Ian McFarlane reckons there are a handful of genuine contenders for the biggest prize in football …

RIVALS FOR THE CROWN
AS KICK-OFF approaches, I reckon there are five countries in with a serious chance of World Cup glory – Germany, Spain, France, Brazil and Argentina.
Germany have to be up there. The current holders have adopted youth into their set-up seamlessly along with tried and tested regulars just reaching their peak.
They eased through qualification with a 100 per cent record and are a tournament-tested beast under Joachim Low.
A tough group featuring Sweden, Mexico a...