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EVERTON: MIKEL'S WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS

/noticias.info/ Had injury not marred the final two months of the Premiership campaign for Mikel Arteta, then Everton's Player of the Season could well have been watching the drama unfold in Germany from inside the Spanish camp.

Instead, the playmaker's hopes of making a late charge into the Spain squad were dashed by a succession of niggling injuries that restricted him to just three appearances in the final two months of the season.

Spain coach Luis Aragones was at Anfield in March to watch the derby but a back problem sustained in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa a week earlier ruled out Arteta.

His chance of impressing the national coach may have slipped through his fingers that day, but at the age of 24 time is on his side to translate his undoubted talent onto the international stage.

A guest at Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina's wedding last weekend, talk of Germany was sure to have been top of the agenda for the many players in attendance.

Brazil have, not surprisingly, emerged as the favourites to lift the famous trophy at the final in Berlin later this summer.

Arteta, however, believes the men in yellow will miss out to their South American neighbours.

In the latest in our World Cup predictions series Arteta has told evertonfc.com he expects Argentina to win the World Cup.

"I want to be a little different because everybody is saying Brazil," he explained.

Argentina have not lifted the Cup since their Maradona-inspired success over West Germany at Mexico 86. But Arteta believes the creative influence of Juan Riquelme, the key player in Villarreal's Champions League victory over Everton, coupled with the wealth of attacking options available to Argentina make them the smart choice for the competition.

But whilst Arteta admires the qualities on show in the Argentina team, he suspects the star performer will be from another country.

Arteta played alongside Ronaldinho during his time at Paris Saint Germain prior to his move to Glasgow Rangers.

He has a great deal of admiration for the World Footballer of the Year.

He told evertonfc.com earlier this season: "He was a very good player at Paris but wasn't the finished article. Since he has moved to Barcelona he has become unbelievable. His skills are superb." notas_de_prensa_archivo