<p>Quater-final betting odds:</p>
<p><a href=“http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2118146-world-cup-bracket-2014-latest-odds-predictions-and-quarter-final-schedule[/url]”>http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2118146-world-cup-bracket-2014-latest-odds-predictions-and-quarter-final-schedule</a></p>
<p>Do you agree that Brazil will lose and France will win?</p>
<p>I don’t think Donovan would have made much difference. People are comparing his abilities 4-8 years ago with the abilities of the current forwards today, instead of Donovan’s abilities today. He is not as fit as he should be <a href=“https://twitter.com/FootballFunnys/status/474225009083154432”>https://twitter.com/FootballFunnys/status/474225009083154432</a>, he abandoned training for months, and he is a thirty something year old playing in MLS (not a top league). Klinsmann made the right call.</p>
<p>I have no idea how the odd-makers can come up with valid foundation to their claims. But, they have to put their money up!<br>
As it stands, none of the games carry any predictive value. </p>
<p>What is the basis of giving better odds to France? The erratic play of France versus a team that is almost always there. The Germans are suffering in defense and might be exposed because of their (relative) lack of speed in defense. The French so far have been blessed with one of the easiest paths to the 1/4 finals. A lucky draw resultimg from being the 9th European qualifier. Leave it to the French to mess it up! </p>
<p>Holland’s game should be an easy affair … on paper against the last Concacaf team (which despite claims to the contrary remains a lackluster area.) The ball, however, has bounced massively well for the Ticos and Holland has alternated the best and the worst. This is might be the sole match with odds better than 50 percent. </p>
<p>Brazil faces Colombia and James etal are playing better than Brazil. But emough to overcome the home support? People betting against Brazil did not pay attention to last year’s Cup. All in all, this is nothing more than a 50/50. </p>
<p>And lastly Belgium-Argentina! Or better said Belgium vs Messi. This is not very different from the 86 affair in Mexico. On paper Argentina with a better than average Messi should prevail. However, the other side of the equation is that the potential strength of Belgium could create huge problems for the Argentine defense that will miss Rojo. If Messi is muzzled (has happened a LOT with Argentina) others on his team will have to get it done, and that has NOT happened thus far. On the other hand, Argentina cannot focus on stopping the sole Hazard. Belgium will enjoy the opportunity of plsying the role of the underdog for once in this WC. Fwiw, and perhaps overlooked is that the record of coach Wilmots in the official games of this WC is 38 points out of 42 (ans should have been 40 as they threw away the last game of qualifications) and the unbeaten Courtois has yet to get scored upon by Messi (afaik) in Spain. </p>
<p>All in all, short of Holland. all games are plain tossups! Just as it should be! Through my biased lenses, I hope for Germany, Holland, Brazil, and Belgium to emerge. By the way, it is interesting to note that all the Europeans teams share mutual borders and are so concentrated in a small part of the world. </p>
<p>Low came to his senses by dropping the slow defender and the Guardiola inspired Lahm tactic. A more balanced team and the roosters are on the plane to Paris. </p>
<p>All in all, it was not a great game. With a predictable outcome. ;)</p>
<p>One done and three to go … for the oddsmakers! </p>
<p>And another one bites the dust.</p>
<p>The France-Germany game was one of the most boring games in the World Cup.</p>
<p>I am really starting to like the German team. They look like a team and play like a team. I don’t seem to have many attention hogs with the odd hair designs or coloring and extensive tattooing. </p>
<p>Interesting: all pre-game events are presented by pleasant female reporters on Univision.</p>
<p>Goooooooooal!</p>
<p>Dumb foul by Silva that will hurt them against Germany.</p>
<p>Poor Hah-mez…</p>
<p>Wish I were a betting man! So much for Colombia and France. </p>
<p>Now just two more and we will be all set! </p>
<p>I hope Nemar is OK.</p>
<p>He is not. Broken third vertebra. His WC is over</p>
<p>The Castrol Index rates the tops speed of all WC players with Diaz the fastest runner at 33.8 km/hour, or 21 mph if the metric system hasn’t hit your village yet. Some big names: Balotelli 33.0, Dimaria 33.0, Hummels 32.3, Neymar 31.8, Ronaldo 31.2, Robben 31.0, James R. 30.9, Rooney 30.7, Debruyne 30.7, Messi 29.6, and Mueller 29.2.</p>
<p>Our players: F. Johnson 33.0, Bedoya 32.3, J. Jones 31.6, Yedlin 31.6, Bradley 30.9, Beasley 30.2, Zusi 30.1, Besler 29.1, Dempsey 28.8, Davis 28.3, Cameron 27.6, Brooks 26.9, Gonzalez 26.8, Johannsson 26.5, Beckerman 26.3, Green 24.1, Wondolowski 24.1, and Altidore 23.5. The last three players had limited playing time which might have something to do with slow times. </p>
<p>Is it fair to say that Beckerman, Gonzalez, and Cameron lack the speed to compete at the highest level? </p>
<p>I feel really bad for Neymar. A broken vertebra is a serious injury</p>
<p>Right knee to the small of his back with 3 or 4 minutes left in the game. </p>
<p>Initially I thought Neymar was faking it like soccer players so often do but after seeing him for a few minutes it was clear his injury was no joke. He looked to be in a lot of real pain. So unfortunate for Brazil.</p>
<p>Does anyone understand what is going on with Nigeria now that they are out of the world cup? Lot of people are upset but I can’t tell who is doing what and why.</p>
<p>Seeing Argentina play Belgium highlights how much further the US needs to improve to be truly competitive.</p>
<p>Without Neymar and Silva, think Germany will play the final game with Netherlands.</p>