AMERICA

	Bora has enough frequent flier miles for all of us.

Borders? What borders? Cameroon will be coached by a German, Ecuador by a Colombian, England by a Swede, South Korea by a Dutchman, Senegal by a Frenchman, Japan by another Frenchman, Paraguay by an Italian who, after enduring years of abuse from the Italian press, probably feels like he's on holiday. And then there's Bora. He coached the US team during the 1994 World Cup campaign. He's also coached Mexico, Costa Rica and Nigeria. He's the first man to coach five teams in the World Cup, and the last four made it to the second round. This year he's at the helm of soccer's final-frontier nation, China. Playing in its first tournament, Bora's China team will be one of the weakest squads, and they play Brazil in the opening round. But Brazil managed only a 1-0 win over the Costa Rica team coached by Milutinovic in the 1990 World Cup, and Bora's US team lost to Brazil, the eventual champion, by the same score in '94. Don't be surprised if China keeps it close.

CHEATING

Stuff happens. The last great moment was Diego Maradona's famous Hand of God for Argentina in 1986, when he punched the ball into the net. (The referee failed to notice.) In 1978, host Argentina needed to win by four goals against Peru to qualify for the final. They won 6-0. (Peruvian partisans noted that Peru's goalkeeper, Ramon Quiroga, was originally from Argentina.) In a crucial '89 qualifier against Brazil, Chilean keeper Roberto Rojas cut himself with a scalpel after a flare thrown from the crowd landed next to him, trying to make it seem the flare had caused the bleeding so that his team would be awarded the win in a forfeit. (Rojas' ban was only recently lifted.) Who can forget the Teutonic tag-team cheating of 1982, when West Germany and Austria barely broke a sweat in their first-round game? (Practically everybody, because nobody was awake by the end of a somnambulant 1-0 West German win that ensured both teams would advance to the second round at the expense of Algeria, which had shocked the world by beating Germany 2-1 just days before.) Even the taint of suspicion can have dire consequences. In 1994, when Colombian defender Andrés Escobar returned home after scoring an own-goal in a loss to the US, a "fan" shot him to death.

DEATH

Speaking of which, in every World Cup, there is a Group of Death. In this year's top quartet -- Group F, officially -- you've got one of the favorites (Argentina), the country that invented the game (England), the most unpredictable team in the tournament (Nigeria) and a team that's just a pain in the neck to play (Sweden). The two that advance to the Round of 16 could be too exhausted to go a step further. England, for example, opens with Sweden, a team that excels at making good teams play poorly. Then it's off to play Argentina for what is certain to be the most-watched match of the first round. Finally, it'll play Nigeria, a side that can play skillfully or physically, depending on its collective mood. Catch the Nigerians in a foul disposition, and the injury-riddled England squad could find itself limping to the airport for an early flight home. If that happens, the greeting at Heathrow could be worse than death.

	Nothing like a good sex scandal to spice up the World Cup.

ERIKSSON

If there's anything Brits like better than soccer, it's a juicy sex scandal. Prosit! Sven Goran Eriksson, the stylish, erudite Swede now coaching England, touched off a real knicker-knotter this April. Evidently, Eriksson cheated on his girlfriend, a beautiful, powerful -- and possessive -- Italian woman named Nancy Dell'Olio, and started up an affair with a beautiful, powerful -- and possessive -- Swede, Ulrika Jonsson. The British press was in heaven. "Sven's Red Hot Love Line" screamed one tabloid's headline. "Sinister, Sleazy Side of Sport's Mister Suave" cluck-clucked another. Succeeding exercises in investigative journalism unleashed new plums: "Ulrika's Fury at 'Lying Cad' " … "The Sultry Shopaholic Who Won't Let Go" … "Swedish Envoy Roots for Sven's Girlfriend No. 1" … "Fiery Nancy Fights for What She Wants" … "Ulrika's Mum: My Girl's No Tart" … "Ulrika Admits Defeat in Love Tug for Sven" … "Ciao, Ulrika" … and "Welcome to Our National Sport, Sven." Final score: Italy 1, Sweden 0.

FIGO

If you were to design your dream footballer, Luís Figo -- European Player of the Year in 2000 and FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001 -- would be your model. Strong, with explosive speed, Portugal's star midfielder is skillful enough to turn ankles and slalom by defenders, quick enough to touch the ball forward and fly by and powerful enough to flatten defenders. No moment in soccer is more scintillating, more charged with possibility, than when Figo cuts in from the wing and streaks across the field with the ball. The so-called "Golden Generation" of world-class Portuguese players who won the 1991 World Youth Cup is now in its prime. Inspired by Figo's play, Portugal (known in the world of World Cup as the "Brazil of Europe" for its style of play) set Euro 2000 ablaze, advancing to the semis before being nipped by eventual champ France. "Without the ball," Figo says, "I am only half complete." With it, he's definitely the full package.

GAMBLING

Looking for some action? British gambling shops have Italy's Christian Vieri and France's David Trézéguet as the co-favorites at 9-1 to win the Golden Boot Award for scoring the most goals. They're followed by French forward Thierry Henry (10-1). Best values: England's Michael Owen and Spain's Raúl at 11-1. Unsettling for the US is that their best scoring threat, Clint Mathis, is rated at 80-1. For lovers of the extreme longshot, Paraguay goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert, who scores now and then on free kicks and penalties, is 750-1. France (10-3) and Argentina (9-2) are the favorites to win the Cup, while China and Saudi Arabia are the biggest longshots at 750-1. The US? 300-1.

