IthacaMatt
Old Timer / Unofficial Contributor for 25+ years
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Let me talk a little more about the bracket.
I think the Netherlands is vulnerable, and not just because of the flu that is going through their squad. They missed the last 2 major tournaments. Louis Van Gaal is a conservative coach, and he has been battling cancer, with something like 25 chemo treatments this year. They have 2 quality attacking players, but they have a new goalkeeper and not a super athletic midfield, although they are good technically.
I think if our midfield still has the legs, and if Berhalter gets Gio Reyna into the game for more than just a cameo, we can win this game. But if we don't beat Netherlands, surely Argentina will. To me, the Netherlands is like this tournament's Belgium.
On the other side of our bracket, I would call Japan v. Croatia a toss up. Japan is playing their best ever, pretty much, beating Spain and Germany in the Group. They have a Bundesliga side, for the most part, with a handful of Premier League defenders thrown in. Croatia has strength in the midfield, in particular, although Luka Modric is getting up there in age.
It's hard to see Son and the Hwangs carrying South Korea past Brazil. Most of Korea's defenders play in the Japanese League. 3 or 4 of their midfielders and attackers play in Europe, but mostly not at the big clubs. Even without Neymar, Brazil has too much talent all over the pitch not to advance. Brazil should beat either Japan or Croatia in the Quarterfinals to get through to the Semifinals.
That would mean Argentina v. Brazil in the Semifinal from our side of the bracket.
Among the other 8 teams on the bottom of the draw:
Spain should beat Morocco, Portugal should beat Switzerland, England should beat Senegal, and France should beat Poland. France rested their whole squad in the 3rd Group game (which they lost with their reserves ...). When they did this in 1998, they went all the way and won the Final. Robert Lewandowski can create chances out of nothing, but he's not even getting touches, let alone service from the Poland squad. I see something like 3-1, France.
Out of the 4 name teams in this side of the bracket, I think England is most vulnerable to Senegal, even without Sadio Mane. They will be athletic. Edou Mendy is a shot stopper in goal. Koulibaly has had a good tournament for them in defense. They won the Africa Cup of Nations. If there's an upset, that will be the one. Otherwise, it's quarterfinals of Spain v. Portugal and France v. England / Senegal.
Semifinals, Spain should be favored over Portugal, and France is probably going to beat England, unless some sort of internal chemistry problems derail them.
So that would be Spain v. France and Argentina v. Brazil. That would be epic. Of course, if England snuck past France into the Semi's vs. Spain, that would be probably get record-setting ratings in the US.
I think the Netherlands is vulnerable, and not just because of the flu that is going through their squad. They missed the last 2 major tournaments. Louis Van Gaal is a conservative coach, and he has been battling cancer, with something like 25 chemo treatments this year. They have 2 quality attacking players, but they have a new goalkeeper and not a super athletic midfield, although they are good technically.
I think if our midfield still has the legs, and if Berhalter gets Gio Reyna into the game for more than just a cameo, we can win this game. But if we don't beat Netherlands, surely Argentina will. To me, the Netherlands is like this tournament's Belgium.
On the other side of our bracket, I would call Japan v. Croatia a toss up. Japan is playing their best ever, pretty much, beating Spain and Germany in the Group. They have a Bundesliga side, for the most part, with a handful of Premier League defenders thrown in. Croatia has strength in the midfield, in particular, although Luka Modric is getting up there in age.
It's hard to see Son and the Hwangs carrying South Korea past Brazil. Most of Korea's defenders play in the Japanese League. 3 or 4 of their midfielders and attackers play in Europe, but mostly not at the big clubs. Even without Neymar, Brazil has too much talent all over the pitch not to advance. Brazil should beat either Japan or Croatia in the Quarterfinals to get through to the Semifinals.
That would mean Argentina v. Brazil in the Semifinal from our side of the bracket.
Among the other 8 teams on the bottom of the draw:
Spain should beat Morocco, Portugal should beat Switzerland, England should beat Senegal, and France should beat Poland. France rested their whole squad in the 3rd Group game (which they lost with their reserves ...). When they did this in 1998, they went all the way and won the Final. Robert Lewandowski can create chances out of nothing, but he's not even getting touches, let alone service from the Poland squad. I see something like 3-1, France.
Out of the 4 name teams in this side of the bracket, I think England is most vulnerable to Senegal, even without Sadio Mane. They will be athletic. Edou Mendy is a shot stopper in goal. Koulibaly has had a good tournament for them in defense. They won the Africa Cup of Nations. If there's an upset, that will be the one. Otherwise, it's quarterfinals of Spain v. Portugal and France v. England / Senegal.
Semifinals, Spain should be favored over Portugal, and France is probably going to beat England, unless some sort of internal chemistry problems derail them.
So that would be Spain v. France and Argentina v. Brazil. That would be epic. Of course, if England snuck past France into the Semi's vs. Spain, that would be probably get record-setting ratings in the US.
