By Nick Harris 9 June 2014 With the World Cup in Brazil just a few days from kicking-off, five-times winners Brazil are the bookmakers’ favourites on home turf, with twice-winners Argentina second favourites, followed by holders Spain and three-times winners Germany. Then the chasing pack comprises Belgium, France, Italy, Uruguay, Portugal, England, the Netherlands, Colombia […]

** Based in Buenos Aires, Neil Clack is a writer who specialises in South American football. His book, ‘Animals!: Argentina versus England’ is now out in paperback. Below he describes what inspired him to write the history of this famously and famously acrimonious fixture, but starts with an extract from the book, and ‘keeper Carlos […]

** By Andy Cole 30 June 2010 So now we know the World Cup quarter-final line-up, and two teams have really stood apart for me so far: Argentina and Brazil, in that order. Coming into the tournament there were so many questions and doubts about Diego Maradona’s team and about him, temperamentally. They didn’t qualify […]

By Andy Cole in Johannesburg 11 June 2010 The World Cup is probably going to be won by Brazil, with Spain and Argentina absolutely capable of lifting the trophy too. I expect the final to feature Brazil and one of the others. I think England, with a fair wind, could get as far as the […]

Part of Sportingintelligence’s guide to the 2016 FIFA presidential election: HOME PAGE here . Analysis and debate Between now and the FIFA presidential election, this section will be a platform for analysis and debate from a variety of contributors. The latest article will sit at the top. Contributions welcome; for details see the main page. […]

Part of Sportingintelligence’s guide to the 2016 FIFA presidential election: HOME PAGE here . PROFILE: Michel Platini           Age: 60. Born: 21 June 1955, in Jœuf, France. Twitter: None          Website: None        Manifesto (PDF download): None Football background: professional football player (1972-1987, AS Nancy, Saint-Étienne, Juventus); international (France, 1975-1987; Kuwait, 1988), manager (France, 1988-1992), […]

Part of Sportingintelligence’s guide to the 2016 FIFA presidential election: HOME PAGE here . PROFILE: David Nakhid        Age: 51.        Born: 15 May 1964, in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago Twitter: @DavidNakhidIFA Website: http://www.davidnakhid.com Manifesto: Not available yet. Football background: A midfielder, Nakhid’s was the first player from Trinidad & […]

* So the World Cup is over, Germany are fitting champions, Lionel Messi couldn’t add the ultimate title to his glittering CV and the host nation is left to ponder what might have been. So who could have forecast this? Actually, a huge variety of ‘experts’, theorists, modelers and systems tried to predict the outcome of […]

* This post has been updated on 27 June, UK time, an earlier version of same story is below Yesterday’s games at the World Cup mean the World Cup group games (48 of 48) have been completed.  There have been expected victories for some nations, big upsets for others – Adios Spain! Bye-bye England! – and more […]

* The final whistle in the Germany-Portugal match in Group G in Salvador marked the end of the 12th game of the 2014 World Cup, and thus a quarter of the group stage is complete. There have been expected victories for some, big upsets for others and more goals per game at this stage than […]