Dare to dream

Quick predictions because it's after 3:30 in the morning and I've got an incredibly long weekend ahead of me:

Winner: Espania

I love their crest, it is kingly - and like Euro 2008 Spain does what France did circa 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euros, win the two biggest international tournaments consecutively just in the reverse order of Les Blues.

Final: The Netherlands vs. Spain

I love the clock-work orange and had been thinking about picking them, but Arjen Robben's most recent injury concerns concern me. He is too important to that team and a complete game-changer when healthy. If he comes back fully fit, a big if, the Netherlands will trouble anyone they face. If not, they lose their most dangerous wing despite their ability to throw other players in.

However, the Dutch still do have Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van der Vaart, Dirk Kuyt, Robin Van Persie, Eljero Elia, and loads of other attacking options. I've said before this Dutch team made concede 2 goals every time they touch the pitch because their defense is so old and suspect, but at the same time they can put 4-5-6 goals up without mercy.

All European semifinals.

England vs. The Netherlands; Spain vs. Germany

Germany take third place again

I probably will be mistaken by this prediction because if you go by history when the World Cup is not in Europe, the South American powers usually dominate and win. Think about it, Brazil won each of the last two cups that were not in Europe - 2002 in South Korea/Japan and 1994 in the United States - and Argentina won the previous World Cup before that not in Europe in the 1986 Mexico tournament.

I know people love the fact that Dunga instilled discipline and his own imprint on the Brazilian roster, but I feel he is denying the fabric of what fundamentally makes Brazil great - they're Joga Bonito, which translates to play beautifully. Brazil is not a team to play ugly and win, they need to be free-flowing and this team with a fading Kaka as their hopeful star will not perform up to expectations.

In the same respect I think Maradona is one of the biggest bozos waling the face of the earth right now. Check out this picture of him from a few years back. Argentina have plenty of talent al over the pitch and Lionel Messi maybe the best player in the sport today, but Maradona has him out of place at forward when the little Barca man plays best on the right.

The funny thing is he has more than a surplus in forward depth too with Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero likely to sit on the pine, but Maradona refuses to change up his mind on this subject, so I think they will see an early exit in the knockout round.

Group winners and second-place finishers:

A- Mexico wins, South Africa

B- Argentina wins, Greece

C- England wins, US

D- Germany wins, Serbia

E- Netherlands win, Denmark

F- Paraguay wins, Italy

G- Brazil wins, Ivory Coast

H- Spain wins, Chile

Biggest surprises:

South Africa with Steven Pienaar leading the way I think will improbably come out of Group A. I just have a feeling they earn a draw against Mexico in the opening game and play well from there defeating Uruguay and potentially drawing or losing to France in a game that won't affect their moving onto the knockout round.

The Netherlands I think will be downright explosive and finally live up to the lofty expectations they have every tournament. Again I think they will average over 3 goals a game throughout the tournament even against good defensive squads because they have Sneijder who can unlock defenses with passing, Robben who can do it with his feat, Van Persie that can do it with his deadly shooting as well as Van der Vaart, and Kuyt who is just a dogged competitor getting to every loose ball.

The U.S. I think will turn heads because this team can score goals. Dempsey, Altidore, Donovan, Buddle, Bradley, Findley, Gomez, Bocanegra, Onyewu - these are all guys that can score goals whether it be on the counter or off restarts. Look for them to turn heads and if they win the group have a great shot to make it as far as they have ever made it in the World Cup -the semifinals ala 1950. It would be a great tribute to that team to wear a replica of the shirt of the 1950 team throughout the tournament like they are, and then advance as far.

Biggest disappointments:

If you go by Brazil's standards - winning isn't everything it's the only thing - then a quarterfinal exit for a second straight tournament, this time at the hands of the Dutch, is completely unacceptable. However, I think they got a terrible draw all the way around - the Group of Death in Group G and then the potential delicious match with the Netherlands in the quarterfinals if both teams take care of business. Nothing against Brazil I just like the clockwork orange better in that game.

Italy, France, Argentina I think could face a repeat of 2002 when all had early exits. Neither France nor Argentina made it out of the group stages and Italy lost to South Korea in the round of 16. I'm not saying I don't think any of these teams will advance out of the group stages, as you saw I think Argentina and Italy will, but I think they all have major problems and won't live up to their generally lofty expectations. Italy is too old, and France and Argentina both have bozo coaches.