A fantasy too improbable even for Hollywood. Unless the creative kid knocked on the door of Casa Bumper Graham up on Laurel Drive.

// ‘);jQuery(elementIdentifier).show()}}};jQuery(document).ready(function(){window.omgBanner=new omgBannerImage;var custPrefs=omgBanner.checkCookie(“cust_prefs”);if(typeof custPrefs==”undefined”||!custPrefs){omgBanner.showBanner(“#omg-banner”,”//i.ppstatic.com/content/landingpages/Scholes-Blog-Image-Join.PNG”,”http://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/282172547;108966587;x?http://content.paddypower.com/ppc-pages/enhanced-campaign/social/sportsbook/blog/blog-scholes.html”)}}); // ]]>I think it’s quite understandable if people reckon the Jacksonville Cougars or Crew Alexandra have a better chance of winning the Brazil world cup than La Roja do. Understandable if some critics think that at the World Cup the Spanish federation is sending a gentle golden labrador out to do the job of a fit young German Shepherd.

It’s all understandable – just wrong.

First, the hurdles. Unless you see them and plan for them  you can’t jump them.

Spain, and all the European countries, have their major rival as Brazil. Not the team, the country. Only if you’ve researched well, planned well and probably employed a few Brazilian movers and shakers to make things  move and shake for you will any side from this continent stand a chance.

The country is vast, diverse, challenging, hot, humid, rainy and a kind of Club 18-30 for mosquitos. This is where the crazy, 24-hour, tequila-fuelled mossies go to party. And I mean Paaaartaaaayy!

But, here, Spain have a tiny advantage. The Confeds Cup wasn’t a thing of beauty and joy for ever as far as Spain was concerned. Hotel problems, travel problems, humidity problems, social disorder and a spanking from Brazil in the final. But La Roja, these days, are astute learners. They’ve honed down the take-home messages, planned for them and having a ‘set’ base in Curitiba is like catnip to them. European autumnal weather, privacy. It’s the laboratory from which the tournament win will be planned. Last summer they were constantly on the road from game to game. Not this time.

The fact that there are young, hungry, athletic squads in the way of the reigning champions is another jab to the Spanish solar plexus. Holland is one, awaiting in the banana-skin first group game – Brazil another.

However this is where the Spanish talent factory has functioned. Yes, the vets will be vital. Del Bosque needs big tournaments from Iniesta (30) Alonso (32) and Casillas (33) – Xavi we will come back to. Nevertheless the ‘relevo’ is in place.

• Are you on board with the Spanish revolution? Get all the latest odds here at PaddyPower.com: Desktop | Mobile

The relief watch. In England and in Spain you’d find few, only the lame of brain, who denied that two of the players of the season were Cesar Azpilicueta and ‘Koke’. Add Jordi Alba, Diego Costa and Javi Martínez and you get a clutch of 22-25 year old talents, three of whom making their debut in a major tournament, whose talent, energy and ‘major’ experience at club level can make an enormous difference to whether or not Spain retain this trophy.

Which is where the Xavi factor comes in. It’s not a sin that, aged 34, his athleticism has changed. What Del Bosque must manage, brilliantly, is how and when to use him. Go back over the last three tournament wins and the assessment of how brilliant Xavi has been changes with retrospect compared to some of the stuff I heard spouted in real time.

But teams target him, try to pressurise him in possession and count on him NOT tracking back thus leaving opposition teams with 3 v 2 or 4 v 3 situations. Believe me, he will not be alone in putting in a few 55-65 minute matches this tournament. The concept of all the major players in any team, with the possible exception of Brazil, winning a tournament while consistently playing 90 minutes is, I think, anathema to this country’s size, geography and climate.

The key creative men will rack up several ‘impact’ performances – either the first hour or the last thirty minutes. Which is where Spain will miss Jesús Navas more than most people have appreciated. He was Del Bosque’s ‘go-to’ man. On the hour, almost every hour, he’d come on and wreak ‘Road-Runner’ havoc. For the manager this little fella is a gigantic loss. More emphasis, now, on the pace of Pedro and the potential ‘impact’ of players like Cesc Fabregas, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla.

