Who will win the World Cup in Brazil 2014? Lifting the Trophy at the Maracana

England have fallen by the wayside alongside defending world champions Spain, but there are still plenty of big hitters left in World Cup 2014 as we close in on the last 16 (or round of 16 as it's often called). Brazil, Argentina, The Netherlands (Holland) and Germany are all still present and correct at the time of writing. On South American soil, we also still have Colombia, Uruguay (with or without Luis Suarez) and Chile who must not be underestimated in a climate they are (relatively) used to and with massive backing from their fans.

Mexico and Costa Rica are also still in there and will be hard to beat in the knock-out stages. Of the European contingent, France, Germany, Holland and Belgium look the strongest prospects and are indeed the only four safely through at this time.

It’s difficult to make a concrete case for any of the teams, however, having all showed frailties in their opening matches. Hosts Brazil may have scored 7 goals (Neymar with 4 of them) but they have looked anything but secure at the back. Argentina have underwhelmed and have been bailed out of trouble by two pieces of magic from Lionel Messi. The Dutch have been generally excellent but laboured in their win against the Socceroo’s of Australia and now face an unbeaten and stubborn Mexico for a place in the quarter finals. Chile looked the part until they were undone by Holland and now face Brazil in the last 16. Belgium were much fancied before the tournament began and they may yet be, but two narrow wins at the group stage against unfancied opponents haven’t exactly left us drooling yet!

Germany were excellent against an ordinary Portugal but then struggled to overcome Ghana, who certainly look the most promising of the African teams (despite their progress hanging by a thread). Colombia have looked very comfortable playing some very nice football but again have yet to be tested by strong opposition. Perhaps the team who have surprised the most is France. Very poor in recent tournaments with plenty of unrest in the camp, the French seem to have sorted themselves out. Admittedly, the group with Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras was one of the friendlier groups to have been placed in but impressive demolitions of the Swiss and Honduras surely bodes well for Didier Deschamps’ squad.

So, I wouldn't like to hang my hat on a definite winner at this stage but my personal feeling is that perhaps one of the South American teams will still just have the edge in familiar surroundings. With that said, as a neutral (my own country didn't even qualify for the finals), if the matches continue to be as entertaining as the ones we have witnessed so far, football (or soccer to much of the world) will be the winner when someone lifts the world cup at the Maracana on 13^th July 2014.