One Game Changes Everything

That's the motto the ABC Sports Networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2) have adopted for this year's World Cup. And how. I recieve my Sports Illustrated in the mail yesterday, and in it were little flaps that talked about each country that will be competing for this year's title. I thought I'd share what ESPN has put down for each country because it makes them all (even Iran) look good.

Costa Rica: Meet the proud spoiler of the World Cup. Making its third appearance on the big stage, Costa Rica upset the balance before by beating mainstays Sweden and Scotland. With its entertaining and uninhibited style of play, the entire nation hopes (and prays) the upsets keep coming.
England: "Nothing else matters." Or so the morning papers declared when the entire nation shut down in 2002 to watch the quaterfinal match with Brazil. Long on passion, but short on prizes, England is always a favorite, even if its only title came on home soil in 1966.
Argentina: Two decades after Diego Maradona handed Argentina the title amid brilliance and controversy in the 1986 World Cup, the championship has yet to return. And while a shaky qualifying saw the exit of the team's head coach, young Argentine stars Tevez and Messi hope 2006 will restore the glory of old for a new Argentina.
Angola: Upon the team's qualifying for its first-ever World Cup, Angola's captain, Akwa, summed up the adventure best: "We have proved Angola is not just about oil, war and poverty." For Angola, having satisfied this deep national longing on the road to the 2006 World Cup isn't enough - now it's time to prove it while the whole world is watching.
Ghana: A trip to the World Cup is long overdue for the "Black Stars." Along its historic journey, Ghana won four CAF African Cup of Nations titles and two FIFA Under-17 world titles. Add that to Ghana's penchant for producing great players, and you have a team ready to show the world its time has come.
Australia: After 32 long years, Australia is heading back to the World Cup. And back to Germany, where in 1974, it failed to score a single goal. After a convincing qualifying round and the hiring of a new coach, Guus Hiddink, the "Socceroos"-crazed nation is so excited that it issued a special postage stamp series to honor the occasion.
France: How much does soccer mean to France? When the country won the World Cup against Brazil on home soil in 1998, over one million people poured onto the Champs-Elyse'es. It was a celebration equaled only by the country's liberation in World War II. Now, after a disappointing showing in South Korea/Japan, "Les Bleus" are poised to rekindle the fire.
Spain: Historically, regional heritage has been more important than national heritage in Spain, which may in part explain its consistent underachievement. Now in its eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, the nation is eager to finally wipe the slate clean and display a different side to its more successful European neighbors.
Ecuador: Perhaps reflective of even bigger national changes, soccer has taken a turn for the better in Ecuador. In 2002, it topped Brazil in the qualifiers, and in this go-around it qualified just behind Argentina. Riding an unbeaten streak at home during qualifying, Ecuador will carry enormous momentum onto the pitch in Germany.
Trinidad & Tobago: When the small island nation qualified for its first-ever World Cup, the president declared a new national public holiday. He had no choice. The team was on its way home from a historic victory, and it would be inexcusable if the entire nation wasn't there to greet them at the airport.
Ivory Coast: When Didier Drogba and the powerful "Elephants" qualified for their first-ever World Cup, feuding factions talked for the first time in years, and the president called a truce. Because everyone knows a country united makes for better cheerleaders than a country divided.
Iran: It's a country where women sparked an equal rights movement when they forced their way into Azadi Stadium to greet the 1998 World Cup qualifying team. It's a country whose team defeated political nemesis U.S.A., but respectfully hugged its opponents afterwards. Now in its third trip, and with its best team ever, who knows what barriers Iran will break?
Italy: With three World Cup titles, Italy is always a contender. But for all its glory, it also owns some of the greatest disappointments. From Baggio's missed penalty in 1994 to Italy's abrupt exit in 2002, the "Azzurri" have a lot to prove in Germany. And with Nesta and Zambrotta leading one of the strongest lineups in Italy's history, 2006 could be their chance.
Croatia: In its relatively new role as an independent nation, Croatia has a short but sweet history. In 1998, it made a thrilling run to the semis, upsetting Germany along the way. And in 2002, it beat perennial favorite Italy. This year, Croatia is sending a message to the world that it's here, and it's here to stay.
South Korea: It faces a tall order to emulate its stunning semifinal showing in the 2002 World Cup played on home soil. And as Asia's most frequent visitor to the World Cup, there's an added element of pressure. But with a team featuring many of its 2002 heroes, South Korea hopes some of the hometown magic will travel with it.
Saudi Arabia: Until 1951 Saudi Arabia's royal family had forbidden "the beautiful game" in the kingdom. But with the eventual lifting of the ban, a lifelong national passion for the sport was finally released. And it showed. Now, for the fourth consecutive time, Saudi Arabia has made it back to the big stage.
