World Cup 2006 Germany - Groups A-F
Source: http://soccer.sportsnet.tsn.ca
General analysis of each team in Group A to F of the coming World Cup in Germany, starting at 11:30 am ET, Friday, June 9 with the opening match between the home team Germany and Costa Rica.
Group G & H are yet to be posted.
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England and Sweden both hope to have secured places in the second round of the World Cup by the time they face each other in the group stage.
The two strongest teams in Group B have to play Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago before meeting each other and each could get six points from those games to ensure advancement to the knockout round.
Still, their match on June 20 in Cologne could be very important, because one of the two might end up playing host Germany in the second round.
ENGLAND
England had been expected to qualify easily for the second round, but an injury to striker Wayne Rooney has raised some doubts. The 20-year-old Manchester United forward broke his right foot in late April and could miss the entire World Cup.
"I will not rule him out until the doctors tell me there is no chance," England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said. "No one wants that to happen. Everyone hopes he can take part in the World Cup at some stage."
Rooney has had an excellent season in the English Premier League and was expected to be England's catalyst to perhaps its first World Cup title since 1966 - the only time England has won the prize.
Although England also has strong players such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Jamie Carragher, the absence of Rooney would weaken the team's overall confidence, and, of course, take away one of the most promising players in the game.
"The news about Wayne is depressingly sad," said former England manager Bobby Robson, who led the team to the World Cup semifinals in 1990. "You cannot replace Rooney. I don't think there's another player like him in the country or in Europe. He's a very special player, and without him our chances are dim."
His absence also should improve the chances of Paraguay and Trinidad.
Key Player: While Wayne Rooney's broken foot has dominated the leadup, fellow striker Michael Owen could be the man of the moment. He will have to lead the English attack from Day 1 at the finals. The Newcastle forward has had an injury-plagued year and will need to show off his flair for scoring - 35 goals in 75 appearances - if England are going to do some damage in Germany.
Outlook: England has a tough defence and some bona fide stars in midfield with the likes of Frank Lampard, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole. It will be up to Eriksson to use them wisely. Injuries to Rooney and Owen have left a big question mark up front, however.
PARAGUAY
Paraguay made it to the World Cup for the third time in a row and reached the second round in the last two, losing to eventual champion France in 1998 and to finalist Germany in 2002.
The South Americans meet England in Frankfurt on June 10 with hopes that Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Cruz will be fully fit. The forward returned to action in April after being sidelined for five months with torn ligaments in his right knee.
Before Rooney's injury, Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz might have feared another one-sided loss to England, which beat Paraguay 3-0 at the 1986 World Cup and 4-0 in a friendly four years ago.
If Paraguay can hold England to a draw, then the pressure will be on the English when they face Trinidad in Nuremberg five days later - especially if the Swedes have beaten the Caribbean team in Dortmund on June 10.
Key Player: Striker Roque Santa Cruz is struggling to recover after an October knee injury. The 23-year-old Bayern Munich player could be a big boost to the South American squad, with 13 goals in 42 games.
Outlook: The Paraguayans finished fourth in South American qualifying with an 8-6-4 record that included a 1-0 win and 0-0 draw against Argentina. Some have questioned the age of some members of the squad.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Trinidad's best player is Dwight Yorke, the former Aston Villa and Manchester United striker who was persuaded to come out of retirement to help the island team reach its first World Cup by beating Bahrain in a playoff.
Now Yorke plays a much deeper role in midfield and, apart from experienced players such as West Ham's Shaka Hislop, Rangers' Marvin Andrews and Falkirk's Russell Latapy, has several England-based players on the squad, most of them from lower-division clubs.
The Soca Warriors have little chance of making it to the second round. Sweden hopes it won't be their first victim.
Key Player: Dwight Yorke. At 34, Yorke's best days are behind him, but the former Manchester United striker with the beaming smile is enjoying a return to international play as a playmaker from midfield.
Outlook: Trinidad and Tobago should be happy just making the big dance - beating Bahrain in a playoff - but look for them to be extra motivated against England. Many of the T&T players are based out of England and would be over the moon if they could slow down the English machine. Still you may not want to bet the mortgage on the upset. Beenhakker probably didn't help matters when he reportedly said England always flops at major championships.
SWEDEN
Sweden consistently has been tough to beat early in the World Cup and tied both England and Argentina at the 2002 World Cup before losing to Senegal on an extra time "golden goal."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who plays for Italian league leader Juventus, is one of the world's top strikers and is joined in attack by FC Barcelona's Henrik Larsson, who helped the Swedes capture third place at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Sweden has experience throughout the team and should have enough quality to make sure it beats both Trinidad and Paraguay. And perhaps an undermanned England.
Key Player: Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a slippery, world-class forward with goals in his boots.
Outlook: Never count out the Swedes, who always are a force early in the World Cup. The Swedes have plenty of talent in Ibrahimovic. Henrik Larsson and Freddie Ljungberg (although he has been slowed by a foot injury). Sweden could be a difficult opponent.
Multiple contenders in Group C
If you're looking for the toughest group in the World Cup, look no further than Group C.
Most groups have one title contender. This division has two - Argentina and the Netherlands - and their final group match on June 21 in Frankfurt may be the most anticipated of the first round.
Also in the group is Serbia-Montenegro, which finished ahead of Spain in European qualifying. Then there's the Ivory Coast, making its debut in the World Cup after qualifying at the expense of Cameroon, arguably Africa's strongest team.
ARGENTINA
Two-time champion Argentina has the support of at least one expert, Lothar Matthaeus, the captain of West Germany's 1990 World Cup champions.
"I think Brazil has defensive problems to sort out, and my tip to win the World Cup is Argentina," Matthaeus said.
Argentina is talented everywhere.
If he recovers quickly from a right thigh injury, FC Barcelona's 18-year-old midfielder Lionel Messi - often compared to Diego Maradona - should be a star. He will line up with other attacking talents such as Hernan Crespo, Carlos Tevez, Javier Saviola and Juan Roman Riquelme.
Argentina's defence has been hurt by injuries, but if healthy is led by Juan Pablo Sorin, Roberto Ayala, Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti and Gabriel Heinze.
"We have a few problems, but we'll overcome them," Ayala said. "I think we're going to play very well."
The South Americans have something to prove. They were ignominiously ousted from the group stage in the 2002 World Cup and took a painful 4-1 loss against Brazil in last year's Confederations Cup final.
Argentina coach Jose Pekerman is also under pressure to pick 17-year-old Sergio "Kun" Aguero, a compact, low-slung forward being compared to Romario, the star of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team.
Messi wants Aguero on the team. The two played together last year when Argentina won the World Youth Championship.
"Sergio is a great player," Messi said. "He's powerful, he can shake off opponents, he's quick, strong, scores goals and is a team player. With him alongside me I feel ready for anything."
Key Player: Teenage striker Lionel Messi has been a revelation in world youth tournaments, and now he might be a catalyst at the highest level.
