Now that the draw for the 2006 World Cup has been made and we've all had a little time to calm down, it's time to make preparations for the finals in Germany.
This will involve looking in the archives, browsing over statistics and digging out old video footage of opponents.
Team delegations will also be finalising their plans for a suitable World Cup base (a handful already made their World Cup accommodation details known, before the draw).
Some teams will know each other quite well and others will never have met in an international match; not even a friendly.
Sometimes all of this analysing can be taken a little too seriously and statistics (or lack of them) will be little more than grass seeds eaten by the birds when it comes down to the serious 90 minutes of World Cup football on German soil.
But before we can get down to the real tension and drama on the pitch; the fake theatrics and dodgy referee decisions, that could swing an important match, we need to pass the time doing something.
So archives, statistics and predictions it is.
Group A:
(Germany, Costa Rica, Poland and Ecuador).
Does anyone really think Costa Rica can do a Senegal and cause an upset in the opening game?
Germany seem to have one of the easiest draws, with maybe Poland or Ecuador joining them in the Second Round.
Poland can blow hot or cold. Although Poland will definitely be up for the game against Germany.
If the Poles lose concentration in their first game (against Ecuador) at least they won't have far to go home.
Interestingly, three German players were born in Poland (Klose, Podolski and Sinkiewicz).
Group B:
(England, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden).
The draw could have been worse for England but it's not going to be plain sailing.
England have played Paraguay twice and won both games but have never played Trinidad and Tobago - a former British colony that gained independence in 1962.
Dwight Yorke (Trinidad) knows all about English football and will meet up with his former Manchester United team-mate, David Beckham. The England captain is said to be looking forward to the encounter.
England have not beaten Sweden in the last 11 matches, stretching back 37 years. This is something the England manager, a Swede himself, will have to put right; having failed to get the advantage in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup Finals. That game, in Saitama, ended all even (
1-1).
England and Sweden should advance from Group B but not without a fight. The runner-up will face Germany (assuming Germany win their group) and no-one really wants to play the host nation in the Second Round; even though it's not a lot of fun in a semi-final either.
A Germany vs England final would be good enough for me - a re-match of
England 66; the only time England made it to a World Cup Final itself, winning the World Cup on home soil in the process.
Group C:
(Argentina, Ivory Coast, Serbia & Montenegro and Holland).
Most of the teams in this group have never played each other, unless we think of Serbia & Montenegro as the old Yugoslavia; which of course they are not.
The game of the group, therefore, will be the meeting of Argentina and Holland in Frankfurt (21st June); a re-match of the
1978 World Cup Final in Buenos Aires, amid all the ticker tape. Argentina eventually won the game 3-1, after extra-time.
Most of us will think Holland and Argentina will advance from Group C but if either of them have a bad day, Serbia & Montenegro will take no prisoners.
Group D:
(Mexico, Iran, Angola and Portugal).
Portugal will meet former colony, Angola (gained independence in 1975), in their first game (Cologne, June 11th). Portugal's coach, Felipe Scolari, knows all about World Cup success; having lifted the World Cup as trainer of Brazil, in 2002.
A 1969 friendly, between Portugal and Mexico, doesn't count for much - it ended in a 0-0 draw.
For Mexico and Portugal progressing from Group D should all be a formality. But as always, no-one is supposedly there to make the numbers up and shock results are a part of what makes the World Cup so much fun. I'll be hoping for an Angola upset.
Group E:
(Italy, Ghana, USA and Czech Republic).
The Czech Republic have a good history against Italy (winning two and drawing one in recent encounters) and as they play each other in the last game of this group, things should remain interesting.
Three-times World Cup winners Italy will be looking to advance from Group E with USA and Czech Republic trying to do justice to their
FIFA World Rankings. Officially, at the time of writing, they are both ranked above Italy.
Group F:
(Brazil, Croatia, Australia and Japan).
Home advantage may have helped Japan a little in the
2002 World Cup Finals but it's going to be tougher getting out of the group stage this time around.
Dortmund will go wild on Thursday, 22nd June when legendary Brazilian playmaker Zico takes to the field; as trainer of Japan.
Croatia and Australia (under the guidance of Guus Hiddink) can cause problems and I have a sneaky feeling that Australia will join Brazil in the next round. Heaven forbid that Brazil don't make it.
Group G:
(France, Switzerland, South Korea and Togo).
Interestingly, France and Switzerland are drawn together again; they drew twice in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup Finals. If they can't be seperated again, then South Korea might be able to take advantage when they play Switzerland in the last group game.
Switzerland will feel they can get out of this group but I wouldn't be so sure. The Koreans will study the Turkey video from Istanbul (where Switzerland lost, even though they qualified over the two legs).
Quite frankly, if the Koreans can play with as much attacking energy as they did in the 2002 World Cup Finals, it could prove too much for the Swiss.
France also have to face another former colony, Togo (gained independence in 1960) and will not forget the Senegal experience from 2002.
But let's get back to the game of the group. Without a doubt, fans from both France and Switzerland couldn't have asked for a better location for their opening match - Stuttgart (Tuesday, 13th June). Both sets of fans only have a short trip across the border for this match. Let's hope it's not a draw again.
Group H:
(Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia).
The wealth of a Sheikdom is not going to help here, although Spain and Ukraine must feel as though they've struck oil. The Europeans should both progress from Group H; unless they fail to turn up.
In Summary:
Of course, football is a funny old game; the ball (or whatever marketing name they want to call it these days) is still round and a careless red card can make a world of difference.
The one prediction I can make for sure is...... that our predictions will not all be right and there will be a couple of 'upsets'..... and maybe tantrums too.
Let the World Cup preparations begin!
