Yes, here is a really wacky prediction. The finalists for World Cup 2002 will be Japan v South Korea.
Japan have only to beat Turkey then Senegal to face Brazil or England in the Semis. Not earthshattering results if they occur. If Brazil make it that far, they will finally fall afoul the wight of their expectations, which are daily making it harder for them to succede. If it is England, well, no offense, but we know that England will crash out somewhere short of the final, just from historic evidence.
South Korea, meanwhile, look a really menacing team. Italy don’t have the steam to keep up with them, after the long Serie A season, any more than the Portugese did. Which leaves them classic underachievers Spain to deal out of the tournament, following which their semi-final opponent will be either Germany or the US. They should have done the Americans in during group play, and as for the Germans, they seem to believe that all they have to do is score the highest aggregate score for the tournament to win, resting on the laurels of their 8-0 thrashing of the obviously uninspired Saudis.
So there it is, folks, Japan v. South Korea in the final of the most unpredictable World Cup finals ever. You read it here, first.
Please… let England lose one Friday so I can escape this garish nationalist display of fake pride… bloody hell, only watch the footy if you like the bleedin’ game…
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