The world's greatest sporting extravaganza starts today, and all bets are off as to who will lift the title on the 9th of only. it is often said that from leading up to a big tournament counts for nothing, because it's all a matter of from during the tournament. Some teams peak too early, some to late; the real champions show their true mettle in the knock out stages, when the team that handles the pressure best wins. Here is my guide to the world cup and the teams who could walk away with the title, soon enough we'll know who handles the pressure best. 

                    Germany 
Being the host nation has put immense on the Germany to perform. But what is often forgotten by the German fans is that Germany is no longer the team it was a decade and half ago. Germany is the footballing equivalent of the West Indies, once a great team and world beater, now merely mortal and routinely being beaten by everyone. Germany much like the West Indies have a Lara to fall back on, his name is Michael Ballack. A player can win you a match, but not a tournament. Even thought  Ballack has a host of youngster to help him out, reaching the quarters seems highly unlikely. Look out for podolsky  and schweinsteiger, that  aside the home fans had batter prepare for an early exit. I doubt if they will improve on their world ranking of 19.

• Teams: 32
• When: 09 June 2006 to 09 July 2006
• Final: 09 July 2006
• Matches: 64
• Goals Scored: 147 (average 2.3 per match)
• Attendance: 3359439 (average 52491) 
• Winner : Italy
• Runners- Up: France
• Third: Portugal
• Adidas Golden Ball: Zinedine Zidane (France)
• Adidas Golden Shoe: Miroslav Klose (Germany)
• Yashin Award for the Best Goalkeeper : Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
• Best Young Player Award: Lukas Podolsky (Germany)
• FIF Fair Play Award: Spain, Brazil 
• Adidas Golden Shoe: Miroslav Klose (GER)
• FIFA Award for the Most Entertaining Team: Portugal.