Australia unanimous: Brazil to win World Cup

The poll found that of the 64 per cent of the online population who expressed interest in the World Cup, 66 per cent expect Brazil to reach the final - with 48 per cent ultimately believing that they will lift the most coveted sporting trophy in the world for the sixth time on Sunday 9 July. However, exactly which team they will defeat is not so clear, with 29 per cent expecting Germany to reach the final and 24 per cent expecting Australia to reach the final. Other contenders include England (19 per cent), Argentina (17 per cent) and Italy (11 per cent).

Unfortunately, Brazil's anticipated success will not please the majority of the country's football fans - 75 per cent of whom expressed their wish to see Australia win the Cup. This strongly nationalistic sentiment is also echoed in the player popularity rankings. Whilst Brazil's Ronaldo and Ronaldinho together with England's Beckham are often cited internationally as most popular, Australian fans are clearly behind their country's own squad with Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka ranking first and second most popular - together representing more than half of the total votes (36 per cent and 21 per cent respectively). Taking third place was Ronaldo who with 10 per cent of the vote proved only slightly more popular than England's David Beckham (8 per cent).

The poll also indicates that television companies and advertisers can expect a boon as 43 per cent of those interested in the World Cup say they will burn the midnight oil to stay up and watch the final live at 5am on the morning of July 10 (local time) - a further 44 per cent having not yet decided. As to where they will watch the live final, 81 per cent plan to watch at home with a further 9 per cent expecting to enjoy the atmosphere of a pub, club, bar or karaoke bar to witness the event.

Jacqui von Hirschberg, General Manager of TNS Melbourne comments: 'Australians are really getting behind their team for this World Cup. It is interesting to see that Australians rank our own players as more popular than international favourites Ronaldo and Beckham.

'While still reserving hope for Australia's chances, there is also the ultimate acceptance that we are unlikely to win; that Brazil really is the favourite.'

Other results from the Asia Pacific region show Brazil as the outright favourite.