Outlook: Few teams face more pressure than Argentina after the 2002 debacle. Messi could be a sensation, but he'll need help from the more-seasoned Hernan Crespo, Juan Roman Riquelme and Juan Pablo Sorin. Another first-round exit would be devastating for this country.
NETHERLANDS
The Dutch team is always an enigma, saddled with the tag of the best nation never to win the World Cup.
The Dutch have dazzling technical ability and self-confidence, but usually fail to play well as a team. Netherlands coach Marco van Basten seems to have changed that impression since taking over for Dick Advocaat following the 2004 European Championship.
They were unbeaten in European qualifying - 10 wins and two draws - and twice beat the No. 2-ranked Czech Republic.
Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar is the uncontested starting goalkeeper. The anchor at midfield is Phillip Cocu, and the target man up front is Ruud van Nistelrooy. He's been benched on and off this season in England for Manchester United, and will be eager to prove himself.
Van Basten has worked hard to create team spirit, and has left veteran midfielder Clarence Seedorf off the team. Instead, he's going with young players Dirk Kuyt and Hedwiges Maduro.
"If you start out with a tough group, you immediately know what you are worth," Van Basten said. "We know it isn't going to be an easy job."
Key Player: Edwin van der Saar needs to be steady to balance what could be a formidable attack.
Outlook: When the Dutch make the tournament - they were absent in 2002 - they are a threat. The Netherlands should score even without Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the Dutch league's top scorer who wasn't chosen for the squad.
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO
Serbia-Montenegro could be a spoiler, and coach Ilija Petkovic does not lack confidence. The country qualified seven times for the World Cup as Yugoslavia, and this will be the first as Serbia-Montenegro.
"If we play the way we did in qualification, we can stay unbeaten against the Netherlands and Argentina," Petkovic said. "I know that we would have to play our best, but the favourites sometimes freeze in their opening games at the World Cups, and that is our chance. We are capable of upsetting any team in the world."
Relying on defence, the club had seven shutouts in qualifying and pushed Spain to second in the group. The defence will be led by Nemanja Vidic, with the attack focused on Mateja Kezman.
Also up front is six-foot-eight Nikola Zigic of Red Star Belgrade.
"We are known for our attacking style of play, but if we get the results with a strong defence," Petkovic said, "I won't change anything."
Key Player: Defender Mladen Krstajic is the anchor of the stingy defence that will be tested often in this division.
Outlook: After beating out Spain in its qualifying group and allowing only one goal, the Serbs showed they can play defence. They'll need to find some offence to survive this difficult group, and striker Mateja Kezman, who had five qualifying goals, must produce.
IVORY COAST
No one holds much hope for Ivory Coast, although the west Africans are looking to surprise opponents like Senegal did in 2002, reaching the quarter-finals.
Ivory Coast brings a handful of high-profile players to its first World Cup, led by two who play in the English Premier League: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Arsenal defender Kolo Toure.
The other key scorer is Aruna Dindane, who plays for French club Lens.
Key Player: Didier Drogba, who played a prominent role for English Premier League champion Chelsea and is among the world's top forwards.
Outlook: Probably the best team from Africa this year, but that could mean little with the powerful Dutch and Argentines in the group. Still, this is one of the most promising outsiders in the field, and Drogba must be watched every minute by opposing defences.
Group D: Trouble Lurking
Hooligans always are a threat at the World Cup. Group D could provide trouble at this year's tournament, though the problems are not expected to come from the usual thugs and bullies.
Instead, the weakest group at the tournament in Germany could create the most trouble when Portugal faces former colony Angola, and Iran faces just about anyone.
Mexico is the seeded team in the group.
PORTUGAL
Portugal, unbeaten in its World Cup qualifying campaign, will be more worried about redeeming itself.
At the World Cup four years ago, Portugal lost to South Korea and the United States and was eliminated in the first round. The Portuguese rebounded two years later by reaching the final at the European Championship, and has another strong squad heading to Germany.
Not to mention a Brazilian coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is trying to win the World Cup with his second team.
"I have a shot at that. Let's see how things go and whether I deserve it," said Scolari, who led Brazil to its fifth title in South Korea and Japan.
Still, Scolari is wary of being overly optimistic.
"There will be more hurdles and difficulties (in Germany) than at Euro 2004. We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground, especially the players," Scolari said.
Luis Figo, the team's top player, said Portugal always has had problems when in an "apparently easy group." But he seems ready to make amends.
"Smart people don't make the same mistake twice," the Inter Milan midfielder said.
Besides Figo, Portugal also can rely on Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, FC Barcelona's Brazilian-born midfielder Deco, dangerous scorer Pauleta of Paris Saint-Germain and a backline that boasts Chelsea defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira.
But when African teams meet their former colonial powers, strange things can happen. Just ask France. At the last World Cup, Senegal upset the defending champions in the opening match.
Key Player: Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the main force during qualifying and provides some fresh blood to a withering team.
Outlook: Scolari led Brazil to the title in 2002 and now has gone from the premier program in the world to this group of underachievers. He has a bevy of veterans who have not performed well in the World Cup, but if he can't get them to produce in a group they could win, who can?
ANGOLA
Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves and the rest of the country will be hoping for a repeat.
"We have a saying in Angola that goes, 'Hope is the last thing to die.' But we know our limits," Goncalves said. "We don't have good training conditions and we don't have many players in big European teams."
Fabrice Akwa and Benfica striker Pedro Mantorras are the team's stars. Akwa scored the goal against Rwanda that helped Angola qualify for the World Cup for the first time.
Angola gained its independence from Portugal in 1975, and has played its former colonial power only twice, losing 6-0 in 1989 and 5-1 in 2001.
At the last match in Lisbon, four Angolan players were sent off for brutal tackles and dissent, and the game was abandoned with 20 minutes to play.
Key Player: Forward Fabrice Akwa scored the goal that catapulted Angola into the tournament, and he's the main threat.
Outlook: The opener against Portugal could be a grudge match, and the Portuguese have been known to stumble early. Still, Angola will be hard-pressed to get anywhere in this division.
MEXICO
Mexico, which reached the second round in 2002 but lost to the United States, looks to have its best team in decades. But the pressure to reach the quarter-finals could be troublesome for coach Ricardo Lavolpe.
"We are trying to reach new goals. We have been working hard and the objective is to rank among the top four in the World Cup," Lavolpe said.
Mexico twice has reached the quarter-finals, at home in 1970 and 1986.
Lavolpe has no shortage of reasons to be optimistic, however. Goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez of Chivas is one of the best in the world, and the defence is led by Barcelona winger Rafael Marquez.
The team also has two star strikers - Jared Borgetti of Bolton and Guillermo Franco, an Argentine who was naturalized a Mexican and plays for Villarreal.
"Expectations are very high and this makes things complicated," Marquez said. "I think we will have to work very hard to deal with that mentally ... sometimes we are our own worst enemy."
