By Chris Wright
We’re a mere handful of sleeps out from the World Cup now and, as the tournament begins to crown over the horizon, Pies’ thoughts turn, as ever, to making a slew of rash, largely unconsidered predictions as to how the big’n is going to pan out in Brazil.
Both myself and Alan have had a stab, and we invite you to follow suit.
Chris says…
Overall Winner: Argentina, beating Brazil in the Final.
Big name(s) out in the group stage: Italy and Holland. Holland’s ropey defence will let them down. First-choice back-four average roughly 10 caps each.
Surprisingly entertaining ‘dull on paper’ group game: Japan vs Greece has “slobberknocker” written all over it!
Dark horses: Torn between backing Switzerland, Bosnia & Herzegovina or Chile. I’ll plump for B&H.
Top Scorer: Edin Dzeko, with three or four goals all scored in the group stages against Nigeria and Iran.
Tournament MVP: Poster boy, Neymar.
When will France collapse? Assuming they make it to the start of the tournament without imploding in a putrid gaseous vacuum of inter-squad civil lawsuits, Gallic hissy fits and/or strike action, I’m backing Les Bleus to squeak through to the quarters.
England’s progress: Beat Italy 1-0, lose 0-1 to Uruguay, beat Costa Rica 1-0. Fairly kind second-round draw; lose to Ivory Coast/Colombia. Losing with ten minutes to go, bring Danny Welbeck on – everybody gets roundly booed. Home under a cloud.
Alan says…
Overall Winner: Italy.
Big name(s) out in the group stage: Holland.
Surprisingly entertaining “dull on paper” group game: South Korea vs Algeria
Dark horses: Russia.
Top Scorer: Ciro Immobile – the new Toto Schillaci.
Tournament MVP: Cristiano Ronaldo.
When will France collapse? Not until the quarter-finals. They have an easy group and uber-talented powerhouse Paul Pogba.
England’s progress: Out in Group stages.
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Okay, we’ve stuck our necks out, now it’s your turn!
Feel free to copy+paste our categories below, fill them in as you see fit and share your predictions with us under the crease in the comments section…
Overall Winner:
Big name(s) out in the group stage:
Surprisingly entertaining “dull on paper” group game:
Dark horses:
Top Scorer:
Tournament MVP:
When will France collapse?
England’s progress:
Go, go, go!!!