So the final eight have been decided, and it is the first time in the era of the current format that the group winners have all progressed to the final eight. Despite the so called favourites winning each game, the second round games were not without drama and intrigue in each game. In no game, other than Colombia v Uruguay, was the result straight forward, nor was one team completely dominant. Two games were decided on penalties, whilst a further three games went to penalties. One of the games even had a dramatic come from behind win in the dying minutes, whilst others had last gasp goals and teams throwing everything forward to try and find that equalising goal to send the game to penalties.
Brazil v Chile
The first of the second round games provided some of the most entertaining football, and dramatic twists and turns of all the second round games. After the first half ended 1-1 with goals from Luiz and Sanchez, Brazil were controversially, and incorrectly, denied a goal in the second half when Hulk was ruled to have used his hands when replays show that he did not. Both Chile and Brazil then had penalty appeals turned down before heading to extra time. Extra time provided more attacking football, and a lucky break for Brazil when Pinilla hit the crossbar with only minutes of extra time left. Brazil then held their nerve to win on penalties, thanks a lot to their goalkeeper Cesar.In the end Brazil deserved their place in the final eight, but Chile nearly caused a country-wide riot, instead of the country-wide party that followed this game; one in which they arestill picking up the debries from.
Final result 1-1 FT (+ ET) Brazil wins 3-2 on penalties
Colombia v Uruguay
Colombia have shown that they are still a top team without their star striker, Falcao. Uruguay went into this game without their main man, Suarez, and showed that they have nothing without him, Colombia easily dominated this match up, grabbing two goals easily and then sitting back and coasting to victory. This second match of the round was probably the most one sided match of the round, with Uruguay never really looking in the game. Colombia get to play Brazil next, and should probably start favourites as they have a great attack, and solid defense, whilst Brazil has looked a little flaky in both departments.
Final result 2-0 Colombia wins
The Netherlands v Mexico
The tournament’s top goal scoring team was pitted against one of the better defensive sides in the competition in this match up. The game was full of suspense after Mexico took the lead three minutes into the second half, and then were holding on until the final minutes, when Sneijder showed some of the class we all know he has and drove in a stunning goal. Then another moment of controversy when the Dutch were awarded a penalty after Robben fell to the ground inside the box. If the Mexicans are to be believed then it was a dive, as Robben had done earlier in the game to get free kicks; but in this case replays showed clear contact; even if maybe Robben overplayed it a little. In any case the new man on the field, Huntelaar, stepped up and scored from the spot after coming onto the field for the first time this tournament. It was heart-break for Mexico, who have now been in six straight World Cup second round matches without progressing to the quarter finals. The Dutch showed some good form, but they were somewhat lucky to make it through, and may need a little of that luck in the next game.
Final result: 2-1 The Netherlands win
Costa Rica v Greece
The two true dark horses of the tournament (Belgium is much too good a team to be a true dark horse) met in this second round clash, with Costa Rica proving all pundits wrong by blitzing their group meeting the seemingly out of their depth Greeks. Despite what Numbernine or myself might have thought about this game before hand this game was a close tense affair, with the Tico’s possibly feeling some of the pressure their success has brought. Greece on the other hand were free of expectations and looked much more at ease, coming close several times in the first half, and only being denied by some excellent goalkeeping.The Ticos scored from their first shot at goal, albeit in the 57th minute, before being reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute. Still they held on and looked like they would still win before Greece equalised in the final minutes of stoppage time to force extra time. Extra time was somewhat uneventful, other than the referee correctly judging that Ticos striker, Campbell, was fouled just outside the penalty box and not inside like the Costa Ricans all thought. The lack of goals in the extra 30 minutes meant that the second match of the round would be decided on penalties, and in this Costa Rica showed that they had the greater mental fortitude and were given the pass to the quarter final match up against the Dutch, where they will need to play much better to win, although this time they won’t have the weight of being favourites hanging around their neck.
Final result 1-1 FT (+ ET) Costa Rica wins 5-3 on penalties
France v Nigeria
What seemed like an easy walk in the park for this French side, started out well, but by the middle of the second half seemed like it was going to be a french nightmare. The Nigerian goalkeeper (who had been level with TIm Howard on saves through the group stages) showed his class as he made some excellent saves to deny the French any reward for their attacking prowess. The Nigerian forwards also kept the French defense on their toes with some excellent attacking moves; one which ended with the ball in the back of the net, but with the linesman’s flag up for offside as well. It wasn’t until the 79th minute before the deadlock was broken, when French midfielder Pogba headed in a goal after the Nigerian Goalkeeper uncharastically made a mistake in not reaching a cross and punch it away. The Nigerian cause was completely deflated in the 2nd minute of added time when an own goal put the french two goals up and into the next round.
Final result 2-0 France wins
Germany v Algeria
I didn’t share Numbernine’s daydream that Algeria would be able to deliver payback to the German’s for the farce in 1982, as I thought the German’s would be far too good for Algeria. However this didn’t turn out to be the case, as the German’s could not break down the Algerians in the 90 regulation minutes of the football match, becoming the first knockout game at this tournament to be 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes. The extra 30 minutes allowed however provided plenty of drama, with the German’s scoring twice, before Algeria scored and looked to have a very late comeback on the cards. However the desert foxes goal had come too late and the Germans did what the German’s do best; win World Cup football matches.
Final result 0-0 FT; 2-0 ET Germany Wins
Argentina v Switzerland
Argentina had been playing pretty bad this tournament, but still winning, which didn’t bode well for any teams facing them if they did manage to find their form. The Swiss were hoping to find them in bad form and had a gameplan to neutralise the only part of the Argentine field players that was doing any good. The Swiss executed their game plan of “mark Messi out of the game, defend deep and try and nick one or hold on for penalties” very well, and kept the Argentines scoreless all the way through the regular 90 minutes, and almost all the extra 30 minutes, before they lapsed on the “mark Messi out of the game” part of their game plan and he showed why he is the unsellable player, as he ran through the middle of the Swiss defense, before laying off the perfect ball to his winger, Di Maria, who defied his earlier form on the field and didn’t disappoint his captain with the finish. Don’t be deceived, the Swiss were by far the better team and probably deserved to win the match (and I am saying this as an Argentinean supporter) but in the end they were just as wasteful in front of goal as the Argentineans and Shaqiri is not Messi so they go home and the Argentineans celebrate their way into the top eight.
Final result 0-0 FT; 1-0 ET Argentina wins
Belgium v USA
The final game in the second round saw a replay of the first ever world cup match. This game involved another team which both Numbernine and I had written off from the start of the tournament, and who were proving us wrong, and I thought that they would get outplayed in this game. However in this case Numbernine was right in his earlier prediction (he was woefully wrong in just about every other prediction he made) and this was a spirited USA team who pushed Belgium hard. Once again it was 0-0 at full time and required an additional 30 minutes of playing to determine the winner. The defining moment was the introduction of Lukaku at the start of extra time (he had for some reason been left on the bench to start the match,) and finally he was able to do what Lukaku does best, win balls with his strength, run at defenses with his pace and set up as well as score goals. Belgium scored two quick goals once he came on, leading 2-0 at the end of the first half of extra time, and were looking much more dangerous than at any time during the full 90. The second half of extra time looked like a formality, but the US team had other plans when they got one back from their wunderkinder, Green, who scored a majestic volley to bring the scoreline back to 2-1. What followed was an all out assault by the US on the Belgian goal, but the Belgians held strong and came away 2-1 victors, who must fancy themselves against a decidedly average looking Argentinean team.
NineSixFourTwo 