They may be teammates on the Conception Bay South Strikers Challenge Cup team, but Nico Boehme and Erik Mathiasen are on opposite sides when it comes to that other big soccer competition, the World Cup.
That should not be considered surprising — a small survey of people involved in Johnson’s provincial Challenge Cup play produced a fairly wide range of opinions as to the predicted winners — but in the cases of Boehme and Mathiasen, it’s even less surprising, given their countries of origin.
Boehme is a native of Leipzig, Germany who lives and works in St. John’s after meeting his fiancee, Newfoundlander Danielle McNicholas, while on vacation in Cuba.
So it goes without saying Boehme is looking for the Germans to produce a repeat of their 2014 World Cup win in Brazil.
But for him, his choice involves more than straight nationalism or the easy call of sticking with the defending champs.
“They are a tournament team, one that does well in these events,” he said. “In the past, they have proven this. They haven’t always shown it in qualifying, but when they get to the tournament (stage), they play with a passion.
“And they are skilled. That combination should do it again.”
Mathiasen begs to differ.
He’ll be cheering for the Albicelestes, the men in the striped jerseys of his native Argentina.
A native of the beach city of Necochea, southwest of Buenos Aires, Mathiasen is a business student at Memorial University.
There was a time when Argentina would have been easily slotted among the World Cup favourites — it lost to Germany in the 2014 final — but the South American team has struggled recently, barely making it through qualifying.
However, it has its captain, Lionel Messi, considered by many to be the world’s best player.
“Honestly, I think we could have the worst defence in the tournament, but I believe we can get away with it because we have him (Messi),” said Mathiasen.
Despite their national allegiances, neither Boehme or Mathiasen have strict tunnel vision when it comes to World Cup teams.
Both, for example, see Spain as a team that could go all the way, this despite the turmoil that has come with the dismissal of head coach Julen Lopetegui just before the start of the 2018 World Cup this week in Russia.
“I really like the way Spain is playing. The team is well set up and I believe the players are professional enough to handle (the controversy),” said Boehme.
Mathiasen agrees, saying the Spanish “collective style” shouldn’t disappear with a coaching change.
“I love the way Spain plays. It’s like watching an opera,” said Mathiasen, who also lists France as a team worth following.
“I like them because they have a flow and they might have the team with the best 11 players.”
As for a darkhorse, Mathiasen suggests Iceland, which despite its tiny population, made it all the way to the quarter-finals of the 2016 European championships.
“At least I’m afraid of them right now,” he laughed. “They play [Argentina) in their first game (today).”
Boehme’s choice for a potential surprise is Belgium.
“They have young, talented players who haven’t shown their full quality yet,” he said.
Gary Forsyth, the head coach for Mathiasen’s Strikers, goes a step further as he believes Belgium is a team that could go all the way.
“I think they’re a fantastic team with a golden generation of players,” said Forsyth of a Belgian side that features the likes of midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and young captain Eden Hazard.
“This could be the World Cup where they start to shine.”
Forsyth is a native of Paisley, Scotland, but since the Scots didn’t qualify out of Europe for the World Cup, he’s a bit of a free agent when it comes to teams for which to root.
“My heart says Argentina can win it,” he said. “I want Messi to win one, but I think it will be either Belgium or France.”
Feildians player Greg Reid is another who sees France as a potential finalist, but he pegs Colombia as a darkhorse.
But Reid thinks the most intense competition might come in trying to keep others from letting him know World Cup scores. With a five-and-a-half hour time difference between Newfoundland and Russia, most games will be played while folks here are otherwise occupied during the morning and afternoons.
Reid is among the many who will be watching recorded matches after work, but admits it will be a struggle to stay ignorant of the scores.
Forsyth concurs.
“Trying to do that might be the best running battle in the World Cup,” he said.
Here are the World Cup thoughts of some others involved in the local Challenge Cup league:
Tyler Forsey, St. Lawrence striker and reigning Challenge Cup scoring champ
Who do you think will win? Germany
Who will you cheer for? “Germany; they’re the team that works best as a unit … and Portugal.” (Cristiano Ronaldo is his favourite player)
Darkhorse? “England. They’re young and hungry.”
Gord Dunphy, former Challenge Cup commissioner
Who do you think will win? “I like the way Germany plays soccer. They play as an 11-man unit. I appreciate great talent, but with Germany, while you don’t notice the individual talent, you notice how well they play collectively. I like the way that program is run.”
Who will you cheer for? “My heart still aligns with England, because of our connections and roots.”
Darkhorse? “I would love to see Iceland do well, because it will show the rest of the world what hard work can accomplish.”
Doug Redmond, NLSA president and another former Challenge Cup commissioner
Who do you think will win? “Germany. They have a system and stick very close to it. They’re positional play is exceptional.”
Who will you cheer for? “I’ll always cheer for England. (One of the reasons is Newfoundland soccer’s loose collection with Leicester City, a Premier League team).
Darkhorse? Brazil (Redmond knows this will be surprising to some, especially considering the Brazilians have won five World Cups, more than any other country. But like the Argentinians, they have fallen on hard times recently).
Twitter: @telybrendan
