2010 WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS TAKE 4

 

Well here we go, another round of predictions. OK, I've tried this twice now, the first time when the original group draw was made, and the second time after the group stages were done. Then after the first round of knockout stages. Each time, I made mistakes. So can I finally get it right?

Uruguay vs Netherlands: Well the last time Uruguay reached the World Cup semi finals was in 1970 and they lost 3-1 to Brazil on that occasion. The last time they did better than that was in 1950 when they won a four-team "final group" and the whole competition. The Netherlands in he meantime have matched their '98 side in reaching this stage, where they also lost to Brazil, that time on penalties. They haven't gone further than this since 1978 though.

Well on paper, neither side looked particularly awesome coming into the tournament. The Uruguayans got particularly lucky with events in their quarter turning it into a mini twilight zone. However, they were always going to be the best of that bunch. The Dutch have looked solid rather than spectacular over the course of this tournament but hey, they did manage to catch Brazil on the hop and now that they've done that, I can't see them not being in the final.

Germany vs Spain: For the Germans this is their third World Cup in a row where they've made the semi finals, though the last time they won such a match, the opposition was merely South Korea. For Spain well we're talking about unchartered territory going back to the "final group" of 1950 where they finished 4th! However the reason this match is an eyebrow raiser(and one I actually foresaw first time around) is that it's a rematch of the Euro 2008 final which Spain won.

Well credit where credit's due the Germans have really come on strong in this tournament, it's one thing beating an iffy England side, another entirely to gun down a seemingly dominant Argie side. Like the Dutch though they're solid rather than spectacular. Spain on the other hand have somehow got to this stage without hitting top gear. For the 2nd round tie between Germany vs England I said it depended on which England side showed up. Here it depends which Spain side shows up. Spain have to show up sometime surely so I'll stick with my original prediction - Spain to win.

So what would happen then?

THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF

Uruguay vs Germany: This would actualy be a partial rematch of the 1970 3rd place play off where Uruguay lost to the former West Germany. It would also be Germany's second 3rd place playoff in a row. For Uruguay's overachievers it would be the chance for one last cherry on what has been a pretty impressive cake. However this German side should be solid enough to see off their opponents on this occasion and make it what would be two third places in a row.

FINAL

Netherlands vs Spain: Well this would garantee a new name on the trophy one was or another. It would be the first World Cup final for the Dutch since 1978 and the Spanish would be in completely unchartered territory. The Dutch have certainly overachieved in this tournament but would they see off the Spanish. Well we're already assuming here that Spain will be able to find top gear in the semis. In that case they would have what it takes to see off this Dutch side.

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