Editor's Note: I've always wanted to open this area up to let others share their non-sense - and while I don't have a great, collaborative system for that purpose, occasionally someone (usually Thunder) will send along a good ole' Word doc for me to post. With the world's favorite sport as his muse, Thunder offers up this inspired peek into the World Cup.

It has been a long while since I have contributed any new material to thedustin.com, though not much longer than thedustin himself. With the world's greatest sporting event only a few days away I figured it was time for me to make my comeback. I am not sure many of the readers have wasted as much time reading previews and watching specials as I have, and while this makes me no expert, I hope to at least consolidate all of the information out there for you.

I will start this preview where any red-blooded American should, Claudio Reyna’s hamstring? Pure and simple Claudio is the most important player on the American squad. While this may sound odd to the casual observer, there are only a handful of squads in the entire World Cup on which Reyna would not crack the starting lineup. He plays that rare position of holding midfielder, which means he possesses the ability to control the ball in the center of the field and allow for his team to transition from defense to offense with ease. Much has been made about the difficult group the U.S. was placed in and the fact that they were jobbed by FIFA.

For the World Cup draw FIFA ranks the top eight teams in the draw ensuring that they will not face each other in group play. FIFA gave Mexico the ranking rather than the U.S. even though the U.S. defeated Mexico to win the CONCACAF region. I have my theories on why this occurred and if you give me a call sometime I will tell you, or just happen to be around me after a few beers and I might tell you anyway. The bottom line is we are still not seen as a mainstay in the world soccer community, and the only way to earn the world’s respect is to beat them.

Anyway, getting out of group play will be much more difficult this time around; however, the U.S is fielding its strongest squad ever at a World Cup, so this should be a good barometer of where we stand. Now that I have rambled on, lets get to the predictions.

Group A
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Germany
Poland

Predictions: Germany and Costa Rica will advance. Costa Rica fields a strong side as they are the third best team in CONCACAF behind the U.S. and Mexico. Germany will advance, but this is not your father's German team. (not that many of our fathers watched the World Cup in the 70's) They are not as methodical and defensive minded as past German teams. They posses a creative flare led by Michael Ballack, yet there backline will prove their undoing in the later rounds.

Group B
England
Paraguay
Sweeden
Trinidad & Tobago

Predictions: England and Parguay will advance. England are led by...well, I am not quite sure. Probably the second most talented squad in the world behind Brazil, the English have all of the pieces to lift the Cup. However, they have who many consider to be the most boring manager in the entire competition. I could spend three pages on tactics and what England needs to succeed, but I will refrain from doing that here. I think their most important player is Steven Gerrard, who is the heart and soul of a Liverpool squad that never quits. The only problem is he is almost an exact replica of his midfield-mate Frank Lampard. If I were Sven, and of course I am not because I was born in Wilson, NC not Stockholm, Sweeden, I would slot Micahel Carrick in behind the midfield and play Michael Owen alone up top. Of course this all changes if Rooney returns to fitness; however, I think even if he can play, he will play nothing more than a substitute role. We should all feel sorry for the English that they have the luxury to bring the most explosive player in the world off the bench. Paraguay, while not as heralded as their South American neighbors, Brazil and Argentina, possess the skill and experience to make some noise. Paraguay will test the English in the opening game. Finally, imagine a 6'7" 170 lbs man doing the robot ... poorly! That my friends, is what England will unleash on the world, Peter Crouch.

Group C
Argentina
Ivory Coast
Netherlands
Serbia & Montenegro

Predictions: Aregentina and Ivory Coast will advance. The "Group of Death" looks simply terrible. I think the Argentineans have the most skill overall and this will see them through. The Netherlands has the talent, but I think they are just too dysfunctional to make it through, which leaves the Ivory Coast and Serbia & Montenegro. The Ivory Coast will impress at the World Cup, they have a world class striker in Didier Drogba and their backline will be one of the best in the tournament.

Group D
Angola
Iran
Mexico
Portugal

Predictions: Mexico and Portugal advance. I am not sure I care enough to write anything here ... Iran could be a surprise though. Portugal is old and Mexico will ... I just don’t care.

