World Cup Semifinal Predictions

4 teams remain in the 2010 World Cup, but only 1 can be etched into the history books forever as champion. One matchup features 2 of the soccer world's biggest powers in a rematch of the Euro 2008 Final (Spain v Germany) while the other features two teams that have had their day at or near the top of world soccer looking to reach a surprising final (Uruguay v Netherlands). Let's break it down and see who'll play in Soccer City July 11 for the World Cup!

Semifinal #1

Netherlands v Uruguay

All time WC record: 2nd Meeting (Series 1-0 Netherlands W 1974 Group Stage)

Netherlands WC History: 3rd Final 4 appearance, 2 final appearances, 0 wins

Netherlands Player to Watch: Midfielder Wesley Sneijder scored 2 goals against Brazil to take his tally to 4 for the tournament

Uruguay WC History: 2 time champions ('30, '50), 4th SF appearance

Uruguay Player to Watch: Without Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan will have to do the creating and finishing for Uruguay to advance

Breakdown:

-Luis Suarez's handball on the line against Ghana may have saved their tournament and cost them a shot at the final at the same time. Suarez is a huge loss for Uruguay - he's been perhaps the most valuable player for any team at this World Cup thus far. Also, captain and center back Diego Lugano might be an injury concern after having to leave the QF early on. So, Uruguay are faced with a major injury crisis. I will expect them to respond with a gameplan similar to how they played France in the opening game of the tournament. Defend. Defend. Defend. Uruguay will pack the back, crowd out Van Persie and Sneijder, and hope to frustrate the Dutch. Maybe they'll get a goal on the counter, but they're just as likely to be happy going to penalties 0-0.

For the Dutch, that means they will have to be extra creative in the final third. I don't know if they have that ability - frankly, their play has been fairly predictable in attack. Sneijder found little room to work against Brazil and scored his two goals rather fortuitously from set pieces. Then with Arjen Robben, the left footer playing on the right wing, constantly cutting inside the Dutch have little width and crowd the middle of the pitch. That would play right into a compact Uruguay defense. I think we'll see a game very similar to Spain v Paraguay in the quarters with the Netherlands dominating possession and territory. They may scrap a goal somewhere along the line, but I could see this going all the way to penalties also.

PICK: Netherlands 1 Uruguay 0

Semifinal #2

Germany v Spain

All time WC record: 4th Meeting (Germany leads series 2-0-1) Germany W 1966 Group Stage, 1982 2nd Round, Draw 1994 Group Stage

Germany WC History: 3 time champions ('54, '74, '90), 12th Final 4 appearance and 3rd straight semifinal

Germany Player to Watch: Striker Miroslav Klose needs 1 goal to tie Ronaldo for the most World Cup goals of all-time

Spain WC History: 2nd SF Appearnce (1950), most WC victories without a title

Spain Player to Watch: David Villa is the tourney's top scorer with 5 goals but watch the Barcelona central defense pairing of Puyol and Pique and how they handle the robust German attack

Breakdown:

-This will be a classic game. Finally Spain will be able to play against a side that just doesn't bunker down in defense and will find some room to operate. Vicente del Bosque came out this week in support of struggling star striker Fernando Torres , so I would expect to see him start again - especially considering he got the winning goal in the Euro 2008 Final against Germany (although I would expect him to be subbed early in the 2nd half if he's ineffective again). Spain has been the master of the 1-0 win thus far in the knockout rounds, but it will certainly take more than one goal to beat Germany Wednesday. Unlike against Argentina, Germany won't be able to dominate Spain's midfield and unlike Messi, Tevez, and Higuain in the quarters - Spain's attackers are excellent at spacing and finding gaps, especially with Villa coming in from the left. Spain should be happy to find a little more freedom to attack, but it could leave them open at the back.

However, Germany are playing so well at the moment that it's hard to see them lose, even missing young stud Thomas Muller. They should keep the same 4-2-3-1 formation with Piotr Trochowski or maybe Cacau filling in on the right wing for the suspended wunderkind. I wouldn't expect Germany to dominate Spain like England or Argentina, but they should have plenty of chances on the counterattack once again - especially on the left hand side with how much Sergio Ramos likes to get forward. Against Argentina, every goal came from the attacking left hand side! Germany's width might really expose Spain's crowded midfield (none of Busquets, Alonso, Xavi, or Iniesta are true wide midfielders) and that would really show up on the counterattack. I'm hoping for a classic and giving the slight edge to Germany because of the mojo they have going. Plus, I had Spain winning pre tournament, so really, I'll be right now either way - now that's Prognostication 101!

PICK: Germany 3 Spain 2 ET

World Cup Quarterfinal Recap

Time for our World Cup roundup. The quarterfinals certainly presented us with games worthy of falling into World Cup lore. The Netherlands shocked Brazil. Spain snuck by Paraguay. Uruguay crushed the hopes of Africa. And, Germany made the World Cup dreams of Argentina and Diego Maradona go up in smoke!

1) Biggest Winner - Europe

-All of the talk coming into the quarterfinals was South American domination. 4 of the 5 teams reached the quarterfinals with Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay all looking to book places in the semis. It was a record number of South American teams... and a record low of European teams - just 3! Holland, Germany, and Spain. And, all of them were victorious. South American teams were only 1-3 in the QF round while Europe was a perfect 3-0. Holland was able to come back to beat Brazil in a stunner (detailed here), Spain fought like mad to break through Paraguay in a 1-0 victory, and most impressively Germany destroyed Argentina 4-0. Now, with Germany meeting Spain we'll have at least one European finalist and most likely another with the Netherlands battling Uruguay without Luis Suarez. A European team has never won a World Cup off European soil, but it's looking very likely to happen in 2010.

2) Standout Performer - A New German Golden Age

3) Highlight - German Domination

-It's almost impossible to single out one German player in their rout of Maradona's Argentina. While it's not refreshing to see Germany in a major semifinal again (their 3rd straight in a WC plus the Euro 2008 final), it is refreshing to see this German team play soccer. The young stars like Ozil, Muller, and Khedira have only lifted up the magnificent Miroslav Klose (now 1 goal shy of tying Ronaldo's all-time goal scoring record in the WC), Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, and the other veterans of the decade. As of now, they have to be considered the favorite of the Final 4 with the way they hammered Argentina 4-0. As we said before the tournament,

"Another World Cup. Another underappreciated German side. Another likely long tournament. Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and Germany playing well in the World Cup. It always happens!"

Maybe some brilliant sociologist can study just why Germany always play so well, but for now, let's enjoy the brilliance of their play. The counterattacking displays against England and Argentina has been some of the simplest and best soccer I've ever seen. This team is a joy to watch. It's more of a joy with Legos and in German commentary...

4) Biggest Loser - Brazil

-Dunga's Brazil was the favorite going into the quarterfinals. In our QF preview, we discussed the tactical advantage that Brazil had against Holland. But, they never actually took advantage of that advantage! Maicon rarely got forward, Kaka was in and out of the game, and the rock solid defense gave up two weak goals to Wesley Sneijder (who was well marked in open play). But, the worst part of Brazil's loss was that they lost their cool - symbolized by Felipe Melo's stamp on the infuriating Arjen Robben. It was a game they could and should have won. With the 2014 Cup heading to Brazil, expect Dunga to be out as manager ***UPDATE: he was just fired*** and the soul of Brazilian football to be brought back from the iron grip of the defensive style that was supposed to win tournaments. Well, at least if they lose in 2014, they'll lose beautifully!

