It's Here!

Fans in funny hats and painted body parts. Hooligans! Drunken and horny tourists. Oh yeah, and a lot of footy. It's here!

How are bookies like no one else in the world? Answer here. DeFoe is gone. Ballack is back. Rooney may be. Steven's is sore. Ronaldo's big-boned? Deco's down?

I filled out my WC brackets last night. Who will take the pitch for the finals? If you believe me (and there is absolutely no reason you should), it'll be Brazil vs. the Czech Republic (#1 vs. #2), with Brazil a 3-1 winner. I'm really torn on this prediction. I have a feeling that Brazil's backline is an Achilles heel that Koller, Nedved and Baros can crack. But, I'm rooting for Brazil, so heart wins out over head.

But that's soccer. What's the biggest match-up in this tournament? England v. Sweden? Brazil v. Argentina? Togo v. South Korea? All irrelevant. The real competition is much meaner, much more important. Money is at stake. Market share is at stake. These boys are playing for keeps.