A Particle of Boredom

Below predictions were made by France legend, Marcell Desailly but for me the team to watch will be Spain, England, Brazil, Ivory Coast and Italy/Germany. Dutch should be out as they all too dependable to Robin Van Persie and De Kuuyt + Sneider. But yeah they (netherland) got good campaign in europe but the World Cup is different class and they are not up to it.

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( World Cup Predictions by Marcell Desailly)

I think this World Cup will be a World Cup for the European teams, definitely. Brazil and Argentina, okay – they are from South America – but it will be a European team that will win. About the African teams, I don’t think we are really ready. We dream about an African team that will win the World Cup. South Africa don’t have that potential – it is not going to be possible. The weather will be cold during the World Cup. People have forgotten that it is winter in South Africa at that moment and European teams will have their chance.

The Dutch team have impressed me during the Euros. The only problem is that they like to play too much. Tactically, they are making too many mistakes. The Dutch team, technically, for me are the best team at this World Cup. I see the Dutch versus Argentina in the final. I don’t think that Brazil will win the World Cup. I think that the team rely too much on the offensive animation of Kaka and Robinho and, at that level of the game, most of the time, the opponent is able to block you if you have only two major players that are creating and are the difference.

Spain disappointed at the Confederations Cup. It is not the World Cup but it looks like the Spanish players are involved in such a high level in their league that it depends on how fit they are and if they have the time to rest at least a little bit before the competition. At the Euros, they have been amazing, but I am not sure they are capable of doing it again. But the potential is there.

I’m quite happy because France have a good group for this World Cup. Physically, South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay don’t have the capacity to handle the French team if they really play at their level. Like everybody knows, when you look individually at the players of France, you can see that they have top-class players. It is just, as everyone says, the management is not at the level.

England have great players but they are lucky to have great management as well. I have worked with Fabio Capello for many years. They have great management and this is what was missing in the past World Cups and competitions. But England have to be careful of the USA, who had a very good Confederations Cup. They lost to Brazil in the final but they have shown a great capacity. Algeria have won against the double winners of the African Cup of Nations, Egypt, and we know that they have some kind of good stamina and capacity, but England will go through if the players are not too tired from the Premier League!

Honestly, with Group G I am a bit sad because, for me, Ivory Coast was the African country that had the biggest potential. Most of the players who play for Ivory Coast are first-choice in European leagues, so Ivory Coast was my hope for Africa. But Portugal have not played very well during their qualification and really struggled to go through, like France. Individually, yes, they have Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco, but I still believe that Ivory Coast will be the surprise of this group.