México vs. Nigeria
England vs. Serbia
Netherlands vs. Italy
Netherlands vs. Italy
Brazil vs. Switzerland
Argentina vs. South Africa
Germany vs. United States
Paraguay vs. Cameroon
Spain vs. Ivory Coast
México vs. Nigeria:
Well at first I thought this looked like the most interesting match of the round until I took another look at Nigeria's squad. It's deep, and they've got great players at every position. It's clear that on technical ability they're a superior side to México. Expect that technical superiority to prevail but in spite of the result perhaps being a bit more obvious than I first thought, look for this to be a high-scoring thriller, 5-3 maybe? Regardless, this is going to be a match I don't want to miss.
England vs. Serbia:
Serbia... will not manage a shot on target in what will be an absolute masterclass from Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, and co. Expect this to be a demonstration of football at it's absolute technical best.
Netherlands vs. Italy:
This is will be the most forgettable match of the tournament. A 0-0 draw will be turn into 1-1 after extra time. Buffon will save Italy's blushes with some incredible stops in the shootout. Italy through 3-1 on penalties.
Brazil vs. Switzerland:
Looks like a no-brainer but expect the Swiss to pull out a good performance. I don't think it'll be enough to send them through, but it'll be enough to worry Brazil.
Argentina vs. South Africa:
Home support is great, but it can only get you so far. The South Africans will certainly put up a good fight against Argentina, but Argentina's superior class will pull through. Look for some inspirational individual football from the Argentine's with Gonzalo Higuaín in particular shining. The lack of team attack, however, will be a worry for the Argentinians in spite of their rather easy stroll through to the next round. The biggest talking point of this match will be an off-color/racist comment or two made by Maradona about some of South Africa's players being undisciplined.
Germany vs. USA:
I will be accused of letting my bias get in the way on this one, but I honestly believe this will be the greatest day in American footballing history. Inspired by Barack Obama's presence, and with the disgraceful (for the refereeing) defeat to the opponents in 2002 still fresh in their minds, the American "Motley Crew" (as they'll come to be called for their racial diversity in a new marketing and underdog campaign by FIFA who will need to support someone after South Africa goes out) will defend ruthlessly and hit on the counter-attack. Expect Donovan and Beasley (if he plays) to have massive games. They'll be the ones who remember that defeat best.
Paraguay vs. Cameroon:
This will be one of the best games of this stage of the tournament but one of the least watched and least remembered. Expect late, late goals to decide this one - maybe even an overtime game. The Cameroonians will go through to the next round, but it'll be a fantastic game.
Spain vs. Ivory Coast:
Spain will be thanking their lucky stars that they didn't have to play Brazil in the first knockout round, and that could cost them early on. Falling asleep for even a minute at the back will cost them dearly, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them go down a goal early. But Spain will have all the possession and that will wear down the Ivorians. It will be a sad day for them as the bad luck of the draw (pitting them against the two best teams in the world in the first four games) will cause them to go out.
Quarter-Finals
Nigeria vs. England
Netherlands vs. Brazil
Argentina vs. USA
Cameroon vs. Spain
Nigeria vs. England
Heartbreak for the Nigerians as England score two goals in overtime to win a brilliant game 3-1. Crouch will be the man (and a half) of the hour after coming on for an injured Rooney late in the second half. This will be the game highlighted that highlights the miserable refereeing at the World Cup, and the Nigerians will go home feeling victimized. Hopefully they can take solace in a having reached the quarter-finals of the world's greatest sporting event.
Netherlands vs. Brazil
Expect Brazil to walk all over the Netherlands. The Dutch are great in midfield with the ball, but without it, they're not at their best. The "total football" of the Netherlands will meet the "Jogo Bonito" of the Brazilians and get absolutely destroyed. Cruyff and Pele will be watching together from a box and Pele will say something to the effect of the Dutch still having a good shot of winning the World Cup after Brazil wins by four goals. Dunga will be furious that his team decided to play pretty football, but none of the players will listen to him, and in spite of substituting three of his attacking players with defenders in the late stages of the game to preserve a four goal lead, the Brazilians will continue to attack and score another as the game's in its dying stages.
Argentina vs. USA
Lionel Messi will show why he's the best player in the world, an American defender will get sent off in the first half for stopping a clear goal-scoring opportunity and the USA will go out with a rather weak performance. The American public, uninspired by the success of the national team, will continue not going to MLS matches.
Cameroon vs. Spain
Cameroon will be exhausted after their grueling match with Paraguay and Spain will progress rather easily. This match will be remembered for two wonder goals, one in which every Spanish player on the field touches the ball twice without losing possession and a Jean Makoun strike from 30 meters.
Semifinals:
England vs. Brazil
Argentina vs. Spain
England vs. Brazil:
The first of two highly anticipated semi-finals will feature an extraordinarily defensive lineup from Dunga, who will be looking to prove a point to his team. Unfortunately for Dunga, the English will find a way to exploit the Brazilians' catenaccio style defense and go out 1-0 winners. Everone will be criticizing Dunga after the match for not having played to his team's strengths. He won't care.
Argentina vs. Spain:
Talk of conspiracy abound as Lionel Messi plays his worst football since he was 16 (making him only the eighth best player in the world). Maradona will claim that Messi threw the game so that his teammates from Barcelona (Pedro, Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol, and Piqué will all start this game) can go through to the final and attempt to banish him from international football. Unfortunately Aguero will have played even worse and Maradona will be accused of favoring his son-in-law after he substitutes Messi and will be fired immediately after the loss.
Third place match, Brazil vs. Argentina:
This will be the first time in the history of the World Cup that a third place game features any red cards, and it won't just feature one, it'll feature three, as the ever-contentious rivalry between the South American giants will boil over into a rugby style free-for-all. Expect Javier Mascherano to receive a 5-10 game international ban after he commits an shockingly horrifying tackle that breaks a Brazil player's ankle.
Final, England vs. Spain:
It's all Spain. It'll be a relatively simple match for Spain with England not coming close until the 85th minute and down two goals it'll be too little too late. Spain will be the first European team to win the World Cup outside of Europe.
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