This year's World Cup sees the introduction of the Adidas Jabulani, billed as the world's first perfectly round football.
This does, of course, beg the question of what shape all the previous balls were?
2) Someone Will Violently Assault Someone Else's Face
In 1994, the cultured and demure TV pundit and AC Milan coach Leonardo was one of Brazil's best players. After 43 minutes of their game against the USA, he became Tab Ramos's worst nightmare.
Ramos spent three and a half months in hospital after Leonardo connected with an elbow. Was it deliberate? Only Leonardo will ever know. But it was gruesome. Very, very gruesome.
3) Some Minnows, Likely African, Will Beat Someone Good
t's amazing how many people claim that they predicted Senegal would beat France in the 2002 curtain raiser.
4) England Will Go Out and It Won't Be Their Fault
it will be Chris Waddle.
Or Diego Pablo Simeone.
Or Darius Vassell.
Or that referee who disallowed a Sol Campbell header.
Or David Batty.
Or Cristiano Ronaldo winking at the referee.
Or the Hand of God.
Or Gareth Southgate.
Or Ronaldinho scoring a fluke accidental free kick.
But never because they were beaten fair and square.
5) Spain Will Flop, Regardless of How Good They Are
Spain do badly at World Cups.
No matter how good their team, they somehow find a way to throw things away.
6) The Dutch Will Lose a Penalty Shoot-Out
Forget England.
Until Euro 2004, Holland were held under the ultimate penalty curse. In 1998, they went out to Brazil in the semifinals, Ronald de Boer and Phillipe Cocu missing the decisive kicks.
Although this is their only defeat on penalties in the World Cup, they have never won a World Cup shoot-out. And it gets worse.
Oh, does it get worse.
In Euro 1992 they also suffered semifinal heartbreak against eventual shock winners Denmark, Marco van Basten of all people being the unlucky man to miss as the Danes converted all five penalties.
Euro '96 saw another legend, Clarence Seedorf, fail to find the net, as Zidane, Djorkaeff, Lizarazu, Guerin, and Blanc all made no mistake.
7)Someone Relatively Unheralded Will Challenge For or Win the Golden Boot
In 2002, Ronaldo won the Golden Boot. It is the only time in recent memory that one of the pre-tournament favourites has gone on to claim that particular title, and he was run close until the final by Miroslav Klose.
The underrated Klose was back in 2006 to take home the Golden Boot ahead of the likes of Fernando Torres, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Hernan Crespo, and Ronaldo.
In 1998, the goals of Davor Suker, six to be precise, helped Croatia come from under the radar and into third place.
The 1994 World Cup was notable for the fact that the joint top scorer, Oleg Salenko, was eliminated in the group stage. Despite hammering in five against Cameroon (the only time this has ever been done at a World Cup) and scoring from the spot against Sweden, he only won a further six caps for this country.
8) A Ludicrously Unrealistic Goal Will Be Scored
In 1986, moments after dragging his name through the dirt, Diego Maradona elevated it to the heavens by breezing past five or six English players, effortlessly skirting Shilton, and sliding the ball into the unguarded net.
In 1990, the much heralded Roberto Baggio played a one-two near half way and weaved his way towards goal, twisting and turning, before wrong footing the keeper and finding the near post.
In 1994, a mysterious Saudi Midfielder called Said Al Owayran ran the length of the field before clipping the ball over the bemused Belgian keeper.
9)The Referees Will Be Panned
It is a cliche to suggest that a foul "would have been red at the World Cup."
But the facts bare out the supposition—there really are more red cards at the World Cup than any other form of top football.
But sometimes even World Cup referees take things to the extreme.
The 2006 World Cup was blighted by two referees in particular. Mr. Ivanov of Russia went home notorious for dishing out 16 yellow cards and four reds in one fairly good spirited last 16 match between the Netherlands and Portugal.
10) Someone Will Cry
Football is a deeply emotional game, both to watch and participate in. It connects with people the world over on a level unmatched by any other sport.
It can make players cry with frustration, as when Gascoigne picked up his second yellow of the 1990 World Cup in the semifinal.
It can make players cry tears of joy, as the Brazilians did in 1994.
It can make players cry tears of anger, as with the Portuguese in 2002, when a Zidane golden goal penalty put them out.
And when the players cry, the fans cry along with them.
But that it can make people cry tears at all is testament to power of the beautiful game.
Never is that power any stronger than at the World Cup.
viva la world cup
