2014 FIFA World Cup: Recap and Final Thoughts

As fast as the World Cup came upon us, it's now all over and I feel like crying. Well, maybe I'm not quite THAT sad, but this edition of the World Cup is one of the best...ever. It tied the 1998 World Cup for most total goals, 171 (though the record for most goals per match is 5.38! This happened all the way back in 1954. There were much less games back then). A record 32 goals were scored by substitutes, including the game winning goal in the Final (which I managed  to correctly predict). Germany also became the first European team to win a World Cup in the Americas. Europe has now won the last three World Cups, marking the first time any confederation has won three in a row (and a good chance for 4 since the next World Cup is in Russia). Overall, it was mostly a very entertaining month of soccer, and in my opinion Brazil did not disappoint as host nation.

Now about the final...It was actually a lot better than the scoreline suggests. I actually thought Argentina created the better chances in the first 90 minutes. Gonzalo Higuain's miss on a breakaway in the first half, and then his offside goal highlighted what could've been for Argentina. Even in extra time Argentina had a great chance that Rodrigo Palacio (the man with the rat tail) squandered. In hindsight, trying to chip a goalie like Manuel Neuer is usually ill advised, especially when side footing the ball into the corner was clearly the better choice. Let's not take anything away from Germany though, they were the best team throughout this tournament. Mario Goetze's elegant goal punctuated that. If you think about it, Algeria came closest to knocking Germany out, and may very well have if not for Manuel Neuer's heroics. Finally, after coming so close in the last three World Cups, Germany stands alone as the World Champion. 

My top 3 favorite moments (in no particular order)

1. The United States getting out of the group

Even though the U.S. suffered defeat in the first knockout round, they managed to get out of the toughest group at the World Cup. John Brooks' goal against Ghana was especially awesome, given both teams knew they had to win that game if they wanted to progress. The game against Portugal was one of the best performances I've seen in recent years from this side, and they fully deserved to win. The game against Germany wasn't a particularly great outing, but the U.S. knew they didn't have to win. Overall, the goal before the tournament started was to get out of the group. That goal was achieved, meaning Jurgen Klinsmann is (thankfully) going no where.

2. The Round of 16

Five of the eight games went to extra time, two went all the way to penalties. The Round of 16 was the closest any team came to beating Germany in the knockout rounds. It was also then that Brazil got yet another huge scare, this time from a resilient Chile side. The U.S. said goodbye to the tournament, but had a golden chance to equalize in extra time after going behind by 2. We saw more magic from Lionel Messi, who assisted Angel di Maria's goal in the 117th minute. A fun to watch Mexican side was denied first by Wesley Sneijder's equalizer and then by an extremely controversial refereeing decision. Costa Rica became the only CONCACAF team to progress past the round of 16. And finally we saw James Rodriguez take control of the golden boot race. 

3. The Rise of Colombia and James Rodriguez

As an AS Monaco fan, I know how good Rodriguez is. However, I didn't think he'd embrace the stage so much and lead his country to the quarterfinals. Assuming he stays at Monaco, we'll have the pleasure of seeing him play in the Champions League this year. I wonder what could have been had Radamel Falcao been fit for Colombia. Though Rodriguez was the cog in the machine, Colombia won their games as a team. Juan Cuadrado may be on his way to a big club after a great showing, and overall the Colombians can be very proud of what they achieved. I think they respected Brazil a little too much, and had they attacked them earlier on in the game, could've won that game. Still, they captured the hearts of many.

Low Points

1. Luis Suarez bite (again)

I seriously can't believe this happened again. For the third time in his career Suarez bit an opponent, which launched massive memes, gifs, pictures, etc of Suarez, portraying him as a cannibal. As a player, Suarez is currently the best striker in the world, but he has mental problems. For a guy that has so much money, you would think he could get the world's best psychologist/psychiatrist to help him. Suarez completed a massive 75 million pound move to Barcelona, but he's suspended until late October. I've always been a huge Suarez fan because he's extremely passionate and talented. I sincerely hope someone can help him, because it's sad to see all of this happen

2. Brazil getting embarassed

Usually when you get to a semi-final in a World Cup, your country sees it as a success. Not in Brazil though. Brazilians expect their team to win every single time, which is why the semi-final destruction by Germany hurts so bad. Many have called it the worst loss in the history of the World Cup. I don't want to beat a dead horse, but the writing was on the wall though, from the very first game. I'm also puzzled as to why anyone would pay 50 million pounds to buy David Luiz (which PSG did earlier this summer). He made so many mistakes, and is a defensive liability. To be fair he wasn't the only one, the entire defense (including the usually reliable Thiago Silva) was abysmal for most of the tournament. Clearly Brazil couldn't shake off the semi-final defeat as the Netherlands easily beat them in a third place game that was supposed to help a nation forget. Instead, the wounds were just re-opened.

