FIFA SET FOR BIG VOTE

This time tomorrow the hosts for the two World Cups following Brazil 2014 will also be known.

In a break with tradition, FIFA are set to name the hosts for the following two tournaments - 2018 and 2022 - on one day.

That day is tomorrow. In Zurich, Switzerland, where the governing body of World Football has its plush headquarters, at around 3pm; that's when and where the results of the vote will be announced.

For 2018, a joint bid by Holland and Belgium - neither of whom has hosted a World Cup before - is considered to be the rank outsider bid. England, Russia and another joint bid (Spain/Portugal) are competing to land the prestigious task of hosting what will be Europe's first World Cup for 12 years.

Because of FIFA's continental rotation policy for hosting, the 2022 tournament must be held outside Europe, and there are five hopeful candidates. They are Australia, Qatar, South Korea, USA and Japan. It wouldn't surprise me if we saw a maiden host voted for this one.

My guess is that England or Russia will win the race for the 2018 World Cup. It's really hard to call is between these two, I think England would be the right choice at this time, but I do sense there is some antagonism towards the English bid from within FIFA, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if Russia were given the tournament. I'm expecting either Australia or Qatar to get the nod for 2022. The USA are undoubtedly in with a shout as well.

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS WEDNESDAY 23 JUNE

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY'S GAMES:

Slovenia 0-2 England

It's hard to imagine that England will not improve on last Friday's dismal display, but their problem will be that Slovenia only need a draw and will set up to frustrate the Three Lions. England will scrape over the line though.

USA 0-0 Algeria

Algeria know that victory would give them a chance of going through. I expect a tight start, but the game will open up. Both sides to end frustrated though, and the scoresheet blank.

Ghana 1-1 Germany

Africa's hopes are now largely resting on Ghana's shoulders, and they won't disappoint. A point here will take them through, Germany will scrape through too.

Australia 1-0 Serbia

The Aussies will finish with a win but it won't be enough to save their World Cup.

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS SATURDAY 19 JUNE

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY'S GAMES:

Holland 1-0 Japan

I expect the Dutch to confirm their progress with a win in this one, although Japan will not lie down.

Ghana 3-2 Australia

Ghana are fast becoming Africa's best hope in this World Cup, and they'll have just too much for Australia in a game of goals.

Cameroon 2-0 Denmark

Cameroon need to win this one and hope that the Dutch beat Japan. They'll then need to get something out of their clash with Holland next Thursday and hope that Denmark beat Japan. Complicated? Let's stick with today's game; Cameroon to win.

GROUP D BLOWN WIDE OPEN WITH SERBIA VICTORY

Serbia's 1-0 win over Germany has blown their group wide open as the World Cup provides another shock.

After Switzerland's stunning win against Spain and Mexico's deserved victory over France the World Cup has given us possibly the biggest shock so far with this result.

Germany not only lost their first group game since the 1982 World Cup but also missed a penalty, something they are renowned for being experts in.

Germany started well in their second game of the tournament giving their opponents no time to settle on the ball and creating some early opportunities.

However their gameplan was blown apart when Miroslav Klose was given two harsh yellow cards and promptly recieved his marching orders in the 37th minute of the game. The Serbians wasted no time in making their advantage pay, scoring what would prove to be the winning goal just sixty seconds after the dismissal.

A good run and cross down the right flank from Milos Krasic picked out Nikola Zigic backing away towards the back post and the lanky striker's header down was the perfect setup for Milan Jovanovic to control on the chest and fire home from five yards.

Much to their credit the Germans continued to chase the game with Sami Khedira smashing the ball against the crossbar just before half-time.

In the second half Lukas Podolski looked the man most likely for Germany, going close with numerous attempts before being given a golden opportunity to level the scores from the spot.

The picky Spanish referee was criticised for his poor officiating for much of the game but no one could argue with this decision as Nemanja Vidic inexplicably handled the ball in a presssure-less situation.

However the three time winners failed to punish the opposition with Vladimir Stojkovic getting down quickly to Podolski's weak effort.

Serbia could have sealed the game twice when first Jovanovic hit the post and then Zigic clipped the bar with a free header.

Germany were unable to break down the Serbian back line and a win for Australia against Ghana this afternoon would make this the most open group of the tournament.

BIG NAMES FLATTER TO DECIEVE AS FIRST ROUND OF FIXTURES DRAWS TO A CLOSE

So with just twenty minutes or so left until South Africa play their second game of the tournament we have little time left to reflect on the opening round of fixtures, although maybe we shouldn't look back for too long.

It's not much to look at after all, most of the talk has been about the lack of action and excitement. With just two games containing more than two goals and Germany the only team to bag more than a brace, the competition has been somewhat bereft of world class football.

