Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal has tipped one of Brazil or Argentina to win the World Cup on their home continent.
The 62-year-old, who will take charge of Manchester United at the end of the tournament, believes that history will be repeated in 2014.
"I always look at tradition, at statistics, and it appears that when the World Cup is played in South America, there has always been a South American winner," he told FIFA.com.
"In that case I think that Brazil and Argentina are most likely to succeed. And if I were to name a European country, I have to feel that it would be Spain or Germany."
The Netherlands face Spain in their opening World Cup game later today in a repeat of 2010's final.
