For football/soccer fans, predictions for the World Cup

[Dystopia]

What's your prediction for the world cup? So far we've got Germany V Brasil and Holland V Argentina. Who will win each game? Who will reach the finals? And who will be champion?

My bet on Germany V Brasil goes for Germany winning, Brasil lost Neymar and I consider Germany a better team, better prepared overall and more chemistry between players

On Netherlands V Argentina is a thought choice, I consider Holland is making a good world cup, Argentina is good but they rely heavily on Messi, maybe I'd bet slightly more on Holland but it's still hard to make a decision

If the final were between Germany V Holland/Argentina, any of the 3 teams deserves a world title, but I'd like Holland to win, they have reached the semi finals and finals several times yet have never won a title, they deserve at least one.

[Napoléon]

Holland vs Germany final.

Germany will win the world cup.

[Dystopia]

Holland vs Germany final.

Germany will win the world cup.

This would be my bet, even though the dutch have been deserving a title for a long time. And Germany has been reaching finals and semi finals since 2002, except for 2004

[Napoléon]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Dutch did win, but I think if you look at the two teams Germany has a much better side. That said, if Robben and Van Persie show up to kick some ass, they're the type of players that will win you tough games. Otherwise though, Holland just don't have enough quality anywhere else on the pitch.

The Brazilians are going to be devastated after losing Neymar, it could have a motivational effect though and they do still have some good players. However, this Brazil team doesn't look like a world cup winning team to me. It didn't even when they did have Neymar. Without him they simply have no one up front. Hulk is one of the most overrated players out there and Alan Shearer was right when he said he can't understand why Fred even gets a game. I wouldn't want him down my local team let alone playing at the world cup. Who else do Brazil have that can win games? Willian? Oscar?

And Argentina? I wouldn't say they rely on Messi. They have other world class players. Messi doesn't run the game, he's just a player that can do something special out of nothing. Problem for them is, they're without Di Maria, who I think is easily their most influential player. Without him I don't think they've got another player who's capable of grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and just dribbling with the ball. You might suggest Messi, but I haven't seen him do this all tournament. He's scored some goals, but I still don't think he plays like he does at Barca. And if Messi switches off, which he sometimes does, I think Argentina are there to be beat by a more hardworking team like the Dutch.

[Dystopia]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Dutch did win, but I think if you look at the two teams Germany has a much better side. That said, if Robben and Van Persie show up to kick some ass, they're the type of players that will win you tough games. Otherwise though, Holland just don't have enough quality anywhere else on the pitch.

I agree that Germany has an overall better team, but I see the Dutch as the kind of team that sometimes don't play shit and other times play astonishingly well, they seem to sweep between two extremes, if they happen to play extraordinarily well on the final they can win

The Brazilians are going to be devastated after losing Neymar, it could have a motivational effect though and they do still have some good players. However, this Brazil team doesn't look like a world cup winning team to me. It didn't even when they did have Neymar. Without him they simply have no one up front. Hulk is one of the most overrated players out there and Alan Shearer was right when he said he can't understand why Fred even gets a game. I wouldn't want him down my local team let alone playing at the world cup. Who else do Brazil have that can win games? Willian? Oscar?

I never thought Brazil was a good candidate to win this world cup, even if they are the host team, right now I can only see them winning out of luck

And Argentina? I wouldn't say they rely on Messi. They have other world class players. Messi doesn't run the game, he's just a player that can do something special out of nothing. Problem for them is, they're without Di Maria, who I think is easily their most influential player. Without him I don't think they've got another player who's capable of grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and just dribbling with the ball. You might suggest Messi, but I haven't seen him do this all tournament. He's scored some goals, but I still don't think he plays like he does at Barca. And if Messi switches off, which he sometimes does, I think Argentina are there to be beat by a more hardworking team like the Dutch.

I totally forgot Di Maria, is he out of the world cup? I can't always watch games. I'd say Holland has a better working team than Argentina and my bet goes for them, but once again it's very volatile to try to guess the outcome of this game. And Messi could do better but it happens, as a portuguese Ronaldo didn't do much either.

[Cato]

Would love to see the Dutch win for various reasons and think they'll get by Argentina.

I'm not as ready to declare Germany victors against Brazil. I think they have the stronger side, but playing at home will be huge for Brazil. I also don't think the absence of Neymar will be as significant as people are making it out to be. Willian may not finish as well, but can still be very disruptive. Unless the ban is overturned, I think Silva's absence will be a bigger blow to Brazil.

Perhaps just to buck the trend I'll predict Brazil and The Netherlands in the final and some very happy people in orange when all is said and done.

[Napoléon]

I totally forgot Di Maria, is he out of the world cup? I can't always watch games. I'd say Holland has a better working team than Argentina and my bet goes for them, but once again it's very volatile to try to guess the outcome of this game. And Messi could do better but it happens, as a portuguese Ronaldo didn't do much either.

Yeah he's out with injury.

I wasn't knocking Messi, he could still do something brilliant and get Argentina to the final, but I think the Dutch under Van Gaal are pretty damn organised and they will do everything to nullify Messi. I predict quite a boring game actually.

It does all depend on which players turn up really.

I also don't think the absence of Neymar will be as significant as people are making it out to be

You're right in that Silva will probably be just as big a miss. But then, that's doubly worrying for them. Their two best players are missing, their best forward and best defender. I honestly cannot see them winning, especially not against Germany.

[jesus_wept]

The winner will be the team that cheats and dives the most, probably the Germans but they're all as bad as each other these days.

[c172]

I'd be OK with anybody but Brazil, but, I'm guessing:

GER over BRA
NED over ARG

GER in PKs over NED.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I really want the Dutch to win to right past wrongs, but I suspect it will be Germany who triumph in the end.

On a side note Napo, I hear barca are very interested in signing Suarez still.