world cup 2010 neutrals' gu

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d Cup 2010 neutrals' guide: Who should you support in South Africa?... http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/828309-world-cup-2010

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Alistair Potter, Martin Ashplant, Simon Garner, Stephen Hull, Ted Thornhill, Tom Phillips - 1st June, 2010

World Cup 2010 neutrals' guide: Who should you

support in South Africa?For the 32 nations at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, now is the

time for unquestioning partisan support, but for those missing out this

can be an alienating time.

( 3 )

Solution: Use Metro's neutrals' guide to pick a nation to follow. Failing that, use ourWorld Cup sweepstake kitand pick one out of a hat.

METRO'S COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY GUIDE TO THE WORLD CUP...

IVORY COAST

Didier Drogba's little tiff at Frank Lampard over a late-seasonpenalty

A good reason to support them...

Of all the African teams, they have the best chance to do well with home continent advantage and they boastsome of the greatest African players of their generation.

A good reason not to...

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is a whinging little baby and he's already won the Premier League, FA Cup, andthe English golden boot. What more does he want?

SERBIA


For Manchester United fans, they've got Nemanja Vidic; for Chelsea fans, they've got Branislav Ivanovic; andfor Liverpool fans, they've got Milan Jovanovic.


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For Chelsea fans, they've got Nemanja Vidic; for Manchester United fans, they've got Branislav Ivanovic; andfor Chelsea fans, they've got Milan Jovanovic.

SOUTH KOREA


As the fairytale story of the 2002 World Cup when they surprisingly reached the semi-finals, South Koreainherited many neutral fans - if only for beating Italy on the way.


If they inadvertently get through to the semi-finals again and, somehow, North Korea join them, we could haveWorld War III on our hands - regardless of the result.

NORTH KOREA

Nope, not that one. THAT one.


Massive, massive underdogs - only New Zealand have longer odds to win the tournament. Everyone loves anunderdog.

A good reason not to...Kim-Jong Il's apparently a bit of a tyrant. Someone else told me that, I'm not suggesting it myself (just in caseyou're reading this, Kim).

URUGUAY


If you think England are living off former glories by banging on about 1966 all the time, Uruguay are somethingelse. Having won the World Cup twice in 1930 and 1950, theyve only won one of their last 16 matches in thetournament. A reversal of fortunes is well overdue.

A good reason not to...They failed in their duty to knock out Argentina in the South American qualifying stages, losing 1-0 at homewhen a win would have forced Maradona et al into a tricky little playoff.

SWITZERLAND


Probably the least offensive country of them all. I'm not sure I know anyone who can muster any form ofextreme feeling towards Switzerland, be it love or hate.



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They're always neutral in EVERYTHING. Why should you choose to side with them?

GERMANY

West Germany lift the 1990 World Cup - although this was thelast time they won it


You're guaranteed to see at least some success, and in any knockout round you know you'll only ever need adraw after extra time to go through...


They've won it enough times already and we're all a bit bored of the same old faces in the last four. Let someoneelse have a go.

HONDURAS


It's their first appearance in a Fifa World Cup since 1982 so they will be a bit nervous and disorientated with allthe attention (flashing lightbulbs etc) and they're in Spain's group, so these boys need all the help they can get.


It's their first appearance in a Fifa World Cup since 1982, so they will be a bit nervous and disorientated with allthe attention (flashing lightbulbs etc) and then they'll get hammered by Spain, so these boys are a lost cause fromthe off.

BRAZIL


They're the No1 ranked team in the world and play to the rythmn of the samba. It truly is the beautiful gamewhen Brazil play - and they always do exceptionally well. The Seleo have won the World Cup more times thananyone else.

A good reason not to...The rythmn of the samba? What sort of nonsense is that? Football is about blood, thunder and passion. It's aboutheroes, bandaged up, giving it both barrels till the final whistle. Brazil have got it all wrong.

ARGENTINA


Although they struggled to qualify Argentina have a real chance of winning the World Cup, essentially becausethey have the world's best player in their side - Barcelona's talisman Lionel Messi. Plus, they play with verve andstyle. You may remember them stringing mesmeric quantities of passes together in the last World Cup, whichnearly made the opposition cry.


