Netherlands - Let's face it, they only won cause they had help: Felipe Melo. He equalized the Dutch and got himself ejected with the foul on Robben in 74th minute. Though the entire team by then had a mental-breakdown on the field. Netherlands isn't going to have that same luck in the future. Yes they have an unbroken 24 game streak, it's overrated. This was their first real team, and it was hardly the show-case for their quality that they're playing it off as. Who are they trying to fool with "creative play" like Robben's corner-kick trick when they were barely holding on? Lucky for them, they'll be pitted against Uruguay.
Sneijder - go suck it.
Uruguay - When Ghana had their mojo going, they were just dancing circles around Uruguay. Then they got their free kick in the 55th minute and Forlán put it in the back of the net. Uruguay was setting the tempo at first, but Ghana at some point in the first half just took the game back. Extra-time, the game was being played to Ghana's tune. Let's face it, there's no reason that game should have gone into extra-time, least of all a shootout. But the ONLY reason they made it to the shootout was with a handball by Suarez and a lucky miss by Gyan. Overall though, they struggled and on the worse side of it.
Predicted Winners - Denmark. Uruguay got lucky with SK. They got lucky with Ghana. Now their facing a quality team with a track record of being able to put down such contenders. They're missing Suarez. I'm guessing Denmark will take it with at least a two point lead.
Germany - They've demonstrated their talent for cracking opponents' defense wide up. With direct free kicks, Müller is popping them in. Point of concern is while they're taking chances, they're also missing. Some of this is cause of goallie skill and some of this is expected but some of this is lamentably just follow-through, or lack thereof. That said, they've had no absense of goal-scoring. Agentina also gave them something to be worried about, although great playing by the German defenders alleviated that. Still, it should be a point of concern for the defense.
Spain - Unable to maintain their possession record, admittedly against Paraguayan defense, one not going to be matched again. Still, what if Cardozo hadn't been called offsides on in the 40th minute? Valdez' goal would have counted. All of a sudden we'd have had a different game going on. What about the PK by Cardozo 58th (for anyone curious, Cardozo played that exactly the same against Japan)? (Just wanna say, that minute and a half was AMAZING. What if Spain's goal hadn't been disallowed for encroachment. Damn! Spain could have slipped up a point for a 2-0 ending probably. They came out with the stats, 2 PKs have not been saved in a game since the first World Cup in the Mex/Arg game). While they did play poorly in this game, and I do give them credit for that, they're still an over-hyped team.
Predicted Winners - Germany. The Euro '08 was a long time again señors. Spain would have to make possession translate into attack tatics. They'ld have to step up for defense. Müller is gone noteably, and I have no idea how that will affect the game.
Final - The Eurpean showoff will dash the Oranje's hope. Germany meanwhile is gonna fly home with the FIFA World Cup Trophy for the 3rd time. While I'm sympathetic, and rooting for the Team, I'd probably prefer in my conflicted heart to see any of the other teams win it, except Uruguay. Even worse, a Spain-Denmark game would have been more evenly matched, and thus better. Now let's try my hand for bs predictions:
Germany will score early. They'll score again before Netherlands get a goal. The German's get a third goal in the later half. Final score 3-1.
Third-place Match - Spain. Spain can be frustrated, but if Urugauy won, oh my word. This does not stem from continuous frustation by Uruguay's play. Okay, maybe it does. Spain's playing though has been solid, despite facing the two hardest defenses. Uruguay is gonna have to step up its defense and score first to have a chance.
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