Key Player: Jared Borgetti, a striker for Bolton in the English Premier League, scores most of his nation's big goals. He had 14 in qualifying.
Outlook: Borgetti has to carry the attack along with Guillermo Franco for a team that rarely finds the big goal in the World Cup. Rafael Marquez of Barcelona is one of the world's best defenders. The Mexicans should make the second round without a lot of trouble.
IRAN
Iran is making its third World Cup appearance. With Tehran's nuclear ambitions and its president's verbal attacks on Israel, the off-field issues have led to calls for Iran to be banned from playing.
Iran coach Branko Ivankovic is concerned only about soccer.
"We want to surprise the world, because now we are capable of beating anyone and we are not going to Germany as tourists," Ivankovic said.
Iran has drawn once and lost four times in its two previous World Cups, with its only win coming against political nemesis the United States in 1998.
Now the team is anchored by veterans such as striker Ali Daei and Bayern Munich playmaker Ali Karimi.
European-based players such as forward Mehdi Mahdavikia of Hamburger SV, Vahid Hashemian of Hannover 96, Kaiserslautern midfielder Fereydoon Zandi, Bochum's Moharram Navidkia and Messina defender Rahman Rezaei are also expected to shine.
"We have a great mix of experienced internationals and enthusiastic young players," Ivankovic said.
Key Player: Ali Daei, whose experience at this level will be called on often.
Outlook: Iran finally has some players who have had steady work at bigtime clubs, making this team unlikely to get intimidated. Still, the Iranians aren't on the level of Mexico or Portugal, so advancing would be a major upset.
Group E: Three will battle for two spots
Italy is the only seeded team at the World Cup that will play two higher-ranked opponents in the first round.
It seems a strange happenstance, but when the FIFA rankings are involved, things sometimes get confusing.
Italy, which is ranked 13th by soccer's world governing body but was rated as one of the top eight teams for the tournament in Germany, will play the second-ranked Czech Republic and No. 5 United States in Group E. The other team in the group is World Cup first timer Ghana.
The only other seeded team that will face a higher-ranked team in the first round is Argentina. The two-time World Cup champions are ninth in FIFA's list, but face the third-ranked Netherlands in Group C.
ITALY
The Italians, who won two of the first three World Cups and then added another title in 1982, first play 48th-ranked Ghana, which is also in the group.
"At the moment I am only thinking about the match against Ghana, because the first game is always the most important," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. "The outcome of that match, whether we win, lose or draw, will decide how we will approach the second game. And the second game decides the approach for the third, and so on."
Italy's roster will include playmaker Francesco Totti, who recently returned from an 81-day injury layoff, Filippo Inzaghi and Vincenzo Iaquinta.
Gianluigi Buffon, who has been engulfed in gambling allegations, is expected to be the team's starting goalkeeper.
"He's a great person," Totti said of Buffon. "I don't believe he did anything, but even if did make an error, I would stand by him."
Since winning its last major title at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, Italy has been eliminated from soccer's top competition on penalties three times. At the last World Cup, South Korea's Ahn Jung-hwan scored a golden goal to send Italy home after the second round.
"You can't say Italian soccer was of poor quality during these 25 years," Lippi said. "It's not like we haven't done anything. It shouldn't be a burden."
The bigger burden may be finishing in a position where it will avoid five-time champion Brazil in the second round.
Key Player: Playmaker Francesco Totti, who recently returned to AS Roma after he broke his left leg and strained ankle ligaments on Feb. 19.
Outlook: The Italians could be distracted by a league scandal back home, and their recent performances on the big soccer stages have been disappointing. They need more originality than any Italian team has shown in a long while, and less conservative coaching.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Republic will face Italy in its final group match, and the loser could be the team that plays the defending champions, assuming Brazil wins Group F ahead of Croatia, Australia and Japan.
Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner isn't taking the United States or Ghana for granted, however.
"Football has developed so much as a game, so weaker opponents are very often able to beat the team with a stronger reputation," Bruckner said. "For example, if they have a disciplined approach to the game, a few good players can make a big difference."
The Czechs, who reached the World Cup final twice as Czechoslovakia, will be led by Jan Koller, the recently injured forward who is the team's all-time leading scorer with 40 goals from 66 games.
Pavel Nedved, who came out of international retirement to help the team qualify in the playoffs, will also play a key role in the team's chances.
Key Player: Jan Koller, the six-foot-eight striker returning from a left knee injury, has been called the Czechs' indispensable player.
Outlook: Although they are ranked second in the world, the Czechs could be vulnerable in a very tough group. They need decisive offensive moves from Koller, Pavel Nedved and Milan Baros. The opener with the Americans is a crucial game for both sides.
UNITED STATES
The Americans reached the quarter-finals four years ago, and 11 players from that squad are still with the team, including Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Kasey Keller, Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride and Eddie Pope.
Donovan, who scored two goals at the last World Cup in South Korea and Japan, isn't worried about possibly facing Brazil if the Americans advance.
"Would I bet that nine times out of 10 we're going to beat Brazil? Probably not," Donovan said. "Could we beat Brazil? Absolutely. So you have to be a little bit realistic, but we want to put ourselves in that situation. And if we're in that situation, I would still be confident."
The United States faced Brazil in the second round at home in 1994, but lost 1-0. Brazil went on to win its fourth title at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Key Player: Oguchi Onyewu. The defender for Standard Liege in Belgium must close down the middle with his power and intelligence.
Outlook: Ranked No. 5 in the world, the Americans aren't the fifth-best team on Earth. They rarely do well in Europe, but this is their best World Cup team in decades. A win or tie in opener against Czech Republic is a must for advancement. A first-round exit would be a flop, but the competition is formidable.
GHANA
If the Americans hope to advance again, they are likely going to need Ghana to spring an upset on the Italians or the Czechs.
The four-time African Cup of Nations champions are one of four teams from the continent making their debut at the World Cup and, like everyone else, they want to win.
"There is a lot of determination from the boys and the technical team to see this dream realized," Ghana team spokesman Randy Abbey said.
Ghana, which conceded only four goals in 12 qualifying matches, is expected to depend heavily on Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and captain Stephen Appiah.
Key Player: Chelsea defender Michael Essien will need to organize a defence that constantly might be under siege.
Outlook: A history of doing well on its continent never helped Ghana get this far. Ranked 48th in the world, the best hope is for the other three group teams to be overconfident against the Black Stars.
Group F: Brazil's to lose
Most people see Brazil as a certainty to win its group at the World Cup. And so do its opponents.
The defending champions are a firm favourite to win a record sixth title in Germany and, with their attacking style and loaded roster, shouldn't have too many problems winning Group F ahead of Croatia, Japan and Australia.
Japan coach Zico played at three World Cups for Brazil and his experience could prove crucial. However, he isn't even thinking of emulating Japan's performance last time, when it topped its group at home.
