STEVEOCN

The defending champion beat Michael van Gerwen twelve months ago to become the world champion at the age of 17. I fancy he returns to the Ally Pally stage very much the man everyone has to beat. The Nuke has reached the final the last two years in London, and I am siding with Luke Littler becoming a two-time world champion.

With the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as the new Brazilian coach I fancy the Samba Boys will come good in time for this FIFA World Cup. The five times winners lifted the trophy in 1994 when it was last hosted in USA and I can see a much different Brazil under the managerial leadership of the Italian. Raphinha and Vinicius Jr can spearhead the Brazilians to World Cup glory, I am siding with a sixth World Cup for the South Americans.

Nobody has won more World Cup tournaments than Brazil, who have five. The last time the United States hosted the finals, it was the Brazilians who beat Italy in the final. Carlo Ancelotti is the coach leading the South Americans now, and with Vinicius Jr and Raphinha on the wings, I fancy Brazil will peak at this World Cup to reach an eighth final and win it for a sixth time.

The Dutch reached the World Cup Final in 2010, losing out to Spain in extra time at Soccer City in Johannesburg. They were beaten semi-finalists in the last European Championships. With such a talented squad, I fancy the Netherlands will be a stronger unit two years on, and I am siding with Holland going all the way to the final.