How can you pick WC winners when the countries have such different preparations?
444948
See how they did in qualifying, who they played, who actually played in the game.  \n\nTheir history also will tell you about them.  I mean like only 7 teams have even won the world cup
333421
as far as predictions go, most ppl are bordering on those teams that harbour the superstars of football. but teams like france, although full of talent, fail to operate as a team! so im going for teams like croatia, tunisia and spain to spring a surprise!
1106650
Nah. There always seems to be a surprise packet every World Cup. In 2002 it was South Korea, while 1998 had Croatia. Will there be one this time and who? We'll know by July.
367975
I don't think you can pick any one team to win the 2006 World Cup. There are some many strong teams with each team having some tremendous talent. There could be a dark horse team in all of this, but the top picks (Brazil, Italy, Germany, Argentina, Portugal, Spain & France) all have a legitimate chance at winning. I will go with my guy and say Brazil. But think of this no South American country has ever won a world cup in Europe
98968
There are 3-4 teams which have chances to iwn the World Cup.\n\nThe 1st one : Brazil, the last WC winners who are still great i i would be very surprised if they wont be at least 2nd. With new stars like Robinho, Adraino and Juninho they can be even better as they were 4 years(the Confederations Cup showed that clearly)\nThe 2nd one: Germany - as the host of the WC they will have an advantage of hundreds thousands fans. \n3rd one: Argentina - after being knockout after 1st round in Korea nad Jupan, they ambitions are at the top and they will do their best to win the WC\n4th one: France - also being eliminated very soon, with new/old players like Zidane, Thuram, Gallas, Pedretti and Coupet their chances are quite big for a high place.\n\nTeams that can made a surprise are USA, Ivory Coast and Ukraine.
650959
Regional Qualifiers are held before hand... kinda like the Playoffs before the Super Bowl of American Football.  The Olympics is another good example\n\nQualification\nMain article: FIFA World Cup qualification \nSince the second World Cup in 1934, qualifying tournaments have been held to thin the field for the final tournament. They are held within the six FIFA continental zones (Africa, Asia, North and Central America and Caribbean, South America, Oceania, Europe), overseen by their respective confederations. For each tournament, FIFA decides the number of places awarded to each of the continental zones beforehand, generally based on the relative strength of the confederations' teams, but also subject to lobbying from the confederations.\n\nThe qualification process can start as early as almost three years before the final tournament, and last over a two-year period. The formats of the qualification tournaments differ between confederations. Usually, one or two places are awarded to winners of Intercontinental Play-offs. For example, the winner of the Oceanian zone and the fifth-placed team from the South American zone entered a play-off to decide which team would qualify for the 2006 World Cup [11]. From the 1938 World Cup onwards, host nations have received an automatic berth in the finals. This right also used to be granted to the defending champion, but from the 2006 finals onwards, this entitlement has been withdrawn, requiring the champions to qualify as well [12].
1073801
Follow these guidelines\n\n1. Germany will beat everyone in the first round.  They are the host country. \n2. Brazil will beat everyone in the first round.  They are the defending champions. \n3. Any European team playing an African, Asian, North or Central American team will win.  The tournament is in Europe. \n4. Any South American team playing an African, Asian, North or Central American team will win.  An african team might pull off an upset, but more times than not, the South American team will win. \n5. Any African team will beat any Asian team \n6. If two teams are from the same region, it will be a draw. \n7. As far as the second round, these are just guesses.  I would pick Brazil and Germany in the finals, England and Spain in the Semis, Mexico, Poland, Spain, and Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals.  \n\nGood Luck!
1128875
If they do, your countries achievement will not be unappreciated by the world. It takes a great country to produce players continually that can be of the calibre to pull that off. Good luck to you.\n\nHowever I would like to see the Ukraine or Portugal come through and achieve the unexpected as it would renew some hope for others and give a new perspective to the cup. Also to honour the job, commitment and hard work the under dog sides put in to achieve results and lift their standard of play.
383173
That is not true. A lot of people care, more than you  think. Just check the bars around June and see how many people are following their countries. It is truly a world champion, unlike the MBL NBA and the NFL whose teams are all from the USA. How can you really be a world champion if you did not play against any other countries? Germany has a good chance just because the fact that they are the "home team" and that is always good. Brazil is always the favorite. Argentina is always in the mix as Italy, England and France.
1082591
World Cup is the name of the 'event', FIFA is who organizes it (F?International Football Association).\nCities can have teams with players from all over the world, but for the World Cup, each player plays for their own country (i.e. Ronaldo plays for Real Madrid of Spain, but on the World Cup he plays for Brazil) - the different soccer clubs have nothing to do with the Wcup. \nClassification starts like LONG time before and they'll play for classification and finally the best teams get sorted randomly to play with each other in different groups
88785
its were the different countries come together and can compete against each other and see who is ultimately the best of the best.
431269
They don't have to beat every1 to win WC, they have to beat who they're supposed to beat. It's all in the schedule, they will accordingly play with the teams that in their Group, and play with other team who wins the previous round... so basically, they have to beat most of them, but not all of them
1123688
When a football superpower hosts the Finals, they generally go well, often winning. When the Finals are held in Europe, European teams have won the last five. When held in Asia or the Americas Brazil or Argentina have won the last six.\n\n1998 - (winner - France) (host - France)\n1990 - (winner - W.Germany) (host - Italy)\n1982 - (winner - Italy) (host - Spain)\n1974 - (winner - W.Germany) (host - W.Germany)\n1966 - (winner - England) (host - England)\n\n2002 - (winner - Brazil) (host - Korea/Japan)\n1994 - (winner - Brazil) (host - USA)\n1986 - (winner - Argentina) (host - Mexico)\n1978 - (winner - Argentina) (host - Argentina)\n1970 - (winner - Brazil) (host - Mexico)\n1962 - (winner - Brazil) (host - Chile)
992655
it differs from cup to cup, as does the world's country count.  There is no set amount of slots to participate.  any country may participate and the elimination rounds just keep paring them down like any play-off series.
370992
It is hard to distinguish surprising. Last time Turkey and Korea in the Semi's was surprising, but so was Senegal out of the first round. So I'll give you a "few" surprising for both. Look for Austrailia to get out of the first round. Their coach, Guus Hiddink has never finished less than 4th in World Cup, he's lead Holland and Korea to that distinguished mark. Do not think he'll make another run to 4th place but look for him to get them to the 2nd round. England is coming off a bumpy campaign to get to the World Cup, but they are highly motavated now and their team is starting to gel. Also their young talent is ridiculous with Gerrard and Lampard, two Euro Player of the Year finalists last year, and Rooney best striker in the world under 21, as well as the "old" talent of Owen and Beckam look for this team to do well this time and even better in 2010. Both these teams also benefit from weak groups. Usual suspects include of course Germany, Brazil, Holland, Portugal, Italy. Look for Italy to dissapoint however. They have the strongest group in the tournament and Totti has been hurt. The Czechs will look to justify their no. 2 ranking in the world within that same group. They also want to make up for their shortcomings in Euro 04. The US in the same group will advance also due to the fact that no one takes us seriously, it is to their own peril.
1011860
Some teams have disappointed people at the WC, but I think all teams had to prove themselves to a degree. Many more than the 32 who qualified tried and didn't get there. I know some had easier qualifying rounds than others, but these 32 are the ones that overcame their opponents to get here. They all deserve some credit. But leave the Olympics out of it, this is the WC of football, a completely different arena.
1113472
Just pick whichever public group your country's supporters are in (I picked England supporters) then you're in a group.