Photo by Earl Gardner

In the dark ages of the 80s and early 90s, before the Internet, satellite TV and multiple sports channels — in a country with no club soccer — the World Cup was the only access to the beautiful game.

I played in the park rec league and for my school. But I had no model for how the game should look. There were no matches on TV. No highlight reels. No YouTube videos set to lousy eurodance beats for inspiration.

There was only the World Cup.

The first World Cup I remember well was the 1990 tournament, which took place in Italy. Despite its infamy as one of the most dreadfully played tournaments, that World Cup was a revelation for me. I watched every match I could and was taken in by the Azzurri. I was mesmerized by the breakthrough performance of Salvatore Schillaci, the substitute striker who went on to win that tournament’s Golden Boot with six goals. There was the spectacular play of Diego Maradona. And there was even Jurgen Klinsmann — then a player for Inter Milan — scoring goals for West Germany and drawing a red card foul in the final that reduced Argentina to 10 men.

Today the sport is everywhere you turn — even the most basic of cable subscriptions delivers hours of Premier League and Bundesliga matches, El Classicos a plenty, Champions League legs and FA Cup ties. MLS is on ESPN, FS1 and 2. The Union are on broadcast television.

Still, nothing compares to the World Cup — the single greatest sporting event on the planet. It’s the world’s game. The most sought after prize on Earth.

With no U.S. team (and for me, no Italy) this year, it has been tough to pick a rooting interest. In general, I watch every game I can, just enjoying the competition for what it is. You never know when a classic match will unfold.

I’m excited for this tournament, if for not other reason than to distract us from more poor results for our local club. For those looking for help in picking a side, here are my favorites:

The Sure Thing: Brazil
In group with: Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Odds to win: 5-1

A lot will be made of Germany’s embarrassment of riches — a nation with a depth of talent so vast, head coach Joachim Low can leave his nation’s last World Cup final winner Mario Gotze home. But the smart bet as far as I’m concerned is Brazil.

Head coach Tite’s squad is stacked with talent — Ederson, Alisson, Coutinho, Firmino, Marcelo, Paulinho, Gabriel Jesus and Neymar — every player on the roster is a top flight, world class star. It’s hard to see how they can lose to anyone.

The only thing that could work against Brazil is the same thing that saw them embarrassed by Germany in 2014 — a lack of cohesion that prevented their talents from overcoming a much better organized German side. Brazil has the best talent. But are they the best team?

Win One for Messi: Argentina
In group with Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Odds to win: 8-1

In the never-ending argument for who is the best player in the world, I’m on team Lionel Messi. He is simply the most complete, dynamic player I have ever seen. The one thing that some hold against him is that he has never secured the World Cup for his homeland, a missing accomplishment that might forever pin him as lesser than his forbear, Maradona. Messi will turn 31 during the tournament, so this is likely last chance to secure immortal status.

Argentina’s squad is not as star studded as Brazil’s but it does have an impressive set of attacking players in Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Angel DiMaria. The questions for head coach Jorge Sampaoli’s squad are in defense. His  most talented defender might be Manchester City’s Nicolas Otamendi.

But, where there’s a Messi, there’s a chance.

The Dark Horse: Belgium
In a group with: Panama, Tunisia, England
Odds to win: 12-1

Belgium enters the 2018 World Cup as a stealth contender that, if all goes well, might be able to topple the teams ahead of them in the odds: Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Spain and France.

Head Coach Roberto Martinez has yet to name his provisional roster — he’ll do so on May 21 — but he has a great deal of talent at his disposal, much of which will be familiar to those who follow the Premier League: Keeper Thibaut Courtois, Spurs defenders Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, midfielders Kevin De Bruyne, Marouane Fellaini, Moussa Dembele and Eden Hazard, and a striker corps that will likely include Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke, Michy Batshuayi and Divock Origi.

This squad should be incredibly stingy in defense. If it can score goals, it will go far.

Cinderella Story: Egypt
In a group with: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Odds to win: 150-1

The fan favorite choice for a long-shot, underdog squad likely remains Iceland. But Sigurdsson and company are so 2016 Euro. The snowball’s chance in hell squad of 2018 is Egypt, a team formerly managed by the United States’ best-ever coach Bob Bradley. 

Interestingly enough, Egypt’s last appearance in the World Cup was 1990.

The story of Egypt is really all about the best player in Europe this year: Mohamed Salah. Coming off a record-breaking goal scoring season for Liverpool (46 goals in 54 matches across all competitions), the Egyptian forward has a steep hill to climb.

Salah is a star in a squad that’s not nearly was well known as the other teams in this list. His best known teammate to PSP readers is likely Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Alneny. Two of Egypt’s defenders play for MLS squads: Amro Tarek of Orlando City and Omar Gaber of LAFC.

Uruguay and Russia are formidable squads, but Egypt has a fair chance of upsetting one of them to make it out of the group stages. It’s been a fairy tale season for Salah so far, perhaps he can extend it in the summer.

I encourage dissent and discussion in the comment selection below. Who are you rooting for? Rooting against? Let us know.