Tony Becca
THE WORLD Cup begins in Germany today, and the question on everyone's lips is: who will win the Cup? Although I believe that one of Argentina or England will win it, I would definitely love to see one of Brazil or Holland, preferably Brazil, doing so, and for one simple reason.
While Argentina and England appear stronger all-round teams, fit and well drilled and are not as defensive as, say, Italy or Germany, Brazil, and to an extent Holland, play an attractive brand of football. They are exciting and, as masters of the art, as the ambassadors of the beautiful game, it would be wonderful if the talented five-time champions lift the trophy once again.
According to coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, however, it takes more than talent to win a tournament, especially one like the World Cup, and he is right - 100 per cent so.
According to Parreira, you need a "team" to win a World Cup, that, along with a solid defence, is what he is working on, and he is correct in believing so and right in working on it.
As important as defence is, however, hopefully, Parreira, in building his defence, will not
stifle the attacking flair of his players and rob the showpiece of football of the best of football and the excitement of football.
Whatever Parreira does with his defensive line, football fans around the world are looking forward to Brazil defending the beautiful game - for the likes of Ronaldinho, Kaka, Juninho, Robinho and Ronaldo to spread the gospel of attacking play by demonstrating their skills, their deft movements, with the ball at their feet.
A few days ago Ze Roberto, another great Brazilian, said he would never like to be a defender facing a quartet like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka and Robinho, and I am positive, or almost positive, that there is hardly a defender, including a goalkeeper, in Germany who is relishing the thought of those four coming towards him and his colleagues any time in the next month.
SKILLS
Football is not a beautiful game when defenders mow down attackers - when skilful players are viciously attacked. Football is a beautiful game when the artists of the game are allowed to display their skills, and hopefully, with the assistance of the referees and without taking away the competitiveness of the tournament, they will be allowed to do so.
That is why, although I am backing Argentina with the likes of Carlos Tevez, Hernan Crespo, Pablo Aimar and Lionel Messi, and Holland with players like Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Rafael van der Vaart and Philip Cocu to win, I am looking forward to any matches involving Brazil, Holland, Portugal, Spain and why, remembering Nigeria and a 'baller like Jay Jay Okocha, I am also looking forward to matches involving not so much Tunisia and Angola, but also Ghana with Stephen Appiah, Ivory Coast with Didier Drogba and Togo with Emmanuel Adebayor.
