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Knockout Time!
The knockout stage is set and the time has come for all Pandagoalians to get their picks in! You can check out the brackets at Fifa.com; consider this an open thread for everyone to go on record. I'll use comments to, to avoid influencing others from the bully pulpit.
Also, I am too dumb to figure out how to upload a picture, so imagine an image of Ali standing over Zora Folley, arms raised. Knockout!
Hmmm.
The heart says the US can reach the semis, but the head says we lose to Uruguay.
So…. Second round: Uruguay, USA, Germany (on penalties, of course), Argentina, Netherlands, Brazil, Paraguay, Portugal (my big upset pick)
Quarters: USA (heart) Uruguay (head), Argentina, Brazil, Portugal
Semis: Brazil, Argentina
Finals: Brazil
Comment #2: James on 06/25 at 11:11 PM
I’m not big on making predictions, so I’ll just say that I think Chile can spring an upset. This Brazil side is uninspired and cynical. They are clinical and capable of flashes of creativity, but the Fabiano handball pretty much sums them up for me. So, part of it is that I’m sick of the hype and would like them to lose, and part of it is that I really think Chile can do it. I’ll really hedge my bets and say that I expect at least one Spanish-speaking team in the final, but hope it’ll be two.
Comment #3: elena on 06/25 at 11:33 PM
I’m not sure Portugal quite counts as a “big upset” but you can get better than 2:1 on them so I guess it’s a judgment call. The only really big upsets in the first round would be if Brazil, Argentina or Netherlands lost.
The Chile pick certainly qualifies. I’d be happy to see it as it would smooth the way for the Dutch. However, as I said I think Brazil is just the sort of boringly tough team that encourages people to bet the underdog and then wins 4-1.
16: URU, USA, GER, ARG, NED, BRA, PAR, ESP
8: USA, DAMMIT!, ARG, NED, ESP
4: NED, ARG
Winner: ARG
You should all just give up now, because this is how it’s a-happenin’.
Comment #5: Auguste on 06/26 at 12:58 AM
Okay well, I got 19/32 on my group stage bracket, so…we’ll see how I do here.
Knockouts: Uruguay, US, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina Germany, Spain, and because we have seen some weird and unexpected results and I want to include one upset, Japan
Quarters: US, Brazil, Argentina, Spain
Semis: Brazil, Argentina
Winner: Argentina
16:
URU over KOR
GHA over USA
NED over SVK
BRA over CHI
ARG over MEX
GER over ENG
JPN over PAR
ESP over PAR
8:
URU over GHA
NED over BRA
GER over ARG
ESP over JPN
4:
NED over URU
ESP over GER
FINAL:
ESP over NED
Comment #7: Marc on 06/26 at 11:05 AM
oops. right: Argentina
Germany
Paraguay
Portugal
then
Uruguay
Nederlands
and
Argentina
Portugal
ending with
argentina vs nederlands
and i hope argentina wins it all
Comment #9: cedarcrane on 06/26 at 03:24 PM
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Round 1, left side: Uruguay, US, Netherlands, Brazil
No upsets to be found here; I can’t pick against the US if there’s no money involved, Uruguay are clean, and speaking of gambling Netherlands and Brazil both look like the kind of sides you can lose a lot of money betting againt.
Round 1, right side: Argentina, England, Paraguay, Spain
I hate Portugal (the team, not the country - love vinho verde!) so I won’t pick them despite the fact that they look pretty good. That game is going to be quite a finale, though.
Round 2: US defeat Uruguay, Netherlands defeat Brazil, Argentina defeat England, Paraguay defeat Spain
Honestly, I don’t like Spain that much either. Gone!
Semis: Netherlands defeat US, Argentina defeat Paraguay
Third Place: US defeat Paraguay
Champions: Netherlands defeat Argentina
OK, I should admit that every four years whenever possible I pick a repeat of the legendary Crujff-less finale from 1978, with Netherlands winning. Eventually it’s gonna happen for you Oranje!