Magician picked World Cup Winner AND score and time of goal 2 weeks ago on UK TV

Magician predicted World Cup winner two weeks ago

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Wednesday, 16 July 2014

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Magician 'Dynamo'. Photo / Getty Images

Let's put things into perspective a bit.

Marking out Germany as the eventual World Cup winners isn't a feat of magical brilliance - they do have one of the strongest teams on the planet and looked threatening from the outset.

Most people's grandmothers would have made a similar call.

But Dynamo went one step further, not only predicting that the Europeans would go on to take the title, but that they'd do so with a late 113-minute goal from a young player.

The street illusionist made the forecast two weeks ago when he appeared on Sky Sports News in the UK.

He sealed his predictions in a brown envelope, announcing that he'd reappear on the show after the World Cup final to reveal just how accurate he had been.

He returned to the show yesterday morning and invited the hosts to open the envelope, which contained a CD.

Upon playing it, they learned that he had recorded that either Neymar, Messi or Ronaldo would be forced to leave the tournament due to injury.

Neymar was ruled out of the World Cup due to injury following Brazil's quarter-final clash against Colombia. Dynamo correctly guessed it would be due to a back injury.

His next guess was that a European team - either Germany or Italy - would go on to face a Latin American team in the final. He predicted that the Latin American team would be Argentina.

His last forecast was the winning goal, which he said would be the only goal of the final match.

Dynamo successfully guessed that it would be scored by a player on the pitch in extra time after 113 minutes, and that the player would be one of the youngest.

Of course, Mario Götze, the 22-year-old Bayern Munich attacking midfielder, scored the only goal in extra time.

Dynamo signed off his predictions with a telling "Auf Wiedersehen", which is a formal "Goodbye" in German.

- Independent

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Germany are crowned World Champions! Germany 1 Argentina 0 - Mario Gotze scores in extra time - pics

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13 July 2014Last updated at 21:37 GMT

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Germany were crowned world champions for the fourth time as Mario Gotze's extra-time winner beat Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.

The Germany substitute controlled Andre Schurrle's cross with his chest before volleying in with seven minutes left.

Both sides wasted chances in normal time, Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi both dragging wide.

Benedikt Howedes hit the Argentine post with a header late in the first half, but Gotze sparked German celebrations.

More to follow.

Germany's Mario Gotze became the first substitute to score the winner in a World Cup final

More than 250,000 German fans are estimated to have watched their country's win at Berlin's famous Brandenburg Gate

More than 25,000 police, soldiers and firefighters ensured there was tight security around the Maracana ahead of kick-off. Brazilian authorities said it was Rio de Janeiro's largest ever security operation

Thousands of supporters packed on to Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach to watch the match on big screens

Colombian singer Shakira - partner of Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique - performed some of her most recognisable hits at the closing ceremony ahead of kick-off

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is flanked in the Maracana stands by Russia President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Brazil's three-time World Cup winner Pele is always a target for the cameras - as are compatriot Kaka and ex-England skipper David Beckham.

Germany fans were determined to see their side win the World Cup for the fourth time - and stop Argentina triumphing in the home of Brazilian football

Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain had only scored once at the World Cup before spurning a golden opportunity in the 21st minute of the final

Napoli striker Higuain did sweep Ezequiel Lavezzi's cross into the net shortly after - but it was correctly ruled out for offside

Germany defender Benedikt Howedes headed against the post in first-half stoppage-time, ensuring five of the last seven World Cup finals have been goalless at the break

Argentina did not manage a shot on target in the opening 105 minutes, with Lionel Messi dragging a decent chance wide in the second half

Some Argentina fans inside the Maracana could barely watch the action in a tense period of extra-time

Germany 5 Brazil 0 at halftime!!!

• 
• Brazil 0-5 Germany

  Posted at38 mins

  Many teams would have taken their foot off the pedal by now - not Germany. They are all over Brazil.

  It's like watching the Australian cricket team of the late 1990s tearing into John Crawley, Graeme Hick and Dean Headley...

World Cup 2014: Who holds the balance of power in world football? - pics, article

World Cup 2014: Who holds the balance of power in world football?

Comments (522)

Brazil's World Cup has been played in the style that so many hoped for once football's showpiece was awarded to the country regarded as the home of the game's free spirits.

The last three weeks have provided a consistent narrative of fast, attacking football and excitement - exactly as the game's rulers would have imagined it when they handed the tournament to Brazil.

Even the line-up for the last eight has a balance that brings pleasure to the purists, as four teams from the Americas are complimented by a quartet from Europe - all of them group winners.

