And We're Back! 12/15/2014

Apologies for the hiatus, I've been busy with life however the draw of the Champions League knock-out stages deserves a post no matter how busy a person is! A great deal has taken place since Germany lifted the World Cup a couple months ago. However, we're on the road to Berlin as Bayern Munich, one of Germany's four club representatives to make it to this stage of the tournament, face Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk. In truth, the pairing has the potential to be one of the most lopsided of the round, with Bayern the clear favorites to proceed. Frankly, Shakhtar's performances up to this point have been minimalistic. The only times that they showed any sign of life was when they were absolutely hammering Belarus' BATE Borisov by seven and five goals respectively. While the Ukrainians did manage to give group leaders Porto a run for their money in the two matches that the teams had, they both ended in draws. Meanwhile, against a less-than-impressive Athletic Bilbao, Shakhtar suffered a 0-1 loss at home in addition to a 0-0 group opener. Compare that to the results of the German giants who won all but once in a group that consisted of major sides from England (Manchester City), Italy (Roma), and Russia (CSKA Moscow). That loss 3-2, somewhat understandably, came in Bayern's away fixture to City that saw Sergio Aguero play at a level that he probably wishes that he could have demonstrated in the World Cup Final match. I mean, what are the odds that someone will score another hat-trick against Bayern in this tournament?

Moving on, France's Paris Saint Germain (PSG) were the obvious heirs of Group F. Coming in second to Barcelona is never something to be ashamed of (unless you're Real Madrid), and England's Chelsea FC will have their hands full when they take on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and company. By their respective records, I would say that PSG are my slight favorites to progress to the next round. While Chelsea are technically undefeated, their two draws came against teams that - while good - are not great. The fact that German side Schalke 04 were able to hold the English giants to a 1-1 draw in September was an embarrassing moment for the Blues. However, they made up for lost time with a 5-0 drubbing of the Germans in Gelsenkirchen. Even harder to fathom was the fact that Slovenia's Maribor were able to stay level with Chelsea despite losing 6-0 to the English side in the preceding fixture! At best, these results indicate an inconsistency in Chelsea that PSG have not suffered from (at least, to the same extent). While the Parisian outfit did get off to a rocky start, tying 1-1 with the Netherlands' Ajax in the their opener back in September, they otherwise had a good run up until the final game of the group which determined that Barcelona were in fact the best team in the group.

As for Group B's victors Real Madrid, they may have gotten off relatively easy depending on which Schalke 04 side shows up for their matches. If it is the Schalke that rolled over last season at this round, or the one that were sorely beaten at home this term by the likes of Chelsea, I don't see much hope for the Germans. Real Madrid have been insatiable thus far, winning all of their Champions League games up to this point. In Group B, though, the Spaniards were not faced with any real challenges. Basel have a decent side this season - though on their day Schalke are probably better than the Swiss - but Liverpool are in a reconstruction period while Bulgaria's Ludogorets Razgrad were never going to do much damage (though they did prove their resolve in a victory over second place Basel!). One bright point that Schalke may see in the coming days is the fact that Madrid have had a few close calls away from home: they only barely edged the likes of Basel (in Switzerland) and Ludogorets (in Bulgaria). All the same, I fear that Schalke will go the way of Liverpool: defeats in both legs to the well-oiled machine that is Real Madrid.

Basel versus FC Porto is probably the tamest of the Round of 16 match-ups though also one of the closest. I think the Portuguese will ultimately triumph, though it won't be easy. Basel have firepower as well as being a compact side that can hold up to sides with greater star power. However, the fact that Porto will be riding high on an unbeaten record (they have drawn twice, both times against Shakhtar Donetsk) might give the northern Portuguese club all the encouragement they need. The Swiss are admittedly very good at home, but Porto have shown themselves to be more than capable road warriors! They won with cleansheets during their visits to Spain and Belarus, while they managed a point when they visited Lviv, Ukraine. With Yacine Brahimi and Jackson Martinez in the line-up, I think Porto will win a hard fought battle to the next round. Marek Suchy, Marco Streller, and others will put in some good performances for Switzerland's sole flag-bearer, but I'm not sure it'll be enough.

