World Cup 2010 predictions - Final & third place playoff

We are now down to the last 2 games of the tournament, which shall be:

Third place play-off: England v Argentina
Final: Netherlands v Spain

Both matches promise to be intriguing & mouth-watering. England v Argentina because both are arch-rivals. Netherlands v Spain because both teams play open, attacking football - the sort of football I like.

Well, read on:


Third place play-off: England v Argentina

Argentina against England is one of football's biggest grudge matches, probably the only inter-continental rivalry in international football. The rivalry developed from a mixture of controversial incidents in past World Cup matches between both sides, & non-footballing events that affected Argentina & the UK. Due to the sheer intensity of their rivalry, neither side will treat the third place play off lightly, even if no trophy will be at stake. The contrast in styles will most likely be evident. Argentina will play with their traditional short-passing possession game & attack England at every possible opportunity. England will concede possession to Argentina, be compact in midfield & look to hit Argentina on the break. Aaron Lennon's speed could be useful on the right midfield, but this is where the English could also do with Theo Walcott's pace - they will miss that because Walcott was not picked for the tournament. As for Argentina, their first player opponents will be wary of is Barcelona man Leo Messi. By this stage of the tournament, Messi could well confirm his status as world's best footballer - even if not enough to lead Argentina to the World Cup final. But as I previously mentioned, Argentina are so much more than Messi. With forwards like Tevez, Higuain, Aguero & D Milito to choose from, they have greater depth in attack than anyone else in this tournament, certainly including England. With promptings from midfield, this set of forwards could score enough goals to compensate for Argentina's defensive deficiencies.

Prediction: Argentina to win by 1 goal margin (2-1 or 3-2), so the Argies finish third & England finish fourth.


Final: Netherlands v Spain

So far, no European team has ever won any World Cups held outside Europe. I predict that this will change, with an all-European final for 2010. The Dutch against the Spaniards. These are arguably the 2 greatest underachievers in international football, notwithstanding Spain's Euro 2008 triumph. While both teams have won the European Championships (Spain twice, Netherlands once), neither of them have won the World Cup before, so new winners will certainly be crowned this year. The Netherlands have been to 2 World Cup finals, losing to the hosts (West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978) on each occasion. Spain, remarkably, have not even been to the World Cup semi-finals - something which I predict will change at this World Cup. Both the Netherlands & Spain also happen to be Europe's 2 best teams at the moment. Alright, I will admit some bias in making that statement. But those who follow football closely may be able to see that my statement has some reasonable basis. Both sides romped through their World Cup qualifiers in the European zone, winning all their matches. And now, I tip both these sides to go all the way to the final. And what a final this would be!!

Both sides share the same liking to stylish, attacking football. We will likely have a final to remember if both sides display their adventurous nature. Where both sides differ is in the way they attack the opposition. Spain will try to monopolise possession through their central midfield & create openings from there, & their wide midfielders often look to cut inside from the flanks to help the Spanish have numerical advantage in the middle of the park. The Dutch, on the other hand, attack a lot on the flanks, & their central midfielders will often look to circulate the ball over to their wide men who will then take on the opposing full back. While that happens, the central midfielders & forwards will advance to support the raids from the Dutch wingers.

Who will win? In a one-off final, either team can win - you can toss a coin to pick a winner. But I see Spain narrowly taking the final. Their central defence is a bit more secure than the Dutch pairing. Spain also possess more creativity & cohesion in central midfield, & that could be a significant factor. On the other hand, the Dutch look stronger on the wings, especially if Arjen Robben is fit & in-form. But upfront, the Torres & Villa partnership look more potent than the Dutch attack of Van Persie & Huntelaar (or Kuyt). So in the end, all things considered, I can see the Spanish adding the World Cup to their European crown & in the process, confirm themselves as the best international team in Europe & the world.

Prediction: Both sides to score in the final, & Spain to win by 1 goal margin (3-2 anyone?) & be crowned new world champions. So Spain to finish as World Cup winners, & the Dutch to finish as very worthy runners-up.

World Cup 2010 predictions - Semi-finals

From the quarter-final winners, the semi-final schedule shall be:

Netherlands v England
Argentina v Spain

What?? No Brazil in the semis?? That might be the reaction of some readers. But hey, I tipped the Dutch to surprise them in the quarter-finals, for reasons outlined in my previous post. Furthermore, the weight of expectation on Brazil would be greater than that on the Netherlands, & that might be a factor in their quarter-final tie.

Those of u who know my football taste well (especially those whom I have lots of football chats with) will probably think I'm biased with my predictions when they see the above semi-final line-up. That's because my 3 preferred international teams (Argentina, Spain & Netherlands - in that order) are all there! Well, all I will say is that my predictions are well considered (just go through my previous prediction posts), & I really do think (& hope!) those teams will do well at the World Cup. Whatever bias I may have, I try my best not to be blinkered.

Anyway, let's read on:


Semi-final: Netherlands v England

Both sides will reach the semi-finals in different ways. The Netherlands will score lots of goals & thrill World Cup audiences with their free-flowing football. In the process, they will uphold their proud Total Football tradition. England, under Capello's reign, will take a more organised, measured approach. Goals may flow in their group matches, but their knockout matches in the round of 16 (v Ghana) & quarter-finals (v France) will be close tussles. The English will be compact & tough to beat, but I feel that the Dutch can cause England lots of problems with their speed on the flanks & their greater invention. This will be a close match, & the match could well go to extra-time. In the end, I think the greater creativity of the Dutch will decide the outcome. The Dutch these days are more united than usual, & the team spirit appears to be stronger than seen in Dutch teams of the past. Both sides will have had a tournament to remember & will have done well to reach this far. The adventure will have to end for one of them, & I think that team (for reasons outlined above) will be England.

Prediction: The Dutch to qualify for their first final since 1978.


Semi-final: Argentina v Spain

Just one word: mouthwatering. That's the best word to describe this match-up. Both squads are stacked with top class talent. Both sides play open, attacking football. Both sides want to take the initiative, so both won't sit back & wait for the opposition to come at them. This semi-final has the makings of a Latin classic, & this will be a match not to be missed by lovers of attacking football. The favourites tag will go with European champions Spain. Winning Euro 2008 has given them confidence & strengthen their belief in their abilities. No longer are they plagued by self-doubt. They have been playing entertaining & winning football over the last 2-3 years, & they are genuine contenders for the title. They will want to repeat their Euro success at World Cup level, for they have never before reached the semi-finals, never mind the final. Argentina will truly test Spain. Some of their squad members play for Spanish clubs, so this match will a meeting of familiar faces. Leo Messi will have fun facing his Barcelona's team-mates representing Spain. For all of Messi's brilliance, the Spanish are more likely winners, because their defence is stronger & their midfield has the cohesion & collective understanding that Argentina's midfield would not be able to match.

Prediction: Spain to edge out the Argentines.

World Cup 2010 predictions - Quarter-finals

From my round of 16 predictions, the quarter-final matches shall be as follows:

Netherlands v Brazil
France v England
Argentina v Germany
Italy v Spain

All the big names in football are there! Expect some great action!

And yes, no African teams in the quarter-finals. That's what I predict, because they will face Argentina & the top European teams in the round of 16. No disgrace losing to the top sides from South America & Europe. We shall see if any of the African teams prove me wrong.......

