Soccer: Argentina likely, England maybe, Aussie ... no way

Argentina's Lionel Messi. Photo / AP

World Cup All White and Herald soccer columnist Sam Malcolmson looks ahead, with relish, to the tournament that begins in Brazil next week.

The winner is ...

Argentina. The result will depend on two marquee players, Lionel Messi from Argentina and Neymar from Brazil. The pressure will be immense on Brazil, and I'm tipping that Messi will come up with the goods. A lot will depend on the service Messi gets, but he will be helped by the absence of Carlos Tevez. It was strongly rumoured that they did not get on in South Africa, and while Tevez is a great goalscorer, there always seems to be something not quite right wherever he goes. Argentina have so many strikers - their biggest problem will be at the back.

And it won't be ...

Holland or Spain. Despite having a great team, Holland never succeed at the big tournaments although they have been World Cup runners up three times. I'll stick my neck out and say Spain will not retain the trophy. Their key players are a bit older and a bit slower and they have lost goalkeeper Victor Valdes who I think has a very strong influence on the national side. Barcelona weren't the same when he was injured.

Dark horses ...

Chile played really well in the qualifiers behind Argentina and Colombia, and I really like the look of Belgium. They have an amazing blend of players from different heritages who have come together so well under Marc Wilmots.

Players of the tournament will be ...

I'm going for outsiders, especially Marcelo and Willian from Brazil. They are two young players who will bring a lot of enthusiasm and had fantastic seasons for Real Madrid and Chelsea. If Belgium go far in the tournament, Vincent Kompany will also be regarded as a standout player. I also really like Adam Lallana in the English side. He is a come-from-nowhere story with Southampton - Lallana can make and score goals.

The Golden Boot will be won by ...

Messi or Neymar, although it doesn't always go to someone from the teams which go the furthest - I'm thinking England's Gary Lineker in 1986 and Croatia's Davor Suker in 1998.

England's chances are ...

Quite good, actually. They are going to Brazil with few expectations but have young, enthusiastic players. I expect Italy to win the group so it will come down to England v Uruguay for the other place, or make that England v Luis Suarez. Suarez was not so good for Liverpool in their final games this season and maybe he is in need of a good rest. England are sure to try to get under his skin but I hope he doesn't resort to the theatrics.

Australia are given no chance ...

And with good reason. Hopefully they will play with the typical Aussie spirit and are well organised under Ange Postecoglou. But they won't get a point against Chile, Holland and Spain.

My big wish is ...

That England will qualify for the knockout stages. That is unusual for me, being a good Scot, but I would love to see their young players succeed and it would be terrific for British football. One thing against them will be the climate. I'm hoping for and picking a lot of goals in the Brazilian atmosphere which will make this a wonderful spectacle.