| June 11, 2010, will mark a very illustrious day in the | | | | and can still control the middle of the pitch with Bastian |
| history of soccer. 32 countries from all over the world | | | | Shweinsteiger but The Ivory Coast, without their best |
| will come together in South Africa for the 19th | | | | player, find themselves struggling to find a leader. The |
| installment of the biggest stage in soccer, The FIFA | | | | Ivory Coast losing Drogba would be like if the |
| World Cup. Similar to the Olympics, The World Cup is | | | | Indianapolis Colts American Football team lost their star |
| held every four years, making this event even more | | | | and leader, Peyton Manning. When an impact player of |
| prominent. All 32 teams have traveled to "The | | | | that caliber suddenly gets injured at the blink of an eye, |
| Rainbow Nation" with hopes and dreams of victory but | | | | it could leave a team in shatters. Hopefully, the players |
| only one team will arise to grip "The Jules Rimet | | | | can pick up the pieces and come together to play their |
| Trophy" and endure the glory of becoming the soccer | | | | hearts out, regardless of the massive hit they took. |
| champions of the world. | | | | With France having the luxury of an untarnished injury |
| Of these 32 countries competing in South Africa, there | | | | list, Coach Raymond Domenech and the players can |
| are a few countries that have emerged as favorites | | | | focus on their first match against Uruguay with no |
| to become eventual World Cup Champions. The | | | | distractions. France is in Group A with Mexico, |
| number one favorite to take "The Cup" home are the | | | | Uruguay, and the host nation, South Africa. While on |
| notorious Brazil, who already have five World Cup | | | | paper, it looks like France will move on through the |
| titles under their belt and Spain, who had a tremendous | | | | group stage effortlessly, but let's not forget about |
| showing in the Euro 2008. Other teams in the mix are | | | | France's early departure from the group stage in the |
| Argentina, who has an outstanding offensive weapon | | | | 2002 World Cup. With a talented Uruguay team, |
| in Lionel Messi and Italy, who were the champions of | | | | motivated Mexican squad, and a galvanized South |
| the 2006 World Cup. | | | | African team playing on home soil, France cannot play |
| Looking over The FIFA World Rankings, I was | | | | as mediocre as they did in their Friendly matches or |
| surprised by how low the finalists of the 06' World Cup | | | | else they can expect to be watching the knockout |
| were. France, led by Thierry Henry and Franck Ribery | | | | stages of the World Cup back at home. |
| are the number 10 ranked team, according to FIFA. To | | | | With the motivation to prove critics wrong, France |
| me, Les Bleus shouldn't just have a higher ranking; they | | | | should move through the group stage suffering at |
| should also be seen as genuine title contenders. The | | | | most, one loss to either Uruguay or Mexico. With that |
| Blues have a very strong squad going into this year's | | | | being said, France's opening match is against Uruguay |
| World Cup, despite suffering disheartening losses to | | | | and that could set the stage for what will happen |
| Spain and China in their International Friendly Matches. | | | | throughout Group A. Everyone has learned from the |
| With all that being said, it is still difficult to overlook this | | | | 2006 World Cup that once France gets on a roll, they |
| star studded French team. With emerging young | | | | are almost unbeatable but if France endures an early |
| talents like Gael Clichy and Mathieu Valbuena, along | | | | loss, it could mean disaster, as was seen in the 2002 |
| with a whole flock of experienced veterans like | | | | World Cup when they lost their opening round match |
| accomplished midfielder, Florent Malouda, rejuvenated | | | | to Senegal and didn't even qualify for the knockout |
| striker, Nicolas Anelka, and the quick magician, Franck | | | | rounds. |
| Ribery, France is a force to be reckoned with. | | | | The Blues are able to match up well with any team |
| One thing The Blues can look forward to after their | | | | and while they faced much frustration in Euro 2008 |
| lackluster performance in their International Friendlies is | | | | and the Pre-Cup Friendlies, I believe that they have |
| a clean injury list. Many countries have suffered a | | | | come to South Africa with something to prove. While |
| devastating injury to at least one of their players. | | | | France lacks big-name stars like Portugal's Cristiano |
| Some of the most heartbreaking injuries have come to | | | | Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi, France is |
| Ivory Coast's striker Didier Drogba and Germany's | | | | successful because of their discipline and teamwork. |
| Michael Ballack, both captains of their international | | | | There is no doubt that France has the talent and |
| squads. The injury to Drogba has probably been the | | | | soccer IQ to bring home their second World Cup, they |
| most agonizing injury due to his significance to the | | | | just have to become more efficient because once the |
| Ivory Coast team. Drogba is considered one of the | | | | World Cup has started, everyone is striving for the |
| best strikers in the world, playing for the British club | | | | same goal and the teams that get flustered is very |
| team, Chelsea, and scoring 29 goals to lead Chelsea | | | | unlikely to receive a second chance. Do not overlook |
| to a Premier League title. No offense to the proficient | | | | The Blues, this is a very solid squad that is filled with |
| Michael Ballack, but Drogba is much more critical to his | | | | vengeance. To come so close to a World Cup and |
| team. It has been well-documented that the Germans | | | | lose to rival Italy in penalty kicks will leave an extremely |
| have a much deeper roster than the Ivory Coast. | | | | sour taste in your mouth. France has been pondering |
| Germany can still make a run at The World Cup with | | | | their heartbreaking loss for four years and the moment |
| talented strikers like Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose, | | | | they have been waiting for has finally arrived! |