PHOTO: SPORTINGNEWS.COM
John Nieman
With the expanded format, this could be the most wide open World Cup in my lifetime. While everyone is focusing on France, Spain, England and Argentina, it begs the question: Who else is out there and can any other nation make it to the semi-finals?
Spain and France are easily the most talented and almost prohibitive favorites. But that does not always win the day.
Personally I think that England is overrated and has a lot of problems with personnel conflict. While Argentina is more than Messi, it’s not that much more that it should be one of the top four favorites.
I believe that having Ancellotti as their manager makes Brazil far more of a contender than Argentina. Brazil may probably surprise a bunch of people if they make it to the semi-final, but I believe that, like Pochettino for the USMNT, Ancellotti is a tournament coach and that, along with a lot of very talented players, could have them go far.
A lot of fans may think that Portugal is just Cristiano Ronaldo and friends again, but they are far more than that and it should not surprise anyone for them to be in the semi-finals.
But what about some of the possible surprises? Morocco was a big surprise in the last cup and so if they were to put together a good run this time, while being something of a surprise, it would not come as a big shock. Most of Belgium’s golden generation have now moved on, but they still possess some talent and a semi-final run would be a huge upset.
Economist Joachim Klement has used a formula that uses FIFA ranking, countries’ GDP, weather, and other factors to successfully predict the last three winners of the World Cup. This cycle, he predicts that the Netherlands will prevail over Portugal.
Given that son Jeff, grandchildren Burke and Larkin, and I proudly proclaim our Dutch heritage, I wholeheartedly endorse this prediction. While it is not widely shared, it is also not unthinkable. The Dutch side includes many standout players including Virgil Van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Jeremie Frimpong and Micky van der ven at the back; Ryan Gravenberch, Quinton Timber, and Xavi Simons in midfield; and Wout Weghorst, Cody Gakpo, Brian Bobbey, and Donyell Malen at the top.
Coach Ronald Koeman was a great player in his day, but hasn’t really had great success as a coach. A World Cup championship would put him up there with the great Dutch pantheon of coaches which include Cruyff, Michels and Van Gaal.
So when Spain sputters out, and France destroys itself with infighting and England folds as it does every four years, and Argentina runs out of gas and has their goalkeeper ejected, I will be looking to Brazil, Portugal, Morocco, and especially the Netherlands to be in the semi-finals.
And I hear good things about Japan, but I just don’t know enough to put them up there. Just really looking forward to an exciting World Cup with a whole bunch of added games.