So, ladies and gentlemen, the long awaited day is finally upon us.

63 games, watched by over 3 million people in attendance and live on TV by literally billions of people around the globe. A veritable feast of football, with the cream of the games vast international talent, all striving against each other on the grandest stage imaginable, for the most hotly contested prize in the entire sporting world. An entire month worth of games – but more than that. Much more than that.

Year’s worth of qualification and planning and preparation.

Lifetime’s worth of sweat and toil and sacrifice and hope.

It all comes down to this. Two teams enter. One team leaves. Just like Mad Max 3 – except, you know, nobody dies, and everybody earns millions of dollars and they’re all married to supermodels.

In the blue corner, we have the Netherlands.

Haunted by losses of World Cup finals past, with a chance to exorcise the demons from 74 and 78, this team has shocked many by making it this far. With a come from behind win over Brazil they smashed a generation of misconceptions. No front runners here. They may not play the fan friendly brand of ‘total football’ they were once famous for, but with the likes of Kuyt, Sneijder, Robben and Van Persie – they do play bloody well. And they win a lot of games. This is a new era for the Dutch. Eye-popping creativity has been replaced by steely-eyed determination. Fragility with poise. Nerves with confidence. It brought them through qualification and it has brought them to the final. It may yet bring them all the way to World Cup trophy itself.

In the red corner, we have Spain.

European Champions in 2008. The favourites with the bookies coming into the tournament and favourites with the bookies coming into this match. This is a golden age for La Furia Roja (The Red Fury – love it), with playing talent rivaling that of any era. Alonso, Fabregas, Torres, Villa. Superstars of the game at the height of their powers – with a chance to break a World Cup curse that looked like it had resurfaced after their shock loss to Switzerland. But this time they didn’t fold. They recovered. They jumped the hurdle that has accounted for so many other Spanish teams over the years. They survived…but did they kill the curse? The eyes of the world are on them. I guess we are about to find out.

Take your pick folks. Spain or the Netherlands? The Netherlands or Spain?

Put me down for the Dutch. Following what has been a disastrous tipping tournament my confidence is completely shot – but I’m sticking with my heart. I want the Dutch to win. That’s the fairy-tale finish. And it is late in the game for me to try and pretend I have any sort of tipping professionalism out here. The Netherlands to win. Van Persie to score.

Netherlands, 1-0, Van Persie.

The Shirtman

PS – If you do not submit your tips prior to kick off you will be credited with The Shirtman’s score.

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David Villa, who may well be the striker of the tournament.

Note to self – stop tipping against Germany.

Just. Stop. Doing it.

These guys are good. Very good. I no longer feel so distraught about what happened in the Australian game. If Germany can do the same thing they did to us to both England and Argentina, then maybe we aren’t in as bad a shape as I thought.

Or maybe Germany is just better than we all thought. Dour, organised defences we could understand. Penalty shoot-outs and efficient 1-0 victories we expected. This is the Germany we have come to know. But these guys are scoring goals – and scoring them at an alarming rate. 4-0 against Australia. 4-1 against England. 4-0 against Argentina. The Germans haven’t done this good a job of destroying opposition defences since the early part of the 1940’s.

Who would have imagined at the start of this tournament that Germany would become the team that most neutrals were rooting for? If you judge a nation (as I do) on the amount of World Wars they have started, then it is difficult to picture Germany as a sympathetic, supportable team. And yet, in spite of that, you can’t help but be impressed by this surprising, talented and flamboyant group. Their style of play is electric. Their timing is impeccable. As the great Mike Tyson himself once said – I take my hand off to them.

There is an air of destiny around these guys, and Joachim Low has his men playing with passion, precision and poise. Bastian Schweinsteiger (brilliant name by the way) was outstanding against Argentina, controlling the midfield, setting up goals with pinpoint passes and giving the keeper hell with free kicks. Mesul Ozil continued his outstanding tournament and you got the impression that the Argentineans could have swing a wrecking ball from the top floor of the stadium toward the German goal line and Manuel Neuer would have found a way to stop it. Uruguay’s Luis Suarez’ creative goal keeping may have allowed him to steal the title of “Hand of God”, but the way Thomas Muller is playing I wouldn’t be surprised if he has stolen both his feet…and the hyperbolic list continues. Right across the park the performances are breathtaking. This is, by any fair definition, a world class team at the height of their powers, whose time may well and truly have come.