Then there is Spain’s often ineptly described playing style.

Asking La Roja to play with fizzing, daring brilliance is like letting a mugger put his hands round Adele’s larynx then asking her voice to soar and inspire. Teams routinely try to asphyxiate them, bank after bank of defense and fouls. But IF La Roja keep the ball well and make other teams work/chase in this humidity then the last 15-20 minutes of matches will yield even more Spain goals than normal.

Champions routinely go out in the group stage of the next edition of their tournament – check France in 2002, Greece in 2008, Italy in 2010. Spain have a nasty wee group but if they navigate those choppy waters then they possess a ruthless knockout mentality and …. reach the final.

Someone call Hollywood.

• Can the Spanish write themselves into the history books and retain their World Cup title? Get all the latest odds here at PaddyPower.com: Desktop | Mobile

The men from the Santiago Bernabeu were denied a place in the final in the cruellest of circumstances, as they went down in the dreaded penalty shootout to eventual runners-up Bayern Munich. Manager Jose Mourinho has committed his future to Real and with that assurance, the club and the players will be even more determined to win the title for their Portuguese tactician, who has a wealth of experience in the tournament.

Star striker and arguably one of the players of the European Championships, Cristiano Ronaldo, proved on the big stages on Poland and Ukraine that he is a formidable opponent. With the former Manchester United striker playing some of his best football, Madrid will certainly be serious contenders for the biggest prize in club football.

Real’s arch rivals Barcelona (7/2 Champions League 2012/2013 outright) will have something to say about that, after they lost their Champions League title to surprise package Chelsea. Pep Guardiola has left the club and it will be interesting to see how his replacement Tito Vilanova will do as manager of a team that has enjoyed so much success over recent seasons.

Barca were somewhat found out last term, as their impressive passing game was undone by some ardent Chelsea defence in the semi-finals of the competition. The lack of a ‘Plan B’ from the Catalan outfit was a major criticism of the team and that is something they will have to address if they are to snatch back their European crown.

Chelsea (12/1 Champions League 2012/2013 outright) will have a massive challenge ahead of them to keep the Champions League trophy in the cabinets at Stamford Bridge beyond next summer. The final of the lucrative competition this time around is at Wembley Stadium, as it prepares to host the showpiece event for the second time in three years, as a celebration of the 150th year of the Football Association. This will certainly be a massive incentive for the Blues, who have a decent record at the national stadium.

The loss of Didier Drogba, who was a key figure in bringing the European crown to The Bridge, will be a massive blow and the likes of Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge must fill the void. Chelsea look like they will have strengthened their squad significantly by the end of the summer but it’s hard to see them pulling off the same heroic victories to win the title this time around.

Premier League champions Manchester City (7/1 Champions League 2012/2013 outright) are obvious favourite to fly the flag for England in the Champions League this coming season, and for good reason. Manager Roberto Mancini and his men are a year older and a year wiser and with their star-studded squad they will certainly be there or thereabouts come this business end of the tournament.

With the likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure in the midfield and Argentine duo Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero up front, you can write off City in the Champions League at your peril.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Birmingham City

The Tangerines head into the decider with a 1-0 advantage after a Curtis Davies own-goal handed them the slenderest of victories when the two sides met at Bloomfield Road on Friday.

But Blues boss Chris Hughton is not ready to wave the white flag just yet, and is backing his men to overturn the deficit and book their place at Wembley.

“They are probably slight favourites because they have that one-goal lead, but the semi-final is not over yet at all,” said the former Newcastle United manager.

“My thoughts are very much on how we play and if we’re able to impose ourselves on them more than perhaps we did then we’ve got a chance.”

Birmingham are 10/11 favourites to win the second leg after 90 minutes, while Blackpool are available at the relatively generous price of 3/1.

There is no away goals rule in the Football League play-offs, which means that any Birmingham victory by a one-goal margin would be enough to take the tie into extra time.