The destiny of this World Cup will be decided in the iconic surroundings of the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday week but all quarter-finalists have the opportunity to show where the balance of power lies between the two continents.

SHARE OF QUARTER-FINALISTS SINCE 1990
WORLD CUP	EUROPEAN TEAMS	AMERICAS TEAMS
1990	6	1
1994	7	1
1998	6	2
2002	4	2
2006	6	2
2010	3	4
2014	4	4

The seven World Cups held here in the Americas have failed to produce a European winner. On the flip side, Brazil are the only nation from the Americas to achieve a win on European soil - when they triumphed 5-2 in the final against hosts Sweden 56 years ago.

So for Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, France's Didier Deschamps, Germany's Joachim Low and the Belgian Marc Wilmots there is the dual opportunity to make history for their countries and exert European domination.

For the likes of Luiz Felipe Scolari, attempting to win his second World Cup with Brazil, and Argentina's Alejandro Sabella in particular, there is the chance to send Europe home empty-handed once more.

Continental shift: (Clockwise from top left) Joachim Low and Didier Deschamps are seeking a first European win in the Americas; Luiz Felipe Scolari and Alejandro Sabella aim to keep the trophy in South America

At this stage Europe has often dominated. When Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay reached the last eight in South Africa four years ago, it was the first time representation from the Americas had been so strong since the Mexico World Cup in 1970.

So a similar number here represents a continued resurgence and an advance on the dark days of 1990 and 1994 when only one nation from the Americas reached the last eight - although Brazil did what mattered in the United States and claimed the trophy against Italy on penalties.

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World Cup 2014: Germany 2-1 Algeria (aet) highlights

It was an era when the great Diego Maradona was critically on the wane for Argentina, even though they advanced to lose a desperately dull final to West Germany at Italia 90 - the South Americans showing they could still usually get one team in at the World Cup's sharp end.

The figures started to stack up a little more attractively with two teams from the Americas at this stage in 1998, 2002 and 2006 - and now we have the face-off here in Brazil.

So do these figures represent a lasting shift in the balance of power back towards the Americas, or are there just geographical forces at work?

Germany coach Low believes tournaments held in South America hold a special appeal for those born there. As he prepared for an all-European quarter-final against France, he said: "The South and Central Americans - Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica - have certainly shown that on their continent they want to show their class.

"They want to show the entire world 'this is where we're playing, this is our continent and we will do whatever is necessary to satisfy our fans and our countries'.

Colombia's James Rodriguez has been a standout player with five goals in the tournament so far

"It was no surprise that these teams performed so well. They are very strong; they are at home on this continent and you can feel that."

The continued influx of South American players into Europe since those struggles in the early 90s has bred familiarity with the style and demands, producing more rounded players and perhaps helping in the World Cup environment. The three superstars of the tournament so far - Brazil's Neymar, Lionel Messi of Argentina and the emerging Colombian James Rodriguez - ply their trades at Barcelona and Monaco respectively.

South America football writer Tim Vickery also believes the continent benefited from a change in the qualification process.

"There can be no doubt that the so-called lesser nations in South America have made dramatic strides since the introduction of the marathon World Cup qualification format in 1996," he said. "Regular competitive games and guaranteed income has allowed them to appoint good coaches and build proper sides.

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World Cup 2014: Argentina 1-0 Switzerland (aet) highlights

"The South American nations realised that the forces of globalisation take their players to Europe at an ever-earlier age. The youth sides are where they secure them for the long-term future of the national team - where talented players are identified and given a crash course in their country's footballing identity."

The South, Central and North Americans have also bought into the fast-flowing, high-tempo styles that have been a feature of this World Cup. The African sides such as Nigeria and Algeria have shown the way too.

It would be wrong to suggest defence has become a forgotten art but the most successful teams have embraced the mood of swift, counter-attacking intent.

Algeria's manager, Vahid Halilhodzic, led them out of the group stage for the first time

Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic, whose team created such a fine impression before going out to Germany in extra time in the last 16, believes the demands of the European leagues have also given the Americas an opportunity to make their mark here.

"The debacles of some European teams like Italy, Spain or even England - although for me England was not a surprise - were due to the fact they were a little bit tired," he said. "There was some saturation because their own national leagues were difficult, challenging, with a high number of matches.

"They rested for a few days but it's not enough. There was a lot of physical tiredness but also psychological - a lack of motivation I've seen in some of the European teams. For me, some players who had won a number of things and were not really willing to win here. They didn't want to make more money or really give it their all to win the World Cup."

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World Cup 2014: Netherlands 2-1 Mexico highlights

He believes this particularly applied to the dramatic decline in holders Spain, who were expected by many to fly the flag for Europe once more as they attempted to break through the South American barrier and retain the trophy.