Anyway, let's read on:


Quarter-final: Netherlands v Brazil

In the 1994 quarter-finals, Brazil beat the Netherlands 3-2 on the way to winning the title. Both sides played again in an epic semi-final in 1998, with Brazil again prevailing after a penalty shoot-out. So can the Dutch now gain revenge over those close eliminations? I believe they can. The law of averages suggest that the Netherlands are due a win against Brazil. That could well happen here. The Brazilians will, of course, enter the match as deserved favourites - indeed, they would be favourites against just about anybody. But I think they may meet their match in the Netherlands. Dutch chances of going far will depend on how well they can defend against top drawer sides like Brazil. The Dutch defence is not as well-regarded as their midfield & attack, but their defensive midfielders are very capable of protecting their defence. Furthermore, the Dutch have enough creativity in midfield, pace on the wings & attack to seriously worry Brazil - & that is where the Netherlands can win this tie. Not many teams these days play with true wingers. The Dutch do, & their wingers (Robben & Elia) may keep the Brazilian full-backs busy with defensive duties such that they may not be able to venture forward frequently enough to support Brazil's attacks. With their full-backs kept on the defensive, Brazil may not look as dangerous going forward, & with that the Netherlands' chance of winning are that much better.

Prediction: Netherlands to surprise the Brazilians.


Quarter-final: France v England

France's recent record against England has been good. But all good things must come to an end at some stage & England has a good chance of winning this match. A lot of France's players play in the English Premier League, so both sides know a lot about each other. For that reason, both sides will cancel each other out in many areas of the pitch, & so this match is likely to be low-scoring. France's possible advantage may lie in their playmakers, Ribery & Gourcuff. But Capello, so much wiser tactically than the French coach, will find a way to deal with the threat of the French playmakers. England do not have a genuine playmaker, but they never really needed one under coach Capello. The match could be decided by which side shows the greater desire, & that could well be England. This France side have good players, but they are certainly not as good as the sides which won the 1998 World Cup or Euro 2000. England knows this, & they will not fear France. They are tactically more astute under Capello, & that might just give them the edge in this quarter-final.

Prediction: England to sneak past Le Bleus.


Quarter-final: Argentina v Germany

Argentina have clashed with the Germans a few times at World Cup level. Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in the 1986 final (the last time Argentina lifted the World Cup), but lost 1-0 to West Germany in the 1990 final. Coach Maradona played in both finals. And of course, in 2006, hosts Germany knocked Argentina out penalty shoot-out. Those past encounters will add some spice to this quarter-final fixture, & the match is bound to be intriguing. Argentina did beat Germany 1-0 in a friendly match some 3 months ago - not necessarily a reliable pointer to who will win this quarter-final. This match could feature end-to-end action, as both sides are fairly attacking. Maradona at times may appear more conservative than many other Argentinian coaches, but he has brought 6 forwards to this tournament, so he has no reason to be defensive. Germany themselves are an attacking outfit these days - a far cry from Germans sides of old. This is a perfect platform for Argentine wizard Leo Messi to step up & remind people why he is the world's best footballer. Messi alone is one reason why Argentina has the advantage in this tie. But there are other factors in Argentina's favour as well. For one, Argentina really are much more than just Messi - they also have the likes of Tevez, Higuain & Aguero to call on, which makes their attack better than Germany's. For another, Argentina's players have a bit more experience than the German players. These are reasons why I see Argentina winning this quarter-final & gaining revenge for their 2006 quarter-final elimination.

Prediction: Argentina to narrowly defeat Germany.


Quarter-final: Italy v Spain

Has there been a time in the past where Spain were so clearly, so considerably superior to Italy, as they are at present? Probably not. This is a perfect chance for Spain to underline their superiority & ascendancy over their Latin rivals. Italy are a side in decline, largely due to Marcello Lippi's reluctance to blood promising young Italian players when he had chances to do so. Of course time & time again we are reminded never to write-off the Italians. But when they face up with Spain, their time will surely be up. This is not the Spain of old who chokes in international tournaments. We are talking about European champions Spain, who won Euro 2008 in such scintillating style. At that tournament, they knocked out Italy on penalty shoot-out. This time round, Spain won't need the shoot-out to eliminate Italy. Better Italian sides in the past will find it very hard against the current Spain side, so Lippi's Italy will be up against it. The Spanish midfield is clearly more creative than Italy's, & that alone can decide this tie. But there are other factors, too. Spain's forwards are more mobile & deadlier than the attackers picked by Lippi. And Italy's defence is no longer the fortress it used to be - the fact that they still use 37 year old Cannavaro says it all. I cannot see Italy's defence keeping Torres & co out. Everything points to a Spain win & the end of Azzurri's reign as World Cup holders.

Prediction: Spain to dump the holders.

World Cup 2010 predictions - Round of 16

Ok, from my predictions for the group stage, the round of 16 draw will looks like this:

1A v 2B: France v Nigeria
1C v 2D: England v Ghana
1D v 2C: Germany v Algeria
1B v 2A: Argentina v South Africa
1E v 2F: Netherlands v Paraguay
1G v 2H: Brazil v Chile
1F v 2E: Italy v Cameroon
1H v 2G: Spain v Portugal


1A v 2B: France v Nigeria

This may may turn out to be be a fascinating contrast in styles - a clash of France's steady, measured football against the frantic pace of the Nigerians. Who will win? I think the French will be the more likely winners. They have enough experience to handle all that the Africans will throw at them. They possess greater class in midfield, where the likes of Franck Ribery & Yoann Gourcuff will provide the creativity that Nigeria cannot match. This could be the match where Nigeria will really miss Jon Obi Mikel's presence in midfield. Without him, France's midfielders will help decide this tie in their favour. Also, France's defenders will not over-commit going forward & should therefore be able to handle the frenetic speed that Nigeria will throw at them. Then again, Framce do have Domenech in charge - a very questionable coach whose tactics & decisions can be bewildering. Despite him, I think France have enough to win this tie, though not by a huge scoreline.

Prediction: France to win.


1C v 2D: England v Ghana

To date, England have never lost to an African side. That record will come under serious threat from a very capable Ghana side. This match could potentially be a good one. Both sides will enter this tie with huge weight of expectations from their respective fans - Ghana because they are playing on their own continent, England because their fans & sections of the British media set very high expectations. The side that copes with the pressure better will progress. With both sides having strong midfielders, tough tackling in midfield could well be the feature of the day. Ghana's midfield are capable of giving England serious headaches. Ultimately, I feel this match will be decided by England's greater experience & Wayne Rooney. It will be very close, though - I cannot see more than 1 goal separating these sides.

Prediction: England to edge out the Ghanaians.


1D v 2C: Germany v Algeria

This tie will revive memories of Algeria's shock 2-1 win over West Germany in the 1982 World Cup. However, Algeria's good work at that tournament would subsequently be undone by the infamous scandalous match between West Germany & Austria, where both sides appear to collude to get a result that ensured both European sides to the next stage at the expense of the Algerians. The older Algerian fans might still be sore about that outcome to this day. Can Algeria achieve another shock result against the Germans? I doubt it this time round. Even though this German side might be young & inexperience, their talent will more than compensate for that lack of experience, at least in this match. Algeria do have some useful players who play in various European leagues: defenders Yahia, Belhadj & Bougherra, wide midfielders Ziani & Meghni & central midfielder Yebda. I'm not sure their forwards have enough to trouble the German backline. By contrast, I cannot see the Algerians keeping out Germany's attacking midfielders & forwards. I can only see only one winner in this match.

Prediction: Germany to win convincingly.


