Not convinced it’s a big deal? More than 715 million viewers watched the 2006 World Cup final while 151 million (or so) took in this year’s Super Bowl.
Here’s an early look at the top 6 favorites to win soccer’s most celebrated trophy.
Spain (+400)
Why they’ll win Spain have arguably the best goalkeeper in the world in Iker Casillas with a quality backup in Pepe Reina. The team’s midfield is its strength with world-class talents like event, ‘Xabi Alonso,Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, Iniesta and David Silva representing a terrifying list of players for opposing coaches.
The defensive foursome of Capdevilla, Marchena, Pique, Puyol and Ramos has well over 200 international caps and striking options include Fernando Torres David Villa and Dani Guiza.
The Spaniards have been FIFA’s top ranked international team almost entirely since they won Euro 2008.
Why they won’t: No team who has ever won the European Championships turned around to win the World Cup two years later.
There isn’t a single weakness in this team but every time a European squad has won the World Cup, it has lifted the trophy on their home continent. And let’s not forget that Spain have a long history of disappointing finishes at the World Cup.
Brazil (+500)
Why they will: Brazil has five World Cup titles including two of the last five. They’re full of talented forwards and Alexandre Pato and they only lost twice in their CONMEBOL qualifying
Why they won’t: Everyone knows Kakais the team’s best player. He gives Brazil toughness, experience and firepower in their offensive attack. But, Dunga, the Brazilian manager, runs a different style than what most Brazilians are used to. He is ball-possession oriented so will he pick guys that will be in cahoots with the Real Madrid playmaker?
Brazil face a difficult task in the group stage as both Ivory Coast and Portugal could provide tough resistance
England (+600)
Why they’ll win: England has the world’s hottest striker (Wayne Rooney) and dominated its World Cup qualifying stage. They also possess two of the best offensive midfielders in the game today (Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard). This club is hungry to erase the embarrassment of failing to qualify for Euro 2008.
Why they won’t: Injuries could play a key part in England’s World Cup. Gerrard has struggled to stay healthy for much of the last two years while defensive star Rio Ferdinand has also been a frequent visitor to the training room over the last year.
And don’t forget the distraction of John Terry being stripped of his captaincy after news that he slept with the mother of former English teammate Wayne Bridge’s offspring.
Argentina (+1000)
Why they won’t win: We’ll go in reverse order for this favorite because of one important point: Diego Maradona will manage Argentina in the 2010 World Cup. This simple fact probably led to a slew of sleepless nights by some of his fellow countrymen.
Argentina snuck into the World Cup. For a team that has four final appearances to their name, along with the world’s best player (Lionel Messi), that shouldn’t happen.
But, this is what can happen if you select a manager without much experience— or in this case, none whatsoever.
Why they’ll win: If you happen to have read Simon Kuper’s phenomenal book Soccernomics, then you’ll know that qualifying results are no indication of how the World Cup will actually go.
If this rings true yet again, then a side that features Messi along with Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Heinze, Walter Samuel and Javier Mascherano in the middle should do well in the World Cup.
Italy (+1350)
Why they’ll win: The defending World Cup champions have experience and a relentless defense. They’ve advanced to at least the Round of 16 in each of the last five Cups and they’ve placed third or higher three times since 1990.
You can count on them advancing to the Knockout stage again this year. Their group features world lightweights Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia.
Why they won’t: Italy manager Marcello Lippi will have to rely on the old legs of many players on the wrong side of 30. And while many of these older Italians are still playing great football for their club teams, that doesn’t mean they’ll have the same energy levels in July
Germany (+1400)
Why they’ll win: Three-time champions. Four-time runners-up. Three times they have finished in third place. So, yeah—Germany is a favorite. There is something about the Germans that seems to click during the World Cups.
Why they won’t: There is a glaring lack of game experience in goal. Rene Adler with nine caps seems to be the favorite to man the sticks. If he struggles against Ghana in Group play the Germans could be out much earlier than they’re accustomed to.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com
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