5) Best Game - Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 - Uruguay 4-3 on PKs

-This was a very even game that featured a lot of chances and a lot of drama. Ghana and Uruguay needed extra time to settle things and once Luis Suarez punched the ball off his own line in the last minute of extra time the game went from pretty good to the stuff of legends. The Hand of Suarez saved Uruguay because Asamoah Gyan's PK went off the bar. Uruguay survived and won on penalties to go to their first semifinal since 1970. It really has to be seen to be believed...

6) Biggest Surprise - Uruguay Remains South America's Hope?

-Who would have thunk it? Heading into the tournament, you would have been given 500-1 odds on Uruguay being the last remaining South American team. Of course, Brazil was the big surprise, but it also seemed like people fell in love with Maradona the showman and ignored his team squashing little people on their way to the quarters. They were always going to be destroyed by an equally talented German team as Zonal Marking writes:

Argentina are out in the way many expected with Maradona as manager. Early on in this tournament he seemed to be proving his doubters wrong by playing a solid team that worked well together, but everything fell apart in dramatic circumstances here today. No organisation in defence, not enough numbers in midfield, no cohesion in attack. This defeat will take a long, long time for Argentina to get over.

Paraguay was always an underdog to beat Spain and did well to only lose 1-0... although, if Cardozo's penalty would have gone in it could have been a different story. Alas, Uruguay is the last team standing and will face a huge challenge without their supremo goal scorer Suarez against Holland. It will take a defensive performance ala their 0-0 opener against France and a little bit of luck for them to stunningly make the final. But hey, who had them going this far?

7) Extra Time - Heartbreak Hotel

-Ghana's loss to Uruguay - with all of Africa rooting them on - was one of the most painful losses that I've ever seen. World Cups and Olympics and events of the same ilk are unique in that you aren't just representing your team or a fan base, but your country. In this case, Ghana was the hope of a continent. And, they were cruelly denied by a handball on the line in the dying minutes, a winning penalty off the crossbar, and a penalty shootout loss. Asamoah Gyan, the hero against the USA and the shining light of the African teams, was inconsolable after the game because of his missed penalty at the end of extra time. I can't think of a more shattering defeat. Now, Scott Norwood's plight doesn't seem so bad (sorry Bills fans). Seriously though, the visible anguish of the Ghanian team ripped out the viewers' hearts and it was a heartbreaking loss that few of us American sports fans can even imagine.

Brazil v Netherlands Instant Analysis

As Martin Tyler said, it was the result of the tournament. Holland upset Brazil and the millions around the world watching the World Cup were sent into shock. The 2-1 victory puts the Dutch into great position to reach the Final. If you had either Uruguay, Ghana, or the Netherlands in the Final - kudos to you... I sure didn't! But how did the Netherlands pull out the victory? Let's instantly analyze!

*Brazil Fell Apart

-After a strong start on a brilliant goal from Robinho, Brazil pushed for a second. The key moment was a huge Maarten Stekelenburg save off of a brilliant passage of play and a wicked Kaka shot in the 31st minute. After that moment, Brazil's push for a second goal never quite had the same impact. Then, in the second half, Brazil capitulated. The Dutch were never amazing in open play - but their first goal came after a missed punch from Julio Cesar and the second came off of a flicked header at a corner. Those are 2 goals that you simply cannot allow at the World Cup level. Brazil was simply shocking in the second half and fell apart - clearly seen with Felipe Melo's stamp on Arjen Robben that effectively ended the game.

*Dunga Will Bear The Blame

-Brazilians despise the way that their team played under Dunga. After a QF exit, he's likely gone and another coach will come in to restore the samba legacy. But, I don't think Dunga will get a fair shake. He crafted the team in his image and had the best backline in the competition, two competent defensive midfielders, and a potent strikeforce. However, his players simply didn't execute today. Maicon didn't get forward enough, Kaka never got a foothold in the game, and the defenders and goalkeeper were caught out on the two goals.

*Holland Is Into The Semis... And They Still Haven't Played Their Best!

-The Dutch were industrious today - which is a nice way of saying they didn't offer much going forward in open play. Robben was hemmed in. Sneijder was marshalled by the two central midfielders (aside from the 2 goals off set pieces of course) and as Efan Ekoku said - Mark Van Bommel must have had to kick the referee to get a yellow card. Sometimes in these tournaments though that is crucial - to get a result and advance without playing your absolute best...

*Holland's Most Important Quality Is Resiliency

-This isn't a Dutch team of Total Football and Johann Cruyff. This is a hard working, gritty, resilient team with Dirk Kuyt, Mark Van Bommel, Nigel De Jong, and today Andre Ooijer stepping in to defense. It wasn't brilliant passing movements that got the winning goals today - just a hopeful ball into the box, and a clever flick from Kuyt to Sneijder. This Dutch team has a real chance to deliver its first World Cup back home because of their resiliency and resourcefulness. It's not a quality we're used to seeing from the Netherlands, but it has served them very well so far.

World Cup Quarterfinal Predictions

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

World Cup Round of 16 Recap

Time for our World Cup roundup. The 8 games of the Round of 16 brought us a couple classic encounters, a couple bizarre decisions, and some of the world's stars beginning to shine. So, let's break it all down from the Round of 16 at the World Cup.

1) Biggest Winner - Ghana

-The African team that was left for dead before the tournament started and missing star midfielder Michael Essien now remains as Africa's hope. Cote D'Ivoire is no more. Nigeria is no more. Cameroon is no more. While Ghana has been the most successful African nation on the world scene in recent years (2006 QF, 2009 U-20 World Champion), not a lot of people gave them a chance in this tournament because of their tough group and injury problems. However, the sometimes maligned Asamoah Gyan has been huge up front and they've shown heart the size of the continent to push through to the quarterfinals. There, they meet another Cinderella, Uruguay, but they'll be playing in Soccer City with all of Africa behind them. Ghana has enough fight, defense (with John and Jonathan Mensah), and speed to give any team trouble... it'll be interesting to see how far they carry the African flag.

2) Standout Performer - Luis Suarez

3) Highlight - Luis Suarez - The Real Last AirBender!... God those commercials are terrible...

-Perhaps no player has done more for himself at the World Cup than Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. Would you believe that Suarez scored more goals this year at Ajax in Holland (49) than Lionel Messi (47)?! With Messi's remarkable season, it's amazing that Suarez could fly so far under the radar coming into the World Cup. Then again, Dutch club football is a far cry from what it used to be... but 49 flippin goals!! We said before the tourney that Uruguay would go as far as Suarez and Diego Forlan would take them and they look like they're only just getting started. With Forlan conducting the orchestra, Suarez has been the pure goalscorer. His two against Korea sent Uruguay into the quarters for the first time since 1966. Suarez's second, the matchwinner, was a real thing of beauty...

4)Biggest Loser - FIFA

-FIFA has morphed into some combination of Major League Baseball, the Nixon Presidency, and BP with 1) their refusal to implement technology into the game, 2) commitment to secrecy and stamping out controversy, and 3) terrible PR moves and general incompetency. The governing body of the world's most popular sport has been atrocious and thankfully the world is finally taking notice. The terrible refereeing decisions that cost England and Mexico can pressure FIFA into installing goalline technology at the very least. But the attitude that bans replays in stadiums, turns a blind eye toward cheating and diving, and hides information better than Kim Jong-Il is what is most troubling about FIFA. Let's hope some common sense and decency infects FIFA before 2014 comes around so we don't have to put up with this garbage anymore.

