Are there clues from previous tournaments to guide us to the winner?
* Leadership-First of all beware of smooth sailing in the qualification rounds as the past two Cup, 2002 and 2006 were far from that for the eventual champion - Brasil in 2002 went through a couple of coaches, a scandal and qualified at the 11th. hour. Whereas Italy chose to be challenged by a scandal that threatened more than just the World Cup team but the whole of Italian calcio. Luckily both teams had great coaches in Scolari and Lippi who bought sanity & calmness to their squads. Other signs :-
* Injury Free- Being injury free especially with key players. For example when Rooney went off with his foot injury you could see the dark clouds gather over Englands efforts in 2006.
* Goalkeeper - Buffon was magnificent for Italia and even the much maleigned Felix for Brasil in 1970 kept a couple of clean sheets and he was rated amongst the lesser of the 'Keepers Union.
If goals win matches then saves can inspire teams to greater heights & deflate opoonents. 
* Mean Backline - Every winning team has been miserly in not helping their opponents to score. Everyboby thinks of Brazil as a  free  scoring team but often their defensive powers are the foundation for much of their success.
* Attacking Back-line - Holland in 1978 are still the model of how to attack out of the back with critcal goals coming from this source up to today where its part and parcel of the modern game.
* Set Plays - As the tournament gets to the nitty gritty stage and goals come harder to create  then set-plays become a factor. This is even  more decisive with the new Adidas ball as its light and many of the 'keepers think its more like a balloon. Julio Cesar, the Brasilain 'keeper think its a plastic ball you would buy in a super market!
* Long Range Shooting - As much as 'keepers fear it the crowd and attackers love it - to see a shot that dip and swerve violently Also the other fear is for deflections that totally wrongfoot the 'keepers.
* A World Class Trio - To win you need at least 3 players to perform at world class levels. Look at Italy in 2006 - Buffon, Canavarro & Pirlo.
* A World Class Striker - Spain are spoilt with Torres and Villa. Often games get tighter & tighter and it will require a piece of brilliance to break the deadlock. 
* Who to Win - Several teams have the talent like Holland but composure in the heat of battle has let them down with too many chiefs, Spain would be many peoples choice having won EURO'08
having played superb soccer to doing it. To add to the fog no European nation has won the trophy other  than in their own backyard. Brasil, on the other hand, have already collected two trophies playing outside their continent, winning it in USA'94 and  Japan/Korea 2002.
Hopes & Dreams - The hope is for a great festival of the great game and getting closer to the dream that Pele and Sir Walter Winterbottom had back in the 1970's. That before the century was over an African nation would claim the trophy and that is overdue. Will Nigeria or the Ivory Coast pull it off - time & events will tell.  My personal hope is to see a small nation win a game especially like Slovenia. A new country looking to create its soul and identity showed so much passion & excitement, beating Russia to qualify.
I hope that flame is burning well into July. There's only a 2 million population and a very small playing base of players yet the purity of their energy has created the most positive of human fires. They have much to teach us about the essence of the sport.Remember they have no big time sponsors like many big countries like  MacD's or Bud's.
Enjoy the greatest show on Earth.
Best Wishes,
Graham Ramsay,