This article in the Times about the struggles the Iraqi national football team are dealing with is an insight that should not be overlooked—if the country’s beloved national side is mired in controversy, all is most certainly not well.
Transitional States has been closely following international football and next year’s World Cup in South Africa. Aside from our home country, we have a few sides that everyone should be pulling for in 2010.
Ivory Coast: The Ivorian civil war ground to a halt partly because the national team qualified for the 2006 World Cup. Led by the brilliant Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, they’re being labeled by many as dark horses to win.
Ghana: The Black Stars represent the first democratic African country, and is ranked by Freedom House as the freest country in Africa. Midfielder Michael Essien (also a Chelsea standout) is the star to watch.
New Zealand, Denmark: Because both countries are committed to all the right things, internationally. (Additionally, New Zealand is likely the Minnows of the whole tournament, and everyone likes an underdog.)
