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| No tikka-takka from Spain this time! |
After all, knockout football really is what gets the excitement juices going, i.e. do-or-die moments, penalties, those saves. Given the quality of the attacking football - and defences - so far, hopefully the knockout stages of this World Cup will be the best they have been for some time - certainly set to be an improvement over the dour, defensive games of the previous editions in Germany and South Africa.
The round of 16 kicks off with an all South American day - Brazil v Chile and Colombia v Uruguay - and hopefully this will give the knockout stages the same fast start enjoyed by the round robin.
Here are the ties again and each team's chances -
Saturday, 28 June 2014
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| Can Chile finally break their Brazil hoodoo on Super Sud America Saturday? |
Brazil - The hosts have clearly not quite hit the form that their fans might expect even though they did dispatch an average Cameroon side 4-1 in their last game in Brasilia. However, they have achieved what they needed to do at the very bare minimum, i.e. make it out of the group stages as winners and in control in their side of the draw. Now, they can look forward to finally getting to Rio de Janeiro - the only way they can get there is by making the Final. At least, Neymar is firing on all cylinders but he needs a bit more help from his teammates, particularly from fellow strikers, Fred and Hulk.
Chile - The Chileans continue to excel at the World Cup, knocking out world champions, Spain, en route to a 2nd consecutive appearance in the knockout stages of the World Cup Finals. They're playing an exciting, attacking brand of football fitting of this Finals but questions remain of whether the likes of Arturo Vidal, Gary Medel et al. can overcome that big hurdle of Brazil - they've lost all their last 2 games they've played against them at the World Cup Finals.
Should be a cracking tie with lots of goals. Brazil should do enough to win - 3-2 to Brazil.
Colombia v Uruguay, Rio de Janeiro, 4pm (my tie to watch)
Colombia - Some say that it's the Colombians, not the Brazilians who are the real team in yellow to beat at this Finals. That's a fair assessment given how they dominated their group comprised of Cote d'Ivoire, Greece and Japan. It seems Jose Pekerman's team are playing better without key talisman, Radamel Falcao with the rest of the team really chipping in goals, including new key man, James Rodriguez. Uruguay and possibly Brazil will be tougher meat to tuck into, but given Colombia's familiarity with those sides, could this side finally bring the World Cup to Bogota?
Uruguay - All the talk in the lead-up has been about Luis Suarez, that bite, and the huge ban which has started already. Suarez will be a big loss for Uruguay - his introduction seemed to turn them around after their horror start against Costa Rica, but I don't think they'll revert back to their bad ways with the out-of-form players now taken out. Uruguay could be dangerous if they can unite and play for their teammate - they will need Cavani to really fire though.
Another cracking tie to kick off the Round of 16. Colombia to do it - 2-1 to Colombia.
Sunday, 29 June 2014
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| Can the Dutch maintain their hot form against Central American opposition - or Greece? |
Netherlands - Along with Colombia and France, the Dutch are one of the form teams of this World Cup and considering the draw ahead - Mexico and Costa Rica or Greece to overcome, sides the Dutch would back themselves to beat - must really fancy themselves of getting to the semifinals at least - anything less will be a huge disappointment. As long as Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie are fit and fighting, the Dutch will be tough to handle for any opponent.
Mexico - The Mexicans are back to their usual selves, taking their customary place in the 2nd round. Can they make it uncustomary this time and move on to the quarterfinals? The Dutch will be a big challenge but the Mexicans have shown they can contain sides as they did against Brazil - and they do have an in-form keeper in Guillermo Ochoa. It would be a big ask to contain the Dutch and play for penalties though but it could be the only way the Mexicans can cause an upset.
Netherlands to win a tight one 2-1.
Costa Rica v Greece, Recife, 4pm
Costa Rica - The surprise package of the World Cup so far, Costa Rica are back in the 2nd round and will want to progress further than they did last time in 1990. They would back themselves to do so against Greece, a side that is making their debut at this stage of the competition yet has experience of winning knockout games as per their shock run to Euro 2004 glory. Bright and entertaining up front, they also have one of the best keepers of the tournament in Levante based Keylor Navas.
Greece - A bit lucky to be here in a way - they were gifted that injury time penalty and a 2-1 win over Cote d'Ivoire to take them here. But Greece are here and have made history, and now want to show that they're here to stay. A bit of a limited side but they won't park the bus like they did to Euro 2004 glory - Greek football has come a long way from those days under Otto Rehhagel.
Who would have picked Costa Rica v Greece for a 2nd round game? Costa Rica to win 2-1.
Monday, 30 June 2014
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| Can Nigeria finally make it to the quarterfinals? |
France - One of the form teams of the tournament, France are completely unrecognisable from the rabble of a team that crashed out of the 2010 World Cup. Now united under Didier Deschamps, Les Bleus are playing with the flair and confidence that we all know they can play with, and are looking a formidable force. Karim Benzema may be getting the goals but the hard work is being put in by Matuidi, Pogba, Valbuena, Cabaye, et. al.
Nigeria - Finally back on this stage of the competition after a 16 year hiatus, Nigeria now want to make history and take their place in the quarterfinals for the first time in their history - something their apparently better predecessors (Amoukachi, George, etc. from 1994 and 1998) didn't manage to achieve. Nigeria are more organized than they've ever been even if some of that attacking flair has disappeared.
Potentially a dark horse of a tie. France to win 3-1.
Germany v Algeria, Porto Alegre, 4pm
Germany - The Germans have once again comfortably negotiated the group stages without really impressing - apart from a 4-0 win over the Portuguese in their first game. Defensively, they've improved while playing a nice brand of attacking football. With former stumbling blocks, Italy and Spain out of the tournament, Germans will feel that this could be the year they can finally make the Final - they just need to beat Brazil that's all.
Algeria - Finally making their debut in the knockout stages of the World Cup after 4 attempts, Algeria have been one of the surprise packages of the World Cup, benefiting from a fairly straightforward group to progress. The North Africans do have some talented players in attack and can be quite organized at the back. Algeria have already hit their targets for this World Cup and the pressure will be off them considering who they face - plus they will be motivated by events from the World Cup in 1982 when they were eliminated in scandalous fashion by West Germany and Austria in the disgrace of Gijon.
Germany to win 3-0.
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
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| Are Belgium playing their poker face? |
Argentina - Like Brazil and Germany, Argentina haven't really shown their best form at this tournament yet but they are 100% in the tournament and look more organized than they were last time. Plus they finally have Lionel Messi scoring goals for them. Like the Dutch in their side of the draw, Argentina must really back themselves to make it to the semifinals at least with Switzerland, Belgium/USA to overcome and with Leo Messi doing a Maradona from 1986, Argentina must finally feel that this is their year.
Switzerland - The Swiss have been more positive than they have ever been at the World Cup Finals even if it came at their cost defensively against France who they lost 5-2 to. Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka have been the Swiss guns at this World Cup and could be a problem for Argentina's no-name defence. However, can Djorou and Senderos handle Messi's heat?
Argentina to win unconvincingly 2-1.
Belgium v USA, Salvador, 4pm
Belgium - Belgium are playing the role of dark horses quite nicely - they've hardly been impressive in their charge to a 100% record - 2-1, 1-0 and then 1-0 wins. However, those wins were achieved through depth on the bench, all their goals coming in the 2nd half. If Belgium are showing they can be champions, they're giving a pretty good audition of how to win playing ugly. They should dispatch USA, albeit just, but Argentina could be another issue - although Belgium did beat Argentina 1-0 back in 1982.
First penalty shootout of the World Cup. Courtois to be the hero for Belgium.
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