City are priced at 6/1 to win the game 1-0, while 2-1 is available at 7/1 and 3-2 is on offer at 25/1.

Hughton’s men took the spoils during the regular Championship season, securing a last-gasp 2-2 draw at Bloomfield Road before recording a comfortable 3-0 victory on home turf.

Birmingham would undoubtedly be delighted to repeat the feat when they welcome the Seasiders to St Andrews for a second time this season, and a repeat scoreline of 3-0 is available at 14/1.

Both teams have shown prolific form in front of goal this season, with only Southampton and West Ham finding the net more often during the regular campaign.

Leading the way for Birmingham is experienced former Premier League star Marlon King, although he has been ably supported in the ‘goals for’ column by team-mates Chris Burke and Nikola Zigic.

Zigic found the net the last time these two sides met at St Andrews and is worth considering at 6/1 to score the first goal or the same price to get the last, having been left on the bench in the first leg.

But while King has led the way for Birmingham, Blackpool have depended on another former Premier League star for goals.

Sunderland legend and former Blues marksman Kevin Phillips has netted 16 times this season and is priced rather generously at 15/2 to score the first goal and 15/2 to score the last.

The experienced star is certainly worth considering, and would surely love nothing more than to fire his side into the final at the expense of his old club.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Athletic Bilbao

Bilbao created a stir earlier in the competition when they comfortably disposed of Manchester United with home and away victories notched up against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

However, while many fancied them to go far in the tournament, the Basque side lost out to Manchester City’s conquerors Sporting in Lisbon last week so have their work cut out to reach next month’s final in Bucharest.

Coach Marcelo Bielsa’s Athletic Bilbao side have never won a European competition, but they will be confident of progression given that they have won every Europa League match on home soil this season, while they are the second most prolific side still in contention in the Europa League, with 25 goals to date.

They will be boosted by the news Javi Martinez is available after he missed the match at the Estadio de Alvalade through suspension, while Iker Muniain is expected to feature despite missing out against Racing Santander because of an eye inflammation.

The stats do not make good reading for Sporting as they have yet to win a European game on Spanish soil and have failed to win in any of their last 10 away matches.

But, Ricardo Sa Pinto’s men only require a draw so they could be tempted to try and frustrate Bilbao and keep the door shut at the back while seeing what they can get on the break.

Sporting, who defeated Bilbao 4-2 over two legs in their last European meeting in 1985-86, will be without the ineligible Elias, while Fito Rinaudo and Alberto Rodriguez are both injured.

But, Chilean Matias Fernandez, who has missed the club’s last two games, is ready to feature from the start.

We expect a close game, but with Athletic Bilbao only needing a 1-0 win to progress, they should have too much firepower for the Portuguese and ensure an all-Spanish final.

Prediction: Athletic Bilbao Home Win 90 Minutes @ 8/15
Value Bet: 4 Goals – Goals 10-band @ 9/2

Atletico Madrid, who won the Europa League in 2010, will feel they have one foot in the final following a handsome 4-2 first-leg victory last week.

However, Valencia’s two away goals will give them hope that they can pull the tie out of the fire at Estadio de Mestalla on Thursday.

Ricardo Costa’s late away goal could be the key for Los Che and they warmed up nicely for the match with a 4-0 thumping of Real Betis at the weekend, in which Real Madrid playmaker Sergio Canales made a welcome recovery from a serious ligament injury and could start against Atletico.

Roberto Soldado is set to retain his spot in attack, with Jonas supporting him in the final third.

Valencia won the Primera Division fixture 1-0 in September on home soil so will need to add another goal if they are going to progress to the final.

Atletico Madrid arrive in a good run of form which has seen them win three successive matches with the first-leg victory sandwiched between domestic successes against Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano respectively.

The omens are mixed for coach Diego Simeone, who has selected the same squad of 18 players that successfully defeated Espanyol at the weekend, as Atletico have never won a European tie away from home in Spain.

However, a defeat on Thursday could still see them through, while they also have the psychological boost of their two-legged victory over Valencia at the quarter-final stage on their way to winning the trophy two years ago.

