The Prize.
Every four years, the world watches the biggest, most popular tournament this planet offers. On hand will be the best 32 soccer teams this world has. Brazil and Ronaldinho; France and Thierry Henry; Ukraine and Andriy Schevchenko and so on. Get ready, the World Cup starts Friday and personally I couldn't be more ecstatic. Let the party begin.
Wednesday offered some big news on the World Cup front:
All smiles after given the go ahead to play in Germany is Wayne.
* England and Manchester United striker was given the green light to play for the red and white. After breaking a bone in his foot vs Chelsea back in April it looked like Rooney would struggle to be fit for the tourney. Think again. Rooney is ready to go and boosts England's chances immensely.
* France and Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse broke his leg in France's 3-1 over China on Wednesday. Cisse, who was tapped to start up front with Henry, will have to miss his second big tourney in a row after having missed Euro 2004 with an injury.
Let's dive into each group individually and see who'll come out (June 9 to June 23):
Group A
Germany and Costa Rica should beat out Poland and Ecuador to move out of the group stages. Germany, being the home squad, should have no problem moving on but Costa Rica might have a tougher time with Poland and Celtic star Maciej Zurawski. Costa Rica won't go much farther but how far can new Chelsea boy Michael Ballack take the Germans? Only time will tell.
Group B
With Rooney given the all clear to return to the pitch, England will be flying high. Which other team will make it out. Sweden has the scoring up front with Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson to give any team fits. Paraguay and T & T (Trinidad and Tobago) fans will be happy to be in Germay for a couple weeks. England and Sweden move on.
Lampard, Crouch and Beckham will have to come up huge for England to go far.
Group C
Two of the best teams square off on June 21 in Frankfurt with Argentina taking on Holland. Argentina is loaded with Crespo, young stud Messi, Riquelme, Cambiasso, Heinze, etc. Holland has three stars of their own up front in van Nistelrooy (Man United), Robben (Chelsea) and Van Persie (Arsenal). Serbia-Montenegro and the Ivory Coast will put up a fight but it's obvious Argentina (winner) and Holland (runner-up) move on.
Group D
Talk about an easy group. Mexico is a solid team. Portugal? We saw what they did in 2002 (not much). Iran? Angola? Are you kidding? The US should be in this group. Portugal should be improved with Pauleta up front and Christiano Ronaldo, Deco and Figo behind him. It's the defense that will need to stop giving up goals like they did to the USA in 2002. Mexico should move out of the group with star Rafael Marquez holding down the back line and Franco and Borgetti scoring the goals up front. Mexico (winner) and Portugal (runner-up) march on.
Group E
Talk about a tough group. The Czech's are ranked No. 2 in the world. The United States is in the top 10, Italy is Italy (all the talent in the world) and Ghana with Michael Essien in midfield and Kuffour in defense could slide into the second round. It's hard to imagine the Czech's not marching on, but watch out for their defense. With Baros, Koller and Rosicky up front, the Czech's can score goals at will, but can they stop anybody? Italy just seems to be getting older, yet the talent is still there. Can the States top their quarterfinal run from 2002? Brazil will be standing in their way in the next round so it's doubtful. Just getting out of this group should be enough. Czech Republic (winner) and USA (runner-up) move on.
Group F
Brazil. They win this group. Now who finishes second? Australia, Japan and Croatia will fight for the runner-up spot. Australia with Cahill and Viduka up front are great at creating their own goals. Liverpool's Harry Kewell can create down the left flank. Croatia and Japan both have nice squad's but not enough to move on. It's Brazil and Australia.
Group G
The most amazing player I have ever seen with a ball at his feet, France's Zinedine Zidane, has said he's retiring after this tourney. He won't let the French go down without a fight. Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet are fantastic up front and the defense is always great with Gallas, Thuram and Sagnol. France wins the group. South Korea doesn't have the home field advantage like 2002 which could mean a quick trip home. Togo is happy to be playing in the tourney. Switzerland should be runner-up behind France, but the Swiss won't go any farther.
If you only know one player in this year's World Cup, make it Zidane. He's a wizard with a ball at his feet.
