2010 FIFA World Cup Preview

The 19^th FIFA World Cup is just one day away and three-quarters of a billion pair of eyes are expected to witness the Final on July 11, 2010. It is therefore time to predict the winners and the losers.

Shown below are the teams that I predict to be the Group winners and runner-ups. The prediction is based on the strength of the teams, their opponents, qualifying campaigns, past experiences at the World Cup and my gut feeling. But of course, no World Cup is complete without a surprise or two!

Group A

Winner: France
Runner-up: Mexico

Group B

Winner: Argentina
Runner-up: South Korea

Group C

Winner: England
Runner-up: USA

Group D

Winner: Germany
Runner-up: Australia

Group E

Winner: Netherlands
Runner-up: Denmark

Group F

Winner: Italy
Runner-up: Paraguay

Group G

Winner: Brazil
Runner-up: Portugal

Moving on with the assumption that the tables look like that at the end of the Group Stage, the Knockout rounds should look something like this:

KO 1 France v South Korea
KO 2 England v Australia
KO 3 Germany v USA
KO 4 Argentina v Mexico
KO 5 Netherlands v Paraguay
KO 6 Brazil v Chile
KO 7 Italy v Denmark
KO 8 Spain v Portugal


And the Quarter-Finals:

QF 1 Netherlands v Brazil
QF 2 France v England
QF 3 Germany v Argentina
QF 4 Italy v Spain


After another set of predictions, I think that two South American and two European teams will make it to the Semi-Finals, as shown below:

SF 1 Brazil v England
SF 2 Argentina v Spain



Now it’s time to discuss the final few predictions in detail.

Fourth Place: Argentina

Historically speaking, Argentina have been a great side, boasting some of the best players in the world including the best – one Lionel Messi – and are coached by one of the best players to have ever kicked a football – Diego Maradona. The problem, however, is that Maradona hasn’t cut it at coach level yet. Argentina had a woeful qualifying campaign which included a shock 6-1 loss to minnows Bolivia.

Despite their problems and shortcomings, Argentina should prove too much for Mexico in the Knockout round. Their next opponents should be Germany in the Quarter-Finals. Both these fixtures represent a repeat of the last World Cup, but I expect the Argentines to beat the Germans this time round. Germany have a good squad but their midfield is inexperienced and they will really feel the loss of influential captain Michael Ballack. I believe that Argentina can exploit this weakness, win the midfield battles and reach the last four. However, I believe that this is as far as they will go, since they are expected to meet Spain in the Semi-Finals.

Argentina are a funny team. They have a few very good attacking individuals like the above mentioned Messi and Carlos Tevez, but collectively, they don’t seem to play that well – and this will cost them dearly. I expect Spain’s quality to be too much for them.

Third Place: England

I am sure some people will be surprised that I have tipped England to reach the last four of the World Cup, something they haven’t done since 1994. For England to make it to the Semi-Finals has more to do with an easy path than anything else. England arrive in South Africa on the back of a highly successful qualifying campaign, racking up nine wins in ten games and scoring an incredible 34 goals.

England are expected to face Australia in the Knockout round. This should be a fairly easy fixture for them and they should next face France in the Quarter-Finals. France also had a good qualifying campaign but since then have had bad results in recent friendlies, including 1-0 loss to China. I don’t see them going past England.

Should England progress to the Semi-Finals, they should meet Brazil who I think will end England’s World Cup run. Brazil are the top ranked team in the World and it’s no surprise that they are there. Boasting some of the best and most well known players in the world like Kaka and Robinho, they will prove to be too much for England. England have already lost captain Rio Ferdinand through injury and I think that frailty could be exposed against the Brazilians.

In the Third place play-off, I am tipping England to put one more past Argentina. England need no motivation for a game against the Argentines and that will work in their favour. I bet David Beckham will project the loudest cheer of the night!

Runner-up: Brazil

Brazil have traditionally been the best team in the world and this World Cup is no exception. They fought a long and hard qualifying campaign and come into this World Cup in full confidence and of course they should be, having reached the Final of this tournament three of the last four times.

For this World Cup, they have been drawn in the ‘Group of Death’ alongside Portugal, the Ivory Coast and North Korea, but I still expect them to top the group. Their next task would be to take care of Chile and then the Netherlands. Brazil are expected to play against England in the Semi-Finals. These two teams last met in a World Cup in 2002 when the South Americans beat the side from Europe in the Quarter-Finals. Eight years on and I expect a similar outcome of this game.

Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times and it is ironic that they will meet a team in the Final who have never won the tournament. In fact, Spain’s best achievement has been fourth place, which came 60 years ago in, ironically, Brazil. So it is fitting that these two teams, ranked 1^st and 2^nd in the world, compete in the World Cup Final.

Winner: Spain

Spain are the current European Champions and one of the most exciting international teams in the world. They had an unbelievable qualifying campaign, winning all ten of their games, while conceding just 5 goals. In my opinion, Spain possess the best strike partnership, complemented by the best midfield quartet there is in the world.

Spain have a fairly easy group to negotiate after which they should then face fellow Europeans Portugal in the Knockout round. Portugal are still reeling from the loss of midfielder Nani and will duly suffer. Spain should next face reigning World Champions Italy in the Quarter-Finals. Unfortunately for the Italians, I believe that their squad is insufficient. Seeing as they have only one player in the entire squad to have scored in double figures for the national team, I do not know where the goals are going to come from. I expect Spain to overcome them easily. In the Semi-Finals, Argentina would definitely provide a stern test for the Spaniards, but their efforts would be in vain. Spain should overcome the South Americans and get to their first ever World Cup Final.

On July 11, 2010, I expect Spain to be crowned the FIFA World Champions. Even though Spain’s path to the Final is going to be tough, I expect them to overcome every obstacle along the way, with the amount of depth that they have in their squad. The Brazilians will not be able to contain the threat of David Villa, and he should fire his team to glory.

Yashin Award: Iker Casillas

Casillas is expected keep a number of clean sheets for Spain on their route to the World Cup Final. He is a top Goalkeeper who will certainly be helped by his defenders in making sure the opponents are unable to put the ball in the Spanish goal.

Golden Boot: David Villa

One of the most prolific strikers in the world today, Villa has scored an incredible 38 times for Spain in only 58 appearances. He is expected to continue his form and win the Golden Boot, just like he did in the European Championships two years ago.

Golden Ball: Xavi

Xavi is the engine behind any team he plays in. At times, he is the unsung hero of the team. His work ethic is great and the way he keeps possession and slices open defences is simply breathtaking. Just like he did in Euro 2008, I expect him to win the Golden Ball again.