Klinsmann: It will be World Cup of surprises

German legend Jurgen Klinsmann said yesterday that an underdog could go far in what he is predicting will be a “World Cup of surprises” in Qatar.

The hosts play Ecuador in the opening game today of the first World Cup held in the northern hemisphere winter.

The change from the usual June-July slot means this World Cup falls in the middle of the club season in Europe. “I think this could be a World Cup of surprises because if some of the kind of underdogs — maybe if it’s an African nation, if it’s an Asian team — if they are courageous I think you can go actually far in this tournament,” he said.