SORRY, ARGENTINA,BUT THIS IS EUROPE!

Going by tradition, it is not totally unexpected that the Germans have suddenly come good. They are in ominously devastating form, and that's why I pity the Argentines for having to face them at this stage. Both were good enough to have made the semis.

Argentina with Crespo, Messi and Riquelme as key men, will push the hosts all the way, but I think that the excellent understanding between their forwards will give the Germans victory.

Italy vs Ukraine is not my own idea of a quater final line-up at this year's World Cup. This should have been France vs Czech Republic or France vs Australia, if the French had not contrived to sell themselves short. Well, one of these two will have to line up in the semi-final, and I think it will be Shevchenko's Ukraine. The Italians simply don't have it in them this year, and they've been lucky to get this far. Still, tradition favours them, so I'm not ruling out a Last Four appearance of the men in Blue and White.