Perhaps the most tantalizing showdown will be between Manchester City and Barcelona. While the English have arguably been tested more strenuously thus far in the campaign, I think that Barcelona have shown themselves to be a side that will get the result no matter where they are. They've won all their home games, with their only defeat in the group coming from a formidable PSG who were only able to best them 3-2. City on the other hand have faltered throughout their struggle for qualification, though they began to sharpen up in their last two matches of the Group E fixture list. I would argue, though, that their only truly eye-opening result was against Bayern Munich (in Manchester) where they won 3-2. Perhaps City will win that way against Spanish opposition? Or maybe they'll just hiccup from September to early November. We'll just have to wait and see! I know I'll be rooting for Barcelona though.

Juventus v.s. Borussia Dortmund is the game that I am most interested in. I really enjoy watching both teams play, though I've been left scratching my head on a couple occasions with regards to both sides. For the Italians, their 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in Madrid was done gracefully, though the next fixture saw them lose to Greece's Olympiacos by the same margin! Drawing in the last game of the group with Atletico once more left me wanting more, though the fact that Juventus were through was what mattered. Not that they had nearly been snubbed by Olympiacos who were on 9 points to Juve's 10. With Dortmund on the other hand, they had been golden internationally, while suffering embarrassment domestically. While their domestic fortunes have slightly improved, they began faltering on the world stage in late November. They lost 2-0 to Arsenal in London, England (fair enough), but then tied with Anderlecht at home in Germany! Such up-and-down performances by both sides lead me to question whether they will get very far in the Champions League this year. However, in the present stage, I'm sure we'll see some great matches. I think Dortmund will win at home, meaning that Juventus will have to step up when they welcome the Germans to Turin, Italy. Will they be able to? I'm not so sure. I think Dortmund might just be a little better (internationally, that is) than their Italian counterparts. If Juve were a German team though? My money would be on them!

When Atletico Madrid take on Bayer Leverkusen this season, it'll be for an opportunity to get back into the Final. The Spaniards should be confident, they led their group and performed well in doing so. However, Atletico be warned: Leverkusen travel well. They only lost 1-0 away to group winners Monaco in the opener (losing by a similar score in the return fixture in Germany), and otherwise fought admirably in Russia - always a hard place to visit - and Portugal where they won and tied respectively. Atletico meanwhile proved less than insightful on the road. They lost in their first match of the group against Olympiacos (a 3-2 affair in Piraeus, Greece), before drawing 0-0 with Juventus in Turin, Italy. What does all this mean? That Leverkusen shouldn't be written off. Although they will miss Omer Toprak, with Bernd Leno in goal and the likes of Son Heung-Min and Robbie Kruse on the field, the Germans are a force to be reckoned with. Atletico do remain the favorites with Arda Turan, Mario Mandzukic, and Koke to name just a few of the players that the Spaniards can call upon. All I know for sure is that it'll be an exciting pair of games.

Last but in no way least we have AS Monaco (technically a French side though I'm not buying it) taking on England's own Arsenal. Neither side looked particularly overwhelming in their respective groups, though it should be noted that Monaco probably had the tougher group. From October to early November, the "French" side had a few snafus, dropping points against Zenit St. Petersburg and Benfica though they at least made up for the first mistake in the return leg in Monaco. In the last two matches of the group, Monaco were looking better: winning 0-1 in Leverkusen, and deconstructing Zenit 2-0 to seal the top group spot. Arsenal meanwhile had some defensive frailties throughout the group stage, though they only dropped points on two occasions: in the first group game against Dortmund and in London when Anderlecht kept pace with the Gunners for a 3-3 scoreline. All I can say from the above is that Arsenal can out-score Monaco if the need arises. The Gunners conceded double the number of goals that the "French" side scored (4), in the process scoring 15 of their own. For that reason alone I'd suggest that Arsenal might proceed at the expense of Monaco, though you never know when Dimitar Berbatov, Joao Moutinho, Ricardo Carvalho, Wallace, or Bernardo Silva will have a great match so it's possible that Monaco keeps the score low and takes care of business. With Maarten Stekelenburg and Danijel Subasic available in goal Monaco have the pedigree to put on a defensive performance. Enjoy the football!

World Cup 2014: Come and Gone!

