By Mike Woitalla
Executive Editor
Soccer America
GERMANY
Odds: 7-1 (t2/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 19th (13/32).
Previous appearances: 15
Podium finishes: 1st in 1954, 1974, 1990; 2nd in 1966, 1982, 1986, 2002; 3rd in 1934, 1970.
The last time Germany brought such a modest selection of talent to a World Cup was four years ago — and it finished runner-up.
So don't pay too much attention to the more than 90 percent of Germans who have written off the host's chances of winning the World Cup. Germany may have only one world-class field player, Michael Ballack, but it's got a home-field advantage, youngsters with potential, easy first-round group, and a history of improving during the course of a tournament. (It has reached the final a record seven times, winning thrice.)
When Coach Juergen Klinsmann took over two years ago, he lamented the Germans' lack of speed and their inclination to play sideways rather than forward.
His team would rush into the attack, move its backline forward, and trap the opponent in its territory. That system has brought plenty of goals — 15 in five games at last year's Confederation Cup — and a frontline of Miroslav Klose, 28, and Lukas Podolski, 21, has the potential to be one of the tournament's most potent.
But Klinsmann's young defense has struggled — e.g. a 4-1 loss to Italy in March — so he re-called Jens Nowotny, 32. Attack-minded left back Philipp Lahm, 22, is a strong dribbler and Klinsmann added more speed with right winger David Odonkor, 22, who runs the 100-meter dash in under 11 seconds.
Should he shake off his inconsistency, midfielder Bernd Schweinsteiger, 22, will create a threatening tandem with Ballack.
POLAND
Odds: 100-1 (t17/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 29 (t19/32).
Previous appearances: 6.
Podium finishes: 3rd in 1974, 1982.
Klose and Podolski were both born in Poland, which Coach Pawel Janas quickly pointed out after the draw. The highest scoring Pole who wears red and white is Maciej Zurawski of Glasgow Celtic, who pairs up with Borussia Dortmund's Ebi Smolarek.
Since their qualifying campaign, the Poles have been woeful, losing 1-0 to Lithuania and 2-1 to Colombia. Janas may be regretting his omission of veteran keeper Jerzy Dudek; keeper Tomasz Kuszczak was beaten by a punt from Colombian goalkeeper Luis Enrique Martinez.
ECUADOR
Odds: 125-1 (t21/32). FIFA Ranking: 39 (25/32).
Previous appearances: 1.
Podium finishes: none.
Ecusdor's wins over Brazil and Argentina have been dismissed because they came at 9,000 feet above sea level in Quito, but on the road they lost just 1-0 to each of those World Cup powers.
Central defenders Ivan Hurtado, who has played in a South American record 57 World Cup qualifiers, and Geovanny Espinoza back up defensive midfielders Marlon Ayovi and Edwin Tenorio. All four are veterans of Ecuador's first World Cup — in 2002 when it lost to Mexico and Italy but beat Croatia.
Much of the attack comes from right back Ulises De la Cruz, whose crosses seek out Agustin Delgado and Ivan Kaviedes. Midfielder Edison Mendez provides the unpredictable.
COSTA RICA
Odds: 350-1 (28/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 26 (18/32).
Previous appearances: 2.
Podium finishes: none.
Costa Rica didn't reach the second round at the 2002 World Cup, but like quarterfinalist USA, the Ticos earned four points with a 5-6 goal differential at the last World Cup. And Costa Rica, in a 5-2 loss, was the only team to score twice against eventual champ Brazil, which conceded just four goals in the entire tournament.
The Ticos were also one of the tournament's most entertaining teams. Coach Alexandre Guimaraes promises a more sophisticated defense and calls the opener against host Germany as a ''priceless'' opportunity to upset. The two teams have never met at the full national team level, but Costa Rica beat Germany at the U-20 World Youth Championships in 1995 and 1999.
All-time leading scorer Paulo Wanchope leads the offense with Alvaro Saborio, a strong header who scored 100 goals in five Costa Rican league seasons.
Dangerous wide in the midfield is globetrotting Ronald Gomez, who has played in fives foreign leagues. He scored twice at the last World Cup. Besides Gomez, nicknamed the ''Bullet'' because of his fierce left-footed shot, the Ticos threaten from long range through right midfielder Carlos ''Bazooka'' Hernandez.
Manning the central midfield are 2002 veterans Mauricio Solis and playmaker Walter Centeno. Italy-based Gilberto Martinez anchors the defense that includes Real Salt Lake's Douglas Sequeira.