Courtesy: mtnfootball.com
Last Friday saw the draw for the 2014 World Cup. Countries were placed in Groups for the tournament being held in Brazil from the 12th June through to the 13th July. Over the next few days I will look at the various Groups, potential surprises and maybe even get a good gauge as to where the USA will end up and who might go on to actually win the World Cup.
Sunday I looked at Groups A-D and sorted out who I thought would progress from each Group to make up the first part of the last 16. Then on Monday I will tackled the second set of Groups, E-H and complete my thoughts on who will progress and who will go home.
Now, just for fun, here is the list of the sides I can see going through to the round of sixteen. We already know how the different knock out rounds will be selected and so therefore we can project and discuss who I think will make it to the finals.
Let me know what you think by either commenting on this page or find me on Twitter @PACityboy or at Facebook at www.facebook.com/bobbard.
So here is a reminder of the Final sixteen. I will keep it brief with a sentence or two describing my thoughts on the game and the victor.
Brazil v Chile:
Chile did well to get through at the expense of the Netherlands but I think their World Cup will end against the hosts.
Colombia v Italy:
Italy got the best of England in Group D and it will be tough against Colombia but I think the Europeans will take the tie, maybe on penalties.
Spain v Mexico:
Possibly the tie of the round and you have to pick Spain just based on the Mexican qualifying campaign.
Uruguay v Ivory Coast:
Goodbye to the final African side I think with this game. Suarez and company go marching on.
Ecuador v Bosnia:
Another tough call here but I am edging slightly more to Bosnia. The weather will be key though.
Argentina v France:
France were lucky to get to the Finals and even luckier with their Group. Argentina will be the first real test Les Bleus will face and Au Revoir will certainly be the result.
Germany v South Korea:
Germany go marching on, I cannot see anything else.
Belgium v USA:
The USA would do very well to get through their Group but you have to think the Klinsmann squad will finish their campaign here. It will be tight though with the key difference being the energy expended by both sides during the Group stages.
QUARTER FINALS:
Brazil v Italy:
A replay of the 1994 World Cup Final and I think twenty years on it will be the same result, Brazil move on.
Bosnia v Germany:
The new boys have done well to get this far and it will take some real luck to go further. In football though who knows, and they might be worth a bet for a Semi Final spot but for me, it has to be Germany.
Spain v Uruguay:
When these two faced off in Brazil in 1950 the game finished 2-2. Uruguay went on to win the tournament, can history repeat itself? I will put my head on the line and go for a Uruguay progression, maybe via penalties.
Argentina v Belgium:
I just noticed there were more European sides in the Quarter Finals than South American but that will change. Argentina send Belgium home, but a very good tournament for Lukaku I think.
SEMI FINALS:
Brazil v Germany
A replay of the 2002 World Cup Final and again I think the Brazilians will have to be favorites for the tie, due to the fact they are at home and by this stage everyone will be behind them after a nervous beginning.
Uruguay v Argentina:
Two of the best strikers currently in the English Premier League take on each other in this game. Suarez of Liverpool and Uruguay will hope his tournament doesn’t end thanks to Manchester City and Argentinian Aguero. I do like the symmetry of football and so have to go for the Uruguay side to meet Brazil in the final just as they did in Brazil back in 1950.
FINAL:
Brazil v Uruguay:
Revenge will be served in this game and any bad feelings left over from not lifting the trophy in their own country back in 1950 will be rectified, Brazil to win.