"There was a lack of ambition," he said. "They won absolutely everything in the last decade and I think they were not willing to fight any more."

One element that has always been regarded as having a significant influence is the heat of the Americas, in particular the fierce temperature of two tournaments held in Mexico.

Former England winger Chris Waddle said: "Of course there is an advantage for players who have been brought up in hot climates, but I think with modern sports science and preparation techniques it is not as much of a factor as it was.

"I played in Mexico in 1986 and that was really hard. It was played at altitude and the temperatures were up about 35 to 40 degrees.

"In some ways we were the guinea pigs back then and now, in the modern era, you've got dieticians, sports scientists and all manner of people who give you advice on how to get the most out of your body. I think it is a more level playing field for European teams coming to places like Brazil now."

And on that level playing field in Brazil, a wonderful World Cup has delivered a straight fight for supremacy between Europe and the Americas
.

World Cup 2014: Fabio Capello unhappy as laser shone at Russian keeper during free kick that drew the game - article pics

World Cup 2014: Fabio Capello unhappy as laser shone at keeper

Russia coach Fabio Capello was unhappy a laser was shone in goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev's face during his side's World Cup game against Algeria.

Television footage showed a green laser pointed at Akinfeev as he tried to defend Yacine Brahimi's free-kick, which Islam Slimani then scored from.

Capello's World Cup record

With England in 2010

1-1 v USA, 0-0 v Algeria, 1-0 v Slovenia, 1-4 (last 16) v Germany.

With Russia in 2014

1-1 v South Korea, 0-1 v Belgium, 1-1 v Algeria

That goal saw the match end 1-1, a result that eliminated Russia.

"The goalkeeper was unable to do his job. The laser beam was in his face," said ex-England manager Capello.

"He was blinded by the laser beam. It is not an excuse. There are pictures and you can see that in the footage."

Russia, needing a win to make the knockout stages, took a sixth-minute lead through Aleksandr Kokorin, but Slimani headed in from Brahimi's 60th-minute set-piece as Algeria qualified for the last 16 for the first time.

Capello, who confronted the officials at the end of the match, has now only won one of his seven games at two World Cups.

The 68-year-old took England into the second phase, before losing 4-1 to Germany in South Africa in 2010, but drew twice and lost once as Russia failed to make it out of their group in Brazil.

Russia coach Fabio Capello confronted the match officials after the World Cup game with Algeria

Russia host the next World Cup and the Italian, who agreed a contract extension to 2018 earlier this year, has no plans to resign.

Asked whether he would stay in charge of Russia, Capello replied: "If they still want me, yes.
"

World Cup Draws 2014 and Star Players with predictions

World Cup groups

Group A

• Brazil
• Croatia
• Mexico
• Cameroon

Brazil

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari
Star man: Neymar
Tournament best: Winners 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

Success at the Confederations Cup last summer has raised hopes of a record-extending sixth World Cup triumph on home soil next summer. Scolari has previous after taking them to victory in 2002, and if Barcelona forward Neymar shines then Brazil could be about to witness the mother of all parties.

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Croatia

Coach: Niko Kovac
Star man: Mario Mandzukic
Tournament best: Third 1998

They may not be the class of '98 standard but there is enough quality within the squad with the talents of Bayern Munich's Mandzukic and Real Madrid's Luka Modric supplemented by the likes of Niko Kranjcar, Eduardo and Nikica Jelavic.

Mexico

Coach: Miguel Herrera
Star man: Javier Hernandez
Tournament best: Quarter-finals 1970, 1986

They needed the intercontinental play-offs to qualify, but routed New Zealand 9-3 on aggregate once there. A blend of seasoned veterans and emerging stars – built around the focal point of Manchester United striker Hernandez – will make Mexico a dangerous proposition in Brazil.

Cameroon

Coach: Volker Finke
Star man: Samuel Eto'o
Tournament best: Quarter-finals 1990

They may be a way off emulating the ground-breaking Cameroon side of 1990 but they remain a competitive force. Eto'o's best days are well behind him but he is still the figurehead for the side, for whom Stephane Mbia, Alex Song and Jean Makoun also play an important role.

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Group B

• Spain
• Holland
• Chile
• Australia

Spain

Coach: Vicente del Bosque
Star man: Andres Iniesta
Tournament best: Winners 2010

Having enjoyed the best spell in their country's history there is a sense that Spain are not as strong as they once were as their golden generation loses some of its lustre. However, that does not mean the depth of their talent should be underestimated as the likes of Roberto Soldado, Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and Michu have added new impetus while the quality of Iniesta, David Silva and Xavi remains.

