ONE of the best things about covering this World Cup for ESPN is the team of experts they have assembled to cover the tournament.

They have Michael Ballack, Roberto Martinez, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gilberto Silva all working with them in the coming weeks.

I have caught up with all of them in the last few days and every one has an interesting take on who will do well - and how their own nations will perform.

It has been fascinating to compare their views and thoughts. It has also been striking to note that every single one of them thinks Brazil are the team to beat.

The only other time the World Cup has been staged in the South American country was way back in 1950 when the hosts lost the final to Uruguay.

That is very much "the one that got away" for the locals over here. Everyone is desperate for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side to put it right.

Interest in the tournament is, as you would expect, enormous. There is blanket coverage of it on television.

That even extends to the Brazilian training sessions. There is live coverage of every minute of them - with in-depth analysis from commentators and pundits from the warm-up to the last kick of the ball.

I am not sure what Scotland boss Gordon Strachan would have to say of that sort of coverage at one of his sessions. There has been a lot of talk about the Barcelona wonderkid Neymar for obvious reasons. He is a supremely talented player and could be one of the stars of the tournament.

But over here a lot of the Brazil fans feel that a great deal hinges on Fred who is less well known in Europe despite his stint at Lyon.

The feeling is that the Fluminense player, who plays up front alongside Neymar, has to have a good tournament in order for Brazil to have a good tournament.

Other Brazil players will be better known to Scottish football fans - the English-based players, for example.

They have some superb players. They also have a great balance to their side. They take on a Croatia team that Scotland beat both home and away in World Cup qualification in the opening game today.

With the likes of Luka Modric and Mario Mandzukic in their team I certainly think Croatia can stretch their rivals.

But I expect Brazil to start the tournament with a win.

I also anticipate that the defending champions Spain, who take on Holland tomorrow, will do well in the coming weeks.

Roberto Martinez will be my co-commentator in the Maracana on Sunday when Argentina take on Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Everton manager thinks his country are better than they were four years ago. He also feels they will be able to cope with the heat a lot better than many teams.

I had a chat with Ruud the other day about Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk and he thought his countryman was unlucky to miss out.

He reckoned defenders were tested more in Holland than they were in Scotland. But he still thought Van Dijk was unfortunate not to make the Dutch squad.

Holland are in a difficult group with Australia, Spain and Chile, who are also a good side, and I think they will be doing well to progress beyond the group stage.

Michael, meanwhile, is also not so confident about Germany's chances.

A lot of people fancy them to enjoy a good tournament as well.

But Michael thinks - and I am inclined to agree with him - that there are too many holes in their team.

They have defensive ­problems. They will also miss Marco Reus.

I arrived in Brazil last Friday and I must admit that this World Cup is a bit more rough about the edges than the other ones I have been at.

I am based in Rio de Janeiro just next to the Copacabana beach. It is the epicentre of the tournament.

But the official Fifa viewing area is not complete. Workmen have still been hammering away this week. However, I am sure the passion of the people will ensure this is a great success.

I said earlier this week that I thought Argentina would prevail and I am standing by that prediction.

I am looking forward to seeing them in action this weekend. There may be question marks about them defensively.

But I reckon they will be the side that plays the most attractive and most attacking football in this tournament.

From middle to front they have some talented stars. They can also field the likes of Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi in attack.

Messi is, at 26, the same age as his celebrated countryman Diego Maradona was when he led Argentina to glory at the World Cup in 1986.

I am sure football fans across the planet, not just in his homeland, would like to see the diminutive superstar light up this tournament in Brazil in the same way Maradona did in Mexico.