Thanks to the rather eccentric nature of the FIFA rankings, the uninitiated would be forgiven for assuming that Mexico (ranked No. 4 in the world) are to be counted among the hot favourites for this tournament. A quick glance at the rest of the top ten, however, reveals that the United States are ranked joint fifth…and anyone who’d seriously argue that the US are one of the 5 best teams in the world has obviously been sitting out in the baking German sun for too long.

I did once have a quick look a at the criteria FIFA use when compiling their charts, but my eyes quickly glazed over when confronted with impenetrably baroque explanations …so I remember little of what I read. What seems fairly clear, however, from Mexico and the US’s continued presence in the top ten, is that CONCACAF nations are o’er-generously rewarded with ranking points (considering the relative weakness of that confederation).

Thus, even though Mexico are considered (by the 'FIFA bots') to be one of the world’s best teams, Ladbrokes currently has them at 40-1 to win the tournament. Such longish odds are unsurprising given the fact that they’ve failed to get beyond the second round since 1986 (when they were hosts). Yet for all that they have a genuine "sleeping giant" potential that could well be (partly) realised in this tournament.

They were terribly unlucky to lose 2-1 to Germany (in the last 16) in 1998¹, and inexplicably toothless in the face of a dogged US 4 years ago…but could this be their time to reach the last 8 once again? A solid 3-1 win over Iran earlier today might suggest so but should they reach the second round they will face a team from the dreaded "Group D"…the "group of sure and certain death". While it seems fairly clear (at the moment) that they and Portugal should fill the top two places, an easy draw for the next round is an impossibility…as Holland, Argentina, and the Ivory Coast all look formidable.

We shall see…

Oh and an early contender for "most groan-inducing headline of the competition" award from sporting life.com: “DUTCH MASTER ROBBEN WHIPS S&M�?.

High-larious…

Mexico 3 Iran 1

Angola 0 Portugal 1

1. With the irrepressible Hernandez in superb form [back]