Well, I'll say fairly confidently that I don't think it will be Uruguay. Yet such has been this tournament's capacity to surprise, even the prospect of Diego Lugano (no, I'd never heard of him either) hoisting the famous gold trophy aloft a week today cannot be completely dismissed.
With Brazil and Argentina emphatically failing to live up to expectations when the going got a little tougher, the chances of a European victor look nailed on barring two miraculous performances from Lugano's lads. Deprived of their most creative player, Luis Suarez, by the Ajax striker's impromptu display of goalkeeping prowess on Friday, the last remaining hope for South American success will surely be swept aside by the increasingly impressive Dutch in Tuesday's first semi-final.
The men in orange stepped up to the plate superbly against the much-fancied Brazilians, and in Robben, Sneijder and Van Persie they have individuals capable of winning games against better teams than Uruguay. Barring over-confidence or a sudden return of the internal squabbling that has so often been the undoing of previous talented but temperamental Dutch teams, expect BeRt Van Maarwijk's men to be in Soccer City on 11 July.
The other semi-final is harder to call - the patient, intricate passing of European champions Spain against the tournament's revelation in the shape of a resurgent, uncharacteristically cavalier Germany. England's nemesis have scored four goals in successive matches against two supposed powerhouses of the global game, and while both opponents were ultimately exposed as defensively shambolic, tactically inept and lacking the collective will to fight in adversity, Joachim Low's team nevertheless took their chances with a clinical applomb unmatched by any other nation in this World Cup.
I fancy the Germans to continue their irresistible momentum against a decorative but often toothless Spanish side. They cannot keep relying on the talismanic David Villa to get them out of trouble and for all their pretty patterns in midfield, the nagging doubt remains that if Barcelona's new signing doesn't deliver, alternative sources of goals are thin on the ground. Especially as Fernando Torres, so deadly for Liverpool, is currently playing more like his club teammate David Ngog.
A Holland v Germany final then - now who would have predicted that a month ago??
The Spaniards are playing their way into the tournament - I think all would agree we're yet to see the best of them and I'd be surprised if they went out before we did...Spain v Dutch final - it'll be a great game with two sides who'd both fancy their chances.
ReplyDeleteAs for Uruguay? They play more like you'd expect the Germans to play - very well organised, hard to break down and strikers capable of putting a couple past the best of defences - though think missing Suarez and the quality of the Dutch midfield will put them on the plane back to Montevideo.
Looking forward to this weeks games - at least 3 good'uns on the books, enjoy.
Thanks for your comments Evil Stormy. I agree the Spanish can get better, but I believe the Germans are really on a roll now and will take some beating. What impresses me the most about them is that the way they break so effectively and maximise the chances they create. The other teams in this World Cup just haven't executed as well and that's why I think Germany will be world champions this time next week.
ReplyDeletelike a mo'fo!
ReplyDeleteWasn't the same Germany as in the earlier rounds, but equally the Spanish didn't let them wreak havoc on the break like their previous opponents because they were too organised. I don't think the Germans can have too many complaints but still a great tournament for them.
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