World Cup fans set for kickoff

If you just cannot wait anymore for all the color, pageantry, rabid fans and wild scenes of college football season, watch the upcoming World Cup.

It always amuses me when someone says they don't like soccer, or don't understand the big deal, and then they go out every autumn and act exactly like soccer fans at the college football game of their choice.

Look in the mirror, college football fans. You ARE soccer fans.

No two sports share as much passion, blind faith and often times irrational love for their favorite team than international soccer and American college football.

I couldn't tell you how many times I could simply substitute "Longhorns" or "Aggies" in emails I receive from soccer fans griping or talking about their team and the notes would be virtually identical to those I get from college football fans.

Prediction: Millions of U.S. fans already are sold, but this World Cup will flick the switch for many more U.S. fans. They'll start to get it.

For one reason, it will be because the American team is consistently good now. Two, if the Americans can get past a grueling Group, they will captivate many non-believers. And three, there is much more name recognition and star power -- Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Brian McBride -- on this team.

And check this out. If the U.S. team finishes second in its pool, its Round of 16 game most likely will be against Brazil.

That would be captivating. Only about a billion people will watch that one.

This will be the fifth World Cup I get to cover and maybe never has there been a tournament so evenly matched. Everyone says Brazil, Brazil, Brazil. I don't think it will be that easy.

I'm picking one absolute shocker to come out of Group play (Trinidad & Tobago) and then Argentina to surprise and take the whole thing. Keep in mind, as much as South American teams traditionally have not done well on European soil, that was back in the day when South American players did not play professionally in Europe.

Times have changed. The Argentines are accustomed to everything about playing in Europe, they have experience and an explosive attacking front.