World Cup 2010: Our predictions from winners to golden boot

Kevin McCarra Final Brazil v Argentina (whose talent gets them there despite Diego Maradona). Brazil win. They are tough guys who can also play you off the pitch England's prospects Semi-finals Dark horses Denmark are a well-constructed team who won in Portugal as well as beating Sweden home and away in the qualifiers Golden boot Wayne Rooney. England may well get to the semi-finals, ensuring plenty of action for a man who hit nine goals in the qualifiers Emerging talent Simon Kjaer is already known, but the World Cup could really make the Denmark centre-half's name so long as the knee injury is fully healed. Controversy Match-fixing claims/bizarre refereeing I'm most looking forward to Brazil v Ivory Coast, so long as Ivory Coast can somehow get their act together Daniel Taylor Final Spain to edge out Brazil. Ten reasons: Casillas, Silva, Torres, Xavi, Pedro, Villa, Iniesta, Fábregas, Alonso, Navas England's prospects Lose in the second round to Serbia after getting through group without hugely impressing Dark horses Everybody is expecting France to capitulate but, for all their problems, this is still a team full of big-game players and they would not be frightened of a possible quarter-final against England Golden boot Fernando Torres, providing he is fit, has all the players behind him to supply him with the chances Emerging talent Luis Suárez is an obvious choice but also look out for another Uruguayan, Nicolás Lodeiro, and two Ghanaian defenders, Samuel Inkoom and Jonathan Mensah Controversy Is diving still controversial? It can all seem rather passé these days but keep an eye out for serial Spanish tumbler Sergio Busquets I'm most looking forward to In the group stages, Portugal v Brazil in Durban. And missing Big Brother Paul Wilson Final Argentina to beat USA. No particular logic to the choice, I just went for one predictable finalist and one surprise candidate. You do get the sense that America are improving all the time, and I'm sure they will reach a World Cup final one day. Argentina are sending the best players to South Africa, though with Diego Maradona in charge they may be anything but predictable England's prospects Will go out to the first decent Latin team they come up against, either in the quarters or the semis depending on how the draw works out Dark horses Uruguay. I am not saying they are going to win the thing, no dark horses ever seem to do that, but they have some fairly impressive attacking players and they could spring a few surprises. Italy could do better than everyone seems to be expecting too, though I'm not sure you can have holders as dark horses Golden boot Diego Milito. Excellent in the Champions League final and almost not selected by Maradona. That's the sort of story that should be behind a World Cup top scorer, though it remains to be seen whether Maradona will give him enough games as he may not start the first game Emerging talent Luis Suárez, of Uruguay. There's more to the Uruguayan strike-force than Diego Forlán. I also think James Milner will have a strong World Cup Controversy The usual sort of thing. A goal is either scored or not scored, or scored with a hand, and the whole world sees what has happened but the referee does not, because Fifa regulations still do not allow for a peek at the television pictures to settle an on-field controversy I'm looking forward to The first game, and the tournament actually getting under way. The World Cup gets bigger all the time, but so does the hype and the pre-publicity. So much so that you worry the football will never live up to its advance billing. Sometimes it doesn't, but World Cups are always better once they are under way Richard Williams Final Brazil to beat Argentina by narrowest of margins, thanks to a defence erected by Dunga around Júlio César and Lúcio England's prospects Difficult progress out of the group, then eliminated, probably by Serbia Dark horses Uruguay, for whom goals from Diego Forlán and Luis Suárez could revive memories of victories in 1930 and 1950 Golden boot David Villa of Spain, given that Fernando Torres is unlikely to be match-fit in their group matches Emerging talent Christian Eriksen, Denmark's highly rated 18-year-old Ajax midfielder Controversy Unlikely to be anything to match Thierry Henry's hand-ball against Ireland I'm most looking forward to Diego Maradona's solution to the problem of choosing three from Messi, Tevez, Agüero, Higuaín, Milito and his old mate Martin Palermo Dominic Fifield Final Argentina to beat Brazil, and Diego Maradona to leap on to the podium to lift the trophy ahead of his captain. There may be concerns over the Argentine defence but their forward line, at least on paper, appears irrepressible England's prospects Semi-finals at best, probably after a slow start. Concerns linger over a lack of quality in possession, and they will need Wayne Rooney at his best to prolong their stay, but they may have a head coach capable of coaxing the best from this squad Dark horses France. Some have christened them Les Miserables but, even without a talismanic figure in the mould of Zidane and perhaps inspite of their outgoing manager Raymond Domenech, they could yet progress into the latter stages Golden boot Robin van Persie, Holland. Fresh after a season blighted by injury at Arsenal, but sharp in the warm-up games and could fill his boots in the group stage. Emerging talent Juan Manuel Mata, Spain. The Valencia winger should combine well with David Silva and David Villa, and is considered one of this fine team's rising stars. If he is offered an early chance to impress, he may be difficult to dislodge Controversy Wayne Rooney being sent off in a last-16 fixture against Germany for lashing out at Per Mertesacker. Or Steven Gerrard joining the swollen ranks of injured England captains I'm most looking forward to Bafana Bafana progressing through the group stage, maintaining the momentum gained in a 12-match pre-tournament unbeaten run. The finals need the hosts to excel Paul Hayward Final Brazil v Spain, the purist's dream, with Spain nullifying the Brazilian counter-attack to add world domination to their European title England's prospects A semi-final, against