5) Best Game - Ghana 2 USA 1 ET

-You can check out our full thoughts on USA soccer here. This game was clearly the most competitive and intense of the R16 (and no, I'm not counting that goalless snoozer between PAR/JPN). The USA had their chances, but couldn't get that second goal to get the win. Asamoah Gyan split the defense and beat Tim Howard rather too easily for Ghana in the first minutes of extra time. Heartache at home, but it was a deserved win for Ghana in the most dramatic of games.

6) Biggest Statement - Brazil Is Back

-It was a highly anticipated encounter between the top two South American qualifiers in the Round of 16 - Brazil v Chile. Through the group stage Chile had played more of the samba style that we were used to from the Brazilians. However, Brazil showed their true colors in a 3-0 demolition of Chile, even showing that the bag of tricks isn't completely empty. This team has such a good match of flair and steel that it's hard to see anybody beating them now.

7) Extra Time - 10 More Awards For The Round of 16!

*Best Coaching Job - Bert Van Marwijk (Holland)

-Van Marwijk made an important adjustment for the Dutch team - he didn't rest them in Game 3 of the group stage like in the '06 World Cup and Euro 2008. In those tournaments, the Dutch went out in the KO stage even though they played amazing football in their group games. In South Africa, the Dutch haven't played at their absolute best, but Van Marwijk has his team playing better and better. Brazil should be wary of Agent Orange in the quarters, especially with a fit Arjen Robben.

*Worst Coaching Job - Fabio Capello (England)

-Capello is getting ripped all across England for his archaic tactics, puzzling lineup choices, and inability to get England to play one minute of inspired soccer in the World Cup. Sadly for Capello, the genius of 6 months ago is now a victim of the hype and praise England threw on him before the tournament. In truth, he's as much of a victim of the English media and unrealistic hype machine more than anything. At least England's loss looks better in Legos!

*D'Oh Moment - Bob Bradley Starts Ricardo Clark

-The biggest single coaching mistake though was from Bob Bradley and his selection of Ricardo Clark in the midfield against Ghana. Clark's turnover led to the Ghanian first goal and Bradley acknowledged his mistake to the world by pulling Clark after 30 minutes. D'oh!

*Best Young Player - Mesut Ozil

-Of all of the great young players to shine, Ozil pulling the strings for Germany may be the player of the tournament so far. His timely runs, deadeye passes, and pure pace have lit up the competiton. Germany have mixed youth and experience well in the World Cup and Ozil is the main reason why.

*Biggest Surprise - Paraguay & Uruguay

-Yes, everyone expected Argentina and Brazil to represent South America in the quarterfinals... but these two? Their exceptional performances led to group wins over favorites France and Italy. Their longterm outlook for beyond the QF round isn't great, but they have shined so far. And hey, at least one American can locate one of these two countries on a map...

*Biggest Disappointment - USA

-England can take up permanent residence in this category, but given the chance that lay ahead of the USA and the way they played the first 30 minutes against Ghana, they are the most disappointed team heading home from South Africa.

*Sorry To See You Go - Chile

-The unlucky 5th South American team played so well and brought life to a tournament that has featured a few sides (cough, Portugal, cough) just playing to get through 90 minutes at 0-0. Chile always attacked and had some success trying to play the beautiful game, especially with their blazing winger Alexis Sanchez.

*I Told You So - The Goals Have Come

-Through the first stretch of games, World Cup scoring was at an all-time low. People were blaming the Jabulani, the altitude, the vuvuzelas, and everything in between. But, as we said, as players have figured out the ball and the altitude and needed to open up play, the goals have come aplenty. Hey, I have to remember when I'm right every now and then to make up for all of those terrible predictions!

*Biggest Mirage - Diego Maradona's Coaching Genius

-This isn't the popular opinion at the moment, but I just have a feeling that Maradona will be exposed against Germany as a paper tiger on the sidelines. Look at who he's played so far - Nigeria, South Korea, Greece, and Mexico. 2 teams that were willing to attack (KOR/MEX) and get sliced up by Argentina's amazing frontline and 2 teams (NIG/GRE) that sat back and just let Argentina pile up shot after shot while offering minimal counterattack threat. Neither will be the case against a storming German side. This game will be the truest test of Maradona's so-called coaching ability.

*Overrated Story of the World Cup - Vuvuzela Madness

-Vuvuwho? After watching 50+ matches, I've almost stopped hearing them completely. Almost...

USA Soccer World Cup Review

With the USA exiting the World Cup it's time for us to use our combined Yoder power to reflect on the 2010 World Cup and its impact on American soccer. There were some great moments and some great disappointments, but in the big picture, what does the South African experience mean for the future of US Soccer and the sport's popularity here at home?

How Successful Was This World Cup For The USA?

Mr. Yoder I: I'd say it was a 5 out of 10. On one hand, winning the group for the first time since the first World Cup in 1930 is quite an achievement (especially considering that France, Italy, England, and Portugal didn't this year). Getting a draw against England is quite an achievement. The thrill of Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria is an unmatched moment in US Soccer history. But, the USA never put together a great 90 minute game. We'll also look back on 2010 as the biggest missed opportunity at a World Cup. Ghana and Uruguay are good teams, but we might never have a better opportunity to reach a World Cup semifinal. Maybe it's good that the USA is disappointed, but there's too much of a sense that there was a lot left behind in South Africa.

Mr. Yoder II: I agree with the sentiment that the exit in the round of 16 leaves an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach. But, I don't think it is either an abject success or failure. Think of all this team has been through in the last year. A shock run to the final of the Confederations Cup, the loss of Charlie Davies, being drawn in an easy group, meeting those expectations by winning the group, then the disappointment of missing a golden chance at the semis. At best, you'd have to say it was a mixed bag for Team USA.

Should Bob Bradley Stay As Head Coach?

Y2: I say he should go. He's put in a good stint as national team coach, taking the team to heights they haven't seen before. But, there were still too many lineup mistakes (playing Ricardo Clark against Ghana, not starting Benny Feilhaber once) and you have to place some of the blame for the continuallly sluggish starts on the coach. It's time for Team USA to go get a high-profile manager to take us to the next level.

Y1: I think you've won me over. Very rarely these days does a head coach stay on for two World Cup cycles. Bradley pulled a lot of the right strings, but at the World Cup level you can't afford any "my bads" like the Clark start over Maurice Edu against Ghana. Bradley had a great run after the Bruce Arena failure, but it is time for US Soccer to write Jurgen Klinsmann a blank check or go after another world class coach to go to that next level.

Who Was the Standout Performer?

Y1: As much credit as Landon Donovan gets for his goals, the standout performer for me was the coach's son Michael Bradley. Bradley was the most consistent player throughout the 4 games and played very well in the center of midfield. He got that tying goal against Slovenia and his 2 way capabilities mean he should be a fixture in the lineup come 2014. Playing every game with Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany also means he should get a lot of seasoning in the Bundesliga and keep improving his already stout game.

