Fifa World Cup 2014 – on and off field Predictions!
With the Fifa World Cup arriving for its four year adventure on Thursday with a month of matches to feast on, ATV Sport Editor Callum Patterson gives his predictions on the pitch and off the pitch with the broadcasters at this years event in Brazil!
I, like many are looking forward to the tournament, it does stem a tide of boredom between the end of the domestic season and the start of the next. It’s a festival of international football. There hasn’t been talks or moans about funny moving footballs and NO VUVUZELA’S will be heard this year, with that let’s hope the football will be better than some of the stodgy games we had in 2010.
Brazil open us up on Thursday, the host nation, and the favourites. They are the only team to not win their own World Cup and many people are saying South American sides are at an advantage for this tournament. I’m not really buying that to be honest. Brazil for me I can’t see winning the tournament. I think overall on paper there a handful of better squads. They did turn it on in the Confederations Cup last year. So there is that aspect with a home crowd. One of the star players is striker Neymar if he is in great form – they will go far, however I think he is personally a little overrated. He is a very good striker, and had a solid first season in Europe, he just doesn’t wow me yet. He hasn’t but not reached his peak though and he does seem to do well for his home country. However if form does spike for him in this tournament, then Brazil may well be up there. Argentina have great quality upfront with Messi, Aguero, Higuian, Lavezzi and Di Maria to start. However Messi despite scoring freely for Barcelona never seems the ‘star man’ for his Country. He needs a good tournament. A weaker defence for me though sees them maybe reaching their standard Quarter Final. You have Colombia and Uruguay who have great talisman up front in Luis Suarez and Radamel Falcao respectively, however for me could do reasonably well not got enough squad quality to win the tournament. Colombia’s chances are weakening since their talisman is set to miss the tournament with injury! Looking at European sides Portugal don’t have enough thrust up front outwith Ronaldo, with them relying on the likes of strikers Hugo Almeida and Helder Postiga, who don’t exactly score Ronaldo amounts of goals. I’ve not mentioned current holders Spain yet! For me are just past their peak. They won’t win it this time. 2008 & 2012 Euros and 2010 World Cup is a good return in recent years though.
So who is going to win then?
For me I really like Germany. They haven’t had the best of build up’s with some off the pitch nonsense and one or two injuries. I feel for Marco Reus from Borussia Dortmund getting injured v Armenia on Friday, he will miss the tournament. However They play some fabulous football and have been growing since the 2006 World Cup. Even before then they were runners up in 2002. Joachim Löw came in afterwards and in 2006 and 2010 have finished 3rd overall. In a recent 2-2 draw with Cameroon last week they showed their attacking threat from nothing. With the likes of Gotze, and hopefully of Ozil can refind his early season form with Arsenal they can do something. Thomas Muller in particular would be a decent bet at 33/1 each way for Top Goalscorer. Miroslav Klose is a veteran but with previous Golden Boot and so many World Cup goals he will want to make an impact. With the injuries I mentioned they may have a little soft centre in defence. However with youngsters such as Erik Durm having a great domestic season, could slot in and do well. Their movement in the final third should help them out enormously. Overall Germany to win the tournament is my selection after recent near misses in Fifa’s premier international tournament.
Is there any dark horses that can do well?
Two teams for me stand out in this category Bosnia and Belgium.
Bosnia are in a decent group with Argentina, Nigeria and Iran. You’d think they could finish 2nd in that group. For a side that came from the Yugoslavian ashes 20 or so years ago is incredible. This is their first World Cup finals, and I doubt they will be phased. From 173 in the world In 1996, now 25th, and have been higher. Their squad has a few stars but not completely littered with them, but have a good close tight knit group, that did manage to top their qualifying group, albeit maybe not the hardest but did have to deal with Euro 2004 winners Greece on their heals the whole time.
As for the few stars they do have, one notable one is Edin Dzeko of Manchester City. He is a lynchpin and for City he is still a maligned figure, which is unbelievable. Some games he may be quite but is always a threat. He could score a few goals in Brazil. Elsewhere on the pitch decent names include Hoffenheim’s Sejad Salihovic has had a really good season in the Bundesliga, has a great free kick and will also cause problems. Also two other Bundesliga based defenders could shine. Emir Spahic from Bayer Leverkusen is 33 now but has always been a solid player, Hopefully the youth of Sead Kolasinac from Schalke will be utilised. Then they have a solid keeper from the Premier League in Asmir Begovic from Stoke. Overall for me Bosnia I think will get out the group and could reach a Quarter Final.
