And Then There Were 16: Another Round of Foolish Predictions

1. Morocco vs. Canada.

I won't go into too much detail with these predictions this time. 

I'm very happy Canada made it this far. But with injuries to key players and the quality of football that Morocco is playing right now I'm just hoping this game is competitive. Give me a Cabo Verde performance. That's all I'm asking for. Take these guys to the brink.

With that said, I don't see it happening. 

Morocco 3-1.

2. Paraguay vs. France.

Can they do it again? Can Paraguay shock the world twice in one week?

No. This is France. This is Mbappe. Paraguay can probably keep it close in the first half. They've only allowed one goal in their last three games. But that just means they're due to get dunked on again by a superior team. 

France 4-1.

3. Brazil vs. Norway

Norway has beaten two African teams and Iraq at this tournament so far. Well done. They've done what they're supposed to do. Haaland has left his mark on the World Cup. But the rowing ends on Sunday. Brazil will send these boys home. The world deserves to see a Brazil-Argentina Semi Final. 

Brazil 3-2.

4. Mexico vs. England.

When we all made our predictions before the tournament this one always made the fight card. Hopefully it won't disappoint.

There's something about Mexico at this World Cup. They've yet to concede. They look unstoppable. But then again who have they really beaten? South Africa, Korea, Czechia, and Ecuador? Those teams had zero attack. Mexico hasn't been tested. They haven't been punched in the mouth. England is the first real team they will face. And they will fail. Another host nation is going out.

England 2-1.

5. Portugal vs. Spain.

I don't see World Cup winners here. I don't see champions. Portugal looked lost in that second half against Croatia. And while Spain had an easy time with Austria they still haven't impressed at this tournament. I'm expecting a competitive game. It'll probably take 120 minutes to decide it. The last time they met at a World Cup it ended 3-3. I'll predict the same scoreline. 

3-3. Portugal advances via penalties.

6. U.S. vs. Belgium.

If it weren't for a historic fumble by Senegal the Belgians would already be on vacation. That's where they belong. On a beach somewhere. This is not a good team. They've beaten nobody. The U.S. team is playing with more confidence. And I think at least one host nation has to survive this round.

U.S. 3-1.

7. Argentina vs. Egypt.

Argentina 2-0.

8. Switzerland vs. Colombia.

What a clash of styles. This is what the World Cup is about. If it were played in Europe I'd lean towards Switzerland. But it's not. Colombia's ride isn't going to end here. They have enough firepower up front to keep Switzerland busy in their own end. And they're tough to crack, allowing only one goal all tournament.

Colombia 2-1.

Portugal And Croatia Deliver A Classic, The Swiss And Spanish Make Easy Work of Their Opposition

 

Portugal and Spain will meet on Monday in Texas.

Some games deliver, some don't. 

The Portugal-Croatia game delivered. Modric and Croatia can walk off with their heads held high. They played a great game, at least in the second half, and oftentimes the better team doesn't advance. That's what happened here. The better team lost. Portugal got lucky. But that doesn't matter. 

We've got a game now between Spain and Portugal that has the potential to be the best game of the World Cup when it is all said and done.

The round of 16 is living up to the billing. All hosts through? Check. Heavyweight match ups? Check. Golden boot favourites still playing? Check. 

This is the point when the World Cup really becomes magical and the intensity of the games reach another level. 

Two More Matches Set In Round of 16, African Nations Fumble Historic Wins

 

England vs. Mexico at the Azteca on Sunday July 5.

This World Cup is about the superstars shining, with the quality of the football taking a backseat. We saw that again on Wednesday with Kane's two goal performance to lift England into the next round. 

It's also been one of the most dramatic World Cups, with multiple late winners and lead changes towards the end of regulation. The two extra breaks that have been introduced at this tournament are like cheat codes for managers. 

There still hasn't been any great games to really speak of. We've witnessed amazing individual performances, mostly by the attackers. They've entertained in spurts. But none of these games are classics. They're all forgettable. I don't think we'll see a truly great game until the final. 

Due to the 48 team format being what it is, the quality of competition is highly uneven, so we're just watching big teams that are afraid to lose and small teams that are afraid to win. That makes for nervy, tight, and boring football. 

For tomorrow, hopefully Portugal and Croatia deliver a game to remember. But I anticipate a low scoring affair with both sides passing it around the field and playing for penalties. I think the Switzerland-Algeria game will be more entertaining and have more goals in it.

Mexico Advances To Round of 16, Awaits Next Challenger

 

France, Norway, and Mexico all advanced as expected.

Maybe tomorrow's games will give us a surprising result or two. 

Senegal against Belgium may unfold in a similar fashion to the Norway-Ivory Coast game yesterday, but with both teams lacking a lethal striker, I could see it going into extra time and another penalty shootout. That's a tough game to call. 

As for England vs Congo, that game has a Kane penalty in the 75th minute written all over it. Congo tied Portugal and only suffered a 1-0 defeat to Colombia so they'll keep it close. They might even score. But England should be able to get it done. 

The U.S.-Bosnia game is another tricky one. Bosnia is a knockout-tested team, having defeated Wales and Italy in European qualification. They live for penalties. They're similar to Paraguay in that way. But whereas the Germans were toothless in attack against the South Americans, the U.S. won't be. 

This U.S. team, much like Mexico and Canada, will try to score early and often. Bosnia won't be able to hang on. They don't belong here. And they know it. You score a couple of early goals against them and they'll fold. They have one goal in them and no more.

European teams are just not to be feared like they once were. The reputation of European football has taken a big hit in these past couple of years. When a team like Bosnia qualifies over Italy you know something is wrong with European football. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. There's a crisis, no doubt about it. The killer instinct in many of these national teams is gone. A team like Mexico, Senegal, or the U.S. can make a run to the Semi Finals.

The World Cup Has Officially Begun: Paraguay Provides First Shock of The Tournament

 

Take a bow, Paraguay. 

I had Germany as a finalist. How wrong I was.

Germany can no longer be considered a giant of football. So this was not David vs. Goliath. Still, what Paraguay achieved was impressive and they fully deserve to face France in the next round. Good luck to them.