The First weekend...phew!

What a weekend that was. Germany's opener against Costa Rica turned a few heads. Especially Lahm's and then Frings' goals. Not to forget Paolo 'Spaghetti Legs' Wanchope opening his account with two very well taken finishes against a poor German keeper. Oliver Kahn must surely be called from the bench for game 2?

The best games came courtesy of two distinct underdogs. Ecuador outclassed the rather stale Polish team and even though we predicted an unlikely draw, the Ecuadorians went one better and beat the Poles 2-0. But the highlight so far has to be the 0-0 draw between Sweden and a ten man Trinidad & Tobago. Such heroics have never been seen in a dogs age on a football pitch. Dwight Yorke's men fought gallantly against the yellow tide of a very talented and extremely well organised Swedish team, and thoroughly deserved their draw for a 'backs against the wall' performance that was second to none.

The yawn-fest of the tournament came from Engerland, who provided absolutely no guile or imagination in the absence of their talismanic Wayne Rooney. Never before have I seen such an obvious one man team, but England without Rooney are very ordinary. A flukey own goal from a perfectly delivered Beckham free kick was enough to get all three points, but surely this kind of luck can't hold out long enough for them to provide any serious competition?

Holland and Portugal both got off to winning starts albeit sluggishly. Both teams failed to convincingly despatch what could be considered 'lesser' opposition. Portugal came up against Angola, the most physically strong team we've seen thus far, and they gave a good account of themselves. Figo was like his old self, masterminding the midfield while Ronaldo offered the width and pace to compliment Figo's deft passing ability. But on the hour mark Big Phil Scolari subsituted Ronaldo for the more defensive Costinho and moved Figo out to the left where he would me more restricted and left the horribly ineffective Simao as their pacey right sided midfielder? Such inept subsitutions lead you to wonder how this coach ever won a world cup.

The Dutch are simply playing the wrong system. Van Nistelrooy has never worked well as a lone strike. Man Utd tried this last season with disastrous consequences that seen them dumped out of the Champions League at the group stages. However Marco Van Basten decided to play him as the target man in front of a five man midfield. Robben and Van Persie provided the width, but why wasn't there TWO strikers in the box. Surely Kuyt and Van Nistelrooy should have started together with Cocu in the middle losing out?

Sneijder and Van Bommell did an adequate job in midfield but you can't help wondering is Van Der Vaart injured? He surely must be because the team needs his talent. The Dutch will grow into this tournament, but they really need to start operating with two out and out strikers.

Today we get our first sighting of the USA and The Italians. The Italians will start slowly but get results. The USA......well we'll see.

Todays Bet: 5 euro on Pirlo to score first in Italy v Ghana at 11/1

World Cup Funnies: #1 Weather

In a first of our series of periodical comedic pieces. This arrived in my mailbox not so long ago. Read right to the end...

40 degrees - Californians shiver uncontrollably. People in Ireland sunbathe.
35 degrees - Italian cars won't start. People in Ireland drive with the windows down.
20 degrees - Floridians wear coats, gloves, and wool hats. People in Ireland throw on a T-shirt.
15 degrees - Californians begin to evacuate the state. People in Ireland go swimming in the sea.
0 degrees - New York landlords turn the heat on. People in Ireland have a last barby before it gets cold.
-10 degrees - People in Miami are extinct. People in Ireland lick flagpoles.
-20 degrees - Californians all now live in Mexico. People in Ireland throw on a light jacket.
-100 degrees - Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. People in Ireland wear a vest and pull down their ear flaps.
-297 degrees - Microbial life starts to grind to a halt.Irish cows complain of farmers with cold hands.
-460 degrees - ALL atomic motion stops. People in Ireland start saying "It's a bitin cold ...? "
-500 degrees - Hell freezes over. Irish people support England in the World Cup

Game on....Day1: Games 1 &2

With the big kick off just a tea break away, we look now at the first two matchups in detail.

First Germany v Costa Rica.

The German's star player, Michael Ballack, the best attacking midfielder in Europe is a doubt. TV in Germany is filled with nothing else. Will he make it? The latest reports from Germany is he might!The man himself is quoted as saying 'I am fit, I want to play' in an Arnie Shwarzenneger accent. The Borg may have their collective but it don't run half as efficiently without it's head man in the middle. However, if he doesn't make it the German's still have more than enogh to defeat the Costa Ricans, but hey, aren't opening games supposed to throw up surprises?

Costa Rica are a bit of an unknown force. Paulo Wanchope's rubber legs can often bend comically out of control when there is no defender within 10 yards. Players used to the more ethereal style of Costa Rican football may find the robuster contact of European opponents uncovers hitherto unrealised jelly in their legs.