"Brazil stands out head and shoulders above the rest," Zico said. "With most of their players now plying their trade in Europe, they'll have the strongest squad in the group. So Australia, Croatia and Japan will each have a one-in-three chance of taking the other qualifying slot."
JAPAN
Japan is the highest-ranked team in the group after No. 1 Brazil, but the Asian champions are only rated 18th by FIFA - even though it was the first team to join host Germany in qualifying for the tournament.
Each team knows it would be one of the World Cup's biggest shocks if it beat Brazil. So the competition is trying to identify where it's going to pick up the crucial points that would send it through to the second round.
Japan opens against Australia on June 12 and plays Croatia on June 18, when Brazil plays Australia. Brazil opens against Croatia on June 13, and plays Japan in the last round of group games on June 22.
"If we play to our potential, we should have as good a chance of any of the others of going through," Zico said. "The first game against Australia is crucial to our chances."
While Japan doesn't have anyone with the ability of Brazil's world player of the year Ronaldinho, Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, AC Milan playmaker Kaka or Inter Milan forward Adriano, it has players with experience in Europe's top leagues.
Bolton's Hidetoshi Nakata and former Feyenoord player Shinji Ono return after helping Japan reach the second round in 2002. They will be alongside midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, whose six goals and numerous assists this season helped Celtic cruise to the Scottish Premier League title.
But Japan will have tough competition.
Key Player: Veteran Koji Nakata anchors a defense that often will be besieged. He needs to keep his teammates calm and focused.
Outlook: South Korea's sensational 2002 tournament obscured Japan's advancement to the second round. The Japanese won't likely come close to making it out of this group. An opening win over Australia is a must.
AUSTRALIA
While Australia has little tournament pedigree, its coach does.
The Socceroos are coached by Guus Hiddink, who led the Netherlands to the semifinals at the World Cup in 1998 and repeated the feat with South Korea four years later.
"He likes the Australian attitude," Australia striker John Aloisi said.
Aloisi, who scored the winning penalty kick goal in a shootout to give Australia victory over Uruguay and its first World Cup appearance in 32 years, is another trying to figure out where his team can pick up points.
"The most important game will probably be the first against Japan," Aloisi said. "Croatia are good, but not as good as in 1998 and definitely beatable. We should know all about them because we've got players with a Croatian background."
Striker Mark Viduka, midfielder Josip Skoko and defender Tony Popovic fall into that category and all are with English clubs, making them familiar with the conditions and opposition they are likely to face in Germany.
Key Player: Harry Kewell can be a special player when healthy, and Australia will need his creativity and fire in this group.
Outlook: Hiddink's brilliant coaching schemes helped South Korea to fourth place in 2002. He won't have the home advantage that nation had, and the three other first-round opponents are better than Australia. His standouts all play in England: Kewell, Mark Viduka, captain Mark Schwarzer and Tim Cahill.
CROATIA
Croatia reached the semifinals in 1998 in its tournament debut, and is eager to make up for its 2002 exit, when it slumped out in the first round.
Sticking with the players who kept Croatia unbeaten through qualifying and took it to first place in its group, coach Zlatko Kranjcar is confident with his midfielder son Niko Kranjcar and striker Dado Prso, who he feels can qualify his team for the second round.
"I can feel a great team spirit in the squad and I think we're well capable of doing it," Kranjcar said.
Key Player: Niko Kranjcar, who brings some imagination to a team that lacked it at the last World Cup.
Outlook: An unpredictable team that was great in '98, mediocre in '02, Croatia has more offensive flair under Kranjcar, whose son is the playmaker. But it's still a defensive team, led by Robert Kovac, Igor Tudor, Dario Simic and Joe Simunic.
BRAZIL
Brazil is the one team in the group thinking far beyond the first stage, of course. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is targeting a rematch of the 2002 final, when Brazil beat Germany 2-0. The earliest that could happen is the semifinals.
"It would be excellent ... if they had the chance of a rematch," Parreira said. "We would win again to show that we are the best."
However, there's at least one Brazilian warning against such confidence.
"Football is an unpredictable game, and no one can forsee how things will turn out," Zico said. "The gap between traditional footballing powers and newly emerging nations is narrowing."
Key Player: Ronaldinho. Or Ronaldo. Or Kaka. Or Cafu. Or Roberto Carlos. Or even the last guy on the bench.
Outlook: Brazil's second team might be favoured to win the tournament. This squad is deep everywhere, particularly on offence and player of the year Ronaldinho has few equals in shiftiness and creativity. Ronaldo came through four years ago and is looking to prove he has re-emerged as a difference maker.
General analysis of each team in Group A to F of the coming World Cup in Germany, starting at 11:30 am ET, Friday, June 9 with the opening match between the home team Germany and Costa Rica.
Group G & H are yet to be posted.
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Germany should advance in Group A
GERMANY
Every World Cup host has advanced through the group stage when playing on home soil, and Germany is expected to have no problem maintaining that trend at this year's tournament.
The Germans were put into Group A before December's draw to ensure they would play in the country's three biggest stadiums. And they did just about as well as they could have hoped by getting Poland, Ecuador and Costa Rica as opponents in the first round.
Just reaching the second round won't be good enough for a team that is searching for its fourth World Cup title, but it may have to suffice if the criticism heaped on the team and its coach is accurate.
Juergen Klinsmann, who helped Germany win its last title in 1990, took over as coach after Rudi Voeller's disappointing showing at the 2004 European Championship.
Since then, few believe Germany has developed what it takes to win another title. But playing at home can be a powerful force for a team that has players such as Michael Ballack, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose.
"We want to use the home-field advantage and we want the team to really believe in itself," Klinsmann said.
At the last World Cup, the Germans didn't seem to have a chance, either. Still, they ended up reaching the final.
After getting through the first round with two easy wins and a draw, Germany beat Paraguay, the United States and South Korea in the knockout rounds before losing to Brazil 2-0 in the final.
Another trip to the championship match is possible, of course. But a difficult second-round matchup with England or Sweden also is possible.
Germany opens the tournament June 9 against Costa Rica in Munich. Poland, which qualified as one of the two best second-place teams in Europe, faces Ecuador a few hours later in Gelsenkirchen.
On June 14, Germany takes on Poland in Dortmund. The Poles, who finished third the last time the World Cup was held in Germany in 1974, will be looking for their first win in 15 matches against their European rival.
Ecuador and Costa Rica play on June 15 in Hamburg, and the Ecuadoreans face Germany on June 20 in Berlin at the same time Poland meets Costa Rica in Hanover.
Two teams will advance from the group; all four consider themselves worthy.
Key Player: Midfielder Michael Ballack. The German captain, who recently left Bayern Munich for Chelsea, is an attacking midfielder with a nose for goal. He has scored 30 times in 63 appearances for his country.