1B v 2A: Argentina v South Africa

If this match were to take place outside of South Africa, Argentina will most likely win comfortably. With home advantage, South Africa may make this a rather close tussle. Pareira, their coach, was formerly a fitness trainer, & he will ensure his players achieve high fitness levels. He is also expected to use the 4-2-3-1 formation, with just 1 out & out forward due to South Africa's lack of genuine top class forwards. The lone forward will be supported by 3 attacking midfielders, but Pareira may instruct the trio to keep the midfield compact to contain & frustrate Argentina's short-passing, possession-oriented game. Pareira is a lot more experienced than his Argentine counter-part Maradona, the one area where South Africa has a clear advantage. However, it is on the pitch where matches are won, & Argentina's players are clearly superior. And it's not just all about Messi, either. The South Africans will contain Argentina initially, but the South American giants will eventually find a way through.

Prediction: Argentina to win, but not by a big margin. South Africa exit with their heads held high.


1E v 2F: Netherlands v Paraguay

Paraguay's aim at this tournament would be to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Unfortunately, they will find the Dutch standing in their way, & with that, their quarter-final ambitions will most likely have to wait for at least another 4 years. By the time this round of 16 match kicks off, the Netherlands will have won their group convincingly & be raring to shine in the knockout stages. And I believe they will, & hence they will prove superior to the South American side. While Paraguay will provide stiff resistance, the Dutch invention in midfield, pace & penetration on the flanks & in attack will eventually decide the match. The Netherlands could be one of the standout teams in this World Cup, & not just because of their bright orange jerseys either. They will be clear favourites in this match, & even if the Dutch don't go on to lift the trophy, very few would expect them to fall at this hurdle.

Prediction: Netherlands to go through in style.


1G v 2H: Brazil v Chile

The only all-South American affair in this round, this will be a repeat of the round of 16 clash at the 1998 tournament, which was won 4-1 by the Brazilians. If Chile are not careful, a similar scoreline could again be on the cards. And therein lies the problem - Chile's football is very open & is tailor-made for Brazil to show their devastating quality on the counter-attack. As if to illustrate the point, Brazil hammer Chile in the last World Cup qualifier played in Santiago between both sides & also in the last Copa America, matches which reports say Chile had a good share of the play. But Chile's coach Marcelo Bielsa will not change his tactics & will stick to attacking football (he is Argentinian after all). Some observers say Chile now plays more entertaining football than Brazil. But it is Brazil who wins more matches, because they can defend very well, have the quality to create chances & have such deadly strikers, as they always do (how else did they win all those World Cups?). They will send the Chileans home.

Prediction: Brazil to win, but Chile to provide lots of entertainment.


1F v 2E: Italy v Cameroon

Yet another Europe v Africa matchup in the round of 16! It's the defending champions Italy against Africa's most successful team at World Cup level, Cameroon. The Italians will benefit from being in the weakest group in the tournament - they won't be too overstretched in the group stages. They will find Cameroon a tough nut to crack. Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o plays for Italian & European champions Internazionale, & so will be very familiar with his opponents. If the African side can create chances for Eto'o, then it will not be that surprising if the Indomitable Lions eliminate the defending champions, especially since Italy's defence is not as strong as it used to be. My feeling, however, is that the ageing Azzurri will make the most of their experience & produce one last hurrah to sneak into the quarter-finals.

Prediction: Italy to win a low scoring game.


1H v 2G: Spain v Portugal

Not only is this an all-European tie, it's the Iberian derby between neighbouring Spain & Portugal. Expect a spicy & passionate encounter. A few of Portugal's players play for Spanish clubs, not least of all the world's most expensive footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. He will certainly be keen to make an impression against the Spaniards. Whether he can lead his team to victory is questionable. Both sides look sound in defence. Spain have an abundance of quality in midfield. Portugal themselves are no slouches there, but Spain's midfield is superior. Where the tie will be decided is in attack. Spain's front 2 of Fernando Torres & David Villa are better than of Portugal's strikers. If need be, Spain can call on the likes of Mata, Negredo & Pedro Rodriguez from the bench. Portugal do not have such depth in attack. As hosts of Euro 2004, they eliminated Spain from the group stages. However, this round of 16 tie presents Spain with a perfect chance to gain revenge on their neighbours.

Prediction: Spain to prevail & gain Iberian bragging rights.

World Cup 2010 predictions - Groups E, F, G & H

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

This is one of the tougher groups in the tournament. However, surely no one would bet against the Netherlands qualifying out of it.

The Dutch, together with Spain, are among football's underachievers. Despite producing a stream of talented footballers over the years, they have never managed to lift the World Cup, though they did reach the final twice in the 1970s. Their only international trophy is Euro 1988, where they paraded such stars as Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten Frank Rijkaard. With the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, & Marc Overmars, they reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup, where only a penalty shoot-out defeat to Brazil denied them a final appearance. Hopes are high that the current Dutch side could go far at this World Cup. The Netherlands became the first European team to qualify for South Africa, blitzing their qualifying opponents, & the trend could well continue at the World Cup. The following are the stars looking to emulate the class of 1988 & 1998: Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van Der Vaart, Robin Van Persie. What a talented bunch! Not only do they have the players, they have been in blistering form in pre-World Cup friendlies, winning in blow-out scorelines like 4-1 & 6-1. It is true that those friendlies are not always reliable indicators of how a team will perform at the World Cup itself. But with those impressive performances, the Dutch have certainly put World Cup opponents on notice of their attacking potential.

I say attacking potential, because for all their midfield & forward talent, the Netherlands are not quite as strong in defence. So their chances of doing well could hinge on how their defenders perform. They will score lots of goals, which will qualify them from this group. Whether their defence can cope with the attacking threat of the likes of Spain, Brazil or Argentina is open to debate. Another positive point is the strong team spirit in the Dutch camp - there has been no sign of disharmony that blighted the Dutch squad in past international tournaments.

I think Cameroon will just finish ahead of Denmark in second place. The Indomitable Lions will forever be remembered for their exploits at the 1990 World Cup, where they upset Argentina & gave England an almighty scare in the quarter-finals before bowing out in extra-time. That quarter-final achievement has only been matched by another African side just once: Senegal in 2002. The current Cameroon side has a lot to live up to. Cameroon are in transition, & their French coach Paul Le Guen will bring a number of young players to the World Cup, although "old heads" like full-back Geremi remain. Their physical strength will still be an asset, but Le Guen will be looking for their midfield to focus on providing a steady supply of chances to star striker Samuel Eto'o, arguably Africa's best forward alongside Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast. Do not bet against Eto'o being the top scorer in this group after the 3 group games, & his goals might just be enough to nudge them ahead of the Danes in the final group reckoning.

Neither Denmark nor Japan have forwards as sharp as Eto'o or Van Persie, & that is a reason why I think both will take an early flight home. Denmark did well to top their tough qualifying group ahead of Portugal & Scandinavian rivals Sweden. They are a balanced outfit - neither defensive nor particularly attacking. They will display traditional Scandinavian qualities of strong team spirit, team work & organisation. They keep possession well, but overall lack the quality of the Danish Dynamite side of the 1980s or the Denmark side that reached the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup. There is no equivalent of Michael & Brian Laudrup in the current Danish squad, though Ajax's teenage midfielder Christian Eriksen is one for the future. The midfield will be solid & sound. The defence will be led by Liverpool's dependable centre-back Daniel Agger, & promising young Simon Kjaer will play alongside him. No real qualms then about the defence & midfield. It is their attack that raises question marks. Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner is promising, but still young & not yet scoring consistently for Denmark. Jon Dahl Tomasson is past his best & has not been scoring much lately for his club. Expect Denmark to be awkward, tough to beat opponents, but do not expect spectacular fireworks.

