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The World Cup 2014 final draw has finally been concluded and the scheduled fixtures bring several mouth-watering prospects.
I am a World Cup fanatic and this is my opinion on how the World Cup could possibly unfold.
We start with Pool A, which has hosts and clear favourites, the record five times World Champions Brazil, Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon.
Brazil would be favourites to qualify as group A winners based on the rest of the teams in its pool, and with their latest 2013 Confederations Cup win.
Mexico had to wallop lowly ranked New Zealand in the last grasp effort to make it to Brazil.
They are struggling as a unit and goals are farfetched. The runner-up spot would be decided between Cameroon and Croatia.
Cameroon has been dominant in their qualifications, however they could be undone by internal strive which has plagued them in the past, that’s why for me Croatia is slightly favourite with their cohesive unit, tactical ability and organisation.
In Pool B, the Socceroos join current Champion’s Spain, 2010 finalist Holland and Chile. For the Socceroos, this pool would have to be the toughest ever they have participated in.
Unfortunately, it seems a three horse race. On paper you would expect, Spain to top the pool and Holland and Chile to decide the runners up.
The Netherlands have had a perfect qualification, while, Chile have recently shown how good they are when they trounced England at Wembley 2-0 last month but I expect Holland sneak through on the narrowest of margins purely on discipline and organisation.
In Pool C, we have Colombia, 2004 Euro champions Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan.
The World Cup being in South America, you have to favour Colombia to top the Pool ranked fourth of FIFA rankings and their recent victories over Belgium and draw with Netherlands prove that.
The second placed position could go to any of the other three teams.
For the Ivory Coast, the last chance for the golden generation in the likes of Drogba with the Toure brothers but age is against them.
In Greece you would expect a compact unit with ultra defensive mode employed with goals mostly from set pieces. Finally Japan could also qualify; they have beaten Belgium and drawn with the Netherlands away from home recently.
I do fancy Greece if anything, if only they play compacted and defensive, like the 2004 Euros, to qualify with Colombia.
In Pool D, we see England, semi-finalist and current Copa America Champions Uruguay, Costa Rica and Euro 2012 finalist and four time World Cup winners, Italy.
Italy, have recently prevailed over England and under Pandelli, they have thrived. Costa Rica, haven’t had the best of recent matches, having lost to Australia 1-0 and also losing to Honduras.
England has recently lost against Germany and Chile; however, in the year they drew with Brazil at the Maracana.
England can beat Uruguay, whose defence don’t look as good as it did four years ago in South Africa.
However, with Suarez, in the form he has been recently and his latest four goal galore against Norwich at Anfield and with his comrades, Forlan and Cavani, should pose problems for England.
I think on the day, England, Uruguay and Italy can beat each other, however, accounting for climate, travelling and continent advantage, I favour Uruguay and either Italy or England to qualify.
In Pool E, we have Switzerland, Ecuador, 1998 winners France and Honduras.
You have to favour the French to qualify as group winners based on their last performance, overpowering Ukraine at home, however you could question how much input did the fans have as the crowd was phenomenal.
Switzerland ranked eighth, arguably had the easiest qualifying groups.
A look at 2010 World Cup, and you realise they beat Spain 1-0, only not to qualify out of that group.
I think Ecuador might just sneak past Switzerland, however there isn’t much about them as well, having drawn with Honduras as well as Argentina.
Honduras have been poor having drawn with Ecuador 2-2, and losing to Brazil 5-0.
In Pool F, we have two-time winners, Argentina as clear favourites to top this pool.
They are joined by first ever participant Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and African Champions Nigeria.
Bosnia recently lost to Argentina, USA and Slovakia and they lack the World Cup experience.
As for Iran, ranked 45th and recently beaten the likes of Thailand, look to be the whipping boys in the Pool.
However, having said that, they are a different beast at home in Tehran in front of their 100,000 fans. For me, I think the Super Eagles will accompany Argentina in qualifying.
They recently drew with Italy. In goal they have Vincent Enyeama who plays for Lille in Ligue 1 and has not let a goal in since 15 September equaling to1035 minutes of game time. They have Mikel in the midfield as well as Victor Moses up front.
In Pool G, which arguably is the “group of death”, has three-time champions Germany, 2014 Ballondor favourite Ronaldo-led Portugal, black stars Ghana and the USA.
History says that Germany will qualify as group winners. With the likes of Mesut Ozil, Marco Reus, Philip Lahm and Bastien Schweinsteiger it’s hard to argue against that.
It’s the second spot, which could be decided by Ghana and Portugal. It’s hard to see, where USA could squeeze in.
They struggled in the qualifications and in recent meetings with Ghana they have lost.
Portugal qualified thanks to Ronaldo, who has been in the best form of his life.
He could get them pass Ghana, who are a shadow of the team four years ago with Asamoh Gyan and Michael Essien fading somewhat.
The one problem Portugal would face is if Ronaldo became injured.
Pool H has tournament dark horses, Belgium, as well as Algeria, Russia and 2002 semi-finalist South Korea.
Based on paper Belgium has an excellent array of youth talent which very few teams can boast.
The battle for second spot should be close, between Korea and Russia.
Though Russia qualified ahead of Portugal, they haven’t played quality international matches, however they recently beat South Korea.
The Koreans, have beaten Mali and Switzerland but are not physically up for the challenge.
In terms of Algeria, they narrowly beat Barkina Faso in the play-offs and haven’t played any quality opposition to be able to be gauged. You have to fancy, Belgium and Russia to qualify out of this pool.
For the second round, I fancy these possible fixture line-ups: Brazil versus Netherlands, Colombia versus Uruguay, Spain versus Croatia, Italy versus Greece, France versus Nigeria, Germany versus Russia, Argentina versus Ecuador and Belgium versus Portugal
The possible quarterfinal line-up I envisage will entail: Brazil versus Uruguay, France versus Germany, Spain versus Italy and Argentina versus Portugal
As for the semis: I think it will be Brazil versus Germany and Spain versus Argentina.
And my tip for the final? Brazil versus Argentina and the winner will be Argentina.
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