Outlook: Host teams have done well at the World Cup, despite automatic qualification. The Germans lost to Brazil in the 2002 final and have been in transition since Klinsmann experimented with his squad. The loss of midfielder Sebastian Deisler, injured in a training tackle by Calgary-born Owen Hargreaves, will hurt.
POLAND
Poland had an awful tournament four years ago, going home after the first round despite a victory over the United States, but coach Pawel Janas sees an opportunity to advance this time.
"I believe that we will at least advance from the group," Janas said. "But you can't just talk about that, you have to prepare and show it on the field."
Janas's biggest asset will be two solid strikers and two tough goalkeepers.
Maciej Zurawski and Tomek Frankowski lead an attack that averaged almost three goals a game in qualifiers. And Jerzy Dudek and Artur Boruc will be battling for the starting job in net.
Key Player: Striker Maciej Zurawski scored 16 goals to help Glasgow Celtic win the Scottish championship this season and added more in qualifying for his country.
Outlook: A pair of 2-1 losses to England aside, the Poles were perfect in qualifying and outscored their opposition 27-9. Will be looking for redemption after a disappointing showing at the 2002 tournament and failing to qualify for Euro 2004.
ECUADOR
Ecuador has been hit with an immigrant trafficking scandal off the field, but coach Luis Fernando Suarez is still expecting a team that finished third in South American qualifying behind Brazil and Argentina to handle any distractions.
"As a minimum we have to get to the second round," he said. "After that, many other goals will open up."
Midfielder Edison Mendez and defender Ivan Hurtado will be the key players on a team that has several veterans from the last World Cup.
Key Player: Striker Augustin Delgado was a flop in England for Southampton but he has scored 29 goals in 67 international appearances. He now plays at home for LDU Quito.
Outlook: Ecuador finished third in South American qualifying and turned heads by beating visiting Argentina and Brazil. The altitude may have helped. The team has only won one of its last nine games, however.
COSTA RICA
Costa Rica coach Alexandre Guimaraes will be hoping to catch his rivals off-guard with a crop of youngsters who will join nine veterans from the last tournament, when the Costa Ricans failed to advance to the second round because of goal difference.
The returning players include Paulo Wanchope and defender Ronald Gomez - goal scorers in South Korea and Japan four years ago - and Gilberto Martinez.
Key Player: Veteran Paulo Wanchope, a gangly forward who played in England for Manchester City, West Ham and Derby County, has 43 goals in 67 appearances for his country and will need to add to that total if the Ticos are to last long.
Outlook: The Ticos finished third in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying with a record of 5-4-1, with four wins at home including a 3-0 decision over the U.S. The Costa Ricans are smooth on the ball but a 4-0 warmup loss to Ukraine does not bode well.
England and Sweden both hope to have secured places in the second round of the World Cup by the time they face each other in the group stage.
The two strongest teams in Group B have to play Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago before meeting each other and each could get six points from those games to ensure advancement to the knockout round.
Still, their match on June 20 in Cologne could be very important, because one of the two might end up playing host Germany in the second round.
ENGLAND
England had been expected to qualify easily for the second round, but an injury to striker Wayne Rooney has raised some doubts. The 20-year-old Manchester United forward broke his right foot in late April and could miss the entire World Cup.
"I will not rule him out until the doctors tell me there is no chance," England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said. "No one wants that to happen. Everyone hopes he can take part in the World Cup at some stage."
Rooney has had an excellent season in the English Premier League and was expected to be England's catalyst to perhaps its first World Cup title since 1966 - the only time England has won the prize.
Although England also has strong players such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Jamie Carragher, the absence of Rooney would weaken the team's overall confidence, and, of course, take away one of the most promising players in the game.
"The news about Wayne is depressingly sad," said former England manager Bobby Robson, who led the team to the World Cup semifinals in 1990. "You cannot replace Rooney. I don't think there's another player like him in the country or in Europe. He's a very special player, and without him our chances are dim."
His absence also should improve the chances of Paraguay and Trinidad.
Key Player: While Wayne Rooney's broken foot has dominated the leadup, fellow striker Michael Owen could be the man of the moment. He will have to lead the English attack from Day 1 at the finals. The Newcastle forward has had an injury-plagued year and will need to show off his flair for scoring - 35 goals in 75 appearances - if England are going to do some damage in Germany.
Outlook: England has a tough defence and some bona fide stars in midfield with the likes of Frank Lampard, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole. It will be up to Eriksson to use them wisely. Injuries to Rooney and Owen have left a big question mark up front, however.
PARAGUAY
Paraguay made it to the World Cup for the third time in a row and reached the second round in the last two, losing to eventual champion France in 1998 and to finalist Germany in 2002.
The South Americans meet England in Frankfurt on June 10 with hopes that Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Cruz will be fully fit. The forward returned to action in April after being sidelined for five months with torn ligaments in his right knee.
Before Rooney's injury, Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz might have feared another one-sided loss to England, which beat Paraguay 3-0 at the 1986 World Cup and 4-0 in a friendly four years ago.
If Paraguay can hold England to a draw, then the pressure will be on the English when they face Trinidad in Nuremberg five days later - especially if the Swedes have beaten the Caribbean team in Dortmund on June 10.
Key Player: Striker Roque Santa Cruz is struggling to recover after an October knee injury. The 23-year-old Bayern Munich player could be a big boost to the South American squad, with 13 goals in 42 games.
Outlook: The Paraguayans finished fourth in South American qualifying with an 8-6-4 record that included a 1-0 win and 0-0 draw against Argentina. Some have questioned the age of some members of the squad.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Trinidad's best player is Dwight Yorke, the former Aston Villa and Manchester United striker who was persuaded to come out of retirement to help the island team reach its first World Cup by beating Bahrain in a playoff.
Now Yorke plays a much deeper role in midfield and, apart from experienced players such as West Ham's Shaka Hislop, Rangers' Marvin Andrews and Falkirk's Russell Latapy, has several England-based players on the squad, most of them from lower-division clubs.
The Soca Warriors have little chance of making it to the second round. Sweden hopes it won't be their first victim.
Key Player: Dwight Yorke. At 34, Yorke's best days are behind him, but the former Manchester United striker with the beaming smile is enjoying a return to international play as a playmaker from midfield.
Outlook: Trinidad and Tobago should be happy just making the big dance - beating Bahrain in a playoff - but look for them to be extra motivated against England. Many of the T&T players are based out of England and would be over the moon if they could slow down the English machine. Still you may not want to bet the mortgage on the upset. Beenhakker probably didn't help matters when he reportedly said England always flops at major championships.
SWEDEN
Sweden consistently has been tough to beat early in the World Cup and tied both England and Argentina at the 2002 World Cup before losing to Senegal on an extra time "golden goal."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who plays for Italian league leader Juventus, is one of the world's top strikers and is joined in attack by FC Barcelona's Henrik Larsson, who helped the Swedes capture third place at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Sweden has experience throughout the team and should have enough quality to make sure it beats both Trinidad and Paraguay. And perhaps an undermanned England.