Japan look lightweight & is unlikely to make much of an impression. Recent results do not inspire confidence, & coach Takeshi Okada has been under huge pressure. The Japanese play an open attacking game, with lots of short passes. They will not be dull to watch, & will in fact try to play entertaining football. Midfield (featuring the likes of Keisuke Honda, Shunsuke Nakamura & Makoto Hasebe) will be Japan's strongest department - at their best, Japan's midfield creativity can match & even exceed Denmark & Cameroon's midfield. The problem lies in defence, which does not look particularly tight, & in attack, where they may again suffer the same old problem of struggling to convert chances into enough goals. Japanese fans hope that their main striker Shinji Okazaki (16 goals in 25 games for Japan) steps up in the World Cup. If Japan's midfield can constantly create chances & Okazaki does an Eto'o, then who knows what Japan can achieve? Coach Okada has set the semi-finals as his team's target. That is extremely optimistic, to say the least (but at least Japan can improve simply by trying & pushing themselves). Maybe they can achieve that in a future World Cup. But for the current one, Japan may not even win a match.

Prediction:

1: Netherlands

2: Cameroon

3: Denmark

4: Japan

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

This group appears to be the weakest at the World Cup. Italy, of course, is the standout name in this group, being the defending world champions & one of the teams recognised as a World Cup heavyweight. Aside from that, none of the other teams have much international pedigree. All teams in this group are fairly defensive, so do not expect too much goals.

Italy have been largely unimpressive in the 4 years since lifting the 2006 World Cup under Marcello Lippi. He left the job after that World Cup, but was brought back for a second spell after Italy's quarter-final exit at Euro 2008 meant curtains for Donadoni. Results in the last 2 years have been mixed. They were not always convincing in the World Cup qualifiers. And in the 2009 Confederations Cup, they flopped with losses to Egypt & Brazil. Many point the finger of blame at Lippi himself. They say that Lippi has been way too loyal to the ageing heroes of 2006, placing too much trust in their experience & overlooking the fact that those players are getting past their best. Those critics have a point - Lippi could have used the Confederations Cup to integrate younger talents to the national squad, but he passed up that chance & selected the same old ageing players. They should still qualify from this group, but will they have the legs & stamina to go far in the tournament? It looks doubtful. Then again, one should never simply write off the Italians - more often than not, they get their act together in international tournaments, which was why they won the last World Cup.

Paraguay & Slovakia will fight it out for second spot. Paraguay finished third in the South American qualifiers, where they managed to beat heavyweights Brazil (2-0) & Argentina (1-0) at home. Paraguay teams are always strong defensively - more so than many other South American sides. But Argentinian coach Gerardo Martino is slowly getting Paraguay to be a little more attack-minded. Quite a good idea, for Paraguay do have some useful forwards. Roque Santa Cruz is one, so is Oscar Cardozo & Nelso Hardo Valdez. Another name will be added to the mix - Lucas Barrios, the Argentinian who has been naturalised (courtesy of his Paraguayan mother). Barrios has already made a spectacular start to his Paraguay career - 3 goal in his first 3 games. Paraguayan fans may well have more reasons to smile at the World Cup.

Slovakia sealed their South African spot by finishing ahead of more fancied neighbours Czech Republic & Poland. Some say that is due to the Czechs & Poles either underperforming or being in decline, but that would be harsh on the Slovaks. After all, they do have players playing in leagues all over Europe, so Slovakia are no mugs. This will be Slovakia's first World Cup, if you don't count their appearances in past tournaments as part of Czechoslovakia. Their best player is Napoli's Marek Hamsik, who is developing into one of the best midfielders in Eastern Europe & even the whole of Europe. Hamsik, Miroslav Stock & Vladimir Weiss (son of Slovakia's coach) form part of a speedy midfield which will be a handful for their opponents. It will be close between Paraguay & Slovakia for second spot. I think Paraguay will take it mainly because they have more tournament experience than the Slovakians.

New Zealand will be regarded as the group's whipping boys; everyone in the group will expect to take 3 points from them. The Kiwis will definitely be hard-pressed to get anything from their group games - Slovakia, Italy, Paraguay will be far stronger than the teams that New Zealand got past to get to the World Cup (which are teams from Oceania & Bahrain in the play-offs). Their performances in recent friendlies have been quite encouraging, & they include a shock 1-0 win over Serbia. However, the flipside is that the 3 group opponents will now be less likely to underestimate New Zealand. Coack Ricki Herbert will get the Kiwis to play very defensively, keeping many men behind the ball most of the time. They will finish last, but will certainly not be the easybeats that many predicted not so long ago.

Prediction:

1: Italy

2: Paraguay

3: Slovakia

4: New Zealand

Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Brazil find themselves in the toughest group of the tournament. That does not stop them from being favourites to top it - simply because they are Brazil. Not only that, they are among the top 2-3 favourites to win the cup - simply because they are Brazil. Indeed, Brazil are always favoured for any tournament they play in, having won more World Cups than anyone else.

They come to the World Cup with every reason for being confident. They finished first in the South American qualifying zone. They won the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa last year (effectively, that was a World Cup dress rehearsal). They are a settled & cohesive unit, & tactically astute under coach Dunga. And of course, they have top quality players all round. They win lots of matches & seldom lose. But for Brazilian fans, that is not enough. They want to see their team winning with style. They believe that Dunga's Brazil does not show the same flair in midfield as past Brazilian sides. Dunga's argument is that winning is more important than entertaining. He can claim (& he has the results to back him) that his formula is a winning one: strong defence, extremely devastating on the counter-attack. The skill & technique is still there, it's just that they have more structure & organisation than past Brazil sides.

Dunga's Brazil features one of the world's best goalkeeper (Julio Cesar), a tight central defence, flying full-backs, tough midfielders, Kaka in playmaker role, & forwards with electric pace & deadly finishing (they got Robinho, Luis Fabiano, Nilmar to choose from). All sounds well & good, except that Brazil fans are right to make noise about lack of creative midfield alternatives - Dunga did not pick Diego for the World Cup, so there is no direct replacement for Kaka if he loses form or gets injured. Nevertheless, it is hard to see Brazil finishing anywhere below first in this group.

As with some of the other groups, there are 2 teams likely to battle for second place. In this case, it will be Portugal & Ivory Coast. Portugal's chances of advancing rest to a considerable degree on the form of their golden star & world's most expensive footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal needs to deploy him where he can produce his best - fans believe this is on the wing. However, Portugal's coach often slots Ronaldo in a more central role, where someone else could be playing instead. Portugal will line up with 4-3-3 (which they have been using for years). As far as the front 2 goes, if we assume that Ronaldo occupies one wing role, the other wing will be filled by either Nani or Simao. It is the raids from the wingers that will be key to Portugal's hopes. The back 4 are experienced & should be able to form a tight, cohesive unit. The 3 midfielders can pass & tackle well. Portugal reached the semi-finals in 2006, but they can forget about going anywhere near this time round if they play like they did in some of their qualifying matches.

