It may be serious business for the Challenge Tour players at the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open, but that does not stop them from indulging in their passion for football as the World Cup clicks into gear. Some of our players shed light on the hopes for their home team and predict the winning team...
| Mark Tullo (Chile) |  |
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Chile’s first match? “I was up until three in the morning watching the match. I was loving it. It’s not often that you see your home team playing in the World Cup. They played really well. I thought Australia were a bit sleepy at the start and we scored two goals in ten minutes but after that they woke up. “It was a good match. Chile didn’t play well after the goals and Australia began to play well and it was a really tight game. They could have scored any minute but then we got a last minute goal for 3-1 which relaxed you a bit. “I love the World Cup and I live football. My mother is Dutch so I watched the Netherlands beat Spain and that was so good, but it’s scary to think we have to play against them. But it’s good that we have Spain now when they’re not in great mood. I'm pretty psyched about England Italy too, great games everywhere” Hopes for Chile? “It will be tough to get through that group but they’re in good form now. If we can get a draw against the Dutch that would be huge. We have a good chance now maybe to beat Spain but if they have a good game, I mean they’re the champions of the world. They could just turn it around. But if we go through in second place we’ll probably get Brazil straight away so it doesn’t look good anywhere for us!” Who will win the World Cup? “After watching the Netherlands I think they look good but Germany are always good, so those are my two picks. I don’t know if they’re on the same side of the draw but for me, it’s either one of them.” Apart from Chile, who would you like to see win the World Cup? “Definitely the Netherlands, because I'm half Dutch. Then again, you have these underdogs like Uruguay and it would be great to see one of those win but it’s got to be the Dutch and the way they played against Spain… wow!” |
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| Lorenzo Gagli (Italy) |  |
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Italy’s first match? “We are playing England tonight and I think it will be a really tough match. England are a very good team this year and they play to a very high standard so it will not be easy. Hopefully we can win or maybe get a draw.” Hopes for Italy? “Obviously, I would love for Italy to win the World Cup but it is not the best team we have had. I still think we can maybe get to the semi-final. I think that would be a good World Cup for us.” Who will win the World Cup? “I think it will either be Germany or the Netherlands. Obviously last night’s game against Spain changed my mind a little about the Netherlands. They look really good.” Apart from Italy, who would you like to see win the World Cup? “The Netherlands, mostly because I like the colour of their shirts! But they also looked really good against Spain.” |
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| Pedro Figueredo (Portugal) |  |
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Portugal’s first match? “We play Germany, it’s always a tough one. They are stronger than us definitely but it is just one game. We don’t have as strong a team as we have had in recent years but if we go there with little expectations that could help us. “Apart from Ronaldo, Pepe and a couple of other players, we don’t have that many stars in our team but maybe we can play as a team and go further than some people expect.” Hopes for Portugal? “I think we’ll make it through the group even though it’s a tricky one with Germany, Ghana and USA. If we make it through we’ll get maybe Belgium, Korea or Russia so I think we could get past that round. “I think if we advance to thw Quarter-Finals that would be good but you never know. Ghana almost made it to the semis last time and Uruguay made it to the semis. Portugal coule possibly win it but I think Quarter-Finals would be good for us. Who will win the World Cup? “I think Argentina are very strong. Brazil weren’t very good in the first game but they are playing at home so it will be tough to beat them. I think Argentina will pull it off in their rival country though.” Apart from Portugal, who would you like to see win the World Cup? “I’d like to see Brazil win. We speak the same language and have a good connections with that country. I think it would be special to see them win in their home country so if not Portugal, it has to be Brazil.” |
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| Carlos Aguilar (Spain) |  |
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Spain’s first match? “It was not very good for us. We didn’t play as well as we have in the last few years. I think the team, in my opinion, is a little old now so we need to believe in our younger players and trust that they can become as good as the players before.” Hopes for Spain? “To be honest, I don’t think they are going to get out of the group. I think the Netherlands had a great game but I don’t think they are a very strong team so I think it will be a struggle. We need to change something but we haven’t taken the best strikers, in my view. It’s difficult to win football matches if you can’t score goals so there’s something wrong there for us.” Who will win the World Cup? “It will be one of the South American teams for sure. It will be between Argentina and Brazil. Chile are playing well too but I think it is between those two. I would prefer Argentina.” Apart from Spain, who would you like to see win the World Cup? “Argentina would be my favourites to win. We have the same language and we also have lots of very good players from Argentina playing in our league so we really know them, how they play and how good they are.” |
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