How many teams are favored to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup? Who are the contenders for the best player?
475672
Latest odds issued by William Hill after the preliminary World Cup 2006 draw was made in Germany, Friday 5 December.\n5-1 Brazil\n6-1 France, Italy\n7-1 Argentina, Germany\n8-1 England\n9-1 The Netherlands, Spain\n20-1 Portugal\n25-1 Czech Rep\n50-1 Paraguay\n66-1 Cameroon, Mexico, USA\n\nBest Player\nAdriano 12-1\nRonaldo 12-1\nRonaldinho 16-1\nRooney 17-1\nvan Nistelrooy 17-1\nOwen 19-1\nCrespo 19-1\nHenry 20-1
478960
Brazil to win the World Cup.\n\nContenders to their throne would be England, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Holland and look to the Czech Republic to do well.\n\nBest players will include Ronaldinho(Bra), Beckham(Eng), Henry(Fra) and Nedved(Cze).
393071
The world cup favorite is definitly Brazil , with not just their all star line up but all star backups. With Ronaldo , Edilson and especially the best player in the world Ronaldinho   in the lineup , it would be next to impossible for anybody to pull an upset on them. Besides them if there is anybody who has even a chance is Germany , since they're the host and they have an impressive Bundusliga superstars lineup. I wouldnt count England in just because of the fact that every World Cup they bring their best premeir league superstars which I think are as good if not better than the brazilian players. Players like Beckham, Gerrard ,Cole , Ferdinand to name a few superstars but somehow they dont seem to perform their best as an English team. United States  have a very good team this time , better than last world cup's but if you are talkin about winning the world cup I would say they are not at that stage yet.
690715
Yes, the coach already announced the first eleven and it was their recent winning combination in confederation cup.\n\nCurrent top contenders are Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Italy. Holland could be the dark horse of the tournament.\n\nAny of the above countries could win the world cup 2006.   \n\nIf Wayne Rooney becomes match fit to play, England should be considered as a top contender too.
1032830
Well its a hard desition but these would be my elections for their teams. I would apply a 4-3-3 for both teams, and the goal would be made by the player referred.(*) I am also only including countries that are participating in this World Cup, as well as players.\n\nEurope\nGolie: Gainluigi Buffon (Italy)\nDefenders: Philipp Lahm (Germany)\n                   Sergio Ramos (Spain)\n                   Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)\n                   Giovanni Van Bronckhorst (Netherlands)\nMidfields:    Michael Ballack (Germany)\n                   Frank Lampard (England) * (12m)\n                   Deco (Portugal)\nForwards:  Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)\n                  Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) ** (54m, 81m)\n                  Thierry Henry (France)\n\nSouth America\nGolie: Roberto Carlos Abondanzieri (Argentina)\nDefense: Roberto Fabian Ayala (Argentina)\n                Sorin (Argentina)\n                Roberto Carlos (Brazil)\n                Cicinho (Brazil)\nMidfielders: Javier Masherano (Argentina)\n                   Ronaldinho (Brazil)\n                   Kaka (Brazil)* (27m)\nForwards:   Ronaldo (Brazil)* (45+)\n                   Roque Santacruz (Paraguay)\n                   Hernan Crespo (Argentina)\n\nFinal Result: Europe 3-2 South America
645269
pre-world cup performance does not guarantee a world cup win. we can take the example of 2002 Japan Korea world cup, where Brazil struggled to qualify to become one of 32 nations to play the tournament, and then won the world cup for fifth time ! France and Argentina were the top favorites to win the cup, but they were eliminated in the first round. and what South Korea did? they played in the semi-final!\n\nwell, temperament will be the name of the game as soon as the world cup begins. tradition will come second. for such reasons, only 5 countries lifted the world cup for 15 times out of 17 tournaments followed by 2 countries won one time each.\n\nin my opinion, top contenders of this Germany 2006 are Brazil, 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.
322665
Not likely, other than Ronaldino and Kaka everyone else is over the hill and out of form, Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Ronaldo. But with that said, who else can you actually say is a contender and Brazil have a knack of always performing in the Big Stage. This year my money is on a newcomer.