Holland

Coach: Louis van Gaal
Star man: Robin van Persie
Tournament best: Runners-up 1974, 1978, 2010

Van Gaal made amends for his failure to lead the Oranje to the 2002 tournament with an impressive qualification campaign, but memories are still fresh of their awful showing at euro 2012. If the egos can be managed they could go far, although getting to the final again seems unlikely.

Chile

Coach: Jorge Sampaoli
Star man: Alexis Sanchez
Tournament best: Third 1962

Chile boast a good combination of experienced campaigners like Claudio Bravo, Pablo Contreras and Jorge Valdivia with exciting younger players including Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez and Fiorentina's Matias Fernandez. Demonstrated their potential by playing England off the park in a November friendly at Wembley.

Australia

Coach: Ange Postecoglou
Star man: Robbie Kruse
Tournament best: Last 16 2006

The Socceroos qualified from the Asian section but some terrible friendly results, plus a failure to truly refresh an ageing squad, cost German coach Holger Osieck his job. Getting out of the group phase may be the best they can hope for.

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Group C

• Colombia
• Greece
• Ivory Coast
• Japan

Colombia

Coach: Jose Pekerman
Star man: Radamel Falcao
Tournament best: Last 16 1990

Qualified in relative comfort and playing the finals in South America should also be an advantage to Pekerman's side. In Falcao they have a born goalscorer, allied to the creative talents of his Monaco team-mate James Rodriguez, and they will feel well capable of at least matching their best-ever World Cup performance.

Greece

Coach: Fernando Santos
Star man: Georgios Samaras
Tournament best: Group stage 1994, 2010

Goals have been a problem and so the pressure will be on the likes of Samaras and veteran Dimitris Salpingidis to deliver up front, particularly if Greece can keep things tight at the back as they have done throughout qualifying.

Ivory Coast

Coach: Sabri Lamouchi
Star man: Yaya Toure
Tournament best: Group stage 2006, 2010

The African nation possess plenty of goal threat from Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure but they have struggled to transfer that into success at major tournaments despite regularly being one of their continent's standard-bearers.

Japan

Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni
Star man: Keisuke Honda
Tournament best: Last 16 2002, 2010

Stormed to qualification in their pool and Zaccheroni has moulded them into a strong squad, but three defeats out of three at the Confederations Cup last summer leaves them open to question about their top-level credentials.

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Group D

• Uruguay
• Costa Rica
• England
• Italy

Uriguay

Coach: Oscar Washington Tabarez
Star man: Edinson Cavani
Tournament best: Winners 1930, 1950

The Copa America holders struggled to qualify, needing a play-off against Jordan to book their place after narrowly missing out on the top four of the South American qualifying section. With players like Cavani and Luis Suarez, though, they have more than enough ability to cause problems. Won the World Cup the last time it was held in Brazil, back in 1950.

Coasta Rica

Coach: Jorge Luis Pinto
Star man: Bryan Ruiz
Tournament best: Last 16 1990

Seized upon Mexico's struggles to follow the United States as the pacesetters in the CONCACAF section, but going any further than the group stage will be a lot to ask.

England

Coach: Roy Hodgson
Star man: Wayne Rooney
Tournament best: Winners 1966

England are still looking for the magic formula which will get them past the quarter-final hurdle for only the second time since they lifted the trophy on home soil. Despite concerns raised about the quality of the current squad, they topped their group without losing a game and were among the top four highest scorers in the European qualifying zone.

Italy

Coach: Cesare Prandelli
Star man: Mario Balotelli
Tournament best: Winners 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006

Prandelli's team performed well in reaching the euro 2012 final and would love nothing more than to equal Brazil's record of five World Cup successes on Brazilian soil.

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Group E

• Switzerland
• France
• Ecuador
• Honduras

Switzerland

Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld
Star man: Xherdan Shaqiri
Tournament best: Quarter-finals 1934, 1938, 1954

Hitzfeld will be one of the most experienced coaches among the 32 finalists, and he oversees a group featuring several star names from the German Bundesliga. A new generation which has impressed at under-age tournaments in recent years – spearheaded by Bayern Munich's Shaqiri – are now poised to strut their stuff at senior level. They arguably had the easiest route to qualification of all the European entrants however.

Ecuador

Coach: Reinaldo Rueda
Star man: Antonio Valencia
Tournament best: Last 16 2006

Although Ecuador lost their final qualifier to Chile, they secured automatic qualification on goal difference alone ahead of Uruguay. Their recent successes have come on the back of the emergence of players like Valencia, Cristian Noboa and Felipe Caicedo.

