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FIFA
WORLD
CUP™
The SBS
team (from
left): David
Basheer,
Zelić, Foster,
and Craig
Moore.“The World
Cup never
lacks drama,”
asserts The
World Game’s
Zelić, who
will work with
SBS football
analyst Craig
Foster.E
ven without Italy this
year, “it’s a captivating
World Cup,” says SBS
soccer host Lucy Zelić.
She tells WHO the main
storylines, and highlights for
the Socceroos, in the Beautiful
Game’s quadrennial tourna-
ment, live from Russia starting
June 14 to the final on July 15.What should we look for?
Can Germany go back-to-back?
Will Brazil put the nightmare
of 2014 behind them? And we
will see if the hosts Russia
perform with the eyes of the
world upon them.
Can the Socceroos advance?
The first match with France is
critical. It’ll be tough but not
impossible, and a decent result
there will set the team up for
Denmark and Peru.
So their draw is competitive?
Very. France have some
outstanding talent at their
disposal and are, rightly, one of
the favourites to win. Denmark
had a great qualifying campaign
and, in Christian Eriksen, have
one of the Premier League’s
best players, and Peru is a
dangerous opponent.
This is Tim Cahill’s fourth cup.
What will it mean if he scores?
What a warrior Tim has been
for us. The memories of
Germany and Brazil are
unforgettable. If he scores in
Russia, he’ll become one ofonly four men to ever score in
four consecutive World Cups.
He’ll be coming off the subs
bench and I’m sure, if called
upon, he’ll be up to the task.
Who are the key Cup players?
Cristiano Ronaldo is a true
celebrity footballer, one of the
all-time great players in terms
of record and ability, but also
probably the most marketable
athletes in the world. Brazilian
star Neymar was badly injured
in 2014, so he has a point to
prove as Brazil seek their first
win since 2002.
How about Lionel Messi?
Messi is the best player in the
world and will go down as an
all-time great, but Argentina
have been unable to win the
World Cup while he’s played.
They lost the final in 2014 and
this is Messi’s last chance for
the one win that will cement
his legacy as the greatest.
England has had a dismal run
for decades. Can they win?
I wouldn’t list them as a
favourite but they are a team
revitalised under Gareth
Southgate. The majority of
their squad plied their trade in
the Premier League this season
under world-class coaches like
Pep Guardiola and Jürgen
Klopp and were in blistering
form. They are certainly a dark
horse and will be one to watch.
■By Cynthia WangDJ and songwriter
Diplo enlisted Latin
Grammy-winning
singer Nicky Jam
(right), along with Will
Smith and Era Istrefi,
to collaborate with
him on the world-
music anthem “Live it
Up”, the official song
of the World Cup. “I’m
so proud and happy,”
said Jam, 37 (née Nick
Rivera Caminero). “I
can say to my grand-
kids, ‘I’ve made it’.”‘LIVE IT UP’
o f H b u W C c a o p a s i p w H M w a h W T t t h E f I f r S t t u P K f h■■80 l Who