| Waiting for the World Cup to start has always been | | | | behind in talent and passion. Italy, England, Germany |
| a punishing yet rewarding experience for soccer | | | | and Argentina are only few of the countries that will |
| aficionados. The former is felt days after the last | | | | surely make Brazil's journey to the finals very difficult. |
| World Cup ends, the latter, days before the next | | | | The other countries in FIFA's top world ranking list |
| one starts. Soccer fans will declare that the long | | | | includes Spain, Mexico, Netherlands, Czech Republic |
| four-year wait is all worth it once this truly world | | | | and the United States. These are all formidable teams |
| event begins with that starting kick off. All that pent | | | | that can certainly hold their own in this tournament |
| up excitement has to come out sometime and what | | | | and could easily be this year's World Cup champions. |
| better way for it to go than through the explosion | | | | It is almost an impossibility to predict who will raise |
| of cheers, applause and jubilant gestures of support | | | | the trophy in Berlin on July 9 but that's simply the |
| once the games are underway. Finally, the | | | | beauty of it! One thing is for sure, the country that |
| excruciating wait is over as the eight groups of | | | | gets to keep the World Cup Trophy for the next |
| thirty-two teams from various countries compete for | | | | four years will have justly earned and deserved it. All |
| the World Cup Trophy and their respective nation's | | | | this rich history, glorious pride, legendary teams, |
| pride. Last Friday marked the 2006 FIFA World Cup | | | | prominent personalities and beautiful venues will be |
| in Germany. Several countries virtually went into a | | | | the making of one of the best tournaments thus far. |
| standstill as history unfolded in the Allianz Arena at | | | | Talking about the World Cup would be incomplete |
| Munich. This truly is an occasion of global proportions | | | | without mentioning the hooligans that this event |
| as football devotees root for their country's team | | | | seemingly attracts. Add booze to the mix and you've |
| with fervent display of loyalty and zeal. In the 64 | | | | got an explosive situation warranting a serious once |
| grueling and exciting matches ahead, soccer fans are | | | | over. Too often, the World Cup has been analogous |
| sure to get a treat as the likes of Ronaldinho, | | | | to thousands of people trooping into colossal |
| Ronaldo, and Beckham strut their wares on the road | | | | stadiums, euphoric crowd shouting, ultra tight security |
| to football glory. The powerhouse that is Brazil is | | | | and some minor riots happening near and around the |
| clearly the team to beat this year. In the seventeen | | | | stadium. Although there is nothing wrong with this |
| previous tournaments since the first World Cup in | | | | image (except for the riot part) and all the fanfare, |
| 1930, Brazil has been a dominant force having won | | | | the real value of this monumental event is not just |
| five of the seventeen events including the one back | | | | about winning the most sought after accolade in |
| in 2002. The defending champions shouldn't take it | | | | sports. It is the coming together of different |
| easy though because hot on their heels are other | | | | countries and cultures under one common goal. Let's |
| soccer superpowers and they are not trailing far | | | | play futbol! |