Y2: I totally agree. Bradley is the type of player who is still young enough (22 years old) to be a fixture on the USMNT for years to come. While players like Donovan and Dempsey are more fancied, they disappeared too often and didn't have a consistent impact throughout any of the 4 games. GK Tim Howard also picked a bad time to have his worst performance of the tourney against Ghana. Bradley meanwhile, should get looks from more prestigous European clubs for his two-way midfield play. By the time 2014 rolls around, expect Bradley to be the focal point of the team.

Where Do We Need The Most Improvement?

Y2: Obviously the biggest room for improvement is at our weakest positions, striker and defender. Each of the goals given up by the U.S. in the WC could have been snuffed out by better defense, expecially in the center of the pitch. And, we're going on almost a decade without a goal at the WC from a striker. Maybe Charlie Davies could have helped, but we'll never know. Until a consistent threat in front of goal develops (paging Jozy Altidore) the U.S. will be held back.

Y1: I think those are clearly our weakest positions on the field, but I think the underlying problem is our lack of technical ability as footballers. As hopeful future coach Jurgen Klinsmann pointed out after the Ghana game on ABC - the first touch is the most valuable in soccer and it was consistently poor from the USA. Maybe it takes more experience from our top players in better leagues, maybe it takes decades to hone the craft from youngsters playing the game, who knows. But, in the end, it's a lack of footballing skill that holds us back.

What's The Current Outlook for 2014?

Y1: The outlook is partly cloudy. 2009 and 2010 should provide hope for the USA that we can compete and beat some of the world's best nations (W v Spain, Egypt, draw v England, up 2-0 against Brazil). However, as you said, the USA had their easiest group at this year's World Cup and only made it to the last 16 losing to Ghana. What if we're drawn with Spain, Ghana, and Chile in 2014? There's no guarantee players like Donovan and Dempsey will be at top level in 4 years and it will take some of our young players reaching their ceilings as players and a lot of pieces falling into place to surpass the results from the past 2 years in Brazil 2014.

Y2: Unfortunately I think the US still has a long way to go to reach the ultimate goal, winning a world cup. The decline of some of our more influential players makes this the most important transition in our team's history if we're going to a new coach because there are young players ready to contribute, but they need more sophisticated coaching and need to play in the best leagues in the world. I think the short-term success should open some doors for some of our players, but guys like Bradley, Altidore, Donovan, and Dempsey have to continue being trailblazers for success abroad at the highest level to take the national team as a whole to the next level.

Has Soccer Made It?

Y2: As i said, for soccer to truly "make it" we have to win a World Cup and MLS has to break into the top 10 of leagues worldwide. But, after the gripping drama of the last two summers, I think soccer is in a better place now in this country than ever before. You should see ratings for the WC continue at record levels even with the U.S. being KO'd. But, it all depends on how U.S. soccer and MLS take advantage of new soccer fans. Can we convince our young athletes to go for soccer instead of football/basketball? Can MLS draw more fans and better talent than they have been? Can our best players break in with clubs like Manchester United or Real Madrid? The answers to those questions hold the key to soccer's long-term viability in the U.S.

Y1: I think soccer had made it even before this World Cup started. Think about it, more soccer matches are shown on TV than almost any other sport. At the flick of a button we can check out the local MLS game, EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Champions League, or international games around the world. But, this World Cup has brought the sport what it really needed - the full backing of ESPN and a landmark, exciting moment (Donovan vs Algeria). With the American sports media juggernaut pumping out soccer around the clock and replaying highlights of that goal, the sport is reaching across the country like never before. You're right that MLS needs to seize on the World Cup bounce... but would you believe it if I told you average attendance this year is over 16,000 per game? With the success of the 2010 World Cup, we'll pay more attention to our players overseas, World Cup Qualifying, the EPL, the Champions League, Euro 2012, and everything in between. Soccer has certainly made it in the USA and it will continue growing in anticipation of 2014.

World Cup Roundup Plus Group Stage Winners & Losers

Time for our World Cup roundup. The last couple days saw the group stage come to a close with a couple surprises, one big name heading on, and one big name heading home. So, what do we make as we transition to the knockout rounds? Let's check out the roundup for Days 14 and 15 from South Africa and examine the winners and losers from the group stage!

1) Biggest Winner - Spain

-A week ago, Spain was coming off of a hugely disappointing defeat to Switzerland and were teetering on the edge of exiting the competition. Spain were a shadow of the sublime offensive unit that we saw at Euro 2008 and leading up to the World Cup and folks questioned whether or not their World Cup curse was back. However, reports of the sinking of the Spanish Armada were greatly exaggerated this time around. A tough 2-0 win over Honduras followed and then today a 2-1 win over Chile got them through and more importantly to the top of the group. Granted, we still haven't seen Spain at their best, but they did the job to avoid Brazil in the Round of 16 and have a relatively easy path to the semis. This could be a time where we see Spain gradually improve and play their best soccer later in the tournament - and that would be great news for the Furia Roja.

2) Standout Performer - David Villa

-David Villa (above) is the forgotten man in the Spanish side. Xavi and the amazing midfield get a lot of attention and so does Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Heck, Villa doesn't even play for Spanish giants Real Madrid or Barcelona, but Valencia. Well, at least he didn't... he just signed for Barcelona for oodles of millions of dollars. But in their first 3 games, Villa has been the best player on the field by a long shot for Spain. His finishing from all over the field has been superb (except for the penalty spot), his movement has been on point, and most importantly he has gotten crucial goals when needed. There are a lot of stars and breakout players at this tournament, Villa might just be both.

3)Biggest Loser - Italy

4) Best Game - Slovakia 3 Italy 2

-The Italians needed to beat Slovakia to advance to the Round of 16. Even if you know nothing about soccer, you know that a country like Italy should beat a country like Slovakia. If you know just a little bit about the World Cup and remember Italy as the defending champions and can't locate Slovakia on a map then you really know that Italy should beat Slovakia. If you're a student of the beautiful game then you know Italy never loses World Cup games to Slovakia with a spot in the last 16 on the line. But, that is the beauty of the 2010 World Cup - the form book and the history book have been thrown out the window. Slovakia took it straight to Italy from the beginning and held on in a frantic finish to pull out a win in a 3-2 classic. Check out the highlights...

5) Biggest Surprise - Asia

-Australia (yes I know it is its own continent, but it's in the Asian federation for some reason) was probably the most fancied Asian team heading into the tournament. But, it's been the two powers of the Far East - Japan and South Korea - that have proved to be two of the Cinderella stories of the tournament. Never before had either team won a game off home soil in the World Cup, and yet now both countries find themselves in the knockout round. South Korea has played much better attacking football than anyone anticipated and Japan has taken their chances with clinical percision, like Keisuke Honda for instance. While they might not do a lot of damage going forward, advancing outside of Asia is a huge step in the right direction.

6) Highlight - David Villa: Goal of the Tournament Part II

-David Villa has done it again! His first goal against Honduras is a candidate for Goal of the Tournament, but he may have topped himself with this 45 yard one time effort against Chile! He may be on his way to the golden boot and ball in this year's tournament...

7) Extra Time - 5 Winners & Losers of the Group Stage

5 Winners

1) South America

-Today's loss from Chile was the first of the tournament for South American teams! 5 South American teams came to South Africa and 5 of them remain in the KO round. They have an unbelievable combined record of 10-4-1 through the group stage! And, most of them will be favored to advance to the QF round. In fact, the only thing stopping all 5 from being favored to advance to the last 8 is that the top two teams from qualifying, Brazil and Chile, play each other in a mouthwatering last 16 game.

