With estimates suggesting that half the world's population will be doing nothing but watch football for the next one month, investment banker Goldman Sachs' latest report analyses the correlation between economic success and football prowess. Sadly, the correlation doesn't suggest that economic success goes hand in hand with football victories. Ingenuous explanations by Sachs' team have, however, been made to help show some connection.

A sampler: the success of Argentina in the late 70s and the '80s coincides with improvements in its economy! Brazil's FIFA ratings slipped during the early `80s, a time of economic turmoil in the region. Its return to world leader status, it appears, took place at the same time as its economy improved. Convenient.