With this in mind, and the physicality of the Germans, they really need a very sympathetic referee to force anything other than a resounding defeat. In saying this, Costa Rica are the romantics of the tournament, who subscribe to the Kevin Keegan philosophy of football: however many you score, we'll score one fewer. A 3-2 defeat in France last year, when they were 2-0 up at half-time, showed their strengths and weaknesses, but they are loose cannons who will make some hits in the weakest group in the tournament.

But, my head says Germany.

In the second Match up, Poland take on Ecuador

A draw is written all over this one. Keep a close eye on Euzebiusz Smolarek. The skilful 25-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker plays in midfield for Poland, having grown up in Holland and risen through the ranks at Feyenoord. Poland are workmanlike and busy about the pitch with no real outstanding flair. They could nail second place in the group when they have their annual grudge match against the Germans end in a draw.

Ecuador? Who? I know absolutely nothing about this crowd except for a montage of footage that lasted 4 minutes on 'Trans World Sport' last week. As mentioned earlier in this blog, Austin Delgado is their main man, and if he's their main man, God help them. I still think they'll force a draw, simply because the Poles aren't that good either.

The USA: Another Surprise?

Unfortunately for the US of A, soccer has long been a sport of the suburbs. Until the tentacles of 'soccer' reach into the less affluent areas of the community, football (sorry, soccer) will be played by those who lack the hunger for success.

All the great players have come from dirt poor backgrounds. Wayne Rooney from the council estate in Liverpool, Pele from the backstreets of Brazil, Georgie Best from troubled Belfast corporation estates. But this opinion comes in the face of a FIFA ranking of 5 for the USA!

Because the USA play most of their competitive games against similarly weak opposition the ranking is artificially high. So how do we think they will fare. One of the chief sportswriters of The Guardian shares my opinion that this World Cup will see a return to the old guard. The heat and humidity of Japan and South Korea in 2002 is replaced by a much more hospitable climate. A major factor for Western European teams.

Sean Ingle writes "The old order will dominate. In 2002, Senegal, Turkey, South Korea and the United States were shock first-time quarter-finalists. It won't happen again: there's no sapping humidity this time around, and the big names aren't beat-up and battered. Germany 2006 will be more like France 98, when Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Italy, France, Germany, Croatia and Denmark made the last eight. Boring, but true."

He also has a damnining indictment of the USA's chances in Germany, he adds, "The United States won't make it past the first round. Group E isn't that difficult - Ghana's defence is ropey and the Czechs are an ageing team - but most of the American hacks reckon the US aren't as strong as in 2002. They'll be fit and well-organised, sure, but with Landon Donovan, Claudio Reyna and DeMarcus Beasley all having indifferent seasons, they probably don't have the quality."

I however do hold out a bit more hope for the American's progress. In a group with Italy, Ghana and the Czechs, I can see them pulling off one of the surprises of the tournament. What Mister Ingle has failed to accentuate is the fact that the Czechs have a terrible defence. A great attack but a woeful defence. Also Italy never really fire on all cylinders until the second round and perhaps USA could do what they did to the Portugese last time. Although, this time the element of surprise is not something they can count on.

The Observer newspaper also commends the American Head Coach by saying. "The brilliantly named and abrasive Bruce Arena, who was also in charge in 2002. 'He's the same old Bruce,' says captain Claudio Reyna. 'He still has that brash New York attitude.' His very fit and well organised side are hard to beat."

True, to an extent. America do have the jump on most of their competitiors in the fact that their players would not have been through the gruelling European seasons that their European Competitors would have. With 12 of the squad based in Europe and 11 relatively fresh - it's early in the Major League season - there are possibilities of progressing from a tough group. But unless they win it, they would probably come up against Brazil, who knocked them and everyone else out of USA 94. Much depends on Captain America, Claudio Reyna. Everything goes through him in the middle.

So who's the man to watch for our American readers? With the much touted Freddie Adu not selected, the USA are looking to Eddie Johnson. The Golden Boot winner at the 2003 Youth World Cup, Johnson scored on his full debut against El Salvador in 2004 then recorded a hat-trick as a substitute in his second game, against Panama.

I just hope (Unlikely though it is) that they get to play Iran at some stage....

The Golden Boot and the broken boot

One of the most popular 'side' competitions in the world cup is the Golden Boot. The top goalscorer for the tournament. Typically a Golden boot winner will finish with around 6 goals although Jus Fontaine holds the record at a massive 13 goals. The further the progression the better chance the team has of supplying us with the overall winner but not always the case. In Mexico in 1986 Gary Lineker claimed the boot with 6. England went out in the quarter finals, and memorably Oleg Salenko in 1994 winning with 6 for Russia while his team failed to make it out of the group stages!!

