Full Circle...

Perfect day in LA…jacuzzi, champagne, Malo tacos, and eye candy research. So here we are days away from the start of the World Cup and much to update. My apologies that the trappings of buying a house and working on a time consuming tv show have kept me from my real priorities in updating this blog. Thankful, my sister made me re-evaluate my priorities, see the error of my ways, and get me re-focused. This cup, we decided to break up divisions and report back by groupings to truly provide in-depth coverage. Brilliant idea.

Okay before we start, I would be remiss if I didn’t address some of the controversy surrounding the WC qualifiers. The biggest issue, of course being the France vs Ireland match where at 103 minutes during the 1:1 game, France’s Theirry Henry’s handballs to score the winning 2:1 goal. Boo…that was poor refereeing at it’s worst!! For realsies Fifa!! Even Thierry acknowledged the cheat -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRLWMeDCx_U

…BUT Fifa stood wrongly firm in the "The Laws of the Game state.. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final” trump card. Big boos. Hopefully all the controversy will highlight the need for better refereeing and may HD and all the technical advances this cup aid to create more fairness because yes…Ireland was robbed.

Okay I got that off my chest. France should watch their backs cuz they made it in by the skin of their teeth. Maybe it was Theirry’s puppy dogs eyes kept them wanting more…but in this case we can’t blame him and he’s been through enough.

OKAY…here are the groups overall:

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group F: Italy,Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d'Ivoire, Portugal

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

My groups….(sigh) B and F. I couldn’t have picked a better pairing specially since most of my boyfriends in life have been either Italian or Argentine so I know these teams WELL. I hate to say it, put I will. On paper, both Argentina (Group B) and Italy (Group F) not only have the vegas odds and will hands down win their divisions…but they also have the hottest players in their respective groupings.

Let’s start where it all ended last time -- ITALIA. The beautiful Azzurri.

YUMMMMMMY Yum YUM. Hands DOWN the hottest team year after year…and like a great Italian wine, they just get better with time. Most of the squad plays regularly for Juventus, so their teamwork is as incredible as their dirty prisoner good looks.

OKAY…we all have MVP’s and mine is goal keeper Gianluigi Buffon. Talent all around.

1 Gianluigi Buffon

Club - Juventus

Age - 32 (January 28, 1978)

Caps/goals - 100/0

Azzurri position - Goalkeeper

The Juve man has been No 1 for his country for most of his distinguished career and only another long-term injury such as the one that saw him miss the early stages of last season will see him miss Lippi’s final selection. He is hands down the anchor of the team and his rugged good looks only out shadow his incredible skills.

More on the line up to come….but for now here's more Buffon!!!