Yesterday, we took a look at who would make the semifinals at the World Cup. Today, we give our prediction for World Cup winner, Best XI, and take a stab at our picks for Friday & Saturday's games, including the massive, revolutionary showdown between the USA and England. First up, our World Cup Best XI.
World Cup Best XI
Iker Casillas (ESP)
Dani Alves (BRA) Pique (ESP) Lucio (BRA) Ashley Cole (ENG)
Mesut Ozil (GER) Xavi (ESP) Wesley Snejder (NED) Steven Gerrard (ENG)
Samuel Eto'o (CAM) Wayne Rooney (ENG)
-Our team is loaded with many Spaniards and Brazilians (hint! hint!), but if England is going to be successful than Ashley Cole will have to have a good tournament in attack and defense and Steven Gerrard, now in a captaincy role, will have to perform out of position on the left side. Pique and Lucio anchor our defense and are the consensus two best center backs in the tournament, while Dani Alves' attacking runs from right back will be a catalyst for Brazil. Iker Casillas is our choice at keeper, just ahead of Julio Cesar and Tim Howard.
-With Gerrard in the midfield we've picked the key to the Spanish side - Xavi. Xavi was the player of the tournament in Euro 2008 and will pick up with his elite play again here. Without Arjen Robben, the creative load for Holland falls to Wesley Snejder. Snejder was excellent in the latter stages of the season for Inter Milan and should have plenty of freedom to weave magic for the Dutch. Finall, German youngster Mesut Ozil is our pick for young player of the tournament. Like Holland, Germany without Michael Ballack should free up the side for a creative spark like Ozil - the best player on Germany's U-21 Euro winners.
-Up front, we're taking a gamble that the good Samuel Eto'o will actually show up and use his present adversity to play his best soccer with the World Cup on African soil. He'll score plenty of goals if Cameroon gets into the quarterfinals as we predicted. And, Wayne Rooney rounds out the squad as the bulldog that England will ride to the semifinals, speaking of...
SemiFinal Picks
*England vs Brazil
-The English hope will come to an end in the semifinals. While the England team has loads of talent and ability, Brazil has just that little bit more steel in defense and that little bit more creativity in attack. Lucio and the best backline in the world will be able to stall the English attack, and the English weakness - goalkeeper - will finally be exposed. PICK: Brazil 3 England 1
*Spain vs Germany
-Again, we'll ask how in the world Germany ends up in the World Cup Semis. This year they have enough balance of youth and experience to get this far, but not beyond. Spain will possess the ball for most of this game and Germany will be forced to have to win on a fluky counterattack goal to get to the final. I would expect a tighter game with Spain breaking through late and getting a 1-0 win. PICK: Spain 1 Brazil 0
Final Pick
*Spain vs Brazil
-This will be a showpiece worthy of the biggest sporting event in the world. Spain and Brazil will play some of the most exciting soccer in the whole tournament. Ironically though, our pick is Spain because of their samba style. This Brazilian team is outmatched by Spain in the midfield and up front while the defense and goalkeepers will cancel out. Spain gets the edge because of their passing and possession, and they'll complete their golden age with their first ever World Cup. PICK: Spain 3 Brazil 2
***But, before we get to the Final, we have to start the tournament first! We'll be out of town Saturday and DVRing the most important soccer game in American history (no spoilers!). So, let's pick and preview the Friday and Saturday World Cup games.***
Friday Picks - Group A
*South Africa vs Mexico
-The opening game is always such a spectacle, and it's perhaps South Africa's best chance to get a win. Mexico will allow Bafana Bafana to play an open game and come at them in attack. That will benefit the fast Mexican style, but also might leave them open on occasion. If it wasn't the opener, Mexico would be the pick - but the home crowd will be enough to get South Africa at least a point.
PICK: Mexico 2 RSA 2
*Uruguay vs France
-Another crucial game in the tournament is the opening game for France and Uruguay. This would be a great chance for Uruguay to pull the upset on a deflated French side that has never seemed to recover from their 2006 Final loss. Diego Forlan gets at least 1 and again France suffers an opening game letdown.
PICK: Uruguay 2 France 1
Saturday Picks - Groups B/C
*South Korea vs Greece
-This won't be one of the showpiece games of the tournaments. Greece will defend, defend, and defend some more - and I'm not really that confident that South Korea can break through. I see one of the more listless games of the tournament here.
PICK: South Korea 0 Greece 0
*Argentina vs Nigeria
-Another crucial game in this tournament to see how Argentina responds to Diego Maradona. He has selected a lot of headscratchers in midfield and defense especially that are left behind off successful European clubs. Nigeria isn't getting a lot of publicity, but they are one of the sleeper teams in this tournament. I see... you guessed it, another draw!
PICK: Argentina 1 Nigeria 1
*England vs USA
-Now, it's the biggest soccer game in the history of America! We can spend a lot of time dissecting the X's and O's (if those exist in futbol) and the matchups... but this game will come down to one thing - talent. I think both teams have incredible will and belief that they can get the job done, but England has more talent all over the pitch. Look for England to use their wide play specifically to really do the most damage. It'll be a close, exciting game, but I'm picking England to go through... and hoping the RSS jinx kicks in and the US wins!
PICK: England 2 USA 1
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