World Cup Quarter-Finals: Pick Your Winners…

June 29th, 2010 | by: Daryl |

quarters Can you believe we’re down to eight World Cup teams already? Feels like the tournament only just started, yet we’re already at the World Cup quarter final stage. There’s a two day break in action coming on Wednesday and Thursday, so time to take a breather. But also time to get excited about the quarter-finals, which are as follows:

2nd July:
Netherlands vs Brazil, Nelson Mandela Bay, 4pm kick off local time.
Uruguay vs Ghana, Johannesburg (Soccer City), 8:30pm

3rd July:
Argentina vs Germany, Cape Town, 4pm
Paraguay vs Spain, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 8:30pm

(for semi-finals, July 2nd winners play each other, July 3rd winners play each other)

The Brazil vs Netherlands and Argentina vs Germany games already have that classic World Cup feel to them. The sort of games that happen as you get into the later stages of a World Cup, and the sort of games that have plenty of history already. Anyone remember Brazil 3-2 Netherlands from the 1994 World Cup quarterfinal? Definitely worth a watch:

I also count four South American teams in the quarter-finals, and none of them playing against each other. So we could potentially have an all South American semi-final lineup. Alternatively, we also have the last remaining African team on the verge of making history. If Ghana can get past Uruguay, they’ll be the first ever African team in a World Cup semifinal. I can’t even imagine the buzz that would create, and I’m not just talking about vuvuzelas. I’m looking at Paraguay vs Spain as the least exciting game for neutrals, but will still be interesting to see how Spain’s so far steady but not supernova attack deals with Paraguay so far very sturdy defence.

Now the inevitable predictions question: Which of these four teams do you see making the semi-final?

Who will join the list of World Cup winners?

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://twitter.com/EdgarBoccanegra Edgar Boccanegra

Brasil vs Uruguay (Maracana anyone?)
Argentina vs Paraguay

Let's keep the cup in the New World
toedrifter

I'm in for an all-South America semi-final too. Spain as the most likely other team to make it in.
netsez

I predict a Brasil vs Brasil final with Brazil winning.
richNYC

Brazil – Ghana
Argentina – Spain

Enough said!!!
http://twitter.com/arth65456 Ricky Keeler

Too bad South America might be a world cup early on all this success.

I like Brazil-Uruguay and Argentina-Spain
Geoffrey72

Sorry to say, but I have to disagree with the author's “classic World Cup feel” comment about any quarterfinal match. Objectively, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Spain are the clear favorites, and the question is whether any of the underdogs can even put up a good fight and keep the margin within 1 goal, much less extend the match to extra time, much less actually win and advance. I would not be surprised to see all four favorites win by a 2 goal margin in regular time. Well, that's a bit over the top, let me say I expect all four favorites to win in regular time, no extra time needed in any quarterfinal. I hope I'm wrong.
The underdog with the best chance is certainly Germany, and the worst chance certainly Paraguay. But I don't believe Germany can make lightning strike twice against Argentina in the same round in two straight World Cups. Not when their team is clearly weaker than 4 years ago and they lack home field advantage. And even then, Germany was fortunate to get a late goal and take the match to penalty kicks, the only way it could win. I don't see it happening again this time.
The Netherlands team just hasn't looked that great, so it's hard for the objective observer to have confidence they can seriously challenge Brazil. Netherlands had much more trouble with Slovakia than Paraguay did! If you ask yourself, who has a better chance to beat Brazil in the next two rounds, Netherlands or Uruguay, the honest answer is Uruguay if you've been watching these teams in this World Cup.
I would love to see Ghana win. I picked Ghana to the semifinals before the World Cup began. But having seen Uruguay and Ghana play, no one can deny Uruguay is the overwhelming favorite.
http://www.mcalcio.com Marco P.

Uruguay, Brazil, Germany, Spain
Baron_Rojo_NY

Let's make this interesting –> I want this to happen:

The Netherlands vs Ghana
Germany vs Paraguay

But realistically –> Brazil vs Uruguay, Argentina vs Spain

Maracanazo going to happen in Africa? Hmmmm…

Conmebol has been very strong in this World Cup. Are we getting an extra spot even though Brazil is hosting the next one? We should….
JoseJosue

Prediction:
Ghana – Brasil
Argentina – Spain

There are no big favorites for GhanaxUruguay and GermanyxArgentina. Brazil are slight favorite over the Dutch, Spain are big favorites over the Paraguayans.
http://twitter.com/imyideas bINu..

Brazil vs Ghana
Argentina vs Spain

Final:
Argentina vs Brazil

Winner:
Argentina !!
(2-0)
http://twitter.com/EdgarBoccanegra Edgar Boccanegra

I hope Conmebol gets an extra spot and Concacaf gets Conmebol's half spot.
mondolibero

Watch Zidane very closely: if he manages to give at least 3 team players the “malocchio” as he did to France and Italy 2010, they will suffer embarrassing defeat … be afraid Dunga, be very afraid…

PS – At least Materazzi managed an amethyst … absorbing Zidane's evil rage ….
Bense235

My heart says Ghana, Netherlands, Germany and Paraguay. But my sane mind tells me Uruguay, Brazil, Germany and Spain. The winner of Brazil-Netherlands will have it really, really easy to reach the final.
zaqxsw

brazil vs uruguay

argentina vs spain argentina vs brazil
Bense235

No home field adavantage? Alright. But weaker? Doesn't look to me like that.

I'm not kidding myself about Germany's chances, but this team ain't “weaker” than the one 2006. Argentina's team might only be stronger in comparison.
http://www.facebook.com/jcarah Jesse Slater Carah

Concacaf does not need another half spot just yet. Who's going qualify next? Canada? Haiti? Not a bunch of talent outside the US and Mexico.