Fans may be happy, but for how much longer?

By Neal Collins

The verdict on the 2002 World Cup? It's not a football tournament, it's a lottery!

Intelligent analysis is worth nothing. France and Argentina, the world's two best footballing nations, are going home.

They ooze talent and multi-milllion pound players, they have a history of success, they were the hot favourites in every book.

But their lottery numbers won them only airline tickets home. Ordinary players and ordinary teams will stay behind to contest football's greatest prize.

Fortunately, England are one of those lucky winners. But don't tell me we're a better side than Argentina.

Watching England play Nigeria on Wednesday, it was, for long stretches, impossible to tell which side were gunning for a result and which side was simply going through the motions in their final pre-flight ritual.

We were little better than a Division One side, using hopeful punts instead of rapier like combinations and relying on the skill and pace of Rio Ferdinand to stay out of trouble.

And at the same time, multi-talented Argentina did everything but score against dour Sweden - but still they only managed a 1-1 draw.

Now England, after the second goalless draw of the competition, play Denmark on Saturday and Sweden face Senegal on Sunday. Doesn't really set the pulse racing does it? Not quite Argentina v France is it?

And what about the other 28 nations? There too, logic has flown out of the window.

At the risk of repeating myself, the holders and European champions, with David Trezeguet, top scorer in Italy, Djbril Cisse, top scorer in France and Thierry Henry, top scorer in England, are out.

Senegal, a side composed purely of French League journeymen are through.

Workmanlike sides like Denmark, Germany and Ireland have made it, talented teams like Cameroon and Uruguay are going home.

Who could have predicted it? As far as mystic prophecy goes, we may as well have picked the winners out of a lottery machine - it's all balls!

And like the lottery, the lucky winners make millions, the losers tear up their tickets, curse and go home with their expensive tails between their legs.

And just like the pound-a-ticket lotto, I can't pick the right numbers.

According to reliable experts (like yours truly) Poland and their dynamic striker Emmanuel Olisadebe were supposed to be the dark horses of the tournament, along with Mexico.

But as we all know, Poland have been Pole-axed by Korea and Portugal.

Still, Mexico are looking good. Perhaps we should back them. Or should we try Senegal?

Brazil, Spain, Germany and, hold your breath, England, are the logical options.

Big teams always win World Cups, even when they're not playing particularly well.

Sure, England have emerged from the Group of Death. But don't put money on them. Buy a lottery ticket instead.

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