Predictions: USA-Belgium and Argentina-Switzerland

USA-Belgium
I predict USA wins 2-2 on penalties to make the final 8. Belgium is a dark horse that could go far, while the US have played well in group stage. Both teams want to impress the winner of Argentina-Switzerland. USA has proved critics wrong  with a narrow loss vs. Germany, a tie vs. Portugal, and a memorable win vs. Ghana. Belgium, though has not impressed, with narrow wins against teams with what should be big wins.
Argentina-Switzerland
Both teams have had struggles in the group stage, Argentina trouble with scoring, Switzerland same thing and defense. Switzerland will try to erase the 5-2 loss to France but easily beat Honduras and a spectacular finish vs. Ecuador. Argentina has relied heavily on Messi, scoring 4 of the 5 goals, but he will need help on offense. I predict Argentina wins 3-2.

Round of 16 Recaps: Costa Rica Perfect on Penalties and Netherlands Pull off Amazing Comeback

The first round of 16 game yesterday was Netherlands vs. Mexico. In the 24th minute, Carlos Salcido shot from distance, forcing Holland keeper Jasper Cillessen into a nice save. In the 32nd minute, there was a first ever cooling break because of the 100 plus degrees there. Giovani dos Santos tested Cillessen into a save. In injury time, Arjen Robben went down when Hector Morena tackled him without the ball in the box, but there was no penalty. In the 48th, dos Santos shot a volley from some distance into the bottom corner for Mexico to take the lead. In the 57th, Stefan de Vrij got a volley from a corner, but Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa made the save before it hit the bar. Wesley Sneijder had a deflected shot wide, and Robben`s shot was wide after a deflection. Ochoa blocked Robben`s low shot one on one in the 74th minute. After a second cooling break in the 76th minute, Sneijder tied it in the 88th fired it low past Ochoa for the tie. Holland went ahead in additional time when Robben fell down from Rafa Marquez. Sub Klaas-Jan Huntelaar converted on the penalty for the winning goal. For Mexico, it was the fifth straight time they failed to reach the quarterfinals.
The other game today was Costa Rica vs. Greece, two underdogs facing each other.In the 8th minute, Costa Rica`s Christian Bolanos shot over from a tight angle, and Greece`s Lazaros Christodoulopoulos shot one wide later. In the 37th minute, Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas saved Dimitrios Salpingdas` volley. In the 52nd, Bryan Ruiz scored for Costa Rica when he put one in the bottom corner past Greece keeper Orestis Karnezis. Oscar Duarte got a yellow in the first half that went to a red in the second when he slide tackled a person without the ball in the 66th minute. Christodoulopoulos had a shot in the 88th, but it was deflected into Navas` arms. In the 91st, Greece pulled when Sokratis Papastathopoulos scored on the rebound from Theofanis Gekas` shot. In the 93rd, Navas tipped over Kostas Mitroglou`s header. Extra time came and in the 113th minute, Christodoulopoulos had his shot saved by Navas. In the final moments of extra time, Mitroglou had his shot deflected by Navas one on one. In penalties, everyone converted in the first three rounds. Joel Campbell made it 4-3 before Navas saved Gekas. Costa Rica sealed the trip to the quarters when Michael Umana converted to make team history.

Today`s Predictions: Germany-Algeria and France-Nigeria

France-Nigeria
I predict France wins 2-0 because of easily dominating the teams in their group with their offense. Benzema played a part in all 3 of the goals vs. Honduras, scoring two and almost a third until it was an own goal. They easily beat Switzerland, their toughest opponent in their group and sealed their trip with a draw vs. Ecuador. Nigeria had trouble vs. Iran, won thanks to controversial offside calls against Bosnia, but almost tied Argentina thanks to Musa. I think Nigeria will have a tough time with offense.
Germany-Algeria
I predict Germany beats Algeria 3-1 because of their front line with Muller, Klose, Hummels, and others. Algeria gave Belgium trouble in the first and the start of the second half, handled South Korea, and angered Russia with a tie. Algeria will start giving Germany some troubles, but at the end, it becomes vice verso. Predict Muller to score two and Klose sets the record for most goals in this tournament.