Some blame the ball, some blame the altitude, most blame the Vuvuzelas. But as far as I can see it's been a case of the big boys not playing well and the underdogs giving all they've got. The biggest surprise undoubtedly came in the final match of the first round of fixtures as Gelson Fernandes converted the ugliest goal in World Cup history to help his Swiss friends secure a shock victory over bookies favourites Spain.

Previously France, England, Portugal and Italy had all failed to win their opening games while Brazil and Argentina had looked unimpressive in victory. It was the unfancied Germans who stole the show with their four-nil demolition of Australia.

However the series of results has provided one of the most open World Cups in recent history with nobody written off as possible qualifiers for the last sixteen. In fact underdogs such as South Korea, Slovenia and Japan could secure qualification for the knockout stages with victory in their second games. While lowly New Zealand and North Korea put up spirited performances against Slovakia and Brazil respectively to prove there are no easy games at the World Cup.

Perhaps there's one thing that we always fail to remember about football; It's totally unpredictable. But we'll never stop trying to predict it.

RAMPANT GERMANS DISMANTLE AUSSIES AS CAHILL SEES RED

Tim Cahill became the third player of the day to be sent off in South Africa as his Australia side fell to a crushing four-nil defeat against Germany.

Australia started brightly and created a chance to go ahead in the opening minute of the game but it wasn't long before the Germans took control.

Lukasz Podolski gave Germany the lead in just the eighth minute of the match with a thunderbolt from the edge of the area that proved too hot to handle for Fulham 'keeper Mark Schwarzer.

From then on the three time champions didn't look back, slicing open their opponents defence with ease to create a number of opportunities. The Socceroos were given a reprive when Miroslav Klose fired high and wide from ten yards out. However the Bayern Munich striker made no mistake just minutes later, darting between defender and goalkeeper to get his head to Phillip Lahm's pinpoint cross and double the lead.

Australia made all the right changes at half time in an attempt to turn the game around as they brought on a natural striker to allow Tim Cahill to drop into a deeper role. However all of Australia manager Pim Verbeek's good intentions went to waste when Cahill was harshly punished for a strong tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger just before the hour. The Everton man was sent off by the Mexican referee who had had a faultless game up until that decision.

It was effectively game over as Australia's talisman left the pitch, and it could be tournament over for the boys from down under with Cahill forced to sit out their next game. True to form the efficent Germans remained ruthless as first Thomas Mueller, and then Brazilian born substitue Cacau compounded the Aussies misery by making it four-nil with over twenty minutes left.

With the game well and truly over the Aussies showed real spirit to battle on and almost salvaged some pride when substitue Nikita Rukavytsya forced the German 'keeper into a decent save, but it will take real determination for the Aussies to find a way through the group stages after such a bruising defeat.

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS, SUNDAY 13 JUNE

Predictions for today's World Cup games:

Algeria 2-1 Slovenia

The extra support for the African nation should give them the lift them need.

Serbia 2-0 Ghana

My tip to win the group, I'm expecting a good start from them today.

Australia 1-1 Germany

I can see the Germans struggling here. Australia will run all day and have enough to take a point from this opening match.

SPAIN TOP RANKINGS AS ENGLAND CLIMB AGAIN

The announcement of the latest FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings has seen European Champions Spain retain top spot ahead of Brazil and the Netherlands.

The top three remain unchanged for the fifth successive month, since November 2009, but the rest of the top ten saw some considerable action this month.

Former World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has seen his Portugal side move up two places to fourth at the expense of defending World Champions Italy and three-time winners Germany who both drop a place to fifth and sixth respectively.

Meanwhile Fabio Capello's England climbed the rankings for the second successive month as they jumped one place to seventh with France dropping down to eighth.

Croatia re-entered the top ten just behind Argentina who are unmoved in ninth, while Australia have now broken into the top twenty after moving up four places to 19th.

This summer's hosts South Africa, have fallen seven places to 88th.

This month's biggest gainers were Senegal who climbed an impressive 22 places to 72nd whilst the biggest losers were Guam who fell 14 places to 196.

Full FIFA World Rankings here.

AUSTRALIA COACH TO QUIT AFTER TOURNAMENT

Australia coach Pim Verbeek has confirmed he will step down from his role as coach of the Socceroos after the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Verbeek has led Australia to 15 wins during his 27 games in charge and taken the team to their highest ever World Ranking of 14th.

However Verbeek has now revealed he will step down from his role in charge of the national team after being appointed back in 2007.

"It has been a very difficult decision for me after more than two years, but it is time for me to look for a new challenge," said Verbeek. "I have enjoyed every minute of being head coach of Australia and we achieved some fantastic results including qualifying for the World Cup and the Asian Cup."

"It is a good time to make this announcement so we can now focus completely on preparing everything perfectly for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. We will do everything right to prepare for this tournament to get the best result possible."

Verbeek will be in charge for the tournament however and his side have been drawn in Group D alongside Serbia, Ghana and three time champions Germany.