Okay, as I'm sure most of the world knows, the World Cup is coming soon. So here's a thread for all discussion. Talk about who you will support, who you think will win, who will be the shocks of the tournament. Who will flop? Which players will earn a reputation for themselves, and which ones will be forgotten forever?

When the matches start in a couple of weeks or so, they can be discussed too.

Group A:
Germany/ Costa Rica/ Poland/ Ecuador

Group B:
England / Paraguay / Trinidad and Tobago / Sweden

Group C:
Argentina / Côte d'Ivoire / Serbia and Montenegro / Netherlands

Group D:
Mexico / Iran / Angola / Portugal

Group E:
Italy / Ghana / USA / Czech Republic

Group F:
Brazil / Croatia / Australia / Japan

Group G:
France / Switzerland / Korea Republic / Togo

Group H:
Spain / Ukraine / Tunisia / Saudi Arabia

And now, onto the Fantasy Football section.

Even if you have no idea what you're doing, join up and pick people because you like their name. Go on, it'll be a laugh.

http://en.fifaworldcup.fantasysports.yahoo.com/

I decided we may as well use the official one. Note that you have to pick a squad of 23 players, and then choose which ones you want to play in each match. It sounds good to me!

League ID: 17877
Password: bladen
(in lower case, just as it is written here)

Good luck...if anybody can be bothered to join (you don't want me to win by default, do you? )

Anyway, it is my personal belief that Italy shall win. They've been extremely impressive and efficient in warm up friendlies against big sides, and they have a lot of quality in Gillardino, Totti, Toni, Inzaghi, De Rossi, Pirlo, Camoranesi, Iaquinta and Gattuso among others.

That and Rooney's crocked, so y'know.