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.

Have To Hope This One Doesn't Backfire

Germany head coach Joachim Low has announced that Kevin Kuranyi will not be part of the 2010 Germany World Cup squad.

Although Low denies it, saying that there were "tactical" reasons for excluding the striker, it does look like revenge for Kuranyi walking out of the stadium in Dortmund before the final whistle after being omitted from the matchday squad for the qualifier against Russia in October 2008.

The thing is, Low's claims that "It would have been no problem for us to give him a new chance in the national team" but that "after consideration among our coaching staff we came to the conclusion that we had other ideas, tactically and personnel-wise, for the composition of the World Cup squad." ring very, very hollow when you look at how Kuranyi's fellow strikers have performed this season.

While Kuranyi scored 18 goals in the Bundesliga, Bayern's Miroslav Klose has got, well, just one goal. Lukas Podolski has done a lot better, though. He's got two. In twenty seven appearances.

Not very impressive, is it. Bayer Leverkusen's Stefan Kiessling does have 21 league goals this season, but he only has 3 caps at international level and no goals.

Looking at it from this perspective, it seems very clear why Kuranyi has been excluded. Because, if Low was picking form players, Kuranyi would be one of the first on the plane.

Let's hope this one doesn't backfire on Low.