Time to Get That World Cup Feeling

Can you feel it?

Jürgen Klinsmann can, but that's because he's still thinking about what might've been.

Incompetence at the top will do that to a program.

For the rest of the world -- Italy excepted --  World Cup fever is finally happening.

There will be the Viking thunder-clap. Hopefully, there will be no vuvuzelas or caxirolas. What's next?

 

Not quite.

The Russians have their own idea. Believe it or not, dudeskis are gonna promote the use of spoons.

 

Medieval inverse tongs. Right. Go team.

Speaking of ...

Here's the expanded field that the USA Men's National Team still didn't make:

 

According to Bovada and damn near everyone else on the planet, look no further than the usual suspects to find the favorites.

Here are the odds on everyone, just in case one of them decides to pull a Vegas Golden Knights or Leicester City Foxes:

Let's take a look at the top five:

Argentina

The 2014 runners-up, Los Gauchos will now count on a more experienced squad to earnn their third title in World Cup history.

Of course, when it comes to Argentina, it's impossible not to think about one name ...

The magical Lionel Messi:

 

France

With just one major trophy to its name, Les Bleus will now turn to its outstandingly talented younger generation. It wouldn't be a surprise to see them earn one or more trophies in the next few Cups.

As for this year, Antoine Griezmann is the chosen one to lead the Gallics to glory:

 

Germany

The four-time and current champions, Die Mannschaft is attempting to match Brazil as the most successful national team in history.

Joachim Löw in the process of replenishing the team's talent, and their new generation is as good as the previous one. How deep is this squad? Here's a hint: Mario Götze didn't make the cut.

The Germans' all-time top scorer, Miroslav Klose, has hung up his boots, so Thomas Müller will lead the charge this time around:

 

Spain

The 2010 champions, La Roja are loaded with a balanced squad yet again.

Their most notorious player this time is a 'keeper, none other than David de Gea. The Manchester United star is having his best season ever, consistently stopping some of the world's best snipers.

Dude's never short on monumental saves:

 

Brazil

Having already bagged five Cups, A Seleção Canarinho are seeking to forget the 2014 World Cup they hosted, when they were incredibly humiliated by Germany, 7-1, in the semi-finals.

That was the worst defeat ever seen at this stage of the Cup, not to mention in the national team's history.

With a better offensive system and a functional defense, Brazil's hopes again rest on the shoulders of PSG star Neymar, who's struggling to be fit after a foot injury suffered in a February match against Marseille. Obviously, it'll be a huge loss if he can't go.

 

As to the best of the rest, that'll be up to the football gods.

Uruguay -- winner of the first-ever World Cup and vying to host another -- is always a tough out, as is Serbia.

Belgium's grooming what it hopes to be a second golden generation. Perhaps a fateful bounce or two would make them the darlings of this tournament.

Just don't count on it. World Cup champions are those sides who are covered in chalk.