THE RACE FOR THE TITLE At last, we have the final results in and here is my predictions on who will be getting sloshed the most at the end of the season. Villa It’s been a bit of mad one down Villa way this week and to predict the outcome of their season is a [...]

Chile La Roja qualified automatically in the South American group with a team sheet straight out of a Sergio Leone flick. Bravo, Ponce, Estarda, Fernandez, Sanchez, Gonzalaz. They shot down the Argies en route so will be getting cheered on by me. They should spice it up a bit in the Chilly South African winter [...]

Argentinians know that Brazil took 24 years to win their first post-Pele World Cup, and precisely after their own World Cup triumph in Mexico 86’, they feel that their time has come again. The parallels are striking. Maradona is still with the team, albeit in the dugout, and it’s very likely he will run onto [...]

Italy Unbeaten in group 8 along with the Irish (I’m not bitter), the Azzurri were lucky to avoid the play-offs but eventually won through with some last gasp winners in the final games. They won the trophy last time conceding just 2 goals but are the famed Italian defence strong enough this time around? I [...]

Cameroon One of my favourite WC memories is that of 38 year old (and the rest!) Roger Milla coming on the pitch and mugging Columbia’s Scorpion Kicking Keeper Higueta & poking one away before doing the Milla shake by the corner flag. Snake hips might have to get his boots on if the Indomitable Lions [...]

Australia

The Ozzies are in the mix again and I’d rather we avoid them early doors. They did well in the last World Cup (a Totti last minute Pen knocking them out) & can turn it on if they stay off the Castlemaine but an ageing squad is a worry. They would love a win against us to make up for their Ashes defeat but sorry Bruce, when it comes to big round balls, we’re the crocs boll*cks mate!

This week saw Jose Mourinho pull out another tactical masterclass when defeating Barcelona to reach the Champions League Final with Inter Milan.

Ok, the title of this blog is from a betting perspective and not my switching of alliance. For those of you looking to make some money on this years World Cup should avoid England like the plague, the price on England is always a false price in my opinion. Lots of patriotic money is lumped on England during the run up to the World Cup pushing the price down quicker than John Terrys trousers at a team mates house.

I was shocked to see that Algeria had beaten tournament favorites Ivory Coast in the African Nations Cup, this result will have been a major positive for England as it highlights the danger of Algeria. I’m sure Fabio Capello would have been watching this game closely and would have learnt a lot from it.

New away kit revealed

If it wasn’t bad enough that England disrobed during the national anthems on Saturday to reveal their shiny new kit. Umbro have now revealed plans for the new England away shirt that are even worse. Hot on the heels of the all white strip that, lets be honest looks like on old PE kit, Umbro will step up their ‘Tailored By England’ campaign so that for the first time in recent history both the home and away kits match and will be released in the same season. Alarmingly though, Umbro seem to be taking this tailoring thing way too seriously as they are preparing to change the away kit colour to black.