2) Landon Donovan

-The US #10 has been the star of two huge games - his goal against Slovenia boosted American spirits and led to a draw, and of course everybody in the country rejoiced when he put in the rebound against Algeria to advance. Donovan is the face of US Soccer, and it's only fitting that he be the one to play a key role in securing a spot in the last 16.

3) ESPN

-The self-proclaimed worldwide leader in sports have finally put their massive amount of resources into a World Cup and been rewarded with massive ratings and top class coverage throughout the tournament. With the disaster of '06 and Dave O'Brien and Marcelo Balboa, ESPN made the move to import scores of announcers and analysts for the 2010 World Cup. The results have been nothing short of the best work ESPN has ever done. The game and studio coverage has been outstanding and insightful, especially the work of...

4) Ian Darke

-While Martin Tyler has done his job as the best play-by-play man in the world, his British counterpart Ian Darke has been the media darling of the 2010 WC thus far. Darke's more excitable style seems to be a great fit with the US Soccer audience, yet he also lets the game tell the story like the great British announcers. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the World Cup has been Darke's journey with the US National team through their heroic draw with Slovenia to Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria. You can tell Darke has fallen in love with the team and he's almost become our home announcer. His call of the Donovan goal has been compared to Al Michaels and the Miracle on Ice even! That may be a bit of a stretch, but it still gives you chills!

5) Soccer In The USA

-But, above all, the sport of soccer is the big winner. With record TV ratings and a thrilling US victory, you get the sense that the sport has seen a big jump thanks to this year's World Cup. Yes, there is always a World Cup bounce, but never before quite this big. Never before have we had such excitement in the general population and so many people talking about the World Cup. Hopefully, the excitement will be sustained after the tournament as well. Of course, soccer isn't going to replace the NFL anytime soon, but soccer has definitely made it in the USA.

5 Losers

1) France

-An easy choice for #1. The manager can't manage. The players didn't want to practice. And now, they're going home deservedly early. They were such a disgraceful act that police had to escort them away from their own fans when they landed back home in France. Sacre bleu!

2) Europe

-Besides France, the rest of Europe didn't fair so fondly. Only 6 out of the 13 UEFA teams in the tournament successfully made the knockout round. In addition to France, fellow 2006 finalist Italy failed to make it (first time in history). England and Spain both failed to impress at times in the group stage while advancing and sleeper teams like Serbia went home early as well. While continents like Asia and South America have shined away from home, you have to wonder whether or not a European team will break the duck and ever win away from the continent.

3) Africa

-Meanwhile, this year's host continent didn't fair well either. Only Ghana was able to advance past the group stage. Teams like Cote D'Ivoire, Cameroon, and Nigeria had golden chances to get through but failed to do so because they couldn't keep their composure in front of goal. It was a disappointing tournament for African teams on the field, but host nation South Africa has put on quite the party and shown the world that Africa can host the world's largest events.

4) Diving & Refereeing

-Hopefully FIFA takes note of the ridiculous amount of diving and cheating going on at this year's tournament. From failed penalty calls to failed red card calls, it has been a bad tournament for diving and refereeing. If FIFA wants to really improve the beautiful game they'll add a panel to punish divers for cheating and be more upfront with blown calls that have an impact on games.

5) Kim Jong-Il

-Maybe it wasn't a good idea to pick that Portugal/North Korea game to stream back live to the communist state. Oh well, there's always his remarkable golf game to appease the North Korean sports fans.

The USA Advances!... and World Cup Day 13 Roundup & Picks

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Today was one of the most memorable sports days that I can remember and one of the main reasons was the amazing USA victory against Algeria. With all hope appearing to be lost, Landon Donovan rescued American hope. But, that wasn't the only thing that happened today at the World Cup as Groups C and D reached their conclusion.

1) Biggest Winner - USA! USA! USA! USA!

2) Best Game - USA 1 Algeria 0

-YYYYYEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

That was my reaction and probably the reaction of millions of other Americans around the country when THIS happened...

What an unbelievable moment and what an unbelievable game! The USA needed to beat Algeria with England defeating Slovenia 1-0 to win the group and advance into the last 16. For 90+ minutes, the USA team had hit the post, been robbed by the officials again, and come close on countless occasions. For all the world, it looked like that the soccer gods were against us yet again and we would fail on the big stage yet again. Soccer in the US would go dormant for another 4 years and a golden generation would wave goodbye to their chance to do something special.

Then, one of the most exciting moments of the sports year and the history of US Soccer happened in the 91st minute. Just when all hope looked lost, Tim Howard made a key save and a Herculean throw to find Donovan in space and the rest is history. The sheer joy in that moment is what sports is all about. This team showed such heart and desire throughout the three games so far that seeing them bow out after a disheartening and unlucky draw would have been a cruel twist of fate. But, our boys came through and now there is a pathway to the semifinals (v Ghana, v Uru/Kor) and what could be a defining moment for the sport in the USA. What a game, what a moment, and what a time to be an American! Wow, I'm getting goosebumps just typing this - how bout a lil Lee Greenwood baby!

3) Standout Performer - Landon Donovan

-This was Donovan's goal and Donovan's day. In truth, he wasn't much of a factor throughout the game, but he showed up with the play that sent the USA through to the knockout round. Donovan is the poster boy for US Soccer and it's only fitting that he be the one to score one of the most memorable goals in US history. Donovan started the play latching onto Tim Howard's beautiful throw, took a great first touch, followed up Dempsey's block and sent it in. The tears in Donovan's eyes after the game told you just how much that goal and that win meant to him and US soccer. Nobody in the red, white, and blue deserved that moment more than the American #10.

4)Biggest Loser - Serbia

-The Cinderella/darkhorse/under the radar team du jour coming into the tournament was Serbia. They had a difficult but not unconquerable group, veteran talent and experience, and enough defense to make a long run in the tournament. Heck, they even beat Group D winner Germany! And, they would have made it to the last 16 if they had not choked against Australia. They were level through 69 minutes and had several chances to hit the front in that time, but Serbia ended up allowing 2 quick goals and bowing out of the competition. With Serbia and Slovenia both exiting the World Cup from favorable positions, it won't go down as a banner day for Eastern European soccer.

5) Biggest Surprise -England's Hero is... Jermain Defoe?

-With all of the focus stateside on the American triumph, England's ability to win in a must-win game has been overlooked. Without their 1-0 win today over Slovenia, they would be headed back towards London in disgrace. And, it was a goal from surprise starter Jermain Defoe that won the game and saved England's World Cup. Defoe was one of the last guys you would expect on the England roster to step into the starting lineup and be able to take the Three Lions into the next phase with Capello's preference for Emile Heskey to partner Wayne Rooney. Defoe was left out of the 2006 World Cup and never seemed to fit into Fabio Capello's team structure this time around - nevertheless it was the Tottenham striker that was the man today and it will be interesting to see if he features in the team going forward.

6) Highlight - From Way Downtown!

-German wunderkind Mesut Ozil (one of our breakout players to watch, which I will certainly take the credit for) scored one of the great long-range goals of the tournament thus far with a splendid strike and a clutch goal to send Germany to the top of Group D and a matchup with England in the last 16!

Not to be outdone though is Aussie Brett Holman with this wicked one hopper that put away the Serbs!

7) Extra Time - What A Moment!