Brazil, is the best an England side with too few top strikers and too many injuries can hope for Dark horses Holland are a popular nomination but how dark are they? Uruguay could finish above France in Group A and threaten England in a quarter-final Golden boot David Villa (Spain) and Luís Fabiano (Brazil) should be in it to the end but Robin van Persie (Holland) has returned in rampant form and appeals at 25-1 Emerging talent Angel di María, the young Argentina winger, is expected to join Real Madrid from Benfica. Just a question of how much playing time he gets in Diego Maradona's forward-heavy squad Controversy With every World Cup, Fifa insists on reinventing the ball, which fundamentally alters the game and distorts the balance in favour of attacking players. This one is a bullet I'm most looking forward to The big hope: that South Africans can claim this World Cup as their own, and not be used as a TV backdrop or patronised by rich nations Mick McCarthy Final Spain to beat Brazil. They finally learned to win at Euro 2008 and they have the same deep pool of talent available England's prospects At least the quarter-finals. Fabio Capello can be a big factor in taking them further Dark horses South Korea. I saw them beat Ivory Coast 2-0 in London in March and they were excellent. The Ivory Coast too, under Sven, could cause a few surprises Golden boot Fernando Torres or Luís Fabiano, as I think Spain and Brazil will go furthest, although I'd like Wayne Rooney to win it Emerging talent Joe Hart. I know he's not guaranteed to start but he was by far and away the best English goalkeeper last season Controversy Probably from the circus surrounding Diego Maradona. For Argentina's sake, it is essential Maradona quells that I'm most looking forward to I love the ambiance. It is very friendly, everyone mixes, and that makes for a fabulous atmosphere at the games David Pleat Final Last-gasp qualifiers Argentina with no-nonsense defending and an array of goalscoring alternatives will hope that the mindset of the eccentric Maradona is calming. Spain possible opponents England's prospects Reliance on Wayne Rooney a handicap. Group passage assured and second phase against Serbia or Germany will be more difficult. With luck (penalties?) we can edge past the quarters to the possible limit of semi-final exclusion Dark horses Regardless of sentimental reasons I nominate Serbia – Ivanovic, Vidic, Stankovic and Krasic are top quality and are led by my friend, Raddy Antic Golden boot Lionel Messi has the cunning and craft to defeat legs in tired situations. His mesmerising Greaves-like finishing as he passes into the net cannot be ignored Emerging talent Mesut Ozil, the Werder Bremen midfielder, son of Turkish parents, has the ability to run direct at opposition. This 21-year-old will catch the eye with his skill for a functional Germany Controversy Referees will need to be stricter by disallowing penalties when keepers move off the line I'm most looking forward to Seeing the game played in a good spirit with great individual expression and exciting moments Owen Gibson Final Spain v Brazil. With European weather conditions, a 2008 European Championship victory that banished their reputation for underachievement and the strongest squad in the competition helping the Spanish to victory England's prospects In the spirit of over-optimism that is obligatory at this point in proceedings – semi-finals Dark horses Not sure they count, given their host status, but you would have got very long odds on Bafana Bafana emerging from the group stages until very recently Golden boot Fernando Torres will leave uncertainty over his future at home to profit from the presence of weak group stage opposition Emerging talent Marek Hamsik, the 22-year-old Slovakian captain, could well seal a move to a big Premier League club if he helps his side out of a finely balanced group Controversy An inevitable incident that proves Fifa was wrong to rule out the use of goal line technology. Off the pitch? Vuvuzelas, of course I'm most looking forward to If the atmosphere at Wednesday's fan parade was any guide, it should be among the most ebullient, noisy and colourful World Cups of all time – inside and outside the stadiums. Marina Hyde Final Spain v Brazil, injuries permitting. Only teams with epic flair and solidity. Spain to win England's prospects Quarter finals exit if they're lucky Dark Horses Ghana. It's always Ghana, isn't it? Golden Boot David Villa Emerging talent Haven't a clue, and think it would be very poor form to pretend otherwise by dredging up some likely-looking North Korean Controversy How do you beat the Daily Star's "England Fans could be caught up in a machete race war at the World Cup in South Africa"? The Star always finds a concealed basement to that barrel it's bent on scraping. I'd quite to see that bloke who always dresses up as the World Cup trophy, who has now started appearing on clip shows as a pundit, in a news story containing the words "believed to have wandered off into the wrong area" I'm most looking forward to Everything, am thrilled to be here. Really hope it goes brilliantly for South Africa Sean Ingle Final Spain to beat Holland in the final - partly because these teams have the best form over the past two years, partly because I'm a foolish romantic England's prospects A semi-final place is achievable given their kind draw, but history teaches us that they will be knocked out by the first decent team they play. So second round, then Dark horses Serbia are interesting. They're certainly solid enough at the back, and if Milos Krasic and Milan Jovanic fire they have every chance of making the quarter-finals Golden boot David Villa is the obvious choice but it's hard to argue with a record of 38 goals in 58 internationals Emerging talent If Luis Saurez, who scored 35 goals for Ajax last season, can link with Diego Forlan he could drag Uruguay further than we all expect Controversy Fifa's pig-headed decision not to even consider video replays is bound to ruin a great match or two along the way I'm most looking forward to Hopefully lots of attacking football, as well as shooting the breeze with fans, journalists and all the random folk you meet during a World Cup