Tym GlaserWHAT A time to be a sports fan, eh?
The French Open, the NBA finals, West Indies-India Test cricket and Wimbledon on the horizon. Can it get any better than this?
Yep, indeed, because there's a little shindig going on now in Germany known as the World Cup of football.
Every four years, the most popular sport in the universe has its jamboree at which the top nations qualify for arguably the most prestigious prize in sport: the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Samba kings, Brazil, have wrapped their hands around the award a record five times and it's hard to bet against them making it number six come July 9.
The incomparable Ronaldinho leads a star-studded team that looks almost impossible to stop. He will be aided and abetted in another potential Cup heist by Ronaldo, Cafu, Cicinho, Roque Junior, Roberto Carlos, Emerson and Robinho.
Still, this World Cup might be the most open in a long time with at least 10 other teams feeling they have legitimate title claims. Fellow South Americans Argentina beat up on their arch-rivals 3-1 in qualifying and also have talent to burn in the forms of Juan Roman Riquelme, Carlos Tevez, Javier Saviola, Pablo Aimar, Hernan Crespo and precocious young striker Lionel Messi.
However, it's over in Europe where the bulk of the contenders loom.
EURO CHARGE
England lead the Euro charge and look strong all over the pitch with David Beckham running a midfield which includes livewire Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. In Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and lanky Peter Crouch they have a fine crop of forwards to aim for. At the back there's the ever-reliable John Terry and Rio Ferdinand.
Somewhere between these three teams the Cup should be won but don't write off France, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Serbia and Montenegro (SUSM), the Ukraine, the Czech Republic and, least of all, hosts Germany.
If France's old legs can last the distance they are a real threat while the Dutch, led by Ruud van Nistelrooy, are peaking at the right time. Iberians Portugal and Spain are shocking Cup underachievers but it might just be their time to shine.
Italy's form is hard to follow but there's too much talent in those blue uniforms to overlook. The Eastern European sides Czech Republic, S&M, Ukraine are extremely solid defensively but also have plenty of potency up forward.
Germany had an ordinary build-up to the Cup but the team seems to be buying into coach Jurgen Klinsmann's attacking game plan. Also, their Cup pedigree is second only to Brazil.
And, don't fall asleep on the most dangerous team out of Africa Ghana. I'd love to say watch out for the Socceroos, too, as they go for the ultimate sport triple crown of football, rugby and cricket world titles but that's just not going to happen this time around.
The way my brackets break down I have it as Spain versus the Netherlands in semi-final one and mouth-watering England-Brazil in the other.
When the dust settles, it's Spain versus Brazil and they'll be dancing in the streets of Rio again.
