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World Cup Pub Crawl BY MARK MEDLEY For 31 days in June and July, this city will be engulfed in civil war. Friend will turn against friend, husband against wife, neighbour against neighbour. Those who don't give a damn about the World Cup of soccer will just have to stock up on food and fresh water and ride out the storm. The Copa Mundial begins June 9, and as Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, we'll have supporters of just about every country clogging our streets, honking car horns and waving flags. This also means there will be lots of places to watch the games. This year's tournament takes place in Germany, and for fans of the host nation who can't make it to Deutschland, there are a few options here in Toronto. The Goethe Institut (163 King W., 416-593-5257) will be showing all weekday games for free live on the big screen. And the consulate generals of Germany and Poland have organized a World Cup party on June 14 at the Blue Danube (1686 Ellesmere, 416-290-6186) to coincide with the Poland-Germany game, a key first-round matchup for both teams. The Italians are perennial favourites, but this year they enter play under the cloud of one of the biggest game-fixing scandals since the Chicago Black Sox in the 1919 World Series. Start off in Little Italy and drop in at Il Gatto Nero (720 College, 416-536-3132), where they'll be broadcasting all the games. If you can't find a place inside, try your luck on one of the patios. Café Diplomatico (594 College, 416-534-4637) will be the centre of the action on the College strip. They'll have 10 televisions on the patio, a 100-inch TV inside and a 50-inch inside a private room that you and 20 of your closest friends can rent out for one of the games. Head north to Corso Italia on St. Clair West, where the community will be hosting St. Clair Kick It! (www.stclairkickit.ca). It runs from June 2 until June 18 and features film screenings, food and a four-on-four tournament for the St. Clair Cup. Then there's Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta (www.torontofiesta.com), which gets under way July 7 -- meaning that if Italy somehow puts all the controversy behind them and makes it to the final, this promises to be the biggest party in the city. While Italy may be a perennial favourite, jolly old England is a perennial choker, searching for its first title since 1966 (my grandfather played for England, so I can make fun). The squad may be suffering through the injury to star striker Wayne Rooney, but that doesn't mean we can't still get drunk. The cozy Duke of Gloucester (649 Yonge, 416-961-9704) will likely be standing-room-only, though you can always head outside and watch the TV they have on the patio. South Korea was a co-host in 2002, and they shocked the world by making it to the final four. The karaoke bars on Bloor West should be rocking, but, for a traditional bar, check out the game on the big screen at Clinton's (693 Bloor W., 416-535-9541) and indulge in beer, wings and soccer, a combo that, scientifically, has yet to be beat. Little Portugal (a.k.a. Dundas West) is sure to be busy during the tournament. Proving that even the fanciest restaurant can't escape World Cup mania, Lisbon by Night (802 Dundas W., 416-603-6522) will be broadcasting all of Portugal's games. So you can take your significant other for a romantic date and keep your eye on the score at the same time. Having absolutely no idea where fans of Brazil hang out, I contacted the Brazilian consulate. They say you can follow Ronaldo and company on the big screen at Rio 40 (1256 St. Clair W., 416-654-6363) and Cervejaria Downtown (842 College, 416-588-0162), who are bringing in extra TVs to accommodate the number of fans expected throughout the tournament. For those of you with no allegiance, there are some great neutral locations to watch the games. McSorley's (1544 Bayview, 416-932-0655) is like the basement of your best friend's sports-crazed dad. With close to 20 TVs, it's an ideal place to watch a game. The Bottom Line (22 Front W., 416-362-7585) has the best wings I've ever tried. Throughout the tournament, the chef will be preparing meals each day depending on which team is playing. It's the self-proclaimed "classiest sports bar in Toronto," so your orange Dutch jersey might look out of place next to all the Armani in the room. Remember, it's only a game, so who cares who wins and loses, as long as we all share a beer and have a good time. (Go England!)

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