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Whatever the draw, Brazil is the favorite to win
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-05 09:34 "If a CONCACAF team has the possibility of being a seeded team at the 2006
FIFA World Cup final draw, the United States has done what is necessary in the
region to deserve it," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said.
Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho (L)
controls the ball while filming a commercial in Madrid December 1, 2005.
[Reuters] | Brazil and Germany are the only teams
definitely seeded so far and know they wouldn't face each other until the final
on July 9 in Berlin.
Six more nations will complete the top seeds, and teams such as Argentina,
England, Italy, the Netherlands and France hope to be among them _ so they can't
meet until the knockout stage.
Like Brazil, Argentina has strength and depth and has its best chance since
last winning the crown in 1986 when Diego Maradona was at his peak. Juan Roman
Riquelme is the team's playmaker behind strikers Carlos Tevez and Hernan Crespo,
and the defense is hugely experienced, with some players preparing for their
third World Cup.
By contrast, this tournament may come a little too early for Germany.
Alongside stars Michael Ballack and veteran goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, German coach
Juergen Klinsmann has talented youngsters such as striker Lukas Podolski and
midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger. But this will be an inexperienced German
squad.
The Italians, who won the last of their three titles in 1982, have the talent
to reach the final for the first time since '94. Coach Marcello Lippi's biggest
problems are maintaining confidence and making his players work as a team.
With its most talented roster in decades, England hopes to win the title 40
years after its solitary triumph on home turf. Striker Wayne Rooney is the new
star, but Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson also has David Beckham, Michael
Owen, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry, all now established among
the best players in the game.
With Zinedine Zidane back and Thierry Henry at the top of his career, France
has the ability to repeat its 1998 triumph. Summoning Zidane, Claude Makelele
and Lilian Thuram out of retirement suggests, however, it is struggling to find
new talent.
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