Which will be the surprise team of the Soccer World Cup? and why? that is, to reach at least the semi-finals?
443294
in my opinion,it is going to be iran.they have this prodigy called ali karimi.he plays like maradonna!!most underrrated player for this event.watch out for iran.
392560
Is there some sort of prize if you are the 100th person to ask the same question?  \n\nFor those that are truely interested in discussimg soccer and analyzing the teams whether it be world cup or club level soccer I recommend checking out www.bigsoccer.com.\n\nFor the sake of discussion here is a my personal breakdown of the 32:\n\nTrue Favorite:  Brazil\n\nTrue Contenders(have the overall talent):\nGermany(home team), \nItaly(assuming everyone gets healthy in time), \nArgentina, \nEngland, \nNetherlands\n\nContenders:\nFrance(but getting old)\nCzech Republic(same as France)\nSpain(Talent but never live up to it)\nPortugal(same as Spain)\n\n\nTeams with Talent that could surprise but probably not win:\nUSA\nMexico\nUkraine\nPoland\nJapan\nSweeden\nCroatia\n\nUnknowns(These guys have never been this far but they beaten some quality African teams to get here):\n Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast\n\nTeams that might get out of group but no real chance:\nCosta Rica\nKorea\nSwiss\nTunisa\nEcuador\n\n\n\nOnly loved by their country men:\nT&T\nS&M\nAngola\nIran\nAustrialla\nSaudia Arabia
1179484
Almost!\n\nThe semi-finals will be\nArgentina - Italy\nBrasil - Portugal\n\nFinals\nItaly vs. Brasil (the winner??? hopefully penalty kicks and Italy  will prevail - big revenge on 1994 USA final)
363196
i think Germany will be the greatest deception because even though they are the host country the haven't proven to the German fans any sign of them winning anything after that loss with Italy 4-1 faith has been lost for Jurgen Klinsman and because all of the German teams in the champions league have knocked out.
84374
ofcourse brazil but watch out for iranian team in this world cup finals , i firmly believe they will enter atleast semi-final , dont get astonished to read this .. its gonna happen & i predicted the future for u guys
399017
Brasil is an amazingly talented team, and Germany's good, but I don't think they'll be in the finals. Maybe I'm just biased. I think England or Italia has got a chance. Either way, I don't care as long as I see some great football! I'm so excited for World Cup!!!!!!!!! Forza Azzurri!
314335
Very very slim!\n\nWhether you like it or not, the winner's gonna be Brasil!\n\nDream Semi's - England/Italy & France/Brasil
303036
WATCH OUT FOR ITALY,,,THEY HAVE A VERY VERY STRONG TEAM THIS TIME AROUND!!...ITALIA\nCIAO
645766
no i think this time the team from europe esp. italy or france may take it or may be for the first time a team from africa e.g ivory coast may take it, who knows? but definately brazil will play a good game. tchao
1136801
Too damn excited. I love it.  The usual teams will make it to the final. Teams like Brazil, Italy, Argentina. Hopefully an underdog team will win this time....oh say Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Ivory  Coast.
1135018
The answer to your question The team that wins the world cup will be the one who scores most goals in the final game. \n\nWhich team this will be is questionable at this time, to many factors to consider and the element of chance(luck) has to a separate factor.
1034362
Spain--Wow!  If they keep playing the way they played yesterday, they could finally win it!  Or at least make the semi-finals for the first time in 54 years.  \n\nItaly--Brilliant attacking football!  They could go all the way!\n\nBrazil--it is just me, or did they look a bit anemic against Croatia?  \n\nGermany--Maybe the Germans are better than we thought.  They certainly have an offense, but their defense looked shaky against Costa Rica.  \n\nNetherlands--They looked good against a stodgy Serbia-Montenegro defense, but not quite "Total Football" just yet.  \n\nArgentina--Looked pretty good against Ivory Coast.  I suspect they'll be getting better as the tournament progresses.  \n\nCzech Republic--They sure spanked the USA, a decent side.  I'm not a believer yet...let's see how they do against Ghana.  \n\nEngland--Their ugly 1-0 victory against Paraguay was an insult to soccer fans world-wide.  Definitely not "the beautiful game".  But they do have the talent to contest the final, especially if Rooney returns.  \n________________________________________\n\nIf I had to guess right now after one game each, I'd say Italy and Spain will square off in the final.
1020309
I would expect whoever wins the Argentina-Germany game and Brazil in the final, although another side could slip in there.  So far, I dont think anyone has been eliminated unfairly and would have advanced to the final.  Certianly, the Australians got jipped.  And theres the goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ARGENTINA!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RIQUELME TO AYALA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, as I was saying, the Australians got jipped, but I wouldnt have expected them to win the cup, or even reach the final.  So, hopefully Argentina-Brazil will be the final.  That would really be a great game, two South American sides up against eachother, I dont think thats happened in a long time.  GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ARGENTINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
414411
I predict Germany or Argentina. I would love for England to win, but i just can't see them doing it.Brazil will flop, they can't hack it in Europe.
328026
No, I think as always Brazil is the team to watch out for. The United States could be a surprisingly strong team, but I do not think they will win it this year.
440611
i think it will be Brazil!they are really a good team and all the players are good!you know, a class team must have at least 4 good players, but this team has 12 good players!
45183
If I had to pick a team out of this group to win, or at least go furthest, I'd pick Germany.  Here's how I rate all these teams' chances.\n\nGermany: Were runners up at last world cup in Korea/Japan.  Not as strong as legendary West (or unified) Germany teams of the past, but will benefit from being hosts.  Need more inspired performances from captain Michael Ballack.\n\nFrance: Another footballing power temporarily underperforming.  Not as dominant as the team from 1998 to 2000.  Zidane's influence is on the wane.  Henry and Trezeguet don't seem to reproduce club form on international stage.\n\nItaly: Have not actually watched Italy live for a while but somehow the same stars seem to be in the squad every time I check.  Euro 2004 and World Cup 2002 were a bit of a disappointment for them.  Seemingly no new young star around to energize.\n\nSpain: Best wishes to the Spanish supporters who have posted.  However, if any team needs to shake the tag of "perennial underachievers", it's them.  Raul, their talisman, is currently injured.  Morientes and Mendieta, among the stars of the 2002 campaign, are blowing hot and cold in England.  Torres to step up?\n\nEngland: Wayne Rooney should carry them pretty far but a part of me says they'll be up a goal in the second half of a knock-out stage match and the manager (Eriksson) will play his usual death-knell move and bring on Phil Neville, Owen Hargreaves, and Kieron Dyer (middling midfielders), leading to a reversal.\n\nUS: I believe they drew a tough group.  Then again, they upset Portugal at the last world cup.  Much depends on whether the core of talents like Donovan, Beasley and McBride can carry them again.