Valencia’s home form is good in Europe and Atletico don’t travel well so we fancy a home win, but the two-goal cushion from the first leg could be just enough to get the visitors into the final.

Prediction: Valencia Home 90 Minutes @ 5/6
Value Bet: Valencia 2-1 Correct Score @ 7/1

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

‘Gers have had their midweek game at St Johnstone postponed because of the snow, which means the Hoops have the opportunity to go top of the table before the small matter of the Old Firm derby on Sunday.

Celtic won’t yet have the services of former Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg, who looks likely to sign in the New Year.

However, the Bhoys will go into this game looking to avoid dropping yet more points as they have drawn three of their last four games – at home against Dundee United, Inverness CT and Kilmarnock – in the SPL

Managerless Motherwell have struggled since the departure of Craig Brown to Aberdeen earlier in the month.

‘Well have lost their last two games which have been at Fir Park against Hearts and Rangers which are by no means easy fixtures.

Celtic will be favourites to make it three defeats on the trot for Motherwell and it’s doubtful that they will scupper their chance to go top of the table.

Hearts have played some excellent football in recent months with boss Jim Jeffries picking up the manager of the month award for November.

The Edinburgh club are undefeated in their last seven games in the SPL and will fancy their chances on Wednesday when they take on St Mirren (3/1 – match betting).

Hearts ran out 3-0 winners when these sides met earlier in the season at the Tynecastle Stadium and they will be confident of beating St Mirren who currently sit six points above the relegation zone.

The biggest game of the midweek fixtures is at the bottom of the table as Hamilton take on Aberdeen.

This match is crucial for both sides as the Dons sit just three points ahead of Hamilton who are rock bottom of the SPL (Hamilton 6/4, draw 23/10, Aberdeen 9/5 – match betting).

Even at this relatively early stage of the season if Aberdeen can pull of an away win at New Douglas Park, the Accies will be in serious trouble at six points adrift from safety with wins hard to come by.

Despite not being able to win in their last five outings, Hamilton have been hit badly by the weather in recent weeks and do have two games in hand over Aberdeen.

It’s going to be a real tight game in Hamilton but the home side could pull off the win against Brown’s men because it could be relegation for the Accies if they don’t.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

England

Joe Hart seems nailed on to be England’s number one for years, but injury and form could dictate otherwise. Furthermore, there is always the threat that Manchester City could recruit someone like Spain star Iker Casillas one day. After all, money talks, so nothing can be taken for granted.

But who is waiting in the wings should the same fate befall Hart as Shay Given? Well, Scott Loach has been in and around the squad and is more likely to represent the future than the likes of Rob Green, who has won just 11 caps at the age of 30.

The Hornets’ financial restrictions are well known but in Loach they have a keeper who is more than playing his part as the Vicarage Road outfit keep pace with the chasing pack just outside the play-off places (Watford 20/1 – To Win Promotion).

Another youngster catching the eye in the Championship is QPR’s on-loan defender Kyle Walker, who has played in both full-back positions for the leaders since arriving on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Walker has Alan Hutton and Vedran Corluka ahead of him in the pecking order at White Hart Lane and is really benefitting from his time spent under the watchful eye of Rs chief Neil Warnock – so much so that the Loftus Road faithful are calling for the club’s minted owners to make his permanent signing a priority in January (QPR 4/5f – Championship Outright).

At the heart of defence, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand should be coming to their respective peaks but instead, injuries appear to have caught up with them. Furthermore, the Chelsea captain turns 30 tomorrow and, never the quickest, he is only going one way.

Behind them the likes of Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka and Michael Dawson have also had their own injury problems and good club-men as they are, surely 21-year-old Gary Cahill should get the nod as he continues to prove Martin O’Neill wrong for selling him to Bolton when he was manager of Aston Villa.

Wanderers are flying under Owen Coyle and while the former Burnley chief appears to have the Midas touch, Cahill’s form is a big reason why the Reebok Stadium outfit continue to confound their doubters by flying high in sixth place, having lost just three Premier League games this term (Bolton 7/1 – Top Six Finish).

