IT HAS ARRIVED!

It's finally here. Four years of slogging through friendlies and qualifying and injuries and conjecture and we have finally arrived. Please see the links section on the right for a link to the complete TV schedule. Some thoughts:

1. The Czechs are overrated.
Baros had a good Euro 2004 and that is it. Nedved is in the middle of a downward
spiral that would rival Gary Busey. Or Nick Nolte. Are they the same guy?

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/nnolte1.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/garybusey/gallery5.html

Sorry - got off subject there. Anyway, back to Pavel. He's 33 and over the last
few months has played (when he's played!) like he's 38. Peter Cech will only
take them so far. I like Italy and Ghana (with the US close) to advance out of
Group E.

2. Teams that are going nowhere:
Togo - just happy to be here says it all
Ecuador - there is no Quito (9,300 feet above sea level)in Germany
Saudi Arabia - will be playing in a constant state of damage control
Angola - Yeah, right
T&T - The darling squad of this year's Cup cannot compete. Sad but true.

3. Italy won't win
Italians = flair for the dramatic = dramatic loss.

4. France will be the first "soccer power" to bite the dust
It's amazing to me that basically nothing has changed in their set-up since they
failed to score a goal in 2002. Instead of being injured, Zidane is back yet in
such a state of decline that his influence is muted. Henry and Trez don't
perform, and yes, Crazy Man Barthez is still their goalie! With the talent in
that country I cannot believe the squad that has been assembled. Guily has
every right to be pissed. Their only saving grace might be Franck Ribery. He's
got the speed and quality to really open things up for the forwards.

5. Watch out for Ukraine
Yup. They're my darkhorse. Unlike other nations (see France above), they've got a proven
goalscorer (Sheva) who maintains his club form for his country. They've got a
solid, young midfield and a disciplined defense. They've have no problem
advancing out of Group E. It's just a question of how far they can go after that.