Verbesserung (The quarterfinals, part 2)

Portugal v. England

Will this finally be the match where England plays up to their level of talent? England can certainly play better...but will they? Portugal will prove to be the toughest competition England has faced thus far in the tournament. The English side gets a lucky break since Portugal will take the pitch without Deco and Costinha in the lineup due to yellow card accumulation. That could very well prove to be the deciding factor. With 5 other players on the Portuguese side playing with yellow cards, they may have to play more cautiously to avoid getting carded again and not being able to play in the next game should Portugal advance. But, truly, this game is in and of itself so that shouldn't affect strategy much. However, it may slightly alter play enough to give England a slight advantage. That is, if they hadn't been playing so poorly all tournament. With Portugal missing players, England still waiting to hit their stride, and Owen out for the duration this could swing widely either way. With the offensive punch of both teams diminished due to cards and injuries, Rooney finds the net for the first time in this tournament and England limps along to another unimpressive but bookable 1-0 win.

Brazil v. France

Brazil was probably surprised by the tenacity of Ghana. That may explain why they seemed to be off-pace a good portion of the game. But most teams in the tournament would like to be off-pace and score 3 goals. Brazil didn't look exactly vulnerable. However, there were subtle hints during that game that may provide future opponents some tips on how to match up against this Brazilian supersquad. Ghana had a lot of success in pressing the attack. When they did let up Brazil was able to counterstrike and score. Keeping Brazil on their heels may be a key to taking down this giant. Of course, easier said than done. France seems to be gathering steam now that they have one game between their lacklustre group play. They looked quite creative against Spain and as a result pulled off a stunning 3-1 win. Unfortunately for France they will discover, as Ghana discovered, they simply don't have the guns to keep Brazil on their heels long enough to get the tallies they will need to win. Sure, Henry, Vieira and Zidane are all world class players, but there is too much softness outside of these 3 that is just waiting to be exploited by the Brazilians. Brazil doesn't appear to play like they want to win. Rather, they just know they will. Yes, they're that good.. 3-1 Brazil!

Jetzt geht's los! (The quarterfinals, part 1)

Germany v. Argentina

This is the biggest clash in the tournament to date and this game is not to be missed regardless of who you are supporting. Germany comes into this game riding high on the wave created by their shelling of Sweden while Argentina went the distance with Mexico and pulled off a win with a strike deep in overtime. This match is already an instant classic which will be won or lost in a classic fashion with controlling the midfield, well-timed runs and taking advantage of dangerous set plays. One problem that Germany has had in past tournaments has been the reluctance to press the ball forward, instead being content to sit back a bit and play more conservatively. That certainly hasn't been a problem thus far and their strategy has been well managed by Juergen Klinsmann. Mexico proved that an aggresive team can put Argentina on its heels, temporary as that may be. This game is truly anyone's game. The nod goes to the Germans who will be playing on friendly turf. Germany pulls off a 2-0 thriller with the outcome in the balance until Germany gets their second strike late in the second half!

Italy v. Ukraine

Both of these teams have to be happy that they are at this stage in the tournament. Neither has looked entirely impressive and both have stumbled quite a bit in their trek to the quarterfinals. Nonetheless, here they both stand and one will be in the semi-finals. Ukraine had a tough game against the Swiss that went all the way to PKs. Can Shevchenko and co. pull off another mild upset and advance? The time to strike is now with Italy slightly vulnerable since two players (De Rossi and Materazzi) are sitting the sidelines due to yellow card accumulation. Also, Toni has had some brilliant shots but hasn't found the net yet. Will the quarterfinals be his time to shine? The luck has run out for the Azzurri. Ukraine wins a 1-0 victory with an inspirational blast that is heard round the world.

Besser oder schlechter (The aftermath of the Round of 16, part 2)

Italy continued to get a helping hand from the officials when they were awarded a very late, very questionable, penalty kick (more on that later) against Australia. It's a pity that such a good game was decided in such an anticlimactic fashion..but the Italians aren't complaining. Italy hasn't played well against lesser teams...USA and Australia come to mind. Yet, they advance over the much-loved tournament underdog. Australia had an inspiring game and came up just short, disappointing the legions of supporters they accumulated as they waded through their competition in the tournament. No one expected the Australians to go all the way even if they had beaten Italy but it's safe to say that millions wanted them to continue winnning just...one...more.

