World Cup...Germany 2006

[EvilSmurf]

Real Contenders:
Brazil (although, their backline looks a little shaky, they've got the players who can score 4 if their defence gives up 3)
Argentina (Look super strong, Requilme is probably only second to Ronaldinho as player of the season imo)
The Netherlands (Marco Van Basten seems to have got together a very strong lineup he's comfortable with)
France (Look good, but nothing compared to the '98 team, Zidane is beginning to look his age)

Second Teir:
England (Horribly, horribly overrated: rely far too heavily on Rooney, and have a tactically inflexible manager)
Czech Republic
Italy
Germany
Spain
Portugal


Potential surprise teams:
USA (Given their draw, I'll be surprised if they make it our of their group)
Ivory Coast (best of the Africans imo, also in a pretty tough group)
Ukraine
Australia (OK, that one's a bit of bias on my part, but I do think they'll make the second round)

Teams most likely to be on the wrong sides of thrashings:
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago