FOOTBALL: ROAD TO WORLD CUP 2006

Northern Ireland won against a very overrated England. Spain managed only a draw after Luis Aragones so confidently predicted a 3-1 win. What a shame! Italy recovered from a shock opponent goal for a trashing. Who is this guy from Fiorentina, Luca Toni, who scored a hattrick? Holland also goes on a goal rampage while France managed to win slightly. The patterns seem clearly the same. England always disappoints in the world stage and so is Spain. Holland has the trademark to perform badly when the real competition comes.

It is always like that, no matter how much the hype about the current English team being able to win the World Cup. It is utterly rubbish. Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen? They are overrated and they are not gods. I can assure you coming World Cup month, the side that everybody should look out for is Brazil. They have the tradition, the history and the consistency to prove that they can easily win again year in Germany.

What more with more geniuses in the team that consists of the magical Ronaldinho, the all-rounder Kaká, the goal-scoring machine Adriano and the reborn football legend Pele, Robinho. Which team in the world have so many geniuses in a team? France only has Zidane with Henry who fails to perform always at the big stage. Holland may have Arjen Robben and Roy Makaay, Argentina may have Leo Messi and Juan Riquelme and England may have Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard but how many great players they have per country? Let's be very modest and say 3.

Brazil has 4 superior geniuses and not counting the old horses Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Dida, Emerson, Juninho, Edu, Zé Roberto, Lúcio and the just as good Baptista with the much talked about Cicinho. I'm sure being a Brazilian coach at this stage of history is an honour and pure joy. Imagine yourself being the Brazilian coach. You are having a dream team here to configure to play every match for the country. I'm sure you are more worried of how to choose with so plenty of talents than being worried of lack of talents. You are just spoilt of choices!

If for any reason Brazil is going to blunder shockingly like France 1998, it has to be the tragedy of having to lose almost all the players with injuries or suspensions, maybe severe food poisoning or perhaps lack of sleep or rest. If not, there is not a chance that they are not going to win the World Cup one more time. England? Please, let us be more realistic here. I will still think Argentina is going to be just as strong eventhough Korea Japan 2002 proved that it was the opposite entirely.