Five Bold World Cup Predictions

I'm about to gaze into my crystal ball and point out what I think will happen in South Africa. You may or may not agree with me, but don't say you didn't hear it here first!

PREDICTIONS:

1. South Africa will advance past the group stage

Listen, I know: Bafana Bafana are the weakest nation ever to host the World Cup. Sitting at No. 83 in FIFA's latest rankings, South Africa are right behind the soccer-rich nation of Belarus. My point exactly.

But no host country has ever failed to make it out of their group. Something tells me there will be a little home cooking in store to let Bafana Bafana progress (just like Korea in 2002).

2. Diego Maradona will say something stupid

Enough said.

3. After this tournament, the vuvuzela will become banned from all FIFA competitions

Last summer we were subjected to it during the Confederations Cup. This year we will have to put up with the sound of the vuvuzela for 48 matches. Not that much different from the sound of an angry nest of hornets, this horn will torment the ears of viewers from around the globe.



4. Cristiano Ronaldo will not be enough for Portugal to advance

Despite having arguably the tournament's best player in their side (my apologies Lionel), Ronaldo's abilities have done little to spare the blushes of the Portuguese in recent appearances. How about qualifying for the tournament on the last possible day? Or the 0-0 draw with lowly Cape Verde? Now that his teammate Nani has been ruled out with an injury, that "Group of Death" looks incredibly more daunting. Sorry Ronaldo, but this year you guys will tumble out in the group stages.


5. The World Cup winner will come from the European continent

This may strike you as not being very bold; well, it is. No European nation has ever won the World Cup when it's been hosted outside of Europe.

But I think it is one of the more likely predictions in this list. This tournament is tailor-made for European nations to succeed instead of warm-weather powers such as Brazil and Argentina. It will be winter in South Africa when the tournament kicks off. Instead of a hot and humid environment that saw temperate-climate players struggle in Korea 2002, expect squads like England, Germany and the Netherlands to feel right at home this summer.