Ivory Coast has been touted by many to be Africa's best hope at this World Cup. Those claims look more questionable after their loss to Algeria in the African Nations Cup quarter-final earlier this year. The Algerians exposed the Ivorian's defence as being weak. New coach Sven-Goran Eriksson (formerly of England & Mexico, appointed after the African Nations Cup debacle, has a lot of work to do to sort out the defence. At least the midfield looks stronger, with powerful & physically strong players like Yaya Toure & Didier Zokora forming a strong defensive midfield pairing. Upfront, it gets even better - Ivory Coast have a host of forwards to choose from, most notably Chelsea's Didier Drogba. Unfortunately for them, Drogba was injured during a pre-World Cup friendly against Japan (interestingly, Chelsea's players seem to be falling to injuries before the World Cup) & he is battling to be fit for the tournament kick-off.

At the end, I think Portugal will finish ahead of Ivory Coast in second place: the African side has a weaker defence & may not be the same without a fully-fit Drogba. Finishing last will be North Korea. This will be their second appearance at the World Cup. Their first, in 1966 in England, was memorable - they upset Italy 1-2 & led Portugal 3-0 in the quarter-finals before losing 5-3. The North Koreans are back, & they will have another date with Portugal. North Korea will really be up against it in this tough group, & will almost certainly not repeat their heroics of 1966. Most of their players play domestically, & very little is known about them. North Korea are well-drilled, & will employ ultra-defensive tactics as they did in the Asian qualifying matches. That approach is understandable, given the opponents they face in this group - much tougher opponents than the likes of Saudi Arabia or Iran that they faced in the qualifiers. At least North Korea are guaranteed 3 tough games in this group, & they will be on a very steep learning curve. Their football can only benefit from such rare exposure. If there is one player to look out for, it is Jong Tae-se, the Japanese-born striker. He is physically strong, dangerous & is known as the "Asian Rooney", so do not be surprised if he bags a couple of goals in the World Cup.

Prediction:

1: Brazil

2: Portugal

3: Ivory Coast

4: North Korea

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

Spot the odd team out from this group. That's easy. It's Switzerland - they are the only non-Spanish speaking nation in this group. The Swiss players will get to hear lots of Spanish accents during their matches! On a more serious note, they could not possibly have asked for a tougher start - their first match is against European champions Spain.

In winning Euro 2008 in style, Spain finally have something to show for their undoubted talent & it ended years of "so near yet so far" frustration at international level. Spain then continued the winning habit during the World Cup qualifiers, where they won all 10 qualifying matches to clinch their ticket to South Africa. They will arrive as the best team in Europe & one of the favourites to lift the World Cup. And why not? Iker Casillas is one of the best keepers in the world, & Pepe Reina & Victor Valdes can provide cover if Casillas is injured. They have a better defence than Spain sides of the past. And just look at Spain's midfielders: Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Jesus Navas, Javi Martinez. That is some cast! Spain probably have the best midfield in the world. Their forwards ooze quality too: they can call on Fernando Torres, David Villa, Juan Mata, Alvaro Negredo & Barcelona's new sensational Pedro Rodriguez. Spain play the passing, possession game known in their country as tiki-taka. And yes, Barcelona play a similar style of football. It's no coincidence that 8 Barcelona players are in Spain's World Cup squad. Spain's group opponents will not be a cakewalk, but they should not prove too intimidating either. They will dominate this group in style & finish top. They are genuine World Cup contenders.

It's not easy to pick who will finish second. It'll be between Chile & Switzerland, & their match-up will showcase a contrast of styles & tactics. The Chileans did so well in the South American qualifiers, finishing second behind Brazil. Credit for their good showing should go to their Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa. His appointment as Chile's coach initially did not go well with some, who did not fancy the idea of an Argentinian being in charge of their national team. But results, achieved with style, soon won over the detractors. Under Bielsa, Chile play a high tempo attacking game which overall is not all that different from Spain's version. They use the old Dutch 3-3-1-3 formation that Bielsa likes, with a three-men attacking line supported by a playmaker (Matias Fernandez). The 3 men defence will be ably protected by the 3 midfielders with ball-winning capabilities. Some observers say Chile's football during the qualifiers was more impressive than that displayed by Brazil & Argentina, so expect Chile to entertain well at the tournament. They will not be dull to watch. Bielsa will be remembered as the coach who crashed early with Argentina in 2002. Now, 8 years on, he is probably wiser & would have learned from his past mistakes. He will have something to prove, & will be be eager to make amends for that 2002 debacle by taking Chile to the next round. And I think he will succeed in this aim.

I say that because Switzerland do not look to have quite the same attacking threat as Chile. The Swiss will be disciplined, organised & hard to beat. They will line up in a basic 4-4-2 formation, which is favoured by their German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. He used the same formation to win the European Cup with Dortmund & Bayern Munich. Their backline will include Philippe Senderos, who will play despite not featuring regularly for his club. Their 2 central midfielders (Inler & Fernandes) play deeper than the flank midfielders (Barnetta on the left, Padalino on the right) who do a lot more attacking. Up front, a lot will depend on the form of Alex Frei. If he gets into a goalscoring vein, then the Swiss might surprise everyone & reach the next stage. If he struggles, then one wonders who else will do the scoring. Eren Derdiyok is still young & not yet established, though he is more mobile than Blaise Nkufo who plays a similar role to Emile Heskey for England. Overall, I think Chile's more dangerous attack will be the difference. Remarkably, Switzerland did not concede any goals at the last World Cup, but were eliminated in the round of 16 by penalty shoot-out. It would be a major if Switzerland can keep a clean sheet in this group, especially against Spain. Swiss football is undergoing a sort of boom at youth level - Switzerland won the under-17 world championship last year in Nigeria. It reflects well on the improving Swiss youth system, but the World Cup is too early for any of those under-17 players to be called up. That younger generation may shine for the senior Switzerland team in future tournaments, but for this World Cup, the current Swiss side may have to settle for third place in the group.

Honduras are making their second appearance since the 1982 World Cup. They sealed their spot in South Africa only after Costa Rica were held to a draw by USA. How they will fare is anybody's guess. Like all Hispanic sides, the Hondurans will be good on the ball. Honduras' best player is Tottenham's Wilson Palacios. Much will be expected from him at the World Cup, although they have a few others playing in Europe. This group is considered the best generation in Honduran football history. On the whole, Honduras will not be that easy to beat, especially if their tactically astute South American coach (Colombia's Reinaldo Rueda) can get the best from the Honduras players. Qualifying for the next round is another matter entirely, & this will probably be too much to expect from Honduras. A major issue is the lack of depth in the squad - if Palacios & other first choice players are injured, Honduras will really struggle as the reserves are not of the same quality.

Prediction:

1: Spain

2: Chile

3: Switzerland

4: Honduras

World Cup 2010 predictions - Groups A, B, C & D

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

When England hosted the 1966 World Cup, their group opponents were Mexico, Uruguay & France. England went on to win that World Cup. So, since those same 3 teams are now in the same group as 2010 hosts South Africa, does this mean that South Africa would win the World Cup? Of course not.

Every World Cup host has managed to reach the knockout stage, but many people see South Africa falling in the group stages, on the basis that their 3 group opponents would prove superior. I am not one of them. It's true that France, Mexico & Uruguay may have better players on paper. But football is not played on paper, & South Africa are not as weak as some think. Home advantage might just help South Africa to qualify for the knockout stages. They can certainly get some encouragement from their displays in the 2009 Confederations Cup they hosted last year, where they only lost narrowly to eventual winners Brazil in the semi-final (0-1, thanks to a late free-kick) & to high flying Spain (2-3 after extra-time). If they can push the Brazilians & Spaniards all the way, then they can be confident of mixing it up with France, Mexico & Uruguay. Also, their current Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Pareira has won the World Cup before as a coach (with Brazil in 1994), so he knows the pressures that a World Cup can bring. Pareira will surely impart that knowledge to the South African players, which can only help their cause. I think all things considered, South Africa will qualify for the next round, though they may not proceed much further than that.