This year could see another Eastern European take the boot. Schevchenko has a very very handy group stage up against Tunisia and Saudia Arabia (who Germany put 9 past last time out!!)) and he has recently secured a move from AC Milan to Chelsea so his future is secured. That however can be a bad thing and the World Cup often provides a shop window for unsettled players to put themselves in. Much has been made of the Juventus scandal in italy where the famous black and white stripes may see themslves relegated from Serie A to Serie B following match fixing allegations. Should this happen, one can expect a veritable Moses like exodus of the top internationals. David Trezeguet and Zlotan Ibrahimovic (France and Sweden) respectively need a good world cup to cement their value in foreign markets. Sweden however, do not look like contenders. So Tezeguet would shade this one.

My vote however is going to a very very very unsettled player with a huge point to prove. Ruud Van Nistlerooy is desparate to prove himself on the world stage after falling out with Alex Fergusn at Man Utd following Keane's transfer to Celtic. He was unceremoniously dropped from the first team, and all but transfer listed as he was excluded from taking part in Keanes testimonial match at the seasons close. He is playing in a very tough group that includes Argentina, but, he is playing with the best Dutch team in two decades. The supply line comes thick and fast from Van Persie, Robbben, Van Der Vaart and Van Bommel, and his strike partner in Dirk Kuyt is a tremenduous foil for Ruuds predatory instincts at 16/1 he gets the Hibernian fiver for today.

Our balance is now 90 euro for the remainder of the tournament.

Tomorrow, the games commence...

Group A: Home advantage and a banana skin!

The big kick off is happening on Friday evening at 5pm GMT. After the hoopla of the opening ceremony, the focus will switch immediately to the adidas clad host nation. The Germans (BORG) will walk completely in synch to the designated touchline, all turn in unison to face their flag and stand emotionless during their national anthemn. And who will line up alongside them to test the mettle of one of Europe's footballing super-powers?

Costa Rica! Yes the might of Costa Rica. True the embarressed Scotland in 1990 by beating them one nil and setting a precedence that every other nation has followed since. But c'mon. Against the germans? Their star player is old spaghetti legs, Paulo Wanchope. The former Manchester City striker is retiring from international football after the World Cup. Despite being thoroughly erratic in front of goal, he is the Ticos' all-time leading scorer with 43 goals in 67 internationals. A word of warning to the Germans. Senegal. The 1998 World champions France were beaten 1-0 in their opening group game in 2002 by a little known African team. Liverpool the went and spent the entire Scouse slush fund on half their team. Remember Salif Diao anyone?

The Germans are far too systematic to allow an upset of Senegalese proportions. And on home soil. You can chalk this one up to a German win and we might see Miroslav Klosse take a huge step towards the top goalscorer's Golden Boot prize, but more about that tomoorrow. The Hibernian Bet is quite sure about chalking this one up as a home win.

Ireland's 100,000 strong Polish immigrant population will be knocking back their Guiness to a very handy first match up against Ecuador. Yes, Ecuador. The team that made it's world cup debut in 2002 and finished last in their group. Their star player? Well, Southampton paid £3.5m for Agustin Delgado in 2001 and just one goal in three years saw him leave on a free transfer in 2004. Ecuador's top scorer in qualifying, he is thought indispensable. They are rank outsiders at 400-1 to win the tournament. Looks like the Poles should have an easy enough start. However, and please pardon the metaphor, but this game is a potentiol banana skin. I'm thinking a score draw, with some very disappointed Poles trudging the dark streets of Dublin come ten o' clock.

So thats our first fiver out of our hundred euro betting fund. Germany to win doubled with Poland to draw. The potential return is 22 euro for a stake of 5 euro.

Tomorrow..The Golden Boot bet...

World Cup 06: Pre Theatre Drinks

Tonight: Tuesday the 6th of June is the time for the pre World Cup drinks. This festive gathering is almost legendary in the small circles around this writers social, well, circle. This year I am extending the invitation to the global world cup village. Wherever you are at 9pm GMT, take a moment to sink a beer of the country of origin of whose mast you are stapling your colours. ( there wont be many John Smith's bitters being ordered tonight!)., and take the time to discuss the reasoning behind your choice of Brazillian 'Brahme' or Italian 'Peroni' or German 'Erdinger' or Spanish 'San Miguel' or Dutch 'Heineken' or perhaps even American 'Samuel Adams'.

One thing is certain however. Those who choose Czech 'Pilsner Urquell' are bigger beer fans than they are football fans. Every year there's one...who knows maybe this year they could be looking at a last four finishing unless the USA spoil the party.

Enjoy the unofficial-official kick off tonight and tomorrow we begin the serious business of analysing the tournament to death as well as picking out the bets of the tournament. The bets will work on a pool basis. we start with a 100 euro fund and see if we can turn it into something a little more substantial. All the profits will be turned into beer and shared with anyone who can make the final in Dunshaughlin Village (just outside Dublin).

Good luck and enjoy the party...