Hello all! With the 2014 edition of the World Cup wrapped up, it is fair to say that it was one of the best ones in recent memory? True, I may be speaking from the perspective of a German fan who was ecstatic to see the Europeans lift the trophy, but I also believe that - objectively - the Brazilian event was one for the ages. Beginning in the group stages, we saw some exciting stuff with controversy in the opening Group A match between Brazil and Croatia: the Europeans would feel hard-pressed to have lost by a score of 3-1, but the rest of the tournament offered little solace as they bowed out with only a 4-0 drubbing of the group's beating boys Cameroon to their name. The pleasant surprises of the group were arguably Mexico - and in particular their outstanding goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa - who would go on to meet heartache of their own against the Netherlands in the Round of 16. Brazil and Mexico were the sides to make it out of the group in first and second places respectively (only separated by goal difference with 7 points a piece) while Croatia and Cameroon returned home earlier than they would have liked.

Over in Group B, titans collided and when the dust settled, Spain were the shocking losers traveling with Australia on their way out of the tournament. The Netherlands were indomitable, and Chile showed a resilient fire that unfortunately seemed to desert them as they advanced in the tournament. The Dutch took the top position in the group with a winning streak as Chile tallied 6; Spain grabbed 3 in the end; and Australia were thrilling, though to no avail as they collected 0 points.

Group C had its own brand of crazy as Colombia ran rampant over the competition; Greece edged out the right results after a 3-0 beating at the hands of the eventual group winners; the Ivory Coast were physically imposing though otherwise uninteresting; and Japan were inventive, a pleasure to watch, but only managed one point from the three group matches. Colombia and Greece proceeded on to do completely different things: The Europeans fell to a Costa Rican side that the world wanted to see do well in the Round of 16, while Colombia lost to the hosts in the Quarter Finals after a decent win over Uruguay.

As for Group D we had the world turn upside down for a couple of days. If you can find me one person who honestly thought that Costa Rica would progress from this group - let alone win the group - I would kiss you and them. And this wasn't at the expense of sides like Bosnia-Herzegovina or Iran (no offense!), but rather ITALY, ENGLAND, and URUGUAY. Frankly, it was awe-inspiring. The Ticos took 7 points, topped the group, beat Greece in the Round of 16, and were only just barely bested by the Netherlands in the Quarter Finals. Uruguay proceeded to be defeated by Colombia in the next round while Italy (with 3 points) and England (with 1) were left scratching their heads and wondering what the heck had just happened to them.

Turning now to Group E, where France scraped by with Switzerland after harrowing ordeals against Ecuador and Honduras. The Swiss lost to eventual Finalists Argentina in the next round as France beat Nigeria handily in the Round of 16 only to lose to the conquering Germans in the Quarter Finals by a single goal. There isn't much to say about this group as it was a straightforward one and the teams performed relatively close to expectations.

Group F is another matter. Although Argentina proved as deadly as anticipated (they did, however, lose strength rather than gain it moving out of the group), Bosnia and Herzegovina were less than their best. On attack they proved ineffectual against half-serious sides, while on defense they kept things close but could never work their own assault. Nigeria deserved the second slot despite drawing 0-0 with Iran (who were admittedly very spirited given the weight of the task that was expected of them) in their opening fixture. Edging Bosnia-Herzegovina and just barely losing to Argentina, the Africans earned their spot in the Round of 16 and it was a pity that they just rolled over against the French.

Now then, Group G which saw Germany slaughter Portugal 4-0 in the opener, the United States defeat Ghana 2-1 in an absolute thriller, and the Americans join the makers of Audi, Puma, and Haribo when all was said and done. Granted, Belgium would go on to beat the US by a single goal in the next round, but many of the fans kept watching as the Germans made a run to the World Cup Final... and win. Portugal were left deflated as they ended up in third on goal difference while Ghana earned a point from surprisingly drawing with Germany in their second group game. The United States tied with the Portuguese (though they honestly would have won, had it not been for Tim Howard's one and only mistake of the tournament) and lost 0-1 to Germany but it was enough!

