Second round matchups

[Dan Loney]

Filler first post. Because I don't want to spoil those of you who are waiting to see your Ukraine-Tunisia tape.

I will say this, though - that game was a classic. You are really in for a treat with that one. It always seems to be the little-regarded nations in the first round that put on the really memorable performances, isn't it? Well, I don't want to give anything else away, just be sure to check back here after you've seen the game. But it's a showcase, trust me.

[Bill Schmidt]

Spoiler!

[Huss]

Dammit, I come here for spoilers and now this blog has gone to hell. Don't make me go to another site when I'm surfing on my blackberry during another boring meeting.

[Dan Loney]

If only one person watched all ninety minutes of that game on my say-so, I will die a happy man.

Anyhoo. Here are my guesses for the second round games. If I can dignify what I've been doing with the word "guessing." The FIFA rankings did a better job predicting who would go through than I did. THE FIFA COCA-COLA RANKINGS. They at least got one group in the right order. No, it wasn't Group E.

If you really want a laugh, I should show you my starting lineup for the Yahoo fantasy game. I thought about going with Brian McBride, but instead, I went with Akwa from Angola.

GERMANY over. SWEDEN: Don't mention the Thirty Years War! Sweden is playing way below expectations...okay, my expectations. Home field advantage should be the big difference here.

ECUADOR over ENGLAND: Ecuador has been playing beautifully - game three doesn't count! England has, well, not. Joga boni-no. (If Togo had hade it, the Togo Bonito slogan would have been worth millions, but oh well.)

HOLLAND over PORTUGAL: So much for the Golden Generation +4. The tournament's players from 1990 gone into coaching heads for a showdown. I shouldn't so blithely write off Portugal, who are playing Figo Bonito. But the Netherlands are just too sharp right now. EDIT - okay, the Klinsmann v. Van Basten welterweight title would only take place in the Final. I was looking at the wrong bracket. When Holland beats Portugal, they will then beat either England or Ecuador.

ARGENTINA over MEXICO: I'm not sure if ESPN will be allowed to broadcast this, since the Supreme Court banned televised executions. In total sincerity, good luck to Mexico on this - nobody outside Africa has a bigger challenge in this round.

ITALY over AUSTRALIA: Because it's either the World Cup or jail for Italy. Australia has a very good chance if Italy brings the game they showed against us, but I'm more impressed with the dismantlings of Ghana and the Czech Republic.

BRAZIL over GHANA: I'm still in bitterness mode, but I'm prepared to cheer for the best team to win in the name of sportsmanship. Even if Brazil scores seven, eight, nine goals - I will cheer each of them equally.

SPAIN over FRANCE: Winner gets Brazil, poor suckers. Spain at least should give Brazil a game, because France would be No-go Bonito.

SWITZERLAND over UKRAINE: Shevchenko fans have to be disappointed that Ukraine were eliminated in the first round - what the hell do you mean, they weren't? Winner of this gets to lose to Italy. Or, if there's a huge upset, then the winner of this gets to lose to Australia.

[royalstilton]

GERMANY over. SWEDEN: Don't mention the Thirty Years War! Sweden is playing way below expectations...okay, my expectations. Home field advantage should be the big difference here.
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it's hard to argue with this pick. i say 2-1 Deutschland uber Sverige

ECUADOR over ENGLAND: Ecuador has been playing beautifully - game three doesn't count! England has, well, not. Joga boni-no. (If Togo had hade it, the Togo Bonito slogan would have been worth millions, but oh well.)
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nah. Rooney and Gerrard. 2-1 again, but England on top. the missionary position. get it, get it?

HOLLAND over PORTUGAL: So much for the Golden Generation +4. The tournament's players from 1990 gone into coaching heads for a showdown. I shouldn't so blithely write off Portugal, who are playing Figo Bonito. But the Netherlands are just too sharp right now. EDIT - okay, the Klinsmann v. Van Basten welterweight title would only take place in the Final. I was looking at the wrong bracket. When Holland beats Portugal, they will then beat either England or Ecuador.
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this will be decided by PKs. Nederlands victorious.

ARGENTINA over MEXICO: I'm not sure if ESPN will be allowed to broadcast this, since the Supreme Court banned televised executions. In total sincerity, good luck to Mexico on this - nobody outside Africa has a bigger challenge in this round.
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if the world is fair, it will be 3-0 Argentina, and LaVolpe will be the Malvinas.