I also think France will win this group, but only just. True, France did struggle in the European qualifiers. And their popularity among neutrals will have plummeted after the controversial European play-off against Ireland in Paris, where a Thierry Henry handball helped set up France's equaliser in extra-time, allow France to draw 1-1 to qualify & hence dash Ireland's hopes of taking the match to penalty shoot-out. And true, France have not looked convincing in pre-World Cup friendlies. All of that will probably lower expectations among the French football fans & media, & having less pressure could work to France's advantage. While it can be hard to guess whether France will turn up with any sort of form, their squad has enough quality to give anyone a real game if they click. With players like Ribery, Gourcuff, Benzema, Anelka & Henry to call upon, the French must be favoured to at least finish second in the group. My only regret is that Samir Nasri was omitted, for reasons probably only best known to coach Domenech himself. But that aside, they have enough class & experience to get to the knockout stage. Whether they have enough to win the tournament is questionable, but they certainly have enough to win this group. Mexico & Uruguay both have enough talent to qualify for the knockout stage. But both sides are unpredictable, & I think they will finish behind France & South Africa, mainly because both lack the experience of France's footballers & also because South Africa will have home advantage. Mexico have always produced skillful footballers, & their style of play is arguably not too dissimilar to Spain & Argentina - fluid, enterprising short-passing side. I like their style of play. But for all the pretty patterns & stylish combination moves, does Mexico have enough forward firepower to capitalise on their nice approach work? It is questionable. Much will depend on whether young forward Javier Hernandez (who recently signed for Manchester United) can live up to the expectations of their fans. If Mexico play with 2 up front, then Hernandez could well be partnered by an even younger forward - Arsenal's Carlos Vela. More & more Mexican footballers are coming to Europe. But that is only a recent trend, & so Mexico perhaps still lack that experience at the very top level - something which France has in abundance. For that reason, I see Mexico only just miss out on the group stage.

Uruguay have more players based in Europe than Mexico, & in Diego Forlan & Luis Suarez, they have a sharper & more experienced attack than the Mexicans. But overall, they are arguably less creative than Mexico in midfield - while the Mexican midfielders can share creative duties, Uruguay's midfield creativity will depend considerably on young Nicolas Lodeiro. Uruguay will bring a good mix of good technique & their famous fighting spirit - some say infamous, given that Uruguay have lost their heads in past international tournaments when things go against them. I am not sure much has changed, & that dubious temperament could well haunt Uruguay again at this World Cup. Uruguay have not made much impact on the World Cup since reaching the semi-finals of the 1970 edition, & their form in the World Cup qualifiers suggests that they are not good travelers - another reason for not being confident in Uruguay's chances of getting out of the group.

Prediction:

1: France

2: South Africa

3 (equal): Mexico, Uruguay

Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea & Greece

Argentina find themselves with some sort of a reunion in this group - they have played all 3 group opponents in the group stage of past World Cups. They had South Korea in their group at the 1986 tournament, & beat the Koreans en route to winning the tournament. They had both Nigeria & Greece in the 1994 edition, & beat both teams in typical stylish fashion before crashing our prematurely in the round of 16. They had Nigeria again in their group in the 2002 edition, & won that match in a tournament that the Argies would otherwise prefer to forget.

Well then, just because Argentina have beaten all 3 group opponents in previous World Cups, will that now guarantee them 3 wins out of 3 in the group stage? Quite possibly, though it will not be easy. Argentina clearly has the best attack in this group, & probably the entire World Cup. Look at the forwards they can choose from: Tevez, Aguero, Higuain, Diego Milito, & of course Barcelona's wizard Leo Messi, best footballer in the world. These are top drawer attackers playing at the highest level in European club football, & all have scored regularly during the past season, too. At least 2 of these forwards will have to start on the bench, so coach Maradona clearly has an embarrassment of riches. What other coaches would give to have just some of these forwards! In particular, Messi will be trying to show that he can play as well for his country as he does for FC Barcelona. If he can do that, Argentina can go all the way.

Argentina's midfield is potentially strong too, though it lacks the cohesiveness of Spain's midfield. Look out for wide midfielder Angel Di Maria to star. He scored in the Beijing Olympic football final against Nigeria to help Argentina win football gold. Don't bet against him repeating the dose against Nigeria in the World Cup. I hope young central midfielder Javier Pastore gets some game time - he is a superb talent, & could be Argentina's new playmaker. Argentina's problem is in defence, though Maradona seem to have come up with a settled back line during their 1-0 exhibition win away to Germany recently. Argentina may have struggled in the qualifying matches, but at least they did eventually make it. And even though doubts still persist over Maradona's suitability as Argentina coach (his inexperience, lack of tactical nous & all that), Argentina should have more than enough talent & firepower to win the group.

It is anybody's guess how Nigeria fares in this group. The Super Eagles, one of Africa's biggest names, are unpredictable & appointed Swedish coach Lars Lagerback just a few months ago. He replaced the previous coach who was dismissed after Nigeria's third place finish at the 2010 African Nations Cup was not considered good enough. So expectations are high among the Nigerian fans. Whether Lagerback can meet them remains to be seen. He will certainly try to instill Northern European discipline & work ethic into the Nigerian side. Nigeria are certainly blessed with lots of speed: Yakubu, Martins, Odemwingie & Obasi are particularly swift & dangerous. They will rely on this pace to try to unsettle their opponents. When they played Argentina in the Beijing Olympics final, their pacey attackers did cause Argentina plenty of headaches before they went down 1-0. Nigeria's biggest problem could be in midfield, which lacks the creativity of former player Jay-Jay Okocha. Jon Obi Mikel is out through injury & the Super Eagles will miss his services. Lagerback could make Nigeria a well-drilled unit. That may not be enough to keep out Messi & co, but could be enough to take them past Greece & South Korea.

South Korea will make their seventh consecutive appearance at the World Cup finals. They carry the hopes of the Asian continent with them, & will be keen to show that they can mix it up with the big boys. They were consistent & convincing in the World Cup qualifiers, topping their tough group ahead of North Korea (who also qualified) & finishing well above the likes of Iran & Saudi Arabia. It's one thing to outshine your Asian rivals, but the likes of Argentina & Nigeria will present even more formidable challenges. Can South Korea make that step up in quality? Coach Huh Jung-Moo promises his side will try their utmost to get to the next stage. One interesting trivia: Huh was part of South Korea's 1986 World Cup, & he marked Diego Maradona when the Koreans played Argentina in the group stage. Both players will be reunited again in this group, this time as coaches of their respective teams. South Korea reached the semi-finals when they co-hosted the tournament in 2002, but crashed at the group stage in the 2006 edition. I believe they will challenge Nigeria & Greece strongly for second place. They will bring sound technical ability, stamina (they are said to be one of the fittest teams), & never-say-die attitude, qualities which might just help them reach the knock-out stage. Even if they don't make it, they will certainly not be pushovers.

