Quarterfinals Begin Today

It's been difficult to post this week. I'm trying to catch up on all the backlogged World Cup games I have. Finally dispensed with France-Togo last night. While not exactly a great match, it did reveal a French side starting to find an attacking personality and presaged the victory against Spain.

Speaking of said match, France-Spain was one of the highlights of this cup, so far. A great match that was close until the last 5 minutes and featured two teams pressing for goals. I am impressed with the French side, which I had previously criticized (rightly so) for its lack of purpose and attack. Frank Ribery in the midfield is a dynamo. He attacks with great pace and puts huge pressure on defenses. Patrick Vieira...wow, it's great to see Patrick Vieira playing like Patrick Vieira again. This is the player that dominated the center of the field in the EPL for so many years. Yes, Patrick, going to Juventus was a huge mistake, but now you remember how to play. And Willie Sagnol in the back is a revelation. First time I've seen this Bayern Munich player. He's not much of a physical specimen, but he gets in the way of any attack and just disrupts it. He reads the ball exceptionally and is one of those players who just seems to know a little bit more about the game than his opponent. And, of course, Thierry Henry. He's started to come out of his WC scoring drought and I expect to see more from the Best Player in the World. Oh, and Zidane looks like a crazed man on a mission. Suddenly, Les Bleus look special again.

For France-Brazil, I'm going to make a stupid prediction. France wins this one. I think France is peaking, while Brazil still struggle. How do you get outplayed by Ghana and still win 3-0? Brazil will probably win (because they're Brazil) and make me look like an ass, but I like the way France is playing and I'm going to go with them for now. Ronaldo is scoring goals again, though he is still fat.

...if France loses, it will be Fabien Barthez's fault.

OK. But for today's games...I'm picking Germany over Argentina. Earlier I had it reversed, but Germany is ascendant. They are playing great, attacking soccer and just look very confident and composed up and down the pitch. This should be one of the great matches this tournament and could go either way. Both teams are very strong, and playing excellent football.

England-Portugal. I haven't picked England for anything yet, so I will pick them to win. I think the players not on the field will be the difference. Not anything that England does. Rooney will score a goal and that will be the difference. England will lose in the Semis, however.

As for the other quarter, if Italy loses to Ukraine, they should retire from international competition.

Some football fans would say that nothing rivals the thrill of football. Researchers agree. Speaking of footballs fans, the ladies have discovered that footballers are handsome lads and are watching in record numbers.

More on Refs and how much they suck this year. And the Bruce Arena Goodwill Tour rolls on. How low would you go to score World Cup tickets? How about impersonating a disabled person?