World Cup 2014: Match Day 15

This is the favorite part of the tournament for mathematicians as we see the group stage conclude with every point being valuable to the life of these teams. No group proves this more than the Group of Death, Group G.

Today the United States play favorites Germany needing at least a draw to advance to the Round of 16. While this game is being played, Portugal and Ghana will duel to see who can rise from the bottom and advance to the next round. Cristian Ronaldo's team will need an impressive victory with a strong boost to their goal differential to see them advance. The African side will need no less than a win, a healthy goal differential, and United States loss to advance.

The above countries will learn who they may match up against in the next round when South Korea plays Belgium and Algeria plays Russia in the evening games. Belgium looks to solidify their spot as the leaders of Group H while Algeria and Russia look to settle a pivotal match up that may decide who advances as the runner up out of this group.

Yesterday, we found out two more matches to look ahead to in the next round. France will be playing Nigeria and Argentina will play Switzerland. Lionel Messi scored a double yesterday to put Argentina through on three wins from the group stage. The rest of his team showed more promise today against the Nigerians but their hopes to hoist the World Cup trophy look to rest solely on number 10's little shoulders.

Today's Games:
USA vs. Germany, 9:00 PST Recife
Portugal vs. Ghana, 9:00 PST Brasilia
South Korea vs. Belgium, 13:00 PST Sao Paulo
Algeria vs. Russia, 13:00 PST Curitiba

My Picks:
Germany
Portugal
Belgium
Tie

My Record:
27 out of 44, 61%

World Cup Match Day 14

Chew on this: Luis Suarez has just bitten his third victim in his professional soccer career. Unfortunately, that was the headline yesterday, and just below it was the surprising result that Uruguay beat Italy to advance into the knockout round with Costa Rica from Group D. Near the end of the game, Suarez seemingly bit into Georgio Chielini's shoulder inside the box. The referee did not see the act, and no red card was issued to Suarez. However, FIFA has already stated that they will promptly launch an investigation into this issue.

To think that Costa Rica and Uruguay would eliminate England and Italy from this group would have been laughable months before this World Cup even kicked off. Two of the strongest, most storied European nations are going home with Spain. England couldn't even muster a goal yesterday as the drew with Costa Rica, 0-0. Shocking.

To continue updating your bracket, you will be writing Columbia vs. Uruguay and Costa Rica vs. Greece in the Round of 16. Greece pulled off a win against the Ivory Coast behind a late penalty that was buried by Samaras. Columbia remained unbeaten by winning all of their group stage matches and are raising eyebrows as one of the South American teams to watch in the knockout stages.

Today, Lionel Messi and Argentina look to remain unbeaten and clinch the top seed out of their Group F while Karim Benzema and the French side look to do the same in Group E. Iran are fighting for their life when they take on Bosnia-Herzegovina needing a strong result and Nigera to lose if they are to go through. Ecuador and Switzerland, although not playing each other today, are also in a dogfight to get through to the next round.

Today's Games:
Nigeria vs. Argentina, 9:00 PST Porto Alegre
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Iran, 9:00 PST Salvador
Honduras vs. Switzerland, 13:00 PST Manaus
Ecuador vs. France, 13:00 PST Rio de Janeiro

My Picks:
Argentina
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Switzerland
France

My Record:
23 out of 40, 58%

World Cup 2014: Match Day 13

The final group stage matches kicked off yesterday, seeing Netherlands top Chile for first position out of Group B and Brazil taking first position over Mexico from Group A. This sets the first two games of the Round of 16 in this World Cup: Brazil vs. Chile and Netherlands vs. Mexico. Croatia, Cameroon, Austraila and former champions Spain have all ended their play in Brazil, failing to escape the Group Stage, but still having shown valiant efforts in their play.

Today, we push onward and find out the next round match ups between Group C and Group D. The marquee matchup of the day pits European powerhouse Italy against South American warriors Uruguay. A classic match up that will feature stars like Luis Suarez, Adrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli, and Ednilson Cavani, don't miss this one as it also will determine which one of these teams makes it to the next round, and which one goes home. Just a tie or a win will push Italy through, while Uruguay needs a win to qualify. Costa Rica finishes their group stage having already qualified for the next round with a game against the eliminated England side. Costa Rica, the biggest surprise of the tournament so far, have the opportunity to lock up first position in Group D.

