World Cup Preview

The world's biggest sporting event starts on Friday and here is a different type of preview. Comparisons to other teams in other sports based on each team's strengths, weaknesses, style and overall grouping in this tournament.

Group A

South Africa: Every host country has advanced past the group stage, a tall order for this squad. The country impressively built ten stadiums and will have a ton of emotion in every contest. If that carries them out of the group stage I will have to load up on 2011 NCAA basketball tournament host Rice next year.

Uruguay: Odds on favorite to be the the team that most resembles the Raiders and leads the tournament in fouls and cards. Winners of the first ever World Cup held in 1930 and won their second cup in 1950 by beating Brazil in Rio de Janerio. That sounds as impressive as beating the Russell led Celts in the Finals in the Garden.

France: One of the oddsmakers favorites at (12/1) who will be relying on past success and a veteran connection of Ribery and Henry. It is still hard to believe Ribery was suspended for the Champions league final. What are the odds of the NBA suspending Kobe or Rando for a finals game? I doubt this team will get much support from any Irish pubs and they have the coach most likely to pull a Mike Brown.

Mexico: A fairly nice draw for the OK City Thunder like team with their nucleus of talented young guys. (70/1) seems like great value for a team that will be in the conversation for the next few cups and might be naive enough to make a long run in this one.

Group B

South Korea: The most shocking host country to advance with wins over Italy and Spain in 02'. Seems like the same type of challenge in this group and venue.

Greece: Soccer will be a nice change of topic for a country that badly needs it. The Euro 04' champs will try to implement the same strategy as the 04' Heisman winner Matt Leinart this year in the desert; manage the game and minimize mistakes.

Nigeria: A talented long shot (90/1) that has reinvented itself as a defense first squad with most of their talent on the back end. The roster looks like Bama on defense without a Mark Ingram to carry the offense.

Argentina: With the best player on the planet in his prime and (7/1) odds they are going to be a major story. No comparisons exist to a team that hires its greatest player ever to become coach when he has no experience and no relationship with the star player. Major boom or bust potential like a NBA team changing 2-3 of its starting five at the trade deadline.

Group C

Algeria: This team will be without its best player for the first game and goaltender for the first two games due to carry over red cards. That could be enough to put them behind in a competitive group. Threat to Uruguay in the fouls and cards total bet.

Slovenia: A real upset threat as they allowed only 4 goals in 10 qualifiers. Plays a strategy like a mid major hoop team that wants to shorten the game and hopes you get frustrated. Also one of my favorite countries to visit on House Hunters.

USA: Athletic enough to set the bar at advancing past the group stage while testing the bend but don't break defensive strategy. In a sport that relies on possession they have been fairly successful without it, like the Canadians winning without shots on goal for long periods of the game.

England: A starting ten even with injuries and WAG issues that is hard to match in this tourney, with goaltending as the major question mark (sounds like the scouting report for the Washington Caps). Rooney plays the Ovechkin role with his scoring and temperament. Hired an Italian as the national coach, which would be like the Russian hockey team hiring Lindy Ruff for the 14' Olympics.

Group D

Australia: Longest shot in the group at (90/1) shows the depth of this group. With a solid back line and goalie they play from the net out and hope to have a better tournament than the Calgary Flames had season with the same philosophy.

Ghana: A team that seemed to be coming together at the right time in the right place until an injury to their central midfielder and glue guy. Just as the Coyotes were able to band together for a few games without Shane Doan the Black Stars' will need the Patrick Ewing theory to carry them out of group play.

Serbia: Deep and experienced team who opened a lot of eyes with the way they played in a tough qualifying group. The win over France showed they are peaking and confident and it reminds me of the Rays win over the Sox to get to the series in 08'.

Germany: Consistency of the Utah Jazz from the Stockton/Malone era to the Williams/Boozer and Williams/Millsap era's. (12/1) seems like a great value bet for a team that will continue to roll with youth now that Michael Ballard is injured. As always Germany will be in the hunt for their first unified title.

