Final thoughts

I have hung my tipping boots up. “The Germans meanwhile look head and shoulders above the competition” I said on the eve of their semi-final. The same quality precognition I had when I bet on Russia and Holland making the final four.

Once again the Germans came up short despite almost everyone enthusing over them. It is now 16 years since Die Mannschaft last won a major tournament. Failure is a not a word Germans like to hear and Joachim Löw’s golden generation, who I think are mostly products of an extensive and systematic youth programme which began after Germany flopped at Euro 2000, now have to go in search of gold in Brazil in 2014. No European nation has ever won a World Cup in the Americas.

I am looking forward to the final tomorrow although I really hope the game doesn’t descend into a pass-fest and we see some excitement in both penalty boxes before any agonising penalty shoot-out. Both defences are very solid, particularly Spain’s. Italy have shown a lot of flexibility under the astute Prandelli and with Balotelli they have a real number 9.

Spain will pack the midfield and should win, but Pirlo has been in sublime form and the stage might just be set for super Mario.