But let’s not pencil them in as finalists just yet. The team they are taking on aren’t exactly comprised of the cast from the Muppet show. Spain came into this World Cup as favourites with the bookies, they are the winners of Group H, and they are the reigning European champions – a title they won by beating Germany in the final of 2008. They boast world class talent right across the squad with the likes of Puyol, Alonso, Xavi and Torres all proudly representing La Furia Roja. Oh, and they also have David Villa, who may well be the striker of the tournament.

Will it be enough to stop the German machine? Can the Spanish break their hoodoo and reach a World Cup final? Or will this rising German power crush another football giant?

I’m done with tipping against Germany. There probably wasn’t much room left on the Germany bandwagon before this…but there will be even less now. Germany to win. I think the Spaniards will keep it respectable. Muller to score.

Germany, 2-1, Klose.

The Shirtman

PS – If you do not submit your tips prior to kick off you will be credited with the Shirtman’s score.

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Hi guys,

Been following the story of Paul the World Cup tipping psychic Octopus for a little while now. Brilliant stuff. Thought we might throw it up and have some fun at the Shirtman’s expense. Feel free to include this, or not, as you guys see fit.

Cheers!

Ad.

Is the Shirtman smarter than an Octopus?

Psychic Octopus continues wining streak

As it happens – no.

Number of German World Cup matches correctly tipped so far;

Shirtman: 0

Octopus: 4

Ladies and gentlemen, we have our winner.

Shirtman’s note; I was pretty confident coming into this one too. Sure, we all know the Octopus is nature’s punter, but I thought my higher brain functions, opposable digits and ability to access SBS would give me the advantage.

Couldn’t have been more wrong.

For those yet to submit their Quarter finals tips; I’m on Argentina. Paul (the Octopus, not the Ambition Director) is tipping Germany. Do with that information what you will.

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"I'm fit to face Ghana"

Saturday June 19

Australian fans – you can go ahead and start panicking now if you like.

Because that, ladies and gentlemen is the appropriate response to the 4-0 thrashing Australia suffered in their opening match of the tournament. A disastrous loss. An embarrassing reminder of the vast gulf that lays between us and the worlds premier football talents.

In 2006 we got our first taste of World Cup action, and we liked what we tasted. It was an overwhelmingly positive experience for the nation. An experience that taught us many things about the world game. It taught us the joy of victory. The ecstasy of progression. The tragedy of loss. But it didn’t teach us anything about having our pants pulled down and getting spanked in front of the entire footballing world. We had to wait until 2010 to learn about that. We had to come to South Africa. Lessons ably administered my Messrs Joachim Low and co of Germany – with our thanks for the instruction.

There has been an unprecedented amount of finger pointing going on since the defeat, as a wounded Australian footballing community has looked both inward and outward for answers. They say you can tell what a community is made of by the way they respond during the tough times, and if that is the case then it is pretty fair to say that Australian football must be made of a pretty even mixture of rage and confusion. The Jabulani ball has come in for a serve. Our defence has come in for a serve. So has our attack. So has everything else to be honest, and whilst commentators have denigrated everything from our level of fitness to our accommodation arrangements, most of the vitriol has been reserved for the man with the clip-board, Pim Verbeek.

In their defence, the occasion does seem to have got to our man from Amsterdam –

Who as manager had been a picture of consistency over the past two and a half years, sticking with his 4-2-3-1 formation through the ups and downs of qualification, trial matches, and friendlies, and performances both good and bad. Until, of course, 30 minutes before the kick off of the most important match of his tenure, where he displayed a hitherto penchant for experimentation by changing our formation to 4-4-2, moving Bresciano and Kennedy out of the line up and deciding – seemingly on a whim – that we should play our only truly world class player (Tim Cahill) out of position as a striker. Sure, Germany are pretty good, but let’s give this a go, eh? Roll the dice and see what we will see.

Well, we did see. And I think the results of this particular brain-fart speak for themselves. Theoretically we were sacrificing attack for defence, but considering the fact that the Germans put four goals away, and could easily have got another four, you have to question how effective the move was. You have to question how well thought out these changes were. You have to question whether or not, you know, this bloke knows what the hell he is doing out there at all. Or is that just the bitterness talking?

We’ll get some answers on Saturday, when the Soccerroos dust themselves off (sans Timmy Cahill) and take on Ghana – first round winners over Serbia – in a game that will determine whether or not our tournament is over. Australia needs a win. You can’t over-emphasize this enough. A loss is automatic elimination, and considering our pitiful goal differential, a draw is unlikely to help much either. It has to be a win. Do or die time for the Socceroos, and a nation of bleary eyed and so far bitterly disappointed fans.

