"The World Cup- truly a global event" As John Motson once said, there's nothing quite like stating the obvious is there? Here's my guide to the one thing that everyone's eyes are glued on, and I mean everyone.
First, you must do the following, there's no way anyone is stopping you from having the full World Cup experience, after all, it only comes around every four years.
1. Book the month off work, it doesn't matter how, claim maternity leave, say you're ill, say you've been employed by NASA to fly to the moon. Literally anything to make sure you don't miss anything.
2. The biggest tele in the house is yours for the whole month, Coronation Street, Eastenders and the likes, are banned, there's zero toleration on this rule.
3. Put a HUGE England flag up outside your house, just to show your support.
4. Watch every game, you can't miss a single goal, otherwise it just wouldn't be the same. You must also have your phone switched off (to avoid interference) and plenty of beer and doughnuts.
5. Play a drinking game whilst watching the match, these are classic, preferably play a good one with plenty of your mates such as, http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=382779040096&v=info&ref=ts or http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/The-Park-Ji-Sung-Drinking-Game-/108416549183773?ref=searchsid=p2JsflxDdTizqHEaf-9cCw.1126423228..1
6. Take part in a sweep between your mates, this has to be done as it's tradition, it adds a little more competitiveness to things.
7. Put on some bets, whether it's with your mates or with an actual bookies, you must have something riding on the tournament. See below for tips...
In my guide I'll also by giving you my opinions on which teams are the...
Favourites
Brazil, as always, are one of the favourites, but Spain are fancied by many to take home the trophy this year. After blowing away everybody at 2008's European Championships, Spain leaped up a few places in FIFA's world rankings and with their mass amount of global superstars, it's not hard to see why they go into the tournament as favourites. With the likes of Casillas, Puyol, Ramos, Alonso, Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi, Torres and Villa just to name a few, it's going to take a big effort to knock them out.
Underdogs
Honestly, never underestimate the Germans, although on paper a distinctly average team, especially following the loss of talismanic captain Michael Ballack, Germany have rarely failed to over perform and with Joachim Low in charge, they could be an outsider, expect the semis. Another possible outsider is Ivory Coast, lead by Didier Drogba, they have a blend of hard working war horses and skillful forwards, the likes of Kolo and Yaya Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Dider Zokora and Salomon Kalou will be looking to surprise the Brazilians and the Portuguese in the group stages.
Spectacular Failures
There's always at least one at every major tournament, France fell in 2002, Italy and Germany flooped at Euro 2004, Czech Republic and Brazil disappointed in Germany and England failed to qualify for Euro 2008. Expect a similar shock this year, with Portugal in the group of death, they could well be the ones that fall early, which would be much to the delight of every Englishman, with Ronaldo leading the team almost single handedly, don't be surprised if there's tears and tantrums, aswell as the odd wink. With an ageing squad and the loss of the inspirational Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero, don't be surprised if holders Italy go home early either.
Lose all three group games
Unfortunately, there's always those that go home without a single point after a disastrous World Cup, there are a few obvious contenders this year, South Korea and Japan don't look like setting the world alight, and New Zealand look set to struggle in their group games against Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia, with the majority of their players being unknown and the others only recognised by followers of League 1 football (bar captain Ryan Nelsen that is) don't be too shocked if they go back down under pointless and goalless. Korea DPR also look set to struggle, but luckily for their players, followers at home will only see highlights if they win, it's also quite lucky for the fans aswell, because this way the won't have to suffer the pain of defeat, I wonder if Mr Cameron has considered a similar approach?
Here I will tell you which player will be the...
Top Scorer
This is a tough call, and one that'll earn you alot of money if successful. There'll be the usual names thrown in there, but don't be surprised if the winner is an outsider, for example it may be worth a gamble to put a few quid on Samuel Eto'o, if his Cameroon team go far, he'll have a big part in it and will be at higher odds than his rivals due to his poorer team mates. Obafemi Martins and Yakubu are in a similar scenario with Nigeria, Old war horse Miroslav Klose has scored 5 goals at both of the last two tournaments, and is another outsider, but my tip for the Golden Boot is David Villa. If Spain go far, which they probably will, he'll score for fun, and in a creative team full of talent, he'll be hard to stop, although at low odds, he's worth a punt.
The High Class Flop
The World Cup can be too demanding for even the world's biggest stars, especially those whose team is poorer than they are, or those that believe they're bigger than the team. Ronaldo is a candidate, although it's unlikely, he may get frustrated with his teammates in South Africa and lose his head. Another candidate is Brazil's Robinho, after a hugely unsuccessful spell in Manchester, he'll be desperate to perform, but if his ego gets the better of him, he may be the laughing stock of the tournament, equally he may be one of the stars of the tournament. However, my tip for the biggest high class flop is German Mario Gomez, shocking at the last World Cup, and after a poor domestic season, the stage us set for Gomez to make a fool of himself, that's is he plays, Germany have Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski ready o take his place.
The Most Disappointed Not To Make The Cut
There are many that have missed out on this year's tournament, and not just because of injury either. Brazil boss Dunga made the brave decision to leave out trickster Ronaldinho for this summer's tournament, Maradona made the controversial choice of dropping Cambiasso and Zanetti, yet he still found a place for the flops Veron and Palermo. David Beckham and Michael Ballack both miss out due to injury, however I'd be most dissapointed if I was Andrei Arshavin, at 29, he may have missed his last chance of a World Cup campaign after Russia failed to qualify, as an exceptional talent, he'll be majorly disappointed that his teammates didn't match his own ability in qualifying.
Most Likely To Miss a Penalty It must be an England player surely? There's many an English footballer that's missed from the spot in recent years, think Stuart Pearce, Chris Waddle, David Batty, Paul Ince, Gareth Southgate, David Beckham, Darius Vassell, Steven Gerrard, I could go on. Frank Lampard has hardly been prolific from the spot recently either, missing with his last two attempts and missing three in all this season. Yet the most likely to miss a penalty has to be Argentinian Martin Palermo, in an international game against Columbia in 1999, Palermo managed to miss not one, not two, but three penalties in one match! At 35, this is a surprise call up for Palermo, and if he steps up in a shootout, the ball may be fired a long way out of the stadium.
The Keeper Most Likely to Save a Penalty
There are a few candidates, Italy's Gigi Buffon is a renowned penalty specialist and Casillas isn't bad either, however, my winner has to be Tottenham and Brazil's eccentric keeper Gomes. In a successful Premier League season, Gomes managed to save three penalties, all of which came against Darren Bent, who unsurprisingly is English. If England face Brazil in a shootout, and Bent steps up against Gomes, don't be too surprised if it doesn't hit the net.
Thanks for reading my guide on the World Cup, and I hope you enjoy it just as much as me. Before I leave, here are some vids of classic World Cup moments to keep you entertained.
The Hand of God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbbsytHDp2o
Those three penalty misses from Palermo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD93d2Blkhc
Ronaldinho's crazy free kick vs England in 2002 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLzHmQQ-Wfc&feature=related
The headbutt by Zidane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I7-KEa99Fw
The day England were kings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtjxTXvIRGc
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