3. Flopping and referees falling for it

Many people have said for a long time now that something has to be done to address the issue of simulation, and this World Cup just confirms that. Fred's awful flop in the very first game was the only reason Brazil won. Arjen Robben's against Mexico might've been even worse. If you're a ref in the World Cup knockout rounds, and you make a call like that in stoppage time of a tie game, you better be 1000% sure it wasn't a foul. Given Robben's reputation, I can't believe that PK was given. Holland probably deserved to win the game, but that's not the point here. Then, in the third place game, Oscar was actually taken down, and instead of giving the penalty, the ref booked Oscar for diving. Overall, the refereeing as a whole was mediocre.  A few things have to be done: 1. fines for diving (like in the NBA) have to be implemented. Every time you get fined, the sum goes up too. I can guarantee that will help solve the problem. 2. Referees need to be constantly educated about diving and how to tell it apart. Yes, some players (Robben, Sergio Busquets, Mario Ballotelli) are very good at simulation, but if you start fining them and educating the refs, diving will go down. Also, pardon the elitism, but did they really have a ref from Algeria doing the third place game? This is the World Cup. Referees that aren't normally reffing in big leagues in Europe and South America should be carefully examined. At the World's premier sporting event, it only makes sense to have the very best referees. It's no time for PR and political correctness (which FIFA seemingly doesn't get).

4. The end of the Spain Golden Age

After winning three straight major tournaments, the Spanish dynasty crumbled courtesy of Holland and Chile. Give credit to Spain though, no team before them has ever won three tournaments in a row, and we may well have had the privilege to watch the best team ever assembled. However, the players in this tournament were considerably older, and teams began to figure out how to beat the Tiki-Taka. I'm not ready to condemn the system yet though. I want to see if the next generation can play Tiki-Taka and get the Spanish back to the top. Iker Casillas was poor in this World Cup, and Jose Mourinho now looks like a genius for benching him two seasons ago at Real Madrid. Fortunately, Spain have David de Gea to take his place. Expect to see a drastically different Spanish team when qualifying for Euro 2016 starts in September.


All in all, this goes down as my second favorite World Cup, behind only the 2006 edition. There were plenty of goals, plenty of drama, and fantastic games. A month of nothing but soccer is over, but hopefully you'll watch the English Premier League this coming fall (most of the games are on NBC networks every weekend). I also encourage you to watch the UEFA Champions League (basically the best teams in Europe playing one another. Those games fall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and can be seen on Fox networks). In just one more month, the club season begins, and soccer will once again be on TV. The next major tournament is the Copa America (South American championship) which is next summer. Then in 2016, France will host the European championship before Russia hosts the next World Cup in 2018. My next blog post will highlight some of the big transfers this summer, as well as my predictions for the major European leagues.

As always thanks for reading.

Adam Bakiera
@abakiera 

2014 FIFA World Cup: The Medal Round

Almost a month since the World Cup kicked off, and we're down to the final weekend. I can't move on before I address the Brazil game. No one could say they saw THAT coming. Sure, Germany winning isn't that much of a shock, I know I picked Brazil, but it's not like I said Germany had no chance. Many are saying that is the most embarrassing loss in the history of the entire World Cup. I've only seen four World Cups, and it's definitely the worst I've ever seen. My father, who has watched 10 World Cups, says this is the worst Brazil team he's ever seen. There are no words that can describe it...to be down 0-5 within 30 minutes on your home soil. The writing was on the wall though. You can make a very good case that Brazil didn't deserve to win games against Croatia, Chile, and Colombia. Neymar was a big loss for this game, but Thiago Silva's was even worse. The defense had absolutely zero organization and leadership. Let's be clear about something though: this is a game that happens once in a lifetime, we likely won't see a game like that again. Some people have asked me what a good comparison is, because the casual soccer fan has no idea how terrible this loss really is. The best I could come up with is LSU/Auburn beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa by 6 touchdowns in the college playoff this year (I know Tuscaloosa can't host a semi-final but that's the direct comparison). In contrast, the second semi-final may have been the most boring game of the World Cup thus far. There really weren't any clear cut chances for 120 minutes, and Argentina goalie Sergio Romero stepped up in the shootout. Even though the Netherlands lost, they shut down Lionel Messi, something the Germans will surely look at. Argentina booked their place in the final, and if you think Brazil losing is bad, you have no idea how much it would hurt Brazilians if Argentina lifted the trophy at the Maracana on Sunday.
I predicted 1 out of 2 semi-final games correctly, here are my final predictions for this year's World Cup.

