World Cup: Round 2

After some major surprises (such as France and Italy going home), here we are, second round of the 2010 World Cup.



I do not think South Korea has a good enough team to beat Uruguay, which has shown great soccer so far. Uruguay will make it to the quarter final game.



This game is interesting. Everybody makes it seem like the US are always the underdog which is not true. Looking at the past couple of years the US team has shown a lot of improvement. I think they will win against Ghana only if they start being decisive in the box, although i would like to see an African team make it far.



Unless Slovakian players play the game of their lives this result should be pretty obvious, and Netherlands will make it to the quarter final.



If Brazil plays how they can, they will have no problems making the quarter final game, and I think they will.



I am pretty confident when I say that this will be Mexico's last game in this World Cup. Maradona's team is way more superior. Hopefully Messi will score his first goal in this competition.



Probably the most interesting second round match. England has been struggling a lot with their offense, and Germany hasn't been to convincing in the last two games either. I think for what seen so far the game could go to penalty kicks very easily. I think Germany will have a hard time scoring, and if England will be able to put his offense together they may be the ones getting the spot for the quarter final. It's a tough one, but I think England will make it through.



This one may be a tough one too. If we looked at the FIFA ranking we would probably say that Paraguay will win. But Japan has shown good soccer so far in this competition, beating Cameroon and Denmark. I think Japan will surprise everybody by winning this match.



Another interesting match between two European soccer superpowers. Portugal has shown off only against North Korea, making the other two matches really boring, so it is kind of hard to see where they are at. Spain could have been more convincing I think. After losing to Switzerland they easily beat Honduras and Chile (who scored a goal by playing 10 vs 11). This one is very hard, but I am going to guess that Spain will win.

Goodbye Italia

What really happened to Italy this year?
Italy was the defending champion and had a lot of pressure because of that, which does not justify the way the players played. In my opinion Lippi made some wrong choices; players like Camoranesi, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Gilardino, Iaquinta, Gattuso should have never come to South Africa. On top of that Lippi could not prepare the team well both mentally and physically. Against Slovakia it was rare to see some good passing, let alone shooting anywhere close to the net.
We can blame it on Lippi as much as we want, but let's not forget that four years ago, he did everything right and Italy was on top of the World.
Now the World Cup is over, and Lippi is gone...Let's pick up the broken pieces and let's start a new chapter.
Welcome Cesare Prandelli, good luck!

World Cup: thoughts after 2 games

So here are my personal thoughts on this World Cup after the second game.

Group A:
France is being ridiculed around the world for what is happening to the team: players getting in fights with trainers, players not training, people resigning. Pretty embarrassing France! I do not think they deserve to go through this stage for what they have shown so far.
Uruguay and Mexico have shown some good soccer (especially Uruguay) and I think they will deserve a chance to show the World what they can do when things get serious.
For South Africa this World Cup will be just a great memory.

Group B:
Argentina is slowly starting to show what they are capable of and in their last game will have to face Greece, who is fighting to get that spot for the second round.
Nigeria and South Korea will face each other and the loser is out. It is hard to predict who will pass with Argentina, since 3 teams could have 3 points, but given the goal situation and what they have shown thus far, my prediction is South Korea.

Group C:
Interesting situation here. England needs to beat Slovenia and still is not for sure they will get first place. Capello needs to show that he deserves to be the head coach and he needs to prove himself just like he has throughout his career as a club coach. The US, after being robbed against Slovenia are probably ready to prove themselves against Algeria, whose hopes are not too high if you ask me.
My prediction is that the US will pull it out and beat Algeria and at the same time England will finally win their first game at this World Cup.

Group D:
Here happened probably one of the biggest surprises, when Serbia beat Germany. It is a very interesting situation because Ghana holds the first place but will have to face Germany who will need to win if they wanna make it through. Australia's hopes are very very little. I do think that Serbia will win and kick Ghana out of the competition.

Group E:
Even though the Dutch have to improve, they are playing Cameroon which is already out. Denmark and Japan will face each other in a game that will decide who makes it to the next round. I personally think Denmark will win!

Group F:
Big surprise when New Zealand forced Italy to a draw, forcing the Italians to win the last match against Slovakia. Paraguay will probably pull it out against New Zealand, sending them home. My opinion, Italy and Paraguay to the next round.

Group G:
Portugal showed off with an impressive win over North Korea, who says goodbye to this competition. The only way Ivory Coast can still hope, is to beat the Asians and hope for Brasil to pull out a victory against Portugal. Brasil has shown improvement against Ivory Coast but suffered an injustice when Kaka was sent off.
Brasil is through, and according to my humble opinion will be followed by Portugal.

Group H:
After a minor speed bump Spain beats Honduras, ending their tournament here. Spain will most likely beat Chile and qualify as first in the group and for second place it will be a battle, especially if the Swiss will pull it out against Honduras.
Spain and Switzerland for me.