We asked MLS coaches to look into their crystal balls. They predict a Brazil victory and a big tournament from Ronaldo. Their big issue is how referees will call new rule changes.
'Foolish to bet against Brazil'
Tom Fitzgerald (Columbus)
Champion – Brazil. Runner-up – Italy. Third-place – Germany. Fourth-place – France. MVP – Ronaldo (Brazil). Top goalscorer – Ronaldo (Brazil).
''Man, I'd be foolish to bet against Brazil. They have the most talented players available for this and they've done well without them in the warmup games. This'll be great, tremendous. France will be a good host and everyone will enjoy the tournament. It will be interesting to see how referees react to the tackling mandate. I hope players are given the opportunity to play the game, but there's the risk that some big players will miss a few games. But like MLS, the much harder fouls will be clamped down on.''
Bruce Arena (D.C. United)
Champion – Germany. Runner-up – Argentina. Third-place – Brazil. Fourth-place – Spain. MVP – Ronaldo (Brazil). Top goalscorer – Ronaldo (Brazil).
''I think there will be an unusual number of red cards because of the interpretation of the rule on tackles from behind. Regardless of whether or not the USA advances, they will show well. France, as a team, will not handle well the pressure of playing at home. And there will be a lot of goals scored – it could be one of the highest-ever tournaments in terms of scoring.''
Alfonso Mondelo (MetroStars)
Champion – Spain. Runner-up – Argentina. Third-place – Italy. Fourth-place – Brazil. MVP – Ronaldo (Brazil). Top goalscorer – Ronaldo (Brazil).
''I think this World Cup will be one of the better ones we will see. There are plenty of evenly matched teams playing in France this summer. With 32 teams, there is no doubt the winner will be the best in the world. I also think the teams, not the players, will shine in this World Cup because the quality is so good.''
'Spotlight on youth'
Cacho Cordoba (Miami)
Champion – From among Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Spain.
''We're going to see more than 10 young players in the World Cup that are going to be very interesting to watch. Raul of Spain, Daniel Ortega and Claudio Lopez from Argentina, Ronaldo [Brazil], Patrick Kluivert [Netherlands], Edgar Davids [Netherlands] and Zinedine Zidane [France] can all do well.''
Thomas Rongen (New England)
Champion – Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Italy are in the first tier of teams. I have to pick Germany historically, but Germany might struggle. Second-tier teams: France, Holland. Darkhorse teams: Nigeria, U.S. MVP – Ronaldo (Brazil). Top goalscorer – Ronaldo (Brazil)
''We could really turn the corner here. '94 was a good example of the game changing toward the positive, the Fair Play mode. '90 was obviously somewhat of a disappointment. '94 was a pretty attractive World Cup. The foul from behind, the referees could impact this World Cup incredibly. If in fact red cards fly early on that could bode well for attractive teams like Brazil and Holland, who could benefit from that.''
John Kowalski (Tampa Bay)
Champion – Netherlands. Runner-up – Nigeria. Third-place – Brazil. Fourth-place – Germany. MVP – Marc Overmars (Netherlands). Top goalscorer – Ronaldo (Brazil).
''I think the U.S. has a good chance to advance into the final eight. I wish them good luck. Hopefully, they'll get on a roll early.''
'Iran can be tough'
Bob Bradley (Chicago)
Champion – France. Runner-up – Argentina. Third-place – Spain. Fourth-place – Brazil. MVP – Zinedine Zidane (France). Top goalscorer – Raul (Spain).
''It will be tough for [the U.S.] to get out of the first round, they are in a very tough group with Germany and Yugoslavia. Iran can be a tough team as well.''
Glenn Myernick (Colorado)
Champion – Brazil. Runner-up – France. Third-place – Netherlands. Fourth-place – Argentina. MVP – Youri Djorkaeff (France). Top goalscorer – Romario (Brazil).
''I see the U.S. getting out of Group F and advancing to the second round would probably present a matchup with Holland, which would be a mighty task. A matchup against Mexico in the second round would be ideal, and would give the USA a great chance of bettering their performance in 1994 and moving into the third round.''
David Dir (Dallas)
Champion – Argentina. Runner-up – Italy. Third-place – Brazil. Fourth-place – Nigeria. MVP – Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina). Top goalscorer – Raul (Spain).
''The United States will surprise Germany and make it to the second round with Cobi Jones making a big impact and many of the old reliables struggling with injuries. Jamaica will be much like Cameroon in '90, but Nigeria will be the surprise of the tournament with Bora [Milutinovic] coaching a crushing defense.''
'Watch the diving'
Ron Newman (Kansas City)
Champion – Brazil. Runner-up – Netherlands. Third-place – England. Fourth-place – Spain. MVP – Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina). Top goalscorer – Ronaldo (Brazil).
''With the tackle from behind rule, if you want to pay attention to the tackling, watch the diving. You're going to be seeing more diving, ketchup bottles coming out, players trying to make referees believe they've been fouled. They're trying to improve one thing and killing the other, with the diving.''
Octavio Zambrano (Los Angeles)
Champion – Brazil. Runner-up – France. Third-place – Argentina. Fourth-place – Germany. MVP – Ronaldo (Brazil). Top goalscorer – Ronaldo (Brazil).
''I would like to see Ronaldinho really come through, because for a player to truly be considered among the greats, he must exhibit his talents during a World Cup. I believe Ronaldo can do it and I hope this World Cup is for Ronaldo what past World Cups were for Franz Beckenbauer, Pele, Johan Cruyff and [Diego] Maradona.''
Brian Quinn (San Jose)
Champion – Netherlands. Runner-up – Spain. Third-place – Brazil. Fourth-place – Argentina. MVP – Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands). Top goalscorer – Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina).
''I believe the U.S. team will have the opportunity to advance, come Game 3 vs. Yugoslavia. As always, they will meet the challenge. I also feel that this is the most mature and sophisticated team we have ever produced, i.e., it will be aware of all the little nuances involved and will not be surprised or get rattled by unforeseen events. Bon voyage, you lucky 22!''
(Interviews by Soccer America associate editor Dean Caparaz.)