Third Place Game: Brazil vs. Netherlands

The big question here is how much pride do the Brazilians have left? They get Thiago Silva back so there should be much more organization on defense, but there still isn't anyone that can score goals. It definitely won't be the same as winning the title, but winning this game will restore just a glimmer of pride for the world's most successful soccer team. In my eyes, the Netherlands have already overachieved. I never thought a team with such an inexperienced back line could go this far (watch out for this team in Euro 2016). Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, and Robin Van Persie were ineffective in the semi-final, and don't be surprised if coach Van Gaal shuffles his lineup for this game. Traditionally, third place games have more goals because both teams play with considerably less pressure. This one is really hard to call though because no one knows how much the destruction in the semi-final will affect Brazil. I incorrectly thought the emotion of playing for Neymar would lift Brazil past Germany. Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari may also shuffle his lineup, giving guys that haven't played a chance to show what they've got. Also, Arjen Robben's comments after the semi-final (calling the 3rd place match useless) seem to point this game means more to Brazil.

Prediction: Brazil 2 Netherlands 1 

The Final: Germany vs. Argentina

This is the game everyone is waiting for. Don't be surprised if this final shatters the record for most viewers of a television event. If you expect Germany to roll Argentina like they did Brazil, you're dead wrong. For one, Argentina is yet to allow a goal in the knockout rounds. Germany's biggest concern will be stopping Lionel Messi, and they have the players to do it. Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger will likely track Messi with others helping out depending on where on the field Messi is. As far as individual match-ups, Argentina's biggest task is stopping Thomas Mueller, who seems to pop up and score timely goals in every game. But don't be fooled, soccer is a team game, and it will take team efforts from both of these countries. People point out that Argentina's defense is the weak link, but as a team, they've played good defense in every game this tournament besides the Nigeria game in the group stages. Also, Germany's biggest weakness in the last few major tournaments is their mental strength. As a relatively young team, they may be a little overconfident after trashing Brazil. At the same time, Germany is the best team overall in this tournament, so as long as they don't suffer from mental lapses, they'll be the favorite to win. I think this game all depends on Argentina's approach. If I were coach Alejandro Sabella, I would sit back a little bit (sort of like what Algeria did, but not as defensive), and then try to hit on the counter with Messi, Lavezzi, and Aguero. Argentina will also play more physical than Brazil, and they may foul often to break up the German passing game. However, fouling too close to the goal may be costly, as Germany has a clear height advantage and Toni Kroos plays delicious crosses from set pieces. I expect a game similar to the last World Cup final: tense, low scoring, and physical. Who will win the World Cup: the team that's come so close or the best player in the world?

Prediction: I'm rooting for Argentina but I think Germany will take it Germany 1 Argentina 0 (after extra time)  