As for Greece, it will most probably be a case of "same old, same old". German coach Otto Rehagel, who masterminded Greece's shock Euro 2004 triumph, is still in charge. Therefore, the "same old" defensive tactics will again be on display. Some of the "same old" Euro 2004 heroes will still be around, although Rehagel has slowly been introducing new players to the squad. Greece may feel that they have something to prove. After winning Euro 2004, they failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, & flopped at Euro 2008 where they relinquished their European trophy at the group stage with 3 defeats out of 3 group games. The element of surprise, which helped Greece in Euro 2004, is well & truly gone, & opponents now know what to expect. Though none of the 3 group opponents will underestimate them, I cannot see Greece coming up with something new to make the group stage. Then again, everyone said that at Euro 2004. Greece's possible advantage this time round is that they play Argentina last, & so they would hope that the South Americans win their first 2 games & rest some players against Greece. But if Argentina enter that final group game needing to achieve a result, then Greece will really be up against it against Messi, Tevez & co.

Prediction:

1: Argentina

2: Nigeria

3: South Korea
4: Greece

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

England are always expected to go far in international tournaments. Since winning their only World Cup to date in 1966 (when they were hosts), England have not reached another final. They reached the quarter-finals a few times (including the last 2 World Cups) & the semi-finals just once, in 1990. Hopes are high that the English can go at least as far as the last 4 this time round. And they have cause for optimism after a strong qualifying campaign which saw them comfortably top their European group, & also after being presented with a favourable World Cup draw. USA, Algeria & Slovenia should not fill the English with trepidation.

In Fabio Capello, England have one of the best & most renowned coaches in the world. Capello can call on a squad with quality and extensive experience at the highest level. That is because a lot of England's players play for the Big 4 Premier League clubs (Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool), & so they have considerable experience playing in the UEFA Champions League. Having said that, much of England's hopes depend on Wayne Rooney's form. When he is on song, England look that much more threatening. They can call upon some distinguished players in midfield, like Gerrard, Lampard, Milner & Carrick. In defence, they will miss Rio Ferdinand (injured during pre-World Cup training), & so will need John Terry to be at his best & the likes of Ledley King to step up. England should really top this group.

Second place is definitely up for grabs; any of the other 3 teams could get it. USA will fancy their chances, & rightly so. They are always improving, & the growth of the MLS has helped add to the American talent pool. They did extremely well at the 2009 Confederations Cup - shocking Spain in the semi-final & only lost 3-2 to Brazil in the final after being 2-0 up at half-time. The Americans will show athleticism & endeavour, & seem to have toughened up their defence. The creativity will come from mostly Landon Donovan (now playing in wide midfield position), Fulham's Clint Dempsey, & Benny Feilhaber. Jozy Altidore (who is battling to be fit for the first game against England), Edson Buddle (2 goals versus Australia in recent friendly) & Herculez Gomez will battle it out for the forward spots. Many fancy USA to finish second. But it seems a lot of attention is being given to the game against England, their first of the tournament. If the Americans get too obsessed with beating England & not pay enough attention to the other 2 opponents, then they could be in trouble.

Algeria will make their first World Cup appearance since 1986. After the long absence, they will be happy just to be taking part, & arrive with little expectations & little pressure to perform. But look at this. Algeria are the only Arabic country to be taking part at this World Cup, & they are in the same group as USA & England! There is some political overtones there, & football fans from the Arab world will certainly be cheering for Algeria, especially against those 2 Western countries. Results in pre-World Cup friendlies have been mixed (including a thumping by Ireland). Algeria's lack of expectations could work in their favour. After all, they already did the hard part of successfully battling & edging out arch-rivals Egypt in dramatic, heart-stopping qualifiers in November 2009 (they lost in Cairo, but bounced back against all odds in the playoff in neutral Sudan). Those matches show that Algeria's footballers have the strength of character to fight to overcome adversity. So if the Algerians can survive against the more fancied Egyptians in crunch matches, then they will believe that they can overcome USA & Slovenia (though England will most likely prove too strong). And I think that strength of character will help the North Africans finish second. On a good day, they can play good football, too. That can be put down to French influence.

Slovenia will play in their second World Cup - they made their debut in Japan & Korea in 2002. Even though they upset the much more fancied Russia in the playoffs to reach South Africa, Slovenia will arrive as one of the weaker European teams in the tournament. Who are their stars? They don't have any real stars. They do have some useful players, but they will not rely on any particular players in the same way as they relied on Zlatko Zahovic at the 2002 tournament, which proved disastrous for them. Slovenia are actually the smallest nation taking part in South Africa, & so will be seen as underdogs. Team spirit will be their key strength - after all, it did help them overcome a superior Russian side en route to the tournament. They do have the advantage of playing England last, as England might rest players if they qualify for the knockout stages after their first 2 group games.

Prediction:

1: England

2: Algeria

3: USA
4: Slovenia


Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

This is a tough group! And interestingly, from this group, 2 Chelsea midfielders will be missing the tournament through injury: Germany's Michael Ballack & Ghana's Michael Essien. Germany will arguably cope with Ballack's absence rather better than Ghana will cope with Essien's.

Germany are usually thereabouts when it comes to the World Cup. They get things right much more often than they get things wrong. Discipline, cool heads under pressure, never-say-die attitude, strong team spirit, meticulous preparation are always associated with German sides - qualities which have helped Germany win multiple World Cups & European Championships. They have that ability to capitalise on opportunities that come their way, even when they are outplayed by more talented opponents, & they can never be written off. Germany traditionally bring experienced sides to the tournament, & are always fancied to go far.

Much of everything mentioned above will again be true of Germany this time round, with one exception: the current German side are quite young, & inexperienced compared with say, England or Brazil. When they hosted the last tournament in 2006, the then-coach Klinsmann turned Germany into a more open & attacking outfit than past German sides. That attacking trend looks set to continue. It might be partly because Germany's defenders these days are not as good as they were in the past (where is today's equivalent of Kohler, Buchwald & Reuter, for instance?). It is probably also because Germany is blessed with a wealth of talented youngsters in attacking midfield & forward roles. That will more than compensate for Ballack's absence. Schweinsteiger now has a chance to stamp his place in central midfield. Young attacking midfielders such as Thomas Muller & Mesut Ozil (or Turkish descent) will expect some game time. Ozil in particular is extremely talented & could be one of the breakout stars of the World Cup. Then, there is Luca Podolski, who can play at left midfield or up front. All in all, I expect Germany to be superior to their opponents, & top the group.

Second place will most likely be a tussle between Ghana & Serbia. I don't think Essien's absence makes Serbia favourites to finish second. True, Essien will be missed. But Ghana can alter their tactics slightly (their Serbian coach is renowned for his tactical nous) & have other players they can look at. It should be remembered that Ghana reached the African Nations Cup earlier this year with a young squad, without the services of the midfield trio of Essien, Stephen Appiah & Sulley Muntari & the likes of Paintsil. They only lost 1-0 to a strong Egypt side. Appiah, Muntari, Paintsil etc will return to bolster the Ghanaian side at the World Cup. Ghana's World Cup debut in 2006 saw them qualify for the round of 16, where they fell to Brazil, but not before showing some enterprise & causing Brazil some problems. They should be confident of reaching the knockout stages again. Plyaying on their home continent, Ghana will be able to count on huge support, & that could be another factor in their favou.

Serbia did well in the qualifiers to qualify for the tournament. They will arrive determined to do much better than their disappointing showing at the last World Cup, where they lost all group games & finished bottom of an admittedly tough group (they had Argentina, Netherlands & Ivory Coast then). Balkan sides are traditionally volatile, & blow hot & cold - they either excel with flying colours or flop badly. Will that temperament get the better of Serbia? The coach Antic & the fans would certainly hope not. They certainly don't lack the talent to make an impact, with key players including defenders Vidic & Kolarov, midfielders Krasic, Stankovic & Kuzmanovic & 6ft 7in beanpole attacker Zigic. They look to keep possession well, & raid from the flanks via their wide midfielders. They are strong in set pieces, too - more than 1/3 of their goals in the qualifiers came from free-kicks & corners. If things go well, then Serbia could well qualify for the knockout stage.

