"You Must Be Crazy..."

Odler · #1 06-16-02, 01:57 AM

?You must be crazy?? That would be your reply to anyone who would have told you two weeks ago that France, Argentine, and Portugal would be eliminated on the first round of the World Cup XVII. These three teams along with Cameroon gave the best performance in the world over the four years preceding the Cup.

Now their elimination is history and will make history. The phase of 32 is also over; half of them are gone, that is sixteen sides are left standing. Who will be the reigning kings for the next four years?

Once again, my guess is as good as yours. On the view of the first round, the best teams are Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and Senegal.

Brazil has not proven anything, since it has not played a single European team; I still believe it will not reached the semis. The Brazilians performed like millionaires who have no interest in getting injured. They don?t belong to the flag; they belong to their rich European club. And the bonuses promised by Brasilia, in the eventuality of a victory, are pocket changes in comparison to their salaries. No thanks!

Senegal will probably be beaten by Sweden. It is not believable that the Cinderellas will go all the way.

Mexico has never been able to digest Italy and Germany.

South Korea plays extremely well, but the team ran short of inspiration in the U.S game.

Then, there are England and Spain: perennial underachievers.

Now let me share my hunch with you, with the certainty that I will be wrong: The Cup will go to either Japan, Germany, or Italy. Why?

Because Germany plays exactly the same way it played in 1990 when it won its last Cup. Because Italy plays exactly the same way it played in 1982 when it won its last Cup, qualifying in extremis for the second tour. Finally, because Japan plays exactly the same way France plays in 1998; exactly the same way, getting confidence as the tournament progresses, and as its public starting believing, turns emotional...

Watch out for Italy, but what if Japan?? Well, I have a dream, if I tell you will say: ?You must be crazy??

http://www.jeanlouie.com/

(OdlerRobert Jeanlouie, Friday, June 14, 2002)