2014 FIFA World Cup: The Final Four

Four games remain at this year's World Cup: two semi-finals, a third place game, and of course, the final itself. During the quarterfinal stage, the clock finally struck midnight for Cinderella team Costa Rica. The Ticos did everything in their power to get the game to a shootout, and even had a great chance to win the game with about 3 minutes left in extra time. The Dutch were all over them though, hitting three posts and creating countless chances. In the end, the better team certainly won. Costa Rica got further than both the United States and Mexico, something I doubt any expert predicted. Then there was France and Belgium, two teams that were under most people's radars. Both disappointed in their quarterfinal matches. France looked like they didn't care that they were losing to Germany and Belgium didn't play with enough urgency either. Neither team really pushed men forward at the end. If you're playing in the final 8 of a World Cup, and are trailing with less than 5 minutes to go, you should be throwing all but one person into the attacking third of the field. Then there was the most entertaining game of the quarterfinals, one that may have ended both teams' dreams. Sure, Brazil beat Colombia, but they lost two very important players. Thiago Silva's yellow card was quite possibly the stupidest one of this tournament. He knows he can't get one, and he decides to run in front of the goalie when he's punting the ball. That's something you may expect from an 18 year old making his World Cup debut, not an experienced veteran like Silva. Then, late on in the game, Camillo Zuniga charged into the back of Neymar. Even on replay the foul itself doesn't look THAT bad, but it still deserved a yellow card. You knew the injury was serious when Neymar was taken off in tears. The verdict? A fractured vertebra, ending the star player's World Cup. Neymar should be considered lucky though, doctors said if the injury was just a few centimeters higher, he could have been paralyzed. They expect about 45-60 days of recovery time, meaning he will be ready to play for Barcelona right around the start of the season. Colombia also didn't look very threatening until they went down by two goals. You have to wonder where that urgency was for the rest of the game. James Rodriguez still got on the score sheet, but didn't play nearly as well as other games. He left the field in tears, consoled by Brazilian players. Many critics blame the referee for Neymar's injury, and I have to agree with them. The ref should not have been from Europe, as weird as that sounds. I've watched many South American qualifying games and Copa America games, teams from this part of the world play a very scrappy type of soccer. It's common for at least one team to get a red card, and there probably should've been one in this game as well. By refusing to card players, the Spanish referee allowed the players to get away with cynical fouls time and time again. Maybe if Zuniga was already on a yellow card, he wouldn't have gone in on Neymar like he did...
I correctly predicted 3 of 4 games in the quarterfinals, let's talk about the two semifinal match-ups.

The Semi-Finals

Brazil vs. Germany

The rematch of the 2002 final, where Brazil won 2-0. Surprisingly, that is the only competitive meeting between these two powerhouses. Germany is the first team in the history of the World Cup to make 4 straight semi-finals. A very impressive feat, but they haven't won the title in the previous three. Mats Hummels came back just in time, and the while the Germans didn't play a show stopping game against France, they played fundamentally sound team defense and easily took care of business. Brazil is definitely weakened, but make no mistake, the pressure on them isn't going down. Without Neymar, someone else needs to step up in his role, though no one can replace him. Bernard or Willian will likely play in Neymar's place. Bayern Munich centre-back Dante will likely fill in for Thiago Silva. Brazil's biggest issue (aside from not having Neymar) is the lack of goal scoring from their strikers. Fred and Jo were both awesome in the Confederations Cup a year ago, but have both been poor in this World Cup. I believe this game will be won in the midfield, where both teams have mountains of talent. Don't underestimate the emotional boost these players will get, as they try to win the cup for Neymar. Emotion is a very powerful tool, especially when you're playing at home. If there was ever a time for Germany to break their habit of choking at this stage of the World Cup, this is it. Make no mistake, this will NOT be a German blowout like some people are suggesting. I picked Brazil before the tournament started, and I think the emotional boost they get in this game will be just enough to see them through.

Prediction: Brazil 2 Germany 1 (after extra time)

Argentina vs. Netherlands

This semi-final should be just as exciting as the first, as both of these teams are soccer powerhouses. Lionel Messi continues to shine for Argentina. The only goal in their 1-0 win over Belgium saw 4 defenders crowd Messi, which opened up space for others. Argentina loses Angel di Maria to injury, but Sergio Aguero is fit after missing the last few games. The big question for Argentina is who marks Arjen Robben. If I'm Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella, I stick Pablo Zabaleta on him, and then instruct my team to double him up when he starts his runs. Of course they have to be careful, Robben is very good at "selling" fouls. The Netherlands' chief concern will be stopping Messi. Nigel de Jong would be a good person to put on him, but he's out for the rest of the tournament. The Dutch will have to rely on solid team defense to attempt to stop Messi (attempt being the key word). Robin van Persie has also struggled in the knockout rounds, and while it's unlikely he gets benched, Klass-Jan Huntelaar may be inserted if the Dutch fall behind. Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben have been key to the Dutch success and they need to continue carrying this team. The Dutch have yet to face a team with so much attacking prowess, and I think their inexperienced defense will struggle to contain Messi, Aguero, Higuain, etc.

