World Cup 2014 - Last 16

I was strolling at Cold Storage recently when I heard someone calling out ''uncle". I turned around when the call was repeated. Bad mistake, I do not like people calling me uncle. I saw this young man with a teenage look and he called me uncle again and I was thinking what's your problem when he shot at me "who do you think will win - Italy or Costa Rica?" I looked at the background and it was Singapore Pools and he was busy scribbling some bets. I think he just barely touched the legal age for gambling which explained his anxiety. 

Then he asked again: "You think Italy can win 3-2 over Costa Rica?" I stared at him almost wanting to tell him if I knew I would be a millionaire. Or a fortune teller telling him it was epic failure for him as a noob knowing nothing and yet wanting to bet. I am no punter but if it was about soccer knowledge he has come to the right place. If this young man is doing it for fun then well and good because you are never going to win at the end. I just wanted to wish him like I would wish all of you - may the odds be ever in your favour!

This has been a great World Cup - goals galore, drama, red cards, goal-line technology, upsets, referee sprays, etc. My favourite is the spray. We should introduce it at the work place. Draw a line of tolerance, draw a line from people not coming from behind your back. Draw a line of appropriateness, of fairness and compassion.

On the soccer business side of things and at a quick glance,  defending champions Spain joined the ranks of France and Italy to have won the Cup and got knocked out during the qualifying rounds. Meeting them at the airport would be England and  Portugal if we are highlighting the big teams. 

On the other hand, many of you are thinking that the Netherlands, Germany and France have been lighting up the campaign with the flurry of goals and are now strong contenders. Then we have other giants of the game in Brazil and Argentina who while remaining undefeated have not impressed and have yet to peak. So too Belgium.

Finally, we have teams like Australia, Ghana, Costa Rica and even Algeria who won our hearts with superlative displays, especially Costa Rica who went to Brazil rated with little hope and yet slayed the world's top ten teams Uruguay, Italy and ousted England before even playing them.

Some teams that won the World Cup previously were slow starters who did not play well during the group stages but still won and then peaked during the knock out stages. How will Spain, England and Portugal rebuild after this? Can Germany, France and the Netherlands sustain their form and energy? Or will Brazil and Argentina may be even Belgium pick up top form soon? Here you can see Rod-naldinho pinning up the Brazilian flag.

 











Right now, France, Germany and the Netherlands are playing the best soccer. I saw how the French tore Switzerland apart and the Swiss are no easy meat and are well organised mind you. France were brilliant and if Benzema continues that rich vein of form could be one of the tournament's top players. So far , while others struggled, France made it looked so easy and seems to be enjoying themselves. There is no expectation for them to win the Cup and that is their best benefit. Watch Switzerland v France:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=741336139242313&set=vb.266828596693072&type=2&theater

Germany have a strong team with the benefit of experience from the last World Cup but there is pressure for them to win the Cup, to be champions. They cruised past Portugal at half pace. However, Ghana gave them a scare and a great test at the same time exposed a few of their weaknesses. If Brazil are hot favourites, then Germany could easily be second favourites after Brazil, maybe level on par with Argentina. Will they be the first European team to lift the trophy outside their own continent?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkR7z5cSP_Y

Holland have top scored and against Chile showed they can play a different game if they have to - defensive. Lionel Messi and Neymar are picking up steam for Argentina and Brazil. Mexico have been marvellously exciting, Chile aggressive and Colombia free scoring. The Latin teams are a joy to watch.

Sports like the soccer World Cup is a spectacle and in the world stage at this level as we moved into the last 16, there have been various surprises and upsets. It is not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog!

The knock out stage is the real stuffs. That was the original World Cup format before they became 32 teams. How will things turn out? Will teams continue to play attacking soccer like the group stage to will they begin to be more tactical to go the distance till full time. Go into extra-time and hope to win on penalty kicks? Who are the ones likely to lift the World Cup?

The Last 16

Brazil v Chile - Save for Neymar, Brazil have not been that exciting or impressive but they are winning. They are the host and they have yet to peak. Brazilian coach Scolari said as much when he said that given a choice he would not like to pick Chile. This is an acknowledgement of how good Chile are. The Chileans played with their hearts on their sleeves. This will be an intriguing match because Brazil and Chile are attacking teams. Both can be high scoring. Both know each other well but in automatic qualification as host, Brazil did not play them for some time. It would be hard to accept Brazil being knock out at this stage as the host but if played on neutral ground, I would say it could be 50-50. Brazil scored 7 while Chile scored 5 at the group stage. Unless they become so tactical, I  expect a good scoring touch and go match and it should be close with Chile equally capable of winning but Brazil should just edge it. 3-2.