The Swiss went down gunning against the Ukraine. Unfortunely the gun they were using was loaded with blanks. There are two types of ties in football. There are those games where there is constant drama, ebb and flow, and it seems as if at any point either team could strike that one goal that will take them to victory. Then there are those games where they are, quite simply, boring almost beyond being watchable. This happens when both teams are playing too cautiously for fear of making a mistake that will give the other team the advantage. It boils down to a staring match which, while perhaps intense for the participants, leaves viewers wondering what's for dinner. The Switzerland v. Ukraine game was the latter. The Swiss clearly didn't have time to practice their PKs and the Ukraine was only marginally better in inching to the victory after 2+ hours of playing.

Ghana certainly didn't go down without a fight in their 3-0 loss against Brazil. They unfortunately fell behind early when Ronaldo tallied on a well-timed run and, in doing so, became the highest all-time scorer in the tournament. But Ghana didn't relent; after the early stumble they turned on the offense and the dumb luck on the part of Dida (standing in the right place at the right time) was the only thing that prevented Ghana from attaining the equalizer off a brilliant header by Mensah. Unfortunately for Ghana a late first half score by Brazil put the game out of reach. However, Ghana has to be proud of their showing. It leaves one wondering if the star midfielder for Ghana, Michael Essien, hadn't been on the bench as a result of yellow card accumulation, would the result have been any different? Much like Australia, fans of the tournament are sad to say goodbye to the inspiring Ghana side. However, the Brazilian march continues. Despite the win, their pace seemed off against Ghana which is the first indication of weakness Brazil has shown thus far in the tournament. Is this a sign of things to come or simply a testament to the feisty Ghana showing?

The Spanish implosion is complete. After a fiery start, the Spanish continued to lose team until they were sniped by France in the Round of 16. Spain struck first after being awarded a PK and, despite an overwhelmingly lopsided possession time in favor of Spain, France came back en force to notch up 3 goals on Spain. With the match stalemateing up until the 83rd minute, the game appeared destined for overtime. But star Vieira struck with a fantastic header and Zidane froze Spain's chance of advancement with a strike in stoppage time. France certainly appears to be gathering momentum at exactly the right moment. They appeared to be much more hungry than Spain, which at times played the match with the intensity of a casual friendly. There is still a question if France will have the weapons to take down the heavyweights to seize the title but at this point they have a better chance than the unhappy Spanish side at doing so.

Schade, nur acht (The aftermath of the Round of 16, Part 1)

Will the German side just continue to get better until they cap it all off by adding another World Cup title to their rich football history? They postively punished the Swedes, seemingly able to carve out the Swedish defense at will. Their runs culminated in resounding THUDs against the Swedish keeper Isaksson. 26 shots! The Swedes made a good run in getting into the second round but a missed PK by Larsson and a rolling German squad brought their run to an end.

Mexico played the match they needed to play against Argentina (aggressive, direct football) but unfortunately they didn't get the result that they needed in falling 2-1 to Argentina. Certainly Borgetti must wish he had a couple retries at shots that sailed just wide of the post. And perhaps the referee wishes he could reconsider the obvious foul Heinze committed when Fonseca caught him napping on a goal kick and Heinze was forced to purposely foul him on the way to goal and escaped with a yellow card. But there is nothing Mexico has to be shamed about in this game; they took one of the tournament favorites to the limit and beyond. Argentina advances and looks to be in quite good form although Mexico did make them look vulnerable on occasion. Argentina starts to look deadly when they get in the goal area so the threat of a fast paced counterattack from their opponent may be just the thing to keep the Argentina strikers from crashing the goal box and causing trouble for the defense.

The leaky boat that is England sails onward. It wasn't pretty, but it counts. All the ails that have been there throughout the tournament persisted in England's 1-0 win over Ecuador...Beckham ghosting on all but a few (admittedly important) set pieces, Lampard blasting souveniers into the stands, Rooney playing with spirit but still searching for that first goal, a brilliant defensive play (this time from Ashley Cole) the only thing separating England from trouble and, this time, Eriksson not even bothering to bring Crouch on the field. Luckily the defense has been solid and kept England in the game. England has been fortunate, in a way, they haven't faced any of the tournament heavyweights thus far. At some point England will need to score goals on a running play. Will they rise up to the task?

