I am officially done with my group predictions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Now it is time to move onto the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals preview. If any readers would like to know how certain teams made the knockout phase of the competition on my bracket, they can read in the posts below as I’ve already gone through each group extensively. I will have a small 3-7 sentence write up for each knockout game until the semifinals and final, which clearly deserve a little more explanation. I feel like I should state that I am simply a fan, with no sort of expertise at all, so do not take what I am predicting as likely at all; I just love the World Cup and want people to know what I think. Now for the predictions:
Mexico 0 vs. Nigeria 2
I love the Nigeria team, and I’m really not sure why. This is a team that is considered underachievers historically, but I think this is the year they exceed expectations by making the Quarterfinals. Love their match up with the Mexicans, also underachievers who I don’t favor quite as much, particularly since this game will be played on African soil. It’s also good when one of their better players, John Obi Mikel, gets ruled out for the entire cup but they don’t appear phased or worried about their chances. I expect a brace from Obafemi Martins, who is known for being inconsistent but will have a great game here, as the Nigerians march on.
England 1 vs. Serbia 3
Poor England, I do root for them since it would be hilarious and fantastic if they finally lift the major international trophy they’ve craved for so long, but I don’t see it happening this year. The team’s backline concerns me, and when you compare it to Serbia’s, there really is no question which team is better suited to win this game. I predict big things for Milan Jovanovic, a midfielder and their lead goal scorer during qualification, and think he will be one of the standouts at this tournament that will secure him a big money move to a bigger club than Standard Liege, his current team. Jovanovic scores twice and sets up another, as Serbia flies by England. Wayne Rooney will score for England though.
Netherlands 2 vs. Italy 0
The Italians will get mercifully dumped out of the tournament here by mighty Holland. These two met during Euro 2008, and the Dutch won with ease and I expect the same here. Wesley Sneijder will control the midfield easily over a barely fit Andrea Pirlo, and both Robin van Persie and Dirk Kuyt will score. The Italians will go down fighting as they always do though, and will play their heart out, battling to a 0-0 draw at halftime, despite creating zero chances on the offensive end, before Sneijder takes over. Expect a few fantastic Gianluigi Buffon saves to keep the Italians in it.
Brazil 5 vs. Chile 2
The Chileans run and gun style will simply not work against the physical Brazilians, who will score with ease against the poor Chilean backline. Expect Maicon to be unstoppable on the right flank, and a brace from Luis Fabiano. Alexis Sanchez will have an awesome game though, scoring one for Chile and setting up the other, but Chile simply won’t have enough to beat Brazil. Expect it to be a fun sight though, as the game will be wide open with tons of attacking play and obviously, lots of goals.
Argentina 1 vs. South Africa 0
The South Africans will play beyond expectations against Argentina, but they will not have enough fire power up front. Expect an electric atmosphere though, with thousands of vuvuzelas blaring in support of Bafana Bafana. Argentina will struggle, but will squeak by on a Diego Milito goal as South Africa’s campaign will end. But they will have nothing to be ashamed of as they will have exceeded any reasonable expectations people had for them.
Germany 2 VS. USA 1
I see the nightmare repeat of when these two teams met in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup. I recognize I am bias as I am American, but I would take this American squad in terms of talent against the Germans any day. But there’s that X factor that all German sides have of simply winning when they shouldn’t. The Americans will outplay the Germans and will take a 1-0 lead through Landon Donovan before halftime. Expect both Clint Dempsey and Edson Buddle to miss open chances. The Germans will battle though, as they always do. Oguchi Onyewu will be called for a penalty in the box on Thomas Muller, which will not have been a good call, which Bastian Schweinsteiger will convert. A late Miroslav Klose header, coming off the bench, will end a heartbreaking game for the Americans. This campaign though, will be enough for Bob Bradley to be offered the Team USA job again, which he will turn down, to coach in Europe.