-Today's USA game is what sports is all about. Across the country Tweets, Facebook messages, IMs, texts, e-mails, phone calls, and everything in-between was going nuts over Landon Donovan's goal. Even some of the most diehard soccer haters were watching on the edge of their seat and hoping that the USA could pull out a victory. Donovan's goal was that moment that we love so much about sports. The moment when the dream comes true and frustration and disappointment instantly transform into joy and achievement.

I'll say this - it is not our greatest soccer moment, we've reached the WC quarterfinals before, but it might be the most significant moment and the greatest goal in US Soccer history because of the pure excitement. Having the team fight through such adversity and come so close to getting the breakthrough built the suspense to an unbearable level. Winning the game in such a dramatic way shows folks that soccer IS an exciting sport and it does contain surprises and unforgettable moments like the NFL and other sports. Sure, it's not going to make soccer the #1 sport here at home, but mark down June 23, 2010 as a huge day in the history of US Soccer.

Thursday Preview

Group F - 10:00 ET

Slovakia (1 PTS) v Italy (2 PTS)

-Of course the logical choice is to choose Italy to win big. However, the logical choice was also to pick Italy to win big over Paraguay and New Zealand. Yet, here they sit in a wide open Group F needing a win to move on to the knockout round. Slovakia is also in a must-win situation, but they have disappointed thus far in the tournament and you wouldn't expect them to really threaten the Azzuri. In spite of things going against them, Italy must simply get through this group - if not, them and France should be banned from the next World Cup.

PICK: Italy 2 Slovakia 0

Paraguay (4 PTS) v New Zealand (2 PTS)

-Paraguay should continue South America's unbeaten run against a plucky New Zealand team that has punched far above their weight in the tournament thus far. Who knows, perhaps a draw could see the Kiwis through, or they might even shock the world and get a win to move on (and top the group perhaps?) It has been an incredible story for them to even get this far, but Paraguay is quietly playing some world class soccer and should get the win to top Group F.

PICK: Paraguay 2 New Zealand 1

Moving On - 1) Paraguay 2) Italy

Group E - 2:30 ET

Cameroon (0 PTS) v Holland (6 PTS)

-With Holland in and Cameroon out this game has zero significance except for the Dutch to experiment with a couple things and Cameroon to maintain some pride. It's an impossible game to predict. Oh... a prediction you ask? I'm going to say 59-59, why not, right?

PICK: Cameroon 59 Holland 59

Denmark (3 PTS) v Japan (3 PTS)

-The scenario here is clear - a win or tie from Japan sees them through and only a Danish win sees them through. Japan has a clear edge here and can sit back and defend and perhaps strike on a counterattack (a strategy that worked against Cameroon). However, I believe that Denmark is simply the better team and will get the result they require.

PICK: Denmark 1 Japan 0

Moving On - 1) Holland 2) Denmark

World Cup Roundup - Day 11 & 12

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Today we'll take a look at the games from Monday which saw Spain, Chile, and especially Portugal get huge wins. And then from today, we'll analyze the finishing up of Groups A and B and see who will advance tomorrow from Groups C and D with the United States facing a must win game against Algeria. Let's roll!

1) Biggest Winner - Uruguay

-First, it was fantastic to see Uruguay and Mexico play a proper game today knowing that a draw would send both teams through. Thankfully, both teams attacked with menace and Uruguay ended up getting the goal, the win, and first place in Group A. Luis Suarez scored off of a brilliant cross to open up his campaign at the World Cup and the dynamism that he presents with Diego Forlan is dangerous to the rest of the field. Uruguay face South Korea in the Round of 16 and will be big favorites to make the quarterfinals for the first time since 1970. If this team continues to fire on all cylinders, they are a darkhorse contender to make the semifinals.

2) Standout Performer - South Africa

-The South African team was heroic in their victory over France today. Heading into the final round of Group A play it looked impossible for either RSA or France to advance to the knockout stages. However, 2 goals in the first half against 10 men and a Uruguay lead over Mexico had the miracle talk floating around the world. Alas, it was not meant to be, but in their victory today Bafana Bafana showed heart, determination, and desire (a lot more than what the French can say). So, while they become the first host country to get knocked out in the group phase, South Africa should still be proud of their victory today, their unbelievable fans (yes, even the vuvuzelas), and the way they've made the country and the continent proud with a marvelous tournament thus far.

3)Biggest Loser - Nigeria

4) Best Game - Nigeria 2 South Korea 2

-Marvelous if you're not a fan of the Super Eagles. Coming into today's game, they needed a win against South Korea and an Argentina win to advance. Of course, the silly sending off and 2-1 loss to Greece put themselves in this situation, but it still seemed possible. While Argentina took the lead against Greece, Nigeria found themselves trailing 2-1 to South Korea in the second half when Yakubu had perhaps the worst miss in World Cup history...

Only a couple minutes later, Yakubu somewhat made up for his miss with a successful spot kick to tie the score at 2. But, a missed chip from Obafemi Martins 10 minutes from the end proved to be the last chance for the Super Eagles. After so many missed chances and close calls, Nigeria may be the team most kicking themselves for not making it to the knockout round.

5) Biggest Surprise -Portugal Come Out To Play

-Umm... I probably should have deleted that Tweet that predicted Portugal not being able to break down the mighty wall of North Korea. Shockingly, a team that was held scoreless by the Cape Verde Islands put up 7 goals in a World Cup game. Yes, it was North Korea - but Portugal had shown no signs of scoring against Cote D'Ivoire and was one of the most disappointing teams in the tournament runup. Like France, they have a lot of individual ability, but struggle to put it together. Hold off on putting any money on the Portugese though until you see how they perform against Brazil this week.

6) Highlight - David Villa: Goal of the Tournament

-David Villa's first goal against Honduras is the frontrunner thus far for the goal of the tournament. Villa's mazing run through multiple defenders and clinical finish sparked Spain to a crucial win in Group H.

7) Extra Time - Stop The Cheating & Diving!

-One of our favorite sites, EPL Talk, had a great article here about how the constant diving, simulation, cheating, and embellishment is stopping American sports fans from becoming soccer fans. Many people love the games but hate the constant cheating and acting from players. While Ronaldo may be one of the worst divers, at seems that at least once per game someone falls down clutching their face after being touched in the arm, or acts like their leg was shot with a cannonball after being knicked by a ladybug. It's pathetic and it needs to stop because it is an embarrassment to the sport.

Here's our suggestion to stop the cheating and diving - FIFA must set up a panel to review each game and hand out suspensions to people deemed guilty of diving, simulation, or clear embellishment. With the speed and space of the game, it is almost impossible to determine what exactly happens on the field at the time (see Kaka's sending off). Therefore, punishment must come via video review after the games and severe enforcement of cheating and diving must happen. The NBA and MLS have a similar disciplinary process where players can be suspended following games after looking at video. FIFA and international soccer must do something similar after this tournament is over to prevent this pollution of the beautiful game going forward.

Wednesday Preview

Group C - 10:00 ET

USA (2 PTS) v Algeria (1 PTS)

-With Robbie Findley suspended, who will play up front with Jozy Altidore? Edson Buddle looks the most likely, but if the US can't get a breakthrough early on I would expect Bob Bradley to not hesitate to make changes. Algeria has not looked close to scoring yet in this tournament, but the US would be smart to sit back and defend early on to not go down a goal early on yet again. The US should let the game come to them and be patient with Algeria. It is a game they should and will win to advance to the next round.

