World Cup Preview: We are the World

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n the Group of Death any team could play solidly and still lose three games. Sven-Göran Eriksson has England playing exceedingly well, including its historic 5-1 shellacking of Germany in qualifying. But England has a problem. Beyond Beckham and speed merchant Michael Owen, the team lacks world-class talent. Sweden, meanwhile, could be out of luck. It's a low-wattage squad that coach Tommy Soderberg says will rely on teamwork and spirit. "In Sweden we want a team that can work without a hierarchy, a team that is based on the dialogue between the players." This is easier when half your team is named Andersson (Daniel, Patrik, Andreas) or Svensson (Anders, Magnus, Michael).

What ever happened to Africa? Weren't African teams set to challenge for supremacy after their breakout performances in 1990 and 1994? Nigeria showed a whiff of promise in dismissing Spain in 1998 but stumbled in the second round. This year the Nigerians are in worse shape. The team was torn by internal dissent that plagued their African Nations Cup performance. And, in a country that seems to suffer one political or social trauma after another, last week the team had to cope with the death of Sports Minister Ishaya Mark Aku in a plane crash. Despite the likes of Arsenal's Nwankowo Kanu and Chelsea's Celestine Babayaro, the Super Eagles also look poised to crash. Still, no one can chance taking this team lightly: should Argentina choose to play rough when the two meet on June 2, it could well regret it. The stretcher bearers should be at the ready.

The class of the African teams will be Senegal, playing in Group A with France, Uruguay and Denmark. The Senegalese are Africa's new lions, having beaten Algeria, Morocco and Egypt to reach the Orient. France is likely to lead the group, meaning Senegal would need to oust Uruguay and Denmark. The Danes play the most spirited football in Scandinavia (O.K., so that's not saying much). It's not enough to win, says assistant manager Michael Laudrup: "The other goal is to play an attractive style of football that will entertain fans around the world."

That used to be Brazil's job, until the team went wacko. First it was just Ronaldo, whose breakdown/seizure/panic attack before the '98 final has never been explained. In its torturous qualifying round, Brazil lacked magic, and the local media have been merciless. Brazilian coach "Big Phil" Scolari was mobbed after neglecting to name onetime hero Romario to the squad. Scolari, who took over 11 months ago when Brazil was in danger of not qualifying, knows that anything short of a fifth world title will be dubbed a failure. "If I don't win," he said, "I'm dead meat."

This may be the most vulnerable Brazilian team in years. The health of Rivaldo, Barcelona's midfielder, is suspect. And Ronaldo, who returned to the lineup in just the past few weeks, has yet to impress. Ronaldinho and Emerson cannot guarantee ball possession, and Roberto Carlos treats his left back position as a forwarding address. Then again, this is Brazil we're talking about, and the team is in one of the Cup's weakest groups. Its opponents?Turkey, China and Costa Rica?pose little danger. China is here on a pass?it didn't have to play South Korea or Japan to qualify. If China possesses a secret weapon it's enigmatic coach Bora Milutinovic, who in the past has helped to qualify Costa Rica, Mexico, Nigeria and the U.S. for the finals.

There's little doubt that Italy should cruise into the second round, but with the Italians there's always a chance for dramatics. Playing in Group G against Ecuador, Croatia and Mexico, Italy's attack will feature Christian Vieri, "il Mostro," Inter's 1.93-m giant. Roma's fabulous Francesco Totti, the linchpin of the team, will play behind the front runners?that is, when he isn't driving defenses crazy by himself. The Italian defense will again be superb, providing a combination lock of skill and experience that will be hard to pick. If there's any weakness it's in the four-man midfield, where imagination is sadly lacking.

That shouldn't be a problem in the first round. Croatia, whose technique and style lit up France '98, is an aging team, and it has already lost one star in Igor Tudor. But even Croatia's second best should be enough to topple Mexico and tourist-class Ecuador, ensuring that it advances along with Italy.