Who will win the World Cup?

[shakermaker1982]

Have a look lads and see who you backed all those weeks ago.

Glad I backed Germany to do well and even tipped Ukraine to the Q finals!!!

[Volcán Masaya]

France are being overlooked in the world press, and this will work to their advantage. I think Zizou will go out in a blaze of glory and any team with a magican like Henry has to be feared. As we well know, all it takes is 10 seconds of sublime beauty from him and a game turns.

Lot of people seem to be fancying Mexico in this thread, but consider that their top striker can't get a game for Bolton, though new dude Franco looks promising. They are solid, and few teams in the world can move the ball around like they do. They'll come out of their group, but then they'll come up short.

Spain are ones to watch. At this point everybody expects them to disappoint given their history. But they have a handy enough group. If they win it then their 2nd round game should be handy enough too. Then they's likely run into Brasil in the QFs, and I fancy them for an upset.

Scolari will take Portugal to the SFs, knocking out England in the QF.

Suprise team... Aussies. They'll pip Japan and Croatia for 2nd place in the group. Then upset the Czechs in the 2nd round. Lose the QF but leave happy.

Biggest flop... Dutch.. will fail to win a game. Also, all the African teams will fall flat, not horribly flat, but none will advance.

GR A
Ger
Pol

Gr B
Eng
Swe

GR C
Arg
Srb

GR D
Por
Mex

GR E
Cze
Ita

GR F
Bra
Aus

GR G
Fra
Kor

GR H
Spa
Ukr

2nd RD
Ger bt Swe
Arg bt Mex (game of the Cup 3-2)
Eng bt Pol
Por bt Srb
Aus bt Cze
Fra bt Ukr
Bra bt Ita (dissapointing game)
Spa bt Kor (revenge time, 3-0)

QFs
Arg bt Ger
Fra bt Aus
Por bt Eng (tabloids go apesch!t)
Spa bt Bra

SFs
Arg bt Por
Fra bt Spa

Final
Fra bt Arg (1 goal game, tense and exciting)

So their ye have it lads, no need to waste ye're time watching in June.

Jayzus, I suprised myself with some of those predictions!

I'll be giving tips for Leoparsdstown later on today.... for a fee, of course.

[OwlsFan]

France are being overlooked in the world press, and this will work to their advantage. I think Zizou will go out in a blaze of glory and any team with a magican like Henry has to be feared. As we well know, all it takes is 10 seconds of sublime beauty from him and a game turns.

Not quite a blaze of glory but a close prediction nonetheless

Just as a matter of interest, the predictions went something as follows (ignoring people who chose 2 or more teams):

Brazil 12, Italy 5 (Bill O'Helihy: "Italy in the Final, John. WHo would have believed it ?"), 3 Argentina, England and Germany, 2 Ukraine and France and 1 Holland.

For the next WC in South Africa, at least one African team in the semi-final.

[NeilMcD]

Italy are a mess. FACT. Expect them to be out by the 1/4 finals. possibly all ending in a big row.

I love posts like this.

[wws]

I love posts like this.

I would actually rate Kleins 4 post as quite presciaent when you consider that Italy scored a last kick of the game penalty to get by an australia team in round 2. Luck and inches are the kings of football.

[NeilMcD]

sorry.australia will be lucky to pick up a point. they are only woefull.
!

This is another classic from him. Also Italy were much the better side even though they had ten men and their man was sent off unfairly in my view. To dominate a game when you are down to ten men and win is a sign of a very very good side. You are just sore as you had your money on Germany.

[wws]

I didn't have a penny on Germany!

I just agree with the way they went about playing - which was a joy to watch.

[NeilMcD]

So whree the Italians , I thought the Italians were the best side to watch in the tournament with the exception of the 2nd half of the final and extra time.

[NeilMcD]

Or you pretending to be someone you are not for whatever reason that is.

[bluemovie]

F***ing Trezeguet and f***ing Zidane and will Henry ever do it in a big game?

So close. I backed France pre-tournament at 12-1 and took them again at 18-1 after the Switzerland game. Apparently, they were out as far as 40-1 when they went a goal down to Spain. It would have been a very nice earner for me (I covered it slightly with a bet on Italy before the final). I was only slightly less-animated for the penalties than I was when we were in the shoot-outs v Spain and Romania.