PICK: USA 2 Algeria 0

England (2 PTS) v Slovenia (4 PTS)

-Can England turn it on? I just don't know. Like France, England have some of the most talented footballers in the world, but the whole of the national team is never equal to the sum of its parts. With John Terry having a go at Fabio Capello in the media, the team is going through some turmoil in the dressing room. With England, the negative mojo affects them like no other country. It's hard to imagine them flipping the switch when under so much pressure. Slovenia will defend and get the draw to advance.

PICK: England 1 Slovenia 1

Moving On - 1) USA 2) Slovenia

Group D - 2:30 ET

Ghana (4 PTS) v Germany (3 PTS)

-The Group of Depth has come through as each team still has a chance to make it through. Ghana sit in the catbird seat currently, but they face an angry Germany side that didn't show up against Serbia. Ghana is Africa's last hope to make the knockout stages and they need at least a tie to advance. Ghana has the heart to get the job done, but Germany has everything else.

PICK: Germany 2 Ghana 1

Serbia (3 PTS) v Australia (1 PTS)

-A tough one to pick. Serbia will advance with a win, while even a tie might not be enough. Australia must win to have any hope of advancing. Serbia has to be favored in this situation and with Australia being afflicted with red cards they will be missing key players. Serbia will be riding high after defeating Germany and should get another win tomorrow.

PICK: Serbia 2 Australia 0

Moving On - 1) Germany 2) Serbia

World Cup Roundup - Day 9 & 10

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Today we'll take a look at what we missed over the second weekend of the tournament which included a couple shocking results, our first knockout round qualifiers, African sorrow, and umm, some pleasantries exchanged between the French coach and Le Sulk. If you're curious as to what the L'Equipe cover says, it's not pretty.

1) Biggest Winner - South America

-South American teams are still undefeated at the World Cup through 9 games. The quintet of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay are a combined 7-2-0 in the tournament thus far. Amazingly, each country finds itself in great position to advance to the knockout round - it's akin to Big East dominance of the NCAA tournament. Take a look at the results thus far:

*Brazil - 6 points, 2-0, already qualified for KO round

*Argentina - 6 points, 2-0, qualification a near certainty

*Uruguay - 4 points, 1-1-0, likely in already

*Paraguay - 4 points, 1-1-0, need draw against NZ

*Chile - 3 points, currently 0-0 against Swiss but are a man up

All of these teams are also currently in first place in their groups as well. South America is dominating the African World Cup. Just imagine what can happen in 2014 when the tournament travels to Brazil!

2) Standout Performer - Mark Paston

-The New Zealand goalkeeper was outstanding against Italy in preserving a 1-1 draw against the Azurri. The All Whites pulled off perhaps the most surprising result of the tournament in getting a point against the defending world champs. In truth, all of New Zealand were standout performers as they didn't try to sink in and play too negatively against Italy. Now, they have a real chance of progressing into the knockout round with a result against Paraguay.

3)Biggest Loser - Africa

-As much as everyone is rooting for the African teams to do well, it's not happening. Take a look at how each nation has fared...

*Cameroon - first team officially eliminated with 0-0-2 record

*South Africa - face elimination with 0-1-1 record

*Nigeria - 0 points from 2 games, but still an outside chance of advancing

*Algeria - 1 point from 2 games with 0 goals scored

*Cote D'Ivoire - 1 point from 2 games and .006% chance of advancing due to 7-0 Portugal win this morning

*Ghana - 4 points and Group D leaders, but must tie or beat Germany to secure advancing

Cameroon and Cote D'Ivoire have been the most disappointing of the African nations. Cameroon should have probably won both of their games thus far and lost to both Denmark and Japan. Ivory Coast were uninspiring against Portugal and were ran over by Brazil. Also, there was the embarrassing act of Kader Kaita, which got Kaka sent off. I think Ghana and Nigeria both face an uphill struggle trying to qualify for the next round, hopefully one of them makes it.

4) Best Game - Denmark 2 Cameroon 1

-It was one of the most open and dramatic games of the World Cup. Denmark became one of the few teams to reverse a deficit into a victory, but Cameroon will rue the several blown chances against not just Denmark, but in their first game against Japan as well. Cameroon is out while Denmark will still need to beat Japan to advance.

5) Biggest Douchebags - French National Team

-When you have to defend Raymond Domenech, you know that somebody has screwed up big time. Yes, the coach is an idiot, clueless, inept, or whatever word you want to use to describe the lack of ability from the French manager. But, that gives no excuse for what the French players have done. First, Nicolas Anelka was justly sent home after speaking out against Domenech, and then the entire team refused to practice yesterday! Now, officials from the FFF are resigning and the nation is ashamed of the petulant behavior. It's one thing to play poorly on the field, but this sort of childish behavior makes a mockery of the sport, the World Cup, and embarrasses a nation - yes, even France.

6) Highlight - Rommedahl Match Winner

-Dennis Rommedahl's goal for Denmark was one of the better individual efforts of the World Cup. He takes the ball on the wing, cuts back inside, and slots it perfectly to the far post to give Denmark the win.

7) Extra Time - Group Scenarios

*Group C - Slovenia (4 pts) will advance with a win or draw against England. The USA (2 pts) advance with a win or a draw & England draw as long as they stay ahead on goals scored (currently +2). England (2 pts) must win to advance. Algeria (1 pts) is still alive and must beat the USA and have England draw or lose.

*Group D - Ghana (4 pts) will advance with a win, draw, or even a loss and a narrow Australia victory over Serbia. Germany (3 pts) are assured of advancing with a win, or a draw and Serbia loss or tie. Serbia (3 pts) advances with a win, draw & Ghana win, or a draw and a Germany win by more than 1 goal. Australia (1 pts) must win and have Ghana defeat Germany.

*Group E - Holland (6 pts) is in. Cameroon (o pts) is out. So, it comes down to Denmark and Japan, both on 3 points. Currently, Japan has a +0 goal difference while Denmark is -1. Therefore, Japan advances with a win or draw against the Danes, while Denmark must beat Japan to advance.

*Group F - Paraguay (4 pts) is in the drivers seat and needs a win, draw, or a narrow loss and Italy loss to get in. New Zealand (2 pts) must either beat Paraguay, or hope for a draw & Italian draw while scoring more goals than the Azurri or a draw & Italy defeat. Italy (2 pts) will advance with a win against Slovakia, or a draw and NZ loss/tie with less goals. ***Italy and NZ have the same number of goals scored and allowed, and if that remains the same after the final phase of group matches we could be drawing lots to see who goes on!*** Slovakia (1 pts) must beat Italy and hope for a New Zealand loss or tie.

*Group G - Brazil (6 pts) is in. North Korea (0 pts) is out. Based on their 7-0 victory today, Portugal (4 pts) is almost assured of advancing unless Cote D'Ivoire (1 pts) beats North Korea by 8 or 9 goals.

Tuesday Preview

Group A - 10:00 ET

France (1 PTS) v South Africa (1 PTS)

-One of these teams must win by at least 3 or 4 goals to begin to think about advancing. With all of the turmoil in the French team, I can't see them playing well. South Africa will look to at least give the home fans something positive to remember from the 2010 World Cup.

