by Tim Carter

Created on: August 08, 2008

The playing conditions in Africa will be critical as to the outcome of the tournament. The intense heat,hard grounds,partizan African crowds celebrating their first World Cup make for a heady cocktail upon which Northern European teams will struggle to focus.France will be undergoing a radical changeover of players and will not be able to mount a credible challenge,Italy will go in with the confidence of being champions, yet that will also prove to be too much of a burden for them.Spain and Portugal will be considered contenders and of those two, Spain, having overcome the tag of chokers by winning Euro 2008 will therefore take the hopes of Europe on their shoulders.

I have analysed the hopes of an African team winning in an alternative article title and came to the conclusion that they will fall just short. That is not to say that one or maybe even two African teams will reach the Semi Finals. I am convinced that you can discount the hosts, South Africa, from that prediction as they show no signs of unearthing any world class players that will be required to elevate the chances of an average team.Nigeria,Cameroon,Ghana,Egypt maybe(but it doesn`t sound right),Ivory Coast and Mali will all be worth following and watching their progress and yet..and yet the gut feeling is there are other teams in the World with more experienced,talented,cohesive teams.

What are the chances of an ousider winning? Absolutely none on this occasion. Africa will be the ultimate test for any team to rise to the top.The USA have peaked,Australia too,South Korea were sensational in the Asian World Cup only, whilst countries with massive populations like China and India do not have the pedigree,the history or the players to carry this off.Turkey seem to have acquired the handy habit of not knowing when they are beaten, but as with other European teams discussed above will not have the necessary experience of competing in Africa in order to expect to win , which will be a vital component for the eventual winning team.

South America is the only other Continent with teams that will adapt quickly to African conditions and can boast the players and teams with the technical know how and skills of a level to succeed ina World Cup final. Brazil and Argentina are the only two from South America however that have a realistic chance of winning. I predict that these two will be joined by Spain and outsiders Ghana in the semi finals.

By a process of elimination therefore I believe the winners will be Argentina. This country have won recent youth and Olympic tournaments.It has players playing all over the world gaining experience of different playing conditions.Argentinians know how to play in hot,intense atmospheres.Argentina`s players will be reaching their peak in two years time playing for a country that will allow them sufficient preparation and playing time together prior to the World Cup. In Lionel Messi they will also have a player at the peak of his immense powers and the likely player of the tournament.

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