FIFA World Cup 2010

It's back. The world's most watched sports spectacle is just round the corner and it's coming to Africa for the first time. As I write this, national teams are arriving in South Africa being given the traditional African welcome by Zakumi, the official mascot. The final touches are being made and in a week's time, the most awaited tournament of the year will kick off. For people who have been marooned on an island or lost in the forests of South America, the FIFA World Cup 2010 is to start on June 11 and will go on till the 11th of July in South Africa.

 National teams have been announced. Players who have failed to prove their mettle have been shown the door including some controversial ones like England's Theo Walcott. Italy will be seen trying their level best to retain the title which I doubt they have a fighting chance. Winners of Euro 2008, Spain looks invincible this time and I am expecting them to strike gold in South Africa. Torres and Fabregas are sure to deliver the goods and bring home the coveted trophy. England looks like a strong squad too thanks to the replacement of Eriksson by Fabio Capello. England badly needed that. England's wonder boy, Rooney should be able to put up a great show and could bring England to the finals if excellent team work is seen with Lampard and Gerrard. Germany will be playing with a team of energetic but inexperienced youngsters with Chelsea's Michael Ballack having to skip this World Cup. The group to follow would be Group G, the group of death with big shots like Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast. Expecting thrilling games from this group. It's a pity Korea had to fall in this group. My hopes of seeing an Asian team in the semis have gone up in smoke unless Lady Luck has set her eyes on Japan. 

Come June 11 and football fans will be glued to their TV sets rooting for their national teams or favourite teams in the case of us Indians. When will we ever make it? Anyways, let's hope South Africa puts up a great show. Btw South Africa, the Commonwealth Games is ours.

The countdown begins for the Round of 16....

I was asked to write about the champions league for an online Indian sports magazine www.thesportscampus.com. Thought I'd share it with you guys...Feel free to post any comments and ofcourse your predictions in the results are always welcome...

The draw for the Round of 16 of Europe's most elite football league, the Champions League has produced some thrilling clashes and you can expect some spectacular European football. But, the match-up which is going to be a cut above the rest is the AC Milan Manchester United game which is to be held on February 16 and March 10. The ultimate clash of the titans, this match would see one of the giants fall at the feet of the other.

The icing on the cake is David Beckham who is to be a part of AC Milan squad on loan from LA Galaxy when the transfer window opens again in January and would be playing at Old Trafford for the first time in seven years. Playing against the team where he built his career and which he helped win the Treble in 1998-99, this game is going to be an emotional one for football's poster boy. Before the draw, in Beckham's own words, "Since I left (United) in 2003, I have not returned to play at Old Trafford. Seven years have gone by and I would like for that to happen. Me against Manchester, it would be beautiful, wouldn't it?" Beautiful, it definitely would be as destiny granted him his desires. Fans at Trafford are sure to give a great welcome to their old hero but finally at the end of the day, Beckham is no longer United's property and the Red Devils will ensure that they give him an unhappy homecoming. The 34-year-old's priority until then is to earn a regular spot in Leonardo's Milan. Beckham was a key player for former AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti last season and the Galaxy star will be eager to earn a starting role under Leonardo in the hope of Fabio Capello giving him the green signal to play in the World Cup 2010 England squad.

The runners-up of the last Champions League and winners of the 2008 edition, Manchester United have got an upper hand when it comes to experience in playing the top-tier games of the recent Champion League editions but AC Milan is not a team to write off. With its history of giving constant surprises, Milan, winners of the 2007 Champions League where they beat Man United in the semis, are sure to give them a tough fight. Interestingly, Milan holds seven Champ League titles compared to Man United's three. Moreover, as of now, Milan along with Boca Juniors of Argentina, have the most FIFA recognized international club titles in the world. Both teams are currently second in their leagues while Manchester United finished first in their Champions League group and Milan finished second behind Spanish giants Real Madrid.

However, this time, Milan will play United without Brazilian midfielder Kaka, who inspired the 2007 semis win against United. With Kaka seeking greener pastures in Real and Maldini having retired, Milan will have to actually fight it out to make it to the quarter-finals. Milan replied to these losses by signing Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who has been putting a fine show so far in Serie A. Pato and Ronaldinho are also seen as potential threats to United. It is also going to be a very crucial game for Milan's new coach Leonardo who can use this as an opportunity to prove that he too is as good a coach as Ancelotti if not better. Milan's twelfth player, Lady Luck has always been on their side and this time too she could spell terror for the Devils. Yeah, Milan’s Champions League final against Liverpool in 2005 is an exception to that, a defeat which they avenged two years later.

At the same time, all is not good at Old Trafford too. With Real shelling a whooping 80 million pounds for Ronaldo to complete a refined version of the Galacticos team which they featured in 2003, and Tevez gone to home rivals Manchester City, Man United will miss out on two of their hottest assets when they take on Milan. With new signings Owen and Valencia, United seems to be back on track looking at its performance in the Premiership but it will never regain the glorious team it staged over the last few years. With the departure of Ronaldo, came a huge void which doesn't look like being filled any time in the near future. All the pressure now lie on Rooney's and Berbatov's shoulders to take United through. Can these boys deliver the goods for United?

This game is going to be a real test of skills and a tough one to call. Yet, it wouldn't hurt to make some predictions now and I'd tip the game in United's favour but the Red Devils lifting the cup in Madrid hangs in darkness, courtesy the loss of United's ex-wonder boy Ronaldo. So, who is going to make it to Santiago Bernabeu stadium, home to nine times European champions Real Madrid, on the 22nd of May? Real seems to be a strong contender but football is not just a game of skill. Luck always holds the game at ransom so all we can do is just wait and watch. By the way, you might have figured it out by now, I'm a die-hard Ronaldo fan.

Jive, Football and the likes

We had an inter section football match where we got eliminated in the quarter finals (which was the first round..:P because only 8 classes turned up) in penalty shoot outs, this again I attribute to Friday the 13th. I had put up a fine show and scored 2 goals but it went in vain. I'm sorry but I don't give a damn about modesty because I still can't believe we lost the match.

The following week i.e. the third week in college, we were to have a jive workshop. I didn't know a thing about jiving then and assumed it to be as sensuous as salsa. Our seniors forced us to go for it or else... It was just the third week and leaving the women at the mess, Amul and the SBI employee, all of whom I suppose are married women, I didn't know anyone else. That's when the 3:1 sex ratio comes into play but there wasn't any need of it because I had to head back home to Kasargod to my grandmom's humble abode. Yet, I played Cupid and set up two of my friends. They had a whole lot of fun which I completely missed. The post-jive pic which proves it...

I don't think I can ever make up for the missed opportunity unless....Salsa anyone?!