My Predictions

The World Cup always throws up surprises, and predicting outcomes before a ball is kicked opens the potential for ridicule. It was as recently as 2002 that Turkey and Korea were two of the semi-finalists, hardly rated among football powerhouses. The easiest way to predict in 2010 is to go the bookies: Brazil and Spain are co-favourites, followed by England, Argentina, Netherlands and Germany.

My qualifications for predicting world football are not the best. While I watch a lot of Premier and Championship football, I see little from the rest of the world. I really don't know much about the Brazilian team, except that if they can leave out Ronaldinho, the World Player of the Year in 2006 and only 30-years-old, they must be in great shape. Thank goodness Ronaldo is Portuguese and not Spanish, as Spain is already strong enough to win it. But they'll miss a fully fit Torres.

So here are my predictions:

1. Argentina to win. Lionel Messi will increase his claim to being the greatest player of all time (after Best, Charlton, Law, Robson and Rooney). Main reason to doubt them is that their manager, Diego Maradona, is a fruitcake (never forgive him for the 'Hand of God' goal which knocked England out in 1986).

2. Australia to make the Round of 16, where they will lose to England. There will be similarities to last time. Australia progressed in 2006 by beating Japan, drawing with Croatia and losing to Brazil. This time they will beat Ghana, draw with Serbia and lose to Germany.

Australia's main problem is, where are the goals coming from? It was a mistake not to take Scott McDonald, the most successful Australian goalscorer in Europe in recent years, after Viduka. OK, he has not scored yet for Australia, but if we are losing 1-0 with 15 minutes to go, he's the sort of goal poacher you throw on to nick one. We will need goals from midfield, and this is where there is reason to believe. Cahill, Emerton, Kewell, Bresciano and even Chipperfield are all capable on their day.

3. No African team will make the semi-finals. South Africa will become the first host nation in history not to go beyond the group stages.

4. And England. Oh dear, too much heartache is embedded in my soul for me to think England can win. But for the first time in many tournaments, they have a manager whose ego and self confidence is at least as big as those of the players. Really depends on Rooney, as there is no other top quality forward. I don't think they've got a world class team, and the reason they are third favourites is that crazy Brits bet on them because of blind optimism. And they've no idea how good other countries are.

5. Kewell to have a good World Cup and restore his reputation as a top quality player.

We'll all know soon enough.