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The Dark Horses

Notes On A Small Tournament by Bluebeard
Every four years, the World Cup
tosses up some genuinely exciting
new teams. Realistically, each time
the tournament rolls around, the
potential winners will come from
just six or seven countries, but each time too there are
the dark horses. Teams like Bulgaria in 1994, Croatia
in ‘98, Turkey in 2002, or last time, Uruguay. Teams
who could conceivably make the semis – or failing that,
entertain greatly trying – but are hard to credit as
a genuine contender. These are the teams I generally
enjoy watching most of all.

Nigeria and Ghana represent Africa’s best hopes in
Brazil. Nigeria don’t have the stars they did in ‘94, or
‘98, but manager and former captain Stephen Keshi
has built a proper team, winning the recent Cup of
Nations. Facing Iran first, then Bosnia should help, and
the frequent clashes with Argentina will make this not
just a group decider, but a potential signature match
for both teams. Ameobi recently declared for them,
and John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses are the EPL
stars, but CSKA’s young winger Ahmed Musa is worth
watching. Ghana face one of the toughest groups, but
may have the robustness and experience to progress.
They cruised through qualification, and destroyed
otherwise unbeaten Egypt in the playoffs. Essien and
the Boatengs are at the heart of a squad mostly coming
from middling to good European teams, with many
going to the World Cup for the 2nd
or 3rd time.

Take Chile. Under Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure, Chile
became a really entertaining team to watch. Continuing
under Jorge Sampaoli, they have lost only three times
in his 15 games in charge: away from home by a single
goal to Peru, Brazil and Germany.
They’ll want to improve on the last
16 this time, and Barcelona’s Alexis
Sánchez will be a key to that –
Belgium are favorites to be the
though only 25, he’s their second most
dark horse team. After years in the
experienced player, and on course
wilderness, a Belgian international
to being Chile’s greatest ever. Their
is the must-have accessory for any
South American rivals, Uruguay, have
club with ambitions these days. They
their names well established already
cantered through qualification, and
– Cavani, Suarez, Forlan as impact
they have some fantastic players.
sub, and others at top clubs have
Fantastic enough to win it out? Not
recently propelled them to 4th at
at all, but they should entertain,
the World Cup and Confederations
perhaps as far as the semis if Lukaku
Cup, and Copa América Champions
or Benteke can score consistently.
too. Beaten only once since that
Eight of their 2008 Olympic squad
Milan’s Keisuke Honda will be
Confederations Cup, they’ve got
are likely to go to Brazil, Kompany
part of a Japan attack worth
to be aiming at quarter finals –
and Fellaini were the key men then,
watching this summer
impressive given Uruguay has only
as now.
half of this island’s population.
Honduras are a wild card. Not a major CONCACAF
Group C should be fun. Both Colombia and Japan power, but a hard side to break down, and happy
are playing great football and will meet in the group to mix it up. While far from pretty, they get results,
decider. Ranked 5th by FIFA, Colombia fancy their including coming from behind to beat Mexico at the
chances, though the last time they were this popular Azteca. France, Switzerland and Ecuador could be
going into the World Cup was 1994, and that an easy group on the way to a surprising run. Not
didn’t turn out well. They’ll probably be missing their many familiar names here, mostly playing in the US
penetrative force with Falcao injured, but they are still or Honduras, but interestingly, four of the Palacios
a formidable side, with Fredy Guarín pulling the strings, brothers have played for their country, and three of
and this could be a chance for Jackson Martínez to them will probably go to Brazil – Wilson is the best and
shine. FIFA rate Japan only 48th in the world, but recent best known of them, playing now for Stoke. Look out
performances against generally good teams suggests also for Anderlecht’s Andy Najar on the wing, hopefully
otherwise, especially in November against Belgium he will take his chance to grace the world stage.
and the Netherlands, and even in their Confederations
Cup defeats. First to qualify, this may be the Japanese Next time out, I look at the credible contenders. If you
golden generation, and with Endo, Honda, and Kagawa want to know why, find me at btid.net, or on twitter @
in midfield and Okazaki up top they’re exciting to bluebeardrex.
watch. The current Asian and East Asian champions
have a lot of experienced, yet young enough, players,
and this could be their big breakthrough.

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