Round of 16 Recaps: Post Helps Brazil Twice and Columbia Dances by Uruguay

There were two round of 16 games today, with the first Brazil vs. Chile. In the 6th minute, Marcelo curled one wide and Marcelo Diaz hit one off on the other end. In the 18th minute, Brazil was up from a Neymar corner. Thiago Silva tipped it wide, but David Luiz struck it home near the far post. Neymar dragged his shot wide in the 26th minute. Chile tied it when Eduardo Vargas stole Hulk`s before passing to an unmarked Alexis Sanchez, who shot low past Brazil keeper Julio Cesar. Neymar`s deflected header went inches wide in the 36th, and Dani Alves` long shot was saved by Chile keeper Claudio Bravo in the 42nd minute. In the 55th minute, Brazil lost a goal when Marcelo crossed to Hulk, who finished at the far post. It was disallowed when he handled it with his arm. Charles Aranguiz shot his first touch on target, but Cesar parried it away. In the 81st, Neymar headed one that went to Bravo. Bravo later saved Hulk`s powerful strike minutes later. In the 103rd minute, Hulk did another powerful strike that was saved. In the 120th, Brazil was lucky when Mauricio Pinilla shot it at the crossbar. In penalties, Luiz scored for Brazil and Cesar saved Sanchez`s and Pinalla`s shot. Willian shot it wide before Marcelo scored for Brazil. Aranguiz and Diaz made it level after Hulk`s shot was saved. In the last round, Neymar scored before Chile defender Gonzalo Jara hit it off the crossbar for Brazil to move on.
The other match yesterday was Columbia vs. Uruguay, who were without Luis Suarez due to the biting incident. In the 28th minute, Columbia was up when Abel Aguilar headed to James Rodriguez who shot it off the crossbar and in with his first touch past Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera. In the 50th, Rodriguez scored his fifth goal this WC when Pablo Armero crossed to Juan Cuadrado, where he passed to the middle where Rodriguez was there to strike it home. Rodriguez is now the top scorer this WC. Cristian Rodriguez tested Columbia keeper David Ospina outside the box in the 64th, and in the 79th, blocked Maxi Pereira`s volley. Ospina stopped stopped Edinson Cavani in the 84th minute to play Brazil in the quarterfinals.  

Today`s Predictions: Mexico-Holland and Costa Rica-Greece

Mexico-Holland
I predict Holland wins 2-0 in this game due to their attacking offense. Ochoa has been spectacular in the group stage games, but the game against Brazil, was that one of Brazil`s worst games(like the game vs. Chile yesterday)? The Netherlands will have many chances and Mexico will have most possession on their half. Ochoa will make many saves, but he won`t make all of them.
Costa Rica-Greece
I predict Costa Rica wins 1-0 because of their ability to shock World Cup favorites. They sent Uruguay to a bad start because of the 3-1 win and helped eliminate Italy with a 1-0 win. They tied already eliminated England with no goals to one of the Groups of Death. Greece easily lost to Columbia, the best team in their group, 3-0 before having a scoreless draw with japan down a man and having less than 25 percent of possession before shocking Ivory Coast to advance with a late penalty. Both underdogs will fight, but Costa Rica will squeeze by to the last 8. 

Today`s Predictions: Brazil-Chile and Columbia-Uruguay

Brazil-Chile
I predict Brazil wins this one 3-0 because Brazil`s Neymar can almost never be stopped. Chile did play against the Netherlands well but that was a game for first and there were numerous chances for Holland. Brazil easily wins this one and Neymar scores twice. Even if Claudio Brave was as good as Ochoa was against Brazil, the Chile offense somehow needs to get pass Brazil`s defense and hope that`s enough
Columbia-Uruguay
This one is harder to predict. Uruguay might attack less now that they`re without Luis Suarez and defend more to limit the number of goals. Columbia will try to bombard with a number of chances and Uruguay`s defense will try to stop that. I see 2-1 Columbia as Uruguay might be able to get a goal but Columbia will keep having chances, but will have just enough goals to advance.