Paraguay 1 vs. Cameroon 1
This will be a nervy and boring game, which will not create many chances. Pierre Webo will put Cameroon in front early, but Oscar Cardozo will answer for Paraguay. The game will go to penalties, and I see the Cameroonians having a little more steel than Paraguay, winning it 4-2. Tough for Paraguay, who would’ve been expected to play better based on their performances in the group. They will be left wondering what could’ve been, as Cameroon will continue onwards.
Spain 2 vs. Ivory Coast 1
This is a game I flip-flopped on because I really felt initially that Ivory Coast were the team to stop Spain. They are big fast and physical, as well as possessing that big striker who I felt could take Carles Puyol to school in Didier Drogba. But the injury to Drogba and the appointment of Sven Goren Erickssen as head coach has turned me off to the idea of an upset here. Even if Drogba plays he will not be 100%, and Erickssen is not the right coach to take this team to the promise land. Spain also, simply, has too much quality to not win this game. Both David Villa and David Silva will score, to beat a Solomon Kalou strike for Ivory Coast, who will bow out of the competition with mixed reviews. They’re will be positive ones since they will have gotten out of a very tough group, but will be frustrated that they received such a hard draw that really had no let up except for North Korea.
Based upon my results from the Round of 16, here are my quarterfinal matchups: Nigeria vs. Serbia, Netherlands vs. Brazil, Argentina vs. Germany, and Cameroon vs. Spain. Fantastic matchups, I see this being the best round of the tournament.
Nigeria 0 vs. Serbia 1
Tough game for me to call here as it is two teams I favor very much. I love the Serbian defense, potentially the best one at the tournament as well as their midfield. I think they will be able to handle the Nigerian attack and that will be enough. Milan Jovanovic will once again be huge for the Serbs and score, assisted by giant striker Nikola Zigic, just enough to push Serbia into the semifinals while the Nigerians go home.
Netherlands 3 vs. Brazil 1
The Dutch will beat Brazil because of their midfield. Wesley Sneijder is going to prove to the world he is world class and why he should be nominated for FIFA Player of the Year. Sneijder will control everything, while Kaká and Brazil will chase the game, something they are not used to. Robin Van Persie will find the back of the net for the Netherlands, as well as Arjen Robben and Mark Van Bommel as the Dutch will surprisingly cruise through to the semifinals. The Brazilians will be left wondering what the hell just happened, just like when they were knocked out by the French in 2006. Robinho will score for Brazil, but it will be Sneijder’s and the Dutch’s night.
Argentina 2 vs. Germany 1
These two met in the same round at the past World Cup, and the Germans won on penalties. The story will be a little different this time though, as Argentina just squeaks by, winning 2-1. The quality up top will be the difference in the game; Argentina is superb while Germany is very average. The scoring will open from the fantastic feet of Lionel Messi. The score will double from a fantastic, typical bullish run by Carlos Tevez. The Germans will score late through a Cacau header, but they will be unable to catch Diego Maradona’s side. Argentina into the semifinals, while an average German side goes home, exceeding the actual expectations for the talent they have, but not the expectations of a German side.
Cameroon 2 vs. Spain 2
This is my shock of the tournament. It will take a talented, motivated team led by a dominant striker to beat Spain, and I think Cameroon is that team. I realize that Spain is easily the better team, but at this point in the competition, Cameroon will know they are the last African team in the tournament, with Nigeria being eliminated the day before. Everyone would love to see an African side make the semifinals, and the entire stadium will be behind Cameroon to win. It also doesn’t hurt when Samuel Eto’o will be playing many former teammates and will want to knock Spain out more than any other team. Fernando Torres will open the scoring before Eto’o brings one back. 1-1 at halftime. David Villa then scores, but Eto’o responds again, a late goal, to tie it up. After a boring overtime, Cameroon beats Spain 4-3 on penalties, with Torres and Cesc Fabregas seeing their spot kicks saved by Carlos Kameni to get Spain dumped out again. Sorry, but the World Cup is rarely won by the favorites (Italy wasn’t, Brazil wasn’t favored going into 2002, and France wasn’t in 1998), and I think the trend continues here, with both Spain and Brazil out before the semifinals.
This makes my semifinal matchups Serbia vs. Netherlands and Argentina vs. Cameroon.
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