The world (but not US) is ready for some football

Argentina is a sentimental favorite because of its political and economic hardships at home. Other contenders are Portugal, a young and talented team, and Brazil, whose national soccer organization has been troubled by corruption – but whose team still has the "Three R" attack of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho.

How far can the US go?

The US, ranked 13th by FIFA, landed in one of the weakest groups in the tournament, with Portugal, Poland, and South Korea, and therefore has a good chance of advancing. The US team is not expected to beat Portugal, but it should be able to handle Poland and South Korea – even though the latter will have a home-field advantage.

If the US does make it to the round of 16, it will have to play inspired soccer to advance any farther, especially considering a likely matchup with Italy. For the US, anything would be better than four years ago when the team finished last.

Who is the best player in the world?

Zidane, the Frenchman, is the king of soccer at the moment. He's won almost everything there is to win – including a 1998 World Cup for France (the tournament is played every four years) and a Champions League title for his club team, Real Madrid. He's best as a playmaker, but can also score, as he did with a spectacular volley earlier this month in Real Madrid's championship. A recent leg injury will keep him out of France's opening game, but he should be OK with a little rest.

Another top player is Portugal's Luis Figo, who also plays for Real Madrid. Figo, a midfielder who can do almost anything on the field, was the FIFA player of the year in 2001. The best player of yesteryear, Ronaldo, is coming back from injury and insists that he's back at the top of his game. But that's yet to be seen.

Who is the best American player?

The US team does not have a superstar, but two players stand out. One is captain Claudio Reyna, the playmaking midfielder who stabilizes an otherwise up-and-down team. The other is Clint Mathis, a young forward who possesses the rarest of qualities for an American soccer player: He can score. Another player to watch is Demarcus Beasley, a lightning-fast midfielder who is only 20 years old and has emerged in the past month as a likely starter.

Who is the American coach?

The US is led by Bruce Arena, who coached the University of Virginia to five national championships and who won two titles with D.C. United in US Major League Soccer. Arena publicly acts like a tough guy, which many people say is necessary for a team that has been pushed around too much in the past. In 1998, under coach Steve Sampson, the Americans were weakened by infighting among the players – so Arena has worked hard to build team cohesiveness.

What is the "Group of Death?"

Group F is absolutely loaded with talent: Argentina, Nigeria, England, and Sweden. These teams run the risk of beating up each other so severely that the two survivors could limp into the second round.

Each team would probably be good enough to advance in any other group. The highlight will come June 7, when Argentina plays England in a grudge match. When they met in the 1986 World Cup, Argentina, on its way to the championship, won on a goal that illegally came off the arm of superstar Diego Maradona. He later attributed the goal to "the hand of God." More recently, in a club match, an Argentine player broke a bone in the foot of British favorite David Beckham, who happens to be the husband of Spice Girl Victoria Adams. But Beckham, one of the best midfielders in the world, says his foot is ready to go.

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