We know it's hard to pick teams for this year's World Cup, but rather than helping everyone with that problem, we'll just help fans of the Minnesota Twins. Follow our handy slide show to see how some of your favorite Twins connect to teams in this year's World Cup. Cheer for the Kirby Puckett's, Zoilo Versalles' and Corey Koskie's of World Football.

1. Your Favorite Twin
Your Favorite Team
A Guide to Cheering for the World Cup

2. The World Cup kicks off on Thursday, and while most fans
in Twins Territory should be cheering for the US, there’s 45
other group matches, so you may be in the market for a
back-up team (particularly if--as many predict--the US
doesn’t make it past the first three matches).
The good news is, if you have a favorite Twin (past, present
or future), you have a favorite team, you just don’t know it
yet. We’ll walk you through how the other 31 teams match
with 31 of the most beloved Twins.
Introduction

3. Group A: Brazil = Kirby Puckett
Kirby’s a legend, beloved and forever linked to our most
glorious moments--just as Brazil has its own beloved/trophy
laden stature at home and abroad.

4. Group A: Croatia = Tom Brunansky
Bruno’s quietly consistent offense matches well with the
often overlooked Croatians, as do their shared moments of
glory: the ‘87 World Series and the ‘98 Semi-finals.

5. Group A: Cameroon =
Cameroon’s greatest moments come from the beloved aging
stars, Roger Milla, Samuel Eto’o...so if you loved the 3,000
hit reunion tour, sign up with the Indomitable Lions
Dave Winfield
Paul Molitor

6. Group A: Mexico = Eddie Guardado
There’s plenty of talent and speed here, but just as much of
a chance for total disaster. Gotta love a wild card.

7. Group B: Spain = Glen Perkins
A relatively shorter/recent rise to dominance, sure, but both
Spain and La Furia Roja combine talent with a lack of ego
and a penchant for end of game drama.

8. Group B: Holland = Bert Blyleven
Beyond the obvious birth connection, neither the Dutch nor
Blyleven ever grabbed the brass ring (the Cup/the Cy
Young) despite many opportunities

9. Group B: Chile = Tony Oliva
An offensive powerhouse that’s too often forgotten in the
wake of bigger names and more familiar stories (also--like
Blyleven, never got close to big hardware)

10. Group B: Australia = Justin Morneau
The glory days of the mid 00’s were magical, but a
combinations of injuries and age have fans clinging to
memories. Also, they both accept money with the Queen.

11. Group C: Colombia = Byron Buxton
Los Cafeteros are young, energetic, talented, poised for
greatness and a little banged up right now. Perhaps
“Cafetero” could be Buxton’s nickname?

12. Group C: Greece = Corey Koskie
Koskie, master of defense, always seemed perpetually
older than his peers, and the Greeks are similarly protective
and seem similarly ancient.

13. Group C: Cote D’Ivoire = Jim Thome
Ivory Coast is at the end of their “golden generation”, as
Thome was with the Twins. Plus: Ivory Coast has elephants
and Thome moved like one.

14. Group C: Japan = Torii Hunter
The Blue Samurai somehow find ways to be contenders no
matter how old they get, using athleticism and a strong
team ethic to get ahead, Torii would fit right in.

15. Group D: Uruguay = Zoilo Versailles
Uruguay’s moments in the sun are now ancient history, as
is Zoillo’s MVP performance. Tremendously athletic but
easily forgotten in the game’s history

16. Group D: Costa Rica = Gary Gaetti
Tenacious and terrifying, Los Ticos and “The Rat” definitely
have a common demeanor. (They also struggle when they
leave home: i.e. World Cups or Free Agency)

17. Group D: England = Harmon Killebrew
The Three Lions pride themselves on being gritty, tough,
professional and iconic symbols of the game--Killebrew’s
hard hitting, clean living, logo inspiring past matches nicely

18. Group D: Italy = Miguel Sano
A little dramatic? Sure! But with good reason, everything
they do reeks of history, and they combine lightning in a
bottle offense with stubborn, stagnant defense.

19. Group E: Switzerland = Frank Viola
Switzerland’s one of the top 10 teams in the world, not that
anyone notices. Viola’s history on the hill puts him near the
top of Twins pitching lists, again...not that anyone notices.

20. Group E: Ecuador = Brad Radke
Playing at the top of the world has forced La Tri to be
masters of endurance--Radke’s inning eating & sanity in
the face of the late 90’s Twins matches up nicely

21. Group E: France = Kent Hrbek
Iconic moments, a sprinkle of controversy and HUGE
appetites. Somebody buy Hrbie a beret and get him a date
with Zidane.

22. Group E: Honduras = Joe Nathan
Honduras has speed and athleticism, so between Nathan’s
fastball and the cliche that pitchers are the best athletes,
we have a match.

23. Group F: Argentina = Rod Carew
An unpredictable mix of dedicated professionalism,
leadership and rangy showmanship, Carew’s a consumate
artiste on the field--our own Maradona/Messi

24. Group F: =Alex Meyer
The only debutante in Brazil has both talent (Edin Dzeko)
and youth enough to have tremendous potential. Similar
expectations hang around Alex Meyer’s neck.
Bosnia/
Herzegovina

25. Group F: Iran = AJ Pierzinsky
I’ll spare you nuclear metaphors for AJ, his defense and
demeanor nettle to most rivals--Iran used the same exact
m.o. in qualifying and has the same persecution complex

26. Group F: Nigeria = Jack Morris
Black Jack Morris greatest moments come on the biggest
stages, and the Super Eagles have same mentality, performing
well enough in Cups to develop a rep, but not a pile of trophies.

27. Group G: Germany = Joe Mauer
Consistent, efficient, not glamorous, and stubborn in the
face of defensive shifts. Mauer lacks Die Mannschafft’s
hardware, but matches the pedigree.

28. Group G: Portugal = Michael Cuddyer
Sure, they’re talented and capable of winning and what not,
but the real power is in the dimples and easy charm--as if
Ronaldo was wandering Right Field himself

29. Group G: Ghana = Johan Santana
Both the Black Stars and Johan have plenty of speed, but they
also can pull back and change pace to frustrate opponents. Oh,
and they also endure agonizing near misses on a regular basis

30. Group H: Belgium = Brian Dozier
At this moment no two things are hotter than Belgian
football and Brian Dozier, they also share tremendous
defense, lightning striking and funny accents.

31. Group H: Algeria = Doug Mientkiewicz
Dougie Baseball had a few moments of offensive power, but he
was first and foremost a defensive star. Algeria’s got a similar
strategy, though it’s hard to pocket a soccer ball.

32. Group H: Russia = Chuck Knoblauch
Immensely easy to hate, quick to be dismissed as part of
an “evil empire” and erratically either ingenious or stupid on
the field itself. It’s like looking in a mirror.

33. Group H: South Korea = Jim Kaat
Kitty Kaat both blew past hitters and used great defense day
in and day out. On top of that, South Korea’s logo features a
cat...okay, I admit I’m reaching on some of these.