Can they rise to the occasion? Can Verbeek shake the moniker of ‘Pimbecile’ before the tournament is done? Or will the Black Stars, full of confidence and on the verge of progression, put an end to the Australian dream for four more years?

I say no. Australia fights best when its back is to the wall, and if a lack of cohesion on the park has me worried, I remind myself that a pig-stubborn refusal to look facts in the face has always served me well. Kewell climbs off the bench and back into the Australian psyche with a dramatic late goal. Australia wins. The Cup dream goes on. For one more week at least.

Australia, 1-0, Kewell.

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Kilbanes goal not enough

It was probably unfair of me to put the Kiss of Death on Hull City leading into such an important match, but even with the burden of having the Shirtman tip them last week, you had to make the Tiger heavy favourites going in. Burnley were beaten 6-1 the week before, the club was in disarray and pundits everywhere had already penciled them in for demotion when the new season rolls around.

Of course, nobody told Burnley all of this – and many a well laid plan of Hull City supporters and club officials turned to dust as they watched their home team lose 4-1 to the Clarets. This loss was unexpected. Like Elvis returning to Vegas riding the Loch Ness monster – it may have been gripping television, but nobody saw it coming.

It was a weekend for upsets though – one final hurrah from the leagues cellar dwellers, as Pompey shocked Tottenham to move into the FA Cup final, whilst Burnley breathed life into their Premiership campaign with a crucial three point victory. In boxing parlance these would be known as the Championship rounds, and despite being well behind on points, both Portsmouth and Burnley are still throwing punches. You’ve got to like their style.

Of course, Burnley’s predilection for self-mutilation rose again to the surface immediately after the match with midfielder Joey Gidjohnsson getting himself suspended for his inflammatory comments toward Manager Brian Laws last week. So, here they are again – the club in disarray and deep in the relegation zone…but for the first time in a long time there is also a flicker of hope.

And in a season chock filled with missed opportunities, shockingly bad luck and good old fashioned balls-ups, Clarets fans will take whatever they can get.

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Jimmy Bullard

It’s back’s to the wall time for both Burnley and Hull City in this one – both clubs mired in the relegation zone and both desperate to get clear with a win over their similarly-points challenged rival. To say that these clubs needed the win badly would be like saying Tiger Woods made himself available to a few girls whilst on the professional golf circuit. It is understating things for dramatic effect, and it’s exactly the sort of exploitative cheap shot at Tiger’s expense that has no place in this column.

Ahem.

It’s been a wild ride for Hull City in the last few weeks; a heartbreaking loss to Portsmouth, a morale boosting win against Fulham and a devastating defeat at the hands of Stoke City. That’s been the story of the season for Hull – two steps forward, two steps back, left foot in, left foot out – there is a reason the ground staff are now playing the hokey pokey over the loudspeakers whenever the Tigers take to the field and it’s not because they are trying to bump up family attendances.

Meanwhile, if there was a club capable of shooting itself in the foot whilst simultaneously kicking itself in the groin, it would be Burnley. It’s been 9 odd games without a win now, and last week they were embarrassed 6-1 in a laugh-a-thon against Manchester City that promoted this quote from Manager Brian Laws – “I apologise to the supporters for an awful display. It wasn’t good enough and unacceptable.”

Inspiring talk leading into this do-or-die clash, but will it be enough for them to get the win? Or can the Tigers take a step toward remaining in the Premiership next season with an all important victory at home?

Put me down for a Hull City win. In my estimation, nobody is going to get rich betting on Burnley. Jimmy Bullard to find the net.

Home (Hull City) 2-0, Bullard

The Shirtman

PS – If you do not submit your tips prior to kick off you will be credited with The Shirtman’s score. If you haven’t been paying attention of late, this is not a good thing.

PPS – I’ll level with you – I’m almost certain they don’t play the hokey-pokey when the Tigers hit the field at Kingston Communications Stadium. I made that part up.

PPPS – It’s something they should think about though.

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Droga finishes it off

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – football is like life. Some things change. Some things stay the same.

Case in point over the weekend – Chelsea’s sublime play and the Shirtman’s inability to correctly forecast the outcome of football matches remained pretty constant, without any sort of discernible change whatsoever. But the name at the top of the Premiership table, and the colour of Sir Alex Ferguson’s underpants? Well, those things definitely changed.

