World Cup From the stadium to the bar stool, watch for our ongoing reports A L S O _T O D A Y Are we the world? By Andrew O'Hehir Despite our uneasy place on Planet Soccer, the United States will be one of 32 nations vying for glory as the globe's most passionately watched sporting event begins T A B L E_T A L K Discuss the World Cup in Table Talk's Sports area R E C E N T L Y The Internet comes to the Outback By Simon Winchester A 7-year-old boy's life changes forever (06/09/98) Mondo Weirdo Slow boat to Thailand Temptations and tribulations on the Mekong River (06/08/98) Ramadan By Mona Simpson Taking a lover: An erotic journey from Cairo to Alexandria (06/05/98) Hot tix! By Don George Cathay offers super-low fares to Hong Kong, Bali, Bangkok (06/05/98) Losing their shirts By Tanya Shaffer Seeing a fetish priest requires unbuttoned giving in Ghana (06/04/98) Browse the Wanderlust Feature archives		WHO TO WATCH -- AND WHO'S GOING TO WIN . | . PAGE 1, 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Germany All the experience and skill in the world, but this is basically the same team ambushed by Bulgaria in '94, and they're getting older, not better. Nonetheless, with young striker Oliver Bierhoff partnering veteran Jürgen Klinsmann, and the midfield generalship of Andreas Möller, the Germans should sail through to the quarterfinals at least. If the more glamorous teams flame out, they'll be ready and waiting. (Someone stop them, please!) Key first-round games: June 15 vs. U.S. (2:30 p.m., ABC). Yeah, it'd be the greatest day in American soccer history -- oh, forget it. June 21 vs. Yugoslavia (8 a.m., ESPN). Two teams hoping to go deep into the tournament who may not show each other their best. If the Serbs need a win, their offense is the most explosive in Europe. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Italy Always an exciting team full of big scorers and big egos, the Italians have been to the final four in three of the last four Cups. This year should be no different, with strikers Alessandro Del Piero and Christian Vieri supplying the firepower and a tougher-than-usual defense behind them. If the Azzurri have an Achilles heel, it's in the midfield, where a creative genius is lacking. Key first-round games: June 11 vs. Chile (11 a.m., ESPN). A major early test against an underrated South American side. June 17 vs. Cameroon (2:30 p.m., ESPN). Cameroon star Roger Milla is 46 and finally retired, but the Indomitable Lions still rush forward in pell-mell attack. You might see six or seven goals in this game, but most will be scored by Italy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Netherlands If Dennis Bergkamp, the striker who took Arsenal to both the Premier League and F.A. Cup titles in England, is healthy, this is a very dangerous team. The tenacious Dutch defense is now matched by an attack that also includes forward Patrick Kluivert and deadly midfielder Clarence Seedorf. The only real negative is an extremely tough bracket -- if they win their group, the Dutch will likely face Yugoslavia and Argentina in the next two rounds. Key first-round games: June 13 vs. Belgium (2:30 p.m., ABC). Tremendous skill should be on display in this Low Countries throwdown. June 25 vs. Mexico (10 a.m., ESPN). Not actually as good as it sounds -- the flamboyant Mexicans are out of their depth here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Spain This soccer-mad nation has only once sent its team into the final four, and that was in 1950. Is this the breakthrough year? Playing next door in France before tons of Spanish fans won't hurt, and attacking midfielders Luis Enrique and Raúl anchor a promising lineup. Defense is always a question mark for the Spaniards, and striker Fernando Morientes is relatively unproven. Still, if Spain wins its tough group, they could be off to the races. Key first-round games: June 13 vs. Nigeria (8 a.m., ESPN2). A must-see early game matching two offensive-minded teams with hopes to go the distance. June 24 vs. Bulgaria (2:30 p.m., ESPN). The surprise team of '94 has grown old, but still has scoring punch and should test the Spaniards. T H E   O U T S I D E R S If you're looking for the big payoff in Vegas, try to get odds on one of these long shots making it to the final four. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chile A high-powered, attractive team in vintage Latin American style, the Chileans don't get much respect. Well, strikers Iván Zamorano and Marcelo Salas will get their shot to shock the world -- they're looking at a likely second-round matchup with Brazil. Key first-round games: June 11 vs. Italy (11 a.m., ESPN). June 23 vs. Cameroon (10 a.m., ESPN). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Croatia Making predictions deep into the tournament is foolish, but the Croatians are well positioned for a run at the final four, and boast a strong attack featuring striker Davor Suker and midfielder Zvonimir Boban. They'd be better still if Alen Boksic, a scoring star for Rome's Lazio team, weren't out with an injury. Key first-round games: June 14 vs. Jamaica (2:30 p.m., ABC). June 26 vs. Argentina (9:30 a.m., ESPN2). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nigeria Olympic champions in '96, the Nigerians are this year's Great Unknown: Will they win the big enchilada or flame out in the first round? Even their presence here is controversial -- some human-rights activists wanted to ban the team to punish its country's murderous government. (The death earlier this week of Gen. Sani Abacha, Nigeria's much-loathed dictator, may blunt the criticism -- or distract the team further.) Coach Bora Milutinovic, the U.S. head man in '94, is a master strategist, and strikers Victor Ikpeba and Nwankwo Kanu -- if he has really recovered from heart surgery -- provide a dynamic offensive duo. But like most African teams, they're unreliable on defense, and the voracious Nigerian media claims that Bora's mind games have destroyed the side's morale and cohesion. Key first-round games: June 13 vs. Spain (8 a.m., ESPN2). June 19 vs. Bulgaria (11 a.m., ESPN2). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Norway Yeah, I know, striker Tore Andre Flo is known as "Flonaldo" in England, where he plays professionally. But he's the only entertaining feature of this grinding, defensive side, who haven't lost in their last 14 games. If you're not a student of deep soccer strategy and tactics, avoid the grim Vikings' numbingly ugly style at all costs. (Their game with Scotland should provide a soccer fan's vision of hell.) The good news for people who think this sport is supposed to be fun is that the Norwegians will probably face Italy in the second round. The bad news is they're fully capable of driving the Italians to suicide. Key first-round games: June 16 vs. Scotland (11 a.m., ESPN2). June 23 vs. Brazil (2:30 p.m., ESPN). B O L D   P R E D I C T I O N S Dark horse Croatia will surprise England in the second round. Then they'll do the same to Germany (I hope) to reach the final four. And the Winner Is ... I'd love to see France or Spain redeem themselves, but their paths to the title game are too rocky. Argentina will win its third Cup, beating Brazil in the semis and Italy in the final. SALON | June 10, 1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - R E L A T E D_.S A L O N_.S T O R I E S Fea r, drugs and soccer in Asia From a Thai beach to a Nepalese sports field, a reporter immerses himself in the hedonistic expat scene. By Karl Taro Greenfeld March 3, 1998