Germany - Spain

Match 62 - Semi-finals - 07 July

Before the start of the World Cup 2010 Spain was the big favourite (together with Brazil) to take home the coveted cup. But now this has changed. Spain has not yet shown the same brilliance it showed 2 years ago at the European Championships, and Germany has thrilled almost everybody with its dazzling display.

Germany had the toughest road to the final: England, Argentina and now Spain. In the last 2 games they scored 8 goals and only conceded one (or two, depending on your position behind the goal line).

And Spain have taken it the easy way, winning their matches without really showing anything. Maybe they have been saving it for this game? Only time will tell.

Our prediction : Germany 2 - Spain 1

Uruguay - Netherlands

Match 61 - Semi-finals - 06 July

If things had turned a bit different, this would have been Ghana - Brazil. Ghana should have made it into the semi-finals when they got a penalty 1 minute in extra time, and Brazil should have finished the job during their first half against Holland when the Dutch were down and out and against the ropes.

But football wouldn't be football is there was no place for drama, excitement and turning of tables. And so we get the first semi-final between Europe and South America. It should be the Netherlands' game.

Our prediction : Uruguay 1 - Netherlands 2

Paraguay - Spain

Match 60 - Quarter-finals - 03 July

It would be a lie to say that Spain have had a difficult trajectory. Switzerland and Honduras are hardly tough teams and Portugal have failed to impress. Only their game with Chile proved a real challenge. And now they meet Paraguay. It should be a piece of cake.

Our prediction : Paraguay 0 - Spain 3

Netherlands - Brazil

Match 57 - Quarter-finals - 02 July

This is it: The game the Dutch have been waiting for. After a very very easy warm up (Japan? Cameroon? Slovakia?...) they have a real adversary. And it's probably the end station for the brave Dutch.

Our prediction : Netherlands 0 - Brazil 2

Argentina - Germany

Match 59 - Quarter-finals - 03 July

This is it. We believe that Argentina - Germany would have been a great finale fixture, but now they meet in the quarter finales and it will be a thrilling match. Argentina have the edge, but we are sure that Germany can match them and break their defense.

Our prediction : Argentina 2 - Germany 3

Uruguay - Ghana

Match 58 - Quarter-finals - 02 July

Uruguay and Ghana have never played against each other, so we can only guess how this game will turn out. From the Fifa ranking we would have to give Uruguay the benefit of the doubt, but don't underestimate the Ghanese. They are keeping Africa's pride high.

Our prediction : Uruguay 2 - Ghana 1

Germany get their revenge after 44 years

44 years ago, in 1966, England played Germany and became World Champion after Geoff Hurst scored a controversial goal. Did his ball cross the line?

And today, during exactly the same game, we had a similar situation when Lampard's goal was not credited by the referee. Amazing that such a controversial situation happens twice in the same game.

Would Lampard's game have changed something? Probably. Would it have meant England would have won? Probably not. If the game had ended on a draw, Germany would have won. Because there are some certainties in football : England never win a game against Germany when there are penalty shootouts :)

Spain - Portugal

Match 56 - Round of 16 - 29 June

This game between Spain and Portugal is together with Germany - England the highlight of the second Round. It will be a hard fought battle for sure, but Spain looks more solid then Portugal.

Our prediction : Spain 2 - Portugal 1

Paraguay - Japan

Match 54 - Round of 16 - 28 June

There are some very interesting games in this second round, and Paraguay - Japan is one of those. The Japanese have shown that they have some good technical skills, and Paraguay know how to handle a stiff defense. Expect quite a lot of spectacle from this game.

Our prediction : Paraguay 2 - Japan 1

Brazil - Chile

Match 54 - Round of 16 - 28 June

What an exciting game we have in store : Brazil have beaten Chile a staggering 46 times, and today will probably not be any difference. We believe the game will be hard, hot and steamy.

Our prediction : Brazil 3 - Chile 2

Netherlands - Slovakia

Match 53 - Round of 16 - 28 June

The Netherlands have a dismal record against Slovakia. Of their 9 encounters they only won 2. But you cannot compare the present Dutch team with the past. Slovakia will try to destabilize the Dutch attacks, but in the end it will prove too little, too late.

Our prediction : Netherlands 2 - Slovakia 1

Argentina - Mexico

Match 52 - Round of 16 - 27 June

This looks on paper like a nice fixture, and Argentina are favourites because they have a good record against Mexico. However you should never underestimate the Mexicans, and it might be a game with lots of goals.

Our prediction is Argentina 3 - Mexico 1

Umberto Bossi offered too little!

Umberto Bossi promised that Italy would qualify for the next round in the World Cup. They would just offer the Slovakians a big chunk of money so that they could let the Italians win. But apparently he offered too little! Instead of the 500,000 euro the Slovakians wanted, Bossi only wanted to pay 500,000 LIRE ! That is roughly calculated about 133 euro...about 499,867 euro short...

Germany - England

Match 51 - Round of 16 - 27 June

This is a dream game and a pity that it comes so close in the championship. Even if England have not shown their true colours, and Germany started well but haven't impressed in their last two games, it still promises to be a thrilling game between two arch rivals.

They played 32 times against each other (not mentioning the war) and England have a small advantage. But all those statistics don't mean a thing when you're on the pitch, and it is likely to be a hard-fought game.

Our prediction : Germany 2 - England 1

USA - Ghana

Match 50 - Round of 16 - 26 June

A very nice fixture this, between two games that have shown that they will fight for every ball. When looking at the results, the USA have a better chance of going on the the quarter finals, but don't underestimate the power of Ghana.

Our prediction : USA 1 - Ghana 2

Close Shave for Germany

The game between Germany and Ghana was a real thriller. Maybe not the most beautiful game, but the excitement, drama and atmosphere was first class. Both teams knew what they had to do (Germany win, Ghana draw) but also the result of the Australia - Serbia game would prove influential.

Cacau is no Klose, and if it weren't for Lahm the result might have been quite different. But in the end both countries went through to the next round, because Serbia failed to do what everybody thought they would do : get a point against Australia.

And now we have Germany - England. A dream game. One of the big World Cup favourites, up there like Argentina - England, Netherlands - Italy or Brazil - Argentina. We are looking forward to this clash. Like Gary Lineker used to say : Football is a game of 90 minutes, with 22 men running after a ball, and in the end the Germans win. :)

Argentina - Mexico

Match 52 - Round of 16 - 27 June

The best football we have seen so far has been produced by Argentina. Even when they put their "B" team on the pitch, they manage to create opportunities. Messi is playing very well (even if he is not scoring) and they are the team to beat. It will probably not be Mexico who will do it.

Our prediction : Argentina 3 - Mexico 1

Uruguay - South Korea

Match 49 - Round of 16 - 26 June

This is the first game of the Second round, and it puts Asia against South America.

Uruguay have never lost to South Korea and we believe they will not start now either. They have shown their strength in their previous games, and will go on to continue.

Our prediction : Uruguay 2 - South Korea 1

Switzerland - Honduras

Match 48 - Group H - 25 June

The last game of the first round and one that could still produce a winner. All they have to do is win this, and hope that Spain crashes to Chile.

Our prediction : Honduras will beat the Swiss : Switzerland 0 - Honduras 1

Chile - Spain

Match 47 - Group H - 25 June

Everything is still possible in this group. In theory each team can still qualify, even though Chile has the best chances. A win for Chile would almost certainly sent Spain back to...Spain if the other match does not end in a draw.

Spain have not looked their strongest, and we believe that Chile will try to make it 3 in a row.

Our prediction : Chile 3 - Spain 2