2010 WORLD CUP 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF AND FINAL PREDICTIONS

 

So, I've made a series of predictions throughout this tournament. I made them after the group draw, I made them after the group stages were finished, I made them just before the quarter finals. I made mistakes each time. Finally the semi finals came and I got it right.

So, what now?

THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF

 

Uruguay vs Germany: This is a partial rematch of the 1970 3rd place playoff between Uruguay and the former West Germany, which the Germans won. Both sides are surprise packages to varying extents, Uruguay taking advantage of an each run to the semis, Germany having outclassed both England and Argentina on their way here. Assuming both sides take this encounter halfway seriously, I expect a pretty good quality match. Germany have proven themselves the better side overall though.

FINAL

Netherlands vs Spain:

The Dutch haven't reached the World Cup final since 1978, a tournament that Johan Cryuff had to miss out due to his family being kidnapped earlier that year! They have yet to win the tournament. For the Spaniards, this is their first ever World Cup final. Traditionally they are seen as one of the game's underachievers but winning Euro 2008 gave the first hint that they were ready to throw off that tag once and for all and now they have the chance to do so.

The Dutch route through this tournament has certainly been smooth - a 100% record so far in South Africa, you can't argue with that, and yet they haven't been as awesome as they were in the early stages of Euro 2008. The Spaniards in the meantime got mugged by Switzerland in their first match and since then they've not really gotten out of cruise mode. We've certainly not seen them really take over matches yet and the question remains, do they still have that top gear?

In terms of players, well the Dutch have plenty of familiar faces with their main man being Arjen Robben, a man that has somehow reinvented himself as a pretty deadly assasin since leaving Chelsea, backed up by Wesley Snijeder who's hit unexpected heights in this tournament. For Spain, well the biggest threat in theory is Torres but just like Rooney for England, he's looked out of it. Luckilly for Spain, David Villa's been able to pick up the slack. Plenty of classy players can't even get into the Spanish starting XI - they clearly don't lack for talent.

So in terms of history, the Dutch have the slight edge but either way there will be a new name on the World Cup trophy so history doesn't count for much. The Dutch have had the smoother route through the tournament so far but what happens when Spain get out of cruise mode? Player wise, it looks like Spain have the edge. Overall, there has been one team I've been picking to win the tournament since the start and I might as well stick with them. Spain to win the 2010 World Cup.

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