South Africa targeting win in 2010 World Cup
VIENNA, Austria - George Weah is at the European Championship as part of a delegation reassuring the Europeans that Africa - South Africa to be exact - will do a good job when it hosts the World Cup in 2010.
But the presence in Vienna of the former FIFA player of the year may also have another message. After Greece's unexpected triumph at the 2004 Euros and the possibility of a Turkey-Russia final on Sunday, he's maintaining the outsiders angle and promoting the idea that the first World Cup held in Africa might even have an African winner.
"It 's not impossible for an African team to take the World Cup," Weah said Tuesday. "It might be difficult but it's a possibility because we saw at the last two World Cups, African team were in a quarterfinals and from the quarterfinals, semifinals and final is just three (steps). So if an African goes to the final in 2010, it is a possibility. Africa has good teams and a lot of talent."
Although Weah's Liberia has never qualified for the World Cup, Cameroon, Nigeria and Senegal all have done well and the tournament has made stars of Roger Milla, Daniel Amokachi and El-Hadji Diouf.
African national teams don't appear to be shackled by defense-minded coaches in the same manner as some of the Europeans squads, even though the successful African nations have been guided by managers from the Netherlands, Germany and France.
They combine power, speed and strength on the ball as well as a liking for running at defenders. The result has been some spectacular goals in World Cup play. The main weaknesses of African national teams has been a lack of quality defenders and reliable goalkeepers.
Having the World Cup on African soil figures to boost to the five African nations who join the hosts. Two years ago in Germany, Ghana was the only African nation to advance past the first round, and it lost 3-0 to Brazil.
Africa's 2010 World Cup scouting team, which also includes South African defender Mark Fish and Ghana forward Abedi Pele, has only just arrived at the Euros. That means they did not see in person how Turkey and Russia, both considered among the outsiders when the championship began, have made it to the last four.
Turkey faces three-time champion Germany in Basel, Switzerland, today, and the Russians take on Spain in Vienna on Thursday.
The favorites for the final are Germany and Spain. But Dutch coach Guus Hiddink is developing a strong young Russian side and guided it to a memorable 3-1 overtime victory over his countrymen during the quarterfinals.