Men's Journal

Just getting up to speed — or putting some serious money down? Here’s what you need to know.

By John McLaughlin

What to Watch For

Standout Duels

We’re used to focusing on one star player, but some specific duels will determine the outcome here: Holland’s on-fire Wesley Sneijder against Cameroon’s Alexandre Song, Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba versus Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar, and France’s elusive Franck Ribery against Mexico’s Carlos Salcido.

Scam Artists

Soccer players are sophisticated cons when it comes to penalty-seeking, time-killing theatrical dives. Watch for players who trail a leg as a tackler slides in. And unless they’ve been shot (or play for Holland and are named Arjen Robben), nobody throws their arms up and their head back as they fall.

Blind Refs

Players will sniff out a bad ref early, and it can lead to mayhem. Swedish ref Martin Hansson, who somehow missed the double handball by France’s Thierry Henry that knocked Ireland out of contention late in Cup qualifying rounds, has been slated to call the Cup. Woe be to the teams that draw him.

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Must-See Matchups

Three early international games — plus a dream pairing.

The U.S. has never been more threatening. Fresh from beating Spain, and having already scared the bejesus out of Brazil in last year’s Confederations Cup, the team’s core of Europe-based players, led by Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan (who performed so well in a brief spell at England’s Everton that they didn’t want to give him back), could upset. David Beckham’s torn Achilles will keep him out, but England is on the rise and, if Wayne Rooney can stay fit, could go far.

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The tournament’s two most dysfunctional — and dynamic — teams: Nigeria’s ragtag collection of fading stars, now under new coach Lars Lagerback, against Argentina’s assortment of jittery but talented strangers. Both teams are ready for the psychiatrist’s couch: not a game for the faint of heart.

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A potentially titanic clash: On paper, Ivory Coast is Africa’s best team, but they have yet to show it on the field. And while Brazil may be a wonderful combination of skill and steel, they’re also in the toughest qualifying bracket, the so-called Group of Death, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. They can’t afford to lose this.

Spain should cruise through a weak qualifying-round bracket, but all that will change suddenly if Brazil blunders and qualifies only in second place in their preliminary-round group. In that case, the dream final will occur in the first knockout round: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xavi, Iniesta, and Torres of Spain facing off against Brazil’s Lucio, Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo, Kaka, and Luis Fabiano. A nightmare for ——————————————————–them, magic for us.

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The Favorites — And a Wild Card

Brazil

More than any mere collection of great players, it’s good managers that win the World Cup. Brazil (at 5–1 odds) is helmed by Dunga, a classic drill sergeant who dispensed with the playboys that doomed his country’s last Cup run and has given the team a spine — and a defense — to complement their flair.

Spain

Vicente del Bosque, the coach of Spain (priced at 4–1), is so low-key that he was fired by top Spanish club Real Madrid for lacking celebrity sparkle despite his huge success. He’s assembled world-class players in every position, and his team’s intricate passing game is a joy to behold.

Argentina

The real wild card is Argentina (priced, a little optimistically, at 8–1), which is managed, for reasons only his mother can understand, by Diego Maradona. Only outrageous luck got them through qualifying; in South Africa, though, Argentina could go all the way. They could also be on the first plane home.

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This article originally appeared in the June/July 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.