How Brown sees the Cup

With all the logic and sound reasoning that he has presented for the above three, Brown will reserve his vote for the country where he is currently doing a one-year attachment - England.

"My team though is England. As long as Michael Owen stays fit they should stand a chance despite the number of injuries that they are experiencing," he said.

The captain and midfield lynchpin David Beckham, Kieron Dyer, Nicky Butt, Ashley Cole, Robbie Fowler and first-string goalkeeper David Seaman are all nursing injuries while Gary Neville, Steven Gerrard and Danny Murphy who have all been ruled out.

"Outside of this though, I get a sneaky feeling that this one will produce a shocker. With the number of injuries to some of the top players, the situation is ripe for that happening. Just this week Zidane got an injury and the others are well documented."

One of the outsiders with a chance of stepping through the back gate are African Nations Cup winners Cameroon, a youthful but experienced team which has been together for four years.

"An outsider could come from Africa. Cameroon are the team I would give the best chance out of Africa," he said.

"Nigeria perhaps produce better quality players but organisation and the group that they are drawn in (with Argentina, England and Sweden) could make it difficult for them to get past the first round," said Brown.

The outsiders could also come from Europe in the form of a team which has a reputation of promising much leading up to the tournament but choking on the big stage.

At a time when not many eyes are being focussed on them, Spain could pleasantly surprise, Brown believes.

"Spain have been there many times and have flattered to deceive. This one though could be the one at which they do it. To me they are the outsiders to the big four (France, Argentina, Brazil and England).

Fan favourites such as Italy and Portugal were given some thought before having their chances dismissed. Italy, despite their good showing at Euro 2000, are not the type of team they have been in the past, Brown said.

In their squad, he said, are good players such as Roma playmake Francesco Totti and Inter Milan goalscorer Christian Vieri but "they are not dazzling".

"They never set the world alight in their qualifiers," Brown said before stating that their key player Totti was not 100 per cent fit.

Like Totti, Portugal's Luis Figo has been struggling for fitness and form. Figo's problem, according to Brown, has to do with the length of his season.

"The season has been particularly long - especially for players who took part in the Champions League finals and I suspect that it will take its toll. Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid and Brazil) has been quiet (on the football field), Zidane just got injured, Figo is still struggling and there is Michael Ballack (Bayer Leverkusen and Germany).

"Portugal's other top man, Manuel Rui Costa, is just getting back to playing condition following an injury layoff.

As far CONCACAF's representatives go, the United States and Costa Rica will shoulder the burden, Brown believes.

"Usually Mexico are the strong representatives but this time the US and Costa Rica will take it up," he said.

"In the case of the US, the number of games they have played in the past month and a half could help or hurt them. They could be now fine-tuned or arrive a tired bunch."

If they do not arrive a tired bunch then they could make an impression as Brown says they are in a fairly reasonable group with Portugal, South Korea and Poland. Portugal are the toughest team to take on and providing they play well, they could take second place and advance.

Costa Rica are drawn with Brazil, Turkey and first-time qualifiers China.

"After Brazil, any number can play in this group. If they play at their best then Costa Rica should be able to make it out also," said Brown.