Germany ?06 World Cup Verdict (Part I)

The greatest football showpiece event, the World Cup, as usual will complete with widespread talk about fallen former heroes and the dramatic rise of some of the least fancied sides.

I am looking forward to seeing this year?s World Cup in Deutschland going into the reputable dustbin of history as the most superlative of the all the 16 tournaments held since its inception in 1930.

GROUP A: Germany / Costa Rica / Poland /Ecuador

The host Germany, under the former East Germany won the World Cup three times, missing out on the ultimate trophy in the last event via a 0-2 defeat to Brazil. On home soil and with the current coaching staff consisting of head coach J?rgen Klinsmann, assisted by fellow legends Joachim L?w, Oliver Bierhoff and Andreas K?pke, I consider them as potential winners. Under Franz Beckenbauer the Germans jointly held the European and World Cups after winning the latter at home in 1974.With goalkeeper Jens Lehmann now a towering hero in that position on the world football map and full fitness and topflight form referable to Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, rising star likened to Wayne Rooney in Lukas Podolski, Robert Huth, Miroslav Klose, Gerald Asamoah, Bastian Schweinssteiger and Torsten Grings, they could prove on home soil. Remember six of the seven World Cup champions over all-time have won at least one of their titles while playing in their own homeland, the exception being Brazil, who lost the deciding match (known as Maracanazo) when they hosted the 1950 tournament. Other Group contenders Costa Rica, Poland and Ecuador would have to fight to decide on who joins Germany. Nicknamed Los Ticos, Costa Rica in the 1990 World Cup missed out on the last 16 on goal difference under coach Bora Milutinovic. They performed solidly in 2002 in a group that included Brazil and Turkey but this time it could prove too tough for them. Their star player Paulo Wanchope, reputed for his sublime skills at both West Ham and Manchester City, cannot push them further.

I tip Poland - finished third in 1974 and 1982 World Cups - to edge out all except Germany. Ecuador finished one point ahead of Brazil and second only to Argentina in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying for 2002.That shows its improvement but its form of late is incomparable to Poland who have Jacek Krzynowek, the man who led to finish above England in the qualifying. Poland are in a safe technical man, Coach Pawel Janas, bronze winner with Poland in 1982 and leader of Legia Warsaw to consecutive polish league doubles in the last decade of the last millennium.

GROUP VERDICT: Germany ahead of Poland

Group B: England / Paraguay / Trinidad & Tobago / Sweden

This group initially had me guessing it could provide the World Cup winner. However, injuries forced me to change but still halfway convinced on England success despite the fact that full fitness looks afar on the sights of key players Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Frank Lampard. England could move from hot favorites to favorites if this lack of convincing fitness follows its exploits in the tournament. History and current form holds favor for England ahead of group opponents Trinidad & Tobago , Paraguay and slightly above Sweden because they won in 1966 and are 9th on the FIFA/Coca Cola Rankings. Trinidad & Tobago produced unpersuasive form in friendly ties ahead of the tournament. Paraguay breezed through to the last 16 of the last two World Cups but with veteran striker Jose Cardozo, a controversial inclusion by coach Anibal Ruiz ruled out, the country could be hampered again by the lack of creative and sharp edged marksmen. Carlos Gamarra, Justo Villar, Rogue Santa Cruz, Salvador Canabas and Carlo Humberto Paredes are still around but England and Sweden looks better. Sweden is without a win in six build-up games but its pedigree cannot be decided on mere friendly mediocre showings. Captain Olof Mellberg, 34-year old Henrik Larsson, Andreas Isaksson, Petter Hansson, Freddie Ljunberg, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rosenberg demonstrates the quality of the Swedes; third place finishers in 1950 and 1994. Coach Lars Lagerb?ck and manager Sven-G?ran Eriksson would then have to decide to who heads the group. England last beat Sweden 40 years ago but I see the England side of today stronger than ever before. As modern football prescribes, say no to the idea of minnows. I do but even with the best player over all-time to have come from the Caribbean, Sydney FC?s Dwight Yorke, the Soca Warriors of Tinindad &Tobago still lack a convincing midfield and attack and worst off all lateral defenders.

GROUP VERDICT: England ahead of Sweden.

