33 Days and Counting

Like an eager child at Christmas, I can barely contain my excitement at the fact that the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the 19th edition of the famous tournament, is a tantalizing thirty three days away.

Here in Malta, we can expect a dizzying combination of fierce international rivalries, euphoric celebrations, and a cosmopolitan atmopshere awash with colour and passion. And if that's not mouth watering enough, it will all pinned against the ideal backdrop of a glistening Maltese summer.

Words fall short at capturing the essence of what the World Cup truly means. At face value, it might simply be the gathering of 32 footballing nations to battle it out for a nice golden trophy.

Yet stare into the eyes of the millions worldwide, who live and breathe every kick, every foul, and every goal as if their very lives were at stake, and you realise that the World Cup is not just a football competition, it's an event of incalculable importance that means everything to so many. It dares you to dream, and brings hope and pride to people who may struggle to find it elsewhere.

I am a lifelong football addict, and am massively fortunate to be a supporter of Manchester United, who have consistently delivered success and drama by the bucket load throughout my life. Yet international domination has eluded the English public for well over 40 years, and it is my burning desire to see that sparkling golden cup back in an Englishman's grasp once again. Could 2010 be the year? Just the thought is enough to make me shiver.

I thought a suitable way to leap further into World Cup mode would be to gather a few pre-tournament predictions. Like a diligent journalist, I scoured the earth far and wide for the opinions of two scholarly football analysts. But I couldn't find any, so I had to settle for Lukas Galea and Dan Bianco.

I'll start by opening with my own pre-tournament prediction, before providing you with with the interesting and somewhat surprising ideas of Lukas and Dan. Here we go, the World Cup is back!!

Group A

France

South Africa

Uruguay

Mexico

Qualifiers: France, Mexico

Group B

Argentina

Greece

South Korea

Nigeria

Qualifiers: Argentina, South Korea

Group C

England

USA

Algeria

Slovenia

Qualifiers: England, USA

Group D

Germany

Ghana

Australia

Serbia

Qualifiers: Germany, Serbia

Group E

Holland

Cameroon

Japan

Denmark

Qualifiers: Holland, Denmark

Group F

Italy

New Zealand

Slovakia

Paraguay

Qualifiers: Italy, Paraguay

Group G

Brazil

North Korea

Ivory Coast

Portugal

Qualifiers: Brazil, Ivory Coast

Group H

Spain

Switzerland

Chile

Honduras

Qualifiers: Spain, Chile

First Knockout Round:

France v South Korea - France

England v Serbia - England

Germany v USA - Germany

Argentina v Mexico - Argentina

Holland v Paraguay - Holland

Brazil v Chile - Brazil

Italy v Denmark - Denmark

Spain v Ivory Coast - Spain

Quarter Finals - now it's getting juicy

Holland v Brazil - Brazil

France v England - England

Argentina v Germany - Argentina

Spain v Denmark - Spain

Semi Finals - I'm getting scared now

Brazil v England....Sod it, what fun is the world cup without a little bias? England !!

Argentina v Spain - Spain

World Cup Final

Spain v England - A bit more of that bias again - England to win it !!!

Silly, pissy, ridiculous third place match that nobody gives two shits about

Argentina v Brazil - Brazil

So there you have it. A completely objective and unbiased prediction as to what will transpire in South Africa this June. Well, almost completely. Portugal to be the competition's major flops, and England to eradicate the ghosts of the past with a heroic display of skill and passion. Here's to belief!