And for the legion of Manchester United fans out there, it was not a change for the better.

The Red Devils were unlucky in this one though, losing Rooney to an ankle injury and falling victim to a Drogba goal that should have been one of the easier off side calls of the season. Sweet revenge, you may think, for the many fortuitously bad calls United have enjoyed over the years…but let me assure you that the Old Trafford crowd had an entirely different take on things, and the officiating crew were lucky to get out of this one alive.

Ferguson gave the officials his now traditional post-loss spray, but following Martin Olsson’s (Blackburn) admission last week that he deliberately dived in the penalty area because he knew the man with the whistle was known for bad decisions, Mike Dean would be used to that. Of more significance was Ferguson’s summing up of the title picture. “Five games left, they’re two points ahead and four goals better than us – they’re in the driving seat,” he said “Chelsea are favourites now, there’s no question. I’m certain we’ll respond but we could win the next five games and not win it.”

Direct from the great man’s mouth, and I think this time he is telling the truth. Chelsea is well and truly in the drivers seat… but with United and Arsenal both within 3 points, it’s still going to be a bumpy ride.

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The Shirtman is back from Vegas (with apologies for the break in communication last week), heavier around the waist, lighter around the wallet, and ready to get back into some high quality football tipping.

Ahem.

It was a big week for United, with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool and – thanks to a Chelsea slip up against Blackburn – some breathing room at the top of the table. The Gunners took full advantage as well, slipping into second spot with an impressive 2-0 win over West Ham. That leaves Chelsea in third (with a game in hand), trailing the leaders by four points and running out of time in a pretty quick fashion.

Rafa Benitez insists that his goal is still to make the top four, which is starting to sound like a 45 year old man telling you he wants to be an Astronaut when he grows up. Whilst you have to admire his ability to stay on message, at some point you are just going to have to admit that the ship has already left the dock.

At the other end of the spectrum, things are getting tense. Hull City and Burnley both look like making their stay in English football’s top flight a brief one, but their collective gooses (geese?) are not cooked yet. West Ham are playing the sort of football that seems destined for the Championship, and whilst the Wolverhampton Wanderers are showing marginally more pluck, they are a long way from out of the woods as well.

The clock is ticking quickly now, and at both ends of the table, points will be at a premium. From here on out, every game will count.

Except for Portsmouth of course, who are definitely headed for relegation, and who followed up a rare Premier League victory with the news that the administrators had hit them with a 1 million pound fine. The good times continue to roll around Fratton Park.

If there is a God folks, rest assured he is not a Pompey fan.

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Postponed

It’s a bad sign when the best result you’ve had for the year so far is a postponement due to poor conditions, but such is life for Reds fans in 2010, who have watched in horror as their season has gone from bad, to worse, to Paul Gascoigne level embarrassing. In deep financial straits, out of the Champions League, well down the table in the Premiership…and now Mother Nature has turned against them to boot.

I think at this point it’s fairly safe to say that if there is a God, he definitely isn’t a Liverpool fan.

Not that they were alone of course – the majority of the scheduled games were postponed after England showed off yet another weekend of the kind of weather that has kept London right up there with the likes of Vladivostok and Kinshasa in the savvy tourists list of places to visit.

For what it is worth, the few games that did take place featured plenty of action. Birmingham took advantage of the conditions to secure a rare draw against Manchester United, and Everton and Arsenal turned in a 2-2 thriller at the snow-laden Emirates Stadium, with Tomas Rosicky climbing off the bench for Arsenal to secure a crucial point in the dying moments of the game, and keep his club in touch with the top.

With weather in the UK improving to conditions almost suitable for human life, football fans across the nation will be donning their ear-muffs and winter coats and heading to their local grounds this weekend en masse, hoping desperately that they will finally get to see some football action.

Let’s hope they get their wish.

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It’s that time of year again folks, when a strange man a in a far away place decides who has been naughty and who has been nice, and hands out the rewards in a system that may well seem archaic, but ultimately should also be seen as fair.

At least that’s what they told Mark Hughes, just before they fired him.

Let’s hope your festive break has got off to a better start than his has. For those of you who can’t get enough of your football – never fear. The show will be going on over the break, with the games over the next fortnight as detailed below.

On behalf of everyone at Ambition please allow me to wish you all a very merry Xmas, and a happy, safe and prosperous 2010.

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