Another team who I think will reach a potential Quarter Final could be Belgium. A team that haven’t done anything of note recently and within a few short years seem to have blossomed some fantastic young talent, which as a Scot does disappoint me when you see what we have seen in the past ten years! Since Belgium’s last world cup in 2002 they have nurtured some names who are now stars. Edin Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas and Kevin De Bruyne just to name a few midfield and attacking threats it shows they mean business. Names now almost all stars and also in Thibaut Courtois and Simon Mignolet they have two terrific goalkeepers. They have well known Premier League names in defence too with likes of Kompany, Vertonghen and Vermaelen in there. Outwith that there is signs of maybe a touch of weakness in there in that defence. The World Cup pressure is on this team to do well with so many decent stars now. With a group of Russia, South Korea and Algeria – it looks on paper a relatively simple group to get out of. First place is achievable. I think they can reach maybe the Quarters like Bosnia. Who knows further if they can handle their nerve against ‘top class’ opposition in the business end of the tournament.
Top Goalscorer
I have already mentioned Thomas Muller of Germany is a good outside shot at 33/1. I would say if Diego Costa is fit for Spain, would be interesting to see how he goes, just not sure if he will be 100% after a hard season for Atletico Madrid and niggling injuries at the end of the season. Although I don’t fancy Brazil to win the World Cup, I think top goalscorer could come from them. If Neymar does fire he could score a hatful of goals. It is a decent shout at 10/1. Another though is Fred. Nope he isn’t a farmer from Barnsley, but a striker for Brazil and although can do nothing a game does seem to score a bit for his country. 20/1 at the bookies.
If you want a tip for outside chance Top Goalscorer – 125/1 Angel Di Maria from Argentina, colleague of mine and journalist Rob Wilson from Youth Football Scotland thinks it’s crazy odds. Eachway shout anyone? Maybe!
ATV Sport – Broadcasting section – BROADCASTING PREDICTIONS!!!
Ok, so looking at how TV is covering things well once again it is ITV and BBC. As you may have read on ATV Today Sport, they are continuing with the free-to-air rights through until 2022.
ITV kick start their World Cup coverage on Thursday with the opening ceremony and match. Adrian Chiles leads the team with pundits including Glen Hoddle, Lee Dixon, Ian Wright, Gordon Strachan and Andros Townsend. Commentators include Clive Tyldsley, Sam Matterface and Joe Speight.
The BBC’s coverage begins on Friday with Gary Lineker leading their coverage with punditry from the likes of Alan Hansen, Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Rio Ferdinand and Clarence Seedorf. Commentators include Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Simon Brotherton, Jonathan Pearce and Steve Bower.
I think we will all hope ITV doesn’t miss goals this year! On a serious note it is an interesting commentary line up on the network with the loss of experience in Peter Drury and Jon Champion. Drury has been a prominent name for ITV for years but is doing commentary for the HBS world feed. Jon Champion is working in the states with ESPN. ITV have been easing Sam Matterface into his #2 role all season with more games in the Europa League. Likewise for Joe Speight who has done games for a few years with the likes of Sky Sports on their Premier League highlights and ESPN before their BT takeover. It appears Joe Speight will be covering his games from Rio and not at the grounds due to also being a back up to other live ITV games along with a yet, unannounced 4th commentator. Guests wise it’s solid rather than spectacular. Glen Hoddle hands some weight and I like Lee Dixon. Roy Keane’s strong words will be a miss. Andros Townsend who is injured is coming along and will be interesting to see how he does.
Overall on BBC, it is a strong and solid Commentary line up as per usual from them with their five names pretty much on the plane if you asked who they’d be twelve months ago. Alan Hansen is leaving his punditry duties after the World Cup, and sad but probably the right time after a few years of ‘stale’ analysis according to some. With few more recently retired players along with names still in action such as Thierry Henry and Rio Ferdinand there is a freshening feel about their line up. There is a bit of a gamble with Phil Neville in the commentary box for England games. I like Kevin Kilbane, he is being used but unfortunately for me maybe not enough, only on really fourth pick games.
It’s amazing some of the well known high profile commentaries are with overseas broadcasters. ESPN are using an array of talent from BT and Sky here including Ian Darke, Derek Rae and Daniel Mann. Jon Champion as mentioned is there too. Martin Tyler is doing games for Australian TV! Let’s hope some of the new guns such as Matterface and Speight on ITV can deliver those memorable calls!
What are your predictions? Get in touch below!
