Your Pick for World Cup 2010 Finalists

Many thought the quarter final trend would help direct predictions about this World Cup’s finalists. Unfortunately, after the preceding set of four games, we were left at exactly the same point we were before a ball was kicked in the quarter finals.

Out of the eight teams, there was an even distribution of four previous World Cup champions and four that had never won it. We have exactly the same ratio for the semifinals with two previous champions and two that have never won it, so trend can unfortunately not guide your predictions at this stage.

Although Uruguay are amongst a select group of only five teams that have won the world Cup more than once, you would have to consider Netherlands to be favorites in this one given how both teams have performed in recent months.

The Dutch never tasted defeat during the World Cup qualifiers while Uruguay needed a playoff win over Costa Rica to squeak into the tournament. That Netherlands has actually maintained a 100% record in the tournament is evidence that they simply do not know how to lose. Widely considered to be the best team to have never lifted the World Cup, Netherlands has added steel to their traditional flair with great success that has included a come from behind defeat on pre-tournament favorites and record five-time world champion, Brazil.

On the other hand though, there is a football cliché that you have to be lucky to win tournaments and Uruguay has had that not only in booking their place to participate in the tournament but more so in getting to the semi-finals. Staring in the face of defeat, Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan with a perfect 2-in-2 World Cup spot kick record hit one that would have won the game and a place in the semifinals against the cross bar. While it is so hard to compete against luck, there is no arguing against Uruguay’s defensive organization and Forlan’s creativity in the final third. While Uruguay will definitely miss Luis Suarez who literally snatched history from Ghana and Africa’s hands, they are a very well organized – competitive outfit which still has the potential to snatch another victory especially if luck continues to smile on them.

The other semifinal will probably capture more attention as Spain the only truly surviving pre-tournament favorite facing arguably the best team in the tournament so far.

While many thought their inexperience would be exposed, the Germans have in stamping four consecutive goals against seasoned outfits of England and Argentina respectively done enough to create shock waves in any opponent’s camp.

Spain on the other hand had an unusually slow start to a major tournament losing to unfancied Switzerland in the opening game of the tournament. Many sports pundits believe that to win a tournament, a team needs to improve with each game and peak at the final hurdle.

With the experience of recently lifting the European Cup, generally considered to be tougher to win than the World Cup because the contesting teams are of a higher all round quality, you could say this Spain squad has now learnt how to win trophies.

With 3 previous titles under their belt, 3rd on the all time best list behind Italy and Brazil there will be no arguing against German pedigree. Thomas Muller with a record of 4 goals and 3 assists in the tournament will be a big loss for this game but with the traditional German organization and tactical awareness, they should be more than able to compensate for him.