Last but not least: Group H. Belgium ran out deserved leaders despite scoring few goals in comparison to the second place side. It wasn't Russia! No, not even South Korea! Yes, Algeria were the final surprise of the group stage with a 4-2 win over the Asians and a draw with the Russians after losing narrowly to Belgium in the first game of the group. As for the other two teams? They looked rather uninterested to be frank. They only ever scored a single, solitary goal (at most!) in any of the games they played. The Koreans couldn't stay off the ground, and the Russians seemed nonchalant as they were directed towards the exit following two draws: one in their first match with South Korea, and one in their last with the North Africans.

Going through the knock-out rounds, Brazil were able to edge Chile on penalties after a 1-1 game after 120 minutes - a lucky result for the hosts once more. Colombia roundly beat the Uruguayans 2-0 when the two sides faced off, while the Netherlands controversially beat Mexico 2-1 after a last gasp penalty was granted to the Europeans in the 4th minute of stoppage time. Huntelaar was more than up to the task of putting it away. Costa Rica defeated the stiff Greek defense on penalties after a 1-1 affair, while France beat Nigeria 2-0 and Germany had a bit more in the tank than the hard-fighting Algerians. Argentina sent the Swiss packing with a 1-0 victory as Belgium slotted home twice against the USA in their match-up. In the Quarter Finals, France lost 0-1 to Germany, Colombia lost to Brazil and Argentina beat Belgium by a similar deficit (1-2 and 1-0 respectively), as the Netherlands put Costa Rica to bed in penalties after a 0-0 game of football. The Semi Finals were another source of amazement as we watched Brazil mercifully lose 1-7 to the Germans (admit it, the Europeans could have made it much worse for them) and the Netherlands finally bite the bullet and fall in penalties to Argentina after playing out a 0-0 game. Fighting over third, Brazil were bested once more by the Dutch with a 0-3 scoreline before Germany found the back of the net against Argentina through Mario Gotze in the 113th minute of the match. Deservedly as the best team of the tournament, the Germans lifted the trophy and celebrated their 4th World Cup victory. Congratulations to all of the teams that participated and thank you for putting on such a brilliant festival!

A Tale of Woe Before Brazil 2014 Begins: 6/6/2014

The injured list for the run-up to the World Cup in Brazil has become rather populated of late. Even since my last post, France's Franck Ribery and Clement Grenier (who play at Bayern Munich and Lyon respectively) have been forced to withdraw from the tournament due to fitness concerns. England will be without Theo Walcott while Spain will miss Victor Valdes (although they do have Iker Casillas who would have doubtless started in goal). Part of the reason why Germany may be seen as having a weaker defense than they have fielded in the past is the fact that both Holger Badstuber and Ilkay Gundogan have been ruled out. One danger for Italy is the fact that midfield partner of Andrea Pirlo, Riccardo Montolivo, has been sidelined with an injury similar to the one Mexico's Luis Montes has experienced: a serious fracture in the leg. To clarify: Andrea Pirlo was NOT the one who was injured. Riccardo Montolivo was. The pair in the Italian midfield had only been brought up due to the fascinating football they have been playing up to this point. Add to that the fact that Croatia are without three class acts - Ivo Ilicevic, Niko Kranjcar, and Ivan Strinic - and you may just wonder whether a conspiracy exists to get the Brazilians to lift the World Cup on home soil. With absentees such as Kaka and Alexandre Pato (through the decision of the coaching staff, not injury) you can't say that everything looks great for the hosts, but it certainly could be worse. Personally, I hope that the likes of Bernard, Luiz Gustavo, and Maicon are able to perform. If so, the Brazilians might just take the world by storm.

