Which team do you think will be the dark horse at the World Cup and Why?
598547
Australia.\nGuus Hiddink has taken two teams to the last two semi-finals (Holland & Sth Korea).\nAlso most of the Australian players play in the Premiership, a very tough competition, or other tough European leagues such as Serie A, and some have big game experience in the form of Champions League final (Kewell - although he did break down), UEFA CUP (Schwarzer & Viduka) and FA Cup (Cahill & Kewell).\nI think Australia will be underestimated, but the last time they played Brazil (2001) they won 1-0!\nSquad is Schwarzer & Viduka (M'boro), Kalac (AC Milan), Neil & Emerton (Blackburn), Moor (Newcastle), Popovic (C' Palace), Chipperfield & Sterjovski (FC Basil), Cahill (Everton), Culina & Thompson (Eindhoven), Skoko (Wigan), Lazaridis (B'Ham City), Grella & Bresciano (Parma), Wilkshire (Bristol City), Kewell (Liverpool), Aloisi (Alaves) + a couple of youngsters from the A-League.\nI think they will come second, where they will meet Italy in the second round, and give them a run for it, but not quite be good enough for the Azzurri.....
1082443
I think it'll come down to Brazil and Argentina.  Brazil will probably take it all.  I'd like to see England win and I don't think Germany's homefield advantage will help them out, but if they can beat Argentina then they stand a good chance of making the finals.  Germany's best chance at winning would be if Portugal or France can pull off an upset.
1071547
italy, they have the power and skill, they just need to work as a team, if they do that then no one, except maybe brazil, could stop them
377360
Ghana.  Just kidding!!\nUm, Germany is a great choice b/c of last Cup's performance, and b/c they're hosting (home team advantage, national pride, etc...), but they've been criticized for having a week defense lately.\nSo, I would like to see either England or the Netherlands in the final with Brazil, just for a change..  Also, it's always nice to see (a different, non-German) Western European style v. South American style.
19194
I think there a several teams who could win it.  I'd love to see the US win, of course.  Brazil is the usual favorite.  I think England and Argentina both have a good chance.  Germany on their home turf will be difficult to beat.  And Netherlands will be tough.  If I had to pick one, I guess I'd go with the safe choice: Brazil.
388389
sigh well i believe that germany, brazil, england, france, italy, and korea all have a chance. Brazil has world class players and is probably the team i expect to win. However, Germany has home field advantage so they have an edge. France and Italy always finish very well (well except for france the last world cup...). England has a new and dangerous style of playing with the tall peter crouch and wawyne Rooney. Korea has got a sercret weapon, J.s. Park, which might break out and be amazing and win.
388362
i think it would be HOLLAND or ENGLAND to win the world cup this time around.They have waited this long and i do think they have a great team of both experienced players and a mix of young and full of energy players to snatch this cup from the early favorites such as BRAZIL,GERMANY,ITALY,ARGENTINA,FRANCE.
1103099
Germany for sure. After their huge win today over Argentina and being the host nation...I'd say they are on a pretty good roll. Right now I'd pick them to take Brazil in the finals....but that's just my opinion.
1177249
Brazil seem the best bet while England is looking good this time especially if Rooney can play. Argentina and Germany need to be more consistent while Spain and Italy have to live up to their expectations. Netherlands, provided they can qualify from the group, also look strong in their attack.
1084233
Brazil or Germany.\nBrazil cause they - all the stars - are really hungry for it.\nGermany cause as a host they have an advantage over other teams. And they have really good young players - Podolski and Klose are absolutely amazing.
1137796
Portugal\nEngland is not that good\nheres a different way to look at it from whats been mentioned\nargentina was the second world cup favorite, before their game against mexico in the round of 16, very exciting game, and argentina almost lost.  and portugal kicked butt against mexico.\nalthough they won't have deco, i think they'll do fine, they did fine after deco left, not allowing holland to score.  and holland also tied w/ argentina awhile back.  it was 0-0 but still. \nGO PORTUGAL!!!!! \nYOUR GOIN DOWN ENGLAND!!!
437889
my pick will be ARGENTINA, BUT ALL IS POSSIBLE. Brazil, England are strong teams, but is time for the cup to return to  south America.....:) OH SORRY IT IS IN SOUTH AMERICA HAHAHAHA JUST LITTLE HUMOR..
577202
france, they have a very skillful team this year with players like Henry, Veira, Cisse, Reyes, Pires, Makelele, Trezeguet, Zidane They have many great players. Also, they have an easy bracket in the group stages, so are almost guarantied to make it out of the group stages. Also, they will be looking to avenge the winless and goalless 2002 world cup. Lastly, it's easy to say brazil or england will win, but change it up a little, at least say some others teams have a remote chance of winning. Don't just hop on the bandwagon and say brazil or england.
479566
Either Germany (Home advantage),Portugal (just watch them I believe this could be their year) or Brazil (as they are a class above all the rest).Argentina are a spent force and will go home early again.England are lacking any passion and with Mclarren being touted as the next manager will continue being underachievers for the foreseeable future.They need either Pearce or Ian Wrights passion as leaders to go all the way and the English FA are still as spineless now as they were when they turned down Brian Clough.I dont think an African country will lift the world cup in my lifetime or my sons.They may have passion but lack the technical ability and infastructure to mount a serious threat.
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).
45183
If I had to pick a team out of this group to win, or at least go furthest, I'd pick Germany.  Here's how I rate all these teams' chances.\n\nGermany: Were runners up at last world cup in Korea/Japan.  Not as strong as legendary West (or unified) Germany teams of the past, but will benefit from being hosts.  Need more inspired performances from captain Michael Ballack.\n\nFrance: Another footballing power temporarily underperforming.  Not as dominant as the team from 1998 to 2000.  Zidane's influence is on the wane.  Henry and Trezeguet don't seem to reproduce club form on international stage.\n\nItaly: Have not actually watched Italy live for a while but somehow the same stars seem to be in the squad every time I check.  Euro 2004 and World Cup 2002 were a bit of a disappointment for them.  Seemingly no new young star around to energize.\n\nSpain: Best wishes to the Spanish supporters who have posted.  However, if any team needs to shake the tag of "perennial underachievers", it's them.  Raul, their talisman, is currently injured.  Morientes and Mendieta, among the stars of the 2002 campaign, are blowing hot and cold in England.  Torres to step up?\n\nEngland: Wayne Rooney should carry them pretty far but a part of me says they'll be up a goal in the second half of a knock-out stage match and the manager (Eriksson) will play his usual death-knell move and bring on Phil Neville, Owen Hargreaves, and Kieron Dyer (middling midfielders), leading to a reversal.\n\nUS: I believe they drew a tough group.  Then again, they upset Portugal at the last world cup.  Much depends on whether the core of talents like Donovan, Beasley and McBride can carry them again.
1117470
Argentina, Portugal, or Ukraine.\n\nAll the other teams that are left have much more world recognition and respect... as well as socio-economic stability.  Let's face it.  Winning the World Cup is good for an entire nation's politics, economy, and self-respect.  For those reasons, I want Argentina, Portugal, or Ukraine to win.\n\nI would've added Brazil, but they've already reaped those benefits.