The World Cup – A Truly Global Sporting Event

It is getting to be June 2010, and for many sports fans around the globe that can only mean one thing, that it is time for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. By various different measurements, the World Cup is by far the biggest sporting event in the world, not even rivaled by the second placed Olympic Games. More people watch soccer around the world than any other sport, which of course contributes to the sense of hysteria that is gripping most of the world as the day of the opening match in the tournament draws closer and closer. There are many interesting firsts in this year’s tournament, and also a few clear favorites in terms of who people think will win the whole thing and go home as glorious champions. Right now, preparations are taking place amongst all the teams to get in shape and stay fit for the tournament, and many of them have to utilize used exercise equipment, a used treadmill, or other used fitness equipment.

The first previously referred to for this newest installment of the World Cup deals with the location. This summer is the first time that the event will be held on the continent of Africa, although of course it will actually be winter in South Africa at the time of the tournament since the seasons are switched around from those of us living in the Northern hemisphere. Europeans hope that there will be another first made this tournament, as a European team has never won the tournament when it is hosted outside their own continent.

As with anything, there are a few teams that stand out as being potential winners of the entire tournament. One of the potential frontrunners is Brazil, who holds the world record for most World Cups, winning the tournament a previous total of five times. The Brazilians are always one of the flashiest and most fun to watch teams but this time around seem to lack a certain toughness to match their finesse and are therefore considered outsiders in the group of favorites. Also in the list of potential winners are perennial powerhouse and multiple time past winner Germany, although the Germans have recently suffered a massive setback with superstar Michael Ballack set to miss the games through injury.

Probably the first and second favorites in most experts’ minds are two squads from the very Western portion of Europe. Until two years ago when they won the European Championship, Spain were known as a team of underachievers who would never win anything big. Since then, however, people are suddenly saying that Spain has the mentality finally to win things and make one last run with a great group of players. Also labeled as perennial underachievers, and yet to shed that tag, is England. England has one of the best strikers in the world in Wayne Rooney of Manchester United and will be looking to take home their first trophy since they hosted and won the World Cup in 1966.

Everyone across the world, even in typically soccer-phobic America, can get in to the passion and excitement of the World Cup and this year will be no different and promises to be one of the best yet.