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Group A sees hosts Germany take on a trio of unpredictable teams in what promises some intruiging battles. Here's how we think it could unfold.

Bermuda Sun prediction: 1. Germany, 2. Costa Rica, 3. Poland, 4. Ecuador

Germany

Overview: Never underestimate Germany. That's the golden rule of World Cups. The German's knack of reaching the latter stages of major tournaments almost irrespective of the quality of their team is not the stuff of legend it's reality.

The side that eventually lost to Brazil in '02 must have been one of the worst ever to contest a World Cup Final. Remember they lost 5-1 at home to an England side that was no better than mediocre in qualifying.

Again the noises coming out of Germany and from the world's sporting press is that the class of 2006 are among the most ramshackle bunch to represent the fatherland.

Yet a cursory look at the team-sheet shows they have quality in abundance.

Even thrifty Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich doesn't part with £130,000 ($250,000) a week lightly. The amount the Londoners were prepared to pay to obtain the services of Michael Ballack is testimony to his status as one of the world's best midfielders.

Arsenal keeper Jens Lehman has been transformed this season from a jittery liability, to a world-class keeper who has set a new record for clean sheets in the Champions League and in Lukas Podolski they have an emerging goal poacher of true class.

True, the rest of the team has a worryingly youthful look and the defence has been leaking goals in friendlies. But with home advantage, a favourable draw and a sprinkling of star quality Germany could go far. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has faced criticism both for his decision to base himself in California and to jettison some of the older stars.

But his fast brand of attacking football has also brought some admirers.

Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

Star Man: Michael Ballack

Captain: Michael Ballack

All-time great: Franz Beckenbauer. There are plenty to choose from with Lothar Mattheus and Klinsmann, himself in the mix, but having lifted the World Cup as both manager and player Beckenbauer, one of the best defenders of all time, can count himself a class apart.

Best World Cup: Winners in 1954, 1974 (as hosts) and 1990.

Qualifying Record: Qualified automatically as hosts.

Seahorses Odds: 2/5 for the group 7/1 for the tournament.

Verdict: The draw is wide open and despite reservations about their quality they could go all the way. *

Costa Rica

Overview: The Ticos love their football and have flair, pace and enthusiasm in abundance.

Some of their players will be familiar to anyone who turned out to watch LD Alajuelense play New England Revolution in Bermuda.

The San Jose based outfit has five representatives in the squad. Anyone who watched that turgid 0-0 draw won't be surprised to learn that three of them are defenders and another is a goalkeeper.

Ex-Derby County and Manchester City stiker Paulo Wanchope, who played with Shaun Gaoter, and is still only 29 despite seeming to have been around forever, is the biggest name in a squad of few stars.

But they're well marshalled, play good attacking football and capable of causing an upset.

They did well in 1990 and were unlucky not to qualify in '02 from a group which contained the eventual winners and Turkey, who ultimately finished third.

Coach: Alexandre Guimares - much loved figure who was part of the team that beat Scotland. He returned as coach to salvage a stuttering qualification campaign.

Star Man: Paulo Wanchope — 43 goals in 67 games for his country.

Captain: Not yet decided.

All-time-great: Juan Arnaldo Cayasso if only for his goal against Scotland in 1990.

Best World Cup: Reached the second round in '90 with wins over Sweden and Scotland.

Qualifying Record: Struggled in the early stages but took the third automatic CONCACAF spot with a 3-0 home win over U.S..

Seahorses Odds: 16/1 to win the group, 250/1 to win the tournament.

Verdict: It wouldn't be a major shock if they made the second round and those 16/1 odds at Seahorses look a shade on the long side. *

Poland

Overview: The Poles don't come into the tournament with great confidence having just been beaten at home by Lithuania and with their coach Pawel Janas admitting his team is well short of form.

Add to that the widespread criticism of Janas' decision to drop Liverpool keeper Jerzey Dudek and Tomasz Frankowski, his top scorer in qualifying, and things don't look too promising.

Grzegorz Rasiak who recently joined Southampton from Spurs is a familiar face in the attacking line. Celtic striker Maciej Zurawski comes into the tournament full of confidence after his 16-goals inspired them to the Scottish final.

The group isn't as easy as the world media, which has a somewhat one-eyed European slant, has been making out.

The football-mad Ticos have proved they are capable of causing a shock or two. Just ask Scotland.

And Ecuador, who scalped Brazil and Argentina in the qualifiers, won't be a pushover, provided they can adapt to playing at a lower altitude.

The Poles attacking brand of football (only three teams scored more goals in the European qualifying section) has won them some admirers but could leave them exposed at the back.

Coach: Pawel Janas

Star Man: Austria Vienna's Sebastien Milla is the creative spark in an industrious midfield.

Captan: Jacek Bak

All-time great: Jan Tomaszewski — the clownish keeper is famed in England for his brilliant performance which helped the Poles qualify for World Cup 1974 at their expense.

Best World Cup: Third in '74 and '82.

Qualifying Record: Second to England in group but did so with some emphatic performances averaging nearly three goals a game. They went through without a play-off as one of two top runner-ups.

Seahorses Odds: 10/3 for the group 125/1 for the tournament

Verdict: Will struggle to make the second round. *

Ecuador

Overview: Beat Argentina and Brazil in qualifying to finish third in the ultra-competitive South American group.

Critics put their success down to the asphyxiating atmosphere at their stadium at Quito in the dizzying altitude of the Andes mountains.

They took 23 of their 28 points in qualifying at home and their solitary away win came in Bolivia, who also play at altitude.

But they beat Croatia in Japan in the last World Cup and have shown signs of improvement under the stewardship of Luis Fernando Suarez, who took over after a disasterous Copa America.

The Colombian is targeting the second round as the absolute minimum for his squad.

Ulises De La Cruz, the Aston Villa centre-back and former Southampton man Agustin Delgado, will be the most familiar faces in a squad that plys its trade largely in South America.

Outside of Germany this is a tough group to call and any one of Ecuador, Poland and Costa Rica will rightly feel they have a chance of second spot.

Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez

Star Man: The 25-year-old Christian Lara has been compared to Brazilain prodigy Robinho. He is light on his feet and enjoys running with the ball. He is one of the big hopes for the future in Ecuador.

Captain: Ivan Hurtado - a defensive stalwart and veteran of more than 130 internationals.

All-time great: Agustin Delgado is the country's all-time top scorer with 31 national team goals.

Best World Cup: 2002 was their first and they didn't make it out of the group.

Qualifying Record: Their excellent home form took them to third, behind heavyweight Argentina and Brazil, in the South American zone.

Seahorses Odds: 9/1 for the group, 200/1 for the competition.

Verdict: Will struggle to get out of the group. *[[In-content Ad]]

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