World Cup

[David Johnson]

Well it's that time again when World Cup wall charts are readied and TV programmes checked.

So what are forumites' predictions? As far as I know, every time the World Cup has been in South America, a South American team has won it. So I don't see that pattern changing.

Brazil looked the part as I recall in the Confederation Cup so they must be amongst the favourites. However, Argentina have a stunning attack with the likes of Messi, Aguero and Higuain available. Not that they have the most resilient defence.

My money is on Argentina. As for England, I would be more than happy if they could just play to their full potential for once with exciting, flowing football and hopefully make it out of the group stage. After that anything would be an enormous plus.

[cockneygeezer2009]

England to to go all the way (all the way to Brazil that is). If England get to the semis that will be brilliant. After drawing with nobodies like Ecuador and Honduras looks like England could struggle to get out of the group stage. Sincerely hope not.

[Sam Slater]

This will be an interesting WC in that I think Spain are still the overall best team in the world.......but no European team has won a WC in South America.

Part of me would like to see Brazil win in again, in style. But another part would like to see Spain get back to back WCs. Many are fed up with their tikka takka style of play but Spain are a county that invested in good coaching and have produced some great footballers this past 10 years or so. I have no quarrel in them being rewarded again for their excellent efforts.

As for England. I see us drawing vs Italy and Uruguay and getting a narrow win against Costa Rica. That means our advancement out of the group will depend on what Italy and Uruguay do when they meet each other. Wouldn't be surprised if we scrape through or lose out on goal difference.

After that, we're gone. England are always hard to beat, which suits the group stages as 1 win and a few draws can put you through. But when it comes to the knockout stages we never have enough attacking flair, or enough of the ball, to knock out decent teams.

[Bob Singleton]

For me it's either Brazil (if the weight of expectation doesn't get to them) or Argentina. Spain will be there or thereabouts but I don't see them as eventual winners.

Dark horses are Chile and Belgium (if they can survive the heat and humidity... maybe a tournament too early for them to reach their peak) France have a reasonably easy group as do Switzerland who have been quietly impressive. Uruguay have the potential to make the semis. None of the African teams have done anything to suggest the cup will head their way.

England will do well to get out of their group and anything beyond that is a bonus.

[David Johnson]

To be honest, I don't think friendlies are much of an indication. Italy haven't had a win in their last 7 and they drew against Luxembourg in the last week or so.

We will see. I just hope that there are some great football matches. I seem to remember watching loads of crap games, not just England, in the South African World Cup.

[David Johnson]

I seem to recall watching Brazil blow Spain away in the last Confederation Cup.

What might help Spain though, is apparently Diego Costa who was Atletico Madrid's star forward is available now for the Spanish team. He might provide the cutting edge that Spain's tikka takka doesn't always have.

[Arginald Valleywater]

Spain or Argentina. Rooney will win ugliest player and at least 1000 fans will be shot, robbed, raped or all three.

[andy at handiwork]

It surely cant be 4 years already since the last one? I may be alone in this one, but I couldn't give a toss and wont watch a single minute of it even if our lot get to the final.

[Arginald Valleywater]

In truth The Champions League is now bigger than the World Cup. Get a handful of South American teams in the CL and watch the WC fold up...

[Sam Slater]

Good start to the World Cup. 2 dodgy goals for the host nation (a dive for the pen and 3rd there was a foul in the build up). And Croatia had a perfectly good goal disallowed.

Still, it stops the locals rioting tonight.