The favourites are going through to the second stage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and to most that is no surprise. But the real surprise of the tournament has been how the minnows have shaped up against the big names like Brazil, Germany, England, Argentina, France and Netherlands. Many expected teams like Trinidad and Tobago, Ivory Coast, Australia, Ecuador and Iran to turn up, gain experience, make up the numbers and go home. But there is a small deviation from that script.

Ecuador has qualified for the second stage already and that too with a game in hand. They roared past more fancied Poland with ease. But they really came into their own against Costa Rica. Australia, playing against higher ranked and more experienced opponents Japan, managed an upset. And a big one at that! Their 3-1 win was certainly one of the matches of the tournaments.

If at any point you thought that matches between the ‘lesser’ teams would be well, avoidable, think again. One of the best matches to have been played in this tournament yet was the Tunisia v Saudi Arabia match. Fast, skilled, aggressive and lots of goals. What else would you expect on the world’s biggest footballing stage? That itself is proof that these teams have come of age and are capable of playing the best.

Another team that has caught the eye is Cote d’Ivoire. Didier Drogba is perhaps their most famous export and having played for Chelsea as one of their main strikers he certainly knew what to expect in Germany. And how well he has passed this information on to his inexperienced team-mates.

Of all this, though, the most striking fact is that almost none of these countries have a domestic league that is half as good as any of the professional setups in Europe. But almost all nations have at least one player who is doing well in one of the European leagues. Unfortunately for these teams, their overall lack of experience is what will see their exit in the first round. But this is not the last you would have heard of them.

The second round line-up is fairly certain already with Ecuador, Germany, England, Sweden, Argentina and Netherlands having already made it through. One also does not see too much problem that Mexico, Portugal (Group D), Czech  Republic, Italy (Group E), Brazil (Group F) and Spain (Group H) would face in going through.

The real tough groups, as it has turned out, are F and G. Brazil belong to Group F and they are not realistically expected to lose any of their three matches. But Australia have already sprung a surprise while Croatia have lost to Brazil. Assuming everyone in this group loses their matches to Brazil, it leaves two matches each that they have to win to go through. Australia have already won one while Japan have lost one of these. Unless Japan can beat Brazil and Croatia, they are out. Croatia, on the other hand, could overcome Japan and that effectively brings this group down to the Australia v Croatia match on June 22. A sumptuous match surely.

Group G has turned out to be a real humdinger as well. France being held to a draw by Switzerland has perhaps improved their chances of progressing further but Korea’s win has emphasized the fact that they are not going to roll over and play dead either. And when it comes to France, my money stays firmly in my pocket looking at the way they played their first match and the fact they have not scored at the World Cup finals since 1998.

Based on what we have seen so far, it would be foolish to pick who would go all the way. The english are showing signs of improvement every time they take to the field and now they also have the inspirational Wayne Rooney available. Brazil looked rusty in their first game, but they always come around. The Dutch are looking good as are Argentina. It’s anybody’s World Cup at this moment. Just to make a prediction, I would say England. Can they do it this time?

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