Prediction: Argentina 3 Netherlands 2

Follow me on twitter @abakiera for World Cup updates and my opinions on the games

Adam Bakiera

2014 FIFA World Cup: Quarterfinal Predictions

As we enter the final days of the World Cup, we say goodbye to the last two African teams. I was very impressed with Algeria though, and if not for the excellent positioning and decisions by Manuel Neuer, the Desert Foxes may have beaten Germany. The United States also depart Brazil after a hard fought game against Belgium. I've never been a fan of Chris Wondolowski, and was puzzled by his appearance in this game. It has to be said, Michael Bradley did not play nearly up to his standards. Still, getting out of the group was the goal before the tournament started, that goal was achieved. We also say goodbye to Mexico, who valiantly fought off the Netherlands for 88 minutes before Wesley Sneijder equalized. Then another very controversial decision as Arjen Robben went down inside the box in stoppage time. The penalty was converted and just like that Mexico were out. Such a shame, I've been watching Robben dive for years in the Bundesliga, and he even admitted after the game that he dove. FIFA absolutely needs to address this issue because too many games are being decided by flops. Sokratis Papastathopoulos's equalizer for Greece also matched the number of goals scored in the entire 2010 tournament. Basically what this means is we're watching one of the most entertaining tournaments in recent memory...and we're only at the quarterfinals. This is also a wide open of a World Cup that I can remember...Literally any of the final 8 teams can win it (and probably believe so). I managed to predict 6 out of 8 matchups with 1 correct scoreline in the round of 16.

Brazil vs. Colombia

Brazil played their best half of soccer so far in the first half against Chile, but one lapse in concentration meant it was all for nothing. For the remaining part of the game, they looked unconvincing and even shaky in defense. Chile had the better chances, including Mauricio Pinilla hitting the crossbar with 2 minutes left in extra time. Brazil has been flirting with danger and Colombia have the capability to finish them off. Los Cafateros (as Colombia is nicknamed) are in my opinion the most dominant team so far. They're better than Chile, and Chile pushed Brazil to the brink of elimination. James Rodriguez currently leads all scorers with 5 goals, he'll need to continue his excellent play. Everyone keeps waiting for Brazil to revive their form of last years Confederation's Cup, and they absolutely have to do it in this game. I believe Colombia will end Brazil's campaign because they have the pace to challenge Brazil's defense, which looks average at best. Look for Juan Cuadrado to exploit Brazil.

Prediction: Brazil 1 Colombia 2

Germany vs. France

Germany were also somewhat fortunate to get past their round of 16 opponents, a very pesky Algeria side. Joachim Loew made a great substitution bringing on Andre Schuerlle, who gave the Germans more pace. Still, that was the worst I've seen Germany play in quite some time. Enough can't be said about Manuel Neuer's performance, he's likely the best goalie in the world right now. I also think Germany may have underestimated their opponents, something unlikely to happen in this match. France is quietly putting together a very nice World Cup. They were never really threatened by Nigeria, even when they took a fairly late lead. I'm really starting to like Mathieu Valbuena. One of the shortest players in the tournament, Valbuena is quick, intelligent, and decisive. If the French want to pull the upset they should look at what Algeria did...Clog the midfield and look to exploit Per Mertesacker on the counter attack. France have the capability to pull of the upset, but I think Germany won't underestimate them like they did Algeria.

Prediction: Germany 2 France 1 (after extra time)

Netherlands vs. Costa Rica

Costa Rica are the darlings of this tournament, there's no doubt about it. I don't think there's any expert out there that picked the Ticos to be in the final 8 (I didn't think they'd get a single point). I thought when Sokratis equalized for the Greeks, they would continue their luck that's seemingly never ending since 2004, but Costa Rica hung on valiantly with 10 men. They then executed the shootout to perfection. The Netherlands turned defeat into victory against Mexico, perhaps a little fortunately. They dominated the game after going down, so it's not like they didn't deserve the win. They'll likely have the ball for the majority of this game, and I doubt they take Costa Rica lightly. Costa Rica will have to find a way to stop Arjen Robben (preferably before the penalty area). The Dutch will have to be patient to break down this Costa Rica side, and have to be weary of the counter attack. On paper, this looks like a cakewalk for Holland, but so did the Australia match. Costa Rica has already exceeded expectations, and I think their miracle run ends here.

