June 25, 2010 8:51 PM 
World Cup 'winners' and 'losers'
- Posted by Nigel Reed
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Onto the Round of 16 and not a moment too soon! Thank heavens the 2010 World Cup will see no more posturing for position by nations more concerned with not losing than taking the game by the scruff of the neck and winning.
The knockout stages are upon us. There are no second or third chances for the losers -- only a flight home. For some it will be a fond farewell following a job well done. For others it will be a long, bumpy ride where players will gaze into space and ponder international retirement.
But before we get to the meat of the tournament, let's take a moment to reflect. I offer a purely personal view of my top three World Cup 'winners' and 'losers' so far.
Winners
Argentina - Who cares if he's a coaching rookie? His name is Diego Maradona and he has inherited the crown jewels. Irresistible to watch, the Argentines are the class of the World Cup. Maradona's all-stars are shining as brightly as his earrings and Lionel Messi is beginning to emulate the maestro himself.
A supporting cast of Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero has all played its part. The Achilles heel, if it exists, has not yet been exposed but question marks remain over Maradona's defensive strategy.
United States - Does any team belt out its national anthem with such pride? The Americans have shown huge heart and a classic never-say-die attitude to top their group. No one complained about the disallowed goals. They took them on the chin and tried harder. Top marks for tenacity and commitment.
Landon Donovan is due a major move to Europe but not before he's led Team USA deeper into this tournament. Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard have all shown their quality and experience.
New Zealand - The cannon fodder which shook the football world. Every man and his dog wrote off the All Whites as no-hopers. They didn't advance but they achieved miracles, winning many friends along the way. They performed their role as lovable underdog to perfection.
The Kiwis played with no fear but with tons of endeavour and belief. The point against Italy will become the stuff of legend. The legacy should be a huge boost for the game in one of FIFA's weakest regions.
Losers
France - Nobody loves Raymond. They didn't before and they certainly don't now. Were the higher-ups at the French Federation wearing earplugs as boos rang around the Stade de France at home games before the World Cup?
The ability was there which is more than one can say for the players' attitude. The ensuing farce was inevitable and highly distasteful. The coach lost the dressing room and the rebels embarrassed a nation.
Italy - The alarm bells were ringing a year ago but nobody went to investigate. Too many were too old and too blasé. We were reassured everything would be OK, that this was Italy and they would take care of business when it mattered. They demonstrably did not.
Marcello Lippi must be wondering what on earth persuaded him to come back. Passionless and pedestrian, the Azzurri got exactly what it deserved. Nothing.
Cameroon - Nothing indomitable about the Lions now. Despite the presence of Samuel Eto'o, one of Europe's top marksmen, Cameroon was comfortably the poorest of a largely disappointing showing from the African continent.
Reports of unrest in the camp were all too visible on the field. I bet even Cameroon's favourite son, the great Roger Milla, doesn't feel like dancing now.
The knockout stages are upon us. There are no second or third chances for the losers -- only a flight home. For some it will be a fond farewell following a job well done. For others it will be a long, bumpy ride where players will gaze into space and ponder international retirement.
But before we get to the meat of the tournament, let's take a moment to reflect. I offer a purely personal view of my top three World Cup 'winners' and 'losers' so far.
Winners
Argentina - Who cares if he's a coaching rookie? His name is Diego Maradona and he has inherited the crown jewels. Irresistible to watch, the Argentines are the class of the World Cup. Maradona's all-stars are shining as brightly as his earrings and Lionel Messi is beginning to emulate the maestro himself.
A supporting cast of Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero has all played its part. The Achilles heel, if it exists, has not yet been exposed but question marks remain over Maradona's defensive strategy.
United States - Does any team belt out its national anthem with such pride? The Americans have shown huge heart and a classic never-say-die attitude to top their group. No one complained about the disallowed goals. They took them on the chin and tried harder. Top marks for tenacity and commitment.
Landon Donovan is due a major move to Europe but not before he's led Team USA deeper into this tournament. Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard have all shown their quality and experience.
New Zealand - The cannon fodder which shook the football world. Every man and his dog wrote off the All Whites as no-hopers. They didn't advance but they achieved miracles, winning many friends along the way. They performed their role as lovable underdog to perfection.
The Kiwis played with no fear but with tons of endeavour and belief. The point against Italy will become the stuff of legend. The legacy should be a huge boost for the game in one of FIFA's weakest regions.
Losers
France - Nobody loves Raymond. They didn't before and they certainly don't now. Were the higher-ups at the French Federation wearing earplugs as boos rang around the Stade de France at home games before the World Cup?
The ability was there which is more than one can say for the players' attitude. The ensuing farce was inevitable and highly distasteful. The coach lost the dressing room and the rebels embarrassed a nation.
Italy - The alarm bells were ringing a year ago but nobody went to investigate. Too many were too old and too blasé. We were reassured everything would be OK, that this was Italy and they would take care of business when it mattered. They demonstrably did not.
Marcello Lippi must be wondering what on earth persuaded him to come back. Passionless and pedestrian, the Azzurri got exactly what it deserved. Nothing.
Cameroon - Nothing indomitable about the Lions now. Despite the presence of Samuel Eto'o, one of Europe's top marksmen, Cameroon was comfortably the poorest of a largely disappointing showing from the African continent.
Reports of unrest in the camp were all too visible on the field. I bet even Cameroon's favourite son, the great Roger Milla, doesn't feel like dancing now.
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About the Author
Nigel Reed
Nigel Reed brings his extensive experience, passion and knowledge of the game of soccer to his role as play-by-play announcer for Major League Soccer ON CBC.
Reed has more than 20 years experience covering soccer, most notably a five-year stint from 1999 to 2004 where he was a host and producer for the English Premier League for BBC. He also covered English Premier League giants Liverpool and Everton for BBC Radio and provided analysis for both BBC TV and the BBC website.
Reed, who will also call matches for CBC's FIFA broadcast package, covered weightlifting, taekwondo, soccer and equestrian for CBC's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.
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