Key Player: Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a slippery, world-class forward with goals in his boots.
Outlook: Never count out the Swedes, who always are a force early in the World Cup. The Swedes have plenty of talent in Ibrahimovic. Henrik Larsson and Freddie Ljungberg (although he has been slowed by a foot injury). Sweden could be a difficult opponent.
Multiple contenders in Group C
If you're looking for the toughest group in the World Cup, look no further than Group C.
Most groups have one title contender. This division has two - Argentina and the Netherlands - and their final group match on June 21 in Frankfurt may be the most anticipated of the first round.
Also in the group is Serbia-Montenegro, which finished ahead of Spain in European qualifying. Then there's the Ivory Coast, making its debut in the World Cup after qualifying at the expense of Cameroon, arguably Africa's strongest team.
ARGENTINA
Two-time champion Argentina has the support of at least one expert, Lothar Matthaeus, the captain of West Germany's 1990 World Cup champions.
"I think Brazil has defensive problems to sort out, and my tip to win the World Cup is Argentina," Matthaeus said.
Argentina is talented everywhere.
If he recovers quickly from a right thigh injury, FC Barcelona's 18-year-old midfielder Lionel Messi - often compared to Diego Maradona - should be a star. He will line up with other attacking talents such as Hernan Crespo, Carlos Tevez, Javier Saviola and Juan Roman Riquelme.
Argentina's defence has been hurt by injuries, but if healthy is led by Juan Pablo Sorin, Roberto Ayala, Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti and Gabriel Heinze.
"We have a few problems, but we'll overcome them," Ayala said. "I think we're going to play very well."
The South Americans have something to prove. They were ignominiously ousted from the group stage in the 2002 World Cup and took a painful 4-1 loss against Brazil in last year's Confederations Cup final.
Argentina coach Jose Pekerman is also under pressure to pick 17-year-old Sergio "Kun" Aguero, a compact, low-slung forward being compared to Romario, the star of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team.
Messi wants Aguero on the team. The two played together last year when Argentina won the World Youth Championship.
"Sergio is a great player," Messi said. "He's powerful, he can shake off opponents, he's quick, strong, scores goals and is a team player. With him alongside me I feel ready for anything."
Key Player: Teenage striker Lionel Messi has been a revelation in world youth tournaments, and now he might be a catalyst at the highest level.
Outlook: Few teams face more pressure than Argentina after the 2002 debacle. Messi could be a sensation, but he'll need help from the more-seasoned Hernan Crespo, Juan Roman Riquelme and Juan Pablo Sorin. Another first-round exit would be devastating for this country.
NETHERLANDS
The Dutch team is always an enigma, saddled with the tag of the best nation never to win the World Cup.
The Dutch have dazzling technical ability and self-confidence, but usually fail to play well as a team. Netherlands coach Marco van Basten seems to have changed that impression since taking over for Dick Advocaat following the 2004 European Championship.
They were unbeaten in European qualifying - 10 wins and two draws - and twice beat the No. 2-ranked Czech Republic.
Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar is the uncontested starting goalkeeper. The anchor at midfield is Phillip Cocu, and the target man up front is Ruud van Nistelrooy. He's been benched on and off this season in England for Manchester United, and will be eager to prove himself.
Van Basten has worked hard to create team spirit, and has left veteran midfielder Clarence Seedorf off the team. Instead, he's going with young players Dirk Kuyt and Hedwiges Maduro.
"If you start out with a tough group, you immediately know what you are worth," Van Basten said. "We know it isn't going to be an easy job."
Key Player: Edwin van der Saar needs to be steady to balance what could be a formidable attack.
Outlook: When the Dutch make the tournament - they were absent in 2002 - they are a threat. The Netherlands should score even without Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the Dutch league's top scorer who wasn't chosen for the squad.
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO
Serbia-Montenegro could be a spoiler, and coach Ilija Petkovic does not lack confidence. The country qualified seven times for the World Cup as Yugoslavia, and this will be the first as Serbia-Montenegro.
"If we play the way we did in qualification, we can stay unbeaten against the Netherlands and Argentina," Petkovic said. "I know that we would have to play our best, but the favourites sometimes freeze in their opening games at the World Cups, and that is our chance. We are capable of upsetting any team in the world."
Relying on defence, the club had seven shutouts in qualifying and pushed Spain to second in the group. The defence will be led by Nemanja Vidic, with the attack focused on Mateja Kezman.
Also up front is six-foot-eight Nikola Zigic of Red Star Belgrade.
"We are known for our attacking style of play, but if we get the results with a strong defence," Petkovic said, "I won't change anything."
Key Player: Defender Mladen Krstajic is the anchor of the stingy defence that will be tested often in this division.
Outlook: After beating out Spain in its qualifying group and allowing only one goal, the Serbs showed they can play defence. They'll need to find some offence to survive this difficult group, and striker Mateja Kezman, who had five qualifying goals, must produce.
IVORY COAST
No one holds much hope for Ivory Coast, although the west Africans are looking to surprise opponents like Senegal did in 2002, reaching the quarter-finals.
Ivory Coast brings a handful of high-profile players to its first World Cup, led by two who play in the English Premier League: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Arsenal defender Kolo Toure.
The other key scorer is Aruna Dindane, who plays for French club Lens.
Key Player: Didier Drogba, who played a prominent role for English Premier League champion Chelsea and is among the world's top forwards.
Outlook: Probably the best team from Africa this year, but that could mean little with the powerful Dutch and Argentines in the group. Still, this is one of the most promising outsiders in the field, and Drogba must be watched every minute by opposing defences.
Group D: Trouble Lurking
Hooligans always are a threat at the World Cup. Group D could provide trouble at this year's tournament, though the problems are not expected to come from the usual thugs and bullies.
Instead, the weakest group at the tournament in Germany could create the most trouble when Portugal faces former colony Angola, and Iran faces just about anyone.
Mexico is the seeded team in the group.
PORTUGAL
Portugal, unbeaten in its World Cup qualifying campaign, will be more worried about redeeming itself.
At the World Cup four years ago, Portugal lost to South Korea and the United States and was eliminated in the first round. The Portuguese rebounded two years later by reaching the final at the European Championship, and has another strong squad heading to Germany.
Not to mention a Brazilian coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is trying to win the World Cup with his second team.
"I have a shot at that. Let's see how things go and whether I deserve it," said Scolari, who led Brazil to its fifth title in South Korea and Japan.
Still, Scolari is wary of being overly optimistic.
"There will be more hurdles and difficulties (in Germany) than at Euro 2004. We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground, especially the players," Scolari said.
Luis Figo, the team's top player, said Portugal always has had problems when in an "apparently easy group." But he seems ready to make amends.
"Smart people don't make the same mistake twice," the Inter Milan midfielder said.