ITALY over AUSTRALIA: Because it's either the World Cup or jail for Italy. Australia has a very good chance if Italy brings the game they showed against us, but I'm more impressed with the dismantlings of Ghana and the Czech Republic.
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1-0. only one of these selections could win 1-nil.

BRAZIL over GHANA: I'm still in bitterness mode, but I'm prepared to cheer for the best team to win in the name of sportsmanship. Even if Brazil scores seven, eight, nine goals - I will cheer each of them equally.
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this should be a very entertaining first half. then Brasil scores 3 second half markers and wins 4-1. Ghana gets a consolation tally late.

SPAIN over FRANCE: Winner gets Brazil, poor suckers. Spain at least should give Brazil a game, because France would be No-go Bonito.
i think this will be closer than you think. because France cannot defend forever, they will lose 2-1.

SWITZERLAND over UKRAINE: Shevchenko fans have to be disappointed that Ukraine were eliminated in the first round - what the hell do you mean, they weren't? Winner of this gets to lose to Italy. Or, if there's a huge upset, then the winner of this gets to lose to Australia.
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but which Ukraine will show up? the side that got tore up by Spain or the side that squeaked by Tunisia and easily defeated KSA who lost 1-0 to Spain. it's a poser, this one. i say PKs and Ukraine.

[Abebe]

First my question,

Leaving aside pop psychological profiling of Spain and France, which team is stronger [I]on paper[I]. I follow the premier league, so I cannot get over how strong the France team is with the cream of Aresnal, Manchester United and Arsenal on that team. I understand even less what a hackjob they have made of the tournament so far. My big suspicion is that Zidane is a wrench in the side, far from being a help. He holds the ball too long and takes away any rhythm, and all balls are played through him. The Togo win vindicates this suspicion. If they play him again other than a late sub, they deserve to lose. I am not sure how strong the Spanish team is, but I am not a big fan of Reyes.

Germany 2- Sweden1. Lehman will have to be huge as the Swedes will test the Germans to the core. If the Germans hold strong, I think they have more weapons and will get the winning goal with minutes to go.

England over Ecuador: 3-1. England will draw too many fouls and the Ecuadorians will make mistakes on both sides of the field.

Holland 2 Portugal 2; Holland wins on penalties due to Edwin van der Sar.

Argentina 3 - Mexico 1. No Borgetti; Argentina is redeeming themselves this year; and they do not want to lose to Mexico again; so will play for pride.

Italy 2 Australians1: The Australians' physical play will get tham into trouble with the wily Italians. Free kicks, corners, maybe a penalty will doom the Australians.

Brazil 4 - Ghana 2: Will be the most entertaining match of the WC. They will match each other in live play, but Brazil will score 2 additional clinical set-pieces.

France 3 - Spain 2: IF Zidane does not start; if he does Spain 3 - France 1. This will be a mighty mighty clash; If the French don't play in this game, they should reconsider the reason for France.

Switzerland 2 Ukraine 0: Ukraine barely beat Tunisia (nice self trip Shev).

[LittleWonder]

This Australian reputation for phyiscal play is a little bit of a myth that preceeds us. Seems we will never be rid of it even though isn't the 1980s anymore.

In all honesty we are no more physical than the US or any similar side. The myth is sure to grow as we play in more Asian competitions where very few sides are truly equipped to deal with 'robust' play.

[royalstilton]

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it's hard to argue with this pick. i say 2-1 Deutschland uber Sverige
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and i would have been right if Larsson could have converted the PK. one point for me...;)

[Beakmon FC]

Holland 2 Portugal 2; Holland wins on penalties due to Edwin van der Sar.

good call, except for the reason Holland/Dutch/Netherlands wins. I think penalties are usually 'lost' by someone jacking up their chance as opposed to great goalkeeping. I see some drama queen penalty taker from Portugal firing one over the bar ala Baggio, then writhing on the turf in agony...that said VDS is a great keeper and probably does make one great save during the match to send this thing to penalties...

[royalstilton]

1-0. only one of these selections could win 1-nil.

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a blind pig could have picked the Australia v. Italia match score.