After a disappointing quarter-final weekend where the odd-on favourites brazil & argentina crashed out joined deservedly by horrible, pathetic england and out-of-depth ukraine, the semi-finals have distinctly, nay, wholly european flavour.

Germany-Italy & Portugal-France. Hardly the stuff of dreams, but all deserving of their place in the final four. We shall see if the semis can whip more excitement than the tepid quarters (bar 2nd halves of .

Dare I stick out my neck and say...Deustchland will come away July 9 with their 4th crown.