WORLD CUP SEMI FINAL PREDICTIONS

 

 

OK, this is the fourth time I've tried this, once before the tournament, once after the group stages and once after the second round. Am I destined ever to get anything perfect? Probably not, but for what it's worth, here I go again.

Germany vs Italy: Well I did say that if the Germany vs Argentina quarter final went to penalties then the Germans would win it didn't I? Anyway if you're looking for history on this matchup then look no further than the 1970 semi final between Italy and the former West Germany - a bonafide classic which finished 1-1 after 90 minutes with Italy winning 4-3 in extra time. Of course, there's also the 1982 final between the two sides which Italy won 3-1.

As for the 2006 tie? That's a trickier call. The tournament taken as a whole, Germany seem to be on better form, then again Italy seem to have hit top gear against Ukraine and Germany already had to deal with one tough match vs the Argies in the quarters. Given that the Germans needed an injured Argie goalie and a penalty shootout to get this far, I'm giving it to the Azzurri.

Portugal vs France: Well these predictions went completely to cack. England really should have been able to kill Portugal off one way or another but it wound up not happening. As for the French, well it turned out that they'd hit a higher gear than Brazil and so there goes the idea of an all-South American final. History wise, the onlly significant match between the two sides was the Euro 2000 semi which the French won 2-1 in extra time.

2006 wise well the Portuguese have their share of class with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, Pauleta and friends. However France can reply with the on form Zidane, Viera, Henry and not forgetting Franck Ribery. Portugal really got outplayed by England to an extent that I doubt would have happened against France and Les Bleus will surely take the glory here.

So if that happened, how would the remaining matches go?

THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF:

Germany vs Portugal: Well this particular fixture is usually seen as fairly pointless but it would still be the biggest Germany vs Portugal match in football history. These sides have met before on a regular basis but only really in World Cup qualifiers, friendlies and one Euro 2000 group match where an upsurging Portugal beat a German side that I had nicknamed the 'Zimmermensch' 3-0.

Germany haven't beaten Portugal for 10 years and not in competitive football since 1985. However the German fans have done their side a big favour so far in the tournament and given that Portugal are probably the weakest side in the last four I feel that the home support would surely give Klinsmann's crew the edge for one last glory game and a Vielen Dank.

FINAL

France vs Italy: These two sides certainly have some great footballers in their history and definately great history with each other. Depending on your thinking the highlights of that history are either two World Cup quarter finals 60 years apart(Italy winning in 1938 and France in '98) or the Euro 2000 final which France won in extra time.

On this occassion, we'd be dealing with the side on the best form in the tournament going up against a pretty solid unit in their own right but not a side I'd ever expect to trouble the creme de la creme. After all the moaning and the dodgy early form, that creme de la creme has turned out to be France and right now it feels only right that Zidane and Henry will get to lift the World Cup one last time.

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