6 Days To Go: Aggh!

6 days left and the stars are falling left and right!

Drogba, Ferdinand, Ballack ... who's next? Messi? (Did I just say that??)

Will we even know who's playing in the World Cup at this rate?

As we creep closer and closer to the big date, I'll list the 5 must-see matches of the 1st round, the 5 breakout stars of the Cup, the 5 countries who could win it all and ... well, any suggestions?

Today's Tidbits

1 - USA USA USA defeats Australia 3-1 off two goals by Edson Buddle. Next up? ENGLAND! Bring it!!

2 - So maybe Didier Drogba will play after all? Let's hope so ...

3 - Sven-Goran Eriksson: 'I like challenges, yes. Why not with the Ivory Coast?'

4 - Slovenia is the least populous nation playing in this month’s World Cup, but members of its national team are looking forward to making a name for themselves.

5 - The right way to use a vuvuzela? Hmm ... I'd say YES!

What I Think I Think

Soccer stories are in vogue here in the United States these days.

You'd think that soccer/football is now the most popular sport in the USA, with wall-to-wall coverage of the tournament on ESPN, the country's biggest network and stories in almost every newspaper/magazine.

Not only that, adverts are plastered around the country, people are walking the streets in their country's kits and talk is rampant about who'll win the big prize come July 11th.

It's exciting, to say the least. The country is abuzz over the World Cup.

Here's one particularly interesting story/photo essay about the Cup, courtesy of the New York Times.

It's the evolution of the World Cup ball. From Uruguay 1930 all the way to South Africa 2010, the ball used in the World Cup has changed dramatically.

Have a look. It's very entertaining, to say the least.