Group H
Congratulations to Saudi Arabia and Tunisia for making the tournament. Now turn around and go home because nothing is going to stop Spain and the Ukraine from moving on. The only question is who wins the group. If Schevchenko catches fire, watch out. He could take them a long way. Spain could go as far as the quarters or could be out in the second round. They need the defense with Puyol and Ibanez to gel and Reyes and Garcia to create for Raul and Villa or itwill be a short run for the Spanish. The Ukraine (winner) and Spain (runner-up) move on.
Second Round (June 24 to June 27):
Group A winner (Germany) vs Group B runner-up (Sweden) -- Like South Korea in 2002, the Germans will have every fan roaring when Ballack and Co. move on to the quarters.
Group C winner (Argentina) vs Group D runner-up (Portugal) -- Young Argentine star Messi and the young Portuguese star, Ronaldo, makes this a tantelizing matchup. Argentina should have too much and will overpower Portugal.
Messi, the best young player in the tourney?
Group E winner (Czech Republic) vs Group F runner-up (Australia) -- Weak in defense proves the Czech's downfall and Viduka and Cahill go wild. AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE, OY, OY, OY!!!
Group G winner (France) vs Group H runner-up (Spain) -- Sorry Raul, you are wonderful, but the French have it all. Zidane to Henry, Zidane to Trezeguet and so on.
Group B winner (England) vs Group A runner-up (Costa Rica) -- Peter Crouch is great. Michael Owen is great, but there is only one Wayne Rooney. There is no chance of Costa Rica penetrating the English defense with Ashley Cole, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville.
Group D winner (Mexico) vs Group C runner-up (Holland) -- Finally the Dutch let go of Kluivert and Davids for the young, strong pups (van Persie and Robben). If the defense holds up, Holland marches on.
Group F winner (Brazil) vs Group E runner-up (USA) -- In one of these games, Ronaldinho, Adriano and Ronaldo will go off for seven goals. We just have to hope it's not vs the stars and stripes.
Group H winner (Ukraine) vs Group runner-up (Switzerland) -- I'm banking all of this on Schevchenko. If he gets the ball in the right spots, he could win the Golden Boot (most goals for a player in the tourney). Chelsea fans are dying to see him in Blue this August.
Quarterfinals (June 30 and July 1):
Germany vs Argentina -- A tough home squad in Germany or a soft Argentina team? Can the midfield of Argentina outgun the Germans midfield? Quickness vs toughness. The German's toughness can get them past Argentina, but how much farther will depend on the luck of the draw.
France vs Australia -- Zizou (Zidane) will dominate the midfield and not let anything through. If anything does get through, Thuram and Gallas are waiting. The French will keep flying high.
England vs Holland -- Rooney will be salivating at this matchup vs Man U teammate van Nistelrooy. This is the quarterfinal I would personally die to see in person. Another tough team in England (i.e. Gary Neville) vs the precision of the Holland squad. It comes down to defense and the English are much tougher in the backline than Holland. Rooney is healthy and on a roll.
Brazil vs Ukraine -- Schevchenko. You know I love you, but nothing can stop Brazil. Ronaldo is back healthy and ready to prove to the world he isn't overweight and can still dominate. Plus, who wouldn't love to see Brazil vs England?
Semifinals (July 4 and July 5):
Germany vs France -- The home cooking can only take Germany so far. Great matchup in the midfield with Ballack and Zidane, but Zizou has way too much around him with Vieira and Makelele and better goalscorers in Henry and Trezeguet. France moves into the finals with a 3-1 win over the Germans.
Brazil vs England -- In reality I don't see any team stoping the Brazilians, but that's why they play it on the pitch and not on paper. England stops Brazil and Peter Crouch comes off the bench in the second half to score the winner. 3-2 England.
Final (July 9):
France vs England -- Steven Gerard vs Zinedine Zidane. Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney vs William Gallas and Lillian Thuram. Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet vs Rio Ferdinand and John Terry. What separates these two great squads? Again, it's Zidane. Gerard is wonderful, but Zidane is out of this world. Zidane goes out on top with a 3-1 over England in the final.