World Cup Update: 6/3/2014

Well, just when you figure that everything has been sorted out and you can sit down and relax for the lead-up to the World Cup, the team news comes out and your predictions are shaken. Obviously, it isn't an exact science, but let's move on shall we? First of all, there have been some very unfortunate injuries. Probably first on the list is in the Colombia camp: Radamel Falcao who has failed to recover from his niggling knee injury that has been an issue since January. Alongside such a huge loss, Colombia will also be without Luis Muriel and Luis Amaranto Perea - both aging but talented and deeply committed players - as per Jose Peckerman's decision. Despite these setbacks, consider that several of the Colombian back-line: Pablo Estifer Armero and Camilo Zuniga as well as Cristian Zapata and Mario Yepes play in the Italian first division with quality sides such as Napoli, AC Milan, and Atalanta. In addition to such a strong defense, the likes of James Rodriguez (who plays at Monaco) and Teofilo Gutierrez (a man who earns his keep at River Plate in Argentina) will mean that the Colombians are - while not as strong as they may have once been considered - still a formidable side. As far as reconsidering their chances, I would say that they should progress from their group, but upon meeting Italy (or potentially Uruguay) in the Round of 16, they will make their exit from the competition with their heads held high. Costa Rica are a side that will enjoy their time in Brazil, despite the fact that Alvaro Saborio will be out due to injury alongside Bryan Oviedo. However, Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz, and Keylor Navas make for a talented basis of the squad despite a lack of extensive depth.

Honduras have also been rocked by injury news, with Arnold Peralta out of contention due to a thigh problem. Nevertheless, the Hondurans have quality on the pitch with Boniek Garcia and Jerry Bengtson in the side. Meanwhile, Ecuador has named Segundo Castillo - despite being injured - to a side that includes Antonio Valencia among a host of Central and South American players. I don't believe that any of these changes will impact the manner in which these teams perform to any great extent. As for Australia, the veterans Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, and Mark Milligan will all be there for the Aussies. Mark Birighitti, Josh Kennedy,  and Luke Wilkshire have each failed to be selected while a number of domestic players will be making their run out. It'll be interesting if
Mitchell Langerak manages to get a chance to play in goal. Belgium are lucky enough to not have any injuries going into the World Cup... beside the phenomenal Christian Benteke. Frankly, there isn't a position that I can see the Belgians lacking in resources. With Thibaut Courtois in goal and a defensive line that includes Toby Alderweireld, Daniel Van Buyten, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, and Thomas Vermaelen, the Belgian defense is formidable to say the least. What about moving up the pitch? Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Marouane Fellaini, and Axel Witsel are a fierce attacking force that have a history of scoring for club and country.

Nigeria meanwhile are going to be without midfielder Sunday Mba - one of the members of the side that took third in the African Cup of Nations last year. Also out are Joel Obi and Nnamdi Oduamadi. Back in the line-up: Joseph Yobo and striker Peter Odemwingie who have illustrated their resolve after a lack of selection. Interestingly, Babatunde Michael and Kunle Odunlami will suit up in the national colors beside keeper Vincent Enyeama, defenders Elderson Echiejile and Efe Ambrose as well as John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, and Victor Moses. With that kind of quality, the Nigerians may just give Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina a run for their money. They should be able to dispatch Iran. The only concern for Argentina is goalkeeping. Sergio Romero will probably get the nod, but he isn't quite on the level of Manuel Neuer of Germany, Spain's Iker Casillas, or Italian Gianluigi Buffon.On the other hand, with defenders like Ezequiel Garay, Pablo Zabaleta, Hugo Campagnaro, and Martin Demichelis who needs a goalie? Doubtless, Argentina will rely heavily on their attacking resources - Sergio Aguero Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi, and a little guy named Lionel Messi. They just might be able to do it too! Control of the midfield and ensuring that Messi is not isolated at the front will be two of the major things that may make or break this talented side.

The other side in Group F, Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be without Ervin Zukanovic, though the main core remains: Asmir Begovic at the back, a contingent of defenders who ply their trade in Germany, forwards Vedad Ibisevic and Edin Dzeko, and a midfield serving in Italy among other places. They should be enough to get out of the group so long as they keep it together against Argentina in the opener and bounce back from what will likely be a defeat against the South Americans. France will be a solid, well-oiled machine despite Franck Ribery's struggle with a back injury. Although they have great keepers, Hugo Lloris will doubtless get the nod to start as the defense will have a vaguely English feel: Mathieu Debuchy, Patrice Evra, Bacary Sagna, and Laurent Koscielny all play on the island. The midfield is much more "French" in the sense that Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Valbuena among others play in Ligue 1. With Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, and Ribery leading the charge, Les Bleus might just go far.

