2 days without the World Cup have seemed like an eternity. Having to watch Skip Bayless talk about LeBron James instead of the world's biggest spectacle is a fate worse than death. Thankfully though, the quarterfinals of the World Cup return tomorrow with 2 games and 2 more on Saturday including a couple massive encounters. So, who will win the quarterfinal games and get one step closer to immortality? Let's find out!
Netherlands v Brazil
All time WC record: 4th Meeting (Series Tied at 1-1-1) Holland W 1974 2nd Round, Brazil W 1994 QF, Brazil advanced on penalites after 1-1 draw in 1998 SF
Netherlands WC History: 5th QF appearance, 2 final appearances, 0 wins
Netherlands Player to Watch: Arjen Robben started his first match against Slovakia in their R16 match and scored a goal
Brazil WC History: 5 time champions ('58, '62, '70, '94, '02), 14th QF appearance
Brazil Player to Watch: Maicon has had a storming tournament from his RB position and could cause the Dutch defense problems
Breakdown:
-If both teams play up to their potential, this will be the game of the tournament. We finally saw Brazil take off a bit of the shackles in their 3-0 win over Chile while the Dutch were just ok in beating Slovakia 2-0. However, the Oranje have shown some flashes of brilliance while not playing 90 minutes of Total Football just yet. Brazil's unique system (broken down brilliantly by Zonal Marking, one of my new fav sites for the World Cup) takes perfect advantage of the grit in defense and midfield while showcasing the abilities of Kaka, Robinho, and Fabiano. While Dunga gets a lot of crap from Brazilian fans, he shows his coaching genius with this unusual staggered system. Two key figures will be Robinho (up front on the left) and Arjen Robben (on the right wing) both cutting in from their inverted winger positions towards the middle and looking for shooting opportunities. But, I think Dunga's system will win the day for a few reasons - 1) Maicon and Dani Alves will eat Giovanni van Bronckhorst for lunch on the Dutch left, 2) Gilberto Silva and whoever his midfield partner will be will nullify Wesley Snejider, and 3) LB Michel Bastos getting forward will hurt Arjen Robben's offense. All in all, it will be a fascinating contest, but Brazil will pull it out.
PICK: Brazil 3 Holland 2
Ghana v Uruguay
All time WC record: 1st Meeting
Ghana WC History: 2nd World Cup, 1st QF Appearance
Ghana Player to Watch: Striker Asamoah Gyan has scored 3 goals including the matchwinner against the USA
Uruguay WC History: 2 time champions ('30, '50), 6th QF appearance
Uruguay Player to Watch: The strikeforce of Diego Forlan (2 goals) and Luis Suarez (3 goals) has been the best front pairing in the tournament
Breakdown:
-This game is the most unpredictable of the quarterfinals. Let's be real, nobody expected either of these teams to be in the quarters, let alone playing each other for a trip to the semifinals. While Uruguay's strike partnership has been massive, their defense led by CB and captain Diego Lugano has been outstanding as well. Asamoah Gyan might struggle to find holes against the Uruguay D like he did against Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit. But, Ghana has the intangibles with them in this match - playing in the massive Soccer City stadium with all of Africa behind them. It won't be about tactics or talent here, but heart and determination and in that department, Ghana is unmatched.
PICK: Ghana 2 Uruguay 1 ET
Argentina v Germany
All time WC record: 5th meeting (Series Tied at 1-1-2) '66 Draw, they traded victories in the 1986 (ARG) and 1990 (GER) finals and met at the same stage in '06 where Germany advanced via PKs after a 1-1 draw.
Argentina WC History: 2 time champions ('78, '86), 6th QF appearance
Argentina Player to Watch: While he hasn't scored goals, Lionel Messi has been brilliant in setting up his teammates leading the tournament with 4 assist
Germany WC History: 3 time champions ('54, '74, '90), 15th QF appearance - 7th straight in current tournament format
Germany Player to Watch: Central attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil has been the breakout star of the tournament and has to like the site of Argentina's aging defense
Breakdown:
-This is simply a must-see game. Their '06 encounter ended in penalties and pugilism and already the verbal barbs are being traded back and forth. These two teams have been the darlings of the tournaments with Germany's youth movement and Argentina's freewheeling style under Diego Maradona. But, here lies Maradona's first true test - don't tell me Greece, Nigeria, South Korea, or Mexico were challenges for a side of such prodigious attacking talent. Germany can match Argentina talent for talent. Higuain for Klose. Tevez for Muller. And, dare I say, Messi for Ozil. The major difference in this game will be Argentina's defense not being able to keep up with the young German speedsters. Ozil's runs will open space for Podolski and Muller and their overall speed is as big of a mismatch here as against England - and we saw how that turned out.
PICK: Germany 3 Argentina 1
Paraguay v Spain
All time WC record: 3rd meeting (Spain leads 1-0-1) A scoreless draw in 1998 and a 3-1 Spain win in the 2002 Group Stage. Interestingly, Spain CB Carlos Puyol has the only Paraguayan goal against Spain in the World Cup.
Paraguay WC History: 1st QF Appearance
Paraguay Player to Watch: Defender Paulo da Silva has been key to a defense that has only allowed 1 goal in 4 games
Spain WC History: 6th QF Appearnce, 1 SF Appearance (1950)
Spain Player to Watch: David Villa is the tourney's joint leading scorer with Gonzalo Higuain and Robert Vittek on 4 goals
Breakdown:
-Paraguay will likely sit back and try to get the game through 120 minutes and advance through penalties like they did against Japan. The South Americans will do their best Portugal impression and try to slow down, frustrate, and fence in the Spanish attack. It's a strategy that has worked for Paraguay (337 consecutive scoreless minutes), but they haven't seen a side like Spain. La Furia Roja (I love that nickname) have yet to play their best, and let's face it, an average performance should be enough to get through here. The interesting dilemma for Spain is what to do with Fernando Torres. He's been ineffective thus far in the front man role with David Villa cutting in from the left and scoring goals at will. I would expect Vincente Del Bosque to give him every chance to break through and get the mojo going against Paraguay after his injury layoff. Spain will pass and possess the ball in Paraguay's half for most of the game. How quickly Spain get on the board will tell us how high the scoreline gets. Paraguay holds on for 40 minutes, and then the Spanish Aramada strikes.
PICK: Spain 3 Paraguay 0
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