Do you want a prediction?
I thought not.
You don’t want a prediction from a guy who said (1) England will beat USA 2-1 and (2) Algeria are made for Rooney and (3) Brazil will beat Holland and (4 ) I’ll be amazed if Brazil don’t win the World Cup.
There are three World Cup matches left now.
One of those doesn’t matter.
Holland v Spain would be a spectacular Final between two nations who have never won the World Cup.
It would be fabulous and I’d love to see that final.
But I think the Germans will beat Spain tonight.
I’ve backed over 2.5 goals in the game and five minutes before kick-off I’ll back Germany to qualify.
Gerard Pique is an accident waiting to happen.
His temperament will let him down and his Hollywood crossfield balls are often a joke.
OK, Spain were by far the best team in Euro 2008.
There was very little luck about how they won that trophy. But the last two years have been a real slog for the Barcelona players, a time of intense pressure that has taken an inevitable toll on Xavi, Iniesta and Puyol. Xabi Alonso, Iniesta and Xavi have all been carrying injuries.They are tired and a bit stale.
Busquets is fresh but makes mistakes that Senna did not make. Casillas has not impressed in this tournament.
In Durban on June 16, Spain were beaten 1-0 by Switzerland.
The electric David Villa can score against any team but he can’t beat Germany on his own.
Spain look weary and stale, so they play too slowly in the first half of their games.
I reckon Germany could take them apart tonight.
Last night the BBC’s Lee Dixon said what I said on Saturday and wrote two days later : Drop Torres, start Fabregas.
Yes, Fernando Torres was an awesome striker. A huge favourite of mine. But he had two ankle operations. You can’t play a World Cup so soon after having two ankle operations. His sharpness just isn’t there. If he starts, Spain could be 2-0 down before Fabregas comes on.
It looks like player power to me. Is the team picking the team?