Kaiser Tells It Like It Is

Safely out of Ecuadorian earshot, the Kaiser tells it like it is: Germany is the sole Group A favorite, and the other three teams will just have to battle it out for the second qualifying position. Franz Beckenbauer was in Costa Rica yesterday during his gritty re-enactment of Around the World In Eighty Days when he visited with Costa Rican football authorities and made his observation. And who can blame him: he’s right. Ecuador will have to scuffle with Poland and Costa Rica for a shot at the knockout round. Of course, if Ecuador could steal a draw from the Germans….