It is very rare for the pre-tournament favourite to win a World Cup. It is also very rare that there isn’t at least one that performs above expectations and causes a shock or two. With this in mind, it seems about time to look beyond the teams everybody is talking about.
Spain, Brazil, England and Argentina are the four favourites in the World Cup odds. They go into the biggest competition in football with a decent amount of confidence, and although there are some doubts over the last two of the sides, punters still expect them to overcome their problems.
So which team might push these four and give themselves a genuine chance of lifting the trophy next month? Personally, I think Holland could surprise a few people and have made them my football tips for the tournament. Not many pundits have spoken about their chances, but there is no way they should be ignored.
Their manager, Bert Van Marwjik enjoyed a 100 per cent record in qualifying and he is certainly a manager with a growing reputation. He has been in charge since 2008 and it would have all been leading up to this tournament, so his squad will be fully prepared.
Their players rival the best around for talent as well. Just one glance at the talent they have picked for South Africa tells you that, with names like Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder leaping from the page.
One issue for Holland could be that of the group they find themselves in - it isn’t an easy one. They will face Cameroon, Denmark and Japan in Group E and even though they are favourites to top the group, they will have to be on their game to defeat three determined sides.
The group stages of major competitions aren’t normally an issue for Holland though. In Euro 2008, they topped a group containing Italy and France. Prior to that, they sailed through the Group of Death in the 2006 World Cup.
It is the next stage of the competitions that they have struggled in. Whatever they have promised in the first three games, they have fallen flat on their feet when it comes the pressure of knockout matches.
Perhaps the way they have kept a lid on their expectations and hopes for this particular tournament is an indicator that they will not get ahead of themselves if they reach the last 16. It will be a case of taking each game as it comes and using the talent they have in the team to progress.
Should the likes of van Persie and Robben stay fit and they manage to stay solid defensively, there is no doubt that this Holland team - which has shown a new sense of unity in recent months - can go all the way.
Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk
Spain, Brazil, England and Argentina are the four favourites in the World Cup odds. They go into the biggest competition in football with a decent amount of confidence, and although there are some doubts over the last two of the sides, punters still expect them to overcome their problems.
So which team might push these four and give themselves a genuine chance of lifting the trophy next month? Personally, I think Holland could surprise a few people and have made them my football tips for the tournament. Not many pundits have spoken about their chances, but there is no way they should be ignored.
Their manager, Bert Van Marwjik enjoyed a 100 per cent record in qualifying and he is certainly a manager with a growing reputation. He has been in charge since 2008 and it would have all been leading up to this tournament, so his squad will be fully prepared.
Their players rival the best around for talent as well. Just one glance at the talent they have picked for South Africa tells you that, with names like Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder leaping from the page.
One issue for Holland could be that of the group they find themselves in - it isn’t an easy one. They will face Cameroon, Denmark and Japan in Group E and even though they are favourites to top the group, they will have to be on their game to defeat three determined sides.
The group stages of major competitions aren’t normally an issue for Holland though. In Euro 2008, they topped a group containing Italy and France. Prior to that, they sailed through the Group of Death in the 2006 World Cup.
It is the next stage of the competitions that they have struggled in. Whatever they have promised in the first three games, they have fallen flat on their feet when it comes the pressure of knockout matches.
Perhaps the way they have kept a lid on their expectations and hopes for this particular tournament is an indicator that they will not get ahead of themselves if they reach the last 16. It will be a case of taking each game as it comes and using the talent they have in the team to progress.
Should the likes of van Persie and Robben stay fit and they manage to stay solid defensively, there is no doubt that this Holland team - which has shown a new sense of unity in recent months - can go all the way.
Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk