Well, Portugal played at home in Euro 2004. I know that is a double edge sword, but most teams tend to do really good in big championships, or at least almost as good as Portugal did. Hell, Korea got to Semis in 2002.

I really like Portugal and I think they are one of the best teams in the world, yeah. But that doesn´t mean they will get to QF. Argentina didn´t pass the first round on 2002, don´t you think they were - are- one of the best teams too? Portugal, methinks, tends too underperform, quite as Spain does. They are going to need more than being their usual good, and there other factors like the draw, form of the key players, etc... don´t you think It´s a bit too early to make any predictions? Even if it´s fun...

Actually I made my predictions around 3 months ago. I don't think it's too early, These are currently the best teams in the world.

1: Argentina
2: England
3: Brazil
4-8: Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France (assuming Zidane does really really well)

Germany has been doing quite well lately, and playing at home will definitely help them., that's why I think they will do well.

Of course surprises can happen, but IMO Korea reaching the semis in 2002 was not a surprise, it was a conspiracy. Gamal El Ghandour, the referee of the quarter final match between Korea & Spain butchered Spain. The same thing happened in the Italy-Korea match in the last-16 match. I hope the same things will not happen next year.

You know, It´d be too easy to accept that conspiracy theory. I think refereeing can decide a match that´s really even, but in a Korea Vs. Spain (Or Italy), I just don´t buy it. They are supposed to be vastly superior teams to Korea, they should have proven it, dodgy referee decisions or not.

By the way, Germany lost his friendly against Slovakia this weekend.

But Spain & Italy indeed proved they were better. Spain scored a goal that wasn't counted ( one of the biggest jokes in the histoty of football IMO), and I can't really remember, but wasn't Totti sent out half an hour into the game?

Wasn't that where Totti took out the players legs, then spat at him?

Four minutes after the restart and a Spanish goal was disallowed. Hard to see why; unless you believe in conspiracy theories.

So who do you guys think will be next years surprise packages?
Last year we had Greece,
2002 - S. Korea, Turkey, Senegal
2000 - Turkey, Romania?
1998 - Croatia?

My pick - Ukraine, and possibly Australia if they can qualify.

I love a good conspiracy theory! But I can not shake the feeling that, if we had been a little bit better, and actually played well that game instead of having only 4 or 5 chances in 120 minutes against Korea...

BTW, congratulations on Egypt´s victory. Any chances of qualifying?

I pretty much agree on Ukraine.

Maybe Czech? They were great in Euro 2004, but they are average at best in the WC qualifications. Anyway, Baros needs to get his act together.

Thanks dar, but unfortunately not, we can't qualify , we were basically out because of Ivory Coast. They best us 2-1 & 2-0. Drogba scored 3 of these goals. Anyway, our next game vs Cameroon is important, at least to Cameroon. They need to beat us to qualify, if not, then Ivory Coast will be the team qualifying from the group.

I actually find it surprising that only one in the group can qualify... there should be at least a possibility for the second to face other team in a final round, like the second in the european groups.

Sorry about that. At least we will get to see Drogba or E´too in the WC.

And you're right, it would be good to see E'too or Drogba in the WC. But IMO, the most exciting thing will be seeing Shevchenko, he REALLY deserves it.