World Cup Fever!!!

[HomeInMyShoes]

Not many outside of Uruguay are cheering for them anymore. Count me in that group. Go Colombia!

So far, despite relatively even chances and possession to Honduras, Switzerland is making good with a 2-0 lead. Not many chances finding their way to the net, but France is dominating Ecuador.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Well Switzerland 3-0 is a total win for me. :P

0-0 France and Ecuador. Not the game I pedicted for that.

So France gets Nigeria and Argentina gets Switzerland. Both quite interesting. I figure France wins and the other is close. Switzerland has looked weak on defense a bit and Argentina has plenty of pizazz up front.

[Salgueiros]

Bad game from the french on my opinion. But, given they had 4 or 5 main squad players on the bench I still think they can go far.

[Bilbo1967]

Suarez banned for nine international matches and from all football for four months. Possibly should have been longer - he's clearly a danger to other players.

[HomeInMyShoes]

I didn't expect much out of France yesterday, but still figured they would have won.

Portugal - Ghana
Well Portugal put themselves in this spot. Do they play, do they fold. They need a victory to be the best team from the Iberian peninsula this tournament. Ghana who was lucky Germany played poorly find themselves also probably out. There's almost nothing to gain and really nothing to lose, so play on I suppose. And today we learn that Ronaldo probably shouldn't have been playing injured. His substitute scores the winner.
Portugal 2 - 1

USA - Germany
Well Germany are going to up for this game. At stake is avoiding Belgium and while Algeria might not be that fun either, I don't believe Germany wants to play Belgium. Klinsmann will have the boys playing hard, but are they really that good. They were suseptible to Ghana as was Germany. I look to Mueller to have a day, score two and give Germany first place.
Germany 3 - 1

Korea Republic - Belgium
Korea gets a break in that Belgium is through and in first place to boot. Does this mean they can play well enough to win. I think probably yes.
Korea 2 - 1

Algeria - Russia
Russia needs this game, but it might not matter. Algeria has looked formidable. Does Russia have enough to do this.
Algeria 2 - 1

[Salgueiros]

I don't think Portugal will make it. We could have scored two more, but helas.

[Salgueiros]

Oh and i am sure Germany will not score a single goal today.

[Salgueiros]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

I didn't expect much out of France yesterday, but still figured they would have won.

Portugal - Ghana
Well Portugal put themselves in this spot. Do they play, do they fold. They need a victory to be the best team from the Iberian peninsula this tournament. Ghana who was lucky Germany played poorly find themselves also probably out. There's almost nothing to gain and really nothing to lose, so play on I suppose. And today we learn that Ronaldo probably shouldn't have been playing injured. His substitute scores the winner.
Portugal 2 - 1

Well done!

[HomeInMyShoes]

^Lol. Except for the Ronaldo part. Completely healthy maybe Portugal advances. Sad that such a disarrayed US team is through when they were really a late goal against Ghana away from going home. Such is football.

I'd take Croatia over Greece to have advanced, otherwise everything has been pretty much as people played. USA and Portugal were a tossup on who should advance based on play for me.

[Salgueiros]

I don't think Portugal deserved to pass, honestly. Too many injured players, and bad choices by the manager (Eder was a failure at striker, William Carvalho should have started all the games, and Veloso is not a full back, plus why play Ronald if he is not 100%?). I am glad US went through. They showed some spirit, and i am really glad to see so many americans enjoying the world cup at home.

Oh, and probably the most glaring error, Pepe in the first game. Way to shot yourself in the foot.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Well, I'm sad to say (not) that I'm going on vacation and probably won't pay attention until the semi-finals again. I know, bad planning. So here's my advance picks for the round of 16 and the quarterfinals.

Brazil - Chile
As talented as Chile has looked this is home turf. It's going to be close and I'm guessing extra time or even penalties, but the football spirits will smile on Brazil. Brazil finally starts to look like the smothering defense as advertised.
Brazil 2 - 1

Colombia - Uruguay
Well now that Suarez is out and we saw how Uruguay looked without him this should almost be a free pass for Colombia. Almost as nothing is certain.
Colombia 3-0

Netherlands - Mexico
This is going to be close. Mexico's stiffling defense will be tough for Netherlands, but their counter-attacking is first rate and enough to seal the victory.
Netherlands 2 - 1

France - Nigeria
Playing their real lineup, they look like France.
France 3 - 1

Costa Rica - Greece
Costa Rica has played well, but Greece is just that team that finds a way to do as much as they need. I wouldn't be surprised at a Greece victory and it's a shame that Costa Rica got this team to play in the round of sixteen. I see this going to penalty kicks.
Greece 1 - 0

Argentina - Switzerland
Argentina's defense has looked bad, Switzerland's defense has looked bad. This is going to be close, but I think we'll see yet another Messi moment.
Argentina 3 - 2

Germany - whomever
Clinical Germany with defense and counter-attack. It's not even close.
Germany 3 - 1

Belgium - USA
Belgium haven't looked that good and it bodes well for the USA. Except they haven't looked good because they haven't had to.
Belgium 3 - 1

Quarterfinals
Brazil - Colombia
Too bad Brazil. Colombia is devastating to the home team. Brazil looks ineffectual on offense and the defense doesn't hold up.
Colombia 3 - 0

Netherlands - Greece
Netherlands make Greece pay for too many penalties.
Netherlands 2 - 0

Argentina - Belgium
Belgium plays better defense.
Belgium 1- 0

Germany - France
What probably should have been the final in an ideal world, but it is what it is. France is the real deal.
France 2 - 1

[Bilbo1967]

I'm really pleased to see the USA go through, they actually were good to watch and I hope they go further.

[Salgueiros]

Wow, a day without football after a group stage like that seemed a bit depressing eheheh

I can't see anything other than a victory for Brazil today. 3-1.

As for Colombia Uruguay.... harder this one. Though i confess i was impressed with Colombia, i don't think Uruguay will be easy, but I still think COlombia will go through. Maybe a 2-1.

[Salgueiros]

Surprisingly entertaining this match. Didn't think Brazil would have such a hard time.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Well I did surprisingly well on the estimates for today. Although it sounds like Uruguay was tougher than expected without Suarez.