Group E

ITALY

When I first saw the draws for the World Cup I immediately considered Group E the dreaded "Group of Death." The consensus is that Group C is really the toughest group, but this one isn't far behind in my opinion. Italy are a major reason for this.

Here we see the new face of Italian football, Luca Toni, who many have tipped to light the fire that sees the Italians all the way to the final.

World Cup Pedigree: Awesome. Won in 34, 38, and 82. Always qualify and always among the favorites.

Country's Cultural Significance: The Roman Empire, pizza, organized crime.

Star Player: When fit, golden boy Francesco Totti is a formidable playmaker. Gianluigi Buffon is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. At the moment, though, everyone is talking about goalscoring sensation Toni.

Strengths: Great defense and stellar attack. Stong throughout the squad.

Weaknesses: A tendency to play negative, ie defensive, football by sitting on leads has hurt Italy in past tournaments. Coach Marcelo Lippi has promised that won't be the case this time.

Fun Fact: Venice is slowly sinking. Those gondolas will come in handy.

Entertainment Value: 8. Some really great players here.

Expectations: Very high. They recently slammed Germany 4-1 in a friendly and were immediately tipped as world champions by the overzealous press.

The Prognosis: There is no question that Italy have one of the best sides in the world, perhaps second only to Brazil. Francesco Totti has been injured for many months but is currently returning to full fitness. All the cards seem to be in place for the country's fourth World Cup title. Not so fast. The Italian domestic league is currently in the midst of one of the worst scandals in its history(which really is saying something), with allegations of referee bribery, match fixing, and all sorts of underhanded shit flying around. Some of the current players have been questioned in the investigation. There is even talk of relegating some of the larger clubs, such as Serie A champions Juventus, to Serie B next season, which seems nearly unthinkable considering their pedigree. All of this has cast a gloom over the country and has the potential to distract the Azzuri from their mission. Their last two tournament exits were not flattering: knocked out by Korea in 2002 and first round casualty at Euro 2004. This time they have the talent and the drive, but old ghosts could return to haunt.

USA

America is the world's richest and most powerful country but considered a minnow in the world of football. The sport doesn't get much respect in America and consequently the national team doesn't get any abroad. Nevertheless, they've come a long way in recent years and are coming off a quarterfinal appearance in 2002.

Here we see forward Eddie Johnson in action. Now that's determination. Johnson is looking at the ball while the other guy looking at him and wondering if it's worth tussling with such a psycho.

World Cup Pedigree: Not bad. Have qualified for the last five tournaments, though their qualification zone is not exactly strong.

Cultural Contributions: Baseball, Jazz, and Stephen Colbert.

Star Player: Landon Donovan. Is now used in a midfield role and proved indispensable in qualifying, both by scoring and setting up others. A real competitor.

Strengths: As usual, the US have some of the best goalkeeping around with Kasey Keller manning the posts. Are also very experienced, with players like Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride, and Donovan having played many games at international level. Extremely athletic squad. Coach Bruce Arena is quite simply one of the best coaches in the world.

Weaknesses: Thanks to a weak qualifying zone, do not regularly face stiff competition. Mexico are their biggest rival in the region and the US have their number. Have not fared well against European sides in particular. Poland thrashed them in the 2002 cup.

Fun Fact: The US has produced world class players at one position, goalkeeper. Many have soundly posited that this is due to the superior hand-eye coordination of Americans, who grow up playing baseball, football, and basketball.

Entertainment Value: 7. Athletic squad that is usually enterprising.

Expectations: The ever optimistic American public figure: "We made the quarterfinals in 02, maybe we can do better this time." The players know better. It won't be easy getting out of this group, but Arena inspires a quiet confidence.

The Prognosis: At the 98 Cup in France the USA finished dead last of the 32 teams. Bruce Arena was brought in and has established a winning mindset. They made the last 8 in 2002 and really should have beaten Germany to advance to the semis. This time they have an even stronger squad but will no longer have the element of surprise. Nobody takes the USA lightly anymore. Should make a real solid bid for the second round, but this group is murder.

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czechs are a major reason why Group E is murder. They have talent in abundance and high expectations for their first ever World Cup.

This is Tomas Rosicky, who was just signed by a very big club that I don't recall the name of. Anyway, he's good, and so are his teammates.

World Cup Pedigree: As Czechoslovakia they twice made the final(34 and 62), and achieved the quarterfinals in 1990. So they aren' t really newcomers.

Cultural Contributions: I hear Prague is a fun town.

Star Player: Rosicky is the midfield general. Pavel Nedved is the established veteran who came out of international retirement to lead them in qualifying. A man of unquestioned quality, though he didn't look so hot getting sent off against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final. Come to think of it the whole Juventus team looked like shit in both legs. That's what happens when you don't have the referees paid off(I'm only half joking.)

Strengths: Many. Petr Cech of Chelsea is arguably the world's best keeper. Forwards Jan Koller and Milan Baros score in buckets for the national team(Baros won the golden boot at Euro 2004 in Portugal), and Nedved and Rosicky form the crux of an excellent midfield.

Weaknesses: Not always consistent. Really looked like they were going to win it all at Euro 2004 but slipped up. Finished second to Holland in a tough qualifying group and defeated Norway in a playoff, thus sparing us Norway's egregious brand of boring football at this World Cup.

Fun Fact: When everyone checks at a round of poker it's called "The Check Republic." No, I lied. That's just a really lame joke I heard on Celebrity Poker.

Entertainment Value: 9. Scored the most goals in European qualifying, and provided us with the most exciting match of Euro 2004, a 3-2 victory over Holland that a friend of mine attended. If you are reading this Chang, you will go down at Winning Eleven next time. Hard.

Expectations: Those crazy Czechs think they are going to beat everybody.

The Prognosis: They have enough talent to win it all, but this group is full of danger. Italy and the USA could spoil the party. Even Ghana could spoil their party, and we all know Ghana loves to party.

GHANA

This is Ghana's first World Cup appearance and as with the other African debutants nobody knows what to expect. Not even Ghana know what to expect. All kinds of shit could happen. They might even use their hands.

Whoa. That is one unpredictable team photo. Are these guys unpredictable or what? Ok, I'll stop now.

World Cup Pedigree: None.

Cultural Contributions: Ghana was the first sub-saharan African country that the Europeans came to plunder. It was also the first to win independence, from Britain.

Strengths: The Black Stars(that's their official team nickname) have never before been to a World Cup finals, but they were a football power in the African region for many years. They are physcially very stout, which could prove trouble for brittle attackers(look out DaMarcus Beasley). The midfield duo of Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah could give opponents fits.

Weaknesses: Defense could be a problem spot. Will have to be careful about commiting costly fouls(Essien, that means you). Lack experience at this level.

Star Player: Chelsea paid a fortune to procure Essien and as well as being the highest paid African player on the planet, he is one of the rising stars of world football.

Entertainment Value: 11. What's going to happen with these guys? Nobody knows. Tune in to find out.

Fun Fact: Ghana is actually a model of political and social stability in Africa.

Expectations: Are you kidding me? Nobody knows what to expect with this bunch.

The Prognosis: Ghana had an abysmal African Nations Cup, but were without three of their best players so much of the alarm was perhaps unfounded. They have some talented players, but this group is very tough. Not likely to advance.