HAIR

Too bad Colombia failed to qualify: Carlos Valderrama, 40, and his fabulous frizzy blond 'fro deserve one last day in the sun together. Instead, they'll have to settle for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Meanwhile, Valderrama's absence paves the way for a new King of Coif. The favorites include …Taribo West (Nigeria): Dyes his braids green, then pulls them up to the top of his head in pigtails. Fredrik Ljungberg (Sweden): Pink's trying to get in touch with you -- she wants her hair back. Hidetoshi Nakata (Japan): Ultrahip MF (considered cooler than Ichiro) changes his hair color more often than Nigeria changes coaches. His coppery-red dye job for the 1998 Cup triggered a look-alike craze among Japanese youth. Emmanuel Petit (France): That long, flowing blond mane makes him look part Thor, part Fabio. David Beckham (England): However he cuts it, however he dyes it, Posh digs it.

INJURIES

Out: France -- Robert Pires, a vital MF, puts even more playmaking weight on Zidane; Germany -- Sebastian Deisler, means a toothless attack will have even less bite; Spain -- GK Santiago Cañizares, who severed a tendon in his foot stepping on a broken bottle of aftershave; Italy -- Demetrio Albertini, the tactical master of cutting off space; US -- Chris Armas, a huge blow to America's defense. In: England -- David Beckham's left foot, broken in a Champions League match at the hands (actually, the feet) of an Argentinean, no less, triggered an official expression of national alarm from 10 Downing St. But he's back, just in time. The English need their captain: Becks is the most dangerous free-kick taker in the game.

JERSEYS

The classics remain the classics: Brazil's yellow; Italy's blue; Argentina's light-blue-and-white vertical stripes; Germany's white with black trim; England's white with red trim. Nigeria's bold green has been inexplicably lightened to a pukey lime, triggering a public outcry in Lagos, and there are the usual design overstatements. Cameroon's attempt to defy the laws of tradition with sleeveless tops was negged by the FIFA fashion police, who said they were nothing more than vests. The 2000 Olympic champs eventually got a model approved, but they're keeping it top secret until their opener against Ireland on June 1.

KEEPERS

Bruce Arena's biggest luxury is also his biggest headache. In Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel, the US has two world-class goalkeepers. Problem is, there's no way to keep them both happy. "Last time I checked," says Arena, who's acutely aware of his dilemma, "only one of them can play at a time." And -- so far, at least -- neither has stepped forward to say, "If I don't get the call, I'll be the other guy's No. 1 rooter on the sidelines." At 6'4" and 202 pounds, Friedel is an intimidating presence. Keller's smaller (6'2", 190), but his sense of anticipation helps him make spectacular stops. Keller is a slightly better shotblocker, Friedel is superior at ball-distribution. Who's sharper? After helping Blackburn earn a promotion to England's Premier League last season, Friedel started nearly every game this year. "Friedel for England!" is now a popular Blackburn chant, marking the first time in recorded history that English fans have entertained the possibility of a Yank playing for their side, much less in their country's net. Keller spent most of this year languishing on Tottenham's bench in the Premier League, but his play for the US has been brilliant. His four shutouts in five games at the Gold Cup only made things more complicated. Big egos are in play. Friedel's club coach called Brad one of the 10 best netminders in the world; before the 1998 World Cup, after shutting out Brazil in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Keller was labeled the greatest American-born footballer. Last June, after putting off his honeymoon to join the national team for two qualifiers -- only to watch them from the bench -- Friedel nearly quit the squad. Arena defused that situation, but stakes are higher in World Cup play. "I've never thought about being No. 2," says Friedel. "How do you react to that adverse situation? You never know until it happens."

LONGSHOTS

Or dark horses. Or sleepers. Whatever you call them, keep your eye on Cameroon, Spain, Portugal and Denmark. Cameroon's Indomitable Lions have the offense to go where no African team has ever gone -- to the semis. Spain, as always, is loaded and has the world's best sniper in Raul -- but, as always, is expected to choke. Portugal has Figo, Rui Costa and the aura of a team of destiny. And the high-rolling Danes, ever willing to throw caution to the wind, carry the memory of dismantling Nigeria in 1998, when the Super Eagles looked like world beaters. This year, Denmark's in the second Group of Death (with Uruguay, France and Senegal) and figures -- on paper -- to be on an early plane home. Good thing for the Danes they play the World Cup on grass, not paper.

MISSING

Since the 1970s, when they brought love beads, long hair and a high-octane Total Football to international competition, the Dutch have been, by far, the coolest team in World soccer. And their fans have always been the best-dressed. But this year the Netherlands lost out to Portugal and Ireland, so we'll all miss seeing two of soccer's most spectacular goal-scorers, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Kluivert. Liberia, headed by George Weah, the aging star and universally loved good guy who bankrolled his national team for many years, almost defeated Nigeria, but came up just short for the final slot from its region. Fans will also be denied the pleasure of seeing Andriy Shevchenko and Ryan Giggs, two stars who play for the World Cup's version of small-market teams, Ukraine and Wales. The most unexpected absence is that of Irish midfielder (and Manchester United captain) Roy Keane. In a startling turn of events, following an argument with assistant coach Packie Bonner, Keane was sent home from Korea for being a "disruptive influence" on the team. Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern has stepped in with an offer to mediate the dispute -- but don't expect any reconciliation.

This article appears in the June 10 issue of ESPN The Magazine.