The blueprint

Here are my predictions. My reasons, logical and emotional, are below.
I assume a basic understanding of the way the World Cup groups are set up.

(Team in bold wins).

Second round

Game One:
Germany v Paraguay

Game Two:
Argentina v Angola

Game Three:
England v Ecuador

Game Four:
Mexico v Cote d’Ivoire

Game Five:
Czech Republic v Australia

Game Six:
France v Spain

Game Seven:
Brazil v Ghana

Game Eight:
Ukraine v Switzerland

Quarter-Final One:
Germany v Argentina

Quarter-Final Two:
Czech Republic v France

Quarter-Final Three:
England v Cote d’Ivoire

Quarter-Final Four:
Brazil v Ukraine

Semi-Final One:
Argentina v Czech Republic

Semi-Final Two:
England v Ukraine

Third/Fourth place play-off:
Argentina v Ukraine

Final:
Czech Republic v England

Thus the final standings:

1. England
2. Czech Republic
3. Argentina

The Logical Reasons

The four strongest teams at this World Cup are in Brazil, Argentina, Czech Republic and England.

Why won’t Brazil win it? South American teams do not win World Cups held in Europe. Brazil won in Sweden in 1958 but all the other eight World Cups in Europe have been won by European teams. Yes Brazil did reach the final against France last time the tournament was held in Europe, but in the group stage they played badly against Scotland eventually struggling to 2-1 victory they were then beaten by Norway in the same group stage. Against Denmark in the quarter final they struggled and only managed to scrape a 3-2 victory and they need penalties to beat Netherlands in the semi finals after being held to a 1-1. In the final they were beaten 3-0 by the hosts France. For whatever reason you want: biased refs, unsuitable tactics etc Brazil struggle against European teams in Europe. Ukraine is exactly the sort of team that will bother them, that is why Brazil will lose in the quarterfinals. As for Argentina the last time they did anything in Europe was when they lost to Italy in the final of Italia ‘90.

So I think that a team from UEFA will win this World Cup. Italy are rocked by scandal at home and have no pace in their forwards. Netherlands are one dimensional and have no pace in their forwards. Spain are Spain = choke. Germany, well the slow Italians spanked them 4-0 a month ago, their defence has got more holes than NARC-Kenya.

The two strongest European squads are England and the Czech Republic. Why everyone is sleeping on the Czechs I do not know. That squad is legit. France as well. The grand old men of France will make one last stand at this world cup I feel. But England has more quality through the backbone. They have a defence that is tight and who is better than Terry and Carragher in defence at the moment? Their midfield is sawa. When the Brazilian coach was asked which two players from any other country in the world he would like to have in his team he choose to English men, Gerrard and Lampard. If Beckham keeps doing what he does best, bending them in, and doesn’t become over ambitious and J. Cole listens to what he is told to do, then even I would score ten goals. So yeah, England will win it. They will play the Czech Republic in the final.

The Emotional Reasons

Come on we can not have the favourites winning everything this year, Barcelona were favourites and they won the Champions’ League, Seville were favourites and won the UEFA cup, Egypt were favourites (I don’t care North African teams playing at home are automatically favourites) and they won the African Nations Cup. Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Lyons, Chelsea were all tipped to win their leagues at the beginning of the season and they all won. We can not have Brazil winning the world cup. That will mean football has become too predictable! That’s why I have knocked out some UEFA teams early as well. LOL!

technorati tags: World Cup
del.icio.us tags: World Cup