It's Nearly Over...Until The Next Time

OK, so my semi-final predictions were, er, 100% wrong. That is the reason why I'm not a professional gambler. At least Uruguay gave it a go, though. What was up with Germany - it was like they didn't realise they were in semi-final and just couldn't motivate themselves. After the first 20 minutes or so, I could see the game only going one way. Although I was surprised it took Spain until 70-odd minutes to score.

Anyway, so we have a Holland v Spain final to look forward to. I'm not going to predict the winner (although it will be Spain) but I'm hoping against hope that both teams will show more attacking dynamism than they have so far. Pragmatic football has got both sides all the way, but it isn't that much fun to watch.

I'd like to see a very early goal from one team, which will force the other to play with more attacking intent, thereby creating a more exciting final than the one, I fear, we're about to see.

Predictions For The Semi-Finals

So, we're down to the last four: Holland, Spain, Germany and Uruguay.

Frankly, I was expecting at least one other South American side to be here: most likely Brazil, but what do I know.

The thing is, though, that only one of these teams has shown any real consistency so far in the tournament and that is: Germany.

While, admittedly, they did lose their second match, Joachim Loew's side have shown what can be achieved when you build a team, rather than throwing the biggest eleven names in German football together and hoping they can bond.

The fact that Loew has kept faith with Klose and Podolski despite poor seasons is just one indication of this. The introduction of Ozil and Khedira from the Under 21 squad is another.

This, for me, makes them favourite to win the entire competition. Spain and Holland have struggled through. Both the Dutch and Spanish have been better than the teams they've come up against, but - Brazil aside - neither have really been challenged.

Even without Luis Suarez, I think Uruguay have the craft and determination to get past Holland, while Germany should win through against the stuttering Spanish.

Uruguay v Germany in the 2010 World Cup Final.

Provisional Squads So Far

OK, we're now getting down to the serious business of the World Cup with a number of nations announcing their provisional World Cup 2010 squads. To avoid the world's most tedious blog post, I'm just linking to news articles detailing who is in and who is out.

Germany Provisional Squad : No Hitzlesperger, no Kuranyi - full details here.

South Korea Provisional Squad : Park Ji Sung, that Bolton guy and full details here.

Ghana Provisional Squad : including Germany's Kevin Prince Boateng?! - full details here.

Holland Provisional Squad : Christ, they've got some good players - full details here.

No One Is Actually Going to the 2010 World Cup

Some of Europe's more football loving nations, including Germany and England, have announced figures regarding how many tickets for the 2010 World Cup they have managed to sell so far.

The English F.A have said they have had to send back 6,000 of their 29,000 ticket allocation, while the German F.A have apparently sold only 1,916 of 21,000 tickets.

Predictably, and - on the surface - understandably, this has lead to the usual media hysteria about safety in South African 2010.

Even usually canny commentators, like Martin Samuel, have been in on the act. However, closer inspection reveals a very different picture.

Take the fact that England have returned 6,000 tickets to FIFA as exhibit one, so to speak. What has been strangely underreported is that half of these were for a potential 3rd v 4th place play-off match.

And, oh yes, the Round of 16 match is oversubscribed and the English FA are hoping to get more tickets. These two things, unfortunately, don't fit into the type of story that the media want to write, so they get ignored.

As for the - on the surface - very low sales by the German FA, well, here's Wolfgang Niersbach - head of the German Soccer Federation - to put it in perspective:

"Sales are normal and similar to the 2002 World Cup, and the comparison with 2002 offers itself because of the similar distance and the resulting costs."

And that '1,916' figure that seems to be quoted everywhere? Well, that's not accurate either. In fact, over 25,000 Germans have ordered tickets for ALL the World Cup 2010 matches.

So, it's not going too badly, is it?

What Price Holland To Win The World Cup

While the focus is, as it should be, on Spain or Brazil as potential winners of the 2010 World Cup Finals, it appears that no one is really touting the Netherlands as possible victors. So, allow me to step in and say: I think the Dutch could win the 2010 World Cup.

Now, like anyone who has watched football for more than about ten minutes, I know that the Dutch regularly shoot themselves in the foot by arguing a lot and acting like a bunch of overpaid prima donnas (oh, wait a minute...). I also know that they tend to lose matches they should win. But, frankly, I don't care. I think they're in with a chance.

Let's face it : they cruised into the finals, scoring 17 goals and conceding only two. And before you point out that their Group was rubbish, so was Spain's and you can't do better than winning all your matches.

Looking at the current Netherlands squad, you will see some highly skilled but fragile talents like Robin Van Persie, Rafael van der Vaart, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneider. You will also see some battlers, like Nigel De Jong, Dirk Kuyt and Johnny Heitinga and, yes, a few mediocre players as well (Andre Oojer, anyone?).

Being honest, I think that the Dutch will need at least 3 of the first four named players to be fit if they are to stand a chance, as these are the players that can turn a game. But if they are fit, Holland are a match for anybody in the world.

Their squad has a good balance between attacking and defensive talent and Marco Van Basten's 4-2-3-1 formation is both flexible and designed to get the best out of the players he has available.

So, I think that Rafael van der Vaart was being more than a little disingenuous when he tipped Spain, Argentina and Brazil as favourites for the 2010 World Cup.

At a best price 14/1 with Bet365 to win the World Cup, Holland have got to be worth an each way bet. If you don't already have an account, they'll give you a 100% bonus on your first deposit too!

It's Looking Good For Some...And Terrible For Portugal

So, with yesterday's 2010 World Cup Qualifying matches out of the way, things are looking a little clearer, especially in the European groups.

The Dutch have qualified already, from admittedly the weakest possible Group (Scotland are the next placed team, a mere 11 points behind the Netherlands).

Almost certain to qualify now are England, who beat Kazakhstan 4-0 and then saw Croatia and Ukraine draw 2-2 : the ideal result for Capello's side.

Spain, too, are pretty much there, although they didn't play yesterday.

However, some big teams are struggling. Portugal were being held by Albania until a last minute goal got them a much needed win. They're still languishing in third in Group 1 and have away matches at Denmark and Hungary to come. So, I doubt Portugal will be at the 2010 World Cup Finals.

Elsewhere, spare a thought for Israel. They don't lose many matches in World Cup qualifying campaigns and yet never seem to qualify. They're currently 4th in Group 2 and yet have only lost once.

Their record in the last 3 qualification campaings stands at 24 matches played, just three lost and yet still they haven't managed to qualify.