World Cup: Who will win?

Our football writer Gary Lim:

No European team have won the World Cup in South America.

The familiarity with the climate and culture of Brazil makes South American teams the ones to beat once again.

Uruguay are the dark horses. A lot depends on whether their talismanic striker Luis Suarez can go into day one in tip-top condition, to terrorise his opponents the way he does for fun in the English Premier League.

Brazil are the hot favourites.

By virtue of being hosts, they have the benefit of knowing every ground right down to the minutest details. They also have the home crowd behind them.

But with expectation comes pressure.

This may be to their disadvantage.

Argentina are well positioned to profit from that.

Mind you, the expectations on them are by no means negligible - bookmakers have made them the second favourites to win the competition.

But they won't have an entire country climbing onto their backs if they get off to a mediocre start.

They won't have thousands of angry fans getting in their faces every day until the next game, should they fail to win their first match. And they have the pedigree to go all the way.

Former coach Diego Maradona had all the equipment to guide them to glory in South Africa four years ago, but he didn't have the know-how.

STABILITY

His successor Alejandro Sabella has injected stability into the side.

Crucially, he has managed to succeed where his predecessors failed: Getting the best out of Lionel Messi.

For a change, Messi these days seems to be playing better football for country than for his club Barcelona.

If the Barcelona star manages to soar at the World Cup with Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria cruising in his slipstream, no one is a match for Argentina.

Not even Brazil. 

Our man in Brazil Neil Humphreys:

Youth favours France and even England. Spain boast the experience, Italy the tournament nous and Germany the mental fortitude. And the hosts have the hopeless romantics and Neymar.

History, geography and climate clearly favour the South Americans, but Brazil are pipped at the post when it comes to personnel. The last men standing in Rio are likely to be wearing Argentina jerseys.

Defensive naivety destroyed the Argentinians in South Africa, but Alejandro Sabella is Captain Sensible to Diego Maradona's Doc Brown.

Sabella's pragmatism serves as a shield for his side's shortcomings. His 4-3-3 formation is as much about protecting as it is penetrating.

Martin Demichelis' recall to the squad after two years out underlines the need to support central defence.

Javier Mascherano's central midfield role cannot be overstated, particularly if Fernando Gago's struggle for full fitness continues into the knock-out stages.

If Gago can hold on while Mascherano holds the line until at least the Round of 16, their front four should do the rest.

Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain would strut into most of the starting line-ups of the other World Cup finalists. Brazil have Neymar, but Fred and Hulk are not in the class of Aguero and di Maria.

FIREPOWER

Germany's attacking midfield might be a match for Argentina and the Spaniards are no slouches when it comes to trapping a ball on the halfway line, but neither have the depth of firepower.

Ironically, the one team that comes close to Argentina was barely considered dark horses a few months ago.

But the French front three of Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud and Mathieu Valbuena, with support from Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and Yohan Cabaye, offer Les Bleus only an outside chance of spoiling the South American party.

TNP associate editor (sports) Leonard Thomas:

They would not have expected the team bus to be attacked when they set off for training, but he would have calmed them down. And then demanded focus.

The world will demand his team kick off their World Cup campaign playing their much-loved samba game, but his message to his players will be simply to beat Croatia.

Luiz Felipe Scolari has turned Brazil's defence into a formidable unit, the World Cup hosts have snarling, snapping sentries and stylish creative forces in midfield and impish Neymar, who has yet to live up to all the hype, but has already hinted at his considerable potential and is primed to show it all off over the next month.

It is why Brazil will win this year's World Cup.

Scolari is one of two managers among the 32 teams at the 2014 Finals with winner stamped beside his name.

Vicente del Bosque is the other, but his Spain side look jaded as they prepare to defend their crown, while the manager known as "Popeye" will have tried every move in his playbook to make his men hungry.

He has used the players in this squad for the most part since he became Brazil boss once again in November 2012 because he knows the importance of harmony.

There is much unhappiness in Brazil but not within Scolari's side.

EXPERIENCE

The coach who guided his country to the 2002 title has the experience, and the team the memory of that powerful performance against the world and European champions in last year's Confederations Cup final.

They have a tough route to the final but Scolari's men will fear no one. If they do meet Argentina in the final, they won't dare lose. After the anguish of 1950, Brazil will do it on home soil this time.

Your English Kaki Iain Macintosh:

In 2012, under Mano Menezes, Brazil never looked like they would win the World Cup.

In 2013, under Luiz Felipe Scolari at the Confederations Cup, they at least looked like they could win the World Cup. Now, in 2104, they look like they should win the World Cup.

Scolari, unlike many of his predecessors, has made the team his priority, not the individuals.

In this squad, there is no Ronaldinho, no Robinho and no Kaka.

There is no shirking of defensive responsibilities, no tolerance for egos.

This is a team built on energy and industry.

There are weaknesses, most notably in the centre of defence where David Luiz and Thiago Silva tend to leave space behind them, but there is also great quality, in the shape of Neymar and Oscar.

It may be a less flamboyant team than we romantically associate with Brazil, but it is no less powerful.

Other teams, of course, will boast their own star players, but this side has an advantage exclusive to them.

They have the backing of the Brazilian people. There is great anger in the streets of Brazil at the expense of hosting this World Cup, tensions run high and there is already civil disorder.

But last summer, at the Confederations Cup, the people and the players were bound together in defiant unity against the politicians.

PRIDE

The national anthem can surely never have been sung with such gusto and passion as it was on the opening day of that warm-up tournament, even against the backdrop of widespread clashes between protesters and police.

This summer, there have already been city-paralysing strikes and renewed violence.

That defiance will return this month. The players will draw strength from it. And, if all goes according to plan, Brazil will lift the World Cup.

World Cup 2014 (June 12 - July 13): The big kick-off

BRAZIL

Ex-England captain Alan Shearer:

"They have a manager in Luiz Felipe Scolari who has done it all before. If Neymar performs... then they have a great chance."

Ex-England winger Chris Waddle:

"They are on a mission because of all the protests over whether they should be hosting the World Cup and is it money wasted or not."

Tottenham and ex-US goalkeeper Brad Friedel

"They have got some exceptional talent and will be able to cope with the different weather and travelling around their own country better."

Ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown:

"I was in the Brazil camp for the Confederations Cup last summer and was taken aback by the emotional link between the players and the fans. ... There are lots of pressure on them, but I think they are good enough to deal with it."

Ex-Liverpool defender Alan Hansen:

"No country has done more for the game and it would be the perfect tournament if Brazil win it."

ARGENTINA

Ex-England forward Michael Owen:

"They're basically playing in their home conditions... and it's Messi's time to shine."

Ex-England captain Gary Lineker:

"They're in an easy group and will probably finish the group without wasting too much energy."

Ex-Man United, Everton defender Phil Neville:

"They have Messi and also a settled system that suits him as well."

Ex-Derby County midfielder Robbie Savage:

"Messi is not the only reason... They also have Sergio Aguero in attack... They will be ruthless."

GERMANY

Ex-Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel:

"Despite losing two of their best players, the 23 players whom they're bringing are still top-quality. You can play anyone of them; I don't think any other team has that strength in depth."

BRAZIL-GERMANY FINAL

Ex-Brazil defender Cafu:

"Germany have developed very well. We all believe in a final against Germany. They will definitely reach the final."

PORTUGAL-ENGLAND FINAL

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho:

"The champions are (decided) on penalties... Portugal (had) lost on penalties many times, England always lose on penalties. We will find a situation where the referee decide the world champions by a coin (toss)."

This article was first published on June 12, 2014.
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