PICK: RSA 1 France 0

Uruguay (4 PTS) v Mexico (4 PTS)

-Uruguay is in pole position due to their superior goal differential. The draw that both teams seek will see Uruguay get 1st in the group and avoid Argentina in the next round. Will Mexico sacrifice sure qualification to push for a win and avoid Argentina? I doubt it. I would expect both teams to play defensive and we'll see a wink wink 0-0 draw that sends them both through.

PICK: Uruguay 0 Mexico 0

Moving On - 1) Uruguay 2) Mexico

Group B - 2:30 ET

Argentina (6 PTS) v Greece (3 PTS)

-Only a shock defeat here would see Argentina not secure first in the group. Greece was fortunate to get a sending off from Nigeria to get their win - otherwise, they were on their way out. Argentina should continue to roll on comfortably, which means Greece will exit the competition.

PICK: Argentina 2 Greece 0

South Korea (3 PTS) v Nigeria (0 PTS)

-Even on 0 pts, Nigeria still has a chance to go on with an Argentina victory and a win over South Korea. If those necessary results play out, Nigeria will advance on goal difference. They just need a little bit of luck against South Korea that they didn't get in the first 2 games. My head tells me that South Korea will at least get a draw that will likely see them advance, but my heart tells me that one African team has to find a way to advance.

PICK: Nigeria 2 South Korea 1

Moving On - 1) Argentina 2) Nigeria

World Cup Roundup - Day 7

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Day 7 featured Argentina with a Grade A performance, a rush of blood to the head from Nigeria (love that phrase), and El Tri getting the best of Les Blues in what seems to be a massive upset... if it was 1990 and not 2010. So, without further adieu, let's laissez les bon temps rouler!

1) Biggest Winner - Mexico

-I can't believe I'm saying this, but I was actually cheering for Mexico today! As an American it seems just wrong to root for El Tri. It's like a Yankees fan cheering for the Red Sox in the World Series or an Ohio State fan rooting for Michigan in the Rose Bowl. But, I couldn't help myself from sending good vibes towards the Mexicans today. Their mix of youth and experience, their open and quick passing style, and a disdain for the French all led to me getting a little excited when Chicharito opened the scoring with a perfectly timed pass from Rafa Marquez.

This was Mexico's first ever win against a European team in the World Cup, and I think it shows another step from the CONCACAF region where Mexico doesn't just play with a big country like France, but beats them soundly. With a win against Uruguay, El Tri can get out of Group A with the #1 seed, draw one of South Korea/Greece/Nigeria, and be favored to get to the quarterfinals.

2) Standout Performer - Gonzalo Higuain

-Yesterday we featured another striker when Diego Forlan rocketed to the top of the goal scoring charts with his 2 goals against South Africa. And now the World Cup has been shaken to the core by Gonzalo Higuain's hat trick today! I guess that Jabulani ain't all it's cracked up to be. He scored two with his head and one on a rebound off of a Lionel Messi shot. Higuain was right where he needed to be and benefitted from a great team effort around him. With this Argentine succes, maybe Diego Maradona is crazy... crazy like a fox, oh second thought, no he still is crazy.

3)Biggest Loser - Raymond Domenech

-Speaking of managers... there's not much left to say when it comes to piling on the clueless Inspector Clouseau - Raymond Domenech. When you've lost Zinedine Zidane, you've lost France. Also, when your captain is referring to you as a small nation and... hello... you are FRANCE... you know you've hit rock bottom. Oh, and I haven't taken French since 8th grade, but I'm sure this isn't a glowing review.

4) Best Game - Argentina 4 South Korea 1

-It was hard to watch Greece just eat away at Nigeria and get a less than deserved 2-1 win. Mexico's win over France was satisfying but not necessarily a spectacle. Argentina won 4-1, but the game was probably the most enjoyable of the tournament thus far. Both teams played an open style, and South Korea had a chance to tie in the second half before Higuain completed his hat trick. See, we told you the goals would come!

5) Biggest Regret - Sani Kaita's Kick Out

-It's a shame that Nigeria's hopes of advancing out of the group stages basically disappeared in about 2 seconds. One bit of reaction and overaction from Sani Kaita sent Nigeria down to 10 men with a 1-0 lead. The Super Eagles looked the best team for the first half hour and were on their way to an easy win. Then, Kaita lost his head and Greece managed 2 goals to win. It would be nice to have some leeway in situations like this and just give out a yellow card - you see the instant regret and sadness from Kaita... but I guess you don't want players going Bruce Lee on each other either.

6) Highlight - Higauin's Hat Trick

-Argentina scored 4 today and Gonzalo Higauin got the first hat trick of the 2010 World Cup and vaulted himself to the top of the Golden Boot race. But, the prettiest goal was indeed the last, set up by wonderful movement and passing by Messi and Aguero. Simply brilliant!

7) Extra Time - Quick Hits

*Group A Scenarios - Uruguay and Mexico (4 PTS) are in with a tie with South Africa and France at 1 point. RSA is actually in the best position to pull off a miracle with a -2 goal difference and France at -3. Basically, France needs to make up 5 goals on either Uruguay or Mexico to advance and RSA needs a similar result. It ain't happening - Mexico and Uruguay will go through. If their game ends in a tie, Uruguay will get 1st place in Group A with a +3 GD.

*Group B Scenarios - Argentina is a cinch with 6 pts and miles ahead on goal difference - each of the other three remaining teams are still alive. Greece (3 PTS, -1 GD) plays Argentina and is unlikely to even beat a B squad. South Korea (3 PTS, -1 GD) plays Nigeria (0 PTS, -2 GD). If South Korea wins or draws, they're likely in even if Greece matches their result based on goals scored and head to head. But if Nigeria wins - things get crazy. Nigeria would advance with a win and Greece loss via a superior goal differential. Even with today's crazy events, they're still in an ok position.

*The commentary and analysis was excellent again today from ESPN, one of their strongest efforts as a network in recent memory. I'm particularly enjoying the 4th string team of Derek Rae and Robbie Mustoe, who did a great job with Nigeria and Greece today. They're a couple of the ESPN regulars, but they prove they belong with the hired guns brought in.

*On the other hand though, what is up with the insane amounts of slo-mo replays from the world feed? I mean, some of them are cool when they are actually on the field. But, do they really need several slo-mos of fans in the stands, coaches, vuvuzelas, and everything in between?

*With Nigeria and South Africa both looking on their way out, the African hope falls to Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire to get at least one team to the knockout rounds.

*We had the French jerseys pegged 31st in our Jersey Power Rankings and they showed why today, what was up with those black x's duct taped on the jerseys? Yipes.

Friday Preview

Group D

Germany (3 PTS) v Serbia (0 PTS)

-Germany was the star of the opening round of games as they waxed Australia 4-0. Serbia was one of the disappointments in falling 1-0 to Ghana. We'll see similar results tomorrow - Serbia will be harder to break down than Australia, but Germany played so well that you would expect nothing less than a win tomorrow.

PICK: Germany 2 Serbia 0

Group C

USA (1 PTS) v Slovenia (3 PTS)

-This isn't a must-win game for the USA as much as it is a must not lose game. With Tim Howard healthy, I would expect a solid defensive effort against a team that didn't look like doing much against Algeria. Going forward, I'd like to see us string some more passes through the midfield and involve Dempsey and Donovan more in the attack. The US should be able to use their athleticism to scratch a goal somewhere and play solid defense throughout.

PICK: USA 1 Slovenia 0

England (1 PTS) v Algeria (0 PTS)

-England. Big.

PICK: England 3 Algeria 0