Italy has not improved tactically since winning in 1982, and despite its impetuously talented players and a well-organized defense, it will be beaten in a bad-tempered game at some point in the later stages -- as usual.
Other candidates in the frame of possible dark-horse contenders are Portugal, the "Black Stars" of Ghana, Argentina and possibly Ivory Coast.
Portugal has the lively Cristiano Ronaldo, Pauleta and Luis Figo. More importantly, it has Brazil's Luiz Felipe Scolari as coach, so it should be no surprise if Portugal upsets the form book and takes a few big-name scalps at this tournament.
It reached the 2004 European Championship final, so anything is possible.
Keep an eye on the African teams; it will be the turn of South Africa to host the next World Cup in 2010.
Chelsea's Didier Drogba leads Ivory Coast, while the highly regarded Michael Essien and Samuel Kuffour will turn on the style for Ghana.
Argentina, despite skillful players in all positions, does not have the right stuff to make it through the knockout stages.
As for the rest, it would take a miracle for outfits like Australia, Saudi Arabia, Angola, Japan and the rest to upset the form book and do better than cause a few upsets. The game at this level is too competitive and professional for such teams to go all the way.
Four years ago when I covered the World Cup in South Korea and Japan I predicted that England would win the next one.
If Brazil does take a tumble, I still think the "Three Lions" could be the team to raise the cup come July 9. It certainly would be a story-book ending if England did win on German soil.
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