Besides Figo, Portugal also can rely on Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, FC Barcelona's Brazilian-born midfielder Deco, dangerous scorer Pauleta of Paris Saint-Germain and a backline that boasts Chelsea defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira.
But when African teams meet their former colonial powers, strange things can happen. Just ask France. At the last World Cup, Senegal upset the defending champions in the opening match.
Key Player: Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the main force during qualifying and provides some fresh blood to a withering team.
Outlook: Scolari led Brazil to the title in 2002 and now has gone from the premier program in the world to this group of underachievers. He has a bevy of veterans who have not performed well in the World Cup, but if he can't get them to produce in a group they could win, who can?
ANGOLA
Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves and the rest of the country will be hoping for a repeat.
"We have a saying in Angola that goes, 'Hope is the last thing to die.' But we know our limits," Goncalves said. "We don't have good training conditions and we don't have many players in big European teams."
Fabrice Akwa and Benfica striker Pedro Mantorras are the team's stars. Akwa scored the goal against Rwanda that helped Angola qualify for the World Cup for the first time.
Angola gained its independence from Portugal in 1975, and has played its former colonial power only twice, losing 6-0 in 1989 and 5-1 in 2001.
At the last match in Lisbon, four Angolan players were sent off for brutal tackles and dissent, and the game was abandoned with 20 minutes to play.
Key Player: Forward Fabrice Akwa scored the goal that catapulted Angola into the tournament, and he's the main threat.
Outlook: The opener against Portugal could be a grudge match, and the Portuguese have been known to stumble early. Still, Angola will be hard-pressed to get anywhere in this division.
MEXICO
Mexico, which reached the second round in 2002 but lost to the United States, looks to have its best team in decades. But the pressure to reach the quarter-finals could be troublesome for coach Ricardo Lavolpe.
"We are trying to reach new goals. We have been working hard and the objective is to rank among the top four in the World Cup," Lavolpe said.
Mexico twice has reached the quarter-finals, at home in 1970 and 1986.
Lavolpe has no shortage of reasons to be optimistic, however. Goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez of Chivas is one of the best in the world, and the defence is led by Barcelona winger Rafael Marquez.
The team also has two star strikers - Jared Borgetti of Bolton and Guillermo Franco, an Argentine who was naturalized a Mexican and plays for Villarreal.
"Expectations are very high and this makes things complicated," Marquez said. "I think we will have to work very hard to deal with that mentally ... sometimes we are our own worst enemy."
Key Player: Jared Borgetti, a striker for Bolton in the English Premier League, scores most of his nation's big goals. He had 14 in qualifying.
Outlook: Borgetti has to carry the attack along with Guillermo Franco for a team that rarely finds the big goal in the World Cup. Rafael Marquez of Barcelona is one of the world's best defenders. The Mexicans should make the second round without a lot of trouble.
IRAN
Iran is making its third World Cup appearance. With Tehran's nuclear ambitions and its president's verbal attacks on Israel, the off-field issues have led to calls for Iran to be banned from playing.
Iran coach Branko Ivankovic is concerned only about soccer.
"We want to surprise the world, because now we are capable of beating anyone and we are not going to Germany as tourists," Ivankovic said.
Iran has drawn once and lost four times in its two previous World Cups, with its only win coming against political nemesis the United States in 1998.
Now the team is anchored by veterans such as striker Ali Daei and Bayern Munich playmaker Ali Karimi.
European-based players such as forward Mehdi Mahdavikia of Hamburger SV, Vahid Hashemian of Hannover 96, Kaiserslautern midfielder Fereydoon Zandi, Bochum's Moharram Navidkia and Messina defender Rahman Rezaei are also expected to shine.
"We have a great mix of experienced internationals and enthusiastic young players," Ivankovic said.
Key Player: Ali Daei, whose experience at this level will be called on often.
Outlook: Iran finally has some players who have had steady work at bigtime clubs, making this team unlikely to get intimidated. Still, the Iranians aren't on the level of Mexico or Portugal, so advancing would be a major upset.
Group E: Three will battle for two spots
Italy is the only seeded team at the World Cup that will play two higher-ranked opponents in the first round.
It seems a strange happenstance, but when the FIFA rankings are involved, things sometimes get confusing.
Italy, which is ranked 13th by soccer's world governing body but was rated as one of the top eight teams for the tournament in Germany, will play the second-ranked Czech Republic and No. 5 United States in Group E. The other team in the group is World Cup first timer Ghana.
The only other seeded team that will face a higher-ranked team in the first round is Argentina. The two-time World Cup champions are ninth in FIFA's list, but face the third-ranked Netherlands in Group C.
ITALY
The Italians, who won two of the first three World Cups and then added another title in 1982, first play 48th-ranked Ghana, which is also in the group.
"At the moment I am only thinking about the match against Ghana, because the first game is always the most important," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. "The outcome of that match, whether we win, lose or draw, will decide how we will approach the second game. And the second game decides the approach for the third, and so on."
Italy's roster will include playmaker Francesco Totti, who recently returned from an 81-day injury layoff, Filippo Inzaghi and Vincenzo Iaquinta.
Gianluigi Buffon, who has been engulfed in gambling allegations, is expected to be the team's starting goalkeeper.
"He's a great person," Totti said of Buffon. "I don't believe he did anything, but even if did make an error, I would stand by him."
Since winning its last major title at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, Italy has been eliminated from soccer's top competition on penalties three times. At the last World Cup, South Korea's Ahn Jung-hwan scored a golden goal to send Italy home after the second round.
"You can't say Italian soccer was of poor quality during these 25 years," Lippi said. "It's not like we haven't done anything. It shouldn't be a burden."
The bigger burden may be finishing in a position where it will avoid five-time champion Brazil in the second round.
Key Player: Playmaker Francesco Totti, who recently returned to AS Roma after he broke his left leg and strained ankle ligaments on Feb. 19.
Outlook: The Italians could be distracted by a league scandal back home, and their recent performances on the big soccer stages have been disappointing. They need more originality than any Italian team has shown in a long while, and less conservative coaching.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Republic will face Italy in its final group match, and the loser could be the team that plays the defending champions, assuming Brazil wins Group F ahead of Croatia, Australia and Japan.
Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner isn't taking the United States or Ghana for granted, however.
"Football has developed so much as a game, so weaker opponents are very often able to beat the team with a stronger reputation," Bruckner said. "For example, if they have a disciplined approach to the game, a few good players can make a big difference."
The Czechs, who reached the World Cup final twice as Czechoslovakia, will be led by Jan Koller, the recently injured forward who is the team's all-time leading scorer with 40 goals from 66 games.
Pavel Nedved, who came out of international retirement to help the team qualify in the playoffs, will also play a key role in the team's chances.
Key Player: Jan Koller, the six-foot-eight striker returning from a left knee injury, has been called the Czechs' indispensable player.
Outlook: Although they are ranked second in the world, the Czechs could be vulnerable in a very tough group. They need decisive offensive moves from Koller, Pavel Nedved and Milan Baros. The opener with the Americans is a crucial game for both sides.
