Does SI jinx apply to World Cup?

[ElCesar]

I have not seen the issue, but it seems that Ronaldinho is on the front page of Sports Illustrated: si.com link (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/specials/world_cup/2006/)

Of course, it is well known (in the US) that the front page of Sports Illustrated imposes an enormous jinx on anyone who appears on it.

I hope it does not apply to soccer, or Ronaldinho (and Brazil) are in deep trouble

[el mero mero]

well si predicted france would win it in 98, so i doubt it, but it wasnt the cover story

looks like the us is on the cover, so who knows:D

[Unico10]

well si predicted france would win it in 98, so i doubt it, but it wasnt the cover story

looks like the us is on the cover, so who knows:D

I just got it and the US is one the cover, I have not read the article, but the note on the cover says something like "They can win."

I live in the US and I want so much soccer to become more popular and therefore I want the USMNT to do well, but it seems to me that the "soccerhaters" (you US guys know who I am talking about) are out in force setting our sport up for failure.

All the Nike barrage, the Coca-Cola Fifa rankings and now SI, are creating unrealistic expectations that could damage soccer's fan base.

I am not saying that the USMNT cannot do well. They can win a big game (like the one against Italy) and they can certainly pass the group stage, but to imply that they can win the WC is just ignorance.

To win the WC a team must win a big game 4 times in a row... that's why the surprises always stop in the semifinals or the quarterfinals. It can happen (sometimes) at home, see France in 1998, but the only teams capable of winning WCs away from home have been Brazil, Argentina, Italy and Germany (Uruguay also but in a round robin format in 1950) and to think that anyone besided these four + maybe France, maybe England and (I am stretching here...) Netherland, Spain and Portugal has a realistic chance is just dreaming.

Now (before you all kill me...) dreaming is GOOD, but when advertised by SI and pumped by Nike et al... dreaming becomes expectations and that is NOT good for soccer, especially youth soccer in the US.