Portugal won a bruiser against a stubborn side from the Netherlands in what degenerated into the sloppiest and most foul-heavy game of the tournament. Both sides had numerous chances to convert but couldn't find the net. Even more frustrating for NED is that they had the better chances but couldn't convert. Oddly enough, Van Nistelroij didn't see any playing time, which should provide plently of topics of conversation among Dutch fans as their team is now forced to watch on the sidelines like everyone else. Portugal should certainly celebrate their advancement but they must also be concerned about the fact that Deco and Costinha will be unavailable for the next game after the red and yellow were flying in the most "colorful" World Cup game in tournament history. Many other players on the Portugese side will step onto the pitch with a yellow card and have to be concerned with acquiring another and, should the Portugese advance, missing the next game. Portugal will need to create more chances if they want to move further in this tournament.

Kommt wieder (The games of 6.27.2006)

Brazil v. Ghana

Ghana is happy to be here and will, of course, hope for a huge upset win which, if it were to happen, would truly be the biggest upset in the history of the tournament and make a great Disney movie, especially if one of the countries was communist. However, Disney will have to make that one up themselves. Brazil will samba all over Ghana with a convincing 2-0 win.

Spain v. France

France's play of late has been like two trains speeding toward each other on the same track. Something will happen but it probably won't be pretty. Spain threw their weight around in group play and should be well-equipped to take on Le Bleu. France will put up a bit of a fight but this one should make Spanish eyes smile. 2-0 Spain.

Spinnst Du oder was? (The games of 6.26.2006)

Italy v. Australia

No one expected the Australians to be here and no one expects them to win this game. But they'll do just that with a thrilling win over a shocked Italy. When a team has nothing to lose, they sometimes can't help but win. 2-0 Socceroos!

Switzerland v. Ukraine

The Ukranians don't have much gas left in the tank. After barely climbing out of their group play, the Swiss should make short work of Ukraine. Should. But in a surprise for all the Ukraine finds the extra tank and survives another game in a mildly shocking 1-0 upset win over the Swiss and a day of upsets and bracket busting is finally over.

Zwei karten zu Hause bitte (The games of 6.25.2006)

England v. Ecuador

Lucky for England they get to start off against a side from Ecuador that few picked as a sure bet to make the second round. Lucky for Ecuador that they get to come up against an English team that still hasn't found its sea legs despite occasional flashes of the brilliance of which they are capable. If Ecaudor can strike first in this one they have a very good chance of leaping over England and into the next game. However, that won't happen. England has just enough to get by and the wounded beast lumbers into the next game with a 2-0 win that doesn't look as good as it sounds. Who will finally put this English beast out of its misery?

Portugal v. Netherlands

The Netherlands are a team that doesn't have the star power of Brazil or England. They don't have the expections of Germany or Argentina. But that just may serve as their sweet spot. Drifting just under the teams that have the targets drawn on them and for which everyone wants to bring down, the Netherlands play dependably and have the best chance of surprising everyone and willing the tournament. They will have a tough match against Portugal but if the Dutch can get dependable play from their midfield they will control the possession battle, the pitch and the score. The kids from Holland have something to dance about with a solid 2-0 win.

Wohin? (Thoughts on the USA team future)

After a truly disappointing showing in the 2006 World Cup, the US team will need some changes. Their final game against Ghana that resulted in a 2-1 tie was a perfect example of what went wrong for the American side in this tournament. First, the offensive punch just wasn't there. Landon Donovan simply didn't show and Damarcus Beasley had a lacklustre performance. The team occasionally showed some rumblings on the front line but the team formation (4-5-1) just didn't seem conducive to creating enough chances. The US got off to a horrible start in their 3-0 opening loss to the Czech Republic in a tough group that was entirely the fault of the US side (and to the credit of the Czechs). After that, their lack of offensive punch combined with some very questionable officiating v. Italy and v. Ghana just further complicated things for the Americans. Bruce Arena, knowing that he needed a win, made a managing error in not going with a more offensive-minded lineup and strategy against Ghana.

