Ma nema razloga za paniku - bili su umorni s Iranom jer su imali kondicijski drill prije toga - dva treninga dnevno - odmah nakon Osijeka dobili dva dana odmora - pa jedan trening dnevno... Ipak su to vrhunski sportaši - ne treba njima puno da napune baterije... Već protiv Poljske neće biti toliko zamora - a tim ritmom do Španjolske će biti u punoj snazi - a za Brazil već u punoj formi... Nema sumnje!

A što se tiče Sapunja Das(k)ovića - svaki komentar je suvišan - i sitniš je sitne duše puno...

P.S. SPOREDNO VEZANO ZA TEMU,  ALI DIREKTNO ZA NOGOMET

Upravo sam pročitao hrvatsko izdanje National Geographica za ovaj mjesec i glavna tema je NOGOMET općenito i World Cup! Članak i prilog je stvarno super - i predlažem svima koji istinski vole ''Divnu  igru'' - da si nabave ovaj broj ili ga barem pročitaju - ako već nisu pretplatnici...   

 Znam da sam padobranac, ali jel netko hoće mijenjat kartu sa Brazilom za

Australiju???

How did they get to Germany: Job well done. Croatia beat Sweden twice on their way to finishing top of Group Eight.

Qualifying star: Dario Srna developed a knack of scoring crucial goals. The Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder scored in the two 1-0 wins over Sweden in the group's defining games.

Manager: Zlatko Kranjcar. Took over from Otto Baric after Croatia failed to qualify from their group at Euro 2004. Very popular figure in Croatia having made 556 league appearances for Dinamo Zagreb, scoring 98 goals.

World Cup pedigree: Short and sweet. The surprise package in 1998, when they finished third, but failed to qualify from their group four years later.

World Cup high: Without question 1998. A team full of technically gifted players defeated the likes of Romania and Germany before falling to eventual winners France at the semi-final stage.

World Cup low: Losing 1-0 to Ecuador at the 2002 World Cup in their final group game. Coach Mirko Jozic blamed the pressure on his players for their failure. Jozic promptly resigned after his team's exit.

World Cup legend: Hard to see beyond Davor Suker. He won the Golden Boot at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Strengths: The Croatian team believe they have one of the best defences in the world. Their World Cup qualification campaign was based on clean sheets - they kept six in 10 games.

Weaknesses: Just as well that Croatia keep it tight at the back. Their two key victories over Sweden were both 1-0 wins, while a 0-0 draw in Hungary guaranteed their passage to Germany. If they were to concede early in the finals it could spell big trouble.

Did you know? Current coach Zlatko Kranjcar will be familiar to Everton fans with long memories. He lined up against them for Rapid Vienna in the 1985 European Cup Winners' Cup final in Rotterdam.

World ranking: 23

Odds: 66/1

Local view: "A good result for Croatia would be to qualify from the group stage." Antun Samovojska, Editor Sportske Novosti.

Our verdict: Unlikely to repeat their exploits of 1998, but a place in the knockout stages is within their grasp.

Brazil

How did they get to Germany: Cruised comfortably through qualification, only beaten twice in 18 games and pipped Argentina to first place in the group table.

Qualifying star: The goals have dried up of late, but even with 10, Ronaldo was south America's top scorer in qualification. Against Argentina in 2004 he looked like a player from another planet when he won and scored three penalties.

Manager: The vastly experienced Carlos Alberto Parreira. Ended the long drought when he took Brazil to victory in USA 94, and was on the coaching staff as far back as 1970. Has previously led four different teams to the finals - Kuwait (1982), UAE (1990), Brazil (1994) and Saudi Arabia (1998).

Captain: Ageless AC Milan right-back Cafu, an example of dedication and perseverance. The only man to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals. Can he make it four?

World Cup pedigree: Five times winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002), twice runners-up (1950 and 1998), the reigning champions and the only country to have appeared in every World Cup. In short, the guv'nors.

World Cup high: Most would go for 1970, beamed by TV all over the world. But the old timers are adamant that, man for man, the 1958 team were better - and, for now at least, it is the only time they have won in Europe.

World Cup low: The chaos of 1966, when they had trouble whittling down a squad of 44 and went out in the first round, and Italia 90, when with a sweeper system and a plethora of defensive midfielders they went home early.

World Cup legend: It could only be Pele - from the youthful exuberance of the 17-year-old in 1958 to the polished displays of the finished article 12 years later, nobody has done more to make the World Cup such a global success.

Present star man: Their attacking resources stand comparison with anything they have had in their glorious history, but Barcelona's magical, mercurial Ronaldinho - two-time World Player of the Year - is the main man.

Strengths: The unparalleled individual ability of their stars, all of whom are used to the big occasion, plus their superb physical preparation that set them apart in 2002.

Weaknesses: The possibility that their stars might have a collective off day, occasional defensive problems in the air - despite the height of their centre-backs - and a vulnerability in the space behind the full-backs.

