Fixture A
Costa Rica — Ecuador — Germany — Poland
Germany is the host to this years cup and behind their superstar midfielder Michael Ballack, but he is also apparently injured and questionable during pool play, however they should advance in this group. I also think Ecuador will surprise most and also advance from this pool. They have qualifying wins over Brazil and Argentina! Costa Rica and Poland are both also very capable clubs who could be the two to emerge from the bracket, but since I know nothing about soccer, I’m going with the host Germany and underdog Ecuador.
Player to Watch: Michael Ballack, Midfielder Germany

Fixture B
England — Paraguay — Sweden — Trinidad & Tobago
England is the obvious favorite in this grouping. However their hopes of a first World Cup since 1966 took a severe blow when 20 year-old striker Wayne Rooney injured his ankle late in the season for Manchester United. If Rooney plays, and that is questionable, England is one fo the Top 3 teams in this tournament. David Beckham, Michael Owen, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard. If England wins, it sets up quite a first round knockout game vs host Germany. Sweden has a +26 goal differential in qualifying and should easy qualify here, Paraguay could play spoilers in what can be an arbitrary sport.
Player to Watch: Wayne Rooney, Forward England (Man U)

Fixture C
Argentina — Ivory Coast — Netherlands — Serbia and Montenegro
This is a really dynamite fixture that will have some great pool play games. Argentina is the favorite but then it gets a little interesting. The eays pick here is Holland to also advance but the Dutch aren’t play good futbol and striker Van Nistelrooy isn’t getting any younger. However, picking the Ivory Coast to advance would be an injustice to my foreign exchange students friends from Amsterdam, so go Holland! Its quite a story, this is Ivory Coast first WC qualification, that the country only for this reason agreed to civil war cease-fire to enjoy their futbol team, really remarkable stuff. And they are a good team, catch on of their games.
Player to Watch: Didier Drogba, Forward Ivory Coast (Chelsea)

Fixture D
Angola — Iran — Mexico — Portugal
Angola takes the field for its first ever World Cup game, they won’t win, but its an accomplishment. Portugal is the favorite here behind Luis Figo and the ‘other Ronaldo’ Man U Forward Christiano Ronaldo. Mexico should also get through this group as they ar the #1 seed here and hold their highest FIFA ranking ever. Iran is playing amidst controversy concerning thier nation and their ongoing nucleur program. Portugal should go deep.
Player to Watch: Jared Borgetti, Forward Mexico

Fixture E
Czech Republic — Ghana — Italy — U.S.A.
Easily the toughest group in this years World Cup with 3 teams ranked in the Top 13 worldwide. Italy has to be the favorite behind forward Francesco Totti. The US is no longer an underdog on the world soccer stage after their amazing 2002 run into the quarterfinals. Czech is a really great team that plays solid soccer. The US team is led by Landon Donovan, DeMarcus Beasley, Brian McBride, and keeper Kasey Keller, the only player on any team who played in the 1990 WC as well. My head tells me Czech and Italy, but my heart tells me Italy and the USA. If the US can manage to get through this group, it’ll do more for their international respect than their great 2002 run.
Player to Watch: Oguchi Onyewu, Defense USA

Fixture F
Australia — Brazil — Croatia — Japan
All eyes are on the favorites and #1 ranked Brazilians behind Footballer of the Year and recent Champions League MVP Ronaldhino and perennial great forward Ronaldo. Three goals will make Ronaldo the WC’s all-time leading scorer. Lurking in the shadows are Kaka and Adriano, who arguably will have a better WC that the heavily guarded superstars. Kaka is reportedly about to become the world highest paid player for Real Madrid and Adriano is alreeady being touted as a ‘more athletic Ronaldo.’ Other than Brazil, who should win all three of their games here, Croatia or Japan should advance, and I’ll pick Japan. They are playing great leading into the WC and should sneak into the tournament round.
Player to Watch: Kaka, Forward Brazil (AC Milan)

Fixture G
France — South Korea — Switzerland — Togo
France is the biggest favorite, and also the tournament’s biggest enigma. Led by Arsenal forward Thierry Henry and soon to be retired Zinedine Zidane, the 1998 World Cup champs can either win it all or bust early. Henry, arguably the most talented player in the world, and Zidane have never really played well together and the team’s roster hasn’t improved since their 1998 triumph as hosts. The real story here is South Korea or Switzerland, South Korea was only one game away from the WC finals in 2002. I’ll go with Switzerland because I think Korea is a little overrated and they won’t let that damn Apolo Anton Ohno dance go away.
Player to Watch: Ji-Sung Park, Forward S. Korea (Man U)

Fixture H
Saudi Arabia — Spain — Tunisia — Ukraine
Spain is the overwhelming favorite here, led by Raul and Fernando Torres. The Saudis could pull an upset or two and get there way into the tournament round. Ukraine is a really tough team, that if plays good soccer, should also easily advance. Tunisia is a good team though that like the Saudis, can advance with a upset over the Ukraine.
Player to Watch: Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine (2004 European Player of the Year)

And once we are into the Tournament Round, it is hard to really predict. Brazil, Portugal, England (With Rooney), Spain, France, and Argentina are the obvious favorites and rightfully so. It should be a fantastic World Cup and I hope you now have a little more to go on in order to watch and enjoy the sport. Go USA!!!!!