The Germans also look set to take the field in Brazil, despite their recent friendly performances (yes, Cameroon are good, but Germany looked childish at many points in their match). And despite the fact that their only "striker" is an over-30 (though always gifted!) Miroslav Klose. In Manuel Neuer and Roman Weidenfeller the team has some of the brightest goalkeepers at the same time as the defense - though not as impregnable as it once was - continues to be put together thanks to the likes of Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Kevin Grosskreutz, Benedikt Howedes, and Mats Hummels. The midfield is a zoo. Though largely developed from German-based talent, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podoloski, and Andre Schurrle all play in England. Nevertheless, the play has seemed disjointed of late. The teammates need to start connecting if they are to have any chance against sides like Portugal as early as the group stage. As for Cameroon, the Africans are great. High energy and a joy to watch, the side is also built out of largely foreign-based material. However, you have to wonder whether there is such a thing as too much age and experience. Samuel Eto'o, Makoun, and Song are great to be sure, but alongside goalkeeping concerns and a defense that has its moments, you have to wonder whether they will rocket, or fall flat. Less than ten days to go!!!

World Cup 2014: Revisions and Predictions: 6/1/2014

Following the latest news and results, I believe that a reevaluation of the World Cup group predictions from last time is called for. Alongside this, I'll also be making some fearless guesses at the Round of 16 and on. Who'll win? As much as I would like it, probably not Germany. Off we go! In Group A, barring a complete collapse by the Brazilians, the only thing that has changed is who will be in second: I think Croatia might just be able to pull it off. They have shown by far more quality than Mexico of late which leads me to exchange the two in the standings. While the Central Americans may fare better in the climate, the Croatians have more on the bench for me as well as the endurance to push through any troubles. Cameroon is a side that I would love to see get out of the group. While Samuel Eto'o is a phenomenal player - even at his age - and the other members of the squad have a decent amount of class as well as strength, I fear that they may be out-matched in Brazil. It's possible that the Africans may take a point from the Mexicans, but it won't be enough. Not much has changed in my estimation of Group B. Spain and the Netherlands are still my picks to advance from the group, even though Chile will have the likes of Arturo Vidal in their arsenal. The South Americans won't roll over for the Europeans, they may even push them until the final match, but I fear that the Spaniards and the Dutch just have too much for the Chileans to handle. Australia remain odd ones out in my book!

Turning to Group C, Colombia should push through with the squad they have, while Greece will muddle on, defending as if their lives depended on it. Goals will be a concern for the Southern Europeans, but they should tally on the counterattack against sides like Ivory Coast and Japan; winning through in the process. While the Africans are certainly physically fit, you must wonder whether they may be outdone by the technical ability of the Japanese. Nevertheless, I would tip the Africans to finish in third despite the fact that I much prefer Japan's style of play. Group D is far more tricky as Italy and Uruguay remain my picks to progress, though England will hope to serve as dark-horses with Costa Rica probably occupying the bottom of the group standings by the end. While a World Cup win for any of the sides in this group looks unlikely, neither Italy, Uruguay, or England can be taken lightly. Between the two European sides, Italy and England, I would say that the Italians have the right balance of youthful exuberance and aged experience. True, the midfield looks somewhat gray behind the ears, but even so, England will be hard-pressed to match them in the South American heat. Uruguay meanwhile should run the English ragged. At the same time, they might not have the same physical presence as either the English or the Italians. But, they do have proven goalscorers who should harass the defenders of their opponents.

Group E is somewhat more straightforward. So long as the French actually arrive in Brazil, they have the talent to progress from a deceptive group. I say deceptive because the Swiss are a well put together side while Ecuador may serve as a surprise package. All the same, the two European sides are my choices for group winners. Honduras on the other hand would probably count a draw as a success in this group. In terms of title contenders, Group F has one such side: Argentina, who might not be on everyone's lips, but perhaps should be. If Lionel Messi is on target, there will be no stopping them. While the Argentinians should progress rather easily, Bosnia and Herzegovina are the team that I would pick to snatch second. In offense they are deadly while on defense they are as solid as a brick. The same cannot be said for the Nigerians or the Iranians who may pose a few roadblocks, though nothing that the higher quality sides in the group can't handle.