France

Coach: Didier Deschamps
Star man: Franck Ribery
Tournament best: Winners 1998

Scraped through qualifying after coming from 2-0 down in the first play-off leg to beat Ukraine. In Ribery they possess a world-class wide man while the likes of Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Valbuena offer additional quality in midfield.

Honduras

Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez
Star man: Wilson Palacios
Tournament best: Group stages 1982, 2010

Honduras have undergone several changes since South Africa, but pulled it all together in time to enjoy a successful qualifying campaign, finally sealing their place with a 2-2 draw against Jamaica in the final match.

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Group F

• Argentina
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Iran
• Nigeria

Argentina

Coach: Alejandro Sabella
Star man: Lionel Messi
Tournament best: Winners 1978, 1986

Barcelona superstar Messi will turn 27 during next summer's tournament and this looks his best chance to add major international glory to his glittering club successes. Plenty of other attacking options are also available to coach Sabella, but the defence might be a weak link against top-class opposition.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Coach: Safet Susic
Star man: Edin Dzeko
Tournament best: Never qualified

The nation born out of the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s is heading into uncharted territory. They will rely heavily on the Champions League experience of Manchester City striker Dzeko and midfielders Miralem Pjanic and captain Emir Spahic while in Asmir Begovic they have a top-class goalkeeper.

Iran

Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Star man: Javad Nekounam
Tournament best: Group stage 1978, 1998, 2006

Topped their qualification pool ahead of South Korea and although the side contains players like Nekounam with European pedigree, it is difficult to see them progressing beyond the groups.

Nigeria

Coach: Stephen Keshi
Star man: Victor Moses
Tournament best: Last 16 1994, 1998

Moses may only be 22 but has quickly become a key player since making his debut for the Super Eagles in 2012. Goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama provides stability from the back with Chelsea's John Obi Mikel their midfield enforcer.

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Group G

• Germany
• Portugal
• Ghana
• USA

Germany

Coach: Joachim Low
Star man: Mesut Özil
Tournament best: Winners 1954, 1974, 1990 (all as West Germany)

Arguably Europe's best hope of bringing the trophy back from South America. Low's side is littered with players steeped in top-level experience and this may be the time for Mesut Özil, Thomas Muller, Schweinsteiger et al to make the final step at international level.

Portugal

Coach: Paulo Bento
Star man: Cristiano Ronaldo
Tournament best: Third 1966

In Ronaldo Portugal possess a player worthy of gracing the game's biggest stage but therein lies their problem as they rely so heavily on the Real Madrid forward's unquestionable star quality. Frequently unstoppable but when the world's best defenders can isolate him he has few team-mates who can make the difference.

Ghana

Coach: James Kwesi Appiah
Star man: Asamoah Gyan
Tournament best: Quarter-finals 2010

Ghana have often been the standard-bearers for African football and their controversial heartbreaking last-eight exit on their home continent at the last World Cup prevented them making history. Captain Gyan provided most of the goals in qualifying but midfielder Michael Essien, despite his injury problems, remains a pivotal player while the likes of Kevin-Prince Boateng, Sulley Muntari and Andre Ayew provide considerable experience.

United States

Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
Star man: Clint Dempsey
Tournament best: Third 1930

Klinsmann struggled initially to make his mark but his team ultimately qualified with comparative comfort. Reaching the quarter-finals looks like a realistic goal.

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Group H

• Belgium
• Algeria
• Russia
• South Korea

Belgium

Coach: Marc Wilmots
Star man: Eden Hazard
Tournament best: Fourth 1986

Back at the finals over a decade since their last appearance, Wilmots presides over a highly capable generation of players who could go far in Brazil.

Algeria

Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic
Star man: Madjid Bougherra
Tournament best: Group stages 1982, 1986, 2010

Scraped through qualifying on away goals against Burkina Faso, who have never made it to a World Cup, and are likely to struggle in Brazil having had a poor showing at the African Nations Cup.

Russia

Coach: Fabio Capello
Star man: Alexander Kokorin
Tournament best: Fourth 1966 (as the USSR)

Russia's recent World Cup record is a story of failure but Brazil offers the 2018 hosts the chance to start redressing the balance. Having missed three of the last four tournaments and not progressed beyond the group stage since 1986, topping Group F ahead of Portugal suggests things may be about to improve with the promise offered by 22-year-old forward Kokorin backed by the experience of the likes of goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and striker Alexander Kerzhakov.

South Korea

Coach: Hong Myung-bo
Star man: Son Heung-min
Tournament best: Fourth 2002

The Koreans hope that 2002 captain Hong can inspire the current crop, but an appearance in the last 16 might be the best they can achieve.