The world's greatest party starts today when the World Cup opens in Germany. Given that I'm home injured, it's not the worst thing in the world to have 6 hours a day of top soccer!
My predictions...
WINNER: Argentina. I always pick Argentina even though they always lose and even though everyone else is picking Brazil. Picking Brazil is like picking Duke to win March Madness. I think the lack of expectations might work in the Argies favor this time. Plus, I love Lionel Messi. (Alternatives: holders Brazil and hosts Germany are also good choices. If the Czechs stay healthy, watch out for them)
SURPRISE: Costa Rica. Everyone thinks CONCACAF (North/Central America and the Carribean confederation) is crap but I'd like to see England go play a competitive match in Costa Rica or Guatemala. CR are a good little team and it wouldn't surprise me to see them do well. (Alternatives: maybe Angola or Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast is much better but Angola have an easier group)
DISAPPOINTMENT: Almost by definition it must be Brazil because everyone expects them to win. But given the difficult group and some of the scoring problems they've had, it wouldn't shock me to see the Netherlands go out in the first round. (Alternative: England and Mexico, because I can't stand either of them)
STRANGEST MATCH FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING OFF THE PITCH: Serbia & Montenegro vs Ivory Coast. This match features two countries, each divided. Montenegro recently voted in a referendum to secede from Serbia. But since they qualified as a combined entity, they will participate as a combined entity despite the vote. A majority of Ivory Coast territory is controlled by rebels. The rebels and loyalists have signed truces and 'peace agreements' more often than Bush has been dead wrong on Iraq. Oddly, the peoples of all four territories will likely be fully behind their team. (Alternatives: the colonizer-colonized matches between Angola-Portugal and Togo-France)
THE US: The US brings its best ever team to a World Cup but they are also part of their most difficult opening round group ever. Forget what the stupid FIFA computer rankings say. The US is NOT #5 in the world (somewhere between 9 and 12 is more like it). But the US' first two opponents are top five caliber: Italy and the Czech Republic. The upside: both of those powers have major injury worries. Just getting out of the first round would be a major achievement given this group. And even that would set up an almost certain second round clash with defending champions and favorites Brazil. If the US matched the 2002 quarterfinal run this time, it would be the greatest achievement in US soccer history.
FORZA USA!
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