Group E
Czech Republic
Ghanna
Italy
The United States of America

Predictions: Normally when I predict something or make a grand pronouncement, the opposite happens so I feel terrible doing this, but ... The United States of America and Italy will advance. This is the best American soccer team ever assembled and I think they have the right balance of experience, chemistry, and pure old American arrogance. We will not challenge the world powers until we think we are a world power and I think this 23 member squad thinks/knows they are. As I said earlier, Reyna is one of the best players in the world, Landon Donovan has yet to show the world what he is capable of, DeMarcus Beasley is a burner, Oguchi Oneywu looks like he could start for the Carolina Panthers, Eddie Pope is always solid, (and his speed has increased from a 42¹) Brian McBride is clinical, Eddie Johnson is ready to explode, Clint Dempsey has a rap career on the side, John O'Brien looks healthy, Kasey Keller is top flight, and Bruce Arena will have them ready.

Funny U.S.A. Side Note: A few of the U.S. players were on the ESPN show Cold Pizza last week, including Landon Donovan and Pablo Mastroeni, and the host was asking them questions about other sports. When it got to Pablo, the host asked him who the number one pick in the NFL draft was and he had no clue. Well, Landon starts laughing at Pablo and Pablo seems real confused and finally Landon says, "It was Mario Williams, he went to N.C. State!" Of course this is funny because Pablo went to State.

[Editor's Note: Gratuitous UNC reference removed²]


Group F
Australia
Brazil
Croatia
Japan

Prediction: Brazil and Australia advance. Brazil is the most talented team in the world and they have the world's best player in Ronaldinho. Croatia made a surprise run to finish third in the '98 world cup, but they are an aging side. Japan appears to be a team in turmoil right now and they lack the experience outside of Asia. The Socceroos are coached by Guus Hiddink who is considered a magician, he led the Netherlands and South Korea to the semi-finals in 1998 and 2002 respectively, and their squad is made up of players that ply their trade in the top leagues of the world.

Group G
France
South Korea
Switzerland
Togo

Prediction: France and Switzerland advance. This is the last chance for the golden generation of French soccer, Zidane, Thurman, Makelele, Trezequet, which delivered the Cup on their home soil in 1998. Switzerland brings a young squad to the tournament and they will make some noise. South Korea possesses some individual talent but do not have the experience necessary to make it out of the group stages. Togo, thank you for coming.

Group H
Saudi Arabia
Spain
Tunisia
Ukraine

Prediction: Spain and Tunisia. I think this may be the year that Spain is able to put it all together. They finally have players with experience outside of Spain, they have one of the best keepers in the world in Casillas, and they have players that can put the ball in the net. Tunisia is the only African nation to return from the 2002 Cup and they are coming off a win in the 2004 African Nations Cup.

Final Predictions

Round of Sixteen
Germany over Paraguay
Argentina over Portugal
England over Costa Rica
Mexico over Ivory Coast
U.S.A over Australia
France over Tunisia (Don’t think this won't be big, Tunisia is a former colony and there
are thousands of Tunisians in France)
Brazil over Italy
Spain over Switzerland

Quarterfinals
Germany over Argentina
U.S.A over France
England over Mexico
Spain over Brazil

Semifinals
U.S.A over Germany – revenge from 2002
England over Spain

Finals
Think of this like the time you were about 15 or so, and you end up playing basketball with your dad in the backyard. He is a step slower, wise as ever, and you know you can beat him you just haven't done it yet. Well, that is my prediction; the U.S.A will take the early lead in shocking fashion as Landon will play a beautiful ball into space for McBride. Kasey will be called upon often and will step up as he always has. Finally, Rooney will equalize late and the English will know they have it won; it's only a matter of time. Unfortunately for England they forget to mark Eddie Pope on a set piece late, he buries it in the back of the net. The world goes quiet ...

Do I think it will end this way, no, in fact I think the U.S.A will struggle to make it out of group play, and even if they do will most likely face Brazil in the Round of 16. Ten World Cups have been played in Europe and nine of those have been won by European teams. I think this year will be no different. England will hoist the Cup.

However, if there was ever a time for dreams the World Cup is it, and folks ... I’m not ready to wake up. USA! USA! USA!

¹ Back in FIFA 2001 by EA Sports, the Canadian Euro-wannabes did a great disservice to the American team by giving one of the fastest players in the defensive backfield a speed rating of 42 on a scale of 100. Given that a handful of Americans have found themselves walking through the revolving door of the world speed records, I don't think the developers used the appropriate trait to reflect the Americans' relative inadequacy on the world soccer stage.

² For those interested, I've included the gratuitous UNC reference here: "More North Carolina connections, Eddie Pope and Greg Berhalter are both Carolina Alums, so you can be rooting on the Red, White, and Blue, as well as our beloved Tarheel State."