Colombia v Uruguay - Even without star striker Radamel Falcao, Colombia have been free-scoring and flying. James Rodriguez has been stellar but none of the teams they faced at the group stage are as wily as Uruguay. While Luis Suarez has more bite than the entire England team, he has left a bad Italian after taste and now with only Edison Cavani, they shall surely be less potent. In going through the group stage, Colombia scored 9 times only a goal behind the Dutch, so you must expect the same gutsy display form them while Uruguay may adopt the same game plan as they did the Italians but with less bite. Suarez has done Uruguay injustice for that moment of indiscretion chewing off more than he can bite. Chiellini who was once bitten and twice shy even came out to say that Suarez's ban of 9 international matches and 4 months for any soccer related events was excessive. The last World Cup ban was an elbow to the nose but that got only 8 matches. 2-1.

Netherlands v Mexico - The Dutch are really looking good. Arje Robben looks a million bucks but remember Brazil could not beat Mexico at home and they crushed Croatia. If it were for any other team, I would have chosen Mexico. I like the way they play and they won't be easy meat but the Dutch have been scoring a minimum of two goals (Chile) or three (Australia) and five (Spain). It is going to take a hell of a team to stop them. I am just afraid that the Dutch peaked too early. 2-1.

Costa Rica v Greece - These teams have no right to be here but they are. Give it to them for grit. In fact, Costa Rica are unbeaten having beaten both teams with the pedigree of Uruguay and Italy. The fact that the Greeks have survived is testament of their endurance when they only scored twice. Costa Rica will continue their fairy tale but Greece lightning could surprise. I expect Costa Rica to play like they did against the Italians and the English.  At full-time, 1-1. Costa Rica basked in the sun as they showed against Italy. In overtime, they will ace the game by a goal. 

France v Nigeria - If the Dutch have been very good then the French have been exhilarating. Watch Kareem Benzema, he is on song and unstoppable. The French are playing as a team and attacking from all quarters. How they have bounced back from the last World Cup. Didier Deschamps must have done a great job. Nigeria gave Argentina a very good fight and fright and are capable of upsetting the French. The French are third in the scoring chart with 8 goals. It will be close but it is unlikely for the French to be stopped here. 2-0.

Germany v Algeria - The German machinery is well-oiled. The fourth highest with 7 goals. Algeria conceded goals in every game and though they scored 6, 4 of them came against a weaker Korean team. The Germans concede 2 goals both from the match with Ghana. Their strength is in attack. Their ball delivery in the final third have been quite outstanding and Thomas Muller already has 4 goals. Anything less than a German win would be a disaster. 3-1.

Argentina v Switzerland - Argentina like Brazil have not peaked. Like Neymar, Messi is finally getting into his stride because he is now being played correctly by the manager. If you are an opponent, you cannot second guess Messi because even Messi does not know what he is going to do next. That is a gift from heaven. His skills are not manufactured. You can't trained it. I have always believed in Messi. Not only that, he plays with a smile and picks himself up when fouled unfairly and he does not bite nor show petulance. The Swiss are organised but France tore them apart. I would not say it will be a walk in the park for Argentina but it should be a good outcome for them but the Swiss once surprised Spain and they have Xherdan Shaqiri who scored a hattrick on Honduras. However, Messi will be too good. They are all saying now that while Neymar carries Brazil, Messi carries Argentina and British Airways carry the England team. 4-2.

Belgium v USA - Belgium have not fired on all cylinders but they have won each match in the group stage without really playing that well. Only the Netherlands, Colombia and Argentina have won all group matches. While the USA have been really impressive even when soccer is not their number one sport, they gave the Germans a hard match, gave the Portuguese a hard time and overcame Ghana. I feel the Americans can take the Belgians all the way even to extra time. 1-1. I really like the gutsy Americans but Belgium has a golden generation with more top level experience. They could get that goal in extra time.

Finally, the last eight could like like these:

France v Germany

Brazil v Colombia

Argentina v Belgium

Netherlands v Costa Rica

The five teams I have named as favourites are still there and according to odds given, they ranked as follows:

Brazil @ 3.40

Argentina @ 4.00

Germany @ 4.00

Netherlands @ 6.00

France @ 9.00

Let's see if I got them right. I'll be reporting further next week to bring you closer to the action. Here if Geoff from GNN reporting from Singapore, near Brazil.