the year by FFM; Andre Gignac, top scorer of last season from 2008 to 2009. Add Thierry Henry, Patrice Evra, Lassana Diarra, Jeremy Toulalan, Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka, William Gallas and you’re presented with an aray of options.

If one of these players is at his best, the whole team will catch this fever. It is inevitable.

Now comes the best … The technicians are responsible for 30% and 70% is up to the players and their performance on the field, game by game, and it’s true without those two bonding (managers and players) they won’t be able to get anywhere – even if you have the best team in the world. Besides, there is no single way of playing to obtain a victory, and Vicente del Bosque is proof of that. The secret of every coach is with his touch of magic on how to get along with their players and after how to direct the team on the field.

France and Argentina are the only two teams that have won everything for their respective Confederations: World Cup, the Confederations Cup and the Olympics –  in addition to the glasses by continent, Copa America and Eurocup.

Despite their recent poor form, the World Cup is a short tournament, and anything could happen. Especially for teams with great depth and resources at their disposal. Above all, the memory of victory!