What are the economic implications of the World Cup? Is it overrated? The British Center for Economics and Business Research estimates that the World Cup will provide a consumption boost worth $25 billionmost of it netted by Europe. Goldman Sachs published a guide of World Cup nations and history, tipping the now-defeated Brazilians to take home their sixth title. And Dutch bank ABN-AMBRO argues that the best outcome for the global economy would be a European final where Italy beats Germany. That won’t happen of course, but it will be an all-European final, one of the criteria for a positive tournament from an economic perspective. “Leaving aside the fact that many economists who are soccer fans will use any excuse to bring soccer into their work, we are convinced that soccer has an impact on the economy,” said Ruben van Leeuwen and Charles Kalshoven, ABN AMRO’s research duo. Their premise is that the U.S. economy will crash due to the fact that it cannot keep spending more than it can afford, which means that Europe’s larger economies need to become bigger spenders to pick up the slack. As hosts, Germany’s huge but long-dormant economy will gain directly from investment in stadiums and infrastructure, tourism and a month of international publicity. A World Cup victory might give Italy’s depressing economic situation the jolt it needs, urging consumers to spend more. For both countries, pessimism and an unwillingness to spend have hampered economic growth for several years.