World Cup Germany 2006 - Time to Make Friends

Germany and Argentina have gone through to the last eight. Jurgen Klinsmann's out-of-the-box's management style, keeping faith with youngsters and maintaining team spirit as well as Argentina's low profile and ruthless effective style won the day.

Tonight, we will await the outcome of England, Ecuador, Netherland and Portugal. Although my heart is with England to make the last eight but I think Ecuador is the hungerier of the 2 teams. They also beat Brazil & Argentina on their way to Germany.

Portugal finished the first round with full nine points but that was against Iran and Angola. Netherland, despite scoring only 3 goals in group 1, survived the group of death. The Dutch's energy coupled with the raw talent of coach Marco Van Basten would be too much energy for the Portugees. Netherland should proceed from this crash.

Italy's experience and skills should overcome the raw Australian. Guss Hiddink, the coach who masterminded Korea's meteroic rise in football status 4 year ago, will not have the luck again. Italy is not Japan.

Ukraine would have too much firepower in Rebrov and Shevchenko for the Swiss.

Ghana would be very determined to upset Brazil but the likes of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Adriano, Roberto Carlos and Emerson would not allow that to happen. Bazil should cruise through to the last eight.

Spain has Fernandes "El Nino" Torres and David Villa while France has Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet. I pick Spain to win because of their team spirit and the no nonsense attitude of Luis Aragones as compared to Raymond Domenech, who cannot keep the camp in harmony.

I hope I am wrong in the case of England. So let's see.