The Friday night meeting of Italy and Ukraine in Hamburg will have Walter in the audience and, having ended last season in an upbeat mood with the Kirin Cup win in Japan, should us Scots hope both teams produce a dreadful match to give us hope for the future? I think not. Both squads will be dramatically overhauled after the World Cup so I hope Walter paid close attention to the efforts of both nations in the recent UEFA Under-21 Championship in Portugal where Ukraine ultimately finished runners-up to Holland.
For this weekend's clash, both teams can regard themselves as somewhat fortunate to be there. The Italians robbed the Aussies by virtue of the nonsensical award of an injury time penalty, while Ukraine and Switzerland contrived to bore the arse off the entire world before settling the issue on penalties. Here's hoping both decide to have a go, set out to win the match by virtue of their own talents, instead of running scared of their opponents' abilities.
Earlier in the competition I said I fancied the Ukrainians the take a major scalp before their World Cup is over. Having just left Milan for Chelsea, my money is on Andriy Shevchenko to deliver a telling parting shot to the Italians.
The quarter-finals programme kicks off in the afternoon with a humdinger of a game in Berlin, Germany v Argentina. I'm already on record as tipping the Germans to win the trophy and victory in this one will confirm that I know what I'm talking about. I fancy this to be a real ding-dong tussle, I think there will be a few goals, with maybe Germany winning 3-2 in extra-time.
Saturday's shift (with considerable counterattractions! promises to be no less exciting, with my mates South of the border no doubt interrupting my beauty sleep to enlist my support for their team. Maybe I'll be a dirty stop-out on Friday night. My worries about this game kicked off last Sunday night when a balloon of a referee set out to leave both Portugal and Holland facing an overdose of suspensions. Coutinho and Deco will be big losses for Portugal and, as the tournament progresses, I fear that the possibility of an English triumph is growing ever more likely. Big Phil Scolari can help me sleep better if he completes a hat-trick of major triumphs over England.
The meeting of France and Brazil is the one that really touches the spot for me. Just last week I watched a tape of the 1986 quarter-final between them in Mexico, when the French won on penalties after a 1-1 draw. It was a classic match, neither deserved to lose it, and I feel this weekend's game has all the ingredients for an all-action replay.
Where Brazil had Careca, Socrates and Zico, they now have Ronaldo, Kaka and Ronaldinho, while the French have Vieira, Zidane and Henry in the starring roles once filled by Tigana. Platini and Rocheteau. Saturday's festivities have me unsure of my plans for the England game but, no matter what temptations come my way when out for a wee walk, I'll be in front of a telly for the main match.
Now that Zidane is looking interested again, the French might make it difficult for Brazil but I'm backing the South Americans to avenge the disappointment if Guadalajara 20 years ago. And for what its worth, I see them being joined by Germany, Ukraine and England (spit!) in the semis.
LITTLE BOY BLUE