But after the dominance of South America, we have three European teams in the top four – and two sides who have never lifted the World Cup four. Will we have a new winner?

Football is about form – and knowing who is hot or not can go a long way to improving your betting experience.

Throughout the World Cup, Footbet will be taking the temperature of the tournament to make sure you always have your finger on the pulse…

ON FIRE

The Netherlands finally arrived at the World Cup after a classic encounter with Brazil that proved they are a unified unit with a revolutionary way of playing the game, and are justifiably favourites to lift the World Cup at the weekend. It’s far too early to say “I told you so, though” (July 5th)

HOT

Germany blew Argentina away with a powerful display of counter-attacking football. However, they play a Spain side that will be wise to the ways of counter-attacking and are a class apart from an Argentina side that looked brittle, although brilliant, during this tournament (July 5th)

Spain looked back to their best in defeating Honduras, and then the win against Portugal proved they have still got the ability to battle. There is little chance of them succumbing to Paraguay in the last eight, so it all comes down to a cracking match-up against Argentina and Germany. Definitely the easier part of the draw (June 30th)

WARM

With the elimination of Brazil and Paraguay, Uruguay become the only South American side left in the tournament. And the form of The Netherlands suggests that there will be no final for them – particularly as their best player, Luis Suarez, will miss the semi-final after a handball denied Ghana victory in the quarter-finals. Justice will be seen to be done (July 5th)

TEPID (eliminated)

Ghana can hold their heads up high after a moral victory against Uruguay. Only a severe dose of cheating denied them victory in extra-time, but this young side will be a real force in 2014 (July 5th)

NEUTRAL (eliminated)

Argentina go home after a 4-0 crushing by Germany with the thoughts of what might have been rattling around their squad. In hindsight, the quarter-finals was about right for this side, but they must gutted at being beaten so comprehensively (July 5th)

The furthest that Paraguay have ever gone, and they can be proud of their achievements – they were difficult to break down, but Spain managed it and become the only team to do so (July 5th)

COOL (eliminated)

 

Brazil showed their cynical side once too often and paid with an ignominious exit against the Dutch. Their departure will not be lamented by football purists – this is a poor rendition of the Samba nation (July 5th)

Mexico‘s ‘Golden Generation’ let themselves down against Argentina – but have a gripe in the fact that the first goal should never have been allowed (June 30th)

South Korea looked the part throughout, but it was there lack of any genuine class up front that eventually did for them in the last 16 against Uruguay. But it was their best tournament on foreign soil, which is encouraging (June 30th)

Portugal dispelled any doubts about their ability to score goals when they smashed seven against North Korea. But against a genuinely world class opposition they went back to cynical rattiness and paid the price against Spain. Not a bad tournament for them considering (June 30th)

Chile did everything they possibly could to qualify for the second stage by winning their first two matches, but they came unstuck, principally because Spain needed to win their last game to qualify. Which they did (June 30th)

What an incredibly gutsy performance by Slovakia to knock the world champions out of the World Cup. Their reward for such endeavour though was a last 16 match against The Netherlands, in which they acquitted themselves well, but ultimately succumbed (June 30th)

USA can look two two big positives from this tournament. They showed on the world stage that they are a force to be reckoned with. And their strong showing by topping England’s group has attracted the kind of support among the American people that looks like lasting. Onwards and upwards for USA. (June 30th)

Cool pretty much sums up Ivory Coast. When they were good they were very, very good. But when they were faced with anyone decent they were insipid. However, they can hold their heads up high after failing to get out of a decent group (June 30th)

COLD (eliminated)

Switzerland failed to beat a Honduras side, which eventually did for them. They never got better than their win over Spain – and that will ultimately eat at them. Still, not bad considering what they expected to happen (June 30th)

Denmark flattered to deceive and eventually went the way of most Northern European sides by going out, although the performance by Japan to eliminate them was particularly good. (June 30th)

Japan could not break down an efficient Paraguay side and eventually paid the price by becoming the first team to lose on penalties at this World Cup (June 30th)

New Zealand go home with their heads held high after finishing third in Group F – ahead of Italy – and unbeaten. Now their goal is to build on such a successful advert for the game in a rugby-playing nation (June 24th)

Slovenia can go home with their heads held high after failing to qualify for the last 16 by just three minutes (USA’s late winner). Their first effort in the finals, and a good one at that (June 24th)

Although eliminated, the hosts South Africa still have a major part to play in this tournament thanks to the crowds they must supply. This is not the time to turn off the enthusiasm tap and, nobody expects that they will. At least they beat France (June 24th)

FREEZING (eliminated)

 

An absolutely pathetic capitulation by England against Germany has left them with so many questions unanswered that it is difficult to see them recovering in the next two years, let alone in time for the 2014 tournament in Brazil (June 30th)

Honduras inevitably left the tournament without a win, but they did manage a point against Switzerland, which is an achievement considering they have part-time players in their national squad (June 30th)

Just when they thought it could not get any worse, it did for France . After their 2-1 defeat by the hosts South Africa, they now face a huge enquiry into their performance, which is likely to take up the rest of their summer holidays. Sacre bleu (June 24th)

Italy may have had a fair shout for a perfectly fair goal being ruled out, but they showed little enterprise against Slovakia – and paid the price (June 24th)

Nigeria gave it a decent shot, but the 2-2 draw against South Korea summed up their tournament – seemingly cruising for the most part, they self destructed not once, but twice. At home they are being held up as a beacon to the country’s pursuit of mediocrity through graft. Heady stuff (June 24th)

And so it came to pass: Australia kept 11 players on the pitch and won a game – 2-1 against Serbia – a decent, if frustrating end to their campaign (June 24th)

Serbia only have themselves to blame for an early exit after losing to Australia in the final game. How they managed to beat Germany and go out is a mystery (June 24th)

After fiscally devastating Europe, Greece attempted to bore Africa to death with their negative play. Will not be missed (June 24th)

Cameroon looked better against Denmark in their second game, but they are now out of the World Cup – the first team to go (June 20th)

Bottom of Group C, Algeria eventually got their comeuppance for negative tactics thanks to an 87th minute winner from USA (June 24th)

What a difference 40 minutes of football has made for North Korea . After impressing everyone with their performance against Brazil, they ran out of steam in spectacular style in the second half against Portugal to end their chances of getting into the second stage. (June 21st)