672058
Current top contenders are Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Italy. Holland could be the dark horse of the tournament.\n\nAny of the above countries could win the world cup 2006.   \n\nWhy? All these countries, except Holland, has the temperament and tradition, apart from footballing strength, in winning the cup for several times.
404769
Thirty-two teams from across the globe make up the field for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ finals. Six continents are represented and six past winners will take part, including hosts Germany, who head the 14-strong European contingent, and holders Brazil who lead the South American challenge.
322381
I think that the main contenders for the title are Brazil, Germany and Argentina.\n\nPlayers are favoured to contend for the best player award include Ronaldinho (Brazil), Ballack (Germany), Rooney (England), Riquelme (Argentina) among others.
1143574
Please find the squad list for all 32 teams below. I have done my part, I leave the counting to you. That's not asking too much I hope?\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_%28squads%29#Player_representation_by_club
1079514
I think that the team that wins the final game will win the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
354933
Picking a single team that would surely win the cup is very hard. But these ARE my picks that have a bigger chance of winning as this sport really sometimes create freak results.\nThe picks:\n1. Brazil: Possesses the most threatening attack, hands-down. Defense is highly improved.\n2. England: A well balanced team with every position filled with talents.\n3. France: Zinedine Zidane returning at the heart of midfield as with Claude Makelele rejuvenated this squad. Great attacking threat of Henry is crucial.\n4. Argentina: A team loaded with creative midfielders and attackers with a defensive line-up to be vey proud of.\n5. Germany: A team with a successful World Cup history. Although the team is not that threatening in terms of the line-ups with Ballack as the only one having a "superstar" status, their pride playing on their home soil could really step-up their performance.\n6. Italy: Defensively strong starting from the midfield and their cattenaccio style still works for them. They also have lots of great talents.\n\nSpecial Mention:\nPortugal and Netherlands: they have great potentials and could come out as dark horses
668176
Brazil.\n1) They have been #1 at FIFA ranking for years.\n2) All of the players are fit and nobody is injured\n3) The world best player "Ronaldinho"\n4) The world best and strongest combination : Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Robinho, Kaka and Adriano\n5) The only team that have won five times in the history\n6) The only team that have qualified to the final stages since the world cup started
535980
I wouldn't count on Brazil.  Brazil is not the strongest TEAM, they have some of the strongest players (mostly in attack), definitely not the strongest defence.  Their midfield is good when Ronaldinho and Cicinho are playing left and right.  Dida has been horrible in AC Milan this year.\n\nI think there are better TEAMS as a whole out there.\n\nItaly\nArgentina\nEngland\nCzech Republic\nNetherlands\nPortugal\n\nAs far as the rankings go, they are not a true representation of the strength of a team/country.  I don't use those as a way to gauge who will win.
332288
Brazil is the favorite going in, but there are a few teams that can match them in skill and desire to win\n\nThe winner will be one of the following\nItaly\nBrazil\nArgentina\nCzech Republic
721769
BRAZIL , HOLLAND, ITALY , ARGENTINA\n\nAlthough strongest on paper,  history is strongly against Brazil this time ...winner from non-european continents when played in europe is very rare..only ONCE , in 1958 ...also , back to back winners are rare too , again last one being 1958, 1962\n\nArgentina , England and Italy look likely winners along with dark horses Holland,Portugal and Serbia , except for the fact that Argentina, Holland and Serbia are in the same group for the first round \n\nArgentina is very balanced with crespo, tevez in attack,with an attacking midfield ..riquelme, messi, gonzalez , mascherano ..option of aimar ..defence - heinze, sorin, zanetti, samuel/militto..only prob. is the non-european voodoo\nHolland is really superb and young attacking side - ryan babel, maduro, huntelaar,  with a few seasoned pros like van der sar , robben , van nistelrooy ..just imagine ...coach van basten has afforded to drop roy makaay,seedorf !! all they need to to do is gel as a team\n\nsame goes for england - question mark is :need to gel as a team - surely, atleast the semis