World Cup 2010: And then there was 1...

Only 7 countries that have ever won the world cup since it's inception. These are Uruguay, Italy, Brazil, England, Argentina, Germany and France. All of them except England and France have won it more than once. Technically, at every World Cup, this elite group have more chances of winning the trophy than any other country. The last time a new country won the World Cup was in 1998 when France hosted and won.

Seeing the way South Africa 2010 is shaping up, I think we might have a new name on the trophy this year. It's the way members of the elite seven have been dropping off like flies or how they are set to drop each other off that excites me.

First, France and Italy, though finallists at the last World Cup didn't even make it past their group. Oh sorry, not just that they didn't qualify, they were at the bottom of their groups. Leaving us with 5 of the elite seven making it to the round of 16.

Of the 5 in the second round, England was slated to face Germany after failing to win their group as expected. Actually that was major disappointment for me giving the new energy and fire that Fabio Capello had seemingly given these perennial under-achievers.

Well, the game with Germany is now done and dusted and the disappointment even deeper. England was whitewashed 4-1. Say what you will about Lampards disallowed goal but Germany were the more fluid side. Either ways another one of the elite 7 down leaving us with possibly 4 in the next round if Brazil beats Chile later today. I know the Chilean coach Bielsa fancies their chances. We'll see how that goes...

Taking us to the quarter finals where Uruguay face the last hope of Africa, Ghana who are bidding to be the first African team to ever enter a World Cup semi-final. My money is on Ghana to kick out another member of the elite 7 leaving us with 3.

Germany and Argentina will be slugging it out in the other semi-final march which means whatever happens, one more of the elite 7 drops out leaving us with 2.

So assuming Brazil beats Chile tonight, they'll be meeting either Netherlands or Slovakia. Slovakia, I think they'll prefer. Facing the Netherlands, they'll have their work fully cut out for them. With the Netherlands and Spain being the best teams to never have won the World Cup and given their current form, Brazil will definitely be in for a huge fight. I'll call it for Brazil though leaving 2 of the elite 7 still left.

So technically we have Spain, Portugal, Ghana and the Netherlands being the guys to stop 2 teams from the elite 7 from making it to the final again. Note that I seem to have discounted the chances of Paraguay, Japan or Slovakia from being the spoiler teams.

Perhaps I am wrong but in my opinion, in the 4 aforementioned teams lies a potential winner of this years World Cup expanding the fold to becoming the elite 8. I think it's possible and looking increasingly feasible.

Posted via email from Femi Longe's Zone