And finally, there is Australia. Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup (their first for 32 years) has lead to a boom in popularity of the Socceroos, a boom which has continued after they qualify for South Africa comfortably from the Asian zone. There is no denying they have done well in the qualifiers, keeping lots of clean sheets in the process. The abundance of clean sheets is due to the defensive tactics of Pim Verbeek, their Dutch coach. Indeed, such tactics make Verbeek very unDutch-like. It is well & good to keep clean sheets & pick up points against the likes of Uzbekistan & Qatar, but such conservatism will not get Australia anywhere at the World Cup. I think this will be why Australia will finish rock bottom of the group. Verbeek raised some eyebrows with certain omissions from the World Cup squad, & he will stubbornly stick to playing 1 upfront.. I'm glad, though, that he selected young flexible midfielder/attacker Dario Vidosic (formerly of Brisbane Roar!). Vidosic should be given game time, to showcase his talent. If Verbeek does that, then Australia will be more watchable, even if it doesn't guarantee victory. But I cannot see that happening.

Prediction:

1: Germany

2: Ghana

3: Serbia
4: Australia

World Cup 2010 just days away!!

The wait is almost over!! We are just days away from the event of the year!! Still dunno what i'm talking about??? I'm talking about the World Cup in South Africa, of course!! This particular tournament is history making, as it's the first time that Africa stages the greatest show on earth. I'm sure football afficionados are excited with the impending kick-off, just days away.

Bring out your vuvuzelas, sombreros, Red Indian costumes, face paints, whatever......it's party time!!

Over the next few posts, I will preview the World Cup group & knockout stages, analysing the teams & making some predictions. Sit back & enjoy!

Short answer is: No.
From the list below, if I have to, I would only ever consider the last 2 (#8 & #9).
Apart from that, no way! Certainly not $15,000 for meat pie. That's just obscene!! Heck, I won't even pay $150 for meat pie.

Article:

Would you pay $15,000 for a meat pie?

The global economy may be in the midst of a recession, but you wouldn't know it by the looks of these heftily priced menu items. How does a $1000 omelette sound? Or perhaps a $15,000 beef pie? Get set for some fine-dining experiences that neither you, nor your credit card bill, are likely to forget.



#1 The $1156 caviar omelette

Norma's of New York's Le Parker Meridien hotel has done a wonderful job of naming its deluxe omelette The Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata, adding a postscript on the menu at Norma's restaurant, "Norma dares you to Expense this". Forget eggs with a few mushies thrown in for brekkie. Get set for chef Emilio Castillo's lobster and 283gm of sevruga caviar as the ultimate egg add-ons. Where: Norma's, Le Parker Meridien Hotel, New York.



#2 The $193 chicken club sandwich

Made up of Iberico ham (air-cured for 30 months), poulet de Bresse, white truffles, quail eggs, semi-dried Italian tomatoes and 24-hour fermented sourdough bread, the triple-decker von Essen Platinum Club Sandwich, weighing in at 530gm, isn't an ordinary sandwich. And you'd better hope so, with its price tag of almost $200. But rest assured that you'll be eating like a king, literally! Back in the 16th century, France's Henry IV demanded the inclusion of the chicken of Bourg-en-Bresse on his courtly menu. The French now know the poulet de Bresse as the "fourth gastronomic wonder of the world".

Where: Cliveden, London.

Reservation: 24 hours' notice.

#3 The $15,820 Wagyu beef pie

In 2005, an English restaurant made headlines when it offered the world's most expensive pie. Constituting the £1000 ($1930) a slice price tag was famed Japanese Wagyu beef (worth $965 a kilo), black truffles and Chinese mushrooms so rare they're picked under armed guard. The sauce recipe also called for two bottles of 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild red wine (costing more than $7722) and a 24-carat gold-leaf garnish. The pie was sold and enjoyed by eight unnamed locals of the restaurant, Fence Gate Inn in Lancashire. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, owner Kevin Berkins said you can really taste the difference. "It started as a bit of silliness and quickly got out of control."



#4 The $1,156 ice-cream sundae

Not satisfied with a killer expensive meal, how about topping it all off with a dessert that costs about the same as a mortgage repayment? New York restaurant Serendipity 3 has the aptly named Golden Opulence Sundae, made of Tahitian vanilla ice-cream infused with Madagascar vanilla beans and rare Venezuelan Chuao chocolate. The whole creation is covered with 23-carat edible gold leaf, with a serving of sweet Grande Passion caviar just to up the price. Note: the sundae is served in a Baccarat crystal goblet which is yours to keep!

Where: Serendipity 3, New York.

Reservation: 48 hours' notice.



#5 The $289 truffle chocolate

At the centrepiece of what is probably the world's most expensive chocolate is a rare French Perigord truffle. And perhaps the ingredients list of 70 percent Valrhona dark chocolate, heavy cream, fine cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla might have you justifying the whopping price of $289. And that's not for a box, but for a single piece!

Where: Knipschildt, Connecticut.

Reservation: made to order.



#6 The $10,000 diamond martini

We can't help but think that there was a bit of cheating with this one. Because though this cocktail may set you back a cool 10 grand, you do walk away with a sparkling new diamond found at the bottom of the glass. Hotel officials of Manhattan's Algonquin Hotel told National Public Radio that it's the ultimate way to propose or mark a special occasion with your loved one. Just hope that your partner doesn't chug the drink too quickly, and along with it what must be the world's most expensive drink garnish!

Where: Algonquin Hotel, New York.

Reservation: 72 hours' notice and a personal visit to the hotel's jeweller.



#7 The $46 bottle of water

You may complain about $6 bottles of water at music festivals, but how about adding an extra $40 for a 750ml Swarovski crystal-encrusted, frosted-glass Bling H2O bottle of Tennessee spring water? Promoted as the water of choice for celebrities, Bling H2O must surely know that selling ludicrously priced drinking water is a bit of a marketing gimmick. Hence limited-edition bottles like "The Blondie", "Purple Rain" and "The 'OMG' Faded Chrome" bottles.

Where: worldwide shipping from the US.



#8 The $8 Big Mac

Back in 1986, The Economist published an article comparing the price of a Big Mac, that classic McDonald's burger, from around the world. It was a humorous attempt to compare the purchasing power of different currencies, but proved so popular it's been revived annually in the magazine. On January 30, 2009, the world's most expensive Big Mac could be found in Norway at 40 kroner (about $8). The Australian Big Mac was listed at $3.45.

Where: McDonald's, Norway.



#9 Australia's $150+ seafood dishes

For a taste of Australia's own high-end culinary dining, head to Silks, one of Melbourne's Cantonese restaurants. There you can order braised abalone with duck's feet webbing. But be prepared to be charged $150 per 100g! Or if you really want to blow the budget, how about indulging in a $160 whole rock lobster roasted with herb butter from Sydney's Rockpool Bar & Grill.

Where: Silks, Melbourne and Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney.

Would you scoff down any of the items above? Or do you think this is just putting the 'greedy fat celebrities' into the 'GFC'?

http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/world/863900/would-you-pay-15000-for-a-meat-pie