Every four years, nations will put their best
players together for International competition, with the ultimate soccer trophy
on the line: The World Cup.
The World Cup is normally a two-year process with
nations playing within their geographical regions to qualify for the month-long
soccer-orgy that is the World Cup.
In the 2002 World Cup, a soccer-loving globe was
nearly faced with a South Korea-United States finale. Such is the growth of
soccer in Asia, where Japan, China and South Korea have all made significant
strides on the international front. Africa has slowly been gaining
internationally for the past decade, as Cameroon, Nigeria, Turkey and Senegal
have all been imposing figures.
While the individual leagues of Europe outdistance those of
South America on average (Argentina may beg to differ), there can be no
argument that the best national team in the world is from South America’s
biggest country – Brazil. Fielding a team with the aforementioned Ronaldo and
Roberto Carlos, as well as Ronaldinho, Cafu, Kaka and Gilberto Silva, the
nation that has won a record five World Cups doesn’t rebuild as much as it
reloads.
Brazil
will try to make it six titles in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Having lost
2-0 in the 2002 World Cup Final to Brazil, Germany will look to add its fourth
title on its homeland.
Of
American fans have been happily surprised in recent years, as the national
team, lead by Donovan and Beasley has steadily become a force to be recognized
on the world stage. The 2002 U.S. team advanced to the quarterfinals of the
World Cup, earning victories over Portugal and Mexico.
With
the rise in play throughout the world, however, and the continued prominence of
nations like France, Italy, Spain and Argentina, the 2006 World Cup looks to be
the apex of what has been a great run for the world’s most popular game.