Group C is a much more open group as Columbia, Greece, Japan, and Ivory Coast could each either qualify for or be eliminated from advancing to the next round. Columbia has looked the strongest, boasting a complete team that can pass together, play defense well, and provide a deadly attack.

Today's Games:
Italy vs. Uruguay, 9:00 PST Natal
Costa Rica vs. England, 9:00 PST Belo Horizonte
Japan vs. Columbia, 13:00 PST Cuiabá
Greece vs. Ivory Coast, 13:00 PST Fortaleza

My Picks:
Italy
England
Columbia
Ivory Coast

My Record:
22 out of 36, 61%

World Cup 2014: Match Day 12

Excuse me while I gather my thoughts, while they are still all over the floor after that USA vs. Portugal game. Wow, what a mistake by the United States defense in the 94th minute to let Portgual equalize the game and steal a point to turn the Group of Death into the Group of Anything-Can-Happen. For 80 minutes the US dominated the game, pressuring Portugal and having many chances at goal. They protected a 2-1 lead until extra time. Then what could arguably be called the greatest ball in the tournament so far, Cristiano Ronaldo put at cross on his teammate's head that ended in the back of the net. Now Portugal lives to see another day, and the US must do its math to advance to the Round of 16.

Today, we have more pivotal match ups to watch that will determine the pairings of Group A and Group B in the next round. Chile and Netherlands square off to see who will take bragging rights and a favored seed out of their Group. The Dutch will be without the services of Robin van Persie due to yellow card accumulation suspension. The Chileans may look to rest Arturo Vidal as even a loss in this game would not leave them out of the next phase.

Group A will be decided between Brazil, Mexico, and Croatia to see who will play against the Group B winners. Brazil plays Cameroon at the same time Mexico plays Croatia. All teams in this third match must play their games at the same time as their Group counterparts to insure there are no thrown games due to results earlier in the day. Needless to say, we will have a two games set after today that will give us insight into the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Today's Games:
Chile vs. Netherlands,
Spain vs. Australia,
Brazil vs. Cameroon,
Mexico vs. Croatia,

My Picks:
Netherlands
Spain
Brazil
Mexico

My Record:
18 out of 32, 56%

World Cup 2014: Match Day 11

Yesterday was another day of unexpected results in Brazil at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Iran held off South American favorites Argentina for 90 minutes until Lionel Messi broke their hearts with a beautiful left foot curler from outside the box in stoppage time. The discussion leans toward how unimpressive Argentina is looking, having to rely too heavily on their number 10. It was another shocking result in another amazing game when Ghana tied Germany 2-2. After a scoreless first half, the two teams battled back and forth, both looking lethal and powerful. Super sub Miroslav Klose came off the bench for Germany to score the game winner in classic poacher style, equalling Ronaldo's total goals scored record in World Cups at 15 a piece. With both teams taking away a point, the door in the Group of Death just got a little wider, and the pencils of mathematicians around the world got a little shorter as they crunched the numbers. 

But today, that door could shut with one team walking through to the Round of 16 from Group G. If the United States of America can beat Portugal, they will qualify to advance into the next round. 

The football fever has risen to a boil in the US, and Clint Dempsey reports that his team feels as though there is a 12th man on the pitch in Brazil due to the faithful US supporters that have travelled to the Amazon in Natal and Manaus. A country known for its love of baseball, american football, and basketball, is turning their attention toward the 23 men it sent to Brazil dressed in red, white, and blue. 

Michael Bradley will have to be the General he is known to be in the midfield for the US in their game today. The US must not be cautious, rather, they must risk everything and go forward against a weakened Portuguese side. Cristiano Ronaldo limps into the game with a lingering knee issue, Pepe is suspended on a red, Hugo Almeida has an injury, and Fabio Contreao has been ruled out of the World Cup with an injury. This is the best possible time for the United States to strike against Portugal and take them for all 3 points. Without the services of Jozy Altidore, the US attack surely is also weakened but Clint Dempsey is known for stepping up and doing whatever it takes to put that ball in the back of the net. 

The other games of this match day 11 see Russia play against Belgium and then Korea play Algeria to round out the second round of games in the Group Stage. We will have a much more clear picture of the Round of 16 before this day is over, setting up some epic battles this week. 

Today's Games:

Belgium vs. Russia, 9:00 PST Rio de Janeiro

Korea vs. Algeria, 12:00 PST Porto Alegre

USA vs. Portugal, 15:00 PST Manaus

My Picks:

Belgium

Korea

USA

My Record:

17 out of 29, 59%