RAVE/ PREDICTIONS: World Cup Hopes

I will keep this one short and I shall keep it brief. It's all to do with which countries I would love to win the World Cup, the one country that I believe will actually win it and those I believe simply won't make it.

First off, sorry Bafana Bafana, you're just not going to make it. The South African guys availed themselves quite well against Mexico in the opening match of the tournament. But this is a team I simply cannot get excited about - their football is simply not world class.

For me, my two favourites have to be the two countries that comprise the majority of my (rather multi-national, rather crazy!) heritage: Italy and Portugal.

Portugal are notorious for being 'chokers' and this is not their strongest squad ever, but at least when they play exciting football, it's great to watch. And never, EVER discount Italia - as so many have been doing prior to this World Cup. Italy has 'no chance', many say. Oh yeah? And just how fancied were they before the 2006 World Cup which they went on to win? Not very much, I can assure you.

Italy are like Germany. You never, ever discount them at this level of football championships.

There are some very fancied teams that many are saying have a very good chance of winning it this time around, all of which I actually disagree with: Netherlands (huge chokers, just like the Portuguese - the Dutch will not win); England (always overrated, just never have what it takes to win in the end, and this year will be no different for the Limeys) and, to a lesser extent, those perennial under-performers, Spain.

This time around, I do think there is a (very) outside chance the Spanish could just go all the way. But for me it's such an outside chance it's not even worth placing a proper bet on. The Spanish just don't convince me, much as I do enjoy their football and style.

Of course, as ever, Brazil have to be one of the favourites and they, just like Italy and Germany, can never ever be discounted. Yes, they could win it. I would be a fool to discount that much raw talent and pedigree of heritage.

This is not the time for an African country to do it. Nor do I foresee any huge shocks like a USA or a Serbia or one of those other 'really dark horses' to make it all the way and win it. It's just not going to happen, methinks.

So who do I actually think is going to win the 2010 World Cup?

ARGENTINA

Yes, Argentina are my bet. I've been saying it for months leading up this World Cup, and I will stand by it: this is the country that has the talent and the oomph to make it all the way and win it.

And I really hope that they do. They play great football (if a bit dirty times, it be said). It has the world's most exciting player at present - Lionel Messi. It's a great country deserving of a triumph like this. I want it for Argentina for what it stands for in Latin America, for the culture it has given the world, for its troubled past, for what it went through with that disgusting bunch of international finance Mafia in 2002, the IMF, and for everything that Argentina is.

Not to mention that there are more of my family name in the telephone book of Buenos Aires than in Italy!

FUERZA ARGENTINA!!!

FORZA ITALIA!!!

FORCA PORTUGAL!!!