Clash of the Titans

I’m rooting for Spain. I saw them play the last time and they fielded a young side. This time they have a mature team since they performed well at the Euro 2008 matches. Their defence and tactical skills are impressive,and Carles Puyol is a positive influence on the team.
— Adrian D’Souza,hockey goalkeeper

England has been my favourite side from the start. Their aura on the pitch is contagious and when they have Rooney on the field,the energy level becomes contagious. That really helps the team perform better as a unit. Though I am at the training camp for the European qualifiers,I will catch the matches on TV.
— Arjun Halappa,hockey player

I have been a fan of Argentina since I was six-years-old and watched Maradona score the Hand-of-God goal in the 1986 World Cup. Now,with Maradona as coach,I feel positive about the team. Argentina has always been a dark horse in the sport,but I admire their playing style. I think they have a good chance of making it to the finals this time with Messi in good form.
— Ritwik Bhattacharya,squash player

I will be rooting for Argentina because Messi plays for them. Leaving aside his good looks for the moment,his game is also very impressive. He is such a star and makes the game more exciting. Though I don’t follow football very closely I make it a point to watch the premiership finals each time but for the World Cup I will be following Argentina’s performance. Since I leave for Belgium on June 19 I will catch up on the game in between my training.
— Tania Sachdev,chess player