GROUP C: Argentina / Ivory Coast / Serbia &Montenegro / Netherlands

This is the group with two potential winners; Netherlands and Argentina. Serbia & Montenegro and the Ivory Coast, alongside Ghana and Ukraine are my picks for the upsets. The Argentines were seen as pre-tournament favorites in 2002, they flopped but this year, they could end up world champions for the third time overall and first since the ?Hand of God? of Mexico ?86.Ojectively, the Argentine combination of Hern?n Crespo, Juan Rom?n Riquelme, Lionel Messi, Julio Ricardo Cruz, Luis Gonz?lez, Roberto Ayala, Javier Saviola,. Juan Pablo Sor?n, Leo Franco, Pablo Aimar can withstand every brilliant line-up no matter its source of origin. The main weakness of the Argentines is at the goal post where Roberto Abbondanzieri fumbles to keep full confidence at key peak times. The Netherlands have a young man and legend Marco van Basten leading a young but talented quality all-round squad to the World, a team I can bet my last cedi on to reach at least the 16. The Netherlands failed in the grand finals of the World Cup in 1974 and 78 despite their superlative precise ball passing ability and overwhelming tactical possession on pitch. With the "Clockwork Orange" this time parading the likes of Edwin van der Sar, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Philip Cocu, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Mark van Bommel, Robin van Persie, and Jan Kromkamp, that reality of Dutch underachievement could be changed with a truly satisfying showcase in Germany. The Ivory Coast, Africa?s touted biggest hope, unfortunately cannot survive, I can see. Yes the country did qualify for African Cup finals and has great players like Arouna Kon?, Didier Drogba, Didier Zokora, Kolo Toure, Aruna Dindane and Emmanuel Eboue, nevertheless, I can?t see them dislodging the powerful line-ups of the Argentines and Dutch. The reason for the going home early of the Elephants is most unlikely to be caused by their first time experience. The Плави (Blues) of Serbia and Montenegro was impressive in qualifying but with conspicuous weakness in defense and midfield, Argentina and Netherlands would be too hot to handle. Star men Savo Milo?ević, Dejan Stanković and Nikola ?igić are around but I cannot be convinced of their ability to stage survival.

GROUP VERDICT: Argentina ahead of Netherlands

GROUP D : Mexico / Iran / Angola / Portugal

Selec??o das Quinas of Portugal and the Los Tricolores of Mexico undoubtedly are the strongest in the group. Despite the abundance of talent in Portugal as well the success of its clubs in Europe, Portugal has never won any major competition at senior level, and I can?t see it breaking this time. They can take comfort in the fact that they are coached by the winning coach of the last World, Luiz Felipe Scolari and will line-up the likes of internationally acclaimed stars in Luis Figo, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Maniche, Tiago, Deco, Nuno Gomes and Lu?s Boa Morte. Their projected formation - 4-2-3-1 - should unsettle Angola and Iran easily and send off real scare from other potential group winners, Mexico. Mexico irrefutably is the ?Giants of CONCACAF? and with a record of consistent international success of late, they could spring surprise. Coach Ricardo Antonio La Volpe together with his men are intent on building on their passage to Round 2 in the last three World Cups and that of their quarterfinals of the 1970 and 1986 tournaments on home soil at their 13th World Cup campaign in Germany. The days of Mexico great Cuauht?moc Blanco are over but in topflight shape and parading in Germany are worldwide acclaimed good players in Rafael M?rquez, Jared Borgetti, Guillermo Franco, Claudio Su?rez in a squad consisting of only four foreign based players. Angola piped ?Big Brother? Nigeria to their debut World Cup in mid 2005 but since then poor result after poor result much to the melancholy of their home fans. Egypt 2005 would forever be a nightmare whilst a similar fate await, I predict as an aftermath of Germany 2005.It is a fact, with due respect to Angolans and Africans, that the Palancas Negras lack topflight quality players; Fabrice Akwa with his 38 goals in 68 matches is currently out of meaningful sort, talented left-back Yamba Asha is missing due to suspension, Pedro Mantorras is battling to be fully fit. Coach Lu?s Oliveira Gon?alves will have to rely on counter-attacks while tightly defending to avoid overwhelming disgrace. Politics have affected Iranian national life but not in football. However, the Iranian squad could end up in Round 1 as they did in 1978 and 98. Embattled Iran coach Branko Ivancovic knows that their form has sliced after defeats to weakened Qatari and Macedonian sides and even the magic of veteran Ali Daei cannot accomplish the Iranian vision.

GROUP VERDICT: Portugal ahead of Mexico.

Please read part !! for verdict on Group E,F,G & H as well as Quarter, semi,finals and third place play-off.