The highlights on the American side were the clutch play by Kasey Keller and the Clint Dempsey. Brian McBride also proved to be, once again, the biggest aerial offensive threats for the Americans. McBride and Keller probably won't be on the next World Cup team and the young talent (including, of course, Freddy Adu) on the US team looks promising. A key for the US team will be getting more players, especially offensive players, up to a level such that they can be competitive in Europe. The European leagues are where the majority of the best players play and, until the US can get at least a few players productive on on top European teams, they will always be a lower mid-level team. The MLS is decent enough competition for the majority of players but the stars need to be big names in Europe. Should Bruce Arena give up the reigns? The results in this World Cup weren't entirely his fault. But the decision to stay or go should be up to Mr. Arena. He's a good enough manager to know when he is unable to get results out of his squad and US Soccer needs to have faith that he will give up the manager position if this is the case. The future looks bright for US Soccer but the pace of improvement might still be frustratingly slow for all but the truest fans.

Besser spaeter als nie (The games of 6.24.2006)

Germany v. Sweden

The Germans appear unstoppable but Sweden has come on strong at the right time. Could the rising star of Sweden take down Germany? It'll take the Germans extra time to take down Sweden, but the Germans are operating in fine form and haven't foreshadowed any stumbles yet. Germany squeaks by in extra time with a 2-1 win.

Argentina v. Mexico

The 2-1 Mexican loss against Portugal shouldn't be any cause for concern for Mexican supporters. The 6-0 Argentinean win against Serbia and Montenegro and the 0-0 Mexican tie against Angola should be. This Argentina side could yet falter in this tournament but it won't be against Mexico. Argentina 2-0.

Rund und rund mit sechszehn (Round of 16)

The Round of 16

Germany

The Germans haven't showed much weakness yet in the tournament and it can't hurt playing in front of a huge number of rabid fans. Klose is one of the most productive players and yet rarely mentioned in the same sentence as the other great strikers in the tournament in the tournament. This is odd. He can score in the air and on the ground and has an uncanny ability
to constantly be perfectly positioned to take advantage of offensive situations. Solid at the back, mid and front line this German team is exactly where they need to be at this point in the tournament.

Ecuador

Ecuador is a surprising qualifier for the second round. They have showed surprising spirit and
offensive punch. Their success will depend on their offensive prowess and its ability to keep their oppenent on its heels. If the Ecuadorian defense is tested too thoroughly defensive breakdowns will occur and Ecuador won't go far in the knockout round. Knowing this, it was a very wise management decision to rest key forwards in the final match against Germany when
advancement was already a sure thing and they had little chance of overcoming the Germans..

England

Supporters of England have to be concerned. Despite the fact that this is one of the best teams that England has compiled, they certainly aren't playing up to expectations. Beckham is looking one dimensional, appearing only mildly effective on set pieces and practically non-existant otherwise. Crouch lumbers into the goal box like a stuffed giraffe. He has scored in the air but is largely ineffective on the ground. Lampard can't get the ball on the net though he is playing with spirit. The lone points of light on the English side are the scorching play of Joe Cole and the regularly dependable showing by Gerrard. Cole's tenacious playat both ends of the field have been key to the English advancement. Gerrard has been a solid anchor at the midfield and created some interesting opportunities, tallying against Sweden. Rooney will continue to increase his contribution as he gets more minutes and his productivity will be sorely needed after Owen went down against Sweden. But will it be enough? Without another star stepping forward and contributing some magic England will surely stumble. Expect England to
stumble and leave behind a lot of pointing fingers.

Sweden

Sweden has to be pleased with their position. After surviving an opening round stumble against TnT, the Swedes are in good form and surged late against England to secure a tie. For some reason this team is often overlooked when talking about the greats of Europe such as England, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain. Perhaps being underestimated is their key to success. Regardless, the Swedes regularly turn out a full 90+ minutes of quality football that contains few mistakes. With significant punch up front and in the midfield and a solid back line, expect this team to do some damage in the knockout round.

Argentina

Argentina is certainly one of the strongest teams in the tournament. However, that might not translate to the results their supporters would like. It would be a disappointment for this team to finish anything less than first in the tournament and their offensive capabilities were in full display in their first two games. In their confrontation with the Netherlands that resulted in a draw, however, they failed to win against their first big name opponent. This game mattered little to Argentina as they were already advancing so perhaps this is just wise management. But could it be a sign of troubles to come? Argentina is still a star of the tournament but it is yet to be proven if they can translate their first round momentum into second round success.

