Who will win the World Cup?

3

Local football fans are bracing themselves in the final countdown to the month-long World Cup which will kick off in the early hours of Friday.

Among the hotly debated questions are: Can host Brazil win the coveted cup for the sixth time in the tournament’s history? Can European powerhouses such as Spain and Germany take the cup for the first time on South American soil?

The Borneo Post asked some personalities of Sarawak’s football fraternity for their views. Here are some of the responses.

Brazil seems to emerge as their hot favourite.

“There is no way Brazil could not be favourites to win the World Cup on their home soil. I have to say, they are my pick to win this year,” said Sarawak head coach Robert Alberts.

Sarawak’s Super League flanker S Chanturu too believes that it will finally be Brazil’s year.

It is quite simple to him – Brazil have an abundance of talent and firepower at their disposal to see off all challengers.

Former Sarawak defender and presently Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) acting director Lucas Kalang Laeng also picked Brazil but he felt Argentina should be rated highly this year.

“Past record shows that World Cups held in South America will likely be won by teams from the continent.

“So if it’s not Brazil, I think it could be Argentina for me,” he said.

Of course, there are alternative views.

Sarawak midfielder Shahrol Saperi tips defending champions Spain to break the South American stranglehold on the World Cup when the tournament is played in that continent.

He argues that things have changed in football and one should not believe in cliches.

He believes it all boils down to the way a team plays eventually.

Shahrol’s argument has some support from former Croc and ex-Sarawak head coach Pengiran Bala who is now with the Sarawak Football Development Programme (SFDP).

“I know everybody is rooting for Brazil and who could deny it as they are hosts this year but Spain have shown that they are also the modern day football greats.

“I simply could not rule Spain out of the competition,” he commented.

But all fans can agree that the right answer will only be known at around 5am on July 14.