FIFA World Cup 2006 Germany. Players to watch at the 2006 World Cup including Wayne Rooney, Ronaldinho, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Gabriele Heinze and Jon Terry.

Five times winners and most peoples, including ours, obvious choice as favourites. The tournament will be Ronaldo's last but injury's allowing, his predecessor will also be on the plane to Germany. Robinho, Real Madrid's new young 'Galactico' will be looking to carry his recent sparkling form into the World Cup. With goals capable of coming from anyone in the team and a midfield with more flair than a 70's disco, Brazil will be there or thereabouts come the World Cup Final in June 2006.

Under Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson, England have improved in leaps and bounds and with the likes of Rooney, Owen, Beckham, Gerrard and Terry in the ranks, they now have a team capable of challenging the very best. Many believe England would have gone much further in 2002 if personal errors had not resulted in the loss to Brazil. Their Euro 2004 campaign was successful and they were undeservedly beaten on penalties by the hosts in the quarter finals.

After such a long wait for success, the national team will look to follow in the footsteps of the domestic clubs recent European successes and we believe they may just have what it takes to finally bring the World Cup back to the birthplace of football.

A team with good individuals such as Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and Marco Bresciano, this is a country that is certainly no one-man team. After Qualification for the first time in 30 years they will want to prove difficult opponents for any side and we're betting that anyone taking the super competitive Aussies lightly will be in for a huge shock.

Perhaps stereotypical but we can't see the tradition of Spain underachieving altering in 2006. Spain's usual story of superb individuals being unable to gel as a team will possibly once again be their downfall.

With Adriano, Robinho, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo leading the Brazilian attacking threat, there will always be goals. This side will be capable of scoring from anywhere on the pitch and the sheer fact their defenders are most potent going forward will guarantee attacking chances aplenty for the country who is more renowned than anyone for their prowess in front of goal. We expect a Brazilians to be leading the goal scoring charts come the end of the tournament.

History shows Saudi Arabia to be a talented side who have a good record in Qualifying for the finals but if their performance in Japan/Korea is anything to go by, they will again struggle to keep a higher class of opponent from breaching their goal.