Finally, Groups G and H are rather similar. Both have two sides that should win it, while each have a third side that might just slip in under the radar. In the former, Germany and Portugal are the teams that are clear favorites. The potential stowaway? The United States. Yes, even without Landon Donovan I believe that they can edge Ghana, tie Portugal, and keep things tight in their last match against Germany who may have already qualified at that point. That is no to say that Ghana are push-overs, but they can certainly be beaten. In the latter Group, Belgium and Russia are most likely going to pull through, but don't be surprised if South Korea are able to surprise the Russian bears. And while the Belgians are certainly charismatic, you may wonder what happens when they get flustered or fall behind. It's true, I may be biased towards the South Koreans because of their technique and flair, but I also believe that the Russians are not nearly as strong as they have been in the past. As for the Belgians, they are certainly a force to be reckoned with, but the lack of international experience and change of climate may prove disadvantageous for them. As for Algeria, as wily as they may hope to be, there is only so much that a talent deficit can be concealed.

What of the Round of 16 and beyond? Well, I'll offer some considerations. Depending on how rough the Brazil-Netherlands match goes may determine further progression for either side as Colombia (or Italy, depending on how good the Colombians turn out to be) will offer stiff competition for whoever they face in the Quarter-Finals. France-Bosnia and Herzegovina should be a thrilling fixture with the two sides putting on a great attacking performance. On paper, the French should win the day, setting up a match with Germany who should make easy work of Group H second place side Russia. In the other fixture bracket, Spain will probably face Croatia and claim victory in typical Spanish fashion. The defending champions would then encounter Uruguay who will have beaten Greece in a rugged battle. Meanwhile, Argentina and Switzerland will take to the field in the Round of 16 as Belgium and Portugal face off in their respective fixture. Argentina will likely claim victory over their European opponents before facing off against either Portugal (probably more likely if Cristiano Ronaldo and company are in form and able to play) or Belgium (who would win if they are able to shut down Ronaldo and get their strikers to score as much as they have domestically) in the Quarter-Final.

Speaking of the Quarter-Finals, Brazil will likely best Colombia if they have gotten this far while Germany should handle anything the French can throw at them. Meanwhile, Spain-Uruguay and Argentina-Portugal will be contests just as heated as if they were the Final with Spain probably getting the better of the representatives from Uruguay and Argentina deconstructing the Portuguese. That means the Semi-Finals would place hosts Brazil against Germany while Spain take on Argentina. As much as I would love to see the Germans in the Final, I think that Brazil would claim victory if they made it this far. Argentina would then outdo the Spaniards, setting up a South American Final and a European Third Place match. Argentina would then perhaps break the hosts' hearts as Germany finally dispel their ghosts by defeating Spain in the Third Place match-up. What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to leave a comment! Enjoy the build-up to the showdown!

World Cup 2014 Brazil Update! 5/10/2014

With the World Cup in Brazil fast approaching, let's reconsider the chances that the respective teams have in the competition. Many team updates have impacted the chances of particular sides in performing once the games kick-off. Starting with Group A, Brazil are the obvious favorites of finishing at the top. Mexico are my pick for second place, though it'll be a close run between them and the team that I believe will take third place: Croatia. Finally, Cameroon are the side unlucky enough to get placed in such a competitive group. They are a decent side, and may very well challenge the Mexicans and Croats. 

Group B stands in a similar position to the first group, with Spain my choice of going to the top of the group. The Netherlands should manage second despite Chile's best efforts. Injuries in the South American's squad have dented their chances to be sure. Australia are rather helpless in this group though. They are transitioning with a new coach which may prove too serious a handicap for the Aussies. 

As for Group C, Colombia are potentially the best side of the four though Greece, Japan, and the Ivory Coast are very close in terms of talent, drive, and togetherness. I would suggest that the Greeks are the most well put together side, but every group match will be a challenge here! The Japanese and the representatives from the Ivory Coast will ensure that the action does not stop. 

Turning now to Group D, at least one big name will fall: Italy and Uruguay are my picks to move forward. Their squads should have sufficient depth to deal with the other group members. Having said that, England will certainly challenge the South Americans at least. Nevertheless, the squad fluctuations for the English may prove disastrous. They won't be embarrassed, but the going will be difficult. Meanwhile, Costa Rica should be encouraged to enjoy their time in the tournament, as they will probably fail to qualify for the next round.  

