Ranking all 32 nations participating in the World Cup

Nobody asked me (but then again, they never do), so naturally we here at SI.com figured that, on the eve of the Biggest Show on Earth, it was time to roll out some World Cup Power Rankings.

Here's my challenge: During both weeks of the group stage, I'll rank all 32 teams, from top to bottom based on their play, good news and bad news and general hot or cold streaks. Once we reach the knockout rounds, we'll keep ranking the teams that are still alive.

So here we go, jogo bonito fans: Our inaugural World Cup Power Rankings as the action gets set to kick off.

Note: All stats, rankings, and records as of June 4.

World Cup Power Rankings Rank LW Country 1 -- Brazil No surprise here. Until they prove otherwise, the Canarias are the team to beat. And for now, no one even comes close. Brazil has been ranked No. 1 for the past four years. 2 -- Germany The Germans are starting to believe. Not only is their team (mostly) in top physical shape, but they're also riding a head of steam from three routs in four friendlies against the U.S., Luxembourg and Colombia -- combined score: 14-1. Add to that the glory of being the hosts: Three of the past four home teams advanced to at least the semis. 3 -- Argentina Quit the melodrama, Martin Demichelis: You may not want to go on living, but this team is better off with José Pekerman's attack-heavy lineup. With Julio Cruz and Rodrigo Palacio added to an already dangerous front line, Argentina has better odds against one of the most defensive groups in the draw. 4 -- England Late-blooming Peter Crouch just danced himself into Sven-Göran Eriksson's starting lineup with a blur of goals in England's final qualifiers. If anyone's been paying attention, it's the same ugly-duckling routine the 6-foot-7 (165-pound!) striker did with Liverpool this past season. Let's hope it doesn't take him as long to warm up in Germany. 5 -- Italy They've been extremely sluggish in their warmups, so it's hard to say how the Azzurri will perform. The back line and midfield are largely the same group that has been patrolling the pitch for years. Up front, dangerous strikers Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino are the fresh faces that could spell trouble for Group E -- and the rest of the draw. 6 -- France The knock on Les Bleus is that they're old. Maybe. But look at that lineup: Barthez. Coupet. Thuram. Gallas. Makélélé. Sagnol. Vieira. Zidane. Dhorasoo. Wiltord. Henry. Trézéguet. We should all age so gracefully. 7 -- Netherlands The Oranje are a solid team top to bottom, but something about this team hasn't sat right with me. They're young, which could be a positive or a negative, depending on their confidence level. They're potent, but also known to go to sleep offensively. But the biggest red (orange?) flag? They're fragile. If the injuries keep piling up, the Dutch are headed back across the border early. 8 -- Mexico El Tricolor arguably has the most to prove of any World Cup team. Mexico has consistently been ranked in the top 10 over the past eight years and has next to nothing to show for it. Head coach Ricardo Lavolpe is instilling a cautiously relaxed attitude in his players, which could be the cure for what ails -- or a hideous disaster. 9 -- Spain Most overused phrase in World Cup history: "Is this finally the year the Spaniards get it together?" Will someone please tell Luis Aragonés that Cesc Fàbregas, Fernando Torres and David Villa are too young to remember most of Spain's big-time letdowns? If the young dudes play, this team can be scary. 10 -- Czech Republic Their No. 2 world ranking is, quite honestly, almost as overinflated as the Americans are at No. 5. Add to that a ridiculous rash of injuries, a load of aging players, rather pedestrian tactics and an unimaginative coach in Karel Bruckner, and the Czechs aren't nearly as intimidating as everyone's making them out to be.

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