WORLD CUP: Group F Preview

Brazil's resources are unmatched

BRAZIL
Odds: 9-4 (1/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 1 (1/32). Previous appearances: 17.
Podium finishes: 1st (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002), 2nd (1950, 1998), 3rd (1938, 1978).

Not many coaches would set their starting lineup for a World Cup opener weeks in advance, but few coaches have the resources of Carlos Alberto Parreira.
Parreira has named his XI for BrazilÆs opening match against Croatia June 13 in Berlin, and it includes Ronaldo, whose inconsistent form this past season has some observers wondering if his World Cup glories are long gone at age 29. HeÆs also been linked to the New York Red Bulls and the list of international stars whoÆve netted millions in Qatar.? But the Ronaldo of Real Madrid or any other club team is not the same as the Ronaldo who plays for Brazil. The change of shirts changes everything.
ôIt was a great honor for me to have the most goals at the last World Cup,ö he said of the eight registered in the 2002 tournament. ôAnd we accomplished our goal. It is like this at every World Cup. The Brazilian people expect us to win. It is the same at Real, of course, and we have many great players, but the players at Real come from many countries. That makes a difference.ö
Any team ù even one featuring the brilliance of Ronaldinho, the craftiness of Kaka, the elegance of Cafu ù can be beaten on a given day. But it will take a most determined and inventive opponent, as well as a most quirky day, to topple Brazil.
''How do I think Brazil will do in Germany? I'm convinced we'll win our sixth title,'' said Mario Zagallo, a veteran of the 1958 and 1962 championship teams, head coach in 1970 when Brazil won its third title and 1998 when Brazil finished second to host France and Parreira's asssistant in 2006.
The Æ58 World Cup, in Sweden, is the only one captured by a South American nation in Europe.

JAPAN
Odds: 150-1 (t22/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 18 (13/32).
Previous appearances: 2. Podium finishes: -.

Japan, coached by Brazilian legend Zico and playing in its third consecutive World Cup after decades in the wilderness, seems to be a cut below its group foes, but it does have speed and an unquenchable work rate.
?Midfielder Hidetoski Nakata is a veteran of nine seasons with European clubs, and captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto is a reliable defender, but Shinji Ono couldnÆt find regular playing time in Europe while battling injuries and has returned to Japan.
The teamÆs fortunes received a boost just before it departed for Germany. Atsushi Yanagisawa has recovered from a broken metatarsal and Zico might opt to pair him with Naohiro Takahara, who plays in Germany for Hamburg, in a 3-5-2 formation for the Group F opener against Australia June 12.
ôThat's the idea for Australia but we may have to change things in the case of injuries or any other unforeseen problems,ö Zico said. ''We're prepared for any scenario.''

AUSTRALIA
Odds: 125-1 (t20/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 42 (26/32).
Previous appearances: 1. Podium finishes: -.

The ethnic ties binding Australia and Croatia are such that seven Aussies and three Croatians hail from AustraliaÆs large Croatian community.?AustraliaÆs Dutch coach, Guus Hiddink, led South Korea to the semifinals four years ago. Last winter, while coaching PSV Eindhoven, he guided Australia past Uruguay in a two-game playoff to its first World Cup since 1974.
Says Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka, one of those Socceroos with Croatian roots, of Hiddink, ôWhen it comes to man-management, IÆve never dealt with a person who has the type of ability to be able to get every single player, even those on the bench, to be 100 percent willing to go out and die for the team.ö
Viduka leads a nucleus of English Premier League players at HiddinkÆs disposal. The Socceroos set off for Germany still soaring from amazing scenes at their final warm-up match.
A crowd of more than 95,000, many wearing the national colors of gold and green, flowed into the Melbourne Cricket Ground to see Australia beat Greece, 1-0, on a spectacular strike by Josip Skoko.
Harry Kewell missed the match to receive treatment for a groin injury he suffered playing for Liverpool in the FA Cup final.

CROATIA
Odds: 50-1 (13/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 23 (17/32).
Previous appearances: 2. Podium finishes: 3rd (1998).

Croatia, surprise semifinalist in 1998, is led the potent duo of Ivan Klasnic and Dado Prso up front. Many of their chances come from the crossing of Darijo Srna and Marko Babic. The back line is led by Robert Kovac, whose brother Niko Kovac often lines up in midfield with another Niko, Kranjcar, the son of coach Zlatko Kranjcar.
Croatia rolled through qualifying unbeaten, scoring 21 goals and conceding just five with a 3-4-1-2 system Kranjcar Sr. implemented in the absence of Æ98 stars Robert Prosinecki and Davor Suker.
Odds are Ladbrokes odds as of May 30.
FIFA/Coca Cola rankings are as of May 17.