We now have the teams who have qualified for the round of the last sixteen: A small group of certainties and a larger group of uncertainties. Although it is certain that these uncertainties exist, very little can be analysed at this time.
We have a World Cup competition in which the knockout rounds have finished, we have seen signs and events worthy of mention. We saw Brazil, for example, employing defensive tactics, but using their inborn skills, imposing their collective presence on their opponents, which mark them as a good team, but it is a team which doesn’t sparkle and in addition is vulnerable.
Argentina, meanwhile, in the favourable position of having met little opposition, imposed and generated not just respect but fear in their opponents, squashing their adversaries with sharp attacking play, capable, but without much collective feeling in the team. However, they possess an outstanding individual player, Messi, who today is making an amazing difference. With the ball at his feet he generates space, danger, disorder. He can do anything and everything. He has the magic of impredictability and everything he does is threatening, dangerous.
Germany did not keep in mind what was needed and develop from the first outing, but, however, displayed the same generout honesty which history and tradition demand of them, especially Ozil and Muller, who are capable of unbalancing their opponents, creating disorder in their adversary and are secure in and convinced of their own skills in the game.
England, on the other hand, will have to look for the miracle of becoming a competitive entity.
Mexico fielded their most fluid team to date, if we take into consideration their last appearances in a World Cup. Japan, Ghana, Paraguay, Uruguay, South Korea, Slovakia and the United States will try to shake off their role as protagonists and will fight for recognition.
© 2010 César Luis Menotti