So the World Cup starts today. At the risk of looking a bit stupid in a few weeks time here are a few predictions:

* England will draw their first match with the USA. They’ll top their group but go out in the second round. On penalties, as usual. And oh yes, somewhere along the line Rooney will get himself sent off.

* One of the African nations will do really well and get to the Semis. Maybe Ivory Coast. Or Cameroon.

* There will be endless controversy and complaints from players and managers alike about that bloody ball.

* And…Argentina will win it. You heard it here first.

Needless to say I am very very excited about the whole thing. Actually, to be specific, my favourite part is the first two weeks when all 32 countries are still it. It’s at this stage when there is a beautiful sense of total possibility, that wherever you come from and whoever you support your team could, if not win the thing outright, ruffle some feathers. It’s something of an overstated cliche that the World Cup unites the world but there is definitely something in it. There’s a purity to it that club football lost a long time ago.

I remember four years ago in Germany I experienced this first hand. I had been lucky enough to get a ticket for the Ghana – Czech Republic match in Cologne. A great game, one of the few upsets of the 2006 competition. I had just left the ground when I heard this commotion a few hundred yards outside the stadium. It was a load of Ghana fans celebrating. There were all banging drums, dancing and singing and generally having a bit of a party. As I got nearer I could see there were a few Czech fans there too, obviously not too disapointed by their team’s defeat. I stood back and marvelled. Gradually more and more fans joined this congregation. I could see some Argentines, a Japanese couple, some English lads, some Mexico fans. For a good twenty minutes this international gathering danced, banged and drunk deep on the shared euphoria of just being here, now, at this moment, at the greatest football tournament on earth. It was completely unscripted and impromptu and I will never forget it as long as I live.