Like Ferdinand and Terry, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard – as experienced as they are – have also completed more pre-seasons than they have in front of them so England need to be looking to the next crop in the engine room.

Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Ashley Young and Adam Johnson can provide breath-taking pace down the flanks for years to come, but who is putting their hand up to put their foot in when the going gets tough?

Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole needs to curb his swashbuckling tendencies but he is not the first relatively inexperienced player to be too rash in the tackle and, at the age of 22, should get a chance ahead of the likes of 30-year-old Scott Parker (Black Cats 22/1 – Relegation).

Aston Villa’s Marc Albrighton is also worth a mention in dispatches although England’s strength on the flanks means he is facing an uphill battle (Villa 5/1 – To Beat Liverpool at Anfield tonight).

Finally, Wayne Rooney is sure to prove – yet again – the old adage that form is temporary, class is permanent, while Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch have never let England down over the years.

Andy Carroll deserves another chance to impress and certainly has support over his inclusion, which will happen, but injuries could decimate England’s options so who else is in the mix?

Well, it’s easy to forget Sunderland star Darren Bent only turned 26 earlier this year and for a player with the goalscoring record he can boast, the former Ipswich youngster’s seven caps are not enough. This is something which should be rectified immediately (Bent 10/1 – Premiership Top Goalscorer).

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Sunderland

Bent has scored eight goals so far this season, including his first ever international goal in the 3-1 victory over Switzerland, and the 26-year-old feels he is ready to impress on the international stage.

However, Bent accepts that the decision is down to boss Fabio Capello, but if called on he is ready to fire England to victory.

“Naturally I’d love to start, but it’s not for me to guess what Mr Capello is going to do,” Bent told The Guardian.

“He has his own ideas, so who knows? He can surprise people.

“Knowing what I know already about the way the England manager works, my immediate goal is not starting the game but showing up well in training, because that is what he looks for.”

Wayne Rooney has been included in the 23-man squad to face Montenegro but there are still fears the Manchester United striker will miss out through an ankle injury – and Bent will almost certainly be handed a starting role if Rooney is not fully-fit.

Capello has selected four strikers to face Montenegro, with Spurs’ Peter Crouch and Bolton’s Kevin Davies also included in the squad, and the Italian tactician is likely to partner Bent with either Crouch or Davies if Rooney does not recover in time.

Bent missed out on the World Cup in the summer as Capello overlooked the Sunderland star, despite his impressive goal tally last season, but the striker is expected to be handed his chance to shine for England in the build up to the European Championships.

Bent has been described as “one of the important players for the future” by Capello and after scoring against the Swiss last time out hecould be handed another chance on Tuesday.

Bent admits he was frustrated to miss out on the World Cup and is delighted to have finally been given the opportunity to impress on the international stage.

However, the Sunderland striker insists he is not thinking as far ahead as the tournament proper in 2012, or the World Cup in 2014, as he is concentrating on securing regular action for the national side (England 9/1 to win Euro 2012).

He added: “The next World Cup is too far ahead to have as a target, so I’m looking to cement my place in the England set-up, maybe get a few more goals, and generally give myself the chance of reaching the Euros (in 2012).

“I’d love to go to a tournament with England, but it’s probably best not to look too far into the future. Just try to do well in the next game and take it from there.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Liverpool

Konchesky followed boss Roy Hodgson from Fulham to Anfield this summer and the 29-year-old is expected to be the first-choice left back for Liverpool for the rest of the season.

The former England international admitted he jumped at the chance to make the switch to Merseyside and, while teaming up again with Hodgson was a factor in his decision to move, the lure of playing for one of the biggest clubs in the country was just too good an opportunity to turn down.

“I’m 29 and this is my last chance to play at the highest level,” Konchesky said. “That is what Liverpool are and I am really looking forward to it. “It (Hodgson) was a big factor but Liverpool being a big club was a massive factor.

“I’m looking forward to getting a new lease of life and playing at a very high standard. I can’t wait to pull on a Liverpool shirt in the Premier League - it is a massive club and it is a big step for me.”

