Tim Lovejoy - Final day drama is all but guaranteed

07 May 2010 - 11:34:49

As we head into the final weekend of the Premier League the title is still up for grabs and it's impossible to predict what will happen.

From a personal perspective I stand on the verge of a notable victory. The title of New Football Pools prediction league champion is within grasp. I hold a narrow one-point lead over Alan Hansen heading into the final round of matches, with Tony Cascarino third.

But I'm not celebrating yet. Football has proved again this season that it's just far too complex, far too tactical, to predict.

Who'd have thought Portsmouth would be in the FA Cup final? Who'd have predicted Liverpool dropping off the pace and missing out on the Champions League? Who'd have seen Inter and Bayern Munich in the Champions League final?

But that's what makes football so addictive. And that's what keeps us guessing heading into the final day of the Premier League season. All I can say is 'come on Chelsea' and 'come on Stoke'.

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A few weeks ago I talked about the possibility of a player completing the 'Holy Grail' by winning the Champions League, a domestic title and the World Cup in the same season.

Arjen Robben and Wesley Schneijder both have a chance. The Dutch are dark horses at the World Cup, and with Bayern and Inter set to go head-to-head in the Champions League final, it just might happen.

Franck Ribery is also an outside bet. France aren't fancied in South Africa, but it's not beyond them if they catch fire.

The favourites to do it have to be Lucio and Maicon however, Inter stars who will both be part of the Brazil squad this summer.

But the smart money is perhaps on Bayern's German element, which includes Phillip Lahm. Who'd put it past them to emulate Franz Beckenbauer and co, who won the German title, the European Cup and the World Cup with West Germany in 1974.