which country was ranked last in the previous World Cup?
470296
France didn't do well for sure.  But the ultimate failure at the last world cup was Saudi Arabia.\n\nThey had 0 points and 0 goals after 3 games in which they conceded 12 times!  They started off with a 0-8 capitulation to Germany (which barely missed on a World Cup record of largest scoreline), then went on to lose 0-1 to Cameroon, and finally 0-3 to Ireland.  \n\nI am not sure, but I believe that this was indeed the worst performance in World Cup history.
456209
France \n\nlast match was against Brazil (3-0)
340907
world cup was not played last year
9212
Us didn't make it to the top 8 in the world rankings, according to FIFA's algorithm in the selection of the seeding teams for the FIFA World Cup 2006.\n\nFIFA ranks the teams based on the results of the last 2 world cups - 2002 and 1998, where 2002's results weigh twice as much as 1998's results.
384750
brazil is ranked number one but that doesn't mean that they are.  Watch our for the number 2 ranked Germany.  They have an unbelievable goalie.  Voted best goalie 3 years in a row.... in the world!!!
482566
except brazil, current top contenders are Argentina, Germany and Italy. Holland could be the dark horse of the tournament. However, if Wayne Rooney becomes match fit to play, England should be considered as a top contender too.\n\nAny of the above countries could win the world cup 2006.
1101608
Well, since Senegal and Cameroon didn't make the World Cup this time, you might want to go with the only country that's been there before, Tunisia.  They're in a moderately tough group, with Spain, Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia.\n\nAngola also got a decent draw with Iran, Mexico, and Portugal, as did Togo, with France, Switzerland, and South Korea.  Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana got drawn into Groups of Death (Cote d'Ivoire with Serbia, Argentina, and Netherlands, while Ghana is in with Italy, Czech Republic, and the United States).\n\nNice of the two above me to know who actually made it to Germany...
1101868
With five victories out of its seven appearances in the final match, Brazil is the most successful World Cup team. It is also the only nation to have participated in every World Cup Finals tournament so far.\n\n They won the WorldCup on1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002
446715
The last world cup soccer game was won by the team that became champions.
1044236
32 countries have played in the cup since France 98.  Stadiums vary, but in this one the average is between 40-50 thousand I would say.  Brazil was the pre-tournament favorite, but France knocked them out in the quarterfinals.  No, it is not the 80th world cup, the FIFA World Cup began in 1930, and is held every 4 years, and was not held between 38 and 50 due to WWII.  So there was a tournament in 30, 34, 38, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 94, 98, 02, and now in 06.  So this cup is the 18th.  Regardless of who wins this tournament (because both are previous winners), only seven countries have won the world cup.  Uruguay in 30, Italy in 34, Italy in 38, Uruguay in 50, West Germany in 54, Brazil in 58, Brazil in 62, England in 66, Brazil in 70, West Germany in 74, Argentina in 78, Italy in 82, Argentina in 86, Germany in 90, Brazil in 94, France in 98, Brazil in 02, and either Italy/France in 06.  For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup.
680268
1.Brazil\n2.Italia\n3.Germany
990066
In my opinion, Brazil will take the title of the World Cup for the sixth time. The next five strong teams to win the cup as dark horses could be Argentina, Germany, Portugal, Spain or even Italy for that matter. But, as of now its best to hold your breath and just watch the action because you never know the end.
1095874
Germany, Argentina, England, Portugal, Brazil, Ghana, Spain, France, Italy, Australia, Ukraine and Switzerland
1078439
Rest easy, Among the few best team in the world, Germany are the BEST! Come july 10, the world cup will remain in Germany...
407948
Starting from Germany 2006, the winner of the past World Cup had to qualify for the Finals. Only the host nation qualifies automatically from 2006 on.\n\nThe following teams, shown by region, have qualified. The number in brackets is the country's seeding for the tournament, this value is a calculated based on historical world cup results, last two (2002 and 1998), and historical FIFA World Rankings, last three (2003-2005) [1].:\n\nAfrica (CAF) \n Angola [31] (first time qualifier) \n Côte d'Ivoire [27] (first time qualifier) \n Ghana [30] (first time qualifier) \n Togo [32] (first time qualifier) \n Tunisia [22] \n\nAsia (AFC) \n Iran [21] \n Japan [12] \n South Korea [11] \n Saudi Arabia [19] \n\nOceania (OFC) \n Australia [28] \n\nSouth America (CONMEBOL) \n Argentina [7] \n Brazil [1] \n Ecuador [23] \n Paraguay [15] \n Europe (UEFA) \n Croatia [14] \n Czech Republic [16] (first time qualifier as Czech Republic) \n England [2] \n France [6] \n Germany [4] (host) \n Italy [8] \n Netherlands [10] \n Poland [20] \n Portugal [17] \n Serbia-Montenegro [24] (first time qualifier as Serbia and Montenegro) \n Spain [3] \n  Switzerland [25] \n Sweden [13] \n Ukraine [26] (first time qualifier) \n\nNorth America, Central America & Caribbean (CONCACAF) \n Costa Rica [18] \n Mexico [5] \n Trinidad and Tobago [29] (first time qualifier) \n United States [9]
686677
If you would have to pick one country, it would have to be Brazil, because they won the most World Cups. It doesn't make very much sense to ask this question though, because what only matters is how good a country is in a particular period:\n\nPerhaps it makes more sense to break it up into decades:\n\nHere's what I think which teams were best in each decade:\n\n1930s: Uruguay and Italy\n1940s: (World War II, so little international football)\n1950s: Hungary best, Brazil second best\n1960s: Brazil best, West Germany second best\n1970s: The Netherlands best, Brazil second best\n1980s: Argentina best, Italy second best\n1990s: France best, Brazil second best\n2000s: Brazil best.......and I have no idea who to nominate for second best in this decade!\n\nThe best teams ever to participate in the World Cup are in my opinion Hungary 1954, Brazil 1970, The Netherlands 1974 and France 1998.
1069239
The following host nations have won the World Cup.\n\n1930: Uruguay\n1934: Italy\n1966: England\n1974: Germany (West)\n1978: Argentina\n1998: France