Germany: It's not often you get home field advantage for the biggest event on the planet. But three-time World Cup champion Germany has it again. And it plans to use it wisely. With its last championship title coming in 1990, Germany believes that through the help of a roaring crowd, history can repeat itself.
Sweden: On its road to the 2006 World Cup, the Scandinavian nation averaged a stunning 3 goals per game. Sweden hopes that such positive results foretell an even better outing than its semifinal result in 2002, when Freddie Ljungberg led the team to the top of a group that included Argentina and England.
Netherlands: The Netherlands is perhaps the greatest soccer nation never to win a World Cup. But it's come close. The last time Germany hosted in 1974, Johan Cruyff unleashed his brand of "total football," only to be thwarted in the final by the host nation. And with the World Cup back in Germany, the Netherlands intends, once and for all, to get what it deserves.
Mexico: Other than one loss to bitter rival U.S.A., "El Tricolor's" march toward Germany was relentless. With 12 impressive World Cup qualifications behind it, and star striker Jared Borgetti leading the way, Mexico is in prime form, and believes this is its year to get past the quarterfinals and perhaps even win.
Czech Republic: This year marks the arrival of a new nation. The Czech Republic is a first-time qualifier, but before the friendly split from Slovakia, Czechoslovakia was a dominating force with two nods as runner-up. Known for their flowing yet attacking style of play, the highly-ranked Czechs intend to establish themselves yet again, in a new era of greatness.
Brazil: The undisputed ruler of the pitch. Having won a record five World Cup titles, the mesmerizing defending champ is once again the favorite. In fact, Brazil is the only country on the planet to have qualified for every single World Cup. And for a country where soccer means everything, the only good result is a World Cup championship.
Switzerland: Despite their failure to qualify in 1998 and 2002, the Swiss head to Germany with a strong World Cup history on their side. From 1934 to 1994, they qualified for seven World Cup finals, making it to the quarterfinal round three times. Now, in their first appearance in over a decade, the Swiss plan to use their powerful blend of youth and experience to again make their mark on World Cup history.
Ukraine: After the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, the just-born nation of Ukraine immediately began building a soccer program to be reckoned with. Now, in 2006, not only did Ukraine qualify for its first World Cup, but with the help of 2004 European Player of the Year Andriy Shevchenko, it did so before any other European nation other than host Germany.
Poland: Speaking for a country that has successfully risen from the grip of Communism, Poland's keeper Jerzy Dudek puts it best when he says: "We want to make new history." And with Poland's best soccer results coming on German soil when it placed 3rd in the 1974 World Cup, the well-prepared team feels now is the time to start writing it.
Paraguay: Living in the shadows of its legendary South American neighbors Argentina and Brazil, Paraguay is not often in the spotlight. But it was there in 1930 for the first World Cup in Uruguay, and this year defender Carlos Gamarra says the team plans to earn "respect" from the world. If Paraguay can make it past the second round, it will have done that.
Serbia & Montenegro: This former Yugoslavian republic was the surprise package delivered to this year's World Cup, topping its qualifying group ahead of World Cup regulars Spain and Belgium. And with a war still fresh in its memory, a successful outing here for "The Blues" would be yet another step toward a brighter and better history.
Portugal: Scoring 35 goals while conceding only five, Portugal qualified for the 2006 World Cup with more goals than any other European team. And while it made an early first-round exit in 2002, Portugal believes it will go further and prove soccer-crazy Europe that the highest goal-scorer is also the highest achiever.
USA: With a top-ten world ranking above pernnial favorites Italy and Germany, the U.S. is a serious contender. But in the land of basketball, baseball and the other football, the powerful squad still can't seem to grab its share of national headlines. This year, with the help of stars like Landon Donovan and Eddie Pope, it plans to change that by doing something that can't simply be ignored.
Japan: Aside from host Germany, 2002's co-host Japan was the first country to qualify for this year's World Cup. This will be its third consecutive appearance, and while it reached a national-best round of sixteen in 2004, Japan's real future begins now, as it attempts to secure Asia's place in the international soccer arena.
Togo: This is "The Hawks'" first-ever visit to the World Cup, and while Togo is not considered a contender for the title, the proud African nation is playing for something just as important: respect. Rarely does tiny Togo get a chance to be heard on such a huge world stage, but like Cameroon in 1990, it plans on making a lasting impression.
Tunisia: Of the five African nations that took part in the 2002 World Cup, only Tunisia has made it through this time around, and the team did it at the expense of its great rival Morocco. For Tunisia there is great pressure to perform as the team enters Germany with just one defeat in qualifying, yet only one World Cup victory in its history.