After 54 matches, 32 teams have been whittled down to the final 8 who will battle it out for the 2010 World Cup. South America has managed to advance four teams this far (a top effort!), Europe has three, while Africa has a lone representative in Ghana.
Netherlands ($3) v Brazil ($1.50)
One of two glamour match-ups in the quarters this would previously have been a game between two nations who play all out attacking football. The 2010 versions however are much more pragmatic teams with both playing two defensive midfielders in front of their back four. Despite this, Brazil has still been able to generate some beautiful, creative, free-flowing attacking football at this tournament and go into the match as deserved favourites. They have looked a far better team than the Dutch over the course of the matches so far and I think they will have too much in attack come match day. For mine, the Netherlands only hope is if Arjen Robben has an absolute blinder and tears the Brazilians to shreds. While Wes Sneijder has been good at this tournament, Robben seems to have been the only Dutch player who has shown the attacking flair and creativity necessary to break down the defensively minded formations we have seen from so many teams at this tournament.
The Falcon Says – Brazil fairly comfortably.
Uruguay ($1.55) v Ghana ($2.75)
I know everyone will be clambering for the feel good story of an African team making the semis for the first time, the first time the tournament is hosted in Africa but I hoped Ghana get absolutely pumped by Uruguay. Ghana should have bought a lottery ticket after fluking their way out of Group D and were lucky enough to get a soft draw with a round of 16 match-up against the US. In contrast, Uruguay has only conceded a single goal at this year’s tournament despite taking on the likes of France, Mexico and South Korea. They have one of the most potent striking combinations going around in world football in Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez and they are extremely tough to break down at the back. Quite simply, they deserve a place in the semi finals. Ghana do not.
The Falcon Says – Uruguay to grab their divine right to a spot in the final four.
Argentina ($1.75) v Germany ($2.30)
WHAT A GAME!!!!! Worthy of a World Cup final it is unfortunate that these super teams have to meet in the quarters. The baby faced Germans come off a 4-1 annihilation of the hapless English in the second round while Argentina cruised past Mexico 3-1. Both sides play an exciting brand of attacking football and have been banging in the goals at the tournament so far. The key to this match may be the first goal. Argentina has not yet trailed in a match, and the tactical nous of Maradona may be put to the test if they go a goal down. Similar, the young Germans may find it difficult to overcome a deficit as they did when going down 1-0 to Serbia in the group stage. Honestly I think this game is too close to call and it wouldn’t shock me to see it go to penalties as was the case when these sides met at the same stage in Germany four years ago.
The Falcon Says – Penalties – who wins from there I have no idea but there are sure to be a few goals in the preceding 120 minutes.
Paraguay ($5.50) v Spain ($1.20)
Hardly your glamour quarter-final tie, this is likely to be a dreary affair with Paraguay parking the bus, defending deep, and hoping they see at least some of the ball with Spain playing their usual tic-tac passing game. Honestly, anything less than a smashing from the Spaniards here would be disappointing given the quality of opposition they are facing. Reports suggest Fernando Torres will start up front again, and this may be a good chance for him to get a bit of a confidence boost with a few goals. Paraguay will hope to soak up as much pressure as possible and fluke a goal from somewhere. Given none of their strikers has hit the back of the net yet a set piece is probably their best hope.
The Falcon Says – Spain will win, eventually, but it might be a dire, boring prospect from a neutral perspective watching them get the win.
Prices courtesy of Betfair.
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