Netherlands

The Dutch have been playing good, if not overwhelming, football. They don't have the huge name stars of such teams as England or Brazil, but their dependable style creates chances up front and few chances for their opponent. Anchored by their solid keeper van der Sar, the Netherlands have a very good chance to make it deep into this tournament.

Mexico

The Mexican side is waning right when they need to be waxing. After an explosive start, Mexico struggled through their remaining group games. After their loss to Portugal, it's almost certain that facing the European teams in the second round will be a death knell for Mexico. They are a good team but won't make it far in the second round.

Portugal

Portugal took advantage of one of the weaker groups in the tournament in notching up 3 wins, including a big win over Mexico. The recent quadrennial underachievers of the tournament (a title over which they compete with Spain and most recently France),
Portugal simply didn't have the convincing wins that they needed in Group D to show the world that they were ready for a serious run at the Cup. It'll be a bitter pill for their supports to swallow that this team has serious talent but just can't win.

Italy

Italy finally showed some fire in their win against the Czech Republic, a win which stamped the Czech tickets back to Prague. With the win Italy took first place in Group E, but it is yet to be seen whether the Azzurri seriously want to contend for the title. If they do, they will need to stop playing baby football and no longer crumble to the pitch at the slightest contest for the ball. Sure, getting fouls called in your side's favor are important but this strategy doesn't win the World Cup. Italy has the talent to make a serious run but whether they decide to utilize it is another question. This team appears destined to disappoint their supporters.

Ghana

Everyone, including the teams they played in Group E, underestimated what Ghana could do in the tournament. As a result, they have made their opponents pay and their supporters proud. Ghana has speed to spare and one of the best midfielders in the game in Essien.
Their major weakness has to be on the defense. But this team is playing with nothing to lose from a place in which no one predicted them to be...which translates to a very dangerous team. Pity they have to play Brazil in the first round.

Brazil

Brazil winning Group F was hardly a surprise for anyone. They were hardly challenged in notching up a +6 goal differential. It is yet to be seen how they will play against a top tier team but why should anyone suspect they won't be up for the challenge? With a solid startup lineup that has depth, lethal attack and counterattack and a style of play that could mean a goal at anytime, Brazil is the very boring pick to win the World Cup but so far that haven't given any indication that they don't plan to do just that.

Australia

The Socceroos are another surprising side in the party of 16. Showing surprising grit in their 2-2 tie with Croatia in their final game in group play, the Australians don't have the gas to go all the way in the tournament and capture the title. However, expect them to do surprising damage during their impressive (but all too brief) time in the Round of 16.

Switzerland

The Swiss found themselves sitting at the top of Group G at the end of group play, a result that surprised most everyone but perhaps the Swiss themselves. By placing first the Swiss have a good chance of burrowing further into this tournament. They haven't looking unbeatable by any means but they have been playing reliably; they have a very good chance of advancing a couple games into the Round of 16.

Ukraine

The Ukraine had to rely on a PK to inch by a scrappy Tunisian side and were positively shelled by Spain in group play. Don't expect much from a Ukranian team that is obviously lucky to be in the second round and lacks depth. There are a lot of bears in this forest and Ukraine can't outrun them all.

Spain

Spain has come to this tournament with plenty of firepower. Playing in a relatively weak grou in the first round certainly didn't hurt their cause and definitely helped them show off their weapons. However, could their 1-0 win against a neutered Saudi Arabian side signal a downswing in their performance? Granted, they didn't play some big guns and the Saudis could play with nothing to lose...but everyone is waiting for the normal Spanish implosion. Is this their year to defie the naysaysers? Don't count on it.

France

France is in the Round of 16 by placing second in a relatively weak Group G. France is a team that peaked back in the '98 World Cup and has been in a downhill slide ever since. Don't expect much out of this French side in this round of the tournament; it was a stretch for them to make it this far and they are running out of tricks. The French side in Germany is far from the Le Bleu of '98 that was playing inspired football in front of a home crowd. The party ends soon for France.