LITTLE BOY BLUE'S WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN - June 6: Three Days To Go - COME ON YOU GERS!

Last updated : 06 June 2006 By Little Boy Blue
  Welcome to Rangers, Libor Sionko and Karl Svensson, we hope to see more than a glimpse of what you've got to offer flashing across our TV screens over the next few weeks. 

And with Marvin Andrews, Dado Prso and Hammy Namouchi also on World Cup duty, our interest is widely spread across the competition.
 
Nor will our eyes be glued solely to Rangers players.  Old friends Rino Gattuso and Gio Van Bronckhorst will be in action, Reyna is skippering the Yanks, Moore and Vidmar are in the Aussie squad and a certain Monsieur Boumsong is with the French, although I'd be surprised if he is anything more than a fringe player.  There will also be several of the Manky Mob in Germany so look out for loads of diving, some iffy tackles and, when all else fails, lots of greetin' about referees.
 
The England v Sweden game is widely recognized as the crucial game of Group B and, by June 20, most Bears will have checked out Karl Svensson so we'll know how he is likely to handle Crouch, Owen or whoever else's name comes out of Eriksson's hat.  It is good that we've snapped him up before the tournament because, if he is at all impressive, his transfer value is sure to soar.  Here's hoping that over the next few weeks we're having a right good giggle for having got ourselves a top quality defender for a snip.
 
My money is on Sweden to edge that group, just ahead of England, so the possibility of Svensson going head-to-head with Zurawski in the first knock-out round will have me following events very closely.  No doubt the tabloids will focus on their private duel, with Henrik Watchyoudontfallsson offering his unbiased opinion.  Give the not-so-magic one an early clatter, Karl, and let him know he can look forward to plenty more of the same next season!!! 
 
With Trinidad & Tobago also in England's group, they are sure to be the focus of much media attention and it would be great to see Big Marv's smiling face on the big stage again.  The word in the grapevine is that he is not part of Paul Le Guen's plans for the future but he did a right good turn for the Gers and he will always be fondly remembered for his contribution.  Leo Beenhaaker is reported to be doubtful about Marvin's fitness, a legacy from his reluctance to undergo surgery for his cruciate ligament problem a year ago, but I hope he gives the player the benefit of the doubt.  For all his shortcomings, Marvin Andrews didn't let Rangers down and I don't think he'll let his national team down either.
 
With Beenhaaker at the helm, T&T will be well organized and I'd fancy them to pull off at least one shock result.  Their best chance will probably be in their opening fixture against Sweden and it would warm the cockles of this doddery old Bear's heart to see the Diving Swede folding under a couple of whole-hearted challenges from Marvin.  However, any success they enjoy in the opening game will surely mark England's and Paraguay's card and Marv and his mates are hardly likely catch their opponents off-guard again.  Even with the best will in the world, I can't see them progressing beyond the group stage.  But I'm sure they'll give a good account of themselves and will get a lot of sympathy votes.
 
Dado Prso and Croatia are in Group F alongside Brazil, Australia and Japan so they too will get lots of media coverage.  The Croatians have the dubious honour of being Brazil's first opponents next Tuesday but, on the plus side, the Brazilians have been known to take a game or two to get into their stride so Dado and his cronies might be happy enough to settle for a narrow defeat, then reap the benefit later when Australia and Japan get proper gubbings. 
 
With the Gers not featuring in the Champions League next season, this World Cup could be Dado's last crack at a major tourney (don't get me started on the UEFA Cup!) and, although there are worries about his knees holding out, it would be great to see him blossom among the best.  Always more of a team player than an individual, his effectiveness will be determined by the support he gets, most likely from Simic and Krancjar breaking forward from midfield, and I fancy them to get at least as far as the quarter-finals, having taken care of Knackeredmota and the Japs along the way.
 
Some of us probably still find it hard to understand why Hamed Namouchi is even contemplating playing in the World Cup but, c'mon, when a guy is an automatic choice in the Champions League, why shouldn't he figure in the World Cup?  Having shrugged off an injury – how long was he playing with the feckin thing? – Hammy is looking forward to lining up for Tunisia against Saudi Arabia, Spain and Ukraine.  A good start against the Saudis is the best he can hope for, then I'm afraid he'll be on the receiving end against the big boys of Group H.
 
It would be good to see Hammy show us that he actually can play a bit.  I have to admit to being one of those who was mystified by Big Eck's blind support for him on the big occasions.  He was too slow, his first touch was dreadful and, for a big guy, he lost out on too many 50-50s.  So he has a lot of work to do to get into my good books but, if he shows any indication of being better than he has been, I'll welcome him back to Ibrox with open arms.
 
The late addition of Libor Sionko to the Czech Republic's squad took many by surprise but, from what I'd been told, Smicer was never likely to overcome his injury and the new Ger was always ahead of Skacel in the pecking order.  The way the Czechs play, they have always been very easy on the eye and, while I don't expect our guy to walk straight into the team, I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't get a run at some point in the group stages.  In Group E with Italy, Ghana and USA, the Czechs will surely qualify for the latter stages and coach Karel Brueckner will want to have all his players ticking over nicely.
 
Libor certainly comes to Ibrox with an impressive reputation.  His ability to pick up the ball and move forward from midfield should ease the burden on Baz and, hopefully, we will finally get to see Captain Fantastic at his best again.  Like Croatia, I see the Czechs as quarter-final material, perhaps even better depending on how the draw pans out, but Sionko will probably have to wait until Euro 2008 or the next World Cup before emerging as the main man in the Czech midfield.  By which time he will, of course, be a veteran of a number of lengthy Champions League campaigns for Rangers.  (LBB stretches to fill his glass…again!)
 
Of the former Rangers on parade, Rino Gattuso has to have the best chance of getting his hands on the trophy, although once more Holland look tasty and, if Gio can shake off the knock he got against Australia on Sunday, I'd fancy him to have a good tournament.   I can't see the Aussies getting out of their group, nor do I see Claudio Sunderland-are-a-bigger-club than-Rangers Reyna and the Yanks making any progress.
 
Jean-Alain Boumsong's inclusion in the French squad astonished me.  After the sort of time he has had at Newcastle, I reckoned he'd be spending the summer contemplating his future.  But guess what?  If Paul Le Guen was inclined to bring him back to Ibrox, you wouldn't hear me complaining.  I've heard that two million of his transfer fee is still unpaid so, if Newcastle want to get him off the wage bill, and Le Gaffer felt he could get something out of the player, why not? 
 
Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to changing my allegiance from day to day throughout the tournament, although Saturday should be a bit of a laugh.  Having adopted Paraguayan citizenship for the England game, I'll then be getting the boot polish on, rooting for Big Marv and his lot when the Swedes attack, before doing a quick change, washing my face and dyeing my hair blond whenever Karl Svensson finds himself under pressure.   ‘Hey big man, don't gi the ba tae that feckin cheat Larsson!!!'
 
Then I'll be decked out in the orange for Holland on Sunday and, depending on what sort of prices Ladbrokes are offering, I'll have a punt or two to give myself an interest in those games which don't lay any obvious claim on my loyalties.  Its going to be a very interesting time and I've even put my big pal The Koelsch on standby for a phone call and a shot of his kubelwagon next Wednesday.
 
‘Next stop Poland!'
 
LITTLE BOY BLUE