Cup Anticipation Builds to Fever Pitch

— Photo by Alan Thornton/Getty Images

Plenty of drama is in store as millions of soccer fans around the globe anticipate the world’s biggest sporting event, set to kick off June 11 in Johannesburg with a match between Mexico and the host South Africans. For fanáticos of the “beautiful game,” and especially of the 32 participating teams, the once-every-four-years World Cup is a time when national pride and passion play themselves out on the soccer pitch.

AARP Ambassador Jorge Ramos, a soccer broadcaster for ESPN Deportes, believes a Spanish-speaking team—most likely Spain over Argentina—is primed to win the trophy.

As we count down to the World Cup, Ramos helps us answer a few key questions.

Q. Will Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona click?

A. If Argentina’s Messi sustains his torrid scoring streak, the rest of the planet had better watch out. Yet Messi, widely regarded as the world’s best soccer player, is dogged by questions of chemistry—with his teammates and his coach, the legendary Maradona. Will Messi’s star shine or fizzle out in South Africa? Messi, touted as “the next Maradona,” is a superstar for his club team of Barcelona but has underperformed for his country. Argentina struggled to even qualify for the World Cup. Critics have questioned whether Maradona, who almost single-handedly carried Argentina to the championship in 1986, is the right man to lead the team. “Maradona as manager has not shown me anything to make me think they can go very far,” says Ramos, who believes Argentina plays more like a collection of stars than as a team.

Q. Can Spain break its World Cup jinx?

A. Spain is notorious for flopping at major tournaments, but the country’s triumph at the 2008 European Championship might reverse that legacy. Led by such stars as strikers David Villa and Fernando Torres, Spain boasts top-class players at every position. The team is on a roll, losing only once in nearly four years (the sole defeat coming last year at the hands of the United States). La Furia Roja (the Red Fury) is a joy to watch, playing lively, aggressive soccer. Many believe it’s Spain's turn to win after decades of disappointment. “It was always said of Spain that they were a good team but were missing something in the end. Well, they’ve shown that they now have that ‘something,’” Ramos says.

Q. Will Mexico find the right chemistry?

A. Now on their third manager in as many years, El Tri (the tri-colored) appears to be getting into a groove under the guidance of Javier Aguirre. A key will be striking the right balance between younger players and veterans. Fans are expecting great things from up-and-coming stars Andrés Guardado and Jonathan Giovani dos Santos, as well as 37-year-old Cuauhtémoc Blanco, the team’s gutsy warhorse. Q. Can Paraguay recover from the shocking loss of its top scorer? A. When Salvador Cabañas was shot in the head in a nightclub last January (he survived), Paraguay turned to veteran star Roque Santa Cruz to carry the country’s hopes. The Paraguayans are usually underestimated, but they have gotten results when it matters, qualifying for the past three World Cup tournaments and reaching the second round twice.