Who will win the world cup

The titans of finance Goldman Sachs and Bloomberg both say Brazil.
Using a clever monte carlo statistical analysis. The same one which has created 5+ years of global recession probably.

Eminent scientist Stephen Hawkins says not England. ( You don't become a Professor for being stupid) . He also mentions hosts often win 30%. See 1966, 1998 etc

Brazil are the 3/1 favourite at the bookies but bookies are pandering to the masses.

Looking at Brazil's team on paper though they don't look the best. Argentina's do. Neymar, Oscar, Hulk vs Di Maria, Messi, Aguero.

But if World cups get won by the team with the best individual players then Wales might have a chance and we cant see Portugal doing well either.

Brazil are ranked 9th below Argentina, Columbia and Uruguay.


Will the expectation and internal protests undermine their confidence.

They no longer have the same plethora of star players. Neymar is the new star but he has been injured and his form for Barcelona with only 17 goals compared to Messi's 41 hasn't been that amazing. Rooney's scored the same number of goals in 15 less games for a struggling team.

Scolari has got them playing in a more pressing style. Borrowing from Borussia Dortmund's gegenpressen

Brazil tactics 

We think based on the "expect the unexpected" technique and zero statistical analysis we predict

Semis

Brazil vs Germany - Germany could provide a shock as they can out gegenpressen the gegenpressen's as you say in Deutsch. They will also win on penalties as they always do.

Spain vs Argentina - Argentina to win

Final

Argentina vs Germany - Argentina win

Other possible suprises, dark horses England to win group beat Spain in quarter finals. Beat Argentina. Beat Germany in final

or Belgium beat everyone meet Brazil in final and win in biggest shock since Euro 2004

So final will be one of

1. Germany - Argentina
2. England - Germany
3. Belgium - Brazil

Pirlo still a Pearl(o) of a player

0/10 for the pun for me but 10/10 for Pirlo who still has all the grace and command of a true legend at his disposal Any England fans hoping for a diminished version of the Pirly King of Juve will be surely disappointed. Juve have won 3 titles since he arrived on a free transfer and his 2012 master class against England is very likely to happen again. At least in the group stage he wont humiliate us with a Panenka penalty. Do we have a strategy to suppress his technique and playmaking ablities ? Man marked by Oxlade Chamberlain or harried and hustled by Jack Wilshire. I doubt it. To make matters worse his efficient style seems perfect for the Brazilian climate of Manaus. Maybe need to copy the Benefica tactics which knocked out Juve. Not sure they can easily summarised but foul alot and get lots of luck. Perhaps our youthful side may win out with a shocking,unexpectedly high tempo approach, "so wrong its right", typical English style in 100% humidity with good use of substitutes could tire the Italian team with an average age of 30. I dont think I have an answer I'll stick to making rubbish puns A draw is a likely result

England - Learn the Lessons from 1970

The 1970 World Cup in Mexico characterised by the heat, which influenced the playing style and seemed dominated by the yellow and blue of Brazil.

Will Brazil 2014 be similar ?

For England lets hope not as an eventful tournament entered as holders eventually was a disappointment and set the tone for most future World Cups.

Lessons we need to remember

Don't get the captain arrested - Bogota Bracelet

Gerrard does have scally credentials but nowadays players could buy a whole jewellery store with a weeks wages. Moore only earned a pittance in comparison - not that he was guilty of course.

Don't miss open goals when playing the world champions elect - Brazil v England 1970 (9.30)

Don't get the goalie and one of our best players sick - Gordon Banks

Hold onto 2 goal leads but not by sitting back and defending as this always seems to go wrong - England vs West Germany

Comment from the Guardian at the time

England wrongly proceeded to...pack the perimeter of their penalty area and concede the central areas.

England were...far too cautious. The system of playing only two forwards...is unsuited to Mexico's heat, height, and humidity.
	Quarter Finals

Rooney the new (old) Ronaldo

Ronaldo had two disappointing world cups
He looked unfit
His name begin with R
He scored lots of goals and won the world cup single handedly

Rooney has had two disappointing world cups
He looks unfit
His name begins with R
He ........

GrossKreutz - German for Gazza

GrossKreutz German and Borussia Dortmund international has been caught urinating in a hotel foyer.

Early this month he threw a kebab at a young fan after they sang an insulting song

German police were charging him with assault as the chilly sauce got into the fans eye.

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