With Spain and the Czech Republic squeezing through the qualifying playoffs Wednesday, there is a wealth of talent lining up to take soccer's biggest title from the defending World Cup champion.
Seven months before the tournament starts in Germany on June 9, Brazil is an 11-4 favorite to retain the title it won in 2002 in Japan, according to oddsmaker William Hill. Argentina is next at 13-2, followed by England (7-1), Germany (8-1), Italy (9-1), the Netherlands (11-1) and France (12-1).
The United States is an 80-1 shot and Mexico 50-1. The two other nations from the region have even higher odds: Costa Rica at 500-1 and first-time qualifier Trinidad and Tobago at 750-1.
With the 32-nation field complete, FIFA will sit down ahead of the Dec. 9 draw in Leipzig to work out the seedings. The teams will be split into eight groups of four, with the top eight not having to play each other in the early stages.
So far, only host Germany and defending champion Brazil have been seeded. Under the formula used for the last two tournaments -- a mixture of a nation's current FIFA rankings and its finish at the previous three World Cups -- Spain, Mexico, Italy, Argentina, England and France also would be seeded.
FIFA's executive committee won't decide until just before the draw on the formula this time around. "The seeded teams won't just be decided on their FIFA ranking, but also on results obtained in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said. "With the selection procedures, I think the national teams of Holland and England have reason to be worried. Even Italy may not get a place."
The 2002 World Cup, which was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, gave the competition a truly global appearance with teams from five confederations making it to the quarterfinals, where the United States lost to Germany 1-0.
With the competition back on European soil, the likelihood is that European and South Americans will dominate. Most of the Brazilian and Argentine stars play for European clubs and are used to facing Italian, Spanish, English, Dutch and French players.
Brazil has the most impressive strike force, with Ronaldo even unsure of a starting spot in Carlos Alberto Parreira's lineup. The coach can field Inter Milan's Adriano and Real Madrid's Robinho up front, with Barcelona's Ronaldinho and AC Milan's Kaka in support.
Argentina also has strength in depth at all positions. Among the Europeans, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Portugal, Czech Republic and Spain all have the talent to reach the semifinals. Sweden, Croatia, Serbia-Montenegro will be tough to beat, and Ukraine could be a surprise in its debut.
Some of the world's best forwards are headed to the tournament. Ukraine has AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko, Argentina has Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez, England will field Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, and France features Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.
Italy can choose from at least five top strikers, including Christian Vieri and Alessandro Del Piero; the Netherlands has Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Makaay and Dirk Kuyt; and veteran Brian McBride will be chasing World Cup goals for the United States at age 33.
Sweden has Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Henrik Larsson, while the Ivory Coast -- one of four African nations making their debuts -- has Chelsea star Didier Drogba.
With Spain and the Czech Republic now in the field, Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez and Milan Baros, top scorer at Euro 2004, also will be among the leading forwards.
Mexico, which has never advanced past the quarterfinals, returns for the 13th time. Costa Rica makes its third appearance, and Trinidad and Tobago -- with former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke back in the lineup -- has reached its first World Cup.
South Korea reached the semifinals on home turf in 2002 and appears to be the strongest of the Asian teams. The others -- Japan, Iran and Saudi Arabia -- would do well to reach the second round.
Africa has five qualifiers -- Tunisia and newcomers Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Angola. Cameroon and Senegal made an impact in the past by reaching the quarterfinals, but that kind of African success seems out of reach this time.
Four respected Dutch coaches will be at the World Cup: Marco van Basten (Netherlands), Dick Advocaat (South Korea), Leo Beenhakker (Trinidad) and Guus Hiddink (Australia).
AP
Seven months before the tournament starts in Germany on June 9, Brazil is an 11-4 favorite to retain the title it won in 2002 in Japan, according to oddsmaker William Hill. Argentina is next at 13-2, followed by England (7-1), Germany (8-1), Italy (9-1), the Netherlands (11-1) and France (12-1).
The United States is an 80-1 shot and Mexico 50-1. The two other nations from the region have even higher odds: Costa Rica at 500-1 and first-time qualifier Trinidad and Tobago at 750-1.
With the 32-nation field complete, FIFA will sit down ahead of the Dec. 9 draw in Leipzig to work out the seedings. The teams will be split into eight groups of four, with the top eight not having to play each other in the early stages.
So far, only host Germany and defending champion Brazil have been seeded. Under the formula used for the last two tournaments -- a mixture of a nation's current FIFA rankings and its finish at the previous three World Cups -- Spain, Mexico, Italy, Argentina, England and France also would be seeded.
FIFA's executive committee won't decide until just before the draw on the formula this time around. "The seeded teams won't just be decided on their FIFA ranking, but also on results obtained in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said. "With the selection procedures, I think the national teams of Holland and England have reason to be worried. Even Italy may not get a place."
The 2002 World Cup, which was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, gave the competition a truly global appearance with teams from five confederations making it to the quarterfinals, where the United States lost to Germany 1-0.
With the competition back on European soil, the likelihood is that European and South Americans will dominate. Most of the Brazilian and Argentine stars play for European clubs and are used to facing Italian, Spanish, English, Dutch and French players.
Brazil has the most impressive strike force, with Ronaldo even unsure of a starting spot in Carlos Alberto Parreira's lineup. The coach can field Inter Milan's Adriano and Real Madrid's Robinho up front, with Barcelona's Ronaldinho and AC Milan's Kaka in support.
Argentina also has strength in depth at all positions. Among the Europeans, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Portugal, Czech Republic and Spain all have the talent to reach the semifinals. Sweden, Croatia, Serbia-Montenegro will be tough to beat, and Ukraine could be a surprise in its debut.
Some of the world's best forwards are headed to the tournament. Ukraine has AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko, Argentina has Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez, England will field Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, and France features Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.
Italy can choose from at least five top strikers, including Christian Vieri and Alessandro Del Piero; the Netherlands has Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Makaay and Dirk Kuyt; and veteran Brian McBride will be chasing World Cup goals for the United States at age 33.
Sweden has Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Henrik Larsson, while the Ivory Coast -- one of four African nations making their debuts -- has Chelsea star Didier Drogba.
With Spain and the Czech Republic now in the field, Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez and Milan Baros, top scorer at Euro 2004, also will be among the leading forwards.
Mexico, which has never advanced past the quarterfinals, returns for the 13th time. Costa Rica makes its third appearance, and Trinidad and Tobago -- with former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke back in the lineup -- has reached its first World Cup.
South Korea reached the semifinals on home turf in 2002 and appears to be the strongest of the Asian teams. The others -- Japan, Iran and Saudi Arabia -- would do well to reach the second round.
Africa has five qualifiers -- Tunisia and newcomers Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Angola. Cameroon and Senegal made an impact in the past by reaching the quarterfinals, but that kind of African success seems out of reach this time.
Four respected Dutch coaches will be at the World Cup: Marco van Basten (Netherlands), Dick Advocaat (South Korea), Leo Beenhakker (Trinidad) and Guus Hiddink (Australia).
AP
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