Madness and Mayhem

There still seem to be a number of people who don't think Americans care to watch or attend soccer games. I think this photo, taken during the U.S./Ghana game last week, sets the record straight. Also, look at the ratings for the game on ESPN; a 3.2 share, making it one of the most watched events on cable this year.

Moving on, I will be unable to post tomorrow, so I'm going to go ahead and do a quick breakdown and predictions column on each of the quarterfinal games kicking off on Friday morning.

Match 1: Argentina vs. Germany

I've got mixed feelings for this one. I'm part German, so rooting against them would be terrible. However, if they lose, Klinsmann will almost certainly not be brought back as their Coach, freeing him up to take the U.S. job once Arena resigns (yes folks, it'll happen soon enough, like when he accepts the Red Bulls offer to be Coach AND Technical Director). Dismiss the talk about him saying he has no interest in the job. What else is he supposed to say when his current team is still alive and his close friend Arena is still the U.S. coach?

With all of that out of the way, I'm still going to go ahead and pick Germany to advance. I think Argentina is a better team with better individual players, but Klinsmann's got his boys buying into the total team strategy, his 2 strikers in Klose and Podolski are operating as a machine, and Michael Ballack continues to impose his will throughout the midfield. Argentina's main chance is to strike early, forcing the Germans to open up the game and force the issue, whereas Riquelme, Crespo, and company can kill them on counters. I don't see it happening, although I think this will be the best game of the 4.

Prediction: Germany 2 - Argentina 1

Match 2 - Italy vs. Ukraine

Gotta hand it to Ukrainian Coach Oleg Blokhin, who knows a thing or 2 about World Cups as a former member of the team from the Soviet Union. After their opening round 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain, he circled the wagons, tightened up on defense, and got Shevchenko the support he needed to create scoring opportunities. Interesting how Ukraine is still playing while Spain once again heads home early in a World Cup. Italy will again be without all-world defender Nesta, it appears, but this team is still rock solid on defense. Have to be honest and say I've been a little disappointed in the play of Luca Toni up top. With his size, speed, and technical ability, I figured he'd have 4 or 5 goals by now, but he's not showing much of anything. The Ukraine will dominate this match but fail to score. They'll make 1 mistake on the defensive end, and it'll be enough for Italy. Why do I get the feeling that Francesco Totti will once again be the hero the Azzuri?

Prediction: Italy 1 - Ukraine 0

Match 3 - England vs. Portugal

Once again, England catches a break, as Portugal will be without 2 starting midfielders, and Cristiano Ronaldo is nursing a thigh injury. He'll play, but probably won't be 100%, which means speed, a huge part of his game, will be affected. Still, anytime someone like Luis Figo directs your attack, you're going to cause some sleepless nights for defenses. Pauleta needs to take control of this match up top and keep English defenders Ferdinand and Terry busy, which should create space for Figo and company. On the other side, David Beckham needs to do more than strike 1 brilliant free kick per game (and no, I don't count throwing up on the field as an accomplishment). Lampard, Gerrard, and Joe Cole need to be relentless in their attack on the somewhat susceptible Portuguese back line, and I hope Sven Goran Eriksson decided to pair Crouch up top w/ Rooney. Crouch will occupy 1 or 2 defenders constantly, which will allow Rooney to find and exploit 1v1 matchups. This match won't have a winner through 120 minutes, so it'll go to penalties. England's got the advantage there.

Prediction: England 2 - Portugal 1 (penalties)

Match 4 - Brazil vs. France

This match will get the most press coverage, as it's a rematch of the '98 Final and also pits the past 2 winners against each other. France surprised everyone, including me, with their gutsy performance against a red-hot Spanish team that seemed to be clicking on all cylinders. Save for the penalty in the 1st half, the unheralded French defense stymied Spain's attack all game, and Zidane and company struck late to put the dagger into Spain's hopes for a showdown w/ Brazil. Les Bleus' old guard of Zidane, Henry, Thuram, and Vieira all showed they still have life left in their legs, and Frank Ribery is quickly becoming an established superstar on a team already loaded with them. They might not be as flashy or attractive as some of the other teams still left, but this is a team that knows how to win and has done so repeatedly over the past 8 years. Confidence plus experience is hard to overcome. However, if anybody can do it, it's Brazil, the heavy favorites going into this tournament, and although they aren't playing great, most people still have them winning it. No other team in the world can match their attacking abilities, but defensively, the team is giving up way too many chances. Don't let the 3-0 scoreline yesterday deceive you. Had Ghana been more precise in their finishing, that game could have been a nailbiter. France can't allow this match to be a track meet, so they'll take it slow, let Brazil possess, and not let them run through the middle as so many other teams do. Brazil needs make the game fast, make the older French chase the ball, and they need to avoid giving Zidane free kick opportunities in their defensive 3rd, where he's killed other teams his whole career. This one is the toughest to call, but I'll take a stab and say...France.

Prediction: France 2 - Brazil 1

I'll be out tomorrow and Friday as well, so check back on Saturday for a complete wrap-up of the quarterfinals and a peek at the semis.

Again, you might get tired of reading this, but thanks to all of you who are reading, making comments, or sending me emails. This has been fun, and yes, as some of you have asked, I'll continue this even after the Cup, talking (what else?) soccer.