Prediction: Netherlands 2 Costa Rica 0

Belgium vs. Argentina

Belgium still haven't looked that convincing this tournament, but they're finding ways to win, which at this point of the tournament is perfectly ok. Normally, Argentina would be a massive favorite, but they also (aside from Lionel Messi) haven't shown anything special. However, the name in those parentheses makes a world of difference. Messi is enjoying an excellent World Cup so far, as he set up the only goal of the game against a tough Switzerland side. Belgium and Switzerland are actually pretty similar teams, with Belgium having a little more talent, and plenty of depth. It's this depth that may be the key here because this game has extra time and penalties written all over it. Vincent Kompany will likely have the task of stopping Messi, and Belgium lack a defensive midfielder that could help with that. They have plenty of quality in the midfield though, and will need Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens to play at a high level. The key in this game is the first goal: if Belgium score first I really like their chances because they'll likely put two or three guys on Messi and dare the rest of the team to try and break down the rest of the defense. If Argentina scores first, Belgium will eventually have to chase the game, leaving themselves open for counters. Not much separates these sides though.

Prediction: Belgium 1 Argentina 1 (Argentina wins on penalties)


For up to the minute updates (and my opinions) on the World Cup, follow me on twitter @abakiera

Adam Bakiera

 

2014 FIFA World Cup: Group Stage Recap and Round of 16 Predictions

Welcome back! I know it's been a while since I last posted, but I wanted to make sure the group stage of this year's World Cup was over. So far the competition has been MUCH better than the 2010 edition, a lot of that has to do with goals. In the group stage, 133 goals were scored, the most since 1970. Of those, 24 were scored by substitutes, which is already a World Cup record. Before I give you an analysis of the round of 16, I'll review some of the main headlines from the group stages.

The Stars Came to Play

If you look at the top goal scorers so far you see a three way tie for the Golden Boot. Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Thomas Mueller are the three players. Messi has finally shown up for his country this World Cup, and without him Argentina would not have won all three games. Brazil would probably not have won their group without Neymar's goals. Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, and James Rodriguez have scored 3 goals, each are considered star players for their respective teams. Cristiano Ronaldo only scored once, but he had a gorgeous cross against the U.S. that kept Portugal alive. Before the unfortunate biting incident, Luis Suarez single handily led Uruguay past England. It's been amazing to watch the best players in the world thrive on the biggest stage.

The Rise of the Underdogs

Thirteen European teams entered the tournament, only 6 remain. Four CONCACAF teams entered, three of them got out of the group. Many people (including myself) had no African teams getting past the group stages, for the first time ever, there are two. Many of these teams have proven that good coaching, good tactics, team chemistry, and style of play can make up for a lack of star players. Costa Rica is the best example. The Ticos use a high pressure, counter attacking style that surprised both Italy and Uruguay. To me it also looks like Costa Rica have better conditioned players. The United States were also not expected to get out of the group of death. They were lucky to beat Ghana, but played very well against Portugal. Algeria may be the biggest surprise to advance. Sure, they had a weak group, but they also pushed Belgium to the limit. They became the first African team to score 4 goals in a World Cup against South Korea, and fought back valiantly to tie Russia.

Traditional Powerhouses Underperforming

Spain, Italy, England, Portugal, Ghana. These countries have all made it to a quarterfinal in recent World Cups, and all of these countries exit this year's tournament at the group stage. The collapse of Spain is most noteworthy,  as many had La Furia Roja going very far in the tournament. Some think that Tiki-Taka is not dead, but just needs new players. I think teams have figured out how to play against that type of soccer. Still, the Golden Age of Spain included two European Championships and World Cup, three major tournaments in a row. I'm not surprised England is going home, but I am surprised at how poor they played. Ghana actually didn't play that bad, but they had lapses in concentration that ended up being their downfall. Even some of the better teams that did make it out aren't convincing. I picked Brazil to win the whole tournament, but as of now I can't see that happening unless they step it up. Fortunate to beat Croatia, tied Mexico, and not convincing against Cameroon. Uruguay is also lucky to be in the round of 16, and without Suarez they probably won't get much further. Even Belgium doesn't look like a team that can't be beaten. This is as wide open a World Cup as I can remember.

Round of 16

Brazil vs. Chile

Five South American teams make the round of 16, and four of them play each other. I can't wait for this game, because I think we may see an upset. Chile will give Brazil everything they can handle, maybe more because of how mediocre Brazil has looked so far. Chile on the other hand looks solid, but they'll need to find a player that can track Neymar (maybe Arturo Vidal). Brazil will have more and more pressure each time they advance. They have the talent, but Neymar can't do it by himself. This will be a typical CONMEBOL game: close, fast paced, scrappy.

Prediction: Brazil 3 Chile 2 (after extra time).