Group E

Japan: A team oriented approach led them through a weak qualifying group on Asian soil. They seem headed for the same fate as a 7/8 seed in the Eastern conference of the NBA playoffs who sneaks in with a .500 record and has a short playoff stay.

Denmark: Methodical, defensively responsible, chemistry, experience: Words used to describe the Danes and would anyone be surprised if their coach turned out to be Jacques Lemaire.

Cameroon: Have taken big strides over the last few international competitions and have a Chicago Blackhawk like core and guys who know their roles. African soil might help this team more than any other, especially if Italy is their opponent in bracket play.

Netherlands: A ton of talent and therefore expectations on the big stage. The Dutch come to S. Africa with (11/1) odds and a style, resume, and roster that invites comparisons to the San Jose Sharks. Ultimately they will be judged by how they compete and finish in bracket play.

Group F

New Zealand: They have the highest odds in the field (500/1), the nickname "All Whites" and cancelled practice yesterday due to the smell of the field. These factors combine to make them the ultimate long shot #16 seed in the tourney.

Slovakia: An all out attacking style and nationalistic pride led to a win over the Czech's and a ticket to the World Cup. They are led by a 5' 6" striker who has more moves than a belly dancer and they are not known for their defense. Looking forward to watching the Suns on grass.

Paraguay: A tough minded team that is listed as (60/1) even though their top scorer in qualifying was shot in the head in a Mexico City nightclub and is lucky to be alive. List of active players that if you read that last line about them would not make you flinch; Artest, TO, Captain Jack, Jamal Tinsley, Tank Johnson, Roethlisberger.

Italy: Defending champions with veterans throughout the rooster. There has never been a repeat champion and this well balanced opportunistic Red Wing like team will look to change that this year.

Group G

North Korea: A dangerous team in the group of death that only employs 1 forward while keeping 9 guys packed in the defensive zone like a Boeheim zone. Interesting style of play clashes with the other three offensively creative teams in this group.

Ivory Coast: Was the African favorite at (23/1) before theLebron like Drogba was injured in a friendly and had to have surgery on his broken arm. He has the physical skills to dominate on both ends and will do whatever it takes to get back, but in this group one missed game might be one too many.

Portugal: Struggled to qualify and played some truly head scratching games recently like the Patriots the last couple of years. As the Pats are always going to be tough with Brady Portugal is the same way with Ronaldo who has won 3 Premier League and 1 Champions League title.

Brazil: The second pick on the board at (4/1) but though the uniforms are the same the style of play might not be that recognizable. Looking for more discipline and defense they have tightened up on that end and are not attacking as much as past teams. What if Florida switched from the spread to the wishbone would they still have the athletes to win or would they turn out like the Suns when they tried to play half court with Shaq?

Group H

Honduras: Along with the Kiwi's at (500/1) they are the tournament long shots, but like an Arena league team or the Knicks they should be entertaining for a few games.

Switzerland: Their coach is nicknamed the General and just as Bob Knight immediately improved Texas Tech to a tourney team this general has done the same for the Swiss. Like the Red Raiders they could get to the sweet 16 but don't have the talent to truly contend.

Chile: Western PA produces quarterbacks and New York City point guards, Chile produces lethal strikers and this team is no different from past cup rosters. They will be as entertaining as watching an ABA dunk contest.

Spain: The favorites at (3.5/1) with their Yank like All Star at every position lineup. Also a favorable draw and the confidence that comes with the 08' Euro title will have the Spanish mindset focused on a soccer dynasty in the making.

My group order prediction is in reverse order above. No team has ever repeated as World Cup Champions and only one team (Brazil) has gone out of their hemisphere to win a cup. Sticking what those thoughts I like Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Spain to make up the final four with Argentina led by Messi and Tevez making Maradona the most unlikely coach to win an international tournament since Herb Brooks.