Group H Recaps: Belgium Wins Despite 10 Men and Algeria Hold on for Tie

The Group H matches were Belgium vs. South Korea and Russia vs. Algeria. In the first game, Dries Mertens of Belgium wasted a shot from goal, and Anthony Vanden Borre got dragged down in the box without a penalty. Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois dove to stop a long range shot from Ki Sung-yueng. Both teams struggled after those shots in the first half. Before halftime, Belgium lost a man Steven Defour slided into Kim shin-wook, drawing a red. Ki`s shot in the 2nd half was blocked by Courtois, and Lee Keun-ho squandered a chance for South Korea. Marouane Fellaini missed a close-range header. Divock Origi got a ball from defender Jan Vertonghen and Origi blasted one that South Korea keeper Kim Seung-gyu blocked, before Vertonghen slotted the rebound home for the win. With the win, South Korea is out and Belgium topped their group.
The last match of the Group Stage was Algeria vs.Russia. Winner would advance, loser eliminated, and Algeria would advance with a tie. In the 9th minute, Russia scored when Dmitri Kombarov crossed to Aleksandr Kokorin to head it up high. In the 26th, Russia nearly scored when Oleg Shatov shot from 30 yards that beat Algeria keeper Rais M'Bolhi but went inches wide. Islam Slimani headed one, but it went straight to Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev. In the 2nd half, Alexander Samedov shot one that M'Bolhi bravely saved. In the 60th, Slimani kept it level when tapped in a rebound from a free kick to tie it. M'Bolhi saved more shots from Samedov and Alex Kerzhakov as Algeria advanced to the Round of 16.

Group G Recaps: USA Fail to Claim Top Spot and Portugal Helps US Qualify

The last Group G matches were Ghana vs. Portugal and USA vs. Germany. First was the USA-Germany game. Lukas Podolski shot one over the bar in the 2nd minute. Graham Zusi came close to scoring from distance, but it just went over the bar. USA keeper Tim Howard blocked Mesut Ozil`s tame shot in the first half. Howard saved Per Mertesacker`s header, only for the rebound to go to Thomas Muller, who curled a shot to the far post just outside the box in the 55th minute. In additional time, USA had two chances when Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey connected before Alejandro Bedoya shot it, but defender Phillip Lahm blocked it. Moments later, Dempsey headed one close that just went over the bar. Germany won the game and group, and USA also advanced because they won the tiebreaker between Portugal, who won the Portugal-Ghana game.
In the Portugal-Ghana game, Cristiano Ronaldo sent a shot that beat Ghana keeper Fatau Dauda but hit the crossbar. Ronaldo also got stopped by Dauda from a free kick in the 11th minute. In the 19th, Ronaldo was again stopped by Dauda when he headed one from close range, but Dauda blocked it away. John Boye of Ghana gave up an own goal when he deflected Miguel Veloso`s cross and the ball hit the far post in. Earlier that day, he was in a  picture kissing his money(shown below). Andre Ayew forced a save out of Portugal keeper Beto. Ghana tied it in the 57th minute when Asamoah Gyan headed a ball close from a Kwadwo Asamoah cross. Majeed Waris headed one from a Gyan cross but his shot went just wide. Ronado finally scored in the 80th minute when Dauda pushed the ball down at Ronaldo`s feet, for him to strike it home. Dauda had an easy chance, but he paid for it when he pushed it away. Both teams are now out.   

Group F Recaps: Messi Saves Argentina Again and Bosnia Wins 1st WC Game

First in the Group F matches it was Argentina vs. Nigeria. Argentina already qualified, while Nigeria advanced with a tie or win.In the 3rd minute, Lionel Messi gave Argentina a lead when he slammed the shot off a rebound up high after Nigeria keeper Vincent Enyeama blocked Angel Di Maria`s shot. Nigeria tied it 60 seconds later when Michel Babatunde passed to Ahmed Musa to his left before he stopped and curled his shot to the far post. After an Argentina free kick was saved, Messi scored on a free kick in injury time past Enyeama and at the right side for the lead. Musa made it level in the 47th when he passed to Emmanuel Emenike before Emenike passed back to him. After getting the pass, he shot with his side foot at the near post to make it 2-2. In the 50th, Argentina player Marcus Rojo scored the winning goal in the 50th when he used his knee to hit the ball into the net from a corner. Argentina will play Switzerland next, while Nigeria also qualified and will face France next.
The other Group F match was Iran vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, a game between eliminated teams. In the 4th minute, Edin Dzeko fired a shot that Iran keeper Alireza Haghighi tipped over the bar. Haghighi blocked a header by Dzeko 5 minutes later. Bosnia took the lead in the 23rd when Iran lost the ball and Dzeko got it and shot it low past Haghighi. Masoud Shojaei chipped a shot over Bosnia keeper Asmir Begovic, but the ball hit the crossbar and away. Bosnia doubled the lead right on the hour when Miralem Pjanic curled a low shot past Haghighi. Iran got one back in the 82nd when Javad Nekounam crossed it to Reza Ghoochannejad for him to tap it in. Iran was the last nation this World Cup to score. Bosnia got its goal back when Avdija Vrsajev scored to end Iran`s hopes of qualifying.