Colombia vs. Uruguay

Colombia eased past all three opponents in their group. They have a ton of speed, most notably through Juan Cuadrado. James Rodriguez is pulling the strings, and Jackson Martinez seems to have broken out of his goal drought. Simply put, Colombia are firing on all cylinders. Uruguay seem weary. They got out of a tough group on fortunate circumstances, and have not looked all that good. They also won't have Luis Suarez. Colombia will probably have a large share of possession with Uruguay attempting to counter. Without Suarez, Uruguay will have trouble scoring goals.

Prediction: Colombia 3 Uruguay 1

Netherlands vs. Mexico

Mexico has looked very good so far. A lot of the credit has to go to coach Miguel Herrera. I think this guy is awesome, he is so passionate about every single call. A somewhat controversial decision to put Javier Hernandez on the bench is working out as Oribe Peralta is the better choice. Mexico has also only allowed 1 goal so far, a consolation goal for Croatia in the third game.  The Netherlands have also impressed, starting with a blowout of Spain. The young defense is embracing the world stage and the stars are performing. Mexico can't back away in this game, they have to keep attacking. This is another game I'm very excited to watch and this time I'm going with the underdogs.

Prediction: Mexico 2 Netherlands 2 (Mexico wins on penalties)

Costa Rica vs. Greece

Raise your hand if you had Costa Rica or Greece in the quarterfinals. One of these teams will be in the final 8, a huge achievement. Costa Rica brilliantly navigated through the second toughest group, and came out group winners. Greece, as usual, parked the bus and got lucky. They only scored two goals (all in the last game) and had a negative goal difference. Costa Rica will be the favorite, but Greece isn't a good match-up because they play almost an identical style to Costa Rica. The Ticos may not be able to use their high pressure/counter attack because they'll have the ball more. I won't be surprised at all if Greece defends and gets a fortuitous bounce or call.

Prediction: Costa Rica 0 Greece 1

France vs. Nigeria

No one is really talking about France, but they are quietly putting together a great tournament. They topped a pretty weak group, but did so in style, putting 5 goals past a respectable Switzerland team. Karim Benzema has been key. Nigeria may be a little fortunate to be here after a clear refereeing error against Bosnia took away a good goal. They were uninspiring against Iran, but played fairly well against Argentina. I'm still waiting for Emmanuel Emenike to make his mark. The Nigerian striker has come close to scoring in every game. I think the way France is playing will just be too much for this Nigerian side.

Prediction: France 2 Nigeria 0

Germany vs. Algeria

Algeria's very valiant effort to get out of their group rewards them with a game against Germany. It's a very tall task for the African side. Sure, they stumped Belgium for a very long time, but Germany has more quality and experience. Germany looked good in making it out of the group of death. They easily dispatched Portugal, played the most entertaining game so far against Ghana, and comfortably beat the United States. They still lack a true number 9, but Thomas Mueller is playing the false 9 with great success. I don't see this ending well for the Algerians.

Prediction: Germany 3 Algeria 0

Argentina vs. Switzerland

Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina got out of a fairly easy group, winning all of their games. All three of the games were close though, and Switzerland is better than any of the three teams Argentina has faced so far. Switzerland turned defeat into victory in their first group game, scoring on a brilliant counter-attack against Ecuador on the last kick of the game. They were beaten by France, but the 5-2 scoreline is a little deceiving because the Swiss actually had chances. Xherdan Shaqiri's hat trick against Honduras ensured Switzerland's progress. I expect the young Swiss team to push Argentina, but I don't think they have anyone that can shut down Lionel Messi for a full game.

Prediction: Argentina 2 Switzerland 1

Belgium vs. United States

The last round of 16 match-up, and a decent draw for the United States. Belgium looks solid defensively so far, but they've lacked some quality up front. Romelu Lukaku has really struggled, and I wouldn't be surprised if Divock Origi starts. The depth of Belgium could see them go far in this tournament. Everyone seems to be waiting for this Belgium team to have an awesome performance. The U.S. were somewhat fortunate to beat Ghana, but fully deserved a tie (probably more) against Portugal. They never really looked threatening against Germany, but they also knew they didn't have to win the game. I'm worried that lack of goal scoring will be the downfall of this team. Clint Dempsey played well as the lone striker against Portugal, but was ineffective against Germany. Jozy Altidore's status for the game is uncertain at this point.

Prediction: Belgium 1 United States 0