UNITED STATES
The Americans reached the quarter-finals four years ago, and 11 players from that squad are still with the team, including Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Kasey Keller, Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride and Eddie Pope.
Donovan, who scored two goals at the last World Cup in South Korea and Japan, isn't worried about possibly facing Brazil if the Americans advance.
"Would I bet that nine times out of 10 we're going to beat Brazil? Probably not," Donovan said. "Could we beat Brazil? Absolutely. So you have to be a little bit realistic, but we want to put ourselves in that situation. And if we're in that situation, I would still be confident."
The United States faced Brazil in the second round at home in 1994, but lost 1-0. Brazil went on to win its fourth title at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Key Player: Oguchi Onyewu. The defender for Standard Liege in Belgium must close down the middle with his power and intelligence.
Outlook: Ranked No. 5 in the world, the Americans aren't the fifth-best team on Earth. They rarely do well in Europe, but this is their best World Cup team in decades. A win or tie in opener against Czech Republic is a must for advancement. A first-round exit would be a flop, but the competition is formidable.
GHANA
If the Americans hope to advance again, they are likely going to need Ghana to spring an upset on the Italians or the Czechs.
The four-time African Cup of Nations champions are one of four teams from the continent making their debut at the World Cup and, like everyone else, they want to win.
"There is a lot of determination from the boys and the technical team to see this dream realized," Ghana team spokesman Randy Abbey said.
Ghana, which conceded only four goals in 12 qualifying matches, is expected to depend heavily on Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and captain Stephen Appiah.
Key Player: Chelsea defender Michael Essien will need to organize a defence that constantly might be under siege.
Outlook: A history of doing well on its continent never helped Ghana get this far. Ranked 48th in the world, the best hope is for the other three group teams to be overconfident against the Black Stars.
Group F: Brazil's to lose
Most people see Brazil as a certainty to win its group at the World Cup. And so do its opponents.
The defending champions are a firm favourite to win a record sixth title in Germany and, with their attacking style and loaded roster, shouldn't have too many problems winning Group F ahead of Croatia, Japan and Australia.
Japan coach Zico played at three World Cups for Brazil and his experience could prove crucial. However, he isn't even thinking of emulating Japan's performance last time, when it topped its group at home.
"Brazil stands out head and shoulders above the rest," Zico said. "With most of their players now plying their trade in Europe, they'll have the strongest squad in the group. So Australia, Croatia and Japan will each have a one-in-three chance of taking the other qualifying slot."
JAPAN
Japan is the highest-ranked team in the group after No. 1 Brazil, but the Asian champions are only rated 18th by FIFA - even though it was the first team to join host Germany in qualifying for the tournament.
Each team knows it would be one of the World Cup's biggest shocks if it beat Brazil. So the competition is trying to identify where it's going to pick up the crucial points that would send it through to the second round.
Japan opens against Australia on June 12 and plays Croatia on June 18, when Brazil plays Australia. Brazil opens against Croatia on June 13, and plays Japan in the last round of group games on June 22.
"If we play to our potential, we should have as good a chance of any of the others of going through," Zico said. "The first game against Australia is crucial to our chances."
While Japan doesn't have anyone with the ability of Brazil's world player of the year Ronaldinho, Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, AC Milan playmaker Kaka or Inter Milan forward Adriano, it has players with experience in Europe's top leagues.
Bolton's Hidetoshi Nakata and former Feyenoord player Shinji Ono return after helping Japan reach the second round in 2002. They will be alongside midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, whose six goals and numerous assists this season helped Celtic cruise to the Scottish Premier League title.
But Japan will have tough competition.
Key Player: Veteran Koji Nakata anchors a defense that often will be besieged. He needs to keep his teammates calm and focused.
Outlook: South Korea's sensational 2002 tournament obscured Japan's advancement to the second round. The Japanese won't likely come close to making it out of this group. An opening win over Australia is a must.
AUSTRALIA
While Australia has little tournament pedigree, its coach does.
The Socceroos are coached by Guus Hiddink, who led the Netherlands to the semifinals at the World Cup in 1998 and repeated the feat with South Korea four years later.
"He likes the Australian attitude," Australia striker John Aloisi said.
Aloisi, who scored the winning penalty kick goal in a shootout to give Australia victory over Uruguay and its first World Cup appearance in 32 years, is another trying to figure out where his team can pick up points.
"The most important game will probably be the first against Japan," Aloisi said. "Croatia are good, but not as good as in 1998 and definitely beatable. We should know all about them because we've got players with a Croatian background."
Striker Mark Viduka, midfielder Josip Skoko and defender Tony Popovic fall into that category and all are with English clubs, making them familiar with the conditions and opposition they are likely to face in Germany.
Key Player: Harry Kewell can be a special player when healthy, and Australia will need his creativity and fire in this group.
Outlook: Hiddink's brilliant coaching schemes helped South Korea to fourth place in 2002. He won't have the home advantage that nation had, and the three other first-round opponents are better than Australia. His standouts all play in England: Kewell, Mark Viduka, captain Mark Schwarzer and Tim Cahill.
CROATIA
Croatia reached the semifinals in 1998 in its tournament debut, and is eager to make up for its 2002 exit, when it slumped out in the first round.
Sticking with the players who kept Croatia unbeaten through qualifying and took it to first place in its group, coach Zlatko Kranjcar is confident with his midfielder son Niko Kranjcar and striker Dado Prso, who he feels can qualify his team for the second round.
"I can feel a great team spirit in the squad and I think we're well capable of doing it," Kranjcar said.
Key Player: Niko Kranjcar, who brings some imagination to a team that lacked it at the last World Cup.
Outlook: An unpredictable team that was great in '98, mediocre in '02, Croatia has more offensive flair under Kranjcar, whose son is the playmaker. But it's still a defensive team, led by Robert Kovac, Igor Tudor, Dario Simic and Joe Simunic.
BRAZIL
Brazil is the one team in the group thinking far beyond the first stage, of course. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is targeting a rematch of the 2002 final, when Brazil beat Germany 2-0. The earliest that could happen is the semifinals.
"It would be excellent ... if they had the chance of a rematch," Parreira said. "We would win again to show that we are the best."
However, there's at least one Brazilian warning against such confidence.
"Football is an unpredictable game, and no one can forsee how things will turn out," Zico said. "The gap between traditional footballing powers and newly emerging nations is narrowing."
Key Player: Ronaldinho. Or Ronaldo. Or Kaka. Or Cafu. Or Roberto Carlos. Or even the last guy on the bench.
Outlook: Brazil's second team might be favoured to win the tournament. This squad is deep everywhere, particularly on offence and player of the year Ronaldinho has few equals in shiftiness and creativity. Ronaldo came through four years ago and is looking to prove he has re-emerged as a difference maker.
posted by ZZ at
8:28 p.m.
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