5 potential teams to clinch the World Cup tournament next year

Well World Cup is nearing and pundits are already foretelling potential winners. Let's take a look about the 5 teams that can make it till the end.

1. Brazil
Brazil has always been a serious contender in any competition. Indeed it is not a surprise that Brazil has participated in all World Cups. Having won it 5 times, Dunga's men have already triumphed in South Africa, clinching the Confederation Cup in an amazing style and they've also topped their group, beating fellow rivals Argentina on the way.With the fantastic trio Kaka-Robinho-Fabiano in front, Brazil is one of the favourites to go all the way through. They also possess players of high calibre in their midfield and defence. Julio Cesar, Maicon, Alves, Lucio, Filipe Melo, Gilberto are examples.So will Brazil continue to dominate football as they have done during the Pele era?

Coach: Dunga
Star players: Kaka, Robonho, Fabiano
Captain: Lucio
My prediction: Finalist/ winner

2.Spain
La Furia Roja is of course another potential winner as it seems that it is one of the few sides to possess world class players from goalkeeper to strikers. Indeed, their squad consists mainly of highly-rated stars- Torres, Fabregas, Casillas, Villa, Xavi, Iniesta. Well , there names will send frights to their adverses as these players can make the difference any time they want- be it individually or collectively. Well since the Euro 2008, Spain has enjoyed a good series of win till they suffered defeat in South Africa against USA. Having been the lastest team to be crowned European champions, Torres and co will look to reach their first world cup final in their history. Will Vicente Del Bosque and his men be able to do it?

Coach: Vicente Del Bosque
Star players: Torres, David Villa, Xavi
Captain: Iker Casillas
My prediction: Finalist/ winner

3. England
It's been more than four decades that England failed to win a trophy. AGeoff Hurst hat-trick made them win their first World Cup but since then they have underperformed. England seemed to have lost taste for victory as they failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 but this seems to have changed since the Capello era begun, matters are different. They started playing an attractive football and they regained the passion to win. As Brazil and Spain, England can boast of having stars in the calibre of Gerrard, Rooney, Terry, Lampard, Barry. It is to be noted that they finished first in their group with style. With Capello trying to impose his winning formula on England, will they be able to go clinch their second World cup?

Coach: Fabio Capello
Star players: Gerrard, Rooney, Terry
Captain: John Terry
My prediction: semi-finalist/ finalist

4. Argentina
Though they enjoyed a far from perfect campaign, Argentina will be one of the teams that can made it all the way through. Match-winners like Messi, Aguero, Tevez amongst others are present in their squad but the doubt is whether they'll be able to play as a team. Their idol Diego Maradona who himself won the trophy for Argentina will try all possible means so that Argentina bolster their squad just before the tournament starts. This is why Argentina has organised many friendly matches. Well they've already won it two times and they'll hope to do it once again. Can Messi and co really win the tournament???

Coach: Diego Maradona
Star players: Messi , Tevez, Aguero
Captain: Javier mascherano
My prediction: Quarter finalist/ semi-finalist

5. Germany
Having hosted the last World cup, Germany could not do better than a third place. It was a pitty for them as they were undoubtedly one of the best team throughout the tournament. During the Euro 2008 campaign they lost in the final again Spain. Having won it 3 times, Germany is almost present it the final stages of all competition. Finalist in 2002 and semi-finalist in 2006, Ballack and co will try to do the same and may perhaps go one further so as have their 4th world Cup tournamnt. Well geramny is not a team to underestimate though their squad is not as famous as that of Spain or Brazil.

Coach: Joachim Low
Star players: Klose, Lahm, ballack
Captain: Ballack
My prediction: semi -finalist/ quarter-finalist

Well these are the five teams that can make it till the end but we should not underestimate other teams like France, Portugal or Italia. But a bit of history to remind you that a european team has never clinched a World Cup tournament when it was held outside Europe and this time South africa will be the host nation. Will a european team like Spain or England finally break the jinx??? Well, why not!!!!

Written by Veeshesh,
a diehard fan of Liverpool FC and England