Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands: who holds the aces in the quest for World Cup glory?

FOR all the twists and turns of this magnificent World Cup, we’re left with four nations who account for 10/19 titles. Who holds the aces?

WE’VE enjoyed a football feast for three weeks but now that we’ve got to the business end, for all the twists and turns, we’ve still emerged with four big guns vying for the Jules Rimet Trophy.

Brazil. Germany. Netherlands. Argentina - four countries who hold 10 of the 19 World Cup titles, who would have been disgusted with anything less.

But who will take home the prize?

BRAZIL

WHY THEY CAN WIN

The power of the home World Cup has seen them come this far, and the sea of yellow brimming in Belo Horizonte will be enough to inspire Luis Felipe Scolari’s side home. This Brazilian team are tough and physical, and we started to see some of the tempo we expect from them as well, against Colombia. Without Neymar, flair will play second fiddle to pragmatism and industry, and Scolari has players who can fulfill this role. But they’ll need to conjure something special if they want to win without their No.10...

WHAT TO DO WITHOUT NEYMAR?

WHY THEY CAN’T WIN

No Neymar. No Thiago Silva. It’s bad enough losing the icing on the cake, the star with the match-winning x-factor. But when your side is built on a solid defensive backbone, the last person you want to lose is the inspiring skipper from the heart of defence.

GERMANY

WHY THEY CAN WIN

This is a side brimming with players who are starring at Bundesliga and Champions League level, and who silenced the doubters at international level by squeezing the life out of France after three inconsistent displays beforehand. Joachim Loew showed his adaptability against France by changing around his personnel and they’ve got the depth to do it again, whether it’s with a more direct approach via Andre Schurrle out wide, or with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Mario Gotze and co scheming behind Thomas Muller. Brazil are there for the taking and will not intimidate this side who can boss Brazil’s midfield.

WHY THEY CAN’T WIN

Germany are desperate to shrug the bridesmaids tag after two semi-finals and no silverware since 1996 and the pressure is immense. Brazil might not have the pace to expose the defensive frailties of the high line Algeria troubled, but Netherlands and Argentina do.

NETHERLANDS

WHY THEY CAN WIN

Because Louis van Gaal has convinced them they can. Whether he’s changing to a back four, bringing off Robin van Persie or bringing on Tim Krul, van Gaal’s tactical tricks have worked over the opening five matches. There is no more solid unit, structurally, than the Dutch, who don’t know how to lose, and know they’ve got three world class match winners in their line-up to score the crucial goal.

WHY THEY CAN’T

The Dutch have relinquished the lead three times already in Brazil, and couldn’t get the decisive breakthrough, albeit unluckily, against Costa Rica. They can’t ride their luck like that or start as sluggishly against these sides, who won’t be intimidated by the prospect of a Dutch midfield missing enforcer Nigel de Jong.

ARGENTINA

WHY THEY CAN WIN

Lionel Messi. This could be a two word paragraph. Three of these teams rely heavily on one superstar and Messi has stepped up at each moment a ponderous Argentina have looked like stumbling. Tournament football is about peaking at the right time and Alejandro Sabella’s men, who were not threatened at all against Belgium, might be doing just that.

WHY THEY CAN’T

It’s Argentina’s first foray to this deep of a World Cup since 1990 and although few teams have their World Cup pedigree, they have hardly impressed on the way to returning to the final four. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria pushed them; they escaped against Switzerland at the death and although comfortable against Belgium in their best performance so far, it’s hard to gauge given how poor the Red Devils were. Don’t underestimate the absence of Angel di Maria, a crucial foil for Messi in midfield.

Originally published as Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands: who holds the aces in the quest for World Cup glory?