Group E is arguably one of the most straightforward in the competition, with France and Switzerland talented enough to make through at the expense of Ecuador and Honduras. Having said that, the Europeans are very similarly talented; though the delegates from the Americas should prove a close race. Ecuador will provide a spirited display, though the Swiss defense and French cannons should prove too much for them in their respective encounters. 

The teams in Group F are a challenging bunch, with Argentina the clear victors in my book though Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nigeria are difficult to differentiate. All the same, I think that Bosnia-Herzegovina will place second while Nigeria will defeat the Iranians to stay off of the bottom of the table. The Europeans will hope to continue their free-flowing football, while Iran will hope to keep their heads and play the game that they have played through qualifying so successfully. 

 Group G may be the most exciting one, with Germany and Portugal the favorites to progress while the United States and Ghana will be left fighting for third position. No one side is clearly weaker than any other. Ghana may falter, under the sustained pressure of their three competitors. The U.S. and Portugal are trickier opponents for the Germans, though I would expect Cristiano Ronaldo and company to undo the Americans when the time arrives. 

Last but not least, Group H has the potential to become an open contest. Belgium and Russia should win through, but South Korea may challenge the Eastern Europeans – who are not nearly as strong as they have been in the past – while Algeria may be left disappointed unless they can find the back of the net more often against quality opposition. One concern for the Belgians is the depth of their squad and the threat that a disappointing initial result against the Algerians may do to their morale. Hope you are looking forward to the World Cup!

It's a Double Date!

Fascinating matches around Europe this week as we learned the finalists of both the Champions League and the Europa League. In the first competition, Atletico Madrid were victorious over Chelsea by a 3-1 margin despite a 0-0 home fixture! It was a tense second leg with Fernando Torres putting the home side up in the 36th minute. Adrian Lopez equalized for the Spaniards just before the half time interval, while teammates Diego Costa and Arda Turan slotted home in the 60th and 72nd minutes respectively to decisively eliminate the English side from contention in the Final. In the other semi-final, Real Madrid had a 1-0 lead after the first leg at home and were traveling to Germany to face Bayern Munich in what had the opportunity to be a massive battle. Instead, the performance was anticlimactic as Bayern crumbled in the first half. Sergio Ramos struck twice within five minutes - in the 16th and 20th minutes - to put the Germans on the ropes. Cristiano Ronaldo then struck a third in the 34th minute to make it a 4-0 aggregate scoreline. It was clear that Bayern didn't have much to add to the conversation going into the second half, pressing forward somewhat better though never convincingly. Ronaldo's second strike, in the 90th minute, sealed the defending champions' fate: Bayern were out in humiliating fashion and an all-Spanish Final was set for the Champions League. Interestingly, both sides that lost had majorities of possession; Bayern more so with almost 65% of the ball. Just goes to show that it is more important to know what to do with the ball than to sit around holding it!

As for the Europa League, one of the semi-finals lived up to the billing while the other ended with a whimper. Juventus-Benfica was a harsh slog with a 1-2 scoreline from the first leg. The fact that the Italians had almost five times as many opportunities on goal than the Portuguese did not help Juve. Neither did the lion's share of possession, 63% going to the second leg hosts. In fact, by the end nerves were showing and tempers flared with three red cards coming in the last 23 minutes - two of those coming in the 89th minute. There were no goals in Italy, despite Juve's best efforts. Hopefully that is not a foretaste of what is to come in the Final! Turning to the Spanish semi-final now, Sevilla were outplayed in Valencia up until literally the final minute of the match. Sofiane Feghouli scored in the 14th minute for Valencia followed by an own goal by Sevilla's keeper Beto in the 26th minute. Matters were not helped by Jeremy Mathieu's 69th minute strike that gave the hosts an aggregate lead of 3-2. Against the run of play, though, Stephane Mbia headed home in the 4th minute of stoppage time of the second half to make it 3-3 on aggregate, Sevilla going through on away goals.

Just to recap then, the Champions League Final in Lisbon, Portugal will pit Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid while the Europa League will see its conclusion in Turin, Italy with Benfica and Sevilla facing off for glory. Expect a blog post in the near future to examine the respective team's chances. I would love to see Atletico and Benfica winning the respective competitions, but more later! Hope you enjoyed the matches!