DW's very own World Cup team

"Paul Gascoigne's tears at Italia 90 turned me on to football and now weeping in front of England every four years has become a personal ritual. I expect more tears this time around, but the blow will definitely be softened by reporting live from the World Cup for the first time."

"This is my first World Cup and I get to go to the heart of world football - what a treat! I was here in Brazil a year ago, sensed a lot of euphoria and skepticism. Now, the euphoria is in the ascendency, that's also the case with me."

I am still a big fan of Rio de Janeiro, it's my second home. Since my time as a correspondent for the German newspaper "taz" during the 1990s, I have always felt attached to this place. It's great to experience the tournament now from Copacabana, as a DW reporter.

"With my other DW colleagues I form part of our Bonn-based reporter team for this World Cup. Having been in Sarajevo for the '94 tournament, I was delighted to see Bosnia and Herzegovina, with their skillful, attacking style, finally make it to the dance. But the competition they'll face now is in another league! A healthy Germany might just get to the final, but I'm tipping Brazil to win it. "

"As comedian Bill Bailey once put it: I'm English, therefore I crave disappointment. Our national team has largely obliged on this front over the years. The game I'm looking forward to least is England Uruguay: I've no idea who will win the World Cup, but believe Spain's run will end."

"Most anticpated match: Germany v USA. Klinsmann v Löw on the sideline, far more than 11 Germans on the pitch and an excuse to enthusiastically cheer against my German friends. Predicted World Cup winner: Brazil."

"I'm from Scotland and can't remember my country at a World Cup - so maybe I'm really a neutral! It's all up for grabs and I think one of the South Americans will lift the trophy. But I'm excited to see more of Japan and Chile at the tournament."

"As you can tell from the shirt I'm wearing I'm a fan of club football, not any particularly national team - although now that Nasri's out of the squad, I suppose I could support France. With their ultra-talented midfield Germany should win the WC, but they lack spine, and Brazil simply aren't good enough. Spain again is my pick."

"Football connoisseurs like to think of the World Cup as an amateur-hour - it's second-class football made all the more distasteful by displays of crude patriotism. I say, 'So what?' I reckon England will win. Or Germany. Definitely one of those two."

"This year has been a resounding success for attacking football, and I expect that to continue in Brazil. There's something about the hosts that makes me think they'll end Spain's run of dominance, but I'd like to see Germany realize their potential."

"Growing up as a sports-mad kid in Australia, I played both cricket and football and reported on both. These days, as I'm now in the German national cricket team, I will definitely be supporting the DFB team at the coming World Cup. "