Did you know: Brazil played their first four World Cups in white shirts, only switching to the world famous yellow after losing at home to Uruguay in 1950.

World ranking: 1

Odds: 9/4 fav

Local view: "The current generation is spectacular, perhaps the best ever. If Ronaldo hasn't worn himself out during the season, he can really put on a show. He can become their top scorer in World Cups and equal Pele by winning his third. I'm backing him and Brazil to pull it off." Flavio Orro, TV Globo.

Our verdict: Even losing in the final will be seen as failure. Living up to such expectations will not be easy. They all have European experience, but so did the majority in 1998. With their talent the status of favourites is clearly justified and win or lose, there should be some moments of magic to cherish.

Australia

How did they get to Germany: With a truly nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory against Uruguay after their two-legged play-off ended 1-1. Sweet revenge indeed for four years ago when they went out at the same stage.

Qualifying star: Mark Schwarzer. The Middlesbrough custodian was nearly taken off before penalties, but came to the party big time with two stunning spot-kick saves.

Manager: Russian-bound Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has waved his World Cup magic wand yet again. Taking over from Frank Farina in July, he cast a spell over the Socceroos and completed what he called "almost mission impossible" when he arrived in the job.

Captain: Mark Viduka. The big Middlesbrough hitman will be grateful his missed penalty did not cost his team dearly, but his experience and finishing ability will be a major factor in Germany.

World Cup pedigree: None really. Qualified in 1974, but endured a goal-less and pretty much pointless three games.

World Cup high: Think we saw it last November.

World Cup low: Play-off defeats to Iran and Uruguay in 1997 and 2001 respectively.

World Cup legend: The title is surely up for grabs in Germany.

Present star man: Harry Kewell. The Liverpool winger showed in the second leg when he came on and tormented the Uruguayans he is one Aussie player capable of truly world-class displays.

Strengths: Plenty of flair going forward and a host of options in the middle of the park.

Weaknesses: A telling lack of pace and genuine quality at the back will be Hiddink's main concern going into a major tournament.

Did you know: Everton midfielder Tim Cahill represented Samoa in an Under-20 tournament in 1994, when he was just 14-years-old.

World ranking: 42

Odds: 80/1

Local view: "The false dawns are over. Unlike in 1974, this time Australia's expensive team of European-based exiles will travel to a World Cup more hopefully." John Huxley, Sydney Morning Herald.

Our verdict: Under the meticulously brilliant Hiddink, they may never have a better chance to gate-crash football's showpiece and spring a few surprises.

Japan

How did they get to Germany: Through two group stages. They finished top of their final qualifying group, but on the way scraped lucky last-minute wins over Oman and North Korea.

Qualifying star: Stars, not star. The centre-half pairing of Gamba Osaka's Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Yuji Nakazawa was solid throughout.

Manager: The public called for Zico's head during an uninspiring qualification campaign. The Brazilian, 53, benefited from those fortunate late victories and is also lucky to be employed by an association who probably could not bring themselves to fire the football legend.

Captain: Centre-back Miyamoto is an elegant player, excellent reader of the game and, according to his squealing fan club at national team games, ravishingly handsome to boot.

World Cup pedigree: They qualified for the first time in 1998 and then as hosts in 2002. In 1998 they lost all three group matches but in 2002 they went out to Turkey in the second round. There are definite signs of progress.

World Cup high: Beating Russia 1-0 in the group stages last time. The Russians were rubbish, but the win still gave Japan confidence they could play with the big boys.

World Cup low: Losing 1-0 to Turkey in 2002. French coach Philippe Troussier lost his marbles and dropped strike duo Takayuki Suzuki and Atsushi Yanagisawa. Akinori Nishizawa - who had not played in the tournament - was chosen as it was his birthday, if you believe the rumours.

World Cup legend: The coach is the closest Japan has to the accolade.

Strengths: The Nakata-Nakamura-Ono triumvirate makes up Asia's best midfield and if you throw in West Brom's Junichi Inamoto things begin to look rosy...

Weaknesses: ...until we get to the strikers. Zico usually plumps for Yanagisawa - when fit - and Eintracht Frankfurt-bound Naohiro Takahara, AKA "Der Sushi Bomber". Their respective club coaches usually don't.

Did you know: During France 1998, the stadium authorities were astonished to find the Japan fans' seating area cleaner after a game than before. On the final whistle, the fans had picked up all the rubbish they could find before depositing it in the bins by the exit.

World ranking: 18

Odds: 200/1

Local view: "They've not really improved since Troussier's reign. Japan's chances depend on strikers Takahara and Yanagisawa weighing in with the goals. A gallant loss in the second round should satisfy the Japanese." James Mulligan, Japan Times.

Our verdict: There is plenty of talent but they will need more than that if they are to progress past the opening round. Unlikely to figure in the knockout stages.

i ja sam primjetio, pametno je to Bosnjak obisao. Svaka mu cast.