Fred de Jong: Will it be Brazil, as the gamblers expect?

From first timers Trinidad and Tobago to the ever present Brazil. From lowly Montserrat to the mighty hosts Deutschland. For football followers and fanatics the world over, the wait is over.

So what can we expect in the coming month?

Will it be more of the same from the World Cup? A repeat of Korea/Japan in 2002? I don't think so.

There will be fewer upsets. Don't expect to see the likes of Korea in the semifinals this time.

The major powers will not be as complacent as four years ago, thinking they can play themselves into form through the first round and then get serious in the knockout phase.

The likes of France, Argentina and Portugal, all first-round departures in 2002, will be ready from the kick-off.

Expect the players to be better rested and sharper this time around. Fifa and Uefa have worked to get a decent break for players between the end of their domestic seasons and the start of the tournament.

Fans deserve to see the best players at their best at the World Cup.

The refereeing should be much improved. The shaven, wild-eyed Pierluigi Collina may have retired, which is a loss; however, Fifa has recognised the need to have the best players refereed by the best officials - much to the relief of the Spaniards and Italians, who were sent packing four years ago by some atrocious decisions.

Expect the European nations to do very well. The only non-European side to win in Europe has been Brazil with the greatPele at the 1958 World Cup hosted by Sweden.

Don't be surprised to see two or three European semifinalists. And expect it all to be run with a ruthless efficiency that epitomises the German people and their football team.

If the experts and the gamblers are to be believed, this World Cup will be like a one-lane road with the Brazilians driving an 18-wheel truck and the rest of the competition on push bikes. A win to the samba kings inevitable.

I am not so sure. Yes, the Brazilians have more attacking options than a ninja. We have seen Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano, Kaka tormenting defences all season in the Spanish La Liga, the Italian Serie A and again last week against our own All Whites. Add to that the deep runs from Roberto Carlos and Cafu and you have a mouth-watering recipe for any lover of the beautiful game.

But it is this last point that holds hope for Brazil's opponents.

With Carlos and Cafu looking to rampage up and down the sidelines, opponents have the chance to catch out Brazil with well-executed counter-attacks. Brazil's centre back pairing of Lucio and Juan can be left exposed by the antics of their wide defencemen.

And with Dida in goal, renowned for his blunders as well as his fabulous saves, Brazil may not be as sure a bet as many believe.

They will top their group but with a probable last-16 match against either Italy or the Czech Republic, I sense a real upset in the making.

It has the same feel as 1982 when one of the best Brazilian teams ever went out in the second round to a hat-trick from Italian Paulo Rossi because it was not in their nature to defend.

* Fred de Jong is a former All White