The World Cup will ruin my career-Preity

.. jokes Preity Zinta, who makes it a point to watch football matches till the wee hours.

As the soccer World Cup fever hots up in Germany, actor Preity Zinta, an avid soccer enthusiast, participates in the excitement in her own way.

Preity has been glued to the television set from day one. "I think the World Cup will ruin my career,"she jokes.

"I don't miss any game. If it's a big match I come early or catch the highlights whenever I get the time. And the next day, early morning I report for shooting. Thank God it's not showing on my face,"she says.

"It's a different high when you watch the best of teams come together and fight for the cup,"she says. Besides, she has found somebody who shares her passion for the sport. "Ness (Wadia) is very passionate about soccer. But aren't most men that way?"

Does Preity cheer for any particular country? "Argentina's a good team, Brazil's good too, but this time, they haven't played their trump card too well. Maybe they've kept their top players for the semi-final."

Her list of favourite players goes like this: Ronaldinho and Kaka from Brazil and Tony from Italy. And who does she think is hot?

"Anyone who scores the goal is hot for me. Jo jeeta wahi mere liye sikander hai,"she says. Across the world, soccer has reached crazy heights but the Indian team has yet to make it big. Says Preity, "It's sad that we are not there.

I feel we give too much attention to cricket, while all other games are given a step-motherly treatment. It's important that we groom and promote other sports as well,"she says on a serious note.