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Maybe you have a team picked for the World Cup, and maybe you don't, either way, if you want to align yourself with one of Canada's, leading soccer experts, here's some help picking which teams you may want to keep an eye on.

Tallying up over 47 cups playing for Canada and playing in the only World Cup Canada has ever been to in 1986 and on the Summer Olympic team in 1984, I'd say, Bobby Lenarduzzi, WhitecapsFC GM is a great source!

Prior to catching a plane headed for Toronto to join the CBC World Cup 2010 Broadcast team; Bobby spent some time, sharing his thoughts on the upcoming tournament.  
And here are his World Cup picks.

Lenarduzzi feels that it's going to be the same as it has been for most of the World Cups in that one of the established countries will prevail.  This includes Germany, Italy, Brazil and Argentina.

The World Cup requires strategic pacing over the month long tournament and those teams with actual World Cup experience will have an advantage navigating thought the group stage and into the semi-final and final rounds.
 
Bobby supports this reasoning with the example of the 1982 Italian team that drew all their group stage games and then went on to win the World Cup.
 
"It's really a question of peaking at the right time, and countries that have been there before understand what it takes,"  says Lenarduzzi.
 
People are excited about the African and Asian countries as well as the countries (Mexico and the U.S.) in the Concacaf region, but Lenarduzzi feels they just don't have the chance to win the big prize.

"I just don't think that the mentality is there to win the world cup for those countries."
 
Then I asked him, who his personal favourite is.

With an honest face, he says, England.

Can you believe it?

I hope not, because with the full name of Robert ITALO Lenarduzzi, Bobby's pick is clearly the defending champion, Italy.  Lenarduzzi feels strongly that their experience as champions and their discipline give them the edge
.
"They (Italy) may not be the most pleasing team to watch at times, but they know what needs to be done in order to have success", Lenarduzzi says as he smiles.
 
Well whether it's because he has a connection to the country or not, picking Italy is most likely going to give you a team you can follow into the final rounds.

You can catch Canadian soccer icon Bobby Lenarduzzi, commentating on CBC's live coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  Check out cbcsports.ca for a full listing and game coverage schedule.
 
Here in the West Coast, the games will be broadcast live at 4:15am, 6:45 am, and 11:15 am.  Be sure to catch the World Cup pre-game show on CBC!

We've got you covered for the FIFA 2010 World Cup!