Konchesky got his first taste of playing for Liverpool at Anfield when he turned out in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial on Saturday and he says he is ready to take his chance for his new club.

“I just want to give it my all and go from there,” he added. “I’ve had three or four days’ training and although there have not been a lot of players there it has been a good week and I am hopefully going to enjoy it soon.

“You look at the history they have got behind them – it is unbelievable – and there are some great players here. If we can bring that back to the side this year in something like the Europa League (11/1 to win outright) then this team can go a long way.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Venables guided England to the semi-finals of Euro ‘96 and knows all about what it takes to succeed as a club and international manager.

And he has warned the England squad their mental approach will be one of the decisive factors in how they perform in the World Cup.

He said: “They have got to be actually thinking about winning it. People keep asking me how do I think they will do, will they reach the quarter-finals or the semi-finals?

“But they have got to be thinking about the final and then winning it. If you don’t really expect to win it, you won’t win it.

“You have got to think you are going to win as a group of players and a management team.

“I think there’s a very good chance, although you can’t see much past Spain and Brazil.

“Brazil know how to win these competitions and while it was the European Championships Spain won two years ago, a lot of the time, the European Championships are tougher than the World Cup because there are so many strong teams in Europe.”

There is much emphasis placed on the fitness of Wayne Rooney (6/4 Top England Goalscorer – World Cup 2010), who suffered a calf strain in the final Premier League game of the season against Stoke City.

But Venables says that Rooney should not be considered as England’s biggest hope.

He said: “I understand the focus on Wayne Rooney, but although he is the outstanding player, he is part of a team.

“We need all our best players, and the team the manager would like to put out, fit and in form.

“We have got Ashley Cole back, and it looks like Rio Ferdinand is going to be fit and strong.

“You need all your best players fit, and that goes for every country.”

Venables is fronting a charity competition to select England’s fantasy World Cup XI and raise funds for Everyman’s research into prostate and testicular cancer.

He said: “As you can imagine, it’s unbelievably difficult.

“When a team has won it, there’s a feeling that you can’t really go for other players outside that, but it’s about picking the strongest possible team.”

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Gomez has been in excellent form this year, and has been joint top scorer in the Mexican championship where he has scored 10 goals in 14 matches for Puebla and earned his selection in the initial party of 30.

“Hercules comes off the season very well,” Bradley said at the squad’s training camp.

“Certainly we take notice of that and it’s good to see how he’ll fit in and play in this stretch.”

Gomez, who has played only twice before for the national side, could feature in friendlies against Czech Republic on Tuesday and Turkey four days later.

Bradley needs to find a replacement for Davies, who was injured last October in a car accident that killed another passenger. He has resumed light training with his French club Sochaux but did not get medical clearance in time to make the squad.

The U.S. are drawn with England (1/3 favourites to top the group), Algeria (12/1) and Slovenia (9/1) in Group C at the finals starting on June 11.

Gomez’s call-up to the 30-man provisional squad came after a decade-long journey through Major League Soccer (MLS) teams and lower-level U.S. clubs, before he hit the big time in Mexico, the country of his parents, where U.S. players are rare.

“It was a huge deal. I became only the second player in my club’s history (to be top scorer),” said Gomez.

“They really took to me and treated me as one of their own. I was never treated like an outsider.”

His Puebla team mates did, though, tease him. “I was always the ’soldier boy’,” Gomez, 28, told Reuters. “They’d do the American soldier voice, or like in the movies, a robot, like (Arnold) Schwarzenegger.”

Gomez said he was realistic about his chances of making the cut when the squad is trimmed to 23 players.

“I definitely have 29 players in front of me,” he said.

Gomez, who can score with his head and either foot, has attracted attention for his goal-scoring feats and said he had been getting offers from clubs.

“My agent handles those. I concentrate on the soccer and my only goal is this camp,” he said.

Could he say where the offers were coming from? “Yes, but I’m only here to talk about U.S. soccer.”

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.