June 2K6, Deutchland

Let the games begin. World Cup, Germany. See poll just below the clock to cast your votes now! You too can play a part in your team's quest to gain their place in history. But don't wait until June, because who knows how long the poll will be around...

I would have optioned the teams individually, but the free poll site would only give me nine spots. So I put what I think are the top two teams together from the each of the eight groups. The following are a few of my thoughts on the upcoming tournament, the biggest thing besides sleep in every basically every country not called the United States. (Hopefully this is only a matter of time...)

Brazil are good. They could field two teams and both would still compete for supremacy. Argentina are dang good too. The unheralded Spaniards may not have the best talent on the pitch, but they are nonetheless hard to beat. They same could be said for teams such as Sweden, Portugal, and France. Holland, Czech Republic, and Mexico have scary squads, and fall just a notch below the two dominant South American teams. Germany has home field advantage. Look over the past WC winners, and an abnormal number of winners were the host country. Hmmm. Then there is the US. A good squad, with a good showing in the last WC. Bummer of a draw though, definately were dropped in one of the two hardest groups. With Italy, Czech Republic, and very good African squad from Ghana, and only two advancing to the knockout stage, it will be an uphill battle. But don't go and completely write them off.

I have yet to mention my pick for WC 06 winner. They would be called England. They have a top team, a mature team, but not yet too old, and some dissapointing history to overcome. This is the year I think they duck the bad luck. Not a guarantee, just a hunch. All that being said, there are still some teams I didn't mention that could bring it all home. Anything can happen. So in six months, I guess we'll see...