During the next month, HoustonDynamo.com will feature a series of weekly interviews with players and coaches regarding the 2006 World Cup. Houston Dynamo goalkeeper and Canadian international Pat Onstad gives us his thoughts on the World Cup this week.
HoustonDynamo.com: With almost a week to go, we have eight teams left in the competition. From what you've seen, who's going to take it all on Sunday, July 9?
Pat Onstad: Oh, gosh, who knows? Obviously, in the mix you have some of the teams that are traditionally there when we get to this stage (Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and Italy, just to name a few), so anything can happen. It's a 90-minute game, its 11-on-11, and all teams have equal possibilities of taking it all.
HoustonDynamo.com: Do you like anybody in particular?
P.O.: Well, Brazil seems to be getting better with every game that goes by, so that is the easy pick. Germany, obviously, has to be taken into consideration as well, given the fact that they are the home team, have millions of people on their side, and played so well against Argentina.
Houstondynamo.com: Speaking of Brazil, it seems that the "Verdeamarelha" has not really "put the pedal to the metal" in this World Cup, but yet they keep on winning. That's got to be pretty scary for some teams.
P.O.: Yes. They've still got a ways to go, but at the same time they handily won their last game 3-0. Maybe they relied on Dida to make some good saves at the end, but that's what being part of a team is all about. Everybody plays a role, everybody plays toward a common goal.
HoustonDynamo.com: Does France have a chance to knock off Brazil in the quarterfinals?
P.O.: Sure. They've got the experience, they've been there before, they've certainly done it before, so there is no reason to think that France is going to be overmatched, but at the same time I think that Brazil seems to have that little extra flair that may end up making the difference.
HoustonDynamo.com: Looking at other teams now, Ukraine has got to be, by far, the most pleasant surprise of this World Cup.
P.O.: Yes, I would think so. At the beginning, Ukraine was one of those teams that nobody expected to go past the first round. Fortune was on their side after earning a 0-0 tie with Switzerland, and then winning on penalty kicks. That is the way the World Cup goes; if the results are on your side, you have a good chance of making it this far.
HoustonDynamo.com: Portugal-England. What is your prediction?
P.O.: I would love to see England do it, but they really have not shown me anything to prove that they'll go beyond this round. On the other hand, Portugal is overdue for a good run, so it would be nice to see them win as well.
HoustonDynamo.com: So, at the end of it all, is Brazil still your favorite?
P.O.: Yeah, they're still my favorite, even though there are other teams that I'd like to see win.
