If Wimbledon were to follow the early form of the 2014 World Cup then World No 1 Rafa Nadal would be out in the first round as would the likes of Roger Federer and our own Andy Murray.

The FIFA World rankings have been made to look a joke and count for nothing in this year’s World Cup.

Spain are ranked the No 1 team in the world, Portugal fourth and England ninth – all have been eliminated at the group stages.

I thoroughly expected them all to get through their groups.

Chile and Costa Rica are the biggest surprise teams to have qualified from the group stages.

If you went on the FIFA rankings Holland and France are surprises too as they are ranked 15th and 17th!

I have narrowed down my personal choice of the winners to three teams: Argentina, Germany and Holland.

Lionel Messi is leading from the front for Argentina, while Germany look like they could go all the way.

And the Dutch signalled their intent by thrashing champions Spain 5-1.

Brazil might be favourites to win, especially with them being at home, but history is against them.

In the last 19 World Cups, the hosts have lifted the trophy only six times, France being the last in 1998.

I just don’t think Brazil will make it seven this time around.

Hopefully, at the end of the contest, I will look a genius for predicting the winner and not like a fool by writing off the favourites.