FIFA WorldCup 2014 - Prediction Time

Yes, its prediction time!!! The fact that I was 85% correct to Paul the Octopus 100%, during the FIFA 2010 Worldcup, has kept me most excited to put forward my FIFA WC 2014 predictions.

The Group stage of the FIFA Worldcup 2014 is done and dusted, and no team has been more impressive than the Dutch. With intent to win, they have outplayed their opponents and have been most talked about team entering the Group 16. Inflicting a 5-1 goal defeat on the reigning champions in the revenge match was just the start. The team with the dubious record of reaching most WorldCup finals without ever winning it, is all set to change that. Dutch coach, Van Gaal, the to-be manager of ManU, has been brilliant in marshaling his team in both attack and defense. Under him the Dutch have been playing as a team in Brazil, with some individual brilliances from Roben, the master dribbler, and Robin, the Dutch captain. Between the two, they have scored most goals among the Top-5 (3 goals each). 

Though I love to see Messi lift the Worldcup this time, my calculations say that Netherlands are going home with coveted Cup that they have dreamed forever now. Yes, Dutch it is on which I put all my money to lift the Brazil Edition of the WorldCup.

Below are my predictions for the Group of 16 -

Brazil vs Chile -- Brazil (1-0)
Colombia vs Uruguay -- Colombia (1-1)Win on penalties
Netherlands vs Mexico -- Netherlands (2-1)
CostaRica vs Greece -- CostaRica (1-0)
France vs Nigeria -- France (1-0)
Germany vs Algeria -- Germany (2-0)
Argentina vs Switzerland -- Argentina (2-1)
Belgium vs USA -- USA (2-1)

Quarter finals -
Brazil vs Colombia -- Brazil (2-0)
Netherlands vs CostaRica -- Netherlands (1-0)
France vs Germany -- France (3-2)
Argentina vs USA -- Argentina (1-0)

Semi-final 1 - Brazil vs France -- Netherlands (2-0)
Semi-final 2 - Netherlands vs Argentina -- Argentina (1-0)

Finals - Netherlands vs France -- Netherlands (2-1)

It's a Carnival - FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014

32 Nations...

64 Matches...

More than a Million dreams...

One Cup.. A beautiful game.

FIFA 2014 Match Schedule

Wiki about FIFA 2014

Well, it doesn't come without its share of controversies...

Dutch score a hatrick, but spain win the World Cup!!!

  Google logo on the day of finals

Great finish by the European champions to win the world cup. A dream come true, a dream of so many people, a dream that had never been realised for decades. And today,  at the Soccer City stadium in South Africa it was only one team that looked like lifting the 18k gold FIFA world cup... Spain!! Spain beat Netherlands 1-0 in the finals, in what can be called an unattractive game with many fouls  from both sides. Netherlands had their chances though, Robben missed a one-on-one against the Spanish skipper. But it took extra time for the spanish to break the Dutch defence and get the ball in the back of their net, a right foot strike from Iniesta in the 116th minute puts them into the elite group of world cup winners. Spain shrug their chokers tag, while the dutch make it a hatrick to have lost thrice in the finals of a World Cup. Spainards are ecstatic, as they have lived their dream!!!

Congrats to Spain for lifting the FIFA 2010 World Cup!!!!

PS: Paul the psychic Octopus has 100% record, while i have 85%  :)

Octopus Paul predicts Spain victory over Germany.
See here for my predictions.. have got 10/12 correct so far.

Dutch fightback buries Brazil

FIFA World Cup 2010 - My predictions

We're not the favourites but we are among the hopefuls." Vicente del Bosque, Spain coach

The pre-quarters matches are here at the FIFA World Cup 2010. And the knock out stage start from today. Infact the first of the 8 matches is already underway. Its time to pick the favorites.. my heart sings for Argentina.. Messi in particular... but my calculations say it will be the Spaniards. Maradona's men will fall in the semi's hurdle. The best perfomance of Spain so far in the FIFA world cups is fourth place in 1950, but this time they will surprise the world. This worldcup has seen the domination of the Americas over Europe and other nations... So far, in the Eighteen editions, both these continents have shared equal honours winning 9 times each (different countries ofcourse). Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times, Italy have won four titles, and Germany are next with three titles. Uruguay and Argentina, with two titles each, and England and France, winning it one time each.

My prediction for 2010 - It will be Nederlands vs Spain in the finals with XAVI's men lifting the world cup on July 11th. The current Spanish team looks in good form... Villa's form so far in this South African edition has been good if not great, Iker's defence and XAVI's exuberance with the ball will be unstoppable.

Courtesy: FIFA.com

Pre-Quarters (16 teams)

M49: URG vs KOR - URG
M50: USA vs GHA - GHA
M51: GER vs ENG - ENG (win on penalties)
M52: ARG vs MEX - ARG
M53: NED vs SVK - NED
M54: BRA vs CHI - BRA
M55: PAR vs JPN - JPN (win on penalties)
M56: ESP vs POR - ESP (win on penalties)

Quarters (8 teams)

M57: NED vs BRA - NED (Yes, this will be the shocker!!)
M58: URG vs GHA - URG (win on penalties)
M59: ENG vs ARG - ARG
M60: JPN vs ESP - ESP


Semis (4 teams)

M61: NED vs URG - NED
M62: ESP vs ARG -ESP (win on penalties)

Finals (2 teams)

M64: NED vs ESP - ESP (Win by 3-1)

FIFA Worldcup Schedule - South Africa 2010

FIFA WorldCup Germany 2006

The story so far....

Being a die hard fan of football .. i certainly am not gonna miss the last two matches of the FIFA Worldcup 2006 ... first being the fight for the third place between Germany and Portugal, two young teams fighting it out for pride... and the second... the great clash for the title between France and Italy in the finals on Sunday (July 9th). Klinsmann (the german coach) certainly wud want to make it at the third spot for his nation. I greatly admire him for giving his commitment towards the game and in grooming the young lads of the german national team to the last four in the championship this year. His energy, passion and love for the game is simply unmatched.. (guess wat.. he is a Leo!). German football hasn't always been attacking and attractive, but Jurgen Klinsmann has changed all that... he knows wat it means to hold the golden world cup in one's hands.. he has been a part of the victorious West German team in 1990 versus Argentina in Rome. Just read this interview of his to timesonline.... truly a legend. Hmmmm.. so, this time its gonna be either France or Italy to lift the world cup. And before i end this blog.. here are a couple of "did u knows" ;) ...

Did u know that someone had predicted that....
Did u know where the 2010 FIFA World Cup's gonna be held??