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Know who their manager is? Diego Maradona. Yep, the dastardly Hand of God himself. They're coached by aman of dubious honour. Avoid.

The Hand ofGod - Diego Maradona beating Peter Shilton to the ball in 1986

ALGERIA


Their nickname is The Desert Foxes. How cool is that? You'll be able to chant in pubs that your team is going to'outfox' the opposition, which would be fairly awesome, perhaps.


They're in the same group as England, the USA and Slovenia, so that's them out then.

JAPAN


They've qualified for the past four Fifa World Cups - impressive stuff. And they were the first team to book theirplace in this year's competition. Again, impressive. So, they'll be brimming with confidence and are capable ofcausing any team real problems.


They kill an awful lot of whales, which isn't really on.

MEXICO


They love football over in Mexico and it's about time they had something to shout about. They also producesome scintillating stuff on the pitch. ThinkCuauhtmoc Blanco's sublime (if totally ineffective) jump trick whichlit up the World Cup in 1998.


They were the cause of us all wearing stupid face masks on the way to work and single-handedly ruined thesummers of countless teenagers who were banned from kissing in the streets because of the swine flu hysteriathat swept the world last year. But then again, we gave the world mad cow disease, so who are we to judge.


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CHILE


They come from the longest country in the world. That's got to count for something, right?

Marcelo Rios isn't on the All England Club's Christmas card list


"I dont take Wimbledon, like playing on grass, very seriously. Grass is for cows and soccer." Chilean tennisplayer Marcelo Rios.

SOUTH AFRICA


They're the host nation and nothing gets a World Cup going better than when the hosts do well. Let's be honest,no-one wants to see the Bafana Bafana (see, that nickname is another reason to support them) go out early andthe locals lose interest.


They gave the footballing world Quinton Fortune.

NEW ZEALAND


Because most of the entire Kiwi nation appear to live in west London.


Because most of the entire Kiwi nation appear to live in west London.

NIGERIA


In Nwankwo Kanu, they surely must have the oldest player ever to grace the World Cup. At 75 years and 11

months he makes Roger Milla look like the most proverbial of spring chickens.


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Ever received one of those emails? (Channel 4)

A good reason not to... Dear Sir,Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the information gathered from the Nigerian Chambers OfCommerce And Industry, I have the privilege to request your assistance to transfer the sum of $47,500,000.00(forty seven million, five hundred thousand United States dollars) into your accounts....

SLOVAKIA


They're appearing in the World Cup for the first time ever as an independent country - after topping their groupin qualifying, beating World Cup regulars Poland and the Czech Republic en route - and, with their first gameagainst tournament underdogs New Zealand, they have a great chance to get off to a winning start.


If you're not a fan of the mk e diacritic mark - or , as it's otherwise known - especially when it appearsabove the letter S, then you'll absolutely hate the Slovakian squad. Duan Perni, Tom Hubo an and Duanvento especially.

GHANA


Probably the best goal the Premier League has ever seen was scored by a Ghanaian. Tony Yeboah's scorching 30yard volley against Liverpool was a joy to behold.


The Ghanain national team's nickname is the Black Stars - derived from the black star on their national flag. Nicethought, but it does make them sound a bit evil and brings to mind punitive measures against us at school as werepeatedly failed to meet expectations.

FRANCE


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Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...


You're an Arsenal fan. Your favourite players are William Gallas, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna etc,etc, etc. Vive la France!


They shouldn't even BE in the tournament. Thierry Henry single-handedly robbed Rep of Ireland of a place inthe finals with a blatant handball in the lead-up to their winning goal. Thief la France!

GREECE


You have to feel sorry for the Greeks, they've got it tough at the moment. Astronomical levels of debt meansmany are struggling to make ends meet. Greece needs a lift, and a good performance in South Africa would bejust the tonic.


Who are the most insipid international team ever to win a major tournament? Step forward the champions ofEuro 2004 - Greece.

NETHERLANDS


Holland's set of supporters are widely known as the friendliest and most colourful in the world. Thousands ofburly moustachio'd Dutchmen decked out in lurid orange - a fine sight indeed.

Thosesh kraezy Dutch fansh... No,wait, they're from Blackpool


Just how are they so good at football? Year after year this tiny country produces an abundance of world-class


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players, completely undermining the English argument that 'we're underdogs punching above our weight'. Byrights they should be as good as Scotland. In reality, they're ranked fourth in the world. It's really annoying.

CAMEROON


Roger Milla's joyful corner flag jigs helped make Italia '90 the best World Cup ever.

A good reason not to...Roger Milla's joyful corner flag jigs inspired countless idiotic routines, including Lee Sharpe's 'Elvis using amicrophone' and Tim Cahill's 'Look at me, I'm a boxer as well as a footballer'.

SPAIN


They play stylish, attacking football with probably the most insanely talented midfield line-up in world football,they're number two in the Fifa rankings, and after their undefeated triumph in Euro 2008 they don't even havethe perpetual tag of big-stage bottlers any more.


Certain commentators have suggested that not all Spanish supporters are the most tolerant, progressive, or broad-minded...

SLOVENIA


Slovenia's 2010 Eurovision entry.


Slovenia's 2010 Eurovision entry.

ENGLAND


Because, oh, you know, greatest team ever, um, players who are wonderful role-models to aspiring youngfootballers, and, er um, 1966! ALF RAMSEY! NOBBY STILES! FOOTBALL'S COMING HOME!ENG-GER-LAAAAAND!

England fans are generally an unrulybunch


Will go out on penalties in the quarter finals again, and in their traditional self-obsessed, small-minded,xenophobic way will manage to blame it all on cheating foreigners and will refuse to shut up about it for years.


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PARAGUAY


Were a major surprise in qualification for the tournament, beating South American powerhouses Brazil,Argentina, Chile and Colombia on the way to the World Cup finals, and look good odds to achieve qualificationfrom their group. Premier League fans will know Roque Santa Cruz in particular as a fine striker when he isn'tbusy being injured.

A good reason not to...If you're Bolivian, you might still be bitter about the Chaco War of 1932 to 1935 over the contested Gran Chacoregion.

DENMARK


Peaceful Danish football fans are known as 'roligans' and are famed for their calm and cheerful anti-hooliganattitude to football. So even if you lose you won't get too upset.


Coupled with becoming a 'roligan' is the inner knowledge that at one stage, probably in the first round, you're

going to flop out of the cup and be on the way home.

ITALY

Italian fans on vespas. As usual.


Boasting Lambrettas, Versace and Gucci the second most successful team in World Cup history (and defendingchampions) will mean you'll be cool and competitive - not a bad combination.


Be warned: Whilst sipping your espresso and chatting up a foxy lady during the match you may be head-buttedin the chest by a very angry Zinedine Zidane.

PORTUGAL


Stuck in the 'Group of Death' alongside Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea could make most teams crumble,but with talent like Ronaldo you'll be guaranteed breathtaking, exciting football - win or lose.


Having to support the cheeky little winker Ronaldo and his artful gamesmanship could prove too much - even fora neutral football fan.


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AUSTRALIA


We all love an underdog, and for once the Aussies (who normally play with egg-shaped balls) are certainly nottipped for success. You'd have to hope efforts in the Ashes 2009 or World Cup Twenty20 are not repeated onthe football pitch, though.


Neighbours, Home & Away, Fosters lager, Shane Warne, the music of Kylie Minogue, Skippy the BushKangaroo and still celebrating a narrow win against England in a friendly are all very, very, good reasons not tosupport Australia (at anything).

USA


If you ever needed an excuse to wear a large foam hand with a pointing finger, wear a baseball cap backwardsand shout 'USA, USA' then now's your chance. Be yourself, but don't expect to win much.


Lets get one thing straight right now. If there's one thing worth preserving from the invasion of evil North

American influence it's soccer, er, football.

'U-S-A! U-S-A!' - on a scale of 1 to 10,how annoying are these guys?

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You say:

nemanja vidi ,, + 4 presidentkatarina kosaca, ljubljana, 11/6/2010 18:43Report abuse

Nemanja Vidi ,, + for president :)katarina kosaca, ljubljana, 11/6/2010 18:41Report abuse

